IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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Sciences 
Corporation 


as  WIST  MAIN  STRUT 

WIBSTIR.N  Y.  MStO 

(716)  873-4S03 


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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  inttituta  for  Historical  Microraproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  da  microraproductiona  historiquas 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notas/Notas  tachniquas  at  bibliographiquaa 


The  C( 
totha 


Tha  Instituta  has  attamptad  to  obtain  tha  bast 
original  copy  availabia  for  filming.  Faaturas  of  this 
copy  which  may  ba  bibliographically  uniqua, 
which  may  altar  any  of  tha  imagas  in  tha 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
tha  usual  method  of  filming,  are  che«;ked  below. 


□    Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


D 


D 


D 


D 


Couverture  endommagte 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurAe  at/ou  pelliculAe 


□    Cover  title  missing/ 
Le 


titre  de  couverture  manque 


□    Coloured  maps/ 
Cartes  gAographiquas  an  couleur 


0 


Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bicua  ou  noire) 


rvi    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 


Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 


Bound  with  other  material/ 
Relii  avec  d'autres  documents 


Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  r«  liura  f  trrie  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distorslon  le  long  de  la  marge  intArieuro 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajoutiea 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  la  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  Atait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  M  filmias. 


L'Institut  a  microfilm*  le  meilleur  axemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  Ati  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-Atre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  una 
modification  dans  la  mithoda  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiqute  ci-dessous. 


I — I   Coloured  pages/ 


Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagies 

Pagos  restored  and/oi 

Pages  rostaur^as  et/ou  pelliculAes 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxe< 
Pages  d^colories,  tachettes  ou  piquies 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  ditachies 

Showthroughy 
Transparence 

Quality  of  prir 

Quaiiti  inigaia  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  materii 
Comprend  du  materiel  supplAmentaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 


r~|  Pages  damaged/ 

I — I  Pagos  restored  and/or  laminated/ 

rjl  Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 

I     I  Pages  detached/ 

r~yi  Showthrough/ 

rn  Quality  of  print  varies/ 

□  Includes  supplementary  material/ 
C< 

rn  Only  edition  available/ 


Their 
possil 
of  th« 
filmin 


Origir 
begin 
the  la 
sion, 
other 
first  F 
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or  illu 


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whici 

Maps 

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entire 

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D 


Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  supplAmantairas: 


Irregular  pagination 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissueo,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  page*  totalament  ou  partieiloment 
obscurcies  par  un  feuiilet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  At*  film*es  i  nouveau  da  fapon  A 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


[Ilviii,  (il-x,  (21  [ixl-622  p.  Wrinklad  pagat  may  film 

slightly  out  of  focui. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film*  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqu*  ci-dessous. 


lOX 

14X 

18X 

22X 

26X 

30X 

r- 

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^HHV) 

12X 


1SX 


aox 


24X 


28A 


32X 


tails 

du 
Ddifier 

une 
mage 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

Ralph  Pickard  Ball  Library 
Mount  Alliion  Univanity 

The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


L'exempiaire  film*  fut  reproduit  grAce  A  la 
g^nArositA  de: 

Ralph  Pickard  Ball  Library 
Mount  Allison  Univanity 

Les  Images  suivantes  ont  6t6  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin.  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettet6  de  l'exempiaire  film*,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


Les  exemplaires  orlginaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimAe  sont  fiimte  en  commenyant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  tarmlnant  soit  par  la 
darnlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
orlginaux  sont  filmte  en  commeni^ant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  derniAre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  -^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED "),  or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaTtra  sur  la 
derniire  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbols  — ►  signifie  "A  SUIVRE".  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN  ". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  Atre 
filmAs  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diff Arents. 
Lorsqua  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  cllchA,  ii  est  filmA  A  partir 
de  I'angle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nAcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
lllustrent  la  mAthode. 


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THE 


ORIGIN     AND    HISTORY 


or 


mssionns; 

CONTAIMNQ 

FAITHFUL  ACCOUNTS 

OF    THE 

VOITAGES,   TRAVELS,  LABORS  AND    SITCC 


ESSES 


OF     THE 


VARIOUS   MISSIONARIES, 

WHO  HAVE  BEEN  SENT  FORTH  TO  EVANOELIZE  TH^  HEATHEN, 
OOMFZLBB  FROM  AXTTHBimo  »OOUaffllfT0, 


FOn.MINO   A 


ILLUSTRATED  BV  NUMEROUS  ENORAVINOS, 


; 


FIIOM 


On.G.NAL    DRAWINGS   MADE    EXPRESSLY   FOR   THIS    WORK 

TO   >.   ,„„„   rRO-   THE   rR»,   .«   rOUHTII.   .„CCE,„V«    .UMe^R,     PA«T 

TH«  HlHAMINa   KUMBKRS   THK   8K(o«D    VOLUME.  ""ITUTl 


Till     riR$T,   AND 


IIV   TUB 

REV.  THOMAS    SMITH, 

MIHI8T1CR  or    TRI.MTV  CIIAPK..,  LONDOW, 

REV.  JOHN  O.  CIIOULKS,  A.  M. 

WEWPORT,  R.  I, 


"  To  iniliut  men  ll.oroughly  with  the  MU.ionary  Spirit, 


wo  mu,l  aciuainl  them  intimatel,  with  the  Mi.»io„.ry  enterpri...". 

■ — i>mHe't  Mitnmary  StrmoH. 


XW   TWO    VOIiVMBS. 
VOL.   I. 


BOSTON- 
PUBLISHED   BY  E.   WALKER.    AND   LINCOLN    6c    EDMANDS 


ia32. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1832,  by 

Samuel  Walker, 
In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  Massachusetts. 


PREFACE 


It 


of  Jehovah,  and  ,ho  revelation  he'hL  Zeot  .hetel  wXt l'°  T"""' 
mercy  shall  bo  di.played  to  a  ruined  race  The  l»!,T  .  '^  u  "  '°™  ""^ 
revolution  in  the  militant  church      T,«  u  ^  ''*""  '"'™  """^''^d  » 

of  his  pleasure   Z,  hi    nZ  '' I  '^'"L^"™"  ""^  "'«''«"»  "'w  communication 

l.«  command  was  "t  yelrth  Zd  ."'"k  'n  ""'  "  "■""«'"  '"'^  ''""'™''  •>" 
has  been  an  -W.^?^  JT.  t^^r^Sl^^ ^^^^^^         o'^-  --'  •^- 

took  upo'n  themset  ho  characT'"  "  ^7'^.''  "  '"'""'"""'  "''"'  '  '^«''.  "-^ 
mtaionarios.  Tol  evinl  tha  tllT'  "",  ""'^''""''"««<'  ""'  <<•■«-,  of  Christia^ 
.ho  work,  of  tl"  devil  an"  tb^Hsh?  """  '°  ^r'  '""™""'"<«"'y  «»  destroy 
oarly  churches  «Pptd  Tht::^  t  trtlrt'l'-of'ttrta'!'"  """"'"  " ''" 

every  where,  an/i.loTl  ^^  '/T  .''"  ""^  ""'o  ".e."  they  preached  Christ 
word  of  the  'Lord  pre;  ,e;  m^^.i  !  ''o.r'J: Z"^"  -'°"  '"»  "-•  ■""•  "■» 
make  through  this  dark  world   if  ll       >•  ,^u   "  ^'"^'^"^  *""'''  "'"  e™P«' 

principle  which  no  v"d  I  el^rt  0?"  71  f"  7  T"'""  '"  '""  «""" 
behovo.  and  therefore  wo  Lak  r     W      .     ^     "  ""''  """''  '=«»<>J'«o",  "  We 

homo,  or  missionarierarortl  sil:  I :.'  ;:L':;"ofr.rtiLTr  •' 
~::^aTor;r::'.."r  cT  '-r  '";•,"-"■■  —-^^^^  -^^^^ 

Sorrows,     the  Church  would  exclaim.  "Give  me  ,«,m,  that  I 


\x  \\i\ 


PREFACE. 


may  dwell ;"  she  would  gain  upon  the  wilderness  ;  every  augmentation  would  be 
the  pledge  of  her  future  success  ;  one  would  become  a  thousand,  the  small  one  a 
strong  nation,  the  glory  of  the  Lord  would  be  revealed,  and  all  flesh  would  soon 
see  it  together. 


When  I  read  the  Word  of  God,  I  am  satisfied  that  the  spread  of  the  gospel 
throughout  the  world,  is  the  determination  of  Heaven.     Light  and  mercy  beamed 
upon  the  human  family  in  the   first  promise  ;   and  for   a  long  line  of  ages,   in 
each  prophetic  vision,  and  every  impartation  of  predictive  knowledge,  the  reign 
of  Jesus  became  more  distinctly  seen,  till,  in  the  fulness  of  time,  the  Messiah 
came.*     Then,  with  the  authority  which  he  possessed  us  "  head  over  all  things 
to  the  church,"  he  delivered  the  law  of  the  kingdom,  a  law  to  remain  in  perpetual 
obhgation.     "  All  power  is  given  to  me,  in  heaven  and  in  earth.     Go  ye,  therefore, 
and  teach  all  nations,  baptizing  them  in  the  name  of  the  Father,  and  of  the  Son, 
and  of  the  Holy  Ghost ;  teaching  them  to  observe  all  things  whatsoever  I  have 
commanded  you:  and  lo,  I  am  with  you  alway,  even  unto  the  end  of  the  world." 
Matt,  xxviii.  18,  19.     And  when   I  regard  the   constitution  of  the  gospel  as  a 
remedial  system,  and  mark  its   invariable  results  upon  the  minds  of  men,  under 
every  possible  variety  of  age,  place,  and  circumstance,  I  see  the  necessity  and  cer- 
tainty of  its  success.     I  examine  the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ,  but  I  find  no  particle 
or  element  of  its  nature,  which  can  indicate  adaptation  to  a  particular  period  of  time, 
or  special  class  of  character.     It   is  founded  upon  the  very  principles  of  human 
nature,  and  is  intended  for  the  various  and  perpetually  changing  relafionships  of 
our  race.     It  unfolds  doctrines,  duties,  and  ordinances,  which  commend  themselves 
to  the  faith,  obedience,   ond  observation  of  men,   in  all  ages  and  all  climes. 
Now,  since  it  is  evident  that  God  has  always  crowned  faithful  attenii)ts  to  spread 
the  gospel  with  success,  does  it  not  follow,  that  if  the  sacred  task  had  been  per- 
formed, that  the  moral  world  would,  at  the  present  day,  have  exhibited  a  lovelier 
aspect  than  it  now  presents  to  the  view  of  holy  intelligences  ?     The  early  Chris- 
tians knew  their  Master's  will,  and  performed  their  duty;  but  hardly  had  the 
apostles  and  their  contemporaries  fallen  asleep,  before  those  who  were  heirs  to 
their  hopes,  were  apostates  from  their  practice  ;  the  glory  of  Christ  was  bartered, 
by  those  who  bore  his  nanie,  for  the   honor  of  men ;  but  he  that  was  crucified 
frowned  upon  them,  and  then  followed   ages  which   are  properly  called  "  dark." 
This  will  be  illustrated  in  "  The  Introduction ;"  and  I  therefore  remark,  that  the 
signs  of  the  times  most  delightfully  announce  the  dawn  of  that  day,  which  the 

•  Roinana  x»i.  85, 96.    PMlm  IL  7,  8  j  xxU.  37  j  Uxll.  10-lS.    Micah  W.  11    ImUJi  h  ;  hi.  5,  ft 


PREFACE.  . 

Scriptures  speak  of,  and  which  the  natural  tendency  of  things  tells  us  must 
arnve  when  the  knowledge  of  the  Lord  shall  cover  the  earth  as  the  waters 
cover  the  sea.  » 

About  forty  years  ago,  combined  prayer-meeUngs,  for  the  outpouring  of  the 
Holy  Spmt,  and  the  spread  of  the  gospel  in  heathen  lands,  introduced  a  spirit 
of  acvty  among  all  classes  of  Christians.  On  the  first  Monday  evening  of 
eve,y  „„„,h,  "  the  thousands  of  Israel"  united  in  pressing  at  the  thLe  of  g^ace 

earth,  and    hy  savmg  health  among  all  nations;"  thus  affording  a  de  ightful 
earnest  of  the  per.od  when  "  all  flesh  shall  come  and  pray  before  God."     eZ^. 

wI^sL  e'Z'o       "'"f  r"  '"'-^''''^-'  "''"S',-  .he  tvill  produ^Jtho 
way^    Since  the  opemng  of  the  present  century,  efforts  have  been  made  to  spread 

reryTartf  on,      7f "  "'7^"  ^"^  "°"''  "'  '-"'  "-"^  'he  inha^Ln't    of 
every  quarter  of  the  globe;  and  to  the  praise  of  divine  grace  it  is  to  be  recorded 

a  m,ss,ona,y  labors  have  not  been  in  vain  in  the  Lorl  „  i,  ,  el^erTng  fact' 
that  »hc„  proper  .nstruments  have  been  employed,  the  amount  of  conversio,; 
among  the  heathen  will  not  shrink  from  a  comparison  with  the  same  process  i" 
lands  of  hght  and  pr.vjege.  Past  endeavors  ,„  convert  the  world  have  Id  t le 
most  ben,g„an.  .nfluence  upon  many  portions  of  the  human  faml  Tl'slnfl 
enco  has  been  felt  by  the  Hottentots  of  Africa,  the  swarming  myriadJ o      ont  . 

.tants  of  the  great  Southern  Archipelago.     Let  the  gospel  be  proclaimed  and  it 
must  answer  the  purposes  allotted  it  by  God.     To  doubt  the  efficacy  If  gospe 
trutb,  ,s  almost  as  cruninal  as  ,o  aposta.i^e  from  its  profession.     Only  sow  To 
mcorrupfble  seed  of  the  wor.l,"  and  it  shall  never  perish.     The  v""ories  of      o 

cross  ,„  Cormth  and  R „,  Ephesus  and  A.hens^re  all  to  be    ep"2,     1 

lauU  addresses  are  to  be  listened  to  in  Ava,  Pekin,  and  other  stroL  holds  "f 
papm  worslu,.,  w.th  all   the  spirit-stirring  effect  which  m„rke,l    ,1 1  „V  1  „1| 

f,  :rr  ,.      :"'?:  r  ''""""'""^  '■■  "■"  1-""-"^  "f  "■«  .."-ionarT  ntepTs" 
.s  no  to  be  den,ed,  but  they  are  not  of  a  n,ore  formidable  character  than  Thl' 
wlml.    ho  gospel  has  already  vanquished.      ..The  prince  of    h     wo  W-'C 
marshaled   us  hosts,  and  brought  all  his  resources  against  the  King  in  Z  on  •  b  , 
h    knows  that  "the  battle  is  the  Lord's;"  his  judgmtn,  has  been  ifrolured  W 
ln.gdom  ,s  eonung  to  an  end.      Difficulties  do  not  belong  to  God,  though  .her 
may  afl-ec.  h,.  servants.     The  energy  of  the  converting  Spirit  is    mdZnis led 
U.e  d,vmo  compassion,  are  unexhausted,  the  precious  pronL.  whiTl   II  ted 


vt 


PREFACE. 


patriarchs,  prophets,  and  apostles,  remain  for  our  consolation,  whilst  we  carry 
forward  the.r  labors.  It  ought  not  to  be  forgotten,  that  if  success  has  been  great 
in  the  incipient  stages  of  our  missioriff  to  the  heathen,  we  may  rationally  expect 
brighter  results  from  future  and  more  matured  operations;  although  I  am  far  from 
supposing  that  the  perfection  of  human  wisdom  in  device  or  action,  will  avail  any 
thing,  separate  from  the  blessing  of  God.  To  form  a  proper  estimate  of  mission- 
ary  labors,  it  should  be  recollected,  that  a  considerable  part  of  past  effort  has 
been  devoted  to  "a  vast  apparatus  of  means  for  attack  and  defence."  Transla- 
tions of  the  Sacred  Scriptures  have  called  out  the  best  energies  of  the  ablest 
missionaries.  Now,  translations  of  Divine  Truth,  and  the  production  of  elementary 
books,  are  but  means;  yet,  to  use  the  language  of  the  late  secretary  of  the  Lon- 
don Missionary  Society,  "  they  are  ends  as  well  as  means  ;  they  are  legitimate 
objects  of  Christian  labor  ;  many  of  them  will  not  require  to  be  done  again,  and 
the  man  who  has  accomplished  them  ought  not  to  be  considered  by  his  brethren 
as  having  lived  in  vain." 

It  is  delightful  to  mark  the  growing  interest  which  the  church  of  God  displays 
in  the  conversion  of  the  world.  The  good  news  from  far  countries,  which  is 
contmually  received,  rejoices  the  hearts  of  a  multitude,  who  give  God  "  no  rest 
tdl  he  establish  and  till  he  make  Jerusalem  a  praise  in  the  wliole  earth."  Intel- 
hgence  so  important  is  embraced  with  avidity  by  all  who  are  able  to  appreciate 
Its  value.  As  it  is  impracticable,  however,  without  devoting  much  time,  atten- 
tion and  money  to  this  object,  (without,  in  fact,  purchasing,  arranging,  and 
carefully  perusing  bundles  of  reports,  volumes  of  magazines,  letters,  journals, 
and  memoirs  of  missionaries,  with  various  other  sources  of  information,)  to  obtain 
any  thing  like  a  correct  and  luminous  view  of  the  societies  which  have  been 
organized,  and  the  triumphs  which  they  have  achieved  in  this  noble  enterprise  • 
It  IS  believed  that  an  impartial  and  connected  account  of  the  various  missionary 
societies  now  in  existence  for  the  spread  of  the  gospel  among  the  heathen,  will 
have  a  claim  on  the  attention  of  the  religious  public,  as  peculiarly  calculated  to 
revive  pleasing  recollections,  to  animate  to  fresh  effort,  and  inspire  jovous  hope  in 
reference  to  a  cause  which  has  been  so  signally  owned  by  God.  Anxim.s  to  extend 
the  knowledge  of  those  great  events,  which,  in  recent  years,  have  begun  to  realize 
the  visions  of  ancient  prophecy,  I  have  endeavored  to  furnish  a  work,  which 
though  moderate  in  its  limits,  and  accessible  to  all  ranks  by  its  mode  of  publica- 
tion, may  form  a  repository  of  missionary  intelligence,  and  present  a  sort  of 
panoramic  view  of  those   various  societies,  which,  diftering  from  each  other  in 


PREPACE. 


<I 


names  md  forms,  rewmble  .he  separate  bodies  of  cavalry,  infantry,  and  artUlery 
m  a  great  army,  all  of  whom  are  subjects  of  the  same  king,  all  arranged  teneZ 
the  same  national  burner,  and  aU  opposed  to  one  common  enemy.      * 

for"B'Jl!r''°"p''''^'"''-  "*"^'  •■""  **'^  ""-"Pa'tio"  «  not  designed  bxclusively 
Mo^aXTu',  ^"'''':-«-' Epl-opalians  or  Congregationalis^.  Methodists  or 
Moravans.  but  for  all  who  love  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  in  sincerity  and  wh^ 
are  earnestly  engaged  in  promoting  the  salvation  of  their  fellow  crelres  Sn 
the  prosecutton  of  this  design,  the  utmost  pains  will  be  taken  to  bwTmuse 
me„tw«h,nfo,ma.ion,  by  embodying  in  the  narrative  the  most  valuable  " 

Tcon.^  „!llh  .Te"""";";'  •""' ""'  "■"'■"'"'-  "'"«'■ '-"  ---pubird 

Win  ass.      he  reader  m  forming  correct  ideas  of  many  interesting  objects  -  and  an 
index  will  be  so  contrived,  as  to  form  an  eoitomo  of  tL«.     •    •        ^        '  " 

to  which  it  will  furnish  a  prompt  an^  ZX^fZ^rZ^Z^T''. 
the  missions  which  are  sustained  by  American  effort  will  h.?  !'     T  "^ 

When  I  was  requested  to  undertake  the  editorshin  of  ihi.  h-  .         i       •  • 
.be  assistance  of  my  estecned  friend,  .be     ot  fer  of    ,a""7an  oft"'""1 
which  treats  of  English  missions.      But  before  I  coul  I  1  M        V 
subject,  ho  was  called  to  leave  the  clmrcl,  1        .1,  "  '"'"  "<""  "'» 

me„t  of  that  glorious  rest,  wllh  l,c  Id  so  «  '  ''  ,  T'  "'""'  ""  ^J"^' 
fervor  that  saUsficd  his  111'",  of^ho  L  """",''"""">«''-  -'"•  »"  energy  and 
with  the  land  aS.r  off.      T^  R^v    ThomLT:"' "''"'"  '"'  *""'  '"""'''' 

P«.™.„g„„f  that  excellent  .n..y  .L  ^Zs !?';,"  uZ^r-tlH:  IT  ',"" 
was  brought  to  the  knowledire  of  Chri.t   „    i  i  •         """fe"°"-     '«  early  life,  he 

•■in.  .o  viint  l..™cu.i„n  hfs\tm  erte?e  ,  3tr"  ''' f'^T^r"'' 
Sinith  was  a  man  of  wonderful  cner»v  •  ZJlT  ■  ''°"^«''°'''-     Mr. 

multitudes  received  their  ear  LsrZjilnr  ^^  ,::  ""'°'""' ''"  i"''"' P'"'^'' = 
•hey  heard  this  bold  ambassador  declare  .  cur  of  Zr"'T  .f  ""l'™''  "" 
of  its  law,  while  he  closed  by  telling  ,h„  storv  of  r„f  T,     "  "'""'''" 

of  .he  man  to  whom  the  Lo^l  imnuLb  .rZ.  ',,^T'  t"".  I''".  "^  T""-' 
1830,  in  the  55tl,  year  of  bis  age. "  ^'^^  *'     ""'  """""  """'  """■  ^'' 


vm 


PREFACE. 


With  respect  to  that  portion  of  this  work  which  was  furnished  by  Mr.  Smith, 
1  would  only  state,  that,  eight  or  nine  years  having  elapsed  since  its  pages  were 
written,  much  interesting  matter,  which  has  subsequently  been  developed,  will  be 
incorporated  in  its  appropriate  place,  and  several  inaccuracies  or  misconceptions, 
which  the  nature  of  the  work  rendered  almost  inevitable,  will  be  corrected  by  later 
information,  and  access  to  fresh  authorities.  And  here  I  would  gratefully  acknowl- 
edge my  obligations  to  the  Rev.  Secretaries  of  the  London  Missionary  Society, 
the  Church  Missionary  Society,  the  Wesleyan  Methodist,  and  Baptist  Missionary 
Societies,  and  the  Rev.  Joseph  Belcher,  of  London,  for  the  kind  assistance  which 
they  have  afforded  me  in  the  prosecution  of  this  work. 

Disappointment  may  connect  itself  with  the  pursuits  of  commerce  and  the  re- 
searches of  science,  but  positive  and  glorious  success  is  certain  to  the  cause 
of  missions.  The  desires  of  the  Son  of  God  must  be  satisfied ;  his  power  in 
heaven  and  earth  is  unlimited  ;  and  soon  he  will  reign  over  a  willing  world,  con- 
quered by  his  love  ;  for  it  is  written,  "The  Lord  shall  be  King  over  all  the  earth." 
The  voice  of  prophecy  is  solemn  testimony  to  the  spread  of  his  power  and  the 
aboundings  of  his  glory.  O  that  "  the  sacramental  host  of  God's  elect"  would 
make  themselves  acquainted  and  familiar  with  the  revealed  presages  of  Zion's 
glory  !  O  that  they  would  ponder  the  merciful  purposes  of  God  respecting  the 
North  and  South,  and  East  and  West  !  O  that  they  would  remember  that  a 
Saviour's  blood  hath  sealed  the  conquest  of  the  multitude  which  man  cannot  num- 
ber !  Then  they  would  feel,  that,  truly  as  there  is  a  God  in  heaven,  the  kingdoms 
of  this  world  are  to  become  the  kingdoms  of  our  Lord  and  of  his  Christ ;  and,  with 
an  energy  and  rapture  superior  to  that  which  once  impelled  all  Europe  against 
the  followers  of  the  false  prophet,  they  would  cry  out  respecting  the  conversion  of 
the  world,  "  It  is  the  will  of  God  !  It  is  the  will  of  God  !" 


May  the  Christian  church  never  forget  its  solemn  responsibilities  !  May  all  its 
members  listen  to  a  voice  from  the  shores  of  darkness  and  cruelty,  crying,  "  Come 
over  and  help  us  ;"  to  a  voice  from  the  grave,  which  exclaims,  "  Work  while 
it  is  called  to-day  ;"  and  to  a  voice  from  the  most  excellent  glory,  saying,  **  Go  ye 
forth  into  all  the  world,  and  preach  my  gospel  to  every  creature." 


Newport,  R.  I.,  March,  1832. 


JOHN  OVERTON  CHOULES. 


CONTENTS  OF  VOL.  I. 


Preface, _ 

Introduction.  ^*8es  3—8 

The  Redeemer  of  men  a  missionarv_Tl,«  a:  „•  i 
pointed  missionaries  by  hrfa  "in  u^^In  ^tT^^%^^ 

Cornelius,  means  of  spreading  the  jro<.npl  "'/;'*^*° 
view  of  the  labors  of  the  aDos.lpT  ^p  f  "^  "^^ncise 

missionary— the  field  nfll  i.kr,-"^   *"   °"="^e 


0CMuTiS^!Zipl°!','»''»"''}:^'^'«''l'^n 


d»,  and 'c™l5"."h         "''"-""  """'■•''I*  «"■ 


sionaries 

SSaiion-  or;he^-;::-:^ .  -r'^'^^ «;-"- 

7%irrf  C>«/«r^,_Acco.int  of   ' * ' '  *  *  *  '•^~' 


of  the  Scriptures 

^^rniHrj/ Acc 

of  divine  truth  greatly  extended -Wisd 


thp  emperor*  Phili'pULight 
of  God  display;,f:77  -""'ded -Wisdom  and  power 

rourth  p«/«ry._Remarkib]V  "conversion 
tine  the  (Jreat-IIis  subse  ''"'"'"°" 
heresy— The  gospel  iiurod^ 


of 


«reat-nis  subsequent  conduc"t-The"A 


15 

Constan- 
rian 


sion 
in 


of  the 


Iberiaiis— Many  of   the"inonk» 
•n^^missionary    labors-AccLnt  'of    Abraham 


'd 


coiiver- 

engage 

the 

■. 15-17 

into  Ireland  by 


■?i     P„,  "7  "^T'""  ^""P'''  introducer 
S  .    Pa  r.ci(-Conversion   of  the    Pic 
..S'r'"- •""«  "f '»'"  Franks 

ML^:!'':r''-^""y''''!i°''  of  EthelbnrV  king  of  Kent- 


,.  ,^  .  king  ^rrz2:.[ :':. ;'— ^-p^*- » 

Missionaries 

the  mission— Diffir"nI.ro";*^""-^  '"  ^-nRmnrt-Hnccess  of 

the  first  Zsiot'Jiel^Mi::'!!^^.!^"''"'  "«• -«ny  of 


"•e  nrst  missionaries-Missionary  labo  sof  rZn  . ' 
Conversion  nf  ih»  4K..„;  ,_j  ,r^    ,.    '*  "'  Colomlv 

S  vrnth  Vrnturv  -The'sii^'A  n"l    «  "    ' '  \' ''^•-'" 

cHu.H-Mi.^ion:!^i;:n:^£nrar^^ 


Sa^dr's^onidU";^  Batavia  and  other  p.ace»- 

aries-A  Syrian  miVslnf  "'''^'°"^'-y-I"sh  mission- 

character  an^pro^re     of  */'r  T  9''in''-The  rise, 

Eighth  Centurv      ThlT  I      ^''^'"netmism 20—^ 

Bonifac'-ZawTof  fcr"'''''^*''  "'^ ^'"'""'J'  '=«"«d 
lehad  among^e  SaxmfSj\^"""*"y'  """lofVil- 
and  the  Saxons-Nestorti^^  '  ^^•"■*'*="  Charlemagne 


of  the  missionaries  of  this 


''^"•"'■y. 23,24 


Tenth  Century. — The  "  irnn  n„„'>     o' •*">  •** 

the  age,. .:.... ..!  .71.     "'°''  '"="^''  missionaries  of 

Eleventh  Cmtuni'.—iy,so'rVclA  'h.i  \i"i', ''^*'  ^^ 

of  the  gospel  fn  Ilunfarv  and  S  J.  ^"/y  ;^ar_Succes3 
Russians,  Poles  and  n»„-  f^^^'^-^'?  a^-ong  the 
Ulfrid  and  Eschil        "''""'-labors  and  murd?r  of 

"^o^rts^jr-'^^^'^'^'^--^^^^^^^ 

countries  *^nina,  1  artary  and  other 

...26 

-Wor- 

-,...26,27 

tjormatton — Account     of 

Lapland  '""^  *^"'  *°  ®''""'  America 


^£n"n'n  ('^"""•^-A  field  for"  missionary  labor, 

s^.:if  K:i':iVhe""';jl^''  ^'""'' t^- 

Francis   V.vil,     m-  -''?/'"^''<""«— Accu., 

and  Lapland,  .7.   .'".'!"!?r  ''"'  *°  ®''"'''  ^ 
Seventeenth  Centum Tli'n'mV„I.*  *  V •  •  • .  .27,  28 

««lese-Lab:;nf  1^^^^^!^^:^'''  '''  ^'" 


galese- 
aniong 


th(!  Indi 


f.:,,     „  n     """"«  "^  N°'»''  America    :.".'r^  ^tZ 

nJnT  i'^'"'T^-'^'"'  ^"  of  mission^Tle  kS  of 
Denmark    sends   missionaries   to  Tranquebrr-Their 

Mras'"  A  «"!^'=««^S£,h"lt=^e  undertake'  a  missiln'o 

da?oreil^tT''''J '"  ^anjore-Missionaries  visit  CuS 

Triiif  ^f^P"'  •"'""'''  '"  Calcutta-Swartz  visits 

tTcSir'.7ure"r"r'".^'""^  ^""■^  "-'S 

uta     Btate  of  the  Danish  mission   in  India— S«,i«,.. 

^'T:T  <"-""7/--Calle';^"he  ';is;i;,;;rV  «Ve-Wifa" 
has^^been   accomplished,  and    what   ma/  y?t   be   ex- 

*  ' 40 


CONTENTS. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   MISSIONS   OF   THE   MORAVIANS. 


CHAPTER    I. 


MISSION    TO    GREENLAND. 


The  United  Brethren  propose  to  send  the  gospel  to  Green- 
land— Matthew  and  Christian  Stach  offer  themselves  as 
missionaries,  and  embark  for  Greenland — Discourage- 
ments after  their  arrival — Joined  by  John  Beck  and 
Frederick  Boehnish — Danger  from  famine — More  assis- 
tants arrive — Success  of  the  mission — Kayaruak  is 
baptized  with  his  family,  and  received  into  the  church — 
Death  of  Kayarnak — First  church  erected — Distress 
from  famine,  cold  and  storms — A  contagious  and  alarm- 
ing distemper  prevails — New  missionary  settlement 
called  Lichtenfels — Narrow  escape  of  four  mission- 
aries— Baptism  at  Lichtenfels — A  mission-house  and 
church  built — Death  of  Frederick  Boehnish — Two 
hundred  baptized  at  Lichtenfels  and  New  Uerrnhut — 


Arrival  of  Christopher  Michael  Koenigseer — New  mis- 
sionary settlement  called  Lichtenau — The  stations 
afflicted  with  a  contagious  disorder — Remarkable  pres- 
ervations— A  painful  catastrophe — Extracts  from  letters 
of  the  missionaries — Interesting  conversions — Intro- 
duction of  a  hymn-book  attended  with  happy  effect*^ 
Account  of  Beck  the  missionary — Pleasing  accounts 
from  Beck  and  Gorcke — Notice  of  Beck's  jubilee — 
Interesting  account  of  the  labors  of  Mr.  Klcinschmidt — 
Letters  from  Gorcke  and  Eberle — A  new  missionary 
station  called  Fredericstall — Pleasing  account  of  it 
given  by  Mr.  Kleinschmidt — Prosperity  of  New  Herrn- 
hut  and  Fredericstall,. 41 — 63 


CHAPTER    II. 
MISSION    TO    THE   WEST    INDIA    ISLANDS. 


St.  Thomas — Singular  origin  of  this  mission — Leonard 
Dober  appointed  missionary — His  arrival  and  recep- 
tion, accompanied  by  Nitschman — Arrival  and  labors 
of  others — First  baptism — Death  of  John  Bonike  by 
lightning — Persecution — Missionaries  are  imprisoned — 
The  work  of  God  progresses — Visit  of  Bishop  Watte- 
viilt — Death  of  Frederic  Martin — Shipwreck  of  six 
missionaries — Capture  of  missionaries  by  a  privateer — 
Contagious  fever — Violent  hurricane — Dreadful  con- 
flagration— Remarkable  escape  of  Mrs.  Eberman,  who 
was  wrecked,  with  her  husband,  on  their  passage  to 
St.  Thomas .6:1—68 

St.  Cnoix — Commencement  of  this  mission — Discourage- 
ments— Renewal  of  exertions — George  Ohneberg — 
Burning  of  the  mission-house — It  is  rebuilt — Destruc- 
tion of  the  churcli,  dwelling-house,  offices,  &c.  by  a 
hurricane — Consecration  of  a  new  church — State  of  this 
mission  as  communicated  by  several  individuals,  68 — 70 

St.  Jan. — Commencement  and  progress  of  this  mission — 
Dreadful  hurricane 70,  71 

Jamaica — Zechariah  G.  Caries  appointed  to  this  mis- 
sion— Favorable  commencement — Return  of  Caries — 
Labors  of  Frederic   Schlcgcl — Discouraging   circum- 


stances attending  his  death — Arrival  of  Thomas  Ellia 
and  Joseph  Jackson — Jackson's  death — Labors  of  other 
missionaries  and  general  progress  of  the  mission — 
Arrival  and  death  of  several  missionaries — Pleasing 
account  of  the  mission  given  by  Mr.  Ellis 71 — 75 

Anticua — Samuel  Isles  commences  his  labors  in  this 
island — Place  of  worship  erected  at  St.  John — Death 
of  Isles  and  arrival  of  Mr.  Brown — Discouraging  cir- 
cumstances— God's  work  prospers  amidst  persecution — 
Sunday  schools — The  colonial  government  encourages 
the  mission — Prosperity  of  the  mission — Evening  schools 
— Favorable  information 75 — 77 

Barhadoes — Unfavorable  commencement — Benjamin 
Bruckshaw,  Mr.  Bonnet  and  John  Angerman — Dis- 
couragements— James  Waller  and  others  escape  from 
shipwreck  and  robbers — A  distressing  storm — Bishop 
Hueffel's  visit — Mr.  Taylor's  account  of  this  mis- 
sion  , 77 — 80 

St.  Chhistopher. — Berkley  and  Gotwald  sent  to  this 
island — Prosperity  attends  the  mission — Dreadful  inun- 
dation and  hurricane — Invasion  of  the  island  by  a 
French  fleet — Prosperity — Hurricane — State  of  the  mis- 
sion as  given  by  several  missionaries 80,81 


CHAPTER    III. 
MISSIONS    IN    NORTH    AMERICA. 


Commences  with  the  Indians  of  the  Creek  nation — This 
station  abandoned  in  consequence  of  war — Christian 
Henry  Rauch  arrives  in  Now  York  from  Herrnhut — 
His  lalwrs  among  the  Indians  at  Shehomeho— Work 
r.fthe  Holy  Spirit — Visit  of  couiii  Ziiizrndorf — Violent 
persecution — On.'idcnhultcn — The  gospel  preached  to 


the  Iroquois — Indian  war — Tragical  catastrophe  at 
Gnadeiihutten — A  striking  providence — New  settle- 
ments called  Nain  and  Weikquetauk — Distressing  state 
of  the  mission — Conduct  of  Benjamin  Franklin  and 
the  Quakcfn — Renatus — Cessation  of  hostilities — Set- 
tlrmcnt    of   Fridenshuetten — Extraordinary   preserva- 


CONTENTS. 


tion— Frequent  changes  of  location— The  divine  bless- 
ing attends  the  mission— Difficulties  arise  in  conse- 
quence of  war  between  Great  Britain  and  the  American 
colonies— Indian  barbarities— Hardships  of  the  mis- 
sionaries—Horrid  massacre  of  the  Christians— Re- 
markable escape  of  two  youths— The  missionaries  are 
removed  to  Detroit-The  gospel  introduced  among  the 
Oherokees-Indian  crueltie»-Death  of  the  laborious 


Ul 
Zeisberger— Difficulties  arising  from  the  war  between 

ieLKfl  ®'r  ""'  Great  Iritain-ConverslTna^d 
PrZLu  cVu^^  opposer-Death  of  John  Schnall- 
StaTnT^i?^  rt  mission-Account  of  Philip  Ignatu»~ 
State  of  the  Cherokee  mission-Establishment  of  an 


CHAPTER    IV. 


MISSION  IN 

^'tSrii.""*  ^""^  ^'^  ""  »•="»««— Difficulties  at- 
nf  &  /?^  commencement  of  this  mission-Studv 
of  the  native  language— Conversion  of  Indians  in  the 
V  cinity  of  the  Oronoko-New  difficuIties-The  „i^ 
sion  abandoned, 1(^1  in 

Sharon,  on  the  SARAMECA.-CommenVement,  sup- 
pression  and  renewal  of  this  mission-The  missiX 
aries  attacked  by  slaves- Arrival  and  death  T  new 

missionaries-Settlement  abandoned, no  ni 

Hope,  ON  the  Corentvn.-L.  C.  Daehne  commences  the 
mission  amidst  a  variety  of  difficulties— A  remarkable 
escape-Arrival  of  three  missionaries-Building  of  a 
church-Labors  of  Fischer-School  establishedlMi*^ 


SOUTH    AMERICA. 


smllPmp'nF'-'^r^^-  '"T  'J'o^ning-Destruction  of  th« 
settlement  including  the  mission-house,  church.  &c 

Dy  nre —  1  he  mission  abandoned, i  i2__i  1 4 

n^v^'V  ""*  '■'"=  SARAMECA.-Conversion  of  Arabini 
^f„  ;r^"  anecdote  of  him-Another  of  C.  L.  Schu^ 
PARAS7;7„r°T®^'"M**~^''"<'"  K'^^"  up,.  114-116 
A  numwTf  '^'?"*''^"°™"'''''*'"""* "^ '^^ mission- 
nParZZ.A   ^  interesting  anecdotes  of  the  converted 

mifsTonT^t.. .'..?"'''  ""'^^"^'^'om  state  of  the 

SoMMELSDYKBi-De^h  'of  'thV  'fiVs;    miMiMwiJlfliutS 

of  the  mission-Its  final  suspension °...120,  la? 


InAA^'l  7^  early  state  of  this  mission-Education 
and  death  of  an  Esquimaux  boy-Erection  of  a  miss  on" 
house  at  Nam-Severe  cold-Encouraging  Xum 
called'^lT  nj'-'onaries  drowned-A  newlettlement 
caned  OMnA:-Two  very  remarkable  deIiverances_A 
third  station  called  flbprrf«/e_Singular  loss  of  J  W 
Keiman— A  remarkable  and  pleasine  event— A  tp" 
nval  of  God's  work-Dangers  occasioLdb;  floating" 
.ce-An  occasion  of  joy-Singular  preservation  of  a 


CHAPTER    V. 
MISSION   IN    LABRADOR. 


young  Esquimaux  convert-Gratitude  of  the  Esquimaux 
ZJtr  '""'^  ''^  God-Remarkable  phenomenon" 
Another  singular  preservation— Evidences  of  real  con. 
version  among  the  Esquimaux-Pleasing  intelligence 
from  the  miss.onaries-Two  instances  of  preservation 
from  drowning-Letter  from  Amos  Ovangd  AjortuHk 
a  converted  Esquimaux-A  malignant  disorder-A 
fourth  station  caWed  Kangertluhoak, 121-1^ 


George  Schmidt  labors  among  the  Hottentots-His  re- 
moval-1  he  mission  renewed  by  Marsveld,  Schwinn 
and  Kuehnel-Various  difficulties-Mr.  BaUw's  nc 
count  of  the  mission  at  Bavian's  Kloof-A  destructive 
epidemical  fever-A  second  settlement  called  Grucn- 
.tfoo/_Favorable  circumstances-Rebellion  of  the 
slaves-Anecdote  of  a  tiger-Prophecy  of  a  Hottentot 

nrJir    ."!,'T"."  "."""*  ^y  ^  I-  Latrobe,  secretary  to 
the  United  Brethren's  society  in  London-A  distressing 


CHAPTER    VI. 
MISSION    IN    SOUTH    AFRICA. 


torrent  from  the  mountains— Visit  from  the  governor 
brd  Somerset,  and  others-New  station  at  Witte 
Kevier— The  mission  troubled  by  the  Caffres- Prosper- 
ous state  of  the  settlement-Distress  atGnadenthal  and 
Gruenekloof-Also  at  Enon-Pleasing  account  from 
?l"f  Pff  '."''  G/uenekloof-Distressing  inundation  at 
tnon-Effects  of  the  grace  of  God— Labors  of  Mr 
Leitner  among  the  lepers-Mission  among  the  Tam- 
bookies-Noble  spirit  of  a  Hottentot 7.134-149 


CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER    VII. 
MISSION    IN    ASIATIC    RUSSIA. 


A.  MISSIONARY  settlement  formed  on  the  banks  of  the 
Wolga  called  Sarepta — Two  missionaries  visit  the 
Calmucs — An  alarming  event — Grabsch  and  Gruhl  visit 
the  Tschecks — School  at  Sarepta — Labors  of  J.  Q. 
Schill  and  C.  Huebncr  among  the  Calmucs — Parable 
of  a  Gellong — Death  of  the  Calmuc  prince — Account 


of  his  funeral— The  festival  of  Good  Works— Installa- 
tion of  a  lama — An  interesting  letter — Conversation 
with  the  lama— Darkness  and  superstition  of  the  Cal- 
mucs— First  fruits  of  this  mission — Account  of  the 
Calmuc  converts — A  distressing  fire  at  Sarepta — Con- 
cluding account, 149 165 


CHAPTER    VIII. 
UNSUCCESSFUL    MISSIONS. 


Lapland. — Three  of  the  United  Brethren  undertake  this 
mission — They  are  thrown  into  prison — A  second  at- 
tempt to  establish  this  mission  fails, 165,  160 

Guinea. — All  who  engage  in  this  mission  die,  and  the 
object  is  abandoned, 166 

Algiers. — This  mission  is  attended  with  some  success, 
but  soon  given  up 166 

Ceylon. — Tl.o  opening  of  this  mission  is  favorable — Mis- 
sionaries removed  by  order  of  the  governor,  and  the 
mission  abandoned 166,  167 

Peusia. — This  mission  attended  with  serious  diflicultics 
and  suspended, 167,  168 

EoiPT. — Dr.  Hocker  undertakes  this  mission — He  visits 
Grand  Cairo — Letters  from  the  Coptic  patriarch — 
Hocker  leaves  the  mission — He  returns  again  with 
George  Pilder — Serious  difficulties — attempts  to  in- 
struct the  Copts — The  sufferings  of  Mr.  Antes  from 
imprisonment  and  the  bastinado— Mission  given 
up, 168—174 


Nicobar  Islands. — The  first  settlement  called  the  Breth- 
ren's Garden — Account  of  the  split  snake — Ideas  of 
the  natives  concerning  God — Their  reasonings  on  the 
subject  of  religion — Missionaries  taken  by  a  priva- 
teer— Distressing  circumstances — The  mission  aban- 
doned  174—177 

Island  op  Tobaco. — Origin  and  progress  of  this  mis- 
sion— Death  of  the  first  missionaries — Encouraging 
circumstances — Attempts  at  insurrection — State  of  the 
mission, 178,  179 


Principles    upon   which    the    brethren   conducteb 

THEIR    LABORS, 179 Igl 

Enumeration  of  all  the  missionary  stations  of  the  United 
Brethrm's  church,  together  with  the  names  of  the  mis- 
sionaries employed,  towards  the  close  of  the  year 
1830, ...181,182 


HISTORY    OF    THE    ENGLISH    BAPTIST    MISSIONARY    SOCIETY. 


CHAPTER    I. 


Formation  op  the  society  and  subsequent  proceed- 
ings. 

Association  at  Nottingham — Monthly  missionary  prayer- 
meeting — Rev.  W.  Carey — Formation  of  the  society — 
Mr.  John  Thomas — First  converts — Mr.  Carey  engages 
in   the  mission   with   Mr,   Thomas — Address   to  the 


churches — Plan  of  the  society — Continuation  of  the 
history — death  of  Rtv.  Andrew  Fuller— Dr.  Ryland 
chosen  secretary— Death  of  Dr.  Ryland— Painful  event 
— A  NOTICE — Contributions — Missionary  stations 
— Table  of  receipts  and  expenditures — Table  op 
STATIONS, 183—193 


CHAPTER    II. 
MISSION    IN    BENGAL. 


Difficulties  attending  its  commencement — Letter  from 
Dr.  Carey — Description  of  the  Hindoos — Manner  of 
worshipping  the  Riin^-^Otlinr  rrrftr.r-.t'Ars — Hir-..-!, 
castes — Preaching  of  Mr.  Carey 


Church  formed  at 


Mudnabatty — Serious  inquirers — The  missionaries  visit 
the  saobah — Interesting  ceremonies — Account  of  Igna- 
tius Fcrnaiidc!: — A  calamitous  flood — Account  of  the 
missionaries  Marshman,  Grant,  Brunsdon  and  Ward 


CONTENTS. 


They  are  set  apart  for  this  mission— A  woman  burninff 
herself  with  her  husband— Sailing  of  the  missionaries-I 
Singular  interposition  of  Divine  Providence— Arrival 
of  the  missionaries— Manner  of  worshipping  the  sod 
Rajn— Death  of  Mr.  Grant— Translation  of  the  IVew 
Testament-Happy  death  of  Mr.  Fountain-Baptism 
of  Kristno  and  others-Mr.  Carey  appointed  professor 
of  Bengalee  and  Sanscrit  in  the  college  at  Fort  William 
—Pleasing  conduct  of  Kristno— Death  of  Mr.  Bruns- 
don— Character  and  death  of  Mr.  Thomas— Dulol,  the 
fomous  leader-Marriage  of  Mr.  Ward-Account  of 
Neelo  and  Seeb  Ram  Dass— Arrival  of  Mr.  Chamber- 
lain  and   wife— Death   and   burial  of  Gokool— Super- 
stitious ceremonies— Ordination  of  Kristno  and  Petum- 
ber  Shingo— Affecting  scene— Death  of  Mr.  Chamber- 
lain— Prosperity  of  the  mission— Arrival  of  Messrs. 
BissMardon,  Moore  and  Rowe-A  new  church  consti- 
tuted  at  Dmagepore-A  serious  event-Solemn  event 
—Horrid  superstition- Pleasing  accounts— An  unhao- 
py  event-Death  of  Mr.  Creighron  and  Mr.  Grant-I^ 
rampore  taken  by  the  English-Opening  of  a  spaciou^ 


-rblnd^of  r  "h{l~^7r''^'  "^'oWished  at  Calcutta 
—A  band  of  robbers— A  drstructive  fire— Death  of  Mr 
Mardon-Tiie  work  of  God  progresses  at  Calcutta- 
Discouraging  occurrence-S«^ng!ng  festival-Accou^ 
of  DeepChund-Three  females  burnt  .„  ,Wk  ?""* 


M 


;<     n-.k-         r   T females  burnt  to  death  in  a 

at-Bathmg  of  Juggernaut-Interesting  account  of 
luhummud  Bakeer-Singular  circumstfnce-Exam? 
ot  the  Benevolent  Institution  at  r>iIri..»D_i„ 


progresses  at  Calcutta 

—  ufjiiig  uv^uurrcijce — ow' 

3p  Chund— Three  fem; 

iathing  of  Juggernaut- 

nmud  Bakeer — Singula 
nation  of  the  Benevolent  Institution  at  Calcutta— In- 
stallation  of  Lawson  and  E.  Carey-A  melancho?v 
ZT~£l  ^'f  m"  ^' ^-g»P-^-College  at  Seraji- 
Religious  pilgnmagcs-Death  of  Mr.  Ward-Alarminir 
rrSe-pTritT.fr.  .^^'.^-^-^He  stationTn 

'^oTrBibie!?!!.?!;:?  ">'--  '^--'^i"£!i 

CAX.cvTrA.-Review  of  this  mlssioZ-A  lisl  oftheVorks 
n,.hl„h.,,    at    this    press-P/„,.    for    fire    7pera. 

DiNAGEPouE, :::::;::::: ^^~^^i 

'^'^""^ •  •  • :::::::::::::::::i^:S 


published 
tions 


CHAPTER    III. 

MISSION    IN    THE    BURMAN    EMPIRE. 
RiGiN  of  the  mission— Festival  in  the  ffohkn  tcmnk~A  n       n;ffi     i.-     •     , 
Burman  funeral-Horrid  cruelties-Destructh^fi^i  K,^"""-""' '"  "'«  n>'ssion-Mr.  Carey  visits  the  k.ng- 

iructive  lire-  1|       Distressing  event-Transfer  of  the  mission,.  .268-272 


Orig 


CHAPTER    IV, 

MISSION    IN   ORISSA. 

The  mission  commences  favorably Wnrshinrv^r.  «<•  r  .,     . 

hoojya-Suspeusion  of  .he  mission; r.!^.T.!  .^^^''"'"'-*^''^''^"  featival-Account  of  Jugunnaf  ha  Mook- 

272—276 


Commencement  of  the  mission-Description  of  the 
country  and  people-Trying  circumstances-Encour- 
aging prospects-Account  of  the  mission  at  Patna  and 
Digah— A    religious     murder— Striking     anecdote— 


CHAPTER    V. 
MISSION    IN    HINDOOSTAN. 


Drowning  of  a  leprous  Hindoo-Effects  of  reading  the 
Scriptures-A  cruel  and  revolting  scene-RemaKe 

Sm' "''"'""^  incidents-beath  of  l5r  Rowe- 
DiGAn— MoNOHVB— BEN.iKEs, 277—288 


CHAPTER    VI. 
MISSIONS    IN    THE    ASIATIC    ISLANDS. 


CEYLON.-Preachmg  of  Mr.  Chater-An  afflicting  occur- 
rence—Alarming disease— Conversion  of  two  ^oodhist 
priests-Death  of  Mrs.  Chater-Death  of  Mr.  Chater 
—Arrival  of  Mr.  Daniel— Prosperous  slate  of  the 
mission,  J. .  ••■•........ 289-293 

JAVA.-Labors  of  Mr.  Robinson_Mr.  Bruckner's  visit  to 
Pr.m6„««m-Difficulties  from  fiXB^Chohra  morhus- 
Translation  of  the  New  Testament-Insurrection- 
Mr.  faruckncr  removes, 1^93 ^397 


^?f1heB«t^r'5".''f'°"r  '■""".^^-  Burton-Account 
of  the  Battas-Schoola^Letter  from  the  missionaries- 
Stan    V /•    ..  .  -     — 

funeral- 


Mahometan  views  of  the  world-Description  of  a 
ineral-Cruel  amusements-Anecdote  of  an  elephant 
-Superstitions    of  the  Battas-The    mU«"n  T.  "„ 


up,. 


mission    given 
297—306 


vi 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER    VII. 
MISSION   IN    THE    ISLAND   OF    JAMAICA. 


Orioin  of  the  mission— Death  of  Mr.  Rowe,  the  first  mis- 
Bionary— Prosperity  of  the  mission— Death  of  Mrs. 
Coultart— Dei.ih  of  Mrs.  Godden— Death  and  character 
of  Mr.  Kitching— Attempt  to  burn  Mr.  Godden— 
Anecdotes  of  the  converts— Mr.  Coultart's  visits  to 
Manchmeel  and  Montego  Bay— Interesting  account  of 
a  negress— State  of  the  mission— Power  of  religion 
among  the  negroes— Two  hundred  and  forty-nine  bap- 
tized m  one  day— D  ath  of  Mr.  Knibb— State  of  the 
mission  at  Kingston— Interesting  anecdotes— State  of 


the  mission  at  rnffaAs— Interesting  facts— Mission  at 
Spanish  Town— At  Port  Royal— At  Old  Harbor  and 
Vere—A  striking  hct— Mount  Charles— Afontego  Bay 
—Interesting  anecdotes— Oooforf  Spring— Falmouth 
—Anotta  Bay— Port  Maria— A  tabular  statement  of 
the  Baptist  churches  in  the  island  of  Jamaica— Oppoai- 

tion  to  the  mission, , , 300—325 

South  America !!!!,.       326 

South  Africa,. !!!!.'!"*  328 


HISTORY    OF   TlIE    LONDON    MISSIONARY    SOCIETY. 


CHAPTER   I. 


Formation  of  the  society. 
Preparatory  measures— Circular  address— A  meeting  of 


ministers- Another  circular— A  general  convention — 
Formation  of  the  society— Choice  of  officers,  327—331 


i 


CHAP 

MISSION    IN    THE 

Otaiieite.— Sailing  of  the  missionaries- Arrival  at  Ota- 
r"i~  ■  ?"  '■•^'^'^I'*'""  ''y  the  natives— Commencement 
ol  their  Inlwrs— Striking  inci.icntfl— Return  of  cnpti.iii 
VVil.son— More  mismonaries   sent   out— A   storm— An 
alarm— Captured  by  a  Froiich  privntoi-r— Their  Irent- 
mcni    froH.   the  enemy— They  are  cnplurod   ngniii— 
1  lieir  miireriuus  and  return— A  painful  circumstnnce 
nt  Otaheite— Murder  of  Mr.  Clode— An  afllicting  event 
—Description  of  the  (rreiit  w»r«(— Dentil  of  Mr.  Lewis 
—A  severe  trial— Arrival  of  more  iiiissionarie.s— Death 
and  character  of  Pomnre,  kin«of  Otaheite— Letter  from 
I  omare— 1  roubles  at  Otaheiio— EncouraRiii^  state  of 
the  mission— A  conspiracy—Omheitnu  Auxiliary  Mis- 
sionary Socic'y  formcd-Desrripliou  of  the  n„,al  mi,, 
mon  rA«/(r/— Missionary  uieetiiiK— Baptism  of  the  kiutf 
— Jrogress  of  the   mission— D<'alli   of  the   kiii(j— Ilis 
character- Coronnliou  of  the  ymug  kiii>:— Ueuuiicia- 
tion  of  idolatry  in  the  island  of  Kurutu-Iiilroduclion 
ol  the   gospel    into  various  places— Trousjat  ion  of  the 
hcripliires — Lach  station  iiotiri'd  seiiarntely,  arfi 370 

*"',!.'r~".'^"'/*'  "^  •''"  '"'^••*''"'  "•  H"-  diHlrict  of  Mntarai 
—Of   Ahhuru—Or    P„para—0(    Pare— Of    Tain- 

'■''/'« 37 1— 373 

Hini.*.— .Stale  of  the  iiiissioii .'," '  374 

i.im:,K-R„hy',   rinn-ariffin   Totrn,   and   S,*,utlI*Sen 

^,  "fi'dcrny 374— ;17« 

ho.  ii'.Tv  rsi.AMm.- //,/nAinf ;i7»l  377 

Maiaoiti ....  .377   '' 


TER    II. 

SOUTH    SEA    ISLANDS. 

RAiATEA.or  Ulietea.— Origin  of  this  niission— Religious 
Slate  of  the  people- Pleasing  account  of  the  sta- 
tion—Anniversary  of  the  Uaialcn  Missionary  So- 
ciety...  377-4180 

I  auaa. — !■  avoralile  account  of  this  station— Speeches  of 
the  natives  at  a  missionary  meeting— Feast  of  the 
childr.'u  belonging  to  the  schools— Elfects  of  the 
gospel,...      3H0-~!W4 

Hohaiioha— Description    of    the    station— Its    pro.^per 

w"^ 384,  \\H& 

Maii'iti, ..^, 

Pai  MOTH,  or  pAi.i.isF.n  Islands, .'.*!'.*.!.*.'! 380 

AisTRAi,   Islands, r^i^n 

IFauvi'.v  Islands,,., , .....380   "187 

New  Soi  Til  Wai.iih, '..'.'.'.*.'.*..,  .',!W7 

NaviiiatouV    Islands, !!'.  .388 

SANDWirii  Islands— f)rigin  of  this  missi.m— Letter's  of 
Mr.  Lllis— Discription  of  //«(rrt//— Pleasing  account 
ol  the  station— L<'tler  of  the  king— The  king  and 
queen  visit  Knubin.j— Their  denlli— Mr.  Ellis  returns 
to  Europe— Prosperous  state  of  the  station,,  ,;J88— 301 
Tonoataiioo  — Coiniiieiueiiieiii  of  this  mission— Murder 
of  a  youth- Supersliiioiis  rriiellie.H— The  missionaries 
meet  with  dilliculiies- Apostasy  of  Vreson— An  un- 
fortunate  event  — Murder   of   four    missionaries- The 

others  leave  the  island !])»4 400 

Mah«i  KsAs.  St.  Chhibtina,  or  Taiiiata 400  401 


CONTENTS. 


TU 


Origin  of  the  mission— Account  of  Dr.  Vanderkemp— 
Vanderkemp,  Kicherer,  Edmonds  and  Edwards  sail  fol^ 

of°?hp?Th~  aT'  "/  "'t**  voyage-Commencement 
of  their  labors— A  battle— Interview  with  the  king  of 

ll?h  H  ffi  "i:  '".'l^  anecdote-The  missionaries  meet 
m„.v1h  K  T^'^'^'P"?,"  "''  ^°'*  Place-Mission 
attacked    by   plundering    Hottentots— Other    difficul- 

n  "*'^' •  • 403 — 411 

BETirELSDoRP.-Success    of   the    mission-Account   of 

nIT'"pV^",f"';''^P'"^"'^P^°v''J«n'ial    escape 
—Death  of  Mr.   Vanderkemp— Rev.   John   Camobcll 
arrives  at  Bethelsdorp-State  of  the  scMlement-rre 
markable  providence-Sabbath  Bchools-Improveme.U 
of  the  station-A  general  description  of  it,.  .411!!!^  9 
/^AK  RivEH.— A  description  of  the  Bushmen- Mr  Rich- 
erer  visits  Cape  Town-Account  of  John   and  Tray 
converted  Hottentots-Remarkablo  deliverances-Mr 
Kichcrer    goes   to   Orange   river— Difliculties   on    his 
return-He  visits  Europe  with  three  of  the  Hottentots 
—An  affecting  incident— Mr.  Kicherer  returns  to  Zak 

IviVGrj  •■•••••••••(•••••«  ^10_     Anr 

Griqua  TowN.-Mr  Anderson's'lVbo;;  Vn'thU  station- 
Ihe  station  visited  with  the  small-pox- Mr.  J.  Camn- 
bells  visit  to  the  sctt!e.nent-A  remarkable  awakening 
—Mr.  Campbell's  second  visit— State  of  the  mi.^ 
*'°i 4i5__4'io 

South  NAM.jqiMi.A.VD.-Pella-Co.nmonccim'nt"  of  the 
nnssion-Doath  of  Abraham  Albrochl-Discourag^ 
monts-Uov.  J.  Campbell  visits  Pella-State  of  this 
m.ss,on-R,,.,narkal.le  conversion  of  Africaner-Ancc- 
.hit^os  concerning  him-Concluding  account  of  the 
"""°" 430—434 


CHAPTER    HI. 
MISSIONS    IN    SOUTH    AFRICA. 


^'"'^Tir'*T^*"^u'?.-  "'■  '^'^  Station-State  of  religion 

PaI^,  ^.?.! .  .?:.''*'' '*34. 435 

Stellenbosch,  ....'.''.*.'.'!*' Tof 

TuLBAOH, ".!!!!'.'.'.! lo^ 

B08CHESFELD, !.'.*.*.'.'.*.*.*!'..'**.' 43a 

Caledon  Institution, .'.*.**.'.* '436 '437 

Pacaltsdorp  or   Hoooe   KRAAL.-Mr.   Campbell's' first 
visit    to   this   place— Improvement   discovered    at   his 
second  visit— Account  of  Old  Simeon— Labors  of  Mr 
racait- Prosperous  state  of  the  mission,. . .  .437— 440 

Gbaham'8  Town **..*  ."*.!.'.".".!!!!!.' .'"440 

liiEopous.— Commencement  of  the  mission- Destruc- 
tion  of   the    settlement   by   rain— State   of   the   mis- 
„*'0". 440    441 

ZT'^T^"-^''"  ^'•'""  ««"««-I>e8cription  of  the 
place  and  people-Labors  of  Messrs.  Williams  and 
kead-Clauns    of    Caffreland-State    of    the     mS 

campi/eL;:::::::::::::::;::::::;::;;;;;:';^;;;^}} 

PniLippoLis, 44! 

Bushmen   Mission, .'.'.'.'.*.'!.'.* 444 

Mission  to  the  BACHUANA8._'/,a«„VoollDifficulties 
attending  the  commencement  of  the  mission— Progress 
of  the  mission— Mr.  Campbell's  description  of  Kurree- 
chanc— His  interview  with  the  inhabitants— Anecdote 
ol   a  rhinoceros— Account  of  Tsousan— Eiicouraeinir 

appearances 445—453 

Namaqualand. — Komaggas, 4'eo 

Steinkopff, .".*.'.*.'.'.*.'!  453 


Mai mrirs. — Pnt-t  f.rtpi.s 

nci-ouiil  of  ih(^  mission 

Mai.a.iasiar— Desci  .«tion   of  tliViMlViid 

I  heir  religion— Trials  of  the 

journey  to  Tananarive— Hi 


CHAPTER    IV. 
MISSION    IN    THE    AFRICAN    ISLANDS. 


ioscription  of  the  island— 

....454,455 

and   people — 

inissioiiaries — Mr.  Jones's 

IS  reception   by  the  king- 


Treaty  with  the  king— The  king's  proclamation— A 
letter  from  Mr.  Jones-Letter  from  the  king  of  Mada- 
gHHcar— Prince  Ratatfe  visits  England— D.ath  of  Mr 
Hro<>ke.s— Pleasing  state  of  the  mission- AVi/<rf  schools 
—Death  of  the  king, 455—466 


CHAPTER    V, 

MISSIONS    IN    THE    EAST    INDIES 

Thu  miuion  divided  into  four  district* 4(K} 

I.  Northern  Inoia, 
CALri;TTA.— flrigin  of  this  mission-Its  progre 
cimijel— Kid.lerporo     »tation_(7,ris/,;,„ 


-Union 
.trmworu — 

";~::i:':«:  °i;?f:;?';;t';i::?;  i':!« 


tii'its  til  ni.TrcE, 


Chinm'raii.— Commencement  of  the  mission- Its  pros- 
perity— Plan  of  instruction— Native  schools,. 471.--473 

Bl^llllAMPOnE, ^jn 

Bknahkn.— Description  of  the  city— StVte'of  I'li'e'mii. 


Si.RAT.— Notice  of  the.  city— Banyan  hospital— Fruits  of 
sabbath  schools— Remarkable  cases  of  self-destruction 
and  murder— Account  of  OU  Bebee 474—477 


fli 


CONTENTS. 


II.  Peninsular  India. 

Madras.— Notice  of  the  city— Commencement  of  the 
mission — Its  present  state 477  478 

VizAOAPATAM.— Commencement  of  the  mission— Schools 
—Notice  of  a  converted  Bramin— Death  of  Rev.  Georire 
Cran— Arrival  of  Messrs.  Gordon  and  Lee— Death  of 
Mr.  Dea  Granges— Publication  of  the  Gospels— Heathen 
worship— State  of  the  mission— Death  of  Mr.  Pritchett 
—State  of  the  schools— The  deputation's  account  of 
the  mission— Death  of  Mr.  Gordon— Encouragina 
prospects, 478-^ 

CuDDAPAH.— Labors  of  Mr.  Hawell— Native  baptisms- 
State  of  the  mission, ^       ^ag 

CaiTTooR.— Its  situation— Labors  and  death  of  Mr*  Jen- 
nings   ,^2 

Bbloaum.— A  military  station-^rig'in'  and  'progreVs  of 
the  mission-Labors  of  Mr.  Tavlor— Account  of 
Dhondapah. " 489.484 

DELLARY. — Mission  commenced  by  Mr.  Hands His  ac- 
count of  it— Conversion  of  the  soldiers— Mr  Reeve 
joins  Mr.  Hands— Ruins  of  Bianagur- Penance  of  a 
rajah— A  festival— Notice  of  a  West  Indian— A  mur- 
derer—Burning of  a  widow— Interesting  occurrence— 
lemple  of  the  monkey  Hanamunta— Death  of  Mrs  1 
Hands— A  juvenile  Bible  society— Visit  from  a  rajah-  I 
Notice  of  a  tlml-Tour  of  Mr.  Hands-Tlio  inquisi- 
tion  at  Goa— Report  of  the  directors— Last  accounts 

from  the  mission — Publications 484 491    ' 

B.*NiiAi,oiiE.— Description  of  the  town— Forbes  and  Laid- 

ler  commence  the  mission— Samuel   Flavel   and  other 

nati>e  youths— Prosperous  state  of  the  mission.  4J)I    i'M 

Salem, '        '*'~ 

C0.MUA1  o.MM, '.!.'.'.".!.'.'!!.*  '.'.4m 

III.  Travancore. 

Mission  commenced  by  Mr.  Ringeltaubo— Persecution  of 
the  ChriMians  at  I  inevclly—Viows  of  the  natives  con- 
cerning religion— Report  of  the  directors— Division  of 
the  inm8ion-l>ros,M-rity  of  the  Western  Division-State 
01  the  Lastern  Division— Seminary  at  Nagercoil— Last 
accounts  from  the  mmion— Oul-statiom,..  .4iHi— 4m 


IV.  Ultra  Ganges. 
China  -A  general  description  of  the  country— Account 
of  he  language,  government,  religion  and  morals  of 
China,  given  ,n  a  note-CANXON-Commencement  of 
this  mission  by  Mr.  Morrison— His  visit  to  Pak-ti-ou- 
saat- Chinese  customs— Mr.  Morrison  appointed  Chi- 
ne^ translator  to  the  English  factory-Chinese  pirates 
—Printing  of  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles-Edict  against 
Chnstianuy-Mr.  Morrison's  travel^The  Christian 
and  Chinese  religion  contrasted— Failure  of  lord 
Amherst  s  embassy— Mahometanism  in  China— Pajro- 
fm!;;::^  .  f  ^•''"'"n'^Notice  of  an  earthquake  and 
inundation-Letter  from  Dr.  Morrison-A  storm- 
Persecution  of  the  Catholic  converts-Tryine  e»-cntsZ 
Death  of  the  emperor-His  son  ascends  ^the'  throntl 
Notice  of  a  murder-Dr.  Morrison's  dictionary-Dr. 
Morrison  visits  England-He  is  presented  to  the  kina- 
His  return  to  China-Labors  of  Afi.-Mn„„s.  BridV 
man  and  Abeel  join  Dr.  Morrison-Concluding  account 
of  the  mis.sion 4«»7— 510 

m'"  M  r^'^T""'"'^'""'""  "I"  ""'  •T'ission-Labors  of 
Mr.  Milno-Account  of  Sabat-Of  Lonng-kiiiiLr-fah- 
Anglo-Chincse  college-Death  of  Mrs.  Milne-D^eath  of 
lir  Mi!m—Conclmlingaccountoftliemission,.'',l(>_510 
rXr'~''"^'."  °'^*'':  Milton-The  Anglo-Chinese 
college    removed     to     this    stntion-ConcIu.ling     r- 

„   POf* rt.r     r.lQ 

Pi>Lo  PiN.M,,  First  labors  of  the  mis.ionari^s-J^Uce 
ot  a  lestivnl— Affecting  accounts— Rqwrt  of  the  di- 
rectors—State of  the  mission I         IIS—.?", 

JAVA.-D..s,-rip,ion  of  Uie  ixland-Commenccnuni  of  the 
miss.oii-1  leasing  accouiits-Denth  of  Mr.  Simpor- 
Arrival  ol  Mr.  Slator-His  voyage-Notice  of  a  Hre- 
Idolatrous  coremon.es-A  general  account  of  the  mis- 
tr,;; ii'^  °'  '''  Medhurst-Encouraging  statc"";;^ 

iiir  mission y,.       -„„ 

AMi,ovNA.-Mr^  Ham's  InlmrS-Hls  visit  to  the  i,;i,:i;;,or- 

ng  IS  niHls_(  cK,d  effects  of  his  second  visit-l)!^,ruc. 

tionol  Idols—Prosperous  state  of  the  mission,  .W,S_.';:J3 

*• 533 


DEMKnARA.- «rrA,r^— Mi^Hioii  commenced  by  Mr  Wray 
— Klfecis  ol  the  gospel— Account  of  Mr.  Pnsi— Kxleii- 
sion  of  th,.  ini-sioii— A  trviiig  event- Mr.  Wray  re- 
moves Iroi.i  Kesouvrnir  in  B.-rbire- Visit  of  Mr.  Elliot— 
Mr.  Hmilh  s.'nt  to  U.-souveiiir— Anecdote  of  a  slave— 

Mr.  Sniith  s  nr<( t  of  his  sialion— Serious  diiriculiies 

— Jiisurrcciion  ot  the  slaves— Arrest  of  Mr.  Smitli— His 


CHAPTER    VI. 
MISSIONS    IN    SOUTH    AMERICA. 


ft''''7l''1  •'""•''■""""i""  "nd  imprisonineiit-Lnters 
f>o  -.  Mr  S,i„,h-||,s  ,lea.h_TlK.  c,rcu.„s,,.„ces  of  li 
burial-I  iries  wnden  by  one  of  the  .lirerlors-histruc 
Uo  IS  o,  ,0  ,  ,„.,.,ors-Tbe.r  pr.H-ee.l.ngs  in  rHa.io.  ,0 
M  .  SiiMh,  rial-F,xtr,Ki  fr..,..  .he  missioimrv  Clinmi. 
CI.— IroceiMlnig,   of  parliaineiit-State   of   (he    ,„i* 

""" 5;j:»-55a 


CHAPTKR    VII. 
OTHER    STATIONS.    EDUCATION    OF    MISSIONARIES     4c   d.. 

SLRr™:":::::::: ««4„f.,m.. 

M'    ' • 
KIIITl:RR(Nr  <N , 

EurrATioN  Of  MissioN*niitH,J-ThoGo,, ,, 

AcCuuhi  of  Dr.  Bogue 5^,^ 


.A.->4 

.554 

5.V. 


LlBT  OP   Stationh, 


,VW5 

.555,  55M 


CONTENTS. 


IX 


HISTORY  OP  THE  CHTBCH  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


CHAPTER   I. 
INTRODUCTION. 


'** •....,, ,567,  558 


CHAP 

MISSION    IN 

Formation  of  the  Church  Missimary  Society  f,^  Af  • 

Mr.  Hartwg  and  o.her^-Di^couragemem^Ane^do.es 


TER    II. 
WEST    AFRICA. 

ness— An  affeciinR  scene— F,fi ""^^[""""K  '"«='^- 
Ita  prosperity-Death  of  M^J^h^"  "[-"'^  mission- 
ficuJties-Schools-A  c,^i';;^°''y«°".-F°"nidable  dif- 
of  the  mission  .7  "'"""  ^"«"'"t'on-Sun,mary 
659—576 


CHAPTER    III. 
AUSTRALASIA   MISSION    livri  iTr»T,vT^ 
A  „..„,„„„  .r.,„  J.?  '!!':"'''''°  "'=''  ^'^"^''■'  -«»  N^W  SOUTH   ,v...s. 


Affeciing  interview— Marsden   an.l   ivri,  i  '.~ 

night  in  the  camp  of  .h^Se^^h  t  e'sabfi  " 
Death  of  Duaterra-Settlement  at  Rangherii.Si  ne";; 


settlement — Two    chiefs    visit     P.,  i     j     rw- 
«cene^Canniba,ism-Lco     tofai-tS^^^^ 
irnd"t '"«  •'"^P'^^*''  «'  Australnria  and  NewTea 

Holland  .  .r               Zealand-Aborigines    of    New 
570—680 


St 


CHAPTER    IV. 

MISSION    IN    CALCUTTA     amt.    kt^„ 

v^AutUTTA    AND    NORTHERN    INDIA. 


Hehcr-EdtaSi!^;"''^  1  fa'i— Bishop 

count  of  Abd..iXJ^;;XS^b:;!l2^;-;^f 


aikCw;;/,!^ 

Miss  C.».W,'L  fi,        *^        """"''""'"'""""  «'"l  «l<-ath— 
MISS  Cooke  ,  hrst  visit  to  a  native  school,. .  .580-65)3 


CHAPTER    V. 
MISSION    IN    MADRAS    AND    SOUTH    INDIA. 


ing— A  healh.-n  f.siivn  <•  '  "  "  """K  pravrr-ineet. 
I.'..V.ng  the  ti.u„da.i,.„  „r  „  „„,,i„„  ,.,11..' r '':''»- 
do.o-Accoun.  of  the  mission  ilMis'l'.'r^^^S 


'^sSs'V:.?"'''V'''''"''  ""-'""-Orea.  prosperity.^ 
THAVANr„«r.-(^haract,.r   «.f   .."'../.ILV^'J  •''"<'•  "«> 
I-atost  account  of  the  mission »«»n  «m 

noMBAv  AND  wkstrbn  fnima"  ...!!....;  j  *.; ;..;;];;,' 


Stations  of  the  missionaries — Account  of  these  stations 

Superstitious  ceremonies — Laying  the  foundation  of  a 
church — Visit  to  a  dying  woman — Strijjing  instance 
of  delusion — Schools — Annual  meeting  of  the  mission- 
aries— The  church  at  Badagamme— Method  of  collect- 


CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER    VI. 
MISSION   IN   CEYLON. 


ing  hearers — Account  of  the  mission  at  Kandy—Ai 
Cotta — At  Badagamme— /it  Nellore — State  of  the  mis- 
sion generally— The  printing  departmentr— Concluding 
report, 6(»— 610 


3;f 


CHAPTER    VII. 
NORTH    AMERICAN    MISSION. 


Location  of  this  mission — Founded  by  Rev.  J.  West 

Commencement  of  his  labors — Indian  method  of  bury- 
ing the  dead — Mr.  West  visits  Beaver  Creek — Exten- 
sion of  the  mission— Letter  of  Mr.  West— The  first 
church — Mr.  West  leaves  for  England— His  journey 


to  Fort  Churchill— Escape  from  a  bear — Indian  hiero- 
glyphics—Circumstances attending  his  visit  to  Churchill 
—Interview  with  the  Esquimaux— Melancholy  event- 
Arrival  of  Rev.  D.  T.  Jones— Prosperity  of  the  mis- 
sion — Summary  of  the  whole, 611 618 


CHAPTER    VIII. 
MISSION    IN    THE   WEST    INDIES. 
MissioNABT  stations— Schools— Catechists— Summary  of  the  mission, 


.618,  619 


fll 


CHAPTER    IX. 
MISSION    IN    THE    MEDITERRANEAN. 


Malta. — Labors  of  Mr.  Jowett — His  journey  to  Palestine 
—Labors  of  Rev.  J.  Hartley — School  in  Syra— Con- 
clusion  G19,  620 


Abtssinia. — Missionaries  sent  out — Their  reception 

Missionaries  in  E^pt— Contemplated  mission  on  the 
north  coast  of  Africa, 620,  621 


Proceedings  of  the  Church  Missionary  Society  at  home, , , , noi 


622 


END   OF  VOL.   I. 


AUTHORITIES 

CONSULTED  IN  THE  PREPARATION  OF  THIS  WORK. 


Myers's  Geography,  2  vols,  quarto,  London,  1822. 
Ward's  History  of  Hindooism,  2  vols,  quarto,  Seram 

pore. 
Brown's  History  of  Missions. 
Lord's  History  of  Missions. 
Simpson's  Ecclesiastical  History. 
Mosheim's  Ecclesiastical  History. 
Haweis'  Ecclesiastical  History. 
Tyerman  and  Bennet's  Journal. 
Ellis's  Hawaii. 

Ellis's  Polynesian  Researches. 
Missionary  Register,  22  vols.  8vo.,  London. 
Harvard's  Ceylon. 
Watson's  Memoirs  of  Wesley. 
Wore's  Memoirs  of  Wesley. 
Gillies'  Memoirs  of  Whitefield. 
Bower's  Lives  of  the  Popes. 
Swift's  Memoirs  of  Barr. 
Jefferson's  Memoirs,  by  his  Widow. 
Bennet's  Life  of  Bogue. 
MemoiTs  of  Dr.  Waugh. 
Morris's  Memoirs  of  Andrew  Fuller. 
Ryland's  Memoirs  of  Andrew  Fuller. 
Memoir  of  Mrs.  Judson. 
Memoir  of  Honry  Martyn. 
United  Brethren's  Missionary  Intelligencer. 
English  Baptist  Magazine. 
Evangelical  Magazine. 
Christian  Observer. 
Panoplist. 

Life  of  Reginald  Heber. 
Hober's  Travels  in  India. 
Todd's  India,  2  vols,  quarto,  London. 
Columbian  Star  and  Latter  Day  Luminaiy. 
Christian  Watchman. 


Reports  of  London  Missionary  Society. 

Reports  of  Wesleyan  Missionary  Society. 

Reports  of  Baptist  Missionary  Society. 

Reports  of  Moravian  Missionary  Society. 

Reports  of  Church  Missionary  Society. 

American  Quarterly  Register. 

Armenian  Magazine. 

Carnes's  Lives  of  Eminent  Missionaries. 

Memoirs  of  Bishop  James. 

Swan's  Letters  on  Missions. 

Malte-Brun's  Geography,  3  vols,  quarto,  Boston. 

Lettres  Edefianfes. 

Swan's  Memoirs  of  Mrs.  Patterson. 

Campbell's  Travels  in  South  Africa. 

Latrobe's  Journal  in  South  Africa.     ' 

Weal's  History  of  the  Puritans. 

Watson's  Defence  of  Methodist  Missions. 

Trial  of  Smith,  the  Missionary  at  Demerara. 

Memoirs  of  Mrs.  Matilda  Smith. 

Dr.  Bangs's  History  of  American  Methodist  Missions. 

Crantz's  Greenland. 

Loskiel's  History  Brethren's  Missions. 

Heckewelder's  Narrative. 

Holmes's  History  Moravian  Church.  ' 

Life  of  Captain  James  Wilson. 

Williams's  Missionary  Gazetteer. 

Chapin's  Missionary  Gazetteer. 

Pamphlets  on  the  Serampore  Missions. 

Publications  of  the  American  Board  of  Commissioners 

for  Foreign  Missions. 
Publications  of  the  American  Baptist  Board  foi  For- 

eign  Missions. 
Publications  of  the  American  Episcopal  Missionary 
Society —Jjc.  &c. 


DIRECTIONS    FOR   THE    BINDER. 


lii 


Let  the  Contents  follow  the  Title-page  of  each  volume,  and  place  the  Plates  as  follows,  viz.- 

VOL.   I. 

Frontispiece  (The  Gospel  preached  to  the  Heathen)  to  face  engraved  TUle-paee 
Awful  Death  of  Mr.  Bonike, ■"«' 

The  Settlement  of  Gnadenhutten  destroyed,  and  the  Missionaries  massacred  by  the 

Indians, 

'  85 

The  Place  of  Professor  Carey's  Nativity,  Paulerspury,  Northamptonshire,      ....     183 
Baptism  of  Kristno,  a  Hindoo  Convert, 212 

Devotees  in  India  sacrificing  themselves  to  the  Idol  Juggernaut,       ...'.'.'*         243 

Shipwreck  of  Felix  Carey  and  Family 271 

Drowning  a  Leper, 

Map  of  Polynesia, '••....'.'.    \         '    ^32 

The  High  Priest  of  Tahiti  ceding  the  District  of  Matavai  to  Captain  Wilson  for  the 

Missionaries, 

'  334 

A  Prince  of  Tongataboo  strangled  as  a  Sacrifice  for  his  Father's  Recovery  from  Sickness,     395 

Perilous  Situation  of  Mr.  Veeson  at  Tongataboo,       397 

Rev.  J.  Campbell  crossing  the  Great  River, 

View  of  Calcutta, \ 

View  of  Benares,  ...         ^^ 

'  /^-j^ 

Mr.  Ince  showing  the  Chinese  the  Folly  of  their  Idolatrous  Worship,     ...  '     '     519 

Part  of  Regent's  Town,  a  Settlement  of  liberated  Negroes  in  the  Colony  of  Sierra  Leonej     570 

Messrs.  Marsden  and  Nicholas  passing  a  Night  with  the  Zealanders 579 

Miss  Cooke's  first  Visit  to  the  Schools  in  India 59, 

VOL.    II. 

Seizure  of  Dr.  Judson,  to  face  engraved  Title-page. 

Rev.  B.  Shaw  meeting  a  Hottentot  Captain jAg 

View  of  Jerusalem, •     •     • 

Map  of  Burnmh, 

'    *    *    ' 401 


INTRODUCTION. 


Of  a  world  enveloped  in  intellectual  daZelt  TZelef.'^V'^^  '"u'^'  evangelization 
him,  for  a  season,  to  exchange  the  sonrof  a JorLrnn.'.  .'' *,^"  °^J""'«  ^'^^^h  induced 
Father,  f     the  contradict.on  f  f  sinners  fudtlej^^^^^^^^^^^  ^^,7 '^  °'  '^!,  ^''"'^^^^ 

On  these  he  mused  with  such  evident  delight  thnt  ^Ln  T  ^^^hsemane  and  Calvary, 
cross  seemed  swallowed  up  in  the  cer  attv  ofits  attrnot-  '"'"'T^^'f  «»fferings  of  the 
with  sacred  love,  and  eyes  beaZ-rw  thiol  .  attractions;  and  with  a  heart  throbbing 
will  draw  all  n^ei  unto  .Cl''  T ^1  t noZroh'  'f  ""'""^''  "  ''  '' '  '^^  "^^^  "P^ 
him,"  in  that  never-to-be-forgotten  dr^hen'h  "nut  ill:  ""h''"k''  "^^^  ^^^^  ««^  ^^''^^ 
appeased  the  wrath  of  God,  subdued  tl.;  powers  of  he  1      nd^  V^u  T'^''  "^  *^^'"««>'''" 

to  all  believers ;  for  then  did  he  »  see  otlfe  travail  nJl,  .  ^"T^  '^^  ^'"^^^n^  of  heaven 

he  arose  triumphantly  from  the  Ive      ra  pr/the^^^  ^"^  ^hen 

-and  was  about  to  ascend  to  tbl  /  ^^  ^  the  sting  of  death  in  his  victorious  hand, 
were  already  chanting,  "l  ft  ^^ ^l'^,  3;^"\«^  »^'-'  «»"'«V;'^  ^'""'"^  ^^oirs  above 
doors,  and  the  Kmo  o.  Glouv  sLv7come  t  -  7h/  '  T-""  ''''  ^'^'^  "P'  >^«  «^«^'-«ting 
that,  as  his  last  parting  injunction   he    all    o  lii^  d  scX^^^  '^  '^  '-'' 

baptizing  them  in  the  name  of  the  Father  and  of  til  ^^'    ,    ?  T'  ""**  ^^'^^'^  «'^  ««"««*. 

them  to  observe  all  things  whatst^er  .'^re  1    ^^d'^^^^^^^^^  ""'T  ^'^^^'^'"« 

oven  unto  the  end  of  the  world  "  ^'^mmanucu  you  .  and,  lo,  I  am  with  you  alway,  , 

ary  travels  had  not  yet  commenced  I^LtZZv^  "^  ^'"'''''^* '  '"^'  ^''«"g''  ^h^-  '"--on- 
character  ;  the  hand  of  Divine  Pov,eLetS^h''"rtT  "T '^^''""^  "'^  "^  '"'««-"'^'y 
vout  men  of  every  nation  under  1  eav  "n  "Ian        o  '      T'^'''  "'  '^'''"  ""''*t°r«'  "  do- 

with  such  irresistible  power,  that  about'  t^o  hn  "''7^";'«''^«^«'  •>y  Poter  being  attended 
constrained  to  inquire  the  way  of  station   wo  n  vl]'  'M"^'^  '""^'"^^^'  "^  «'"'  «nd 

The  seed  of  golpel  truth  continued  tol'  «  ''""!«  .''l  "^'^''^^  ^^  ^''^  ^''^^^i^^"  -»"'rch. 
in«  all  the  attempt!  whicrvre  ml  to  i„t  nZ/  n'.  7''  "V"  "^P"^*'"'  -twithstand- 
laborswero  crowned  with  such  comnVtn  ..'''"'-*''*''"  '  ""^  ^''^i""  ""wearied 

multiplied  rapi.lly,  n,  d'^a  T  eat  roTn       ZT'  '''"'  ''*"  "'""^"  ""^  ««"^«^ts  in  Jerusalem 
blessing  of  I  eaven   ostcd  !o  vln  1   '^  ^     .  "'.°  ^"''''  ^''^^  "^'"^'•'"t  *«  ^he  faith."     S 
Voi..!.^No.  J  ''''a^  '"  "'^''^'^  "P°"  ^h«  doctrines  which  they  promulgate,!,  and  the 


INTRODUCTION. 


t! 


if 


power  of  God  was  so  clearly  manifested  in  the  miracles  which  they  wrought,  that  obstacles 
of  various  kinds  gave  way  before  them,  and  their  most  implacable  enemies  found  it  impossi- 
ble efiectually  to  restrain  them.  And,  though  the  prince  of  darkness  exulted  with  malignant 
pleasure,  over  the  martyrdom  of  Stephen,  and  fanned  with  vigilance  the  rising  flames  of  per- 
secution, these  identical  circumstances  were  overruled,  by  the  wisdom  of  Jehovah,  for  the 
spread  of  the  gospel,  and  the  cultivation  of  a  desert  and  barren  world.  The  servants  of 
Christ  were,  indeed,  "  scattered  abroad."  But  what  was  the  result  of  their  dispersion  ?  Did 
they  either  abjure  those  tenets  the  profession  of  which  had  exposed  them  to  the  most  serious  dis- 
asters, or  did  they  confine  within  their  own  bosoms  the  newly-revealed  scheme  of  redemption  ? 
Ah,  no  !  Immovably  fixed  upon  Jesus,  as  the  rock  of  ages ;— glowing  with  love  to  Him,  who 
had  lived  as  their  bright  example,— died  as  their  sacrificial  substitute,— burst  the  barriers  of 
the  tomb,  as  their  victorious  deliverer, — and  ascended  into  heaven  as  their  eloquent  interces- 
sor,— they  panted  to  communicate  the  tidings  of  mercy  to  their  fellow  men,  and  "  went  every 
where  preaching  the  word,"  of  which  they  were  not  ashamed,  knowing  it  to  be  «'  the  power 
of  God  unto  salvation." 

At  this  memorable  period,  Philip  went  to  the  city  of  Samaria,  and  preached  Christ  to  the  m- 
habitants ;  who,  on  hearing  the  blessed  truths  which  dropped  from  his  lips,  and  witnessing  the 
surprising  cures  which  he  eflccted  in  the  name  of  his  adorable  Master,  "  gave  heed,  with  one 
accord,  to  the  things  which  were  spoken,"  and  with  joyfulness  of  heart  enlisted  beneath  the 
banners  of  the  cross.  The  subsequent  interview  between  this  primitive  deacon  and  an  offi- 
cer of  queen  Candace  was,  probably,  the  first  means  of  introducing  the  gospel  into  Ethio- 
pia ;  and  the  miraculous  conversion  of  Saul  of  Tarsus,  together  with  the  mission  of  Peter  to 
Cornelius,  opened  "  a  great  door  and  effectual  "  for  the  dissemination  of  divine  truth  among 
a  variety  of  nations,  which  had  hitherto  been  sitting  in  darkness,  and  in  the  region  of  the 
shadow  of  death. 

Of  the  missionary  labors  of  the  different  apostles  we  have  but  very  brief  accounts,  exclu- 
sive of  those  which  are  either  evidently  fabulous,  or  of  very  questionable  authority.  The  follow- 
ing outline,  however,  which  has  been  selected  from  the  best  sources  of  information,  may  not  be 
altogether  unacceptable  to  the  reader. 

Peter,  who  had  received  an  express  command  from  the  risen  Saviour  to  "  feed  his  sheep, 
and  tend  his  lambs,"  appears  to  have  been  eminently  ownod  and  blessed,  as  an  instrument  in 
the  hands  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  for  converting  sinners  from  the  error  of  their  ways,  and  explain- 
ing to  them  the  scliome  of  salvation.  For  some  time,  indeed,  forgetful  of  the  injunction  to 
»  go  into  all  the  world,  and  preach  tiio  gospel  to  every  creature,"— unmindful,  too,  of  his  own 
assertions,  that "  God  would  pour  out  of  his  Spirit  upon  alljlesh,"  and  that  in  Christ,  the  prom- 
ised seed,  should  "  all  the  kindreds  of  the  earth  bo  blessed,"— he  confined  his  attention  ex- 
clusively to  his  own  countrymen,  and  to  the  Samaritans ;  the  latter  of  whom,  though  not  con- 
sidered as  Jews,  retained  the  rite  of  circumcision,  and  professed  a  religious  observance  of  the 
Mosaic  law  :  but  when  the  Lord  had  admonished  him,  by  a  most  remarkable  vision,  to  con- 
sider nothing  common  or  unclean  which  had  been  divinely  cleansed, — and  when  he  perceived 
that  the  unction  of  the  Holy  One  was  poured  out  upon  persons  who  had  no  pretensions  to 
claim  affinity  with  the  stock  of  Israel,  his  prejudices  were  effectually  removed,  and  he  appears 
to  have  labored  with  ccjual  zeal  and  success  in  Greece,  Thrace,  and  Asia  Minor ;  and  to 
have  extended  his  travels  eastward  as  far  as,  or  even  beyond,  Babylon,  preaching  the  glad  tid- 
ings of  redemption  both  to  Jews  and  Gentiles,  and  performing  such  miracles,  in  the  name 
of  the  Lord  Jesus,  that  wc  read  of  instances  in  which  the  people  "  brought  forth  the  sick  into 


INTRODUCTION, 
the  streets,  and  laid  them  on  beds  and  cnn^h^a  ♦».  ♦     *  i  .  ** 

might  overshadow  some  of  them    "here  cl".  ""'*.'  '^^  '^"^  °^^^*«^  P*««i"g  by 

^^..c...,andthem..elf--^^ 

^^^'^^^^l;:^:^^  te„s  us  that  he  ..hored 

Cilicia    PampU,  Pisidia,  LVcao'nfa   Ga^^^^^^^^^  -^^  ^yria.  Phc^'nicia,  Ara^ 

Cam,  Lysia,  Ionia,  Lydia,  Thracia.  Macedonia  Th  ^^^'^^r.'*'  ^^'^^^^  ^roas,  Asia 
of  Cypn,s.Crete,andMelita.orMalt;  He  Z  '  ^ir;^^^^  T'  ^'^^'''  ^"'^  ^"  '^^  i«J-"d 
penal  city  of  Rome,  and  was  evidently  desirous  of  ^n  '^  '?^""  ^^  *^°  ^«^^«  i°  ^he  im- 

Spam;  but  it  does  not  seem  that  his  w  Jh,  in  Zrelct  Z  ^'^^^^-g^  of  salvation  into 

who  was  contemporary  with  this  apostle  tells  us  ZHh?  "'""^Tu^^'    ^'^•"^°^'  ^^^^^er, 

scattered  abroad  in  Asia  Minor,  and  TreXl^um;^^^^^^^^^  ^™-g  the  Jews  who  were 
nt  Jerusalem,  and  finally  fell  a  sacrifice  to  the  c  u!kv  of  h'  b"t  as  he  resided  several  years 
travels  were  either  frequent  or  extensive  ^       ^''''^'  "  '"  "^^  P'^bable  that  his 

Andrew  seems  to  have  chosen  Scythia  and  tho  o^- 
missionary  exertions.     He  passed  along  the  shore  of  th^T      '°c"*""'  ^'  '^^  «^«"«  °f  his 
tmm,  now  called  Constantinople;  whefe  he  kbor.H  T'  ^'"' ^"^  '^''''''^^  toByzan- 

Buccess.     He  afterwards  travelled 'through  Thrace  M^^^^^  ^t  'T"^  ""^  considerable 

preachmg  repentance  and  forgiveness  of  sinTrn  '^h  ^^'  ^^essaly.  Achaia,  and  Epirus : 

of  Calvary  that  he  might  ««  abolishTeath,Tnd  brin:  lif^T;' "'"  "'"  ^*P^'^^  ^  ^^eVo- 
pel.  '  Andrew  was  crucified  at  Patra,,  in  AcEaia  bf  old  r  ;?""^^^^"ty  *«  "ght  by  the  gos- 
He  .s  considered,  by  the  modern  Greeks,  tthrfou'nre'^t.r  ^^'^"^     °'  '''^'  P'«^'"««- 

Ph.l.p  .s  considered  as  the  apostle  of  Upper  Asfn'nV  ^  ^°"''''"**"^P°"^^"  ^^urch. 
Andrew,  to  have  sown  the  seed  of  divine  truth  amonl;.  ^"'^ /\«"PP«««d,  in  conjunction  with 
ter  part  of  his  life,  he  preached  at  Hil  apo  "s  „  Ph  "!"       •"5"'?'*^"ts  of  Scythia.     In  the  lat- 
those  blessed  truths  which  he  had  p  3iaJH      IF""'  ff  '^^'^  ^^  ^^^^'^^  ^"h  his  blood 
was  inflicted  by  hanging  him  to  a  p'lZ  ^         ^''^  ''^"'^^  faithfulness  and  affection.     Death 

Bartholomew,  who  is  suDDosed   h 
ael.  extended  his  travels  as  fifr  as  IndlaTnThlslIdS  ^''^''^'^  ''''  ^^"^^  ^^"'^  Nathan- 
habitants  m  the  revelation  of  divine  truth  and  „A      .      ^''  '  ^^"'"^  ^"^  instructed  the  in- 
of  the  Gospel  of  St.  Matthew.     He  is  alio  said' to  h       ^^''T'  P'^^^"*^^  '^'^^  ^^th  a  copy 
the  Lesser  Asia.  '"''^  ''^'^  ^o  have  preached  in  Lycaonia,  a  province  of 

Thomas,  according  to  the  testimonv  of  T 
labored  among  the  Medes,  Persians,  ParthLriia'l^rirnrr '''"''  ""^  "''''"'  missionary,  who 
gmns  ;  and  travelled  as  far  as  the  island  TaSane  whl  '  ^"'^"^'^f '^"«'  Hyrcanians,  and  Ma- 
Ceylon.     When  the  Portuguese  visited  IndTar^hJ/' 'T*'''^  *^°  *^^^^ 
certam  traditions,  and  the  existence  of  somel       f      '"'"'*'  "'"^^'y-  "^"^y  discovered,  from 
ed  there ;  and  it  is  asserted  thrhe  wL  ^^X^     monuments,  that  this  apostle  had  p  each 
ed  that  his  labors  might  eventuali;  ZTXtl'^ll^^^y.^'^l  someBramins,  wfofear- 

»_f_.,..^.  tucii  juoiairous  superstitions.    This 


«ii 


INTRODUCTION. 


took  place  at  Malipur,  on  the  coast  of  Coromandel.    He  was  carried  to  Edessa,  and  there 
buried. 

Matthew,  or  Levi,  the  son  of  Alpheus,  remained  for  some  time  in  Judea,  declaring  the 
glad  tidings  of  salvation,  through  his  crucified  Master ;  and  there  he  is  said  to  have  written 
his  Gospel,  about  the  time  that  the  apostles  Peter  and  Paul  suffered  martyrdom  at  Rome. 
He  then  went,  as  a  missionary,  into  Ethiopia,  Persia,  Parthia,  and  India ;  and,  either  in  the 
latter  of  these  places,  or  in  Abyssinia,  he  was  put  to  death  by  the  enemies  of  divine  revelation. 
Simon,  who  was  probably  called  Zelotes,  as  having  been  one  of  those  furious  Galileans,  who 
refused  to  pay  tribute  to  the  Romans,  and  who  was  also  styled  the  Canaanite,  appears  to 
have  taken  a  wide  range  as  the  field  of  his  missionary  labors.  He  travelled  through  Egypt, 
Cyrene,  Asia,  Libya,  and  Mauritania ;  and  Nicephorus  asserts  that  he  introduced  the  gospel 
to  Britain,  where  he  preached,  and  wrought  many  miracles.  Others,  however,  are  of  opinion 
that  he  directed  his  route  towards  Persia,  where  he  labored  till  he  received  the  crown  of 
martyrdom. 

John,  the  beloved  disciple,  who,  from  the  sublimity  of  his  revelations,  and  his  vindication 
of  the  essential  deity  of  Jesus,  was  called  John  the  Divine,  shared,  for  some  time,  with  Peter, 
in  preaching,  working  miracles,  and  enduring  severe  persecution  at  Jerusalem  ;  and  in  Sa- 
maria the  Holy  Ghost  was  given  by  imposition  of  their  hands.  About  A.  D.  52,  this  apos- 
tle continued  as  a  pillar  of  the  Christian  church  in  Judea ;  and,  after  that  period,  he  is  said 
to  have  carried  the  word  of  life  to  the  inhabitants  of  Parthia  and  India :  but  it  is  more  evi- 
dent that  ho  labored  for  some  time  in  Asia  Minor.  In  the  persecution  which  raged  under 
Domitian,  about  A.  D.  95,  tradition  asserts  that  he  was  thrown  into  a  cauldron  of  boiling  oil ; 
but,  on  coming  out  unhurt,  he  was  banished  to  the  Isle  of  Patmos,  in  the  iEgean  Sea.  Here  he 
was  providentially  preserved,  and  favored  with  a  series  of  the  most  important  visions.  Under 
the  reign  of  the  emperor  Nerva,  he  was  recalled  from  exile,  and  returned  to  Ephesus,  where 
he  continued  to  preach  the  gospel  of  Christ,  till,  at  length,  he  peacefully  breathed  out  his  soul 
into  the  hands  of  his  Redeemer,  in  the  ninety-ninth  year  of  his  age. 

JuDE,  or  Judas,  not  Iscariot,  was  the  son  of  Cleophas,  and  brother  of  James  the  Less.  Ho 
commenced  his  missionary  labors  in  Judea,  Galilee,  Samaria,  and  Idumea ;  and  afterwards 
extended  his  travels  to  Mesopotamia,  Persia,  Armenia,  and  Libya;  and,  either  in  the  latter 
place,  or  in  Persia,  the  faithfulness  of  his  preaching  was  rewarded  by  a  cruel  death. 

James  the  Less,  who,  from  the  exemplary  holiness  of  his  life,  was  surnamed  the  Jimt,  was 
an  eminent  supporter  of  the  church  at  Jerusalem,  where  he  preached  the  gospel  with  un- 
wearied perseverance,  though  he  does  not  seem  to  have  extended  his  labors  beyond  the  Jew- 
ish metropolis.  About  twenty-four  years  after  our  Lord's  ascension,  the  Hebrew  rulers, 
being  violently  enraged  at  the  rapid  dissemination  of  evangelic  truth,  commanded  this  apos- 
tle, then  in  the  ninety-sixth  year  of  his  age,  to  ascend  one  of  the  galleries  of  the  temple,  and 
proclaim  to  the  people  that  they  had  deceived  themselves  in  supposing  Jesus  of  Nazareth  to 
have  been  the  promised  Messiah.  Fired  with  holy  indignation  at  these  orders,  and  resolving 
to  devote  the  last  remains  of  life  and  strength  to  the  honor  of  the  Saviour,  and  the  benefit  of 
mankind,  the  venerable  saint  ascended  the  eminence,  and,  with  a  loud  voice,  asserted  that  the 
crucified  son  of  Mary  was  the  incarnate  God,  and  that  he  would,  in  the  fulness  of  time,  appear 
in  the  clouds  of  heaven,  as  the  great  Judge  of  quick  and  dead.  Exasperated  by  this  declara- 
tion, the  Pharisees  threw  him  headlong  over  the  battlement,  and  their  sanguinary  associates 
beat  out  his  brains  with  a  fuller's  club,  whilst  he  was  in  the  act  of  praying  for  his  inhuman 
murderers. 


•  ^1 


MWRODUCnON. 


xiii 


xm 

and  Satan  in  the  heathen  world.  Thf dT^in  oJ  .1!^^7k/'"^  ^"'^  the  strong-holds  of  sin 
ly  rapid,  and  the  united  opposition  of  LtfTorefuK!  ^f^' ^P^'"'''  *°  ^^^«  ^een  extreme- 
learning,  and  imperial  influence  feH  nklTh   P'^^'J"'^'^? '/dolatrous  superstitions,  philosophic 

trines  otthe  crosCv^W  h,  thr;h  delitereS  vvTh  T  "1  T'*?''''  "^"'  ''^''^'^  *^^«««  ^oc 
panied  by  the  inv/ncible^oSth^riJ  Spiri!      "*™°«*  «-P'-*y.  -ere  invariably  accom- 

Christian  church  was  planted  i^^  this  island  S  f''"^"f  f  *  '«  '^^.'^'^edly  of  opinion,  that  a 
states  that  some  of  them  had  "  n^^^^^^^^^^  '"""  "['^^  'P,^^^>^«=  ^  ^usebius  distinctly 

Theodoret,  another  lea  ned  eccTeTasticaTht^^^^^^^^^  '^"  BrMMe.  :»  and 

whom  "  the  fishermen,  publican  and  teitrTr^'^'T"'  l^"  ^J"''"'  ^'"'^"^  ^'^^  °^t'°"« 
brace  the  religion  of  tiie  crucified  Jesus  '    ''  ^"  ''^'''  '^''^'  ^"^  '"^^^^^  to  em- 

th ':;t;\he^:^;:ur  B^  ^^  ^^^^  -—able  revolt  and  over- 

then  began  to  be  successfully  puS;frtht;ount^  "'ird  tb  '"  "'"^^^"'  *'^^  ^^«  ^«^P^» 
is  supported  by  those  ancient  Cambrkn   ecord'cXd^hrr^-r  "^^"  ^^^^^^^^t 

the  celebrated  Caractacus,  who  after^  wnrl  f  f ''     ^"  '^^'''  '^ '«  ^^^^^d,  that 

together  with  his  father  Llnnl  and  tie  wLl  r',^"""'' ^'?  ^'''"^^'^  '""'^^  ^^'««»«'  --«' 
year  53,  where  they  remafnTd" ^  aterl^o'^^^^^^^^^^  P"^°"^'^  ^^  ^-«'  ^^^  ^^e 

hist:::;;,rc:m:;rsi'^^^^^^^^^^  r "~'  ^^^^^  -^--^ 

they  were  permitted  to  return,  ^nd  were  thu^Srd  ^^h^  At  the  expiration  of  seven  years 
ducing  the  gospel  into  their  own  countrv  if  ^  ^  T  u  ^'^"''''^^'^  opportunity  of  intro- 
and  the  other  two  gentiles  wih  whom  th.v.  n  "^  ''"*  '^V^'"'  Christians,  one  an  Israelite, 
them  from  Rome,Ld  berme  iltZe^^^^^^^^^^  accompanied 

fro.  their  anc.nt^uperstUioTs,'rdTsrcli.  ^  r^eT  n^'^;;:  l^lTrifiri  ''''^  "'""^ 

c>  i  ^d  r.s-^-=  -~  n£S?^?- -  - 

sentod  as  the  grandfather  of  kinw  T  „n;„.   ,.,i,  j  J^riusn  samts.      Ihat  son  isrepre- 

Christianity  in  Siluria,  the  «v  ^  ir;        ."'     '  ^7'*  '-'"^^^"^  ^^' ^^'^  P^<>"^«tioi  of 

seems  to  live  beeZdlendarofhrr-^  '■''''"  *^'  '"''^'"''^  '^'"^  ^^^^"' 

to  have  bestowed  her  Imnd  on  a  ^^  i^  cSvn    Y"' ,""  ''"^'^'^  "''  Caractacus.  is  said 

known  by  the  nan.e  of  Old  Sarum  ;  S  Ck  d.a  in'eof  h         7'  '^''''  ""^^  ''^'"^^'  '«  ->- 
the  wifeofaRon.an  senator  named  Pudens'         ""^  ^""^ '"''^''^  >«  supposed  to  have  become 

foundations  which  had  been  laid  bv  thol  in        !,      I  ^"P«'-«tructure  of  the  churches  on  the  • 

Thoy  also  imitated  tti   example  fndSriSn'^^  ^"T^  servants  of  the  Most  High. 

believers  ;  and.  quitting  tSenwn  Toum  v  "Inf  f  T''"""'.^'^  ^°°^'  "'"""^  ^''«  necessitous 

of  the  Rcdeem^rLamf.anTtoZlockritrsof  ?  •"        T'  ''"'^'  ^"  ^P^^^^^'^^  '^'^^ 
ishing  for  lack  of  knowled  J'      A mnn„  .K  f       J"^  revelation  to  those  who  were  »  per- 

enabled  to  organiL  a  ChhsHan  t7J^^  '"'^  "°^  ^"""'"'^^'^  missionaries,  who,  on  being 

Vou  I.-NO.T  3  ''''^ '"  °""  ""^•'^"'  immediately  hastened  to  another,  on  thf 


xhr 


INTRODUCTION. 


same  errand  of  mercy,  we  recognize  the  names  of  Andronicus,  Aristarchus,  Crescens,  Marcus, 
Sylvanus,  and  Trophimus  ;  and  to  these  were  afterwards  added  Pantajnus,  who  travelled  into 
India,  and  Irenaeus  and  Pothinus,  who  came  from  Smyrna,  and  settled  themselves  in  France 

To  show  what  brilliant  success  had  attended  the  preaching  of  gospel  truth,  even  at  this 
early  period,  we  need  only  refer  to  the  remarks  of  various  ancient  writers  on  this  subject 
Pliny,  in  writing  to  the  emperor  Trajan,  about  the  year  106,  expressly  says,  "  The  number  of 
culprits  (as  he  calls  the  Christians)  is  become  so  great  as  to  call  for  serious  consultation  ;  the 
contagion  of  their  superstition  having  spread  not  only  through  cities,  but  even  in  villages  and 
the  country."  Tertulliati,  speaking  of  the  extension  of  the  gospel,  about  ninety  years  after- 
ward, numbers  among  those  who  had  previously  embraced  it,  the  Dacians,  Germans,  Scy- 
thians, and  Sarmatians,  together  with  many  of  the  Getuli,  great  numbers  of  the  Moors,  the 
utmost  bounds  of  Spain,  various  nations  of  Gaul,  and  those  parts  of  Britain  which  were  inac- 
cessible to  the  Roman  arms.  And  Arnobius  demands,  "  Is  not  this  a  powerful  argument  for 
our  faith,  that,  in  so  short  a  time,  the  sacraments  of  Christ  are  diffused  over  the  world  ? 
that  orators,  rhetoricians,  lawyers,  physicians,  and  philosophers,  now  love  our  religion,  desl 
pismg  those  things  in  which  they  previously  trusted?  that  servants  endure  cruelty  from  their 
masters,  wives  submit  to  be  separated  from  their  husbands,  and  children  are  content  to  be  dis- 
inherited by  their  parents,  rather  than  abandon  the  Christian  religion  ?" 

Nor  was  it  merely  the  diffusion  of  new  principles,  or  a  warm  attachment  to  a  new  religion 
which  now  claimed  the  attention  of  mankind ;  but  the  heavenly  purity  of  those  principles 
formed  a  striking  contrast  with  the  superstitions  of  the  heathen,  and  the  conduct  of  the  wor- 
shippers of  Jesus  shone  forth  with  refulgent  brightness  amidst  the  darkness  of  pagan  vice 
Hence  Athenagoras,  who,  toward  the  end  of  this  century,  wrote  an  apology  for  the  Christian 
religion,  says,  "  The  Christians  made  small  account  of  the  present  life,  but  were  intent  only  on 
contemplating  God,  and  the  divine  Word  who  is  from  him ;  what  union  the  Son  has  with  the 
Father ;   what  communion  the  Father  has  with  the  Son  ;  what  the  Spirit  is ;  and  what  are  the 
union  and  distinction  subsisting  between  the  Father,  the  Son,  and  the  Holy  Spirit  »     And  the 
learned  Bardasones  of  Mesopotamia,  in  alluding  to  the  influence  of  the  gospel  upon  the  lives 
of  Its  professors,  says,  "In  Parthia  polygamy  is  allowed  and  practised ;  but  the  Christians  of  that 
country  practise  it  not.     In  Persia  the  same  may  be  said  with  regard  to  incest.     And  ,n  Bactria 
and  Gaul,  ■^vhere  the  rites  of  matrimony  are  defiled  with  impunity,  the  Christians  act  not  thus. 
In  fact,  wherever  they  reside,  their  practice  triumphs  over  the  worst  of  customs  and  the 
worst  of  laws." 

The  following  anecdote  of  an  event,  said  to  have  occurred  in  the  year  1G7,  is  too  remarka- 
ble m  Itself  and  has  been  too  respectably  attested,  to  be  passed  over  in  silence  :_"  Marcus 
Antoninus,  being  engaged  m  a  war  with  the  Quadi,  a  people  inhabiting  those  parts  of  Germany 
which  are  now  styled  Austria  and  Bavaria,  was  exposed  to  imminent  danger,  from  the  extreme  heat 
of  the  weather  and  the  want  of  water  for  the  army.  At  this  juncture,  the  emperor  was  inform- 
ed, by  oneof  his  officers,  that  the  Melytcnian  legion  was  entirely  composed  of  Christians,  who 
were  accustomed  to  obtain  whatever  they  desired  by  their  prayers.  Antoninus  immediately 
commanded  that  they  should  call  upon  their  God  for  assistance;  and,  in  obedience  to  his  injunc- 
lon,  they  fell  upon  their  knees,  and  earnestly  besought  the  Lord  to  send  them  rain.  Scarcely  had 
they  preferred  this  solemn  and  united  request,  when  the  sky  was  suddenly  overspread  with 
clouds,  and  such  a  terrific  storm  of  thunder  and  lightning  burst  upon  their  enemies,  that  they 
were  panic  struck  and  completely  routed  ;  whilst  a  copious  shower,  descending  upon  the  impe- 
rial troops,  afforded  them  ample  refreshment,  though,  a  few  minutes  before,  they  were  perish- 


w 


INTRODUCnON. 

corroborated,  a,  to  the  .ubstance  of  the  fact  61"°™,!^!^  '  .   "^"'"^^  '''  ^"'^''i'"'  •»<> 

we^aya.k  „ith  the  late  piou,  and  .eneLw/ZretJ^^^^^^^^^ 

"  Why  should  it  be  thought  incredihl*.  hv  „,«  i     ^^^^^7  °'  *"e  London  Missionary  Society 

prayer,  and  sent  rain  at  his  eqTes  should  on""  ?"«*'^°«'/*^^*  ^he  God  who  heard  El^ 
plication  of  a  whole  legion  of  Slianslln  imthr^r'^'I'  occasion,  listen  to  theiup! 
"^wlZthrdol^"  ^";f-  ^"^  thT^^lJ^fSLl^^"'^""'  "  ^^«  glory  Of  Chrift, 

Whilst  the  hvesanTd^p^rrfrr^^^^^^^^^ 

fects  of  those  doctrines,_and  whilst  God  him  llf  "^  .  /  •""'  ^"^'"  ""'^  ''«"«fi<^i^i  ef- 
the  highest  honor  upon  faith  in  the  promise  3  DoweroH«''^"''  '"'''''''  ^^"^hsafed  to  put 
ing  the  HolyScriptures  occupied  tL  hrrtsa„drnd,  o  tl'  '"T''^'  ^'''''''^'^  ^^^'-^^^^t- 
of  the  people'.'  to  our  adorable  Shiloh      A.Z  ""/'  '^*^°  P^^^ed  for  the  «  gathering 

understood,  at  this  time,  than  any  o  ht,  ^tnJZ'::Tni^  '''  T'"""  "^^  >"-«  S"t  1^ 
with  equal  zeal  and  diligence,  and  that  whLh  wHyied  tl^e/.T  '  "' ''""^^  were  multiplied 
cidedly  the  best.     The  Syriac,  Ethiopian  and  E^vnt  ni  '  ''^'■''°"  '"^«  considered  de- 

of  time  but  their  dates  cannot  now  bTa^celtXrr""' '^^^^^^  ^*"^^'-*  ^^-^ance 
ever,  which  they  contained  were  so  now^rft  n  ?  P^f  >«ion.     The  blessed  truths,  how- 

that,  wherever  they  were  circuTted!  tT^  inirtke       '\T'  '^  ^°'  *^^  "^'^  Gh-t. 
transformed  the  moral  desert  into  a  garden    „„?■?'      I     ''^'"'^"°"«  ^"d  fertilizing  stream 
praise  to  the  once  crucified,  but  iow  S  n  a;d  hthte"'^^^^  H  T"^  --"-"l-ting  t^ribute  of 
In  the  third  century,  the  DrocrrP,«  J  ru     .  r^  exalted.  Saviour. 

245,  the  emperor  pl^,tToTh:Sr^^^^ 

enced  by  the  spirit  of  the  gospel,  wasTndLed  to  make  ^  r'^'^'"'^^'  ^"'^  ^"^  ""^^  -««- 
openly  to  patronize  its  friends  and  adherents  Abo^Jh?  ^  "'''''  ""^  '^'  "^^  ^^"gion,  and 
was  greatly  extended  both  in  FranceTnd  Ger  nanT  AnT^^^  "'V'^' "^*^*  of  divine  truth 
seemed  to  decline  both  among  pastors  and  nrnf     ^'  •  ^"^'/t'^ough  the  power  of  religion 

o  barbarians,  became  a  scene^Crab^Tonrion  •)  T^  '■  T'  ^''''  ''^"^  ''^  '"'-d"      ' 
overruled  events,  that  the  invaders,  by  carrvin.  Z      '^/^.^'^^om  and  power  of  God  so 
forced  these  persons  to  become  nii^ar Tc' nZrv  t"o  *;     """  """'  ^'^"^^'^  ^-hops' 

n.n"=G:::;,^^^^^ 

durmg  which  time  he  had  reigned  in  Gaufh  J  r^        11'  ^"^'^tthe  expiration  of  six  years 
anny  of  Maxentms,  who  had^Ien  docl td  eZ^^^^^^^^  ^  P-iod  to  tirtyr.' 

most  intolerable  manner.     With  tbi.  Z       ''"'P.'''^'^  "^  ^^ome,  and  had  there  acted  in  th« 

thatthoidol.ofhi.sforcfathclco       aSrnt':;^"'  '''''\  ^  ^^"^'^^'«"  "Pon  1  ni  ^d 
prayer  to  Jehovah,  and  his  petitions  lere  'rrcioXT"'  \'  ^i'^«^^««d'»--lf  in  fervent 
relates,  that,  whilst  he  was  on  his  march   a  1^  ""r  ^  answered.     Eusebius,  his  biographer 
ton.hnient  of  the  army,  with  this  i^cW  ti^  T„' g;^^^^^^^^^^  '"  ^'^  '-vens.  to'thfas: 

1      n,  ,n  ureck.  By  this  overcome.     And  theaunic  his- 


XTl 


INTRODUCTION. 


™ 


mi  ■  i 


torian  adds,  that  on  the  following  night,  as  the  emperor  was  musing  on  this  remarkable  cir- 
cumstance, our  Lord  appeared  to  him  with  the  same  figure  of  a  cross,  commanding  him  to 
use  that  symbol  as  his  military  ensign. 

How  far  this  story  may  be  correctly  stated,  is  certainly  open  to  opinion.  Instead  of  an 
actual  vision,  the  whole  might  probably  have  been  a  dream ;  but,  in  either  case,  it  is  certain 
that,  from  the  time  to  which  we  have  alluded,  the  banner  of  the  cross  waved  over  Constantine's 
camp,  and  he  not  only  professed  to  believe  in  Jesus,  but  studied  the  scriptures  with  apparent 
seriousness  and  attention,  and  publicly  countenanced  the  ministers  of  divine  truth. 

Having  obtained  a  decisive  victory  over  Maxentius,  and  made  himself  master  of  Rome, 
Copstantme  placed  a  spear,  formed  so  as  to  resemble  a  cross,  in  the  hand  of  the  statue  erect- 
ed for  him  in  that  city.  He  also  built  several  churches  for  the  Christians,  patronized  the 
meetings  of  their  bishops,  and  extended  his  benevolence  to  their  poor  members.  He  after- 
wards took  up  arms  against  his  colleague,  Licinius,  who  reigned  in  the  east,  with  pagan  prin- 
ciples and  a  persecuting  spirit.  Licinius  was  content  to  put  the  truth  or  falsehood  of  the  new 
religion  on  the  event  of  the  war,  and  the  result  was,  that  he  lost  both  his  dignity  and  his  life. 
The  external  splendor  of  the  church  was  augmented  during  the  remainder  of  Constantine's 
reign,  but  her  peace  was  disturbed  by  the  Arian  heresy,  which  came  in  like  an  overwhelming 
flood ;  and,  whilst  many  were  carried  away  by  that  awful  delusion,  the  friends  .of  genuine 
truth  were  almost  exclusively  employed  in  defending  the  faith  once  delivered  to  the  saints. 
It  is  pleasing,  however,  to  relate,  that,  during  this  century,  the  gospel  still  continued  to  spread 
among  the  nations  of  the  earth  ;  and  some  interesting  proofs  of  this  important  fact  will  be 
found  in  the  following  particulars. 

Meropius,  a  Tyrian  philosopher,  wishing  to  explore  the  interior  of  Abyssinia,  travelled  in- 
to that  country  with  two  young  lads  who  umlcrKtood  the  Greek  language.     On  their  arrival  at  a 
certain  place,  Meropius  was  attacked  and  murdered  by  the  natives  ;  but  the  boys,  whose  names 
were  Frunicntius  and  /Edcsiua,  wore  presented  to  flio  king,  who  not  only  spared  their  lives, 
but  took  them  under  his  immediate  jjatroiiago  and  protection.     On  the  king's  death,  Frunicntius 
was  made  prime  minister,  and  both  the  superintendence  of  the  government  and  the  education 
of  the  young  prince   were  committed  to  him  and  his  relative  by  the  queen  downger.     Re- 
solved   to  improve  the    advantage  of  so   exalted    u   situation   for  the    extension  of  gospel 
truth,  the  premier  inquired  of  some   Roman  merchants  whether    they  had    met  with  any 
Christians  in  Abyssinia ;  and,  having  discovered  some,  he  erected  a  church  for  their  accom- 
modation, encouragi'd  them  to  celebratt*  their  religious  rites,  and  had  soon  the  satisfaction  of 
perceiving  some  of  the  natives  flock  to  the  newly-(>rected  standard  of  the  Redeemer.     On  the 
king's  assuming  the  reins -of  government,  Frumenfius  solicited  permission  to  return  to  his 
■  own  country  ;  and,  on  his  arrival  at  Alexandria,  he  related  his  adventures  to  Atharuisius,  the 
bishop  of  that  city,  suggesting  the  neccissity  of  sending  out  some  faithful  missionary,  and  stat- 
ing  the  (.robahility  of  success  with  which  such  an  attempt  might  be  crowned.     Alter  mature 
deliberation,  Athannsiussaid  that  none  was  so  fit  for  th<<  office  as  him  with  whom  fh<>  propos'M 
originated.     Frumentius  was,  therefore,  njtpointed  the  first  bishop  of  the  Axumi ;  and  appears 
to  have  labored  for  the  conversion  of  souls  with  unremitting  zeal  and  vigilance  in  the  country 
to  which  he  had  been  so  singularly  led,  and  in  which  he  had  been  providentially  preserved 
and  exalted,  for  the  most  important  |)urftose. 

In  thosauH!  century,  the  conver-sion  of  the  Iberians,  a  people  honleriuh  ""  the  Black  Sea, 
was  effected  in  a  very  remarkable  manner.  TheHc  ancestors  of  tin;  modern  Russians  had,  in 
one  of  their  predatory  excursions,  taken  captive  a  female  Christian  of  most  exemplary  piety, 


INTRODUCTION. 


xtB 


Whose  holy  deportment  seemed  to  excite  the  respect  of  these  barbarians,  and  whose  cures,  in 
certam  cases  and  m  evidept  answer  to  her  prayers,  appeared  to  them  completely  miraculous 
On  one  occasion,  a  child  belonging  to  the  king  was  sent,  according  to  the  cSstom'of  he  coun-' 

Wir  l.'ir  ^°™^;.^ho  professed  the  healing  art,  to  be  cured  of  a  distemper;  but  all 
then-  skill  was  exerted  in  vam,  and  the  infant  was  at  length  taken  to  the  ChristL  captive 
w^n'l  H  h''"  7°gf"»g 'anything  to  herself,  expressed  her  confidence  that  the  Lord  Jesus 
who  had  healed  such  multitudes,  would  honor  hor  faith  in  him  on  this  occasion.  She  accord' 
mgly  presented  her  supplications  to  the  Lord,  and  the  child  was  restored.  For  this  important 
service,  and  for  the  subsequent  recovery  of  the  queen  herself,  through  the  instrumentalky 
of  ths  Christian's  prayers,  the  king  sent  her  some  costly  presents ;  but  she  modestly  de- 

tt  GoJ  :iTZZToZT  ^^  ^^^''  ^-^-  "P-  ^-  -"'<l  be  the  acknowledgmeit  of 

Z   .       „„,t,  I  w™?.  ■""[•'"'="•"    ■"  —ling  ".0  Chri,da„  f„i„;,  p„„io„|„Hy  L"  ng 
■JIU,  „ml„  g    |,t  milida  of  llioir  fellow  men,  .1  an  ago  and  under  circumstanros  ivlion  tliov 

Z '"'y '••""'  ""<"'  O"!""*-"'  1°  SO  fortK  into  ,he  field  of  acti.o  labor.     Orre'na  kable 

in,  anco  of  ,l,«  occur,  u,  ,l,„  conduct  of  Abraham  .ho  ascetic,  „l,„,  for  about  LlfaTentury 
had  lived  in  conformity  with  the  strictest  monastic  rules  •  >„hj..  „  .  contury, 

'"■"i- ';»;,';- -if  ™"«-..™  ,h„  idoZrrint: jt  t  an^trv  r=T^^  ;r 

in  wlucii  he  Holemniy  Hiippl.cuted  for  the  conversion  of  tho  n„„„n.  •  i  *^'^«ctcu  a  clu  rcli, 
proceeded  to  overturn  some  of  thoir  altarT  tZhL  n/l^  '  ami  burn uig  w.th  zeal,  ho 
wa.s  driven  from  thoir  torritorie.,.     l4   !       aston  Z^^^^^^^  resentment,  and  ho 

and  on  various  occasions  exhorted  then  to   C^^tSi^^^^^^^^^^  '"'r!'""'!' 

he  now  encountered  very      vere  treat.uont   lo  rrZ  1  T  ^"'^ '  •""'  '''^"^''' 

l^r';h::tr:?r.,::':;-!:s:E:r7„rhi;:i;r7^ 


vm 


p-  'i 


t 


INTRODUCTION. 


Thejifth  century  affords  but  few  details  relative  to  the  cause  of  missions.  St.  Patrick,  as 
he  ,s  called,  however,  now  visited  Ireland  with  the  anxious  wish  of  proving  inslru. 
mental  in  the  conversion  of  its.  barbarous  natives,  among  whom  he.had  formerly  passed  sever- 
al years  m  captivity;  and  notwithstanding  the  discouragement  which  attended  his  first  exer- 
tions, he  persevered  with  unshaken  fortitude  and  resolution  in  his  work,  till  he  had  erected  a 
great  number  of  churches,  and  instructed  many  of  the  Irish  in  the  use  of  letters,  as  well  as  in 
the  truths  of  the  gospel.  I  or  these  reasons  he  is  considered  as  the  apostle  of  Ireland ;  but  the 
vicinity  of  Glasgow,  in  Scotland,  claims  the  honor  of  his  birth. 

In  the  same  century,  the  conversion  of  the  southern  or  lowland  Picts  is  said  to  have  been  ef- 
fected through  the  instrumentality  of  a  British  bishop  named  Ninias ;  and  though  they  were  soon 
afterward,  reduced  by  the  northern  Picts,  their  heathen  conquerors  permitted  them  to  retain 
the  profession  of  Christianity.  The  baptism  of  Clovis,  king  of  the  Franks,  took  place  about 
the  year  496;  and  it  has  been  justly  remarked,  that,  "notwithstanding  he  was  an  ungodly 
man  he  became  an  instrument,  in  the  hand  of  an  overruling  Providence,  to  promote  a  cause 
of  which  ho  knew  not  the  value."  Through  the  influence  of  his  queen,  Clotilda,  who  was  a 
zealous  Christian,  he  was  induced  to  profess  the  faith  of  the  gospel,  and  he  was  baptized  at 
lihcuus,  together  with  his  sister  and  three  thousand  of  his  troops  ;_a  circumstance  which 
proved  prelusive  to  many  signal  cflocts  in  Europe. 

In  the  sixth  century,  the  Roman  pontiff,  Gregory  the  Great,  sent  a  number  of  Benedictine 
monks  as  missionaries  into  Britain,  under  the  superintendence  of  Augustine;  and  a  variety 
of  circumstances  proved  favorable  to  their  reception.  Ethell.crt,  king  of  Kent,  the  most  con- 
Bidcrab  c  ol  the  Anglo-Saxon  princes  among  whom  the  inland  was,  at  this  time,  divided,  had 
nmrricd  Bertha,  a  pious  descendant  of  Clovi..,  and  by  her  inlluonce  he  was  persuaded  to  as- 
sign Augustine  and  his  companions  a  habitation  in  the  Isle  of  Tliaiict.  He  also  consented  to 
hear  tlicm  preach,  and,  after  receiving  the  rite  of  baptism,  he  gradually  introduced  the  pro- 
lession  of  Christianity  among  his  subjects. 

Gregory  it  seems,  had  for  many  years  felt  extremely  anxious  that  a  mission  should  be  sent 
to  Lnglami  and  the  circumstance  which  gave  rise  to  his  anxiety  on  that  subject  has  been  thua 
related  :— Walking  one  day  in  the  market-place,  wlion  ho  was  only  a  presbyter,  he  observed 
some  remarkably  fine  youths,  who  wore  bound  with  cords,  and  .'xpusrd  to  be  sold  as  slaves. 
Mruck  with  their  appearance,  he  stopped  an<l  asked  whence  they  came ;  and  on  being  told 
they  were  natives  ol  Britain,  he  inquired  whether  the  inhabitants  of  that  island  were  pagans  or 
Uir.stians.  Hearing  that  they  were  pagans,  he  heaved  a  deep  sigh,  and  cxclaimer;-''  Alas! 
does  the  prince  of  darkness  possess  such  countenances?  and  are  forms  so  beautiful  destitute 
of .. vine  grace  ?"  "  What,"  said  he,  »  is  the  name  of  the  nation?"  It  was  answere.l,  » .l^^r//," 
or  England.  "  In  truth,"  said  he,  "  they  have  nngrlic  faces  ;  it  is  a  pity  thc-y  should  not  live 
hereafter  with  angels  !  From  what  part  of  the  island  do  they  come  ?"  "  From  Ihira,  or  Nor- 
thumberland. "  Then  let  them  be  <lelivered  />  ira,  (i.  e.  from  the  wratl.  of  Go,l,)  and  called 
to  the  mercy  of  Christ.  What  is  the  name  of  their  king  ?"  "  /•;//,/."  "Then,"  said  he, 
(continuing  to  play  on  the  name,)  "  lot  us  teach  them  to  sing  AlhUijah:' 

Charme.l  with  the  success  of  his  first  missionaries,  Gregory  sent  over  others  on  the  same 
piouH  errand:  and,  through  their  instrumentality,  many  are  said  to  have  been  converted  to 
the  hnth  ol  the  gospel.  This  opening  prospect,  however,  was  Hn.,r,  and  sadiv  cLnKlrd,  by 
the  intemperate  and  impolitic  zeal  which  Augustine  (who  had  I.een  con.titufd  archl.ishop 
Ol  the  English  nation)  displayed  to  c;stubliMh  a  complete  uniformity  in  customs  and  discipline. 
Ihis  was  naturally  opposed  by  those  prelates  and  monks  in  \Vales,  who  were  the  successors 


INTRODUCTION. 

^^^^^^^^  or.e3eeorRo.e.    Violet 

bnans  whose  only  crime  consisted  in  Their  cSntinn^"'"'' '  ^°*^  ^^e  unfortunate  Cam- 

w " ''  -'-  -  ^---  or  their  -ier  raTrsr  i^s:^^^^^^^^^  s 
p.o  w  ^j^'^jz^^  tt?  i.rar'  ^^^"  ^^^  — ^-  -•^  -e^ «. 

attention  the  accounts  which  have  bengiTero  Them  bv  t  "''''"  °'/"^''  ^«  ^-^^^  with 
mg  ages  For  by  these  accounts  it  appf^L  that  the  co-'^  ''^"''"  *''''  '"*^  ^''^  '"^*="^*^- 
oftheir  former  impiety,  8"perstition,Tnd  fi  emiousne^^^^^^^^^ 

a  mere  outward  and  nominal  profession,  the/inS^^  and  that,  attached  to  Christ  by 
and.  the  authority  of  his  gospel   bv  thp^  ">«>:'>»  effect,  renounced  the  purity  of  his  doctrine 

ntes  andinstitutfons  whifhTey  1  nTed  f r^Jr'!?"'  T  "P^'^'"'°'^  ^^  ^'"^-s 
of  this  century,  the  conversion  of  these  undviH,  7      •       "^^'^ ''  *°  ^«  g'^^n  to  the  writers 

tVuV^'T'"''^'''  -**  «--^- wIchX  h:^^^^^^^^^^  '''"^"'^"•*^  "^«  principal;  ef! 

ts  behalf     But  the  conduct  of  the  converted  nn  "'"  ^°'P^'  ^^''^  ^^^^led  to  work  in 

these  testimonies  ;  for  certainly,  if  such  „, Laeles  hT^  u  '"^^''"*  ^^  '"^^''^ate  the  force  o? 
would  have  been  more  suitable  to  the'^rofesln  /'?  ^""^^S***  '^'«°"g  ^hem,  their  lies 
the  doctrines  and  laws  of  the  gospe  mTre^s^rdZ'  '",  '^''"  ."Attachment  and  oiedieLe 'o 
been.  Besules,  in  abandoning  their  rcient  In  ?  •  "'''''"P'^^y  ^han  they  appear  to  have 
inore  mfluenced  by  the  examplf  and  auTori^!  of  th"  "''  ''\  ^'''''''  P"^"  ''  them  were 
the  power  of  a  rational  conviction  ^d  L  ?  r  P""*'^' ^*''^"  ^^  ^'^r*^^  of  argumenT  or 
wh.ch  many  of  the  first  ChristLTmi.ionai^^^^^^^^^  ''^  wretched  rn„:'  Tn 

taken,  we  shall  perceive  that  they  wanted  not  m„  '^^  '°'^'""  '^'^  ^^ey  had  under" 

taug  t,  and  the  discipline  they  r/coXnded  for  thT'""''  ?  '"'^^^^^  '''''  doctrines  they 
pcope  that  was  difficult  to  be  perforn.ed  or  that  laid  anv'''""l  T^'""^  ""^'^''^  '^"^-°"' 
pet  tcs  and  pass,o„s.  The  principal  iniuncl  s  tli  ^  •"^^'kable  restraint  upon  their  ap- 
ha  hey  should  get  by  hea/t  certain  sT.rars  of  ^,  'T''"^  "P""  '^''^^^'^^  proselytes  were 
and  the  sa.nts  the  same  religious  servlr  w  "h  h  "  - '^^  P^^  *«  ^he  images  of  ChrS 
t  e  gods  Nor  were  they  at  all  delil  ^oT  "  pubL  i'"  f"  "'^  ^""^^^^  ^«  *'-  statues  o 
the.r  credit ;  for  they  deemed  it  lawful  and  Pv.n  l  '''"'"""S  *''«  »"««"«  "f  establishing 

eoMve  multitude,  by  representing  as  p;o     ^/u^^^^^^^  ^°  '^^^'^  ->  'gnorant  and  iS 

from  the  most  authentic  records  of  the' e  times  .^'   ''"'  ""'''  "''^''^y  ""^ural,  as  we  learn 
It  was  in  this  century  that  Colomh   nr  r  i  '  . 

tam.ng  the  charge  of  several  other  ins  itu.    ns^^^^^  thirty  years,  beside    re 

^u,  app.nesH  of  baptizing  the  Pictisl/  ^e.^  "n  'ir''"'  ^"??''"' '"  '"■'"'"'•  ^oiomb  haj 
h.s  character  an.l  p.-rsor.  i„  ,„eh  high  est  maX^  Zl  ^  ""«''^'''''"8  ^-^'^  ""«!  liritonshelci 
refer  to  h„n  as  ,h„  f.„a|  »„  ,1^,  i„  ,f^,  ^,  X^'  '?  7^  ""  ""^""""o"  thing  for  them  o 
pern,  talent.,  an.l  numeroul  »ccon.  ."  C  "  imi^'^f^'--  «'>oyal  La.^^: 
•»   'H  l,o„efK.e„co  ;  unmoved  by  in.iri..s  an  I.:..  f     '"  '"  '"'  ^^"fions  and  unbonn  le,l 

o  "    r>tjUuiuc3,  and  win- 


XX 


INTRODUCTION. 


II  ' 


ning  the  affections,  of  the  most  violent  enemies  of  the  gospel :  he  was  also  fervent  and  unre- 
mitting in  devotional  exercises,  and  he  expired  in  the  act  of  transcribing  the  Holy  Scriptures. 
The  following  little  anecdote  of  this  extraordinary  person  places  his  character  in  a  striking 
and  affecting  contrast  with  that  of  the  ferocious  age  and  country  in  which  he  lived.  A 
Highland  chief  having  earnestly  requested  him  to  pronounce  a  blessing  on  his  weapons,  the 
venerable  missionary  looked  up  to  heaven,  and  said,  "  God  grant  that  they  may  never  shed  the 
blood  of  man  or  beast !"  His  disciples  were  remarkable  for  the  exemplary  holiness  of  their 
lives,  and,  through  the  medium  of  their  missionary  labors,  the  northern  Picts,  the  Anglo-Sax- 
ons of  Mercia  and  Northumberland,  and  several  of  the  northern  nations  of  Europe,  were 
converted,  at  least,  to  the  name  and  profession  of  Christianity. 

To  the  sixth  century  has  also  been  referred  the  conversion  of  the  Abasgi,  a  people  of 
Scythia;  and  the  Heruli,  who  resided  on  the  banks  of  the  Danube  ;  together  with  that  of 
Zathus,  a  prince  of  the  Colchians  ;  and  Almundurus,  a  prince  of  the  Saracens. 

Early  in  the  seventh  century,  the  six  Anglo-Saxon  kings  of  the  heptarchy,  who  had  hitherto  re- 
mained under  the  darkness  of  their  ancient  superstition,  were  induced,  partly  by  the  earnest 
entreaties  of  the  Roman  missionaries,  and  partly  by  the  persuasions  of  their  fair  consorts,  to 
enter  the  pale  of  the  church.  Paulinus  was  now  appointed  bishop  of  York,  and  as  Christianity 
had  obtained  admission  to  the  abodes  of  royalty,  the  number  of  its  adherents  incrensed  with 
great  rapidity  in  all  parts  of  tiie  island. 

The  fire  which  Augustine's  intemperate  zeal  had  kindled  was  not  yet  extinguished  ;  but, 
whilst  wo  sigh  over  the  fact  that  British  ministers  should  iiavc  been  stigmatized  and  treated  as 
schismatics,  merely  because  they  could  not  consent  to  submit  to  the  domination  of  Rome,  and 
that  the  peace  of  the  church  at  home  should  have  been  disturbed  by  an  idle  quarrel  about  the 
time  of  keeping  Easter,— it  is  pleasing  to  record,  that  some  pious  individuals  were  occupied 
in  the  more  important  business  of  going  forth  from  the  shores  of  England,  Scotland,  and  Ire- 
land, to  carry  the  news  of  salvation  to  their  neighbors.  Among  the  most  famous  of  these  we 
may  notice  VVillebrod,  an  Anglo-Saxon,  and  eleven  of  iiis  countrymen,  who  cross(>d  over  into 
Batavia,  for  the  express  purpose  of  converting  the  Fricslandcrs  to  the  Christian  faith.  Hence, 
in  the  year  692,  they  went  info  Fosteland,  which  most  writers  consider  to  have  been  the 
same  with  Helij^M)land  ;  but  being  cruelly  treated  there  by  Radbod,  king  of  the  Frioslanders,  who 
put  one  of  the  missionaries  to  death,  they  departed  for  Cimbria  and  the  neighboring  parts  of 
Denmark.  The  next  year,  however,  they  returned  to  Fricsland,  and  proved  much  more  suc- 
cessful than  they  had  formerly  been,  in  propagating  the  knowledge  of  divine  truth.  Wille- 
brod  was  ordained  archbishop  of  Wilteburgh,  now  called  Utrecht,  and  died  au.ong  the  Bata- 
vians  at  an  advanced  age  ;  whilst  his  associates  continued  to  spread  the  rays  of  divine  light 
among  the  VVestphalians,  and  the  contiguous  nations. 

Some  of  the  disciples  of  Colomb  appear  to  have  been  equally  zealous  and  succrssful  at  this 
period.  One  of  these,  named  Aidan,  is  said  to  have  been  a  bright  example  of  godliness.  Ho 
made  the  Scriptures  his  daily  study ;  exerted  himself  on  all  occasions  for  the  conversion  of 
infidels  and  (lie  edification  of  believers  ;  was  remarkably  liberal  to  the  poor ;  an.l  altogether 
exhibited  a  character  which  would  have  done  honor  to  tiie  purest  ages  of  the  Christian  church. 
Oswald,  a  British  prince,  who  had  been  educated  and  baptized  in  Scotland,  sent  for  this  inde- 
fatigable missionary  to  promote  the  cause  of  religion  in  the  north  of  Britain,  and  acted  per- 
sonally as  iiis  interpreter,  Aidan  having  but  an  imperfect  acquaintance  with  the  English  lan- 
gua^^e.  Other  ministers  were  also  invited  from  I-colm-kil,  and  several  churches  appear  to  have 
boon  planted  by  their  instrumentality. 


INTRODUCTION. 

about  Wurt8b«rgh.     A  pagan  dukerm.^™hr«    *"'T"'V ""^ """'''"«'  »'  the inMeb 
baptized ;  b„.  kL„  h.v';af?.,Sir"pl^hrm  II^  '  '""'""'^  ?'  '""'•  "■"  •"• 

mi;?i'.riix  «;:,&t±^  r„7bt,l'^'"°:::.  ?"" "« ™'-™'-'e»ce  of . 

on  record.  ^  ^  °*™^'  °^  '^"''''''^  ^»«hops  and  other  ministers  are  still  left 

acrimony  of  their  di;putes:::SX"r;ari^^^^^^^^^  ''^"  P^^--"  '^^  * '« 

a  severe  scourge.  This  extraordinary^ha^: ter  v^Ls  a  nat^'o  of  J'"'''"'""^  *''™  '**  P^*^^^ 
Fehx;  and,  though  meanly  descended;  illiterate  anZ  tn^Pn.  '''^' * '^"y  '"  ^'^'^'^ 

a  fine  countenance,  ready  elocution,  deep  cTntnvanc^  '"d.gent  circumstances,  he  possessed 
perseverance.  In  the  early  part  of  his  life  he  haTZ^'  ""'^f  ""^"^,  T'''^'^  ^"'^  unwearied 
factor  ;  and  in  this  capacity  he  h^d  occasi'on  to  tr^v!?  T^^""^"^  ^J  ^''  ""''"'  ^''"^^'^b,  as  a 
was  afterwards  taken  into  the  sprvforf  ,  '"*"*  ^^"^'  Palestine  and  Egypt.     He 

Christmnity,  as  professed  in  the  countries  which  hP  Ctr„         a  ^l'^""'^^  to  agree, 

the  gross  errors  of  Arius,  or  wretchedly  minS  with  h  ^r''"*^'  ""^  ^"''"•"  ^^'^^^^^  with 
Arabia  abounded  with  Jews,  wirhad  LT  th  tllr  '  t  7  «»Per«titions  ,-Egypt  and 
other  inhabitants  were  pagans      Mahomet    h  ™,  '^!  '^"'"^  ^^  Persecution  ;-a„d  the 

mind.formedtherosJurofof  seSuna^r"^r  -  u"  ''''''  circumstances  in  his 

of  paganism,  Judaism  and  Ch  istiaS  mi.h.T  Trl  f''**'  '''"«  "  ^^'"P'^^^  compound 
classes  which  he  had  cont^p  at^d  ^^C^^m„  T  '"'  '"  ''  T'"^*'^*^  ^^  ^^^  ^^^ '-«« 
the  most  sensual  gratificatioZi,  tinTo  nn^  ?  """  ''  P"''«"''^'-'y  '^^  it  would  allow  of 

In  the  prosecutln  of  this  d  "i^^h;  w„«  ZT^  t  '""r"  "'  f'^''"'^'  P'^'^^"'*'^  '»  ^^^^nity. 
ter  of  whom  was  well  quailed  ?of«..nn7       T       ^^  V"'"  ""^  ""  '"""^'^'^^^^  "'on^,  the  lat- 

and  neighbors  ;  and  in  a   hort  Ze  ho  h.ln^         7  ^  " ■  •'Pr'"'"  ''"'^^^'^y  '*"'*^"«  '»«  f"«nd8 

■  — '  ^  i  ■    •■••'   --^   trrcS 


xxu 


INTRODUCTION. 


li'i 


their  attempts  had  proved  ineffectual,  God  had  now  sent  his  last  and  greatest  prophet,  with 
a  more  ample  commission  than  either  Moses  or  Christ  had  been  entrusted  with.  He  added 
that  he  was  expressly  commanded  not  only  to  promulgate  the  divine  laws,  but  to  subdue,  by 
force  of  arms,  all  who  should  refuse  to  believe  or  obey  them  ;  and  for  the  attainment  of  this 
object  he  was  to  establish  a  kingdom,  which  should  propagate  the  revealed  will  of  the  Most 
High  through  all  nations ;  that  God  had  decreed  utter  ruin  and  destruction  to  those  who  should 
in  any  way  oppose  his  prophet's  success  ;  but  to  all  his  faithful  friends  and  adherents  he  had 
promised  the  spoils  of  the  earth,  and  a  paradise  abounding  with  al!  sensual  enjoyments.  He 
also  artfully  represented  it  as  the  irnjvocable  purpose  of  Heaven,  that  those  who  perished 
in  fighting  his  battles,  or  otherwise  piopagating  his  doctrines,  would  enjoy  an  extraordinary 
share  of  honor  and  pleasure  in  the  mansions  prepared  for  the  reception  of  their  disembodied 
spirits. 

These  tenets,  together  with  a  number  of  pretended  visions,  having  been  formed  into  a  book 
called  the  Alcoran,  the  new  religion  was  openly  published  and  promptly  received  by  great  num- 
bers of  the  impostor's  countrymen.  In  Mecca,  however,  where  his  person  was  familiar  to 
the  inhabitants,  his  bold  assertions  procured  him  but  little  credit,  and  the  leading  men  of  the 
city  formed  a  plan  to  cut  him  off.  Mahomet,  however,  obtained  intelligence  of  their  design, 
and  fled  to  Medina,  whc  ro  he  was  received  with  open  arms  by  a  people  already  dazzled  and 
deluded  by  the  fame  of  his  doctrines  and  protended  miracles.  From  this  time  the  Mahom- 
etans reckon  all  events,  the  era  being  called  in  Arabic  hegira,  or  "  the  flight."  This  took 
place  A.  D.  622. 

By  the  assistance  of  the  inhabitants  of  Medina,  and  by  the  success  which  crowned  his 
artful  representations  and  addresses,  ho  gradually  brought  over  the  mass  of  his  countrymen 
to  a  belief  in,  or,  at  least,  to  an  acquiescence  with,  his  doctrines.  And  the  rapid  propaga- 
tion of  his  system  among  the  Arabians,  was  a  powerful  incentive  to  its  adoption  by  the  inhabi- 
tants of  Egypt  and  the  East,  who  were  previously  disposed  for  its  reception.  Pagans,  Jews, 
and  Arians,  all  abandoned  their  former  professions,  and  enlisted  beneath  the  banner  of  the 
crescent,  which  was  used  as  a  symbol  of  the  Mahometan  faith.  In  short,  tho  contagion  spread, 
like  an  overwhelming  flood,  through  all  parts  of  Arabia,  Syria,  Egypt  and  Persia  ;  and  Ma- 
homet, from  an  obscure  individual,  became  the  most  powerful  monarch  of  his  age.  At  his 
death,  which  occurred  A.  D.  631,  he  leff,  two  branches  of  his  race,  both  of  whom  were  consid- 
ered as  almost  divine  by  their  respective  subjects.  These  were  the  caliphs  of  Persia  and 
Egyi)t;  the  former  of  whom  turned  their  arms  to  the  west,  and  subjjigated  many  countries 
in  that  direction  ;  whilst  the  latter  directed  their  attention  towards  Europe,  and,  under  the 
name  of  Saracens  or  Moors,  reducctl  a  considerable  part  of  Spain,  France,  Italy,  and 
the  islands  of  the  Mediterranean.  Thus  did  the  successors  of  the  Arabian  impostor  extend 
their  religion  and  their  conquests  in  Asia,  Africa  and  Europe  ;  and  immense  numbers  of  the 
human  race  are  still  under  the  power  of  Mahometan  delusion.  The  Turkish  empire,  how- 
ever, is  evidently  hastening  to  its  fall ;  and  it  is  our  happiness  to  know  that  the  absurdities  of 
the  Alcoran  must  eventually  vanish  before  the  gospel  of  Christ,  Hke  the  mists  of  the  morning 
before  the  beams  of  the  rising  sun. 

At  the  commencement  of  the  fiir/ith  century,  when  ■'  considerable  part  of  Germany 
was  buried  in  the  darkness  of  pagan  superstifion,  Winfrid,  a  Bcn(<]iftino  monk,  born  in 
England  of  illustrious  parents,  and  afterwards  known  by  the  name  of  ".oiiifnco,  attended  by 
two  companions,  went  over  into  Kriosland,  to  water  the  churches  wis;  »i  Willibrod  had  plant- 
ed.    Ilo  afterwarJa  removed  to  Do  v  aria  and  Thuringia  ;  and,  thr;  iMiout  the  greater  part  of 


INTRODUCTION. 

He«e  even  to  the  frontiers  of  Saxony,  he  published  the  revealed  will  of  God  •  and  in  th.  v. 
719,  Gregory  the  Second  made  him  bishop  of  the  new  German  rhnrlhl      i  V  ^®  ^^"^ 

attacked  and  Lied,  wTth  the  XleofTAT  *'°°'^""''  '°  '^^  P'*'"«  of  Dockum,  he  was 

Of  ferocious  pagans',  Irtd  luhti   d^^^^^^^^^^^         ThTGeVlfSS^^.^^'^^"!'  ''  ^  ''^^ 
sidered  Boniface  as  the  apostle  of  their  cnLvZ  a      ?       "  Christians,  who  had  con- 

the  pagans,  whose  lives  Ze  onlv  soa L T  .7'  '"'''^^'^'fj^^^d  an  army,  and  conquered 
in  the  truths  of  ChristtanTt^        ^  ^  consequence  of  their  submitting  to  be  instructed 

mis':;:!;S  rG^ma^nrS^^^^^^^^^  among  those  who  labored  as 

Saxons,  whilst  they  were  aacrito^rth";  f^^  '""TT  ^'^''''  "°  ^''""^^y  ^^  ^he 

turn  from  such  vanfties,  and  trl"!  ^J^^  ^"t^J^:  ^"'  '""  ^^'^'^^'^  *^^™  *« 
aters  to  such  a  degree,  that  the  zealous  mis  fonart  wou^n, nK  ki'T  ^P^-'ated  the  idol- 
the  spot,  had  it  not  been  for  the  remonstrares  oflC"^  Tr  '^  ''^"^  ^"«"  immolated  on 
that  an  ambassador  of  Heaven  ought  not  to  be  LiT^t  f'^'  ""™^'*  ^"^°'  ^^o  contended 
from  the  king  of  some  neighboring  natioL     L  efuvv^  w^^^^^^  ''  ^«  ^^^^  --« 

out  molestation,  and  he  continued  an  acUve  anf  ullJunaborr  T'  P'™'"''  '°  ^^^'^^  ^^^h- 
Villehad,  a  native  of  NorthumberlLd    I  al^o  ^h  t    ^^    !    "  ^'""""^  *'"  ^'^^^^th. 

the  Saxons;  whose  ferociourstrUs  ^c^^^^^^^^^^ 

minated  by  his  instructions,  and    oLrwhnm^K     '.'"''''""'''  ^'^^^^  "''"^^  ^^^e  illu- 

instrumentality.     He  became  bishop  of  Brinn'     ''.  r^f-   I'''  '*'^"^"y  ^^^^^  ^h^^^gh  hi, 

the^o.^^^^^^^^ 

ute?^XTr;;rioto^^^„t^^^^        ^'^^  «-^^^^^  which  contrib- 

the  Saxons  were  subdued ;  and,  wh^n %«„ ll  -        ""     "^  ^""^  ^^'''"^'^  ^^'•"^g'^' 

brace  the  gospel,  coercive  metholwerradopTeT^LT^^^^^  """t"^  *°  '"'"^^  ^^^^  *«  '- 
What  sort  of  .«„..,,.  these  were,  may  ^a^lv Tl  c;n.«  7  T'  '*'""  '^"P^'^"^  ^^^  ^''^"^ands. 
terios  were  founded,  and  minister   wl  appointed  to  rH  ''"'Z''''  ""  ^^^°^'«  ^"^  monas- 

cdgc  of  divine  truth  must  have  been  pZe2eIvdffrr^  k'""'  '''"^' Senerr.1  knowl- 
with  the  superstitions  of  the  age  ^'""Sresmely  diffused,  though  wretchedly  intermingled 

Clialdoa  introduced  the  liit  o^hni      .  ?""  '*'"'*'^'''^'  doctrines,  the  Nestorians  of 

Hyrcania,  Bactria,  M^gil^na  rn^tS^  «"^  ^"^  ----es  Lo 

od  with  very  considerable  success  '  their  labors  are  said  to  have  been  crown- 

Frl:.::;^LSi~-;2-^^^^ 

ed  the  word  of  life  with  much  success  dnr  1 .1  /    """^  '''^°"''"«  missionaries preach- 

bria  and  Jutland.  Afte  the  ratHf  7  T' ''^ 'T  ^^^^^  ^^^''^  inhabitants  of  Cim- 
gar,  hnving  been  informLl  t  J  t  ^y  o  hrs^cb  '^  '"•  "'"^"?  ""'^  '"'^^"^'^^'^'^  ^- 
of  Christ,  resolved  on  a  visit  to  Sweden  and  commonTJr''^"'  ''''''  '"'''"'*^'  '"  '^'  ''^•^'' 
named  Vitmnr.     On  their  nassaire     .  v  Tl  ''^"""•^"^^'^  ^''  ^^y^S^  •"  company  with  a  friend 

pod  our  venerable  missio^TShiJ  etcr I'oS:.:!^ ^^^^^'^^ ^^^  ^^  -^P" 

,         J- J.  ....,j   T^/juinc3  whicn  ne  had  col- 


iJdf 


INTRODUCTION. 


P- 


lected  for  the  use  of  the  ministiy.  Both  he  and  his  companion,  however,  preserved  the  most 
unshaken  fortitude  on  this  trying  occasion,  and  having  with  difficulty  got  on  shore,  they  gave 
tiiemselves  up  entirely  to  the  guidance  of  that  Being  who  led  the  tribes  .of  Israel  in  safety 
through  a  pathless  wilderness.  At  length,  after  walking  a  very  considerable  distance,  and 
sometimes  crossing  an  arm  of  the  sea  in  a  boat,  they  arrived  at  Birca,  the  site  of  modern 
Stockholm.  Here  they  were  favorably  received  by  the  king,  who  permitted  them  to  preach 
to  his  subjects,  and  they  had  soon  the  pleasure  of  witnessing  some  happy  effects  result  from 
their  evangelic  labors.  Returning  to  Germany,  in  the  year  831,  Ansgar  was  created  bishop 
of  the  new  church  at  Hamburgh,  and  also  of  the  whole  north ;  and  to  this  dignity  the  super- 
intendence of  the  church  at  Bremen  was  added,  A.  D.  844.  It  has  been  justly  remarked, 
however,  that  "  the  profits  attached  to  this  high  and  honorable  charge  were  very  inconsidera- 
ble, while  the  perils  and  labors  in  which  it  involved  the  pious  prelate  were  truly  formidable." 
Ansgar  travelled  frequently  among  the  Danes,  Cimbrians,  and  Swedes,  in  order  to  promote  the 
cause  of  Christ,  to  form  new  churches,  and  to  confirm  and  establish  such  as  were  already 
planted  ;  and  upon  all  occasions  he  evinced  the  most  ardent  zeal  and  the  most  complete  dis- 
interestedness. 

Ansgar  terminated  his  life  and  labors  in  the  year  865,  and  his  confidential  friend,  Rembert, 
was  appointed  his  successor  by  his  dying  words.  This  missionary  presided  over  the  churches 
in  the  north  for  twenty-three  years,  and  encountered  many  perils  both  by  sea  and  land,  in 
propagating  the  doctrines  of  his  divine  Redeemer.  From  his  lips  the  natives  of  Branden- 
burg first  heard  the  glad  tidings  of  the  gospel,  and  there  is  reason  to  hope  that  some  of  them 
were  "  turned  to  the  Lord." 

About  the  middle  of  this  century,  the  standard  of  the  cross  began  to  be  unfurled  among  the 
Bulgarians,  a  Sclavonic  people  of  extraordinary  fierceness,  who  had  long  proved  extremely 
troublesome,  by  their  contiguity,  to  the  Greek  emperors.  The  sister  of  their  king,  Bogoris, 
having  been  taken  prisoner  in  a  military  excursion,  was  carried  to  Constantinople,  where  she 
heard  and  embraced  the  truths  of  the  gospel.  Afler  some  time  she  was  ransomed  ;  and  on  her 
return  home  she  was  so  deeply  affected  by  her  brother's  idolatrous  practices,  that  she  used  t!'.e 
utmost  exertions  to  point  out  the  absurdity  of  his  worship.  The  king  listened  attentive- 
ly to  her  arguments,  but  did  not  appear  inclined  to  change  his  religion,  till,  on  the  appearance 
of  a  pestilence  in  his  dominions,  he  was  persuaded  to  pray  to  the  God  of  the  Christians,  and 
the  plague  was  almost  immediately  removed.  This  circumstance  convinc>^.I  him  of  the  om- 
nipotent power  of  Jesus,  and  he  took  an  early  opportunity  of  sending  to  Constantinople  for 
missionaries,  from  whom  he  and  many  of  his  subjects  received  the  rite  of  baptism. 

In  the  same  century,  the  truths  of  the  gospel  appear  to  have  been  introduced,  together  with 
the  use  of  letters,  among  the  Sclavonians  and  the  Chazari,  who  resided  on  the  banks  of  the 
Danube;  the  subjects  of  the  prince  of  Moravia;  thcRussianinhabitantsof  the  Ukraine;  and  the 
inhabitants  of  several  provinces  of  Dalmatia.  And  Dr.  Mosheim  remarks  that  the  missiona- 
ries of  this  period  were  superior,  both  in  their  principles  and  conduct,  to  those  of  preceding 
ages  ;  as  they  were  more  anxious  to  inform  the  minds  of  men  than  to  extend  the  domina- 
tion of  the  pope,  and  they  made  no  attempts  to  add  to  the  number  of  their  converts  by  rigid 
and  coercive  measures,  altogether  inconsistent  with  the  spirit  of  the  gospel. 

The  tenth  century  has  been  emphatically  styled  "  an  iron  age,  barren  of  all  goodness ;  a  lead- 
en age,  abounding  in  all  wickedness ;  and  a  dark  age,  remarkable,  above  all  others,  for  the 
scarcity  of  writers  and  men  of  learning."  In  this  deplorable  state  of  the  church,  however, 
some  rays  of  light  passed  across  the  gloomy  scene,  and  some  pleasing  occurrences  evinced  that 


'i 


INTRODUCTION. 

XXV 

the  Roman  pontiff  was  in  aomp  nlLni  J       ?V      '^"'^*''  *°°g"^  ^  the  supremacy  of 

of  transubstLi^Lnk  Venfed  by^^^^^^^^^  '/""TT'  ^^^"  ^'«  '*^^^'^- 

as  it  is  in  Jesus."  ^       ^      '^***'™  ^^^  "^'^  ^P"'*  ^^d  revealed  "  the  truth 

to  adopt  the  ?enets  of  the  RolirclrT^^^^^^^^^       H    ^'^  ?"""  '^'^^  ''^  ^'^"^  «^  -""«" 

r^:^t:dT:::riHi^^^ 

bec?mTmTre?„;t  etdThZ^^^^^^  -me  faint  dawni'igs  of  the  ChSan  faith,  now 

garians.  whom  she%ersuaded  to  cfanr^^^^^^  '^^"g^^  *he  Hun- 

churches  were  erecirbishoprics  wefe  t.nt?^" 'Z'?^  *"  '^'  '''§"  "^  ^^^'^  ^«"'  ^^^Phen, 
general  in  all  parts  of  the  country  '  P'""^''''^"  ""^  Christianity  became 

da^rffrsrre'prmVtL^n?^^^^^^^^^^ 

the  gospel  among  hLthen  nalr The  sword  ^0"'"'  "'  ''""'^^'  '^"'^  *^^  •^^«"--"  ^^ 
with  more  success,  in  the  propagation  of  fh^r  .h'  ^u  T'  ""'''  '"  '°"'^  instances,  wielded 
Harold  of  Denma;k  and  hrsrbS  adold  I'pt"  !  "^""'"'^  "'  missionaries.  Thus 
independence  ;  and  in  Norway  mu  it „dTw  ^  "'"""u  ""'""'  '°  ^^""""^  *^»«i'  "^^ional 
which  Olaus  vi'sited  l^s  pZnc^r  Bern^^^^^^^^^^^^  r  ^  \^^P*'«-^' ^-^  by  an  army  with 

tive  missionaries  of  this  period  ^ndwh!  ^"'l^!*'"'"  ^nghshmen  were  among  the  most  ac 
fellow  laborers  in  diffeirparts' of  tl  wn  M '^^  ^^''''  "'^^^  ^'"'^  ''''''^  '"  '^'"^  ^"^  their 
tion  of  mankind ;  and  t  may  be  hoped  Z  '  '  ""'  '"'""'^  instrumental  in  the  ciyiliza- 
subjects  of  a  true  and  savfug  fehh    ^  '       "''"'"  '"''"°*='''  '^'"  ^^'^^^^^  «'^'«  ™-d«  the 

n,o!;'TmtoM;:;Z'u!:tLtral^^^^^  *'^  'r^^  ^"*^  '^-^'-^-^  «^  -»•-  ^as  been 
triumphs  ofVciLtianf/th'  sL,t  kiro7r"'  '"'""^  °/ ''''  "^^^"^^^"  ^°^  ^'^^ 
spread  of  the  gospel,  that  h"f  eaiinnHv  „'  ^  «^"»"f'•y'  ^vas  so  deeply  interested  in  the 
and  to  their  arguiLntsuoeraSn^  accompanied  the  missionaries  from  place  to  place, 
recovered  by  the  arm  rRobert  r."  T  r'''"T  ^"^ff-<^^i«"«te  exhortations.  In  Sicily 
come  nearly'cxtfn    ,  V  :s  happ^^^^  ^'^'"^"^  ^'^'.'"-'  Christianity,  which  had  bJ: 

Danes,  the  word  of  God  Z  IwnTd  with  .    n"""*"  ''"^"'  tribes  of  Russians,  Poles,  and 
the  effects  of  the  gosnd  win  IT       ^"  V'"?"' '""^^'^  '  ^"^  '"  ^^^n^^^^k  especially, 
exclaims  cone  r  in^i      ^L^orat  tCL"     ''"''"^'  '''V'''  '"^*°"^"  ^'^^'"'  ^^  Bremen 
have  been  accustom°ed  o  stg  L  pra^e  T'od  ,  T"  'f.  '"  '''"^^^  '°^  '^  ''"«  ^'"^  ^"^^^ 
contented  with  the  productions  of^..  '"'''^  ^''^*  P""^^'*^'^'  P^«P'*^  ^  they  are  now 

erly  inaccessible  on rcou„  of  idol^^^^^^^^^^  Contemplate  that  horrid  region,  form- 

In  Sweden   Kimr  OInl "  ^    !  ^  '  """"^  ^'''^J'  cordially  admit  the  preachers  of  the  truth !  » 

a  learned  and  P^  ^1"  iZa^  nlr^ur  ,"^'  '"^  ''^  T^^'^'  ^^  '^^'"^  ^^"^^  '  ^"^  »>-« 
till  the  year  lo'>8   whpn  hi  ^  '^"'''  "  ''^''''■"  *"  ^ave  labored  with  great  success 

ing  tw'Tdo^n  lilt  ido.  Th''''"f  ^  T"'"'^'^  ''^^  *''^  P'^^"'^"^'  '"  consequence  of  his  hay- 
wa'spuMoS  t  some  oAhe'l'  ""  ''""W'  •  ^"^^^^  ^"^'^"^  --^-X'  -med  ^schil. 
the  gospel.  ^  '^'*S^  *"^^«  '"  Sweden,  whilst  in  the  act  of  preaching 

Vol,  1.— No.  3.  5 


XXVI 


INTRODUCTION. 


mm 


The  Uoelfth  century  affords  little  more  than  a  varied  picture  of  the  extension  of  the  Romish 
faith  by  force  of  arms ;  at  all  events,  the  zeal  of  the  missionary  bishops,  who  now  undertook  the 
conversion  of  the  pagans,  was  not  only  preserved,  but  crowned  with  nominal  success,  by  the 
patronage  and  the  armies  of  the  respective  princes  to  whom  they  were  attached.  Thus,  whilst 
the  bishop  of  Bamberg,  and  the  archbishops  of  Upsal  and  Lunden  are  held  up  as  apostles 
to  the  Pomeranians,  the  Finlanders,  nvA  t'iu  heathen  tribes  on  the  Baltic,  these  nations  were 
in  reality  compelled  to  change  th.- ..  <  ]»^.o/i  by  Boseslaus,  duke  of  Poland,  Eric,  king  of 
Sweden,  and  Waldemar,  king  o!  Dennira  k.  The  Sclavonians,  still  attached  to  their  ancient 
pagan  rites,  called  forth  the  missionary  zeal  of  Vicelinus,  bishop  of  Oldenburg,  aided  by  the 
military  forces  of  Henry,  duke  of  Saxony  ;  and  the  Esthonians  and  Livonians  were  con- 
verted in  a  similar  manner,  being  literally  baptized  at  the  point  of  the  sword. 

In  the  thirteenth  century,  whilst  the  crusaders,  reckless  of  human  life,  and  only  intent 
on  the  accompliiihment  of  their  enthusiastic  projects;  joiujnued  to  shed  torrents  of  blood, 
and  to  disgrace  the  Christian  name  and  character,  a  people  called  tlie  Waldenses  were  raised 
up  to  withstand  the  usurpation  of  the  Roman  pontiffs,  and  to  contend  boldly  for  the  doctrines 
of  divine  grace ;  nor  did  they  shrink  from  the  righteous  cause  which  they  had  espoused, 
though  they  were  persecuted  with  such  dreadful  severity  that,  in  the  city  of  Paris  alone,  one 
hundred  and  fourteen  of  their  number  were  consigned  to  the  flames. 

Among  the  idolatrous  nations  the  nominal  church  was  gradually  extended,  particularly  in 
the  parts  inhabiied  by  the  northern  pagans,  and  in  the  Saracenic  territories  in  Spain  ;  where 
submission  to  the  rite  of  baptism  was  too  often  enforced  by  carnal  and  coercive  methods. 
Some  writers  have  also  asserted  that,  in  this  century,  some  of  the  Tartar  princes  received 
the  Christian  faith,  and  that  in  several  parts  of  China  and  Tartary,  churches  were  erected 
by  the  missionaries  who  had  been  sent  out  by  pope  Nicholas  III.  Whatever  might  have  been 
effected,  however,  seems  to  have  had  but  a  short  duration,  as  a  general  apostacy  took  place 
a  few  years  afterwards. 

The  fourteenth  century  presents  us  with  many  instances  of  Jews  embracing  the  profession 
of  Christianity  ;  but  when  we  consider  the  dreadful  sufferings  to  which  that  people  were  in 
many  places  exposed,  in  consequence  of  the  reports  raised  and  industriously  circulated  against 
them,— reports  which  stated  that  they  had  crucified  and  eaten  Christian  children  ;  that  they 
had  pierced  the  consecrated  wafer,  from  which  issued  drops  of  blood  ;  and  that  they  had 
even  poisoned  the  public  fountains ;— it  is  iiot  difficult  to  discover  that  they  submitted  to  the 
rite  of  baptism  merely  to  save  their  lives. 

This  century  was  marked  by  the  conversion  of  the  Lithuanians,  one  of  the  last  European 
nations  who  embraced  the  gospel.  The  vacant  throne  of  Poland,  and  the  beautiful  daughter 
of  the  preceding  sovereign,  proved  sufficiently  powerful,  with  Jagello,  duke  of  Lithuania,  to 
emancipate  him  from  his  pagan  ceremonies  ;  and,  on  his  entering  the  pale  of  the  Christian 
church,  he  persuaded  his  heathen  subjects  to  adopt  his  new  religion,  and  united  his  duchy 
with  the  kingdom  to  which  his  lovely  bride  was  the  legitimate  heiress.  Missionaries  were 
again  sent  into  China,  Tartary,  and  the  adjacent  countries ;  and,  for  a  season,  they  appeared 
to  labor  with  considerable  success  ;  but  the  wars  carried  on  by  the  Tartars  against  the  Chinese 
and  other  Asiatic  nations  appear  to  have  been  fata!  to  the  cause  ;  for,  on  the  expulsion  of  the 
last  emperor  of  the  race  of  Jenghis  Khan  from  China,  all  foreigners  were  precluded,  by  a 
public  decree,  from  entering  into  that  country. 

Thejiftervth  century  opened  a  wide  and  interesting  field  for  missionary  zeal  and  mission- 
ary labors,  in  the  newly-discovered  hemisphere ;   but,  alas !    how  little  was  felt  on  that 


INTRODUCTION. 
_        .        ,  ,  xxvii 

occasion,  beyond  an  insatiable  thirst  for  irnW i    i.«„  i«i    •  .   , 

except  cruelties  at  which  humJiZuZi^Ml^^ZJf'  "  '''""'f  *^.  °°  '^'  P«S«  ''^^^^'orj, 
turns  away  in  disgust !  It  has  however  hi  '  ?  ^'T  ™°<^'^«"««.  ^om  which  religion 
writer,  tha't  "  Thf  civilizatio'^^trne;?^^^^^^^^^^^  ^^  -  -«»>le  and  exceC 

duction  of  Christianity,  even  in  its  mo8^!or  nn^H  w  TT'  ^''^  P''^™^*^*'  ^y  ^^e  intro- 
honored  the  sun  and  Lon  b;  sbgTnTdaX'  howl'  ^f ''*'"'  *^^  ^^-^  of  America 
The  Canadians,  and  the  people  of  vSink  anTkr^^^^^  ^'"5  T^  *=""'"«  ^''^'^  A^^^. 
tude  of  idols.     They  sometimes  sacriS  iJ  '  ^orsh.pped  the  devil,  with  a  multi- 

complain  of  thirst,  'they  quenched  iw^h  humaTblo^^^^^  ^^^  '^  ""''  ^^PP^^^  ^ 

worshipped  the  sun  and  a  variety  of  idoTs     thev  oSpS  ,K     T^  '"habitants  of  New  Spain 
and  drowned  boys  and  eirls  in  a  LZ  Tl  '      ^  ^^^"^  ^^^  ^^""'^  o*"  "^^^  in  sacrifice  • 

it-     All  these  s/nguinaf;tae  >  .^^^^^^^^^^^    reTb^ohlh  V'^  ^'^'  ^"^"^^^^  *°  ^««'^^  ^  ^^^ 

tion  of  the  gospel,  blended  as  itwas  wir!ZlT.     ""^"^'f^f '  '"  consequence  of  the  introduc- 

In  the  sixteenth  century,  the  pure  1  Iht  of  th      "'  ^^ /'^f  P^^'^^  -"^  Portuguese  teachers." 

Reformers,  began  to  irradiate  the  churlh    wJfch^rH  ',  '^T^*"  '^^  instrumentality  of  the 

darkness  ;  and  those  who  had  previous  vlrroan.H   K  l^  ^"°  ""'"'°P^^  "^^  ^'^"ds   and 

were  now  roused  to  a  sense  of  ^therdSra1ieT«  f  ^""""*^*»'«  y<^'^«  «f  the  Roman  pontiff, 

Lord^to  contend  for  the  faith  o:^'lJ^t:r^r^;;::^^' l^  '''^  ''T'^^^'  ^he 

characters,  had,  indeed,  at  an  earlier  neriod    mnT  T       ^''''^^'^^^  Huss,  and  other  pious 

sin,"  and  to  burst  asunder  the  cha  „«  wh  ch'p^^^f  .,  ^n'  ^T^'^  *^  ""'"^^'^  "  *he  man  of 

of  nominal  Christians  ;  but  the  grand  Tnd  suroL  f  l  T^    ^^  ""P*"'"^  ^"  *he  consciences 

persevering  Luther,  wko  seemelexpreTsfy  f"^^^^^^^^^^^  "^!  ^^^^'^^^J/-  *he  intrepid  and 

xatrih^^^^^^^^^^^ 

Molucca  islands,  Japan,  and  several  other  nkr.?       ^ravancore,  the  Island  of  Ceylon,  the 
appearinthefollowinganecdote      Xavtr  h  •        1'  ""^"'^  '™^  missionary  spirit  will 

extremely  perilous,  wfs  strong  ydisfuad  J  f'om'the  atJ  ''  TMw'^  '"•^^'^"  which  seemed 
ly  picture  of  the  dangers  he  mult  encounter  frnm^h         Tu'  ^^  ^''  '^^'""^^'  ^''^  ^^^^  ^  li'^e- 
the  soil,  and  the  barbarity  of  the  fnhabital      H        '"',"''"'5'  ""^  '^'  ^"'""^«'  '^'  «t«"»ty  of 
he  replied,  "  The  nations'  which  rrftractble  .T^    -tened  attentively  to  their  remarks, 
this  mission  is  for  me,  because  othprr  ^"^  opulent  wdl  never  want  teachers;  bu 

abounded  in  odoriferou    woodrand  mL?nf"'\f  T!'  **^  ""'^^'*^''«  '''     ''  ^^e  country 
procure  them.     Should  merchants  thrh        ^      •  ''"  ^""^"'■^  ^°"'^  ^^  ''^^^^^  in  order  tl 
unfortunate  people  be  kep^^  "  o^^^^^^^^^  '"^'P'^,  ^\-  -----  -^     Shall  these 

certainly  very  barbarous  and  brufaT  but  ev-^r  >  ^'""^'  of  redemption  ?  Their  character  is 
ble  of  transforming  stones  intrchi'ldrel  of  Ah  ^'^ ''°''"'^"" '' '''  *^"  ^^'^  ^^ho  is  capa- 
Should  I  be  instrumental  in  the  saj^a Z  of  t  [  *"  'I'Tf^  "^'^  '"^  ^°^^«"  ^^eir  hearts, 
myself  amply  recompensed  for  al  thldaL  one  individual  among  them,  I  should  consider 
terrify  me."     With  tLe  sentTmenLhe  set  o[f  ^/^'T  ^'  ^^'^^^  ^^^  endeavor  to 

made  to  shake  his  determinaZ  and  hi  '  ^"^".''^'^^^ /^  '^^  the  attempts  which  were 
zeal  and  self-devotedness  rnrt' rat  or'r\''  '"'^  '"^  ^^'^  corresponded  with  his 
brace  the  profession  of  ChrLtilnky        '  '''^""'  ''"''"  ^'^"8*'*'  ^y  degrees,  to  em- 

toltt'uTo^edtdirnstrutrArrt^^^  r^^^'  T"'  *'^  '^^^^  °^  ^^^^-  --^-- 

ouum  America.     Scarcely,  however,  had  the  missinnnrics  taken 


XXTIII 


INTRODUCTION. 


up  their  residence  in  Brazil,  when  the  apostasy  and  cruelty  of  the  commandant  of  the  colony 
drove  them  from  the  country ;  and,  after  a  painful  and  perilous  voyage,  in  which  they  were 
reduced  to  the  most  pitiable  extremity  through  famine,  they  returned  to  the  coast  of  Bretagne, 
just  as  the  master  of  the  vessel  had  formed  the  resolution  of  killing  one  of  the  ship's  company, 
in  order  to  provide  food  for  himself  and  his  fellow  sufferers. 

About  three  years  afterwards,  the  celebrated  Gustavus  Vasa,  king  of  Sweden,  sent  a  mis- 
sionary named  Michael  into  Lapland,  with  a  view  of  promulgating  the  truths  of  the  gospel  in 
that  cheerless  country  ;  and,  as  he  was  aware  that,  notwithstanding  the  previous  introduction 
of  Christianity,  the  natives  were  at  this  time  completely  enslaved  by  pagan  ignorance  and 
superstition,  he  issued  a  royal  mandate,  commanding  them  to  assemble  at  a  certain  period  of 
the  winter  to  pay  their  annual  tribute,  and  to  receive  religious  instruction. 

At  the  commencement  of  the  seventeenth  centimj,  the  Dutch,  having  wrested  the  island  of 
Ceylon  from  the  crown  of  Portugal,  attempted  to  convert  the  natives  to  the  Protestant  faith. 
Unfortunately,  however,  they  induced  the  Cingalese  to  become  hypocrites  rather  than  Chris- 
tians, by  absurdly  ordaining  that  no  native  should  be  admitted  to  any  employment  under  the 
government,  unless  he  subscribed  the  Helvetic  confession,  and  consented  to  become  a  mem- 
ber of  the  reformed  church.  Tho  effect  produced  by  this  regulation  was  precisely  that  which 
might  have  been  anticipated.  All  who  aspired  after  dignity  or  office  professed  their  readi- 
ness to  change  their  religion  ;  and  as  nothing  more  was  required  of  the  candidates  for  baptism 
than  a  repetition  of  the  Lord's  prayer,  the  ten  commandnientH,  a  short  morning  and  evening 
prayer,  and  a  grace  before  and  after  meat,  they  flocked  in  such  numbers  to  the  font,  that  in 
the  year  1663,  in  the  district  of  Jaffnapatam  alone,  there  were,  according  to  the  church  regis- 
ters, 62,558  men  and  women  who  professed  Christianity,  exclusive  of  2,587  slaves ;  and  the 
children  who  had  been  baptized,  within  a  few  years,  amounted  to  12,387. 

During  this  century,  the  Nonconformists,  who  had  settled  in  New  England,  resolved  to  make 
some  attempts  for  the  conversion  of  the  native  Indians  ;  and  the  exertions  of  Messrs.  Elliot 
Bourne,  and  Mayhew  appear  to  have  been  crowned  with  great  success.  The  former  of  these 
devoted  missionaries  commenced  his  instructions,  in  the  year  1646,  to  a  few  natives  about 
four  or  five  miles  distant  from  his  own  house ;  and  in  1674,  the  number  of  towns  within  the 
jurisdiction  of  Massachusetts  colony,  inhabited  by  praying  Indians,  as  they  were  called,  had 
increased  to  fourteen  ;  and  to  all  of  these,  in  a  certain  degree,  the  labors  of  Mr.  Elliot  were 
extended.  Several  of  these  were  afterwards  taken  up,  in  consequence  of  hostilities  which 
took  place  with  a  celebrated  chief  named  Pliilip  ;  but,  notwithstanding  this  discouraging  cir- 
cumstance, the  zealous  and  affectionate  missionary,  who  obtained,  as  he  well  deserved,  the  ti- 
tle of  the  Apostle  of  the  Indians,  continued  to  preach  among  them  till  he  was  completely  worn 
out  with  the  infirmities  of  age.  This  devoted  servant  of  God  translated  the  whole  of  the  Scrip- 
tures, together  with  several  catechisms,  tracts,  and  school  books,  into  the  Indian  language ; 
and  in  the  prosecution  of  his  favorite  work  he  appears  to  have  endured  many  severe  hardships. 
Hence  he  observes,  in  a  letter  to  a  friend,  "  I  have  not  been  dry,  night  nor  day,  from  the 
third  day  of  the  week  to  the  sixth  ;  but  at  night  I  have  pulled  off  my  boots  and  wrung  out  my 
stockings,  and  put  them  on  again  ;  and  thus  1  continue  to  travel ;  but  God  steps  in  and  helps." 
His  death,  which  occurred  in  1690,  in  the  eighty-sixth  year  of  his  age,  was  truly  happy,  and 
his  last  words  were,  "Welcome,  joy!"  After  his  decease,  some  of  the  natives,  who 
had  been  converted  under  his  ministry,  became  useful  preachers  of  the  gospel ;  and  some 
of  them  were  instrumental  in  turning  many  of  their  pagan  countrymen  from  the  error  of 
their  ways. 


INTRODUCTION. 

that  they  had  experienced  a  wTofi^^^^^^^  ^^^t    '^u  T'  '^^^'^-'ory  evidence 

of  their  conduct,  grieved  thrsouTZTnV?"''^''''^^^^^ 

upwards  of  fort;  years!  affectionate  mstructer,  who  labored  among  them 

M:^h:Jrs^:iJS^:--s:^^^ 

-er  -ysteries/anTcTrS  'embSr^^^^^^^^^^^  ^ 'f  °"^^^  °^*"-  °^^'^«-"- 

coomes,  who  had  been  converted  through    h!       .        ^^T''     ^  ""^'^^  ^°'^'*"'  °^"»«d  Hia- 

herald  of  salvation  to  manrof  Ws  00^/!    !  '"^'"'"'"""^^'ty  ^^  ^r.  Mayhew.  was  also  the 

was  unfortunately  drowned  Tn  a  voya'e  TfTT  u'^'lV^'  '^"''^  "^^^-  ^^^hew,  who 

of  Martha's  Vine'yard,  though  „eaHyseventv;!^'''f^''  ^"'''''.'  ^^e  patentee  and  governor 

attainment  of  the  Indian  language  Ud'lled  to  ^^  applied  himself  sedulously  to  the 

success  for  about  twenty-three  years    1 1  vvhl! V         •  T'^'  ''''^  "^"^'  acceptance  and 

work  of  evangelizing  the  heathe'n  wa's  stilt    ontLurd?'"v'  '°  ^^^--"'y  -st,  the  blessed 

these,  Mr.  Zachariah  Mayhew,  exp  Ld  b    aoT      *^      ^^''  P'*'"'  descendants.     The  last  of 

him  terminated  the  n^issionJ:     rCr  of  this  Vr-^'  -ghtyc  ghth  year  of  his  age  ;  and  with 

.C.W  generations  by  the.  -votednes^Jl^Tlll^lttl;:^^ 

:jtsr':t:e^^s^-i-^ 

activity;  and  the  triumphs  of  the  crosf"t  ''  '"^'tements  to  zeal,  devotedness  and 

exertions.  ^  ^^^  "°'''  ^'"^^^^^  achieved,  prompted  to  new  and  vigorous 

aen\\tBrhoVomtXnS  T'"'''^''''  ^^  ^^^^  '^^^'^^P^^^-. 

on  the  coast  of  Coromandtl,  with  a  view  to  th!'  T  P'^"7«""g»"en,  to  Tranquebar, 

India.     On  their  arrival,  theyZlied  him'  L''?"^  ""^'^'^  ^«^^'»-  '"  that  part  o 

guese  languages  ;  and  when'they  were  "Tet  addr^^^^^^^^^         V      '  "' ''"  '^"""^  ^"'  ^"^*"- 
peared  to  rest  upon  their  labors      ThVv  11  I    n  r  "'''''"''  ^  ««"«id«rable  unction  ap- 

their  hearers  on  Ihe  great  sub^^^^^^^^  '"'""''^'^^  conversations  wiSi 

school  for  the  suppo'rt  and  eZl^Jor^;:::^:,:;^       ^'  ^''^  ^^  -P--'  a  charity 

EuroTe:„Te:;tnt':;rtr^^^^^^^^^^^^  ^— r--  '•--  the  opposition  of  the 

every  privation,  and  endure  eeryspecfes  of  n7  """T'''     '  ''"'''"^'  '^"^^^«''  '^  «"bmit  to 
they  had  undertaken,  they  relaleS  iZ      Pf '""":'«"'  ''^thor  than  abandon  the  work  which 

with  a  considerable  ;uppIyormoneyand"th  "' ''"'  P'^*'  ^'^  ^  ^^'P  "^"'^^^  ^^^  Europe 
Jordan.  '^^^       ^''"''^'  ^"^  ^^'^^  assistants,  named  Bocving,  Grundler,  and 

po..„g  that  low  ,«,„„„,  are  unacquainted  with  their  enterprise  It  is  onlv  h.  .h  ."""""r""  ''  Tranquebar,  I  h.ve  only  noticed  them,  sup- 
•d,  that  the  hmils  of  the  work  will  allow  a  suitable  notice  ofth.™  II  J  "'"■?"'''"«  <"'<"  ^fo"*  which  have  been  so  generally  record- 
eonun.nc.ment  of  the  pr.«,nt  century.  '"""  ""^""  """'"?'"''  »»<«  inter,sting  operation,  of  th.Chri.ti.„  church,  inc.  Z 


XXX 


INTRODUCTION. 


i!Ji ; 


l*i 


t     ■"! 


In  1710,  they  began  to  be  patronized  by  the  Society  for  promoting  Christian  Knowledge, 
which  had  been  established  a  few  years  previously  in  London  ;  and  from  the  directors  of 
that  institution  they  received  an  edition  of  the  Portuguese  New  Testament,  for  distribution 
among  the  natives,  together  with  a  printing  press,  a  quantity  of  paper,  and  a  fount  of  Roman 
and  Italic  characters.  They  were  also  furnished,  by  their  friends  in  Germany,  with  a  fount 
of  Tamul,  or  Malabar  types ;  and  after  some  time  they  erected  a  letter  foundry  at  Tranque- 
bar,  and  built  a  paper  mill  in  the  ticinity. 

The  Tamul  copy  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  by  Ziegenbalg,  issued  from  the  press  in  1715  ; 
and,  though  he  and  his  beloved  colleague,  Grundlcr,  were,  within  about  five  years,  removed 
into  the  world  of  spirits,  the  happy  effects  produced  by  their  labors  were  evident  in  many  of 
the  converted  heathen  :  and  in  the  hands  of  their  successors,  Benjamin  Schultze,  John  Hen- 
ry Kistenmacher,  and  Nicholas  Dal,  the  mission  was  not  only  preserved  but  happily  extend- 
ed. In  1728,  Schultze,  at  the  instigation  of  the  Society  for  promoting  Christian  Knowledge, 
undertook  a  mission  to  Madras,  in  which  he  was  eminently  successful,  notwithstanding  the  op- 
position of  the  Catholic  priests,  whose  adherents  were  convinced  of  their  errors,  and  in- 
structed in  the  truths  of  God  by  his  preaching  and  conversation. 

Divine  Providence  was,  in  the  mean  time,  opening  an  effectual  door  for  the  introduction  of 
Christianity  into  the  kingdom  of  Tanjorc,  through  the  instrumentality  of  an  inferior  officer  in 
the  army  of  the  rajiih  of  that  country.  This  young  man,  wiiose  name  was  Rajanaikcn,  and  who 
had  been  educated  1.^  the  tenets  of  the  Cnthoiic  church,  wns  Bcriously  iniprosscd  with  a  sense 
of  his  viieneasnnd  wants,  m  ii  sinner,  from  perufiiiig  a  meditution  on  the  sufferings  of  Christ; 
and,  having  subsequently  road,  with  dcoj)  attputioii,  a  copy  of  the  Four  Evang'.'lists  and  the 
Acts  of  thu  Apostles,  he  resolved,  on  returning  to  his  native  land,  to  quit  the  army,  and  to 
devote  his  time  to  the  instruction  of  his  countrymen  The  missionaries  of  Tanjorc  gladly 
employed  him  as  a  catecliist ;  and,  notwithstanding  the  inveterate  fury  of  his  popish  enemies, 
and  the  attempts  which  were  sonietiines  made  upon  his  life,  he  |)ursued  his  hallowed  avoca- 
tions with  unduninished  zeal,  and  he  had  the  satisfaction  of  perceiving  that  "  his  labors  were 
not  in  vain  in  the  Lord." 

In  n.'n,  J.  A.  Sartorius  and  J.  K.  Giester,  who  had  "labored  in  word  and  doctrine"  for 
several  years  at  Madras,  proceeded  to  Cuddalore,  in  order  to  establish  a  brimch  of  their  mis- 
Bion  in  that  pi.  -;e  ;  and  though,  at  first,  the  inhabitants  evinced  but  little  desire  for  religious 
instruction,  the  truths  of  the  gospel  were  attended  with  the  gracious  influences  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  and  many  of  the  natives  were  ha|)pily  "  made  wise  unto  salvation." 

In  1746,  the  missionary  house  at  Madras  was  demolishtd,  and  the  church  was  converted 
into  a  magazine,  by  order  of  the  French  governor,  who  captured  the  city  after  a  siege  of  six 
days,  and  caused  several  streets  in  the  Black  'I\iwn  to  be  razed  to  the  ground  ;  but  on  iho 
restoration  of  peace,  after  about  three  years,  the  missionaries  returned,  and  the  losses  which 
they  had  sustained  were  compf^nsated,  on  the  part  of  the  government,  by  the  grant  of  a  spacious 
church,  an  excellent  dwelling-house,  a  good  garden,  and  a  burial  ground  in  an  adjacent  village. 
In  1752,  and  some  following  years,  the  war,  which  continue*!  to  rage  between  the  French  and 
Knglish  in  India,  and  in  which  manyof  the  native  princes  took  an  a.tive  part,  materially  impeded 
the  operations  of  the  missionaries;  and  in  175H,  Mr.  Kiemander,  who  had  quitted  Cuddalore, 
procoeded  to  carry  the  ghul  tidings  of  salvation  f«)  the  unenligluened  natives  of  Calcutta  ;— 
a  movement  which  appears  to  have  been  signally  owned  and  blessed  of  (Jod. 

In  I7()i,  that  enunent  and  laborious  missionary,  Christian    Frederic  Swart/.,  who  had  nr- 
rived  in  Tranquebar  about  twelve  years  before,  visited  Trichinapoli,  with  a  view  of  making 


vji! 


I  .'«*!•♦• 


INTRODlj;       >N. 
.    ,  xxxi 

attentive  perusal  of  those  sacred  oracles  whTr  ^^^°  *^'''"*''y  illuminated  by  an 

withheld  from  the  members  of  the"  otn  colinit^'V"       't''  '^'  ^°  pertinaciously 
Manuel  Jotze  da  Costa,  a  Portuguese  friar  ofTn        """"^  '^^'^  "^^^  ^«  enumerated 

--  Corta,  .ho,  aaer  ma^^  ^^  ^^^^IJl^I^^n:;^^:^ 

ind:i:::f;^^r;^:;: ---^  Ssr?:^  -^^^-'  ^^^  ^-^«"  -i««-  in 

missionaries  and  upwards  of  fifty  natlrasLi  tant     the     'h  7'  ^^^^.  °^^"P-d  by  thirteen 

lurty-thrce  chil.lren ;  and.  in  the  short  spa  e  of  one  yLr  nint,  "TT'  f''  ''""^^^''  -^' 

hers  were  added  to  the  dillerent  churches  ^      '  ''""'''■''''  "^"^  "'"«  "ew  mem- 

the  editor  would  wish  to  turn  away  Si  ce  i^  ol';r"'^  1  '^  '""'^"'  *''--"d  men, 
o.  the  sy„,p.thizin,  reader.  In  a'work  o  hi's  IZ  ZlT"  "  '""  •  '^^""^"'  '^"'^  ^"-- 
mark,  that  the  n.issionarie.,  who,  in  happier  ,ncsl2l'  '^  n^^"-' ^^  '«»>"»  J»«ticc  to  re- 
to  tlu.  heathen,  were  now  selecte.  to  recoTo  con  uL  r''"  '"'"^'"^  '^""^'  ^'"^  ^>'-^''«'  «f  'i^ 
the  distribution  of  th.  r.ce  which  luu    be^    ^     t"^^^^  opulent,  and  tosuperu.tend 

niKserublo  beings,  who  tottered  like  cluidren  al  1  ":  t  the  supply  of  those  hundreds  of 
tons  covered  whh  a  slender  skin,  and  e  ,^  L  T"'"'  '"*''  *''"  «PP-»ranceof  skele- 
bodios  of  those  who  had  literall J  peri"  T^r  want"  I  '"""  "".^  '"^  ''^"^  '  "'^"^^  »''« 
and,  in  some  instances,  partially  devoured  \JZ  V  '"  ''""'"'  '^''^^^^om  aiound  them, 

On  the  capitulation'  Lf  Cuddalor:    i^  1 78^;^  c  nfk"';!  '"''  ^'  '^"^• 
rendered  some  services  to  the  cause  of  humanllv   al.i  .         l'  "'«. '"'««'«n'^'-y  in  that  town, 
.ng  the  French  general  from  deli veri    ,    ,  Z  pL-    "  tl^e'fr     ''  '"'/T'f'''-     "^  '''--^- 
frou.  the  most  cruel  .levastation  ;  a.nl  by  co  ce  Z  T  ""^  "y*^"'  ''"  P'--««rved  it 

whon.  a,ln.iral  SndVein  had  pro  nised  to  sZnl"?       '"''"''""'' '*'''^"   Knglish  officers 
horrors  of  a  dungeon,  and  frouM.    til;      "^^^^^^^  "•':'"^^'. '^  ^'^^^''^  ^''«'"  '-"'  »"« 

BO  nmu.tained,  for  a  consul.rable  time  at     is  o  T  '''""''  '^"'"'^"**  ^''^^"'-     '^«»'- 

been  severely  wo.uuled  in  a  recen      a'vl     ,  ""^"'''":  ""'  '"'""'•"''^  "^''^^'''^^y'  >^'">  b^'l 

a  brother ;  though,  at  this  t  n  o       o     isio^^  S  ""'  'T'''  '""'  *^'"'  "'«  "^"'-♦-"  oC 

converted   .to  a  u.aga.ine,  and  Mr  S  kc'ltd  oT  "'7'''1^  ""''"^"''  ^'"  ^'»'"=''  ^-« 
or  m  his  own  dwelling.  ''''"'''  ""''y  P"'''«"»  '•'*"'«  ^vorship  in  the  school, 

••   '"="o  ="cwca  wan  iiiviotn 


itxxB 


INTRODUCTION. 


. 


'*4 


fl 


"■f! 


fl»«t 


bodies.  There  was  grain  enough  in  the  country  ;  but  the  inhabitants,  having  formerly  been 
denied  full  payment  for  the  supplies  which  they  furnished,  would  neither  bring  it  themselves, 
nor  send  in  their  bullocks,  notwithstanding  the  orders,  entreaties  and  promises  of  the  rajah. 
As  the  enemy  was  at  hand,  and  the  exigencies  of  the  fort  were  every  moment  increasing,  Mr. 
Swartii  was,  at  length,  empowered  to  treat  with  the  people  ;  and  such  was  their  confidence 
in  that  venerable  missionary,  that  he  had  no  sooner  circulated  letters  through  the  surrounding 
district,  promising  to  pay,  with  his  own  hands,  all  persons  who  should  come  to  the  relief  of 
the  fort,  than  he  obtained  upwards  of  a  thousand  bullocks,  and  so  considerable  a  (junntity  of 
corn,  that  the  place  was  saved,  and  the  inhabitants  wece,  for  the  present,  effectUHJIy  relieved 
from  their  miseries !  Such,  indeed,  was  the  high  and  universal  estimation  in  which  this  man 
of  God  was  held,  that  a  military  officer,  who  has  written  on  the  subject  of  India,  assures 
us,  "the  knowlrdjre  nnd  integrity  of  this  irreproaclial)le  missionary  retrieved  the  character  of 
Europeans  from  the  imputation  of  general  depravity."  And  ovon  Hyder  himself,  whilst 
refusing  to  negotiate  in  a  certain  treaty  with  other  persons,  was  heard  to  say,  "  Send  n)e 
Swartz  ;  send  me  the  Christian  missionary  ;  I  will  treat  with  him,  for  him  only  can  I  trust." 

In  1784,  an  application  was  made  by  some  persons  residing  at  Palamcotta,  in  the  south  of 
India,  for  a  missionary  to  visit  that  part  of  the  peninsula,  witii  ;i  view  to  the  evangelixation 
of  the  natives.  Several  of  the  native  assistants  were  accordingly  despatched  thither  ;  and  so 
graciously  were  their  exertions  owhcmI  nnd  blessed  by  the  Lord  of  missions,  that  within  a 
short  time  they  formed  a  church  consisting  of  one  hundred  persons,  some  of  whom  had  been 
previously  heathens,  and  others  llonum  Catholics  ;  and  since  that  period,  the  congregations 
in  the  south  of  India  have  become  very  nnnierous. 

At  the  conunencement  of  the  yoar  1 7H7,  the  rajah  of  Tanjoro,  having  lost  all  his  own  children, 
adopted,  as  his  successor,  a  youth  of  a  noble  family,  abont  ten  years  of  age.  A  few  days  be- 
fore ins  death,  he  sent  for  Mr.  Swnrtz,  and,  pointing  to  the  yotuig  prince,  earnestly  solicited 
him  to  become  his  guardian.  The  disinterested  missionary,  howiner,  declineil  the  honor 
which  was  designed  for  him,  and  persuaded  the  dying  rajah  to  place  the  guardianship  of  his 
adopted  son,  and  the  administra'ion  of  allairs  during  his  minority,  in  other  bauds.  Other  hon- 
ors, however,  were  reserved  for  the  Christian  veteran,  which  he  could  not  refuse.  At  his  dt!ath, 
which  occurred  in  February,  1798,  in  the  seventy-second  year  of  his  age,  the  young  |>rince  of 
Tsnjore  shed  a  Hood  of  tears  over  his  corpse,  covered  it  with  a  cloth  of  gold,  and  accom- 
panied it  to  the  grave  ;  he  also  placed  his  portrait  among  the  pictures  of  the  Hindoo  prince's 
in  th(!  hall  of  audience  ;  and  wrote  to  Kngland  for  a  monument,  to  be  erected  in  the  ciiurch 
where  he  had  long  and  faithfully  published  the  glad  tidings  of  salvation. 

In  addition  to  the  Danish  missions  to  India,  we  must  notice  that  of  Mr.  Kgede  to  (ireetdand 
in  the  year  172!.  This  pious  and  disinterested  serviint  of  Christ  had,  for  a  period  td'thirteen 
years,  felt  an  uncon(|uerable  desire  to  carry  the  words  of  et<>rnal  life  to  the  natives  of  those  in- 
hos[titable  and  drtary  regions ;  nnd,  after  a  variety  of  attempts  and  ap|)licati«)ns  had  successive- 
ly proved  nliorfive.  h<;  succeeded  in  raising  a  subscription  of  U|)wu.ds  of  eight  thousand  ri.T 
dollars,  and  piircliased  a  ship  to  convey  liim  and  some  other  settlers  to  (JrJM'iiland,  where  tlioy 
enga!T(>d  to  remain  during  the  winter.  Two  other  vessels  were  also  freighted,  on«'  for  the 
purposes  of  the  whale  fishery,  the  other  to  bring  l>ack  an  account  of  the  colony  ;  and  it  is 
pleasing  to  add,  thiit  his  Danish  majesty  not  only  ap|)roved  of  the  uiid(>rtaking,  but  presented 
the  missionary  with  the  sum  of  two  hundred  rix  doll.irs  towards  liis  equipment,  and  ajipomlod 
him  a  salary  of  three  hundred  per  annum. 

On  their  arrival  in  Ctroenlaiiti,  after  n  choerlcss  and  perilous  voyage,  Mr.   Kgedc  and  bis 


INTRODUCTION. 

xxxiii 

companions  began  to  erect  a  house  of  turf  and  stonfi  •  nnH  f«r  «««,„  ♦•       .r. 

cordially  disposed  to  assist  them  in  their  olrat?l'/w[^^  ^^ 

the  rising  fabric  was  intended  f^  rregularhSon   .^^'.^  ^'^^1''"'"''  ''°"'«^^^'  '^^' 

proach  of  winter,  it  would  be  bur 'eS  nfhe  snow  wS^he  v^^^  ''^""'u"^'  °"  '^'  ^P" 

the  ice.  and  the  setUers  would  inevitabl/be  fr^^^^^^^^^^  J-^oras  by 

by  the  Europeans,  the  savages  began  to  feel  verrserious  anDrionZ  ""''"  ^T^"'*'"^ 

of  their  visit,  and  entreated  their  anaeknk«  ^^'J T  ^PP'^hensions  respecting  the  object 

but  these  ter;ors  graduXllred  a^d  fn'  !LrT  ^^'^'^^  ''**''"  ""^  incantations; 

and  were  visited  by  them  in  return  '        '  '  ''"'"'  '^'^  """^"''"^  ""  ^^'^  ^^e  colonists. 

having  desired  his  eldest  son  o  ketch^out  th.  ^^^'^'f  ^"""'^  'T  *^  ^''''''^-  ^^  ^^8^^' 
scripture,  as  the  creation  o7  the  worw\hef^l  of ''"''T'^^^  ?"""'  ^"^^^  ^^^'^''^^  '" 
death,  and  ascension  of  our  Rodeeme       tt  '"^"'  ^•i^"»'^«••«^'  deluge,-the  miracles, 

-he  exhibited  these  to  t^e  GreenSr  whT'^T  the  last  judgment 

ability,  their  various  siglcat  o„s  TlS  draw'"  1. '"'"'  '"'^  '•'P''""^'''  ^"  ^^e  best  of  his 
they  excited  the  laughte'r  of  trra;ive?whrnref;h.:"'"     ""f -^^  '"'^'^  ^^^^"^«d'  ^^at 

The  following  year,  having  obiZeTaJ^Zr^r'^^  "'■'''''  "'^^«^»»««'^  "P««  them, 
of  Denmark  had  resolved  tofunpo  rtL  miS   Ir'^'^'p ''?''  '"^  '^"  '^^^"^'^"^^  ^hat  the  king 
der  to  make  himself  master  of  X  languor     Wm^^h'^^  T'''''  ^  ^^"^  "°  P'^'"«  '»  °- 
natives  in  his  vicinity,  notwithstandin^T^  "^'^  ^'"  """^^  '^^*'*1"'^"»  ^'^^^^  »«  the 

stench  of  their  hous  ';;t"  iSr  "ol^  tZ""''""^?  "^^'^^  he  suffered  from  the  filth  and 
take  up  their  abode  w.  h    i  n      WuHhre  1 "  ""'  '"''  y^'"^'  Greenlanders  to 

time  to  their  mstruction  in  readirgani  fn  h    pZ^^^^^^  '""^''  «^'"« 

ed  them  to  attention  and  emulation  bv  enrnL„?  '  ?  of  Christianity  ;  but  though  he  excit- 
of  their  employment,  a„<l  fn  nk  I  "dj  IhnXev'Zl  """r'  '*"^  «-"^«--  wenry 

looking  at  a  piece  of  paper,  and  cryin!  A  '7,^""'*  ^^'^  "« '"''''y  »"  fitting  day  after  daj 
shooting  birds,  they  w'e rS  enabled  to'Le' profit  viuT''  7  ''"a"^'  'T"''  ^^'^'«'  ""^ 
turn  of  summer,  they  absconded  one  afte    ano^e     an    lefrth  ^^^°'^'"g'y'  «"  ^''«  re- 

sad  frustration  of  his  sanguine  hopes  ^''""  '"'^r"^^"  ^^  '"ourn  over  the 

nloJi^r:^7X:r^  ^y  ^^^  --^«  of  Mr.  Albert  Top ;  but 

natives  appeared  to  fctl  no  pi:  :^„Te^^^^^^^^ 

tened  attentively  to  whatever  was  told   hnn      ^''V  '""*'  '*'^«'"^'«"'  i''0»gh  they  lis- 

they  were  taught.     Some  of  thCn   nd.l  I  T'^'"\  q"c«tioned  nor  contradicted  what 

imniortality  of'the  -uT^:;  h    r:ur"S^^bo^^^  '''''  ''°'^'""«^  '''  ^^e 

pel  their  hearts  were  evidently  unaffected  ^  '  ''"'  ^^  '''"  °'''«'  ''"^»'«  °'"^''«  «<>»- 

nii!  •  JJl^:;:;.^ j^^^^^  rur  zs=  •'"^•'  r  -^«^"«"^"«  ^»>«  ^---^ 

li"«l«i8hed  by  the  Company  at  \lraL      ZlZ  '"■"'''''  "^  unsuccessful  that  it  was  re 

nis  for  the  erection  of  i  fort  a  m  aHmall  '  '"^'j  ''"  "'"'  ""^  ''''^•"^'  ^««««'«.  ^'th  materi- 
Besides  the  n.iluarylc^e  Ire  sev  rT  Ln  ""  "^  ''"'^^^  '""'"  ^''«  P'"^''«''«"  "''»•'«  -'^ny- 
whom  had  volunte/redt  oi^      v  :::  :^^^  S^'^'^'Tr'^^  T'  "^'"^'''''^  ^  ^"^  '^ 

riedto  females  fro.,,  the  house    f  correction       ."^^  ''"^  "^  """fi^'^'nent  and  mar- 
Two  new  missionaries,  ^foss.  s   llr^dS  *°"'"  P"|)"lution  of  the  country. 
•vangeli.a.ion  of  the  imtivos:         ^                    ''^' '"'''  "P'"'"*^'^  ^"  "'^^'^^  ^r.  Egede  in  tlio 
Vol.  I.— No.  3.                 a 


ZXXIV 


INTRODUCTION. 


!J|p 


IP'' I 


I: 


lUi 


m^ 


As  the  colony  had  been  hitherto  fixed  on  an  island,  in  an  unfavorable  situation,  it  was  now 
removed  to  a  place,  some  miles  distant,  on  the  main  land.  This  new  settlement  was  called 
Good  Hope ;  and  a  second  colony,  which  had  been  commenced  at  Nepisene,  about  200 
miles  to  the  northward,  and  subsequently  abandoned,  was  re-established  by  the  new  settlers. 
The  ensuing  winter  proved  extremely  disastrous;  as,  in  consequence  of  the  heavy  rains 
which  had  fallen  during  the  summer,  and  the  dampness  of  their  new  habitations,  a  malig- 
nant disease  broke  out  among  the  settlers,  and  many  fell  victims  to  its  irresistible  fury.  Great 
discontents  were  consequently  excited,  and  Mr.  Egede  was  severely  upbraided  as  the  original 
cause  of  these  misfortunes. 

In  1731,  Christian  the  Sixth,  who  had  now  succeeded  to  the  crown  of  Denmark,  consider- 
ing that  the  money  expended  on  the  Greenland  mission  would  never  be  reimbursed  by  the 
trade,  transmitted  orders  that  the  colonies  should  be  abandoned,  and  that  all  the  settlers 
should  return  home.  Mr.  Egede  was  allowed  the  alternative  of  returning  with  the  others,  or 
of  retaining  as  many  of  the  settlers  as  might  be  willing  to  stay  with  him  ;  but,  in  the  latter  case, 
he  was  only  to  receive  such  a  supply  of  provisions  as  would  cuffice  for  one  year,  and  he  was  ex- 
prcss'y  told  that  he  must  expect  no  further  assistance  from  government.  As  none  of  the  col- 
onists would  consent  to  remain  in  so  cheerless  and  drear  region,  and  as  the  Grcenlanders 
besought  him  not  to  leave  them,  he  petitioned  the  governor  and  the  other  members  of  the 
council  to  appoint  eight  or  ten  men  to  remain  with  him  during  the  winter,  to  preserve  the 
buildings  and  other  property  of  the  colony  ;  and  having  obtained  this  boon,  he  bade  adieu  to 
his  former  compa  moiis  and  even  to  his  two  collcagos,  with  a  heavy  foreboding  that  he  might  be 
abandoned  forever. 

In  1132,  a  ship  arrived  at  Greenland  with  a  fresh  supply  of  provisions;  and,  as  a  larger 
cargo  of  blubber  was  sent  home  this  year  than  in  any  preceding  season,  his  Danish  mnjesty 
resolved  to  re^ew  the  trade,  and  he  niunificently  ordered  the  sum  of  two  thousand  rix  dollars 
to  be  appropriated  to  the  support  of  the  mission. 

The  sorrows,  which  had  for  some  time  past  preyed  on  the  spirits  of  the  faithful  and  devoted 
missionary  Egede,  were  dispersed,  by  this  unexpected  intelligence,  like  the  mists  of  the  morn- 
ing before  the  rising  sun  ;  his  faith,  long  shaken  by  storms  and  tempests,  now  seemed  to  take 
deeper  root  than  ever  ;  and  his  hope,  which  had  recently  been  almost  swallowed  up  in  despair 
now  revived  like  the  face  of  the  rural  landscape  on  the  return  of  spring.  Little  did  he  know, 
however,  what  painful  events  were  behind  the  curtain  of  futurity  ;  and  little  did  he  anticipate 
how  soon  his  joy  would  be  blighted,  how  severely  his  faith  would  be  tried,  or  how  completely, 
withm  a  short  period,  his  hope  would  be  almost  overwhelmed  by  the  clouds  of  affliction  and 
inexplicable  darkness. 

The  following  year,  two  yuung  Grcenlanders,  who  had  been  taken  out,  by  the  colonists,  to 
Denmark,  were  sent  back  to  their  native  land,  as  the  climate  of  Europe  seemed  unfavorable 
to  their  health.  One  of  these,  a  female,  died  on  the  voyage,  the  other,  a  boy,  arrived  at  home, 
apparently  well ;  but,  after  a  short  time,  he  was  seized  with  an  eruptive  disorder,  to  which 
ho  eventually  fell  a  victim.  A  youth  employed  by  Mr.  Egede  as  a  sort  of  catechist  among  the 
other  children,  was  next  seized  with  tin;  same  disorder,  which  proved  to  bo  the  small  pox 
snd,  as  neither  the  entreaties  nor  arguments  of  the  missionary  could  induce  the  natives  to 
adopt  any  plan  for  preventing  the  extension  of  the  infection,  it  soon  began  to  sprcn.l  in  various 
directions,  and  lew  of  tliope  who  were  attacked  by  it  survived  beyond  three  days.  Such 
were  the  distress  nnd  consternation  excited  by  this  distemper,  which  had  never  before  appear- 
ed in  Greenland,  that  many  of  the  Buflbrors  ciihor  stabbed  or  drowned  themselvcu,  to  put  a 


INTRODUCTION, 
speedy  termination  to  their  miaerv  •  anH  nno  «,„„     u  ,  ""'^ 

to  it.  actually  stabbed  his  wi^s   fsier  and  IbZ  wTf"  ?^^^"g''*«'- had  fallen  victims 
«he  had  caused  their  death  by  witchcraft  ^  '"*"*  ^^^  '*^^'  "°^«'  ^^e  idea  that 

Deeply  affected  by  these  heart-rending  scenes  Mr   F„n^  *u       . 

and  sometimes  sent  his  son  to  comfort  aL  instruct  hS  V"'  ^^outfrom  place  to  place, 
gling  with  their  suiferings  on  the  brink  of  etern  tv  He  ^  ^^^J  TT''  ^^°  ^«'«  ^^^g" 
who  had  recently  arrived  from  Germanv  klLdlv  J;..  '  .  '.^"^^  '^^  ^°'"^^'^"  missionaries 
houses,  and  nursed  them  with  unreSj^^teLon  T^'^t'l^  T"^  °''*^««'*^^  in  their  own 
own  health  was  materially  affecJeT  Th!se  acTof'  rt"f  'l  ''''^"  '^''°"  "'■'«^«'"  ^^eir 
pression  on  many  of  the  native,  •  nn«  A  I  u  Christian  benevolence  made  a  deep  im- 
Egede.  said  to  L,  wh?nt  Se'  Z'oftl  '^tJuZf  '"^  ^'^  'f''  of  deriding^™, 
countrymen  ever  would  have  done  •  when  wrh„/  .k  """^  """"'^  '^^  "«  ^^^^  O"-"  own 

food  ;  thou  hast  buried  the  dead  bodils  of  our  MoS     l^  T  ''''..'^°"  ''^''  ^"PP''«^  "«  ^^^h 
voured  by  the  foxes,  the  dogs,  and  the  ravoZ      h      i. ""  "''  ^^'"''^  *'*'''^'^'««  ^ave  been  de- 

"it^piiiitradrtLr^^  •"  "^'"^""^^^^ 

Green.:nders  r^/u^^r  ^twTl  f ^ S^^^^^^^^^^^^^  the  unfortunate 

nearly  as  far  to  the  south  ;  and  such  was  Z  !fZlVnn  \  T  ''"^""'  "orthward,  and 
when  the  traders  went  into  the  countrv  at  i  2h  ^  ?  ""^  ''"'"^'^^  its  progress,  that 
empty  for  thirty  leagues  northward"      ^'  ^"'^^'^'1"^"^  P«"od,  they  fo.nd  all  the  houses 

^f^^^^^^t;!::::::::^^^^  -  ofMr.Egede,Mr. 

of  the  country  called  I^sco  Bay.     Tl  ese  W^^^^^  ^  "^'"''"^  ^  "'^^  ^^'^"^"  '^  P^'^ 

equate  for  the  vigorous  prosec^.tion  of  t^^  nZ  o^  7:rtt Tt  i  '^^'■-  *^^^'^'  ^^^"  '  ^  '^d" 
ed  him  from  the  prosecution  of  his  former  exerUons  ho  til  a  !  '*'  '"'  ^^"  ^'^^'^^  Proclud- 
to  co.n,nunicate  full  information  as  to  the  ^tHf  the  mil  T'"  ^^  Denmark,  in  orc^er 

whirh  It  might  bo  most  advantageously  p  osecuted  'Z  r  .'  ^  '"  "''^'''"  ^'^^  -""""^  W 
dccoa.o  of  Mrs.  Egede  ;  and  after  laboring  more  tit „  fiff el  v  '"  T  «*'«"gt''«n«d  by  the 
'an.i  amidst  the  most  severe  trials,  hardfh^s  a'Zfv^rnJ  m  1'  '"'7  "''  '"'"^'"^^"^'^ 
cess,  he  preached  his  farewell  sermon  from  that  truly  aTnronri:  ^  "PP"-"";'^  ^^'t''  "ttle  suc- 
ed  in  vam,  I  have  spent  my  strength  for  noriit  ZlTv  '^  "  P'"'"''^"' "  *  «'^"'' '  ^''^^'^  'abor- 
the  Lor,l,  and  my  work  wiU.  my  God  »         ^     '"^  '"  '"'"  '  ^^^  ^^^^''X  "^X  Judgment  is  with 

^^^^^"Co/r:i::^;;:^^         r »« ^"^  ^i-..  -  w^m  he  gave  a 

was  instituted,  in  Denmark,  for  the  e  ucaTc^  of  /niss^o  '  '^/""""-ndution,  a  seminary 
sent  among  the  CJreenlanders ;  that,T.  mSti^n  L  JtlT"''^  T''^"'''  '"^^"'^'''d  »«  »^o 
qu.ro  ,1.0  language  of  that  people  .d.^uVna  Id  t^^^  ^''^'^  '"'^ht  ac- 

""•"e.l.utely  on  arriving  at  their  respective  Icorn     •     r  '"'"■  """  "'"  ^"'"^  «*'  instruction 

„       -.• ^-»ir-iitl3  ■L.JiriS 


w 


ZXXVl 


INTRODUCTION. 


ir*rp 


If  ''i 

ill 


tianity.  The  introduction  of  the  gospel,  however,  has  evidently  tended  to  the  diffusion  of 
civilization  among  them,  and  the  difference  between  their  manners  and  those  of  their  pagan 
countrymen  is  sufficiently  obvious  to  every  observer. 

We  must  now  return  to  the  exertions  of  the  Anglo  Americans  in  the  cause  of  iSivine  truth ; 
and,  in  fixing  our  attention  on  the  province  of  New  Jersey,  in  this  century,  we  i^hall  meet 
with  a  mission  which  exhibited,  in  glowing  colors,  the  power  of  Jehovah's  grace  on  the  minds 
of  the  Indians,  and  which  excited  the  admiration  of  the  Christian  world,  on  account  of  the 
decided  piety,  the  evangelic  seal,  the  unwearied  patience,  and  the  steadfast  faith,  which  were 
evinced  in  the  conduct  of  it ;  as  well  as  by  the  splendid  success  with  which  it  was  crowned 
by  the  great  Head  of  the  church. 

In  the  spring  of  1743,  Mr.  David  Brainerd,  a  young  man  of  exemplary  piety,  commenced 
bis  missionary  labors  among  the  Indians,  about  twenty  miles  from  Albany,  in  the  province 
of  New  York  ;  and  though,  in  the  discharge  of  his  important  duties,  he  endured  such  ex- 
treme hardships  that  his  constitution  seemed  ready  to  sink  under  them,  his  spirit  was  cheered 
and  supported  by  discovering  that  his  instructions  had,  even  within  a  short  space,  made  a 
serious  impression  on  their  consciences.  Their  reformation  of  manners  was  also  evident  and 
decided ;  as  their  idolatrous  sacrifices  were  no  longer  offered  ;  their  heathenish  dances  were, 
in  a  considerable  measure,  given  up  ;  and  the  religious  observance  of  the  sabbath  was  gen- 
erally established.  After  he  had  labored  among  them  about  twelve  months,  he  advised  them 
to  remove  to  a  place  called  Stockbridgc,  about  twenty  miles  distant,  and  to  place  themselves 
under  the  care  of  the  pious  Mr.  Sergeant ;  and  with  this  advice  most  of  them  complied. 

The  following  year,  Mr.  Brainerd  proceeded  to  the  Forks  of  Delaware  in  Pennsylvania  ;  but 
as  the  Indians  in  this  part  of  the  country  were  now  greatly  diminished,  the  major  part  hav- 
ing been  dispersed,  or  removed  farther  back,  the  number  of  his  hearers  was  at  first  very  small, 
often  not  exceeding  twenty-five,  and,  even  afterwards,  they  very  seldom  exceeded  forty.  Even 
these  lived  at  remote  distances,  so  t!iat  the  little  congregation  could  not  be  assembled,  at  the 
wish  of  their  missionary,  without  some  difficulty.  Here,  however,  he  pursued  his  evangelic 
labors  with  unremitting  zeal  and  diligence,  and  invariably  combined  his  exertions  with  the  most 
earnest  importunities  for  the  divine  blessing  to  crown  his  instructions  with  success.  lie  also 
proceeded  to  visit  some  Indians  at  a  distance  of  about  thirty  miles  ;  but,  as  they  were  just 
about  to  remove  to  the  river  Susquehannah,  he  had  but  two  opportunities  of  preaching 
among  thorn.  A  few  of  them  were  at  first  jealous  of  his  intentions,  but  they  heard  him  with 
seriousness  and  attention ;  and,  at  ihcir  request,  he  afterwards  proceeded  to  visit  them,  in 
company  with  a  neighboring  minister,  at  their  new  settlement,  and  remained  among  them 
several  days,  preaching  regularly  when  they  were  ut  home;  whilst  they,  in  order  to  benefit 
by  his  instructions,  delayed  their  general  hunting  match,  which  was  just  about  to  commence. 

The  following  spring  he  repeated  his  visit,  accompanied  by  an  Indian  from  the  Forks  of 
Delaware,  who  acted  as  his  interpreter ;  but,  in  travelling  through  the  wikU^rness,  ho  was  ex- 
posed to  the  most  sevoie  perils  and  hardships.  One  day,  being  overtaken  by  a  tremendous 
storm,  having  no  |)lace  of  shelter,  and  being  unable  to  kindle  a  fire  on  account  of  the  rain, 
which  fell  in  torrents,  he  resolved  to  prosecute  his  journey,  in  the  hope  of  finding  some  dwelling 
where  ho  might  obtain  a  temporary  refuge  ;  but,  unfortunately,  the  horsco,  both  of  P^-  Brain- 
erd and  his  friend,  were  so  seriously  affected  by  having  eaten  some  poisonous  herbage,  for 
want  of  better  food,  that  the  travellers  could  n<!ither  ride  nor  lei"l  them,  but  were  under  the 
necessity  of  driving  them  on  before,  and  of  following  on  foot.  At  length,  howrvor,  thtjy  were 
providentially  directed  to  a  bark  hut,  where  they  took  up  their  abode  for  the  night. 


INTRODUCTION. 

xxxvii 

panied  with  the  Jst  disLslgtfn^  i^^^^^^^^^^  ""'T'^  "^^^  «"  ^g-'  — 

ships  he  had  recently  endured  fnTen  L  nn  1        u         ? '  *^^  ^^'"^eq^ence  of  the  hard- 
Providentially,  how4er  he  ftnd  an  nCf  u""^^  ^^''^'  ^"'^  sometimes  in  the  open  air. 

andatthee/^iratio;^:?^ 

^^^Xz:^:i:t:-'^  t  \  -r^^^^^  -d  ^s  mind  so 

had  en'gaged  ;  coiJid^ring  St  Toon  Irl^^^^^^^         °!  ^'^"^^"•"^'  ^^'f.  ^'^^  ^  -^ich  he 
plished  by  his  instrumentality      Thos!  Zl  u  ^^"'  ""^^  "^'''"  "'^"'y  ^^  '^^  '^««0'»- 

cumstance  soon  occu3 Thfch  demoLtt  "/f^  ^7 'f''  ^"•"^  ^*'  ^^""  ^"''^^•«"'  -"^  a  cir- 
devoted  servant  to  'MaborTn  vl  TrT         ,  I         '  ^^'^  ^^  '"'^^'^"^  ^^^"^^  "«*  ^"ff^rhis 
intelhgence  which  he  rece  ve^re^p  ctir^^^^^^     ''"?;','''  "°"^'*""    '"  -"-'l-nce  of 
Jersey,  Mr.  Brainerd  resolved  to  vrtTem     and  tho     K    'T'  "'  ^rossweeksung,  in  New 
extremely  discouraging,  the  natives  liZ^i^X  loZtr^L       T ?J'  ^PP?'-^^^  "^^« 
gregation  consisting  only  of  four  women  and  „f/iM         u    *'*'''  *'^*'^''  ""**  *^'«  ^^-^^  con- 
ceiving a  desire  in  his  hearers  thm  ''"''''■*'"'  ^^  *^''**  ^^^  satisfaction  of  per- 
some  of  t^.m  actuall^ra^eld  ten  o    fi^^^^^^^  P-^^^^  ^^^  '"«  instructions,  and 
had  arrived  a„,ong  tC      n  conLnuenlT"  f"';^                  ''''''  ^"^^^  »'-»  a  missionary 
to  between  forty  and  fifty  pe  sons     andT      I        '  ""r  ''"'"  "^""P^^y  ^'^^  «««"  augmented 
decidedly  hostill  again^th'e  rth;of  th  '  ot^  ^^^^  ----'   '-^  felt 
completely  slain.     Not  an  objection  wITJ?^'           T^  ^"*^  opposition  seemed  now  to  be 
without  distinction,  were  ewS^desfrous  oM '  ""  '''''"^  ^'^  '^^"''^ '  ''"*  «'^  ^"^  young, 
their  eternal  welfare;  and  they  notonriiln  ^''"f, '"«^'"^^«d  in  the  things  connected  with 
discourses,  but  even  entrea  ed  h°m^^ore!^h    "       '"T'''"  seriousness  to  Mr.  Brainerd's 
knowledge  as  possible  during  Ltn^nurcrtutuL'  "^''  ''^'  ''''  '''''''  ^^'"  ^'  "-^ 

thif  t^Setrng  Se  V:;lt  rDe'l^ "  ^'^  ^"-^  ^ ^  '^^^  ^^  ^^om 
terial  labors.  H.  had,  alo.  very  shortlv  aftt^  th  "'l ""'"  '^\  ?"'"'P'^'  '''''''  ^*"  '"«  ""'"«- 
his  wife,  both  of  whom  gave  lufficTent  cvitnr  r  S  ""'''  ^'^  '^"P^'^'"^  **'«  interpreter  and 
and  the  former,  by  his  zealL  the  sal  at^n  of? '*^  their  genuine  conversion  by  divine  grace  ; 
to  his  laborious  pastor.  "  °^ '"'  countrymen,  proved  a  truly  useful  assistanl 

tion:onir:in  I'd  lerr.^^^^^^^^^^^^  ^«""''  ^h«  Indiansunder  deep  convic- 

their  immortal  souls  ;  ami  n\wlrTl  r'd!  7"'  k""^^^  ^"'"'^"''^  "«  *^  ^^'^  -'-^-"  of 
sions  increased  in  a  surprising  manner  nnd^'  ';  '  *"' .""''"'  '*"''^"«  ^'^«'"'  ''^^^^  ""Pr««- 
of  the  everlasting  gospel,  tl.af  scare  y  a  d  y  Tye  was'^trs  .T".";  ''"^f '^'  '''  ''"'^^'""^ 
and  the  inquiry  became  fervent  and  nLL  7  ^        f  *'''"  '"  *''®  P"^''*^  congregations, 

The  spirit  of  God,  indeed  annearedrT     "T"^'  '''""'  "  ^^'*^'^^  '"""^  ^«  ^'^  ^^  ^«  «-ved  ?- 
in  the  suitability  o    his  cWtor     the  ,t'^^^^^  '^-^^'^^ 

ment,  and  the  invitation    of  his  uosnel    T,      "'  "'  '""'^■''  ^'"  all-sufficioncy  of  his  atone- 
mountain  torrents,  and  precipi  utinrrilf        '  "'  .    *"  '"''J*''''*^  ""*""'  «^0"«»  ^'^  «""'«'  '^nd 

pcde  its  progress, \uulg'a"iuffu«eBtsH?'"  '^^  ''['""'  ^"^"P^  '^""^  "^"^♦'^^'•^^  "-''^'  '- 

Power,  whicLrownedLerL^^^^^^^  ''•''^  surroundmg  plains,  so  the  Almighty 

V0L.I.-N0.  4.  ';"''^**^"'0"«of  our  faithful  missionary,  overwhelmed  the  whole  assem- 


xxxviii 


INTRODUCTION. 


biy;  theold,  the  middle-aged  and  the  young,  all  being  constrained  to  bow  before  its  irresistible 
influence  So  deeply  were  the  hearers  affected  by  what  they  heard  of  the  love  of  ITruc^ed 
Jesus,  and  what  they  felt  of  the  vileness  and  depravity  of  their  own  hrnrtl  tLv  ^  ""'=**'^° 
of  them,  both  within  and  without  the  house,  were  aSly  cry  "  ^r  mercy  and  he^^^^^^ 
scene  brought  to  remembrance  that  solemn  prediction  which  z'Siarh  IVs f^^^^^^^^^ 
ter  m  the  name  of  h.s  God.  "  I  will  pour  upon  the  house  of  David,  and  uponThelnLit" 
ants  of  Jerusalem,  the  spmt  of  grace  and  of  supplication;  and  they  shall  look  o„  me  whom 
they  have  p.erced  ;  and  they  shall  mourn  for  him.  as  one  mourneth  for  his  only  son."nd  shaU 
be  in  bitterness  for  him,  as  one  that  is  in  bitterness  for  his  first-born."  ^ 

This  awakening  appears  to  have  continued  with  unabated  power  for  a  considerable  period 
and  those  who  came  from  a  distance  to  witness  so  unusual  a  scene,  were,  in  maiytsfan"  es' 
brought  under  the  same  concern  for  their  souls,  and  constrained  to  cry  for  pardon  rdsava 
tion  Some,  who  had  previously  experienced  but  slight  convictions,  were  now  literal  y  cut 
to  the  heart  ;  and  others,  whose  souls  had  been  set  at  liberty,  appeared  to  en ioy  peculiar 
manifestations  of  the  divine  favor,  and  expressed  the  most  earnest^olicitude  to  be'ent^l 
conformed  to  the  will  of  Christ.    In  short,  every  sermon  was  productive  of  some  good  andt 

fiftofn  '  ^T^'a^  """■'!  ^  "'°"'''  '"  '^'''  ''""^^'•'  '^"d  administering  the   rite  of  baptisfn  to 
fifteen  adult  Indians  and  two  children,  Mr.  Brainerd  returned  to  the  Forks  of  Dolawarr     he  e 

IZ      ;  "'^^•^^rr  i''"^''  ""P^^"^'  ^"^'»  ^  ^^"^^  «f  ^-lig-"  than  before;  in  con! 
equence  of  some  of  them  having  visited  Crossweeksung,  and   there  beheld   the  power  of 

stbiect  wt't.  '/"r""'  r'"  '"'  ^'"'^^^  '^'■"^^^  '^  ''«^-  t°  instruction,  treated  the 

the^^'sp^rul^r  "'"''"  '"' •^'  ^"'  ^^^'"^'^  '"^^^  •^^^-^-^  -  ^'-^  «PP-'^-  to 

nn^nf  n  tn  '^  '''f  i^S  "'"'',''''*  'l'"  Su^quchannah,  Mr.  Brainerd  directed  his  course  toward 
an  Indian  town,  called  Sliomok.n,  about  a  hundred  and  twenty  miles  to  the  westward.     Here 

ho '  h'n"      •  '  5'r"'  '^"'  ^'"  '"'^'^''*""*«  ^^'^^  -«'  to  amount  to  three  hundred! 

though  our  missionary  did  not  see  much  above  half  that  number.  They  were  considered  a 
worthless  race,  prone  to  nusch.ef,  and  strongly  addicted  to  drunkennes;;  yet  they  listened 
LnfcUoT  """""  ""  '^"^"'""'  '^"^  '^PP^'^^'^^  ^-'-^  of  obtaining  further 

n.?!'''n?''i7'!."''??''"''''  '''  ^  '''"'"  """"''  •^""^^"ta,  which  he  had  visite.i  on  a  former 

^ess  nr.^  .d  ',  "^\  r"''''"'  ""l  '''"^  '""^  ^'''''  '"'"  ^  ''"-""y  --I'tio",  and  appeared 
es  prejudiced  against  d.vine  truth  than  some  of  their  countrymen,  they  now  appeared 
o  be  more  firmly  rooted  than  ever  in  their  pagan  superstitions  ;  and  he  found  it  impo isible  to 

ofiTLl-IIrf  7"T  :^  '  rT'  "  ''7  ""'^  "-'<-gg--t  preparations  for  the  cdebration 
ol  an  Idolatrous  toast  on  the  following  day. 

Deeply  disappointed  at  the  failure  of  his  attempt  in  this  quarter,  our  missionary  returned 

to  Crossweeksung  and   on  resuming  his  labors,   he  had  the  satisfaction  to  find  the  same 

bles  od  and  powerful  effects  attend  the  dispensation  of  the  gospel  as  before.     One  day  in  par- 

t.cular,  after  a  solemn  and  impressive  sermon  on  the  new  birth,  so  deep  and  general  an  im- 

p resHion  was  nuu^  on  the  nunds  of  the  Indians,  that  it  is  impossible  to  describe  the  scene 

which  ensued.     Many,  both  men  and  women,  old  and  young,  were  seen  dissolve.l  in  tears,  and 

overwhdinod  wth  mental  anguish  ;  whilst  others  were  rejoicing  in  God  their  Savior,  and 

prnymg  that  their  countrymen  might  obtain  mercy  from  the  Lord. 


INTRODUCTION. 

wuMh^lTirpt^^L'^^^^^^^^  T"^  ^^^  j"<^-.  Which  was  attenll 

of  an  excellent  master,  for  instructing  Indkn' .^17^  V'^^h  ""'^'''  '^'  ««Pe"ntendence 
ful  branches  of  learning.  He  alsradoiteZl  r'"  '^'  ^"'"'•^  ''"^"^g^'  ^""^  «»her  use- 
-ho  had  embraced  ChLani^tand  by  ht  ad v  ce  17  ""T".  ''f  '^"*^^  *"  ^»»^««  "«*'-« 
at  Cranbury,  about  fifteen  mile  distam  from  theTr'  forir'''.  '°  ^T  "  ''^"'"'  ^^"'«'"«"t 
the  work  of  clearing  and  cultivation,  and  wTthi.^  Htl  T  .T  "'"'  ^'''  '^"^y  commenced 
of  forty  acres  with  English  grain,  a^d  neaHy      l^wl ^^^^  '^'  ^°^°  "^^^^^^ 

er/£:Ss:si::::t^r;i^:;^Ti:^?^^ 

and  a  most  notorious  characterTbut'whno:  aLe^^^^^^^  '''''  ^  '""•^^"•'  ^  -"J-e", 

the  gospel  as  applied  to  the  heVrt  by  Gorthe  HoTrho'.  V'^"'^'r?hy  ^''the  power  of 
Delaware,  and  sometimes  attended  Mr  nLT a!  ■  ^  ^'  "^  ''^"^^^  "^^^  ^^^^  Forks  of 
affected,  and  he  still  followed  his  trafe  of  rn  ""'T'^  '  •^"^'  ^^  ^''  ^eart  was  totally  un 

ress  of  the  truth  among  his  count'tn  ^"^"7 ^^^  '"  "'^%'V^'^^'  «"  ««>«*-'«  to  the  prog- 
sung,  during  a  season  of  most  rerSle  awaLrn'  'L'"^  'f''  ^''''''''''  *«  Crossweek- 
such  poignant  convictions  of  sin,  that  fo  .o.ne  Z?'h'"  '^"'  .P'""''  ^'  ^^^  •'^^"ght  under 
possibility  of  redemption;  yet,  even    ,  n.isl  '       ^°"«'^«'-«d  himself  lost  beyond  the 

listen  to  the  gospel  fand  be'ing  I  en"  1  tS'e'ritt.''  f  T'"'^'"  ^^^^  ™^^*  ---^o 
;ng  proofs,  by  his  Hfe  and  depitment?  tatS  Imd  nd.oH  .  ''  ''  "'^'''^'''  '^'  most  con  vinc- 
J'ght,  and  from  the  power  of  Satan  unto  God ''  "  "'"'""^  ^'^"^  ^"k»«««  »°to 

ev^e:t;r:;:i^;^:^ j^r;^^  and  privation,  was  now 

to  have  accelerated  the  progris  of  iL  disorder  On" h  ''^"'^^^'^^  Susn.ehannah  seems 
a  cough,  nocturnal  sweats,  and  spitting  of  blood  •  -^  '^^''T"''"':  ^'  "•^"''"'^  ''''^'^^y  <"••«•» 
frequently  compelled  to  sleep  in  the  woods  an  '  ^  '  ""'  '''"'"  ^'"'"'"•"S  ^^"Ptoms,  he  was 
that  he  was  convinced  it  wou'ld  probai;;t;ve  a"^^^^^^^^  T'"  ''^.  ^^  ^  -^remely  faint 
no  other  resource  than  to  climb  a  youngX  tree  tl^^f  ?  ?"'  '"  '^'  °P^"  "•^'  ''«  ^ad 
to  form  some  kind  of  shelter  from  the  heavy  dews  '"   '''  ""''^  '"'  '^"'''''  "^"^  ^'^"« 

of  his  age.  mdelatigable  missionary  entered  into  eternal  rest,  in  the  SoJh  year 

broT;:r  oT:.rd«^^  -^-  the  care  of  Mr.  John  Brainerd,  the  younger 

the  mission  continued  to  incre  s   an^pro  'l^f  ^^^^^^^^^       "^  '^'""^^"^'^  ^^^^  -^  l>'c-ed,  tha 
of  the  former  converts  adorned  theirrorssion  1  v  rr'"; '"  ^  ^^  P'--"g -anner.     Most 
ers,  who  had  recently  joined  the  settlement  "erLnn''?"'  '" •'  '"''"P'^^^  '''"« '  ^^  oth- 
as  sumers,  and  were  led  to  Christ  for  life  «L      "PP'""^"tly  convmced  of  their  ruined  state 
made  in  civilization  and  useful  arts;  and  the  "  hon '""''""     ^°"«''^«'-«»>'«  Progress  was  also 

In  addition  to  his  stated  labors  amol  the  non  7   cT  '"  ""  ''"'''  °^  i^^^easing  prosperity, 
casioaally  traveled  among  the    ndZs  in  Ifant^l'  1    r  T"  '^'^'^^'  ^'-  J^^'"  Brainerd'oc 
plan,  he  sometimes  found  his  congrega  L  a  t ^ '1     '''  T"''^  '  ""''  '^  »^«P^'"S  ^his 
however,  were  inclined  to  remove  from  their  foZ!  ^'^^'^''''^^y  '^"gmcnted.     Whilst  some. 

others  determinately  opposed  the  gospel    rndTnonofr""'  '"'" ''''  ""^^  ""'  *"^  instructions 

6u»,jci ,  and,  m  one  of  his  visits  to  th«  hank-  n^  ^i^-  «^ 


xl 


INTRODUCTION. 


■ 


lii' 


hannah,  he  met  with  a  most  unexpected  obstacle.  No  sooner  had  he  arrived  than  the  In 
dians,  tutored,  most  probably,  by  one  of  their  artful  angekoks,  informed  him  they'had  just  been 
favored  with  a  divine  revelation,  which,  after  warning  them  against  a  few  particular  vices 
and  enjoining  them  to  offer  certain  heathen  sacrifices,  concluded  by  informing  them  that  the 
Deity,  in  his  wisdom,  had  created  two  distinct  worlds,  one  for  the  white  people,  and  the  other 
for  the  Indians;  that,  in  respect  to  religion,  he  had  commanded  these  different  classes  to 
worship  him  in  different  ways ;  and  that  the  white  people  ought  not  to  intrude  into  the  terri- 
tories of  their  red  brethren  ;  since,  whatever  specious  pretences  they  might  hold  out  their 
only  object  was  the  eventual  acquisition  of  gain.  We  hardly  need  add,  that  the  poor  bewil- 
dered  souls  who  could  believe  and  repeat  so  absurd  a  tale  as  this,  were  by  no  means  disposed 
to  lend  an  attentive  ear  to  "  the  words  of  truth  and  soberness." 

As  the  circumstance  of  the  Indians  being  scattered  through  the  wilderness,  in  small  villages 
had  hitherto  been  reckoned  one  of  the  most  formidable  obstacles  in  the  way  of  their  civiliza' 
tionand  Christian  instruction,  Mr,  J.  Brainerd,  in  1759,  settled  his  congregation  upon  a  tract 
of  land  purchased  on  their  account  by  the  government  of  New  Jersey,  and  comprising  about 
four  thousand  acres,  well  adapted  for  the  purposes  of  general  cultivation.  Whatever  might 
have  been  the  cause  of  the  failure,  however,  it  seems  that  this  new  arrangement  was  not  crovvn- 
ed  with  the  expected  success. 

Toward  the  close  of  the  American  war,  Mr.  John  Brainerd  died  ;  and  in  1783  he  was 
succeeded  m  the  charge  of  his  congregation,  by  an  Indian,  named  Daniel  Simon,  who  had 
betn  ordamed  to  the  work  of  the  ministry.  Whatever  professions  this  man  might  have  made 
however,  or  whatever  opinion  might  have  been  formed  of  him,  it  is  too  evident  that  he  was  a 
stranger  to  the  vital  influence  of  godliness ;  as,  on  account  of  inebriety  and  other  irre«ru. 
larities,  he  was  very  soon  suspended  from  his  ofiice ;  and  it  unfortunately  happened,  that°no 
missionary  was  appointed  to  succeed  him,  but  the  congregation  was  occasionally  visited  and 
supplied  by  the  neighboring  ministers. 

Of  the  nineteenth  century  it  is  only  necessary  to  observe,  in  this  introduction,  that  it  has 
been  justly  said  to  deserve  "  the  honorable  distinction  of  the  missionary  age,"  greater  exer- 
tions having  been  made,  and  with  more  abundant  success,  tlian  in  any  period  since  the  diffusion 
of  gospel  truth  in  the  primitive  ages.  This  success,  under  the  divine  blessing,  has  resulted 
in  a  great  degree,  from  the  formation,  plans,  and  operations,  of  those  missionary  societies 
which  will  now  demand  our  attention;  and,  whilst  we  look  back,  with  grateful  hearts,  upon 
what /.as  been  achieved  by  their  instrumentality,  may  our  souls  be  cheered  by  a  recollection 
of  those  animating  words  of  our  blessed  Lord,  "  Ye  shall  see  greater  things  than  these." 


"  They  who  prophesied  of  ihe  grace  Ihnt  shonlil  rome,"  were  "  holy 
men  of  (io.l,  who  spake  as  ilicy  wore  moved  l.v  ihu  Holy  tJhosl  "—I  IVler 
i.  II.    2  1'elcri.  21. 

Uy  Ihc  oulpouriiijf  of  the  Holy  <lhost,  Ihe  niwMlcs  wcro  "  cnducil  with 
power  from  on  IiIkIi  j"  tin  I  ilie.i  they  were  <iimlifie(l  to  Sc  Christ's  witnesses, 
"  to  Ihe  ends  of  tlic  earth."— Acts  i.  8.     I.uke  xxiv.  lU. 

lie  directed  Philip  lo  Ihe  cimurh  of  Kiliiopia— Acts  viii.  29. 

He  <ent  Peler  to  Cornelius.— Arts  xi.  12. 

He  directed  the  course  lo  Iw  ubsorved  by  the  Gentile  converts Acu 

XV.  28. 

He  nHiuired  the  special  miiiisiry  of  Damahas  and  Saul.— Acts  xiii.  J. 
He  directed  Paul,  Silas,  and  Timolhcus,  where  Ihey  ibould,  and  where 
Ihcy  should  not,  preach  the  gosptl.— Acts  xvi.  C.  10. 


By  his  direction,  Paul  testified  in  Corinlh,  thai  Jcsns  was  the  Christ, 
(Alls  xviii.  6);  and  prepared  to  visit  Jerusalem.— AcLs  xix.  21.  Acts 
XX.  22. 

He  gave  iiiformaticm  of  what  should  befall  the  church  generally  (Acta 
xi.  211),  anil  indiviiluals  particularly.— Ads  xxi.  11,     Acts  xx.  2;l. 

He  npiMiinled  die  Christian  teachers  (Acts  xx.  28  ;  I  Cor.  xii.  28) ;  and 
Icstilied  what  should  be  the  reception  of  Iheii  message,— Acts  xxviii.  25,  27. 

When  he  has  seal  learhirs— when  he  has  bli'ssed  the  ministry— and  when 
he  has  pillierud  a  church,— it  is  ho  still,  who  edifies,  instrucls,  comforts, 
and  increase.^  that  church.— Arts  ii.  3i.     1  Cor,  xii. 

To  the  Holy  Spirit,  thcn'fore,  as  Lord  of  the  harvest,  should  prayer  Iw 
directed  for  the  increase  of  Missionary  leal,  and  the  success  of  Missionary 
exertion 


THE 


ORIGIN  AND  HISTORY  OF  MISSIONS. 


HISTORY    OP    THE   MISSIONS    OP    THE    UNITED    BRETHREN, 

OR    MORAVIANS. 


CHAPTER   I. 
MISSION     TO     GREENLAND. 

"  The  dawning  day  at  length  appeara, 
Tiie  day  foretold  by  ancient  seers ; 
And  over  Nature's  gloomy  night 
Prevails  the  morning's  rising  light." 


It  has  been  remarked  as  a  fact  worthy  of  observation 
that  when  tlie  United  Brethren  first  undertook  to  send 
out  the  word  of  salvation  to  the  benighted  and  perishing 
heathen,  their  own  congregation  did  not  exceed  six  hun- 
dred persons  ;  and  of  these  the  greater  part  were  exiles 
from  their  native  land,  who,  after  enduring  the  most 
cruel  persecutions  on  account  of  their  religion,  found 
a  tranquil    and  hospitable  asylum  on  the  estate  of 
Count  Zinzendorf,  at  Berthelsdorf,  in  Upper  Lusatia. 
So  ardent  was  the  zeal,  however,  which  glowed  in 
their  bosoms,  and  so  abundantly  were  their  unostenta- 
tious attempts  owned  and  blessed  by  the  great  Head 
of  the  church,  that,  within  the  short  period  of  ten  years, 
their  heralds  of  salvation  erected  the  banner  of  the' 
cross  in   various  distant  regions  of  the   earth  ;    and 
through  their  instrumentality,  it  may  be  confidently 
hoped  that  many,  very  many,  who  were  formerly  "  sit- 
ting in  darkness  and  in  the  region  of  the  shadow  of 
death,"  are  now  standing  before  the  throne  of  the  Most  ' 
High,  and  that  multitudes  of  others  will  hereafter  be 
admitted  into  that  "  rest  which  remaineth  for  the  peo- 
ple of  God." 

At  the  settlement  of  the  brethren  in  Lusatia,  which 
they  styled  Herrnhut,  the  possibility  and  duty  of  con- 
veying tiie  gospel  to  Greenland,  the  West  India  isl- 
ands, &ic.  were  sometimes  made  the  subjects  of  con- 
versation in  the  public  meetings;  and  durina,  a  discus- 
•ion  of  this  nature,  in  the  year  IIM,  somt-  ynsuig  men 


offered  themselves  to  go  out  as  missionaries  to  the 
Greenlanders  ;  and,  early  in  the  ensuing  spring,  Mat- 
thew and  Christian  Stach  proceeded  to  Copenhagen, 
conducted  by  Christian  David,  the  person  at  whose  in- 
stigation  Count    Zinzendorf   had   been  induced   to 
receive   the  Moravian  emigrants  under   his    protec- 
tion.    "  There  was  no  need,"  says  one  of  them,  "  of 
much  time  or  expense  for  our  equipment.     The  con- 
gregation consisted  chiefly  of  poor  exiles,  who  had  not 
much  to  give,  and  we  ourselves  had  nothing  but  the 
clothes  on  our  backs.     We  had  been  used  to  make  shift 
with  little,  and  did  not  trouble  ourselves  how  we  should 
get  to  Greenland,  or  how  we  should  live  there.     The 
day  before  our  departure,  a  friend  in  Venice  sent  a  do- 
nation, and  part  of  this  we  received  for  our  journey  to 
Copenhagen.    We  now,  therefore,  considered  ourselves 
richly  provided  for,  and  would  accept  nothing  from  any 
person  on  the  road  ;  believing  that  He  who  had  sent  us 
so  timely  a  supply  would  furnish  us  with  every  thing 
requisite  for  accomplishing  our  purpose." 

On  their  arrival  at  Copenhagen,  they  were  kindly 
received  by  Professor  Ewald,  a  member  of  the  Danish 
mission  college,  and  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Reuss,  chaplain 
to  his  majesty  ;  and  though,  for  some  time,  a  series  of 
difficulties  appeared  likely  to  impede  their  progress, 
these  were  providentially  obviated  ;  and,  through  the 
kind  offices  of  Count  Pless,  first  lord  of  the  bed- 
chamber, ilic  king  not  only  consented  lliut  they  shoulil 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
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WHSTIR, NY.  MStO 

(7i6)  173-4503 


go  out  cs  inw«onaries  to  Greenland,  but  desired  that 
others  might  follow  them,  and  even  condescended  to 
recommend  them  to  the  friendship  of  Mr.  Egede.  in  a 
letter  written  w  :ih  his  own  hand. 

Whilst  they  were  preparing  for  their  voyage,  these 
humble  and  devoted  servants  of  God  formed  an  ac- 
quaintance wilh  many  excellent  characters  and  persons 
of  distinction,  who  admired  their  truly  apostolic  zeal 
and  provided  them,  without  solicitation,  with  a  sum  of 
money  adequate  to  their  expenses,  and  with  a  variety 
of  articles  for  their  first  settlement. 

Being  one  day  in  conversation  with  Count  Pless 
that  nobleman  inquired  how  they  proposed  to  main- 
tarn  themselves  in  Greenland.     They  replied,  they 
hopeo  to  subsist  by  the  labor  of  their  hands  and  the 
divine  blessing;  as  it  was  their  intention  to  build  a  house 
and  cultivate  a  piece  of  land,  that  they  might  not  be 
burdensome  to  any.     To  this  he  objected  that  there 
was  no  wood  in  the  country  .it  for  building      "  Then  " 
said  they,  «  we  will  dig  a  cave  in   he  earth,  and  dwell 
there.       Struck  with  this  proof  of  ardent  zeal  and 
ready   self-denial,  he  exclaimed,    "  No ;    you  shall 
not  be  driven  to  that  extremity  ;  take  timber  with  you 
sufficient  to  build  a  house  ;  and  accept  of  these  fifty 
dollars  for  that  purpose." 

On  the  10th  of  April,  the  missionaries  embarked  for 
Greenland,  and,  after  a  safe  and  speedy  voyage    ar- 
rived  m  good  health  and  spirits  at  their  place  of  des- 
tination.    Here  they  were  cordially  welcomed  by  Mr 
Egede  ;  and,  having  fixed  on  a  spot  for  a  settlement' 
to  which  they  subsequently  gave  the  name  of  New 
Hermhut,  they  built  themselves  a  house  with  the  tim- 
ber which  they  had  brought  from  Copenhagen  :  they 
also  erected  a  hut  in  the  Greenland  style,  for  the  ac- 
commodation of  any  of  the  natives  who  might  feel  in- 
chned  to  come  to  them  for  instruction. 

They  now  began  to  think  of  adopting  some  plan  for 
mamtammg  themselves,  but  U,is  was,  at  first,  attended 
with  considerable  difficulty.     Being  unaccustomed  to 
hunting  and  fishing,  they  could  obtain  but  little  by 
these  occupations  ;    and.  though  they  Imd  purclmsed 
an  ol(    boat  from  the  captain  who  had  broudit  them 
from  Denmark    the  very  first  time  they  went  out  in 
search  of  drift  wood  among  the  islands,  they  wore 
overtaken  by  a  storm  ;  and,  after  their  return,  the  boat 
with  Its  htt  e  cargo  was  driven  away  by  the  wind,  a„d 
materially  damaged,  before  it  was  recovered.     Consid 
ermg  these  circumstances  as  designed  to  warn  them 
against  entangling  themselves  with  the  cares  of  this 
present  life,  tlu-y  resolved,  when  other  work  failed 
to  earn  something,  like  their  frionds  in  Europe,  by  the 
humble  occupation  of  spinning. 

Mr.  Egede,  on  their  arrival,  had  kindly  promised  to 
assist  them  to  the  best  of  his  ability  in  learning  the 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


language  of  the  country,  and  this  promise  he  was  now 
sionaries,    says  a  respectable  writer.  "  who  *..«  «,«k 

m  :;tTaTrf  '"^  P'^  °^  "  .™-t  raSt 
ment  of  a  barbarous  language,  containing  a  variety  of 
declensions  and  conjugations,  di verified  by  newmlf 
and  perplexed  by  suffixes  both  active  and  passive  must' 
have  been  doubly  difficult ;  particularly  aLhey  haTto 
commit  to  memory  a  copious  vocabulary  of  wCds  .he 
Greenlanders  having  many  different  teLs  to  express 
hesameidea^     And  if  to  this  it  be  added,  that  they  had 
.0  learn  the  Danish  language  before  the;  could  under- 
stand  their  instructor,  the  reader  will.'^o  doubt  ad 
mire  their  patience  and  perseverance  " 

The  terrific  scenes  which  Greenland  presented  on 
he  introduction  .f  the  small-pox  by  one  of  the  „>! 

nd"'aft:r"t,     "  ""'"'^  """'^'^  '"  ""'  Introduction ; 
and,  after  the  prompt  assistance  which  the  Moravian 
hrethren  rendered  to  Mr.  Egede  on  that  occasion,  the^ 
were  themselves  successively  attacked  by  an  e^ptivj 
disease,  which  increased  so  violently  during  the  win- 
ter,  that  they  nearly  lost  the  use  of  their  limbs.     Prov- 
identially,  ho«^ver,  they  were  not  all  similarly  affect- 
ed at  once.     Mr.  Egede,  also,  acted  toward  them  with 
the  sympathetic  attention  of  a  father;  and  his  amiable 
wife  never  omitted  an  opportu.iity  of  sending  them 
some  cordial  or  refreshment ;  so  that  they  were  merei- 
fully  supported  in  the  time  of  their  distress,  and  were 
constrained  to  acknowledge  the  goodness  of  the  Lord 
m  the  darkest  period  of  their  affliction. 

In  these  circumstances  did  the  brethren  pass  the 

firsr  year  of  their  abode  in  Greenland;  and  as  they 

did  not  see  how  they  were  likely  to  effect  any  good 

ma  country  so  awfully  depopulated  by  disease,  and 

where  the  natives  had  hitherto  shown  no  disposition 

to  associate  with  them,  they  began  to  consider  it  advis- 

able  to  retuin  to  Europe.     On  the  arrival  of  John 

Beck  and  Frederick  Boehnish,  however,  in  the  char- 

acter  of  assistants,  in    17.34,  and  on  their   receiving 

an  assuranc"  that  the  congregation  at  Hsrrnhut  had 

resolved  to  support  the  mission  to  the  utmost  of  their 

power,  their  languid  hopes  were  re-animated,  and  they 

resolved  to  pursue  their  work  with  redoubled  ar.lor 

rhcy  now  applied  themselves  to  the  study  of  the 
language  with  unremitting  diligence,  and  so  far  con- 
quered  Its  greatest  difficulties  as  to  bo  able  to  hold  a 
short  conversation  on  ordinary  subjects ;  but  greatly 
regretted  to  find  that  it  contained  no  terms  expressive 
of  spiritual  and  divine  ideas.  Having  obtained  copies 
of  some  pieces  which  Mr.  Egede  had  translated,  such 
as  the  Ten  Commandments,  the  Apostles' Creed  and 
the  I^,rd's  Prayer,  they  enil.rH.e.l  every  opportunity 
of  rru.hng  these  to  the  Grecnlnn.lers,  re.nin.ling  them 
of  what  they  had  already  been  taught,  and  endeavor- 


ing  to  show  them  the  necessity  of  such  subjects  mak 
ing  .n  impression  on  their  hearts.     Bythesi  vi  t^|„ 

equally  free  from  levity,  on  the  one  hanrf  «nW  e 

nv  Dr^stn  i  '  "°  '^''  "'^y  ^""S*"  their  compa- 

visited  them  m  return  ;  though,  in  calling  upon  the 
missionaries,  It  was  obvious  they  had  some  other  objlcl 
n  v.ew  than  that  of  religious  instruction.      InXd 

^ZkTeJtT  'Z  "  "'  '■^^  ^'""^  ""'^'^  -hit 

struck  their  fancy,  and  it  was  necessary  to  be  on  th^ 

watch  against  their  little  depredations.  ' 

In  the  year  1735,  some  ships  arrived  from  Europe  • 

but,  m  consequence  of  forgetfulness  or  accident   no 

ZLa         \-  ^y  '^"^  ""-'  therefore,  involved 
n  the  deepest  distress,  and  had  no  other  prospect  but 
that  of  perishing  by  famine.     Their  whole  st^k" 
provisions  consisted  of  a  barrel  and  a  hoK    f  . 

P;;t  of  which  they  exchaS  t  Im  X":^' 
and  ship  b,scuit;  and  it  unfortunately  happened  that' 
they  were  less  successful  i„  fi,l,i„g  .^j  ^Eg     hi 

^;^:r;:^etc^rt£:b;:r 

.herefore.  found  it  so  difficXla  JptSZ^ ' 
on  some  occasions,  they  were  reduced  to  the  neiSv 
of  eating  shell-fish  and  sea-weed,  to  satisfy  -"ife  eTa  ^ 
ngs  of  hunger.     They  were,  als  ,  frequently    xpose. 
to  the  most  imminent  peril,  in  consequence  of  bZ 
compelled  to  venture  out  to  sea.  in  q^est  of  food   in 
a  cn..y  boat,  and  in  stormy  weather  ;  and,  one  of  tl  e 
Imvuig  ventured  to  embark  in  a  Greenland  kaiak   n 
fishing  boat,  was  overset  by  a  sudden  sqia  1  «? wi'nS 
«nd  woui.1    inevitably  h„ve   been  drowL.I,  l.a.l    "o. 

rst:;r '  ^"^  -''-  '"^  -'''-^' "—  -  h^ 

Trials  ,0  severe  and  accumulated  as  these    were 

^vas  her  mercy  to  cast  their  burden  upon  ,hj  F.ord 
and  the  immutability  of  his  favor,  „„.|  thoall-sufruiciiry 
of  Ins  providence,  were  ,.«<iousIy  manifested  in  te 

-ent  aln'r'^  *^f  "f"''-     '»''-'  "'o  same  God  who 
ient  „  da  ly  supply,  by  ravens,  to  the  prophet  Elijah 
nchned  the  heart  of  a  (Jreenhm.ler,  nL. e.l   IppaC* 
to  come  forty  leagues  from  the  south,  and  ,„  soil  'them 
Jo."  time  to  ..me.  whatever  provisions  hecoul.l  spare' 
t.ll  Ins  own  resources  were  exhausted.     A  most  unex 

E  ;r:ci^;:~r-'---''-hen:s;m 


GREENLAND. 


is 


Holland,  m  the  spring  of  173G,  by  a 


ir»tltlai*k^*« 


!  fire's;  'ctLTxi  f  Lt-:^-;- 

o..- friend,,  „d  ^  ,^  ./dZLTpplLX 

of  course,  most  gratefully  accepted  •  and  thr^'  ^    ' 
aries  reauestfiH  .».„.    •      "^^"^P^^^  >  and  the  mission- 

.h.  m.,ber  of  M.uh.w  Stteh,  .  wido,,  t^  kZ 
five  ye,„  of  .g,,  „,,,,  ,,„  ,      dauuhieA  Z,  „.    '^ 

"z-T,  ^:  —'-"».  ""^'"-rrv 

ITS„  ■"Penmendence  of  their  domestic 

acting  as  missionaries  among  their  own  set     °"f- "f 
themselves  sedulously  a:d  succe!;  ul  Jto    h^at^ 
ment  of  the  Greenland  language. 
fi.lTh  ""'■■  T^Tl  '='"'^""«""'««s  were  now  more  cheer 
ful  than  they  had  been  for  a  considerable  time  past 
but  their  spirits  wore  severely  depressed  by  The  cJar' 
acter  and  conduct  of  the  savages  to  whom  theyWed 

rz^pStr:'r;r,Jt-i5 
j::^;iiSor:t-dt~ 

heir  dissolute  practices  ;  and,  when  foiled  in  thdr  at! 

empt,  they  endeavored  to  provoke  him,  by  mi  mckin; 

"s  read„.g   praying,  and  singing,  or  by  ^nTerp.  nf 

hese  devotional  exercises  with  their  frig'htfJl  Z linf 
and  the  deafening  noise  of  their  drums.  Nay,  on  some 
occasion.  ,hey  pelted  the  brethren  with  sLe,  de! 
sro,ed  their  goods,  strove  to  drive  their  boat  o  .   o 

hem  in. r"'      "";'  ""  "^"'""""  "'•—ina.mg 
.em  in  their  tent.    In  the  midst  of  dangers,  however 

the  missionaries  were  mercifully  preserved   and   not-' 

wi  hstandmg  all  their  severe  discouragements,  th  y  re- 

solved  to  continue  in  the  work  of  the  Lord 

1.  consequence  of  an   alarming  report,  set  on  foot 

.«  n.)7.  relative  to  an  intended  invasionof  the  South- 
hm.iers.  many  of  the  natives  fled  to  the  Europeans 
for  protection  ;  but  no  sooner  did   .hey  discovef    a 

heir  fears  were  unfounded,  than  they  all  dispersed 

and  the  missionaries  were  obliged  to  search  after  them 

R...ong  the  islamls.  in  their  old  boat,  which  was  now  so 

loaky  and  rotten  that  it  was  scarcely  possible  to  <.n.« 

«  wunoui  danger.     In  one  of  these  excursions,  they 


44 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


were  driven  by  contrary  winds  to  the  southern  islands, 
where  they  met  with  their  friend  Ippagan,  and  many 
of  the  Greenlanders.     By  these  people  they  were  re- 
ceived  with  great  kindness,  and  Matthew  Stach  was 
permitted  to  remain  with  them  about  a  month,  for  the 
purpose  of  improving  himself  in  their  language.    Dur- 
ing the  time  of  his  visit,  their  behavior  was  very  va- 
riable.    At  first,  they  allowed  him  to  converse  freely 
with  them,  and  to  read  certain  parts  of  the  New  Tes- 
tament ;  but  they  soon  grew  weary  of  these  instruc- 
tive exercises,  and  not  only  refused  to  listen  to  his 
observations,  but  annoyed  him  exceedingly  by  their 
noisy  and  tumultuous  dances.     The  children,  howev- 
er, were  extremely  partial  to  this  devoted  servant  of 
God,  and  used  to  run  after  him  with  evident  marks  of 
affection.     Sometimes   he   collected   them   together, 
talked  with  them  in  the  most  familiar  and  pleasing 
manner,  and  asked  them  a  few  questions  ;  but  he  found 
it  extremely  difficult  to  fix  their  attention,  and  per- 
ceived, with  regret,  that  the  most  trivial  object  which 
attracted  their  notice  was  sufficient  to  obliterate  all  his 
instructions. 

A  scarcity  of  provisions,  which  was  severely  felt  by 
the  natives,  early  in  1738,  induced  many  of  them  to 
visit  the  missionaries  ;  and  among  those  who  came  to 
solicit  food,  was  a  young  pagan  of  the  name  of  Man- 
gek,  who  expressed  himself  desirous  of   aking  up  his 
abode  with  them,  provided  they  would  consent  to 
mamtam  him  ;  and,  at  the  same  time,  he  pledged  his 
word  that  they  should  receive  whatever  he  might  take 
in  hunting  or  fishing.     With  this  proposal  they  readily 
agreed,  and  labored  day  by  day  to  direct  his  attention 
to  the  concerns  of  his  soul.     This,   for  some  time, 
seemed  a  hopeless  case  ;  but  at  length  he  began  to 
discover  some   deep  convictions,  and  whenever  the 
missionaries  prayed  with  him,  his  eyes  were  suffused 
with  tears.     This  was  sufficient  to  excite  the  displeas- 
ure and  persecution  of  his  countrymen  ;  and,  accord- 
ingly, when  they  found   it   impossible  to  allure  him 
back  to  his  former  heathen  practices,  thay  basely  ac 
cused  him  of  having  stolen  different  articles  from  his 
instnictors.     After  a  time,  he  quitted  the  missionaries 
of  his  own  accord  ;  yet  the  recolloction  of  the  impres- 
sions which  had  been  made  upon  his  heart,  through 
their  instrumentality,  inspired  them  with  renewed  zeal 
in  their  work,  and  led  them  to  cry  mightily  unto  the 
Lord  that  his  great  salvation  might  even  yet  appear 
to  the  benighted   barbarians  by  whom  they  were  sur- 
rounded. 

The  prayers  which  were  thus  offered  with  unfeigned 
ardor  were  graciously  heard  and  speedily  answer- 
ed ;  for,  although  five  tedious  years  had  now  i  oiled 
away  since  the  missionaries  first  landed  on  the  shores 
of  Greenland,  and  though,  with  the  exception  of  the 


solitary  case  just  now  related,  they  had  seen  no  fruit 
of  their  labors,  the  dawning  of  an  interesting  day  was 
now  at  hand,  and  the  arm  of  the  Lord  was  ready  to 
be  revealed. 

In  the  beginning  of  June,  a  number  of  Southland- 
ers  were  providentially  led  to  call  upon  the  brethren 
whilst  John  Beck  was  busily  employed  in  transcrib- 
ing a  translation  of  some  parts  of  the  New  Testament 
The  natives  expressed  a  wish  to  know  the  subject  on 
which  he  was  writing ;   and  the  missionary  gladly  em- 
braced so  favorable  an  opportunity  of  sounding  in  their 
ears  "the  words  of  eternal  life."     Accordingly,  after 
reading  a  few  sentences,  he  gave  them  a  concise  ac- 
count of  the  creation  of  the  worid,  the  fall  of  Adam,  and 
the  work  of  redemption,  as  effected  by  our  adorable 
Saviour ;  and,  in  discoursing  on  the  latter  subject,  he 
was  enabled  to  speak  with  peculiar  affection,  pathos, 
and  energy.     He  then  read  to  them,  from  the  Gospel 
of  St.   Luke,  the  beautiful  and  affecting  history  of 
Christ's  agony  in  Gethsemane.     At  this  juncture,  one 
of  the  heathens,  named  Sayamak,  stepped  up  to  the 
table,  and  exclaimed  with  great  earnestness,  "  How 
was  that  ?  Let  me  hear  that  again  ;  for  I,  too,  am  de- 
sirous to  be  saved."     These  expressions,  the  like  of 
which  had  never  before  dropped  from  the  lips  of  a 
Greenlander,  penetrated  the  missionary's  heart  with 
indescribable  emotions,  and  tears  of  joy  chased  each 
other  down  his  cheeks  whilst  he  endeavored  to  set  be- 
fore his  auditors  the  principal  scenes  in  the  life  and 
death  of  the  Son  of  God,  and  to  explain  the  way  of 
salvation  through  him.     Whilst  he  was  thus  engaged, 
the  other  brethren,  who  had  been  absent  on  business, 
came  home,  and  joined  their  fellow-laborer  in  testify- 
ing of  tho  vileness  of  ;nan  as  a  sinner,  and  the  precious- 
ness  of  Christ  as  a  Saviour ;  and,  though  a  few  of  the 
pagans  disliked  the  subject,  and  withdrew  secretly, 
several  placed  their  hands  on  their  mouths,  in  token 
of  admiration,  and  others  earnestly  solicited  that  they 
might  be  taught  to  pray.    In  short,  they  exhibited  such 
a  strong  desire  for  religious  instruction  as  had  never 
been  previously  witnessed  in   Greenland  ;  and  when 
they   went   away,   they  not   only  expressed   an   in- 
tention of  paying  the  missionaries  another  visit,  but 
promised  to  make  their  countrymen  acquainted  with 
the  important  subjects  which  had  so  deeply  excited 
their  own  attention. 

It  was  soon  apparent  that  Kayarnak  was  truly  con- 
vinced by  the  Spirit  of  God,  and  after  repeated  visiu 
to  the  missionaries,  he  took  up  his  abode  with  them. 
This  stop  seems  to  have  been  productive  of  mutual 
graiificntion  ;  as  ho  was  now  influlgcd  with  constant 
o|i|iortunities  of  inquiring  more  fully  into  the  truths  of 
Christianity,  and  they  were  peculiarly  rimrmrd  with 
the  contrast  between  his  character  and  that  of  th« 


generdityofhi.r^nt,ymen.  "When  we  speak  to  him  » 


GREENLAND. 


•h.  G„..  H»d  of  L7h r^H^S"  ,^  »r™'<«'.  \ 

lions.     And  soon  .«„  ,?  ""»f«o»tjr  inslroc 

o™e„,.nde„t:i7.^r™;„i;r„i:'r'''''''' 

ary  settlement  "^-'imy  oi  the  mission- 

^n.Uructing  the  heathen.  «„7a?    f  !" '*?'•  "'f'^*  <>/ 


others  .ight  partak;:fThrs        liX:.'::?  ''l'  ^'"""^^  ^^^^  '^«  ^-MWnTZL^TnT'^  *^  ''' 

success  attended  the  conversationsTh th  heh.lV"'.  *«:'"-«^''V  Me  Ae«Men,  „nrf3,   *" 'J?''  'if^of 

his  countrymen  on  this  tmlv  •  .         •         ''^ ''«'<1  with  wtVA  which  that  chanL        ^        f^cnhar  bleuing 

within  the'  short  siaeo'r"'""^  f'J*"^''  '''''''  ^-"-'"/y  *e  «   nt7f:,r'  «"-'^«''-      ^Aey  aS 

«r<y  in  speaking  hZV  *''  "'  ^'"'''«'-  «*" 

y      apcGKing,  but  the  power  of  ihp   ir^i    m 

cvuently  accompanied  the  word  spot  "  ^1^  f  *"" 
asaSa^^ourfrom  the  rorath  to  cone  •^^^"" 

.oodn':''  "^zrrz  T""'  ""•^  "^'-'^  ""^ 

'mentiontotheonirsibLct  T-7  "'^''-  P"->>1 
l.ennanently  profi  hie  to  "k".  """  '"'''>'*''''« 
witl.  unutu-raWe  gS  o  :r  ho  a^  ""'  fV  ''^''''' 
and  couhl  not  venture  to  ^h  K  u  "'' "'^  Kayarnak, 
'"«  return.     olTZ  "''  'J"  ^"'""^«  ''"P«  "f 

«.-i„,  .he  n?;i^,ir:T^;d'e  •i'Sih^-h  ^"; 
-:""^":hr-~^^-^^^^ 

remained  ttdf  "and  '''"'"''": ,"°'  ""'X  'ha.  he  had 
P-pel,  hut  Uat  h  »ad  T°?'"^"'  »'"'  «''•'■  "^  «he 
and'hi.;  fam  ;  to  M?;:?'/'^"  ^'""  '"^  ^-'h- 
^•«.i  .i.lin,,s  of 'eter:a.rivltlon       ''""""""-'"•^  'h" 

•o«k':p'.tirTh:d'r'N"";i'  "'r  ^'^-"'«"''- 

-questionabl  pmlfs  "ha^I     ""'"V  "'"'  "'^"^^'^ 

Severely  m  ,h„  f.;.i.  .f  ,u.  ^._.,        .  11  unenlightened  c„..„...„„!f     f" °  "P°'*"'  """'"8  'heir 

Vol.  1.1-N„:  4r-     '  ^'^  ^— «  ^«  «.jd  ij  i„  .heir  inquiries^Ai^di:;;;^^!!!:^!  """"""y 


accompany  them,  and  at  length  in^  . 
laends  to  return. 

before  the  joy  excited  by  this  interesting  LZ^Zco 
was  succeeded  l.y  „  dark  and  menacing  clo'dTle 
bro  her..„.l„w  of  Kayarnak,  who  also  rt'ided     ithTl  I 
brethren,  was  murdere.l  by  „  northern  han.li.ti,    nl^ 
he  pre  ouce  that  he  ha.l  CK^casioned  the  death  of  te 
nngleader'sson   by  son-ery  ;    „„d  „«  both    Kay„  ^k 
and  h,s  survvmg  brother-in-law  were  threatened   vi, 
he   ame  fiue,  the  fonner  resolved  to  retire  with  1 
fannly  to  the  south.     Against  this  determinaZ   H^ 
nuss.onanes  rcmonstr„...d,  under  an  .ppreh::  ion  ,lt 
-."h  young  converts  u.igiu  be  easily  lured  back  "o  the 
prnctu-es  of  the  heathen.     All  their  exhorta tons  „  'd 
entreaties,  however,    proved  ineffectual ;  and  in   the 
course  „f„  fortnight,  they  „ot  only  .saw  theolunt  , 
«r  pped  of  most  of  their  pupils,  hut  they  were  co  J 
polled  to  bear  the  galling  reproach  that,  ,houKr,Z 
n..ght  succeed  in   baptizing  a  few  of  the  G  een  "J 

habits 


48 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


time,  they  were  enabled  to  render  many  important 
services  to  the  brethren,  particularly  in  respect  to  the 
more  perfect  attainment  of  the  Graenland  language. 

Eaily   in   1741,   Kayarnak   was   attacked   with  a 
pleurisy,  which  soon  put  a  termination  to  his  earthly 
pilgrimage.     During  his  illness,  he  exhibited  the  ut- 
most patience  and  fortitude,  and  appeared  alike  regard- 
less of  woridly  concerns,  and  unaffected  by  his  bodily 
sufferings,  whilst  musing  on  his  adorable  Redeemer,  and 
on  the  "  pleasures  which  are  at  his  right  hand   for 
evermore."     Observing  some  of  his  relatives  bathed 
in  tears,  he  affectionately  asked,  "  Why  do  you  weep 
on  my  account  ?     Are  you  not  aware  that,  when  be- 
lievers die,  they  go  to  Jesus,  and  become  partakers  of 
everiasting  joy  ?  As  I  was  the  first  of  our  nation  who  was 
converted  by  his  grace,  he  has  determined  that  I  should 
be  the  first  to  enter  into  his  presence.     He  knows  how 
to  provide  for  you  in  my  absence ;  and  if  you  remain 
faithful  to  the  end,  we  shall  surely  meet  again,  and 
rejoice  for  ever,  before  the  throne  of  God  and  the 
Lamb."     His  dying  words  appear  to  have  completely 
tranquillized  the  minds  of  his  wife  and  brother,  who 
evinced  the  most  pious  resignation  to  the  bereavement 
which  they  were  called   to  endure,  and  solicited  the 
missionaries  to    bury   him  according  to    the   rites  of 
the  Christian   religion.     Accordingly,  on  the  day  of 
the  funeral,  a*\er  singing  an  appropriate  hymn,  one  of 
the  brethren  delivered  a  short  discourse  In  the  house  ; 
four  Greenland  youths  then  carried  the  body  to  the 
place  of  interment,  where  one  of  the  Danish  mission- 
aries gave  a  concise  exhortation,  and  the  solemnities 
were  concluded  with  prayer. 

Though  the  missionaries  sustained  a  severe  loss  In 
the  removal  of  this  excellent  man,  the  field  of  their 
usefulness  appeared  rapidly  to  extend,  and  their  pros- 
pects seemed  to  brighten  in  proportion  as  their  labors 
of    love    increased.       Wherever    the    now    converts 
went    in  quest  of  food,  they   proclaimed  the   riches 
of  the  grace  of  Christ ;  and,  as  the  consistency  of 
their  conduct  harmonized  with  the   truths  which  fell 
from  their  lips,  their  savage  brethren  beheld  and  heard 
them  with  mingled  respect  and  admiration,  and  a  spirit 
of  inquiry  was  widely  diffused,   which  led  numbers  of 
the  Greenlanders  to  the  Moravian  settlement,  anxious 
to  understand  more  fully  the  great  truths  of  divine  rev- 
elation.    The  missionaries,  however,  were  extremely 
cautious  in  administering  the  rite  of  baptism  ;  not  only 
as  they  had  had  many  and  painful   proofs  that  serious 
impressions  were  often  very  transient  among  the  Green- 
landers,  but  because  some  of  those  who  had  obtained 
a  theoretical  knowledge  of  the  gospel,  evinced  a  spirit 
of  pride  and  self-conceit,  and  wore  even  desirous  of 
assuming  the  character  and  Importance  of  teachers 
possessing  extraordinary  acquirements. 


In  proof  of  the  extensive  awakening  which  took 
place,  about  this  time,  among  the  heathen,  one  of  the 
baptized  Greenlanders  informed  the  missionaries  that 
he  had  found  his  countrymen  many  leagues  to  the 
north,  so  anxious  to  be  instructed  in  the  things  of  God, 
that  they  urged  him  to  spend  a  whole  night  with  them 
in  conversation ;  and,  after  he  had  retired,  on  the  second 
night,  for  the  purpose  of  obuining  a  little  repose,  some 
of  them  followed,  and  constrained  him  to  resume  a 
subject  in  which  they  felt  so  deeply  interested.  Even 
one  of  their  angekoks,  or  necromancers,  was  brought 
under  such  serious  impressions,  that  he  wept  almost 
incessantly  during  two  days,  and  asserted  that  he  had 
dreamed  he  was  in  hell,  where  he  witnessed  scenes 
which  it  would  be  utteriy  impossible  to  describe. 

This  general  awakening,  after  a  time,  began  to 
subside  ;  and  the  angekoks,  aware  that  their  craft  was 
endangered  by  the  difl^iision  of  gospel  light,  invented 
and  circulated  the  most  absurd  and  ridiculous  stories 
respecting  the  effects  of  the  Christian  religion.  God, 
however,  graciously  frustrated  these  attempts  of  the 
enemy  of  souls,  and  the  little  flock  of  believing  natives 
increased  both  in  r  umbers  and  in  the  graces  of  the 
Holy  Spirit ;  so  that,  at  the  close  of  the  year  1748,  no 
less  than  two  hundred  and  thirty  Greenlanders  resided 
at  New  Hermhut,  of  whom  thirty-five  had  been 
baptized  in  the  course  of  that  year.  A  few  of  these, 
indeed,  exhibited  many  imperfections  ;  yet,  upon  the 
whole,  the  brethren  had  abundant  cause  to  blesa  God 
for  the  proofs  which  were  continually  manifested  in 
respect  to  the  Influence  of  the  gospel  on  their  hearts, 
binding  them  to  each  other  in  the  bonus  of  fraternal 
affection  ;  rendering  them  more  and  more  solicitous 
for  the  Improvement  of  their  religious  privileges  ;  and 
enabling  them,  in  the  hour  of  sickness  and  In  the  arms 
of  death,  to  look  forward  and  to  look  upward  with 
"  a  hope  full  of  immortality." 

In  1747,  the  missionaries  erected  their  first  church, 
the  frame  and  boards  of  which  had  been  sent  by  their 
friends  in  Europe  ;  and  in  this  humble  edifice  they 
had  frequently  the  pleasure  of  addressing  a  cor.^.ega- 
tion  of  more  than  three  hundred  persons.  At  the  same 
time,  some  commodious  storehouses  were  erected, both 
for  the  brethren  and  their  converts  ;  and  such  excel- 
lent regulations  were  adopted  in  respect  to  their  little 
settlement,  that  the  believing  Greenlanders  were  not 
only  enabled  to  subsist  comfortably  themselves,  but 
they  were  enabled,  in  times  of  scarcity,  to  extend 
their  charitable  aid  to  their  indigent  neighbors. 

The  winter  of  1752  proved  more  intolerably  severe 
than  any  which  had  occurred  in  Greenland,  in  the 
memory  of  even  the  oldest  natives;  and  in  this,  as  well 
as  in  the  two  following  years,  the  intensity  of  the  cold 
was  productive  of  all  the  horrors  of  famine.     For  a 


GREiENLAND. 

considerable  period,  the  inleta  »>*<>  .  ^^ 

that  those  who  att«mn»„^ •       '^'npestuous, 


wast™,,,hast.,.;e.ed::;Xhe:r^^^^^^^ 

tore  .t.n  pieces  with  herteeth,  and  devoured  itv^thX' 
utmost  andity.  Four  children  had  alieSy  Se J 
with  hunger.  We  distributed  «nong  them  a  pS  of 
our  own  scanty  pittance,  and  advised  t"emT  "^  ^ 

reluctant  to  do,  as  they  evinced  no  inclination  to  hear 

cakmitt's  oJT  "^  '■'""'"'  "*"«  "o-superadded  the 
calamu.es  of  d«ease;  a  contagious  distemper  havine 
been  unfortunately  introduced  by  some  DuL  vesrif 
which  had  run  in.oBall's  river  to  avoid  the  icrirmade 

ChrirtanX'^r/'"""^^''^  P"^''"' -"^  '•'-he 
Christian  Greenlanders ;  and  carried  off  great  numbers 
of  them,  for  thirteen  or  fourteen  leaeues  ro?.nH  .1, 
colony.  For  about  the  space  of  threZon.h"  1 1' 
such  ravages,  even  at  New  Hermhut.  thatta«X  ! 
day  passed  without  a  death  or  fune  al  a^rf  T„  ^ 
mstance,  four  corpses  were  depos  ted  ?n  Ih!  °"^ 

the  same  day.  iSany  other. S\'t  iZ^^rj 
•n  situations  where  they  could  not  be  brought  to  Se 
place  of  interment.  No  less  than  thirty-five  S  the 
Greenland  converts  were  carried  off  by  this  disorder  • 
but  whilst  the  brethren  wept  over  so  extensive  a„d 
unexnected  fl  hBro.„» .  .u.  "lensive  and 


hat  those  who  attempted  to   ;  ourin;  ToTfrd 
d^d  so  at  the  risk  of  their  lives,and  seldom  succeetS 
»  far  as  to  shoot  a  single  bird.  At  this  dread  uTS 
however.only  oneof  the  members  belonging  tott 
mi^ionary  settlement  perished  at  sea.     HeLtcar' 

and  r'' ',"  *  r™'  '^  '""^  ™P«'"°«"y  of  the  wave 
Zrl^    r!'""'^^y  ^''^  ""^  "ot  •'"own  till  after  a 

rhr^kll'TaTf ''  '^''r.''"  "^y  ^'^  '•---^ 

oLT'T    y  ''^''""'^*'  ^y  f^^"  ""d  ravens. 

One  day,  durmg  a  terrific  tempest,  a  new  and  large 
boat  belonging  to  the  missionaries,  was  literallv  Zh  ! 
to  pieces,  though  it  had  been  dn^Cp'^t  beach 
and  securely  fastened  to  a  post  •  and  «  7  T  ' 
afterward,  the  storm  was  sTtv^my' trJ^ ."'" 
that  the  mission  house  and  chul  were  Ztl^        I 

""?  r  'T'  1  '^'"^  -P'etelyTmlt7°" 
rZ^-  ^u  ^'«-'«»'J«"  '^ere  now  in  a  truly  pitiable 
condition   being  in  danger  of  perishing  from  Ct Tf 

the  Z„t2  't^T'"''  ^"'  greatly  ameliorated  by 

to  extend  assistance  .n  .K„:.  ...T'^.^'^'^'^'y  "«'-««  I    -PPorted  the.».  poor  creatures  in  the^  mo^t  .rvW 

in  whom  they1.a7;:;tvS.ThTr;;l«7f 
most  pleasing  and  substantial  proofs  of   he^lSy  of 
d.v,ne  grace  in  many  of  their  surviving  disciples  whe„ 
they  saw  the  readiness  with  which  they  undert  J^ 
boar  each  other's  burdens,  in  respect  to'^^he  suplt  of 
the  wuiows  and  orphans  of  the  deceased  ;  and  they  were 
especially  gra.efol  for  the  triumph  of  divine  inSLre 
when  they  saw  such  of  the  female  convert^^as  Ce 
.nothers,  alternately  suckling  the  helpless  infant  wh" 
nust  have  perished  without  their  timely  aid,  an^  who 
'f  lef  m  similar  circumstances  among  the  heathen' 
must  have  been  buried  alive  ^vlth  thfir  paren  3     aj 
nothing  IS  so  abhorrent  to  the  foelings  of  a'^Jjreenl'and 
woman   unacquainted  with  the  gospd.  as  theTdea "f 
noimshmg  with  her  own  milk  the  child  of  another 

Another  pleasing  instance  of  the  power  of  eosnel 
truth,  in  expanding  the  heart  and  exching  to  syZ 
thy  and  active  benevolence,  is  thus  related  in  c3, 
H.s.ory  of  Greenland.     "  „   ,.,  ^^  ^™»     » 

brethren,  at  some  of  their  meetings,  to  read  .0  the^ 
flock  the  accounts  which  they  received  from  their 

,  congregations  m  Europe,  and  esneciallv  ,„.h  ».  J..!. 

ii  to  missions  among  the  heathen."    These  coniinun"ica" 


-extend  assistance  to  t;;;ir*;:;-:nrsri^ 

support  themselves  there  than  at  hnll.      a      u 
«„r.i    •    u         .'"''""8  ''««''  frozen  around  them 

aiiye  in  another.     I„  an  account  of  one  of  their  visits 

ler:e'^»N::;"'l"l.-\^"'  "'-.the  missionari 
sinpTf      L  "  '"'*""'t'on,  which  had  been  lone 

smce  forsaken,  we  found  fifteen  persons  half  starved 
lyng  m  such  a  small  and  low  provision  hoZ   Zt 

r  rt,r  'r'r-*  '^^^  fo^oTr-c're:  t: 

.0  ul    T       .  ^y  '"^  ""«  "PO"  "nothor,  in  order 

Znl  '  '"''  ""y  '""^  "«  «"'«*^iated  that  thcv 

1.  ir.     '"7'''«"'-'ve..  oreven  tospeaktous' 
At  length,  a  man  brought  in  a  co„„i«  „f  Ji... .  ^, 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


lioiu  were  generally  heard  with  a  considerable  degree 
of  interest ;  but  no  intelligence  ever  affected  tbem  so 
deeply  as  that  of  the  destruction  of  the  Moravian 
settlement  among  the  Indians  at  Gradenhuetten,  in 
North  America.     When  they  were  told  that  most  of 
the  missionaries  were  either  shot  or  burnt  to  death,  by 
the  savages  in  the  interest  of  France,  but  that  the 
Indians  had  escaped  to  the  settlement  at  Bethlehem, 
they  burst  into  tears,  and  immediately  prepared  to  raise 
a  little  contribution  among  themselves  for  their  Ameri- 
can brethren.      '  I,'   exclaimed   one,  '  have   a  fine 
rein-deer  skin,  which  I  will  give.'     '  I,'  said  a  second, 
'  have  a  new  pair  of  rein-deer  boots,  which  I  will 
cheerfidly  contribute.'     'And  I,'  added  a  third, '  will 
send  them  a  seal,  that  they  may  have  something  both  to 
eat  and  to  burn.'     It  is  hardly  requisite  to   add,  that, 
however  small  might  be  the  intrinsic  value  of  such 
contributions,    tliey  were   duly   appreciated   by    the 
missionaries,  and  the  value  of  them  faithfully  trans- 
mitted, according  to  the  wish  of  the  simple-hearted 
and  benevolent  donors." 

As  the  congregation  at  New  Herrnhut  had  now 
become  very  numerous,  the  missionaries  felt  anxious  to 
establish  a  new  settlement,  more  contiguous  to  the 
Southlanders  ;  many  of  whom  had  repeatedly  solicited 
them  to  come  and  reside  in  their  part  of  the  country. 
This  wish  was  no  sooner  communicated  to  the  congre- 
gation in  Lusatia,  than  Matthew  Siach,  one  of  the 
first   founders  of  the  Greenland   mission,  who  had 
returned  to  Europe,  after  a  series  of  labors,  toils  and 
privations,  resolved  to  go  out  a  second  time  in  behalf 
of  the  heathen,  notwithstanding  the  perils   to  which 
such   a  step   might    expose  him.     Accordingly,   in 
the  month  of  May,   1758,  this   heroic  soldier  of  the 
cross,  accompanied  by  two  assistant   brethren,  sailed 
from  Europe,  and,  after  an  unusually  pleasant  voyage, 
they  arrived  in  safety  at  New  Herrnhut,  grateful  for  the 
success  with  which  past  labors  had  been  crowned,  and 
humbly  anticipating  a  more  extenuod  diffusion  of  that 
knowledge  which  is  eventually  destined  to  "  cover  the 
earth,  as  the  waters  cover  the  sea." 

After  resting  a  few  weeks  at  the  mission-house,  and 
concerting  measures  with  the  brethren  there,  Matthew 
Stach  and  his  colleagues,  together  with  four  Greenland 
families,  proceeded  in  search  of  a  situation  for  a  new 
settlement;  and,  after  carefully  exploring  that  part  of 
the  country  to  which  their  attention  was  principally 
directed,  they  fixed  upon  a  small  island  about  three 
miles  from  the  main  ocean,  and  at  an  equal  distance 
from  the  Danish  factory  at  Fisher's  Bay.  This  spot 
did  not  afford  such  a  prospect  of  the  sea  as  they  could 
have  desired  ;  but  it  possessed  three  advantages  which 
were  too  imporUnt  to  be  overlooked,  viz:  fresh  water, 
which  is  never  totally  frozen  ;  a  secure  harbor  for  their 


boats;  and  a  strand,  which  remains  open  the  whole 
year,  and  is  at  a  moderate  distance  from  the  sea. 
Here,  therefore,  they  pitched  their  tents,  and  called 
the  place  of  their  little  encampment  Lichtenfels. 

Owing  to  the  want  of  building  materials,  the  new 
settlers  exprienced  much  difficulty  in  erecting  their 
houses ;  and  at  the  same  time,  such  scarcity  prevailed 
in  their  district,  that  it  was  hardly  possible  for  them 
to  provide  a  subsistence.  This  calamity  was  not  of 
short  duration,  but  unfortunately  continued  two  or 
three  years,  during  which  period  many  of  the  sav- 
ages died  of  absolute  want ;  and  even  the  Greenland 
fannlies  at  Lichtenfels  were  at  last  reduced  to  the  ne- 
cessity  of  feeding  principally  upon  muscles  and  sea- 
weed,  which  they  gathered  upon  the  strand,  at  low 
water.  The  missionaries  themselves  having  hitherto 
been  precluded  from  erecting  a  storehouse  for  their 
provisions,  were  often  reduced  to  the  most  painful 
straits,  and  could  afford  but  Uttle  assistance  to  their 
necessitous  fellow  sufferers. 

In  addition  to  the  afflictions  resulting  from  the  want 
of  food,  the  brethren  and  their  companions  were  expos- 
ed to  many  and  severe  hardships  from  the  tempestu- 
ous state  of  the  sea,  and  the  terrific  storms  which  pre- 
vailed on  the  island.     In  the  month  of  March,  1759 
four  of  the  missionaries,  being  suddenly  overtaken  by 
a  heavy  fall  of  snow,  were  so  completely  entangled 
among  the  floating  masses  of  ice,  that  for  some  time 
it  was  impracticable  to  stir  in  any  direction ;  and  when, 
at  length,  by  the  most  violent  efforts  in  rowing,  they 
approached  the  shore,  the  waves  were  so  boisterous, 
that  the  mere  attempt  to  land  seemed  to  be  identified 
with  inevitable  destruction.     They  had,  in  fact,  given 
themselves  up  as  lost;  but  just  as  they  were  devoutly 
praying  that  one  of  their  number  might  escape,  to  re- 
late the  sad  destiny  of  his  colleagues,  an  opening  was 
providentially  made  in  the  ice  by  the  tide,  and  they 
were  enabled  to  land  in  safety. 

In    the  month  of  November  the  weather  was  so 
stormy,  that  on  one  occasion,  the  mission-house  wa» 
sh  iken  to  its  foundations,  as  if  by  an  earthquake  ;  not- 
withstanding it  was  very  low,  and  the  walls  were  three 
feet  nine  inches  in  thickness.     Many  of  the  Greenland 
houses  and  boats  were  also  destroyed  or  materially 
damaged  ;  and  in  some  places  immense  bodies  of  ice 
were  split  and  torn  open  by  the  storm,  though  the 
chasms  thus  made  were  almost  immediately  filled  up 
by  the  snow.     It  is  a  remarkable  fact,  that  both  pre- 
vious to  and  immediately  after  these  tempests,  balls 
of  fire  were  seen  in  the  air  at  different  places,  and  one 
of  them  had  nearly  proved  destructive  to  a  house,  by- 
falling  upon  the  roof. 

Amidst  all  these  trials,  however,  the  missionaries 
had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  «<  the  work  of  the  Lord 


f^A       •".  •'""^-      Notwithsunding  the  steeo 
cliffs  «,d  rugged  valleys  which  lay  between  them  Z 
the  natives  who  resided  near  the  Danish  f!^. 
of  the  latter  frequently  visitedl'Ll't  r;~Tf 

wiT-.:"r?°"'.  r^'^  --^-»"«  '-Son 

was  m,.e  on  :„e  m.nds  of  others,  who  came  to  the 
settlement  occasionally,  and  obtained,  byTeUes  ! 
general  acquaintance  with  the  leading  tr'uthsTtiie 

-.ofacco^mmodeiions^l-dhtlton^^^^^^^ 
much  inconvenience      Thon,;„-      l        "^""'emm 

^cro:d^  T'of  ''""^' '  ^^^  p'^^^^'''  -  ^^- 

10  crowd  the  congregation  into  the  large  Greenland 

tents,  the  sixth  part  of  them  could  scarcely  assemb  e 
n  an,  one  of  these,  and  they  were  frequen.fy  preeTu" 

could  be  comfor.;bly  acclmldaL"""    '""^^^ 

At  New  Herrnliut,  in  the  mean  time,  the  cause  of 

our  adorable  Emanuel  continued  to  flourish!  maTy^f 

tt  tretu/""?'"'^:  '■"'"*''«  -"th,cominued'to 

d  o  s  t  1  "f X"''  '"''"'  '"'P''^^'^'  -"h  "-won. 
arous  tale  of  the  cross,  took  up  their  abode  with  the 
believers  ;  and  between  tbii-iv  La  r   . 

that  even  those  who  were  the  original  founders  of  tl- 
mission  still  labored  "in  word  ani  doctri  "  "ith 
diminished  zeal  and  activity  ;  and  it  is  peculiariy  wol- 
thy  of  remark,  that  notwithstanding  the  toils  they  had 
endured,  the  privations  they  had  experienced,  and  the 
penis  to  w^uch  they  had  been  exposed,  no    one  of 

teL      In  r  "'"'r  rl'*"  «"/-««  o^alaring 
disease.     In  the  month  of  July,  1763,  however    the 

.ZrT-  ^       '"^  "•'*'  ''"''^  f^""'  his  labors,  and 

entered  into  eternal  rest,  in  the  fiftv.fnur.K       "LcT. 

Vol.  I — «08.  5  k  e.  "  /'^r^i  his 


GREENLAND. 


and  NewV i;!;!";  '"° ""'^™^"'^  of Lichtenfels 

In  1773,  Christopher  Michnpl  K^^^i 
in  Greenland  as  supLintendem  Jf  thr   •^''''  ""^"^ 
country;  .„d  i„  addition  tole  fahhfS'T".'  '"  ''^ 
the  various  duties  connected  will        discharge  of 
enabled   to  render  r!o  *"'  °®*=®'  ^e  was 

brethren  rytrc:mp^rk:r2e:ftl  "  ^''^ 
which  he  speedily  obtained      H«!  '''  ""^""8* 

advantages  of  a  iLral  ?/  \-  T^  '^'^^'"^'^  ""^ 
qualified^ocorrL  thetran,!?  "'ru'  ^"^  «'^«  -«" 
and  he  added  to  thdr    t.L  2"^'     r"  ^'^''^''^^-^^ ' 

Lmhtenfels.  and  within  a  few  days'  sail  from  C^ 
Far  we,,      ,„3      ^^^^  ^^^^  ^J  popuTous  L 

not  less  than  a  thousand  inhabitants  are  said  o  h^v^ 
resided  w.thm  the  cin^uit  of  .  few  n,;i«  ul^ 
tnorejore,  an  extensive  field  was  opened  formissionaty' 


MISSIONS  OP  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


exertions ;  and  the  faithful  and  unremitting  labors  of 
the   brethren  were  crowned  with  the  most  pleasing 
success.     Even  at  first,  considerable  numbers  of  the 
heathen  flocked  to  hear  them  preach,  so  that  they 
were  frequently  obliged  to  worship  in  the  open  air, 
previous  to  the  erection  of  a  church  ;  and  during  the 
winter  of  1775,  nearly  two  hundred  persons  took  up 
their  abode  with  them.     In  fact,  many  of  these  were 
baptized  at  the  expiration  of  a  few  months  ;  and,  in  a 
few  years,  the  believing  Greenlanders  at  Lichtenau  ex- 
ceeded in  number  those  at  either  of  the  other  settlements. 
In  1782,  Greenland,  was  again  visited  by  a  direful 
and  contagious  disorder,  which  appears  to  have  been 
unfortunately  introduced  by  a  vessel  belonging  to  the 
whale  fishery  ;  and  during  its  continuance,  its  ravages 
were  so  extensive,  that,  in  some  places,  there  were 
not   sufficient  persons  in  health  to  tend  the  sick,  or 
to    commit    the  bodies  of  their  deceased  friends  to 
the  grave.     At  New  Herrnhut,  the  number  of  deaths 
from  April  till  August,  amounted  to  one  hundred  and 
twenty-five  ;  and  though  the  disease  broke  out  later  at 
Lichtenfels  and  Lichtenau,  it  proved  equally  fatal  in 
those  settlements.     Whole  families  were  left  dfistitiite 
by  the  death  of  their  parents,  and  the  situation  of  in- 
fants at  the  breast  was  peculiarly  distressing.     Among 
the  heathen  Greenlanders  the  mortality  appears  to  have 
been  still  greater  ;  so  that  the  population  of  the  whole 
country   must   have  been   greatly   reduced    by    this 
melancholy  visitation. 

Some  new  regulations  which  had  been  made  by  the 
directors  of  the  Greenland  Trading  Company,  though 
designed  to  benefit  the  natives  in  a  temporal  point  of 
view,  proved  highly  injurious  to  their  spiritual  interests ; 
particularly  an  order  which  enjoined  that  fewer 
Greenlanders  should  reside  together  in  one  place. 
This  necessarily  led  to  a  partial  dispersion  of  the  con- 
verts, and  compelled  them  to  fix  their  abode  in  dif- 
ferent situations,  at  the  distance  of  ten  or  twelve  miles 
from  the  Moravian  settlements  ;  by  which  means  they 
were  deprived  of  the  regular  instructions  to  which  they 
had  been  accustomed.  Many  of  them,  indeed,  were 
so  deeply  convinced  of  the  danger  to  which  they 
were  exposed  by  such  a  separation  from  their  teachers, 
that  they  gradually  returned,  and  refused  to  leave  the 
settlements  in  future  ;  and  after  some  time,  it  was 
resolved,  in  regard  to  those  who  were  obliged  to 
go  to  a  distance,  that  one  of  the  native  assistants 
should  accompany  each  party,  and  remain  with  them 
during  their  absence,  regularly  keeping  up  among  them 
their  daily  morning  and  evening  devotions.  They  also 
received  occasional  visits  from  some  of  the  missionaries, 
though,  on  such  occasions,  these  devoted  servants  of 
God  were  frequently  exposed  to  the  most  imminent 
danger,  from  the  masses  of  floating  ice,  which  frequent- 


ly intercepted  their  progress,  damaged  their  boat,  and 
sometimes  threatened  to  cut  off  all  communication  with 
the  shore. 

In  their  secular  employments  they  were  likewise 
frequently  in  peril  of  their  lives  ;  as  will. appear  from 
the  following  well  authenticated  anecdote : — Two  of 
the  brethren  having  gone  to  an  adjacent  island,  for  the 
purpose  of  obtaining  drift-wood  for  fuel,  were  so  com- 
pletely surrounded  by  the  ice,  that  for  several  days 
their    return    appeared    to   be   absolutely   hopeless. 
Their  companions  at  New  Herrnhut,  alarmed  at  the 
unaccountable  length  of  their  absence,  repeatedly  sent 
out  some  of  the  converted  Greenlanders  to  ascertain 
what  had  become  of  them  ;  but  all  the  efforts  of  these 
men   to  penetrate  through   the  ice  with   their  boats 
proved  unavailing.     Providentially,  however,  the  two 
brethren  succeeded  in  catching  a  sufficient  quantity  of 
fish  to  satisfy  the  cravings  of  hunger,  and,  after  a  consid- 
erable time,  worked  their  way  to  the  shore,  but  at  such 
a  distance,  that  they  were  obliged  to  perform  a  fatigu- 
ing journey  over  lofty  mountains,  and  across  extensive 
plains,  before  they  reached  the  missionary  settlement. 
The  perils  to  which  the  missionary  Grillich    was 
exposed,  and  the  providential  deliverance  which  he 
experienced  on  a  voyage  to  Copenhagen,  in  the  year 
1798,  are  too  remarkable  to  be  passed  over  in  silence. 
In  the  month  of  October,  this  zealous  servant  of  Christ 
sailed  from  Greenland,  in  a  ship  belonging  to  Julianen- 
haab,  on  business  connected  with  the  missions  ;  but 
at  the  expiration  of  five  weeks,  the  vessel  was  obliged 
to  return  in  consequence  of  the  damage  which  she  had 
received  from   the  drift-ice.     Early  in   the  ensuing 
year,  he  again  set  sail  in  the  same  ship,  but  the  drift- 
ice  had  now  increased  in  quantity  ;'  and,  after  being 
completely  surrounded  by  it,  from  the  18th  to  the 
25th  of  February,  it  was  deemed  advisable  to  quit  the 
vessel,  with  all  the  property  on  board.     Accordingly, 
the  whole  of  the  crew,  under  their  captain's  directions, 
commenced  their  march  over  the  ice,  dragging  a  boat 
after  them.     Two  nights  they  passed  in  the  open  air, 
and  had  no  other  means  of  allaying  their  thirst  than  by 
drinking  melted  snow.     On  the  third  morning,  they 
launched  their  boat  into  open  water,  and  after  sailing 
about  five  leagues,  once  more  reached  the  coast  of 
Greenland.      Soon  after  they  had  landed,   a  terrific 
storm  arose,  accompanied  with  showers  of  snow  and 
sleet ;  and  it  unfortunately  happened,  that  they  had 
neither   food   nor  shelter   for  the   night.     They    Iblt 
thankful,  however,  that  the  tempest  had  not  overtaken 
them  previous  to  their  reaching   the  shore  ;  and    the 
following   day,  a  favorable  breeze   sprang  up,   which 
enabled   them    to  proceed  in  safety  to  the  colony  at 
Frederichaab.      Here   brother   Grillich    experienced 
a  long  delay ;    but,  by  the  good  providence  of  his 


I^ne  Mnster,  he  .t  length  arrived  safe  at  Copen- 

trie^tSeZrjH  "^"  '?''"^"°"''  ^H^^-once  more 
tned  the  fa.th  of  the  missionaries,  and  thinned  the  ranks 
of  their  disciples.  The  former,  however,  w^re  as 
•  usua,,  humbly  submissive  to  the  chasteni;g  of  'the 
Almighty,  and  unremittingly  attentive  to  the'sick  and 
the  dy.„g.  whilst  the  latter,  weaned  from  sublunary 
attachments,  and   immovably  fixed   on  the  Ro^k  of 

ifnn.fflTV"""''  '"  '°°''  '^-'h  -  ^h«  face  with 
unruffled  calmness,  and  to  contemplate  the  graved  a 
bed  chamber  which  had  once  been  honoreTby  The 
presence  of  the  King  of  glory,  and  perfumed  wth  the 
richest  odors  of  the  Rose  of  Sharon 

retuniTF.!!^'  "'I"""?  ""^"'P'^'  '"  «"emp,ing  to 
return  to  Europe,  after  devoting  twentv-six  veJ.  „f 
his  hfe  to  the  rauso  r^rn^A  •   /-.        ,  "v  six  years  of 

enliaab.     The  bay  being  nearly  blocked  up  by  drift-ice 
Uiey  were  detained  here  several  weeks  •  hnf    L 
Greenlanders  having  stated  that  the  sea  I'as  «  'en  aTI 
short  distance,  the  captain  weighed  anchor  onTagd 

motion,  through  immense  fields  of  ice  •  hnf  «„  ,u 
25th,  a  storm  arose  from  the  south-we  t,'  w  ^h  dro  I 
he  mountams  of  ice  close  upon  the  ship,  and  appelL 
to  menace  immediate  destruction.  The  scene  wa^ 
now  truly  tremendous,  and  it  appeared  as  if  "e  lei 
sel,  with  her  sails  closely  reefed,  and  driving  beforeThJ 
wind,  must  inevitably  be  dashed  to  atoms      At  on! 

escaped  with  their  boats  to  an  adiacpnt  fi^M    c  ■ 
when  nothing  more  appeared  abovfr  u     ce^of S 
water   than  the   larboard   gunwale      n„.      ■    ■ 

wreck     and    just  before  they  qui„ed  it,  they  were 
above^their  knees  m  water,  and  clinging  firml/to T 

The  mariners  were  now  anxious  to  make  toward 
he    hore   which  was  only  about  a  league  distant    bm 

be  a  rough,  pointed  rL,  anVd^tute^^^e^rttr 


GREENLAND. 


61 


except  one  small  spot,  at  a  considerable  height  which 

was  covered  with  shori  erass      H»r-  ,u    ^    ' 

to  land  the  provisions  S  had  been  Zl^lf 

Sdriven  tn^h  ''  '""'.  ''^^'^f'^'^  sailors  on  board! 
cru  bed  L  pile  s'  T^T'  ^T  ""''  '''''''^'  '"»'« 
^s  Mr.  rS;,,  4LTanli:3;l^lThJi: 

were  completely  soakerf  in  ^o.       •  .    '  """^  "'^ 

the  midst  of  a  pool"  "''  '^'"S'  ^  ''  ^^"«'  ■«» 

dolph  and  the  partner  of  his  affectioL  wouW  w iilin^^v' 

Time  now  passed  heavily  indepH  «•;»»,  „         •    • 
arv  anH    Jiia  ^«  •  '  '""^^"'^'tn  our  mission- 

of  d,„„ve„„g  Ceenlande,  h„«„ L  ' »  beij 

naturally  conceived    h!.  ?J^  ".    ^^"""S'  they 

and  we  soon  felt  entirely  resigned  to  A..  wS'  ' 

Th^'tVr         "^'    ""  ""'^'^  be  literally  fulfilled 
-'f'f^ftunaio  persons,  who  had  not  tasted  food- 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


since  they  left  the  wreck,  and  whose  existence  had 
hitherto  been  prolonged  by  their  occasionally  drinking 
a  little  of  the  fresh  water  collected  in  the  fissures  of 
the  rock,  were  now  apparently  sinking  into  the  arms 
of  death,  when  on  the  2d  of  September,  as  they  were 
lying  down  to  sleep,  the  wife  of  Rudolph  happened 
to  raise  herself,  and  discovered  some  Greenlanders, 
who  had  been  rowing  about  in  their  kajaks  the  whole' 
of  the  day  without  seeing  any  persons  on  the  rock, 
and  who  were  now  proposing  to  return.     From  them 
the  sufferers  obtamed  a  few  herrings,  but  were  obliged 
to  remain  on  the  rock  another  night,  as  the  Green- 
landei^  had  no  boat  for  their  accommodation.     The 
followmg  evening,  however,  they  were  safely  conveyed 
to  the  colony  of  Julianenhaaf,  where  they  learned  that 
the  whole  ship's  company,  with  the  exception  of  one 
man,  had  been  providentially  preserved ;  and  on  the 
11th  they  proceeded  to  the  settlement  at  Lichtenau, 
where  then-  miraculous  deliverance  afforded  inexpres- 
sible pleasure  to  their  fellow-laborers  and  to  the  whole 
congregation.     Here  they  passed  the  winter ;  and  in 
the  course  of  the  following  year  they  removed  to 
Lichtenfels,  whence  they  sailed,  in  one  of  the  Danish 
vessels,  to  Copenhagen. 

The  rupture  between  Grieat  Britain  and  Denmark, 
m   1807,  naturally  occasioned  an  interruption  of  the 
intercourse  between  Greenland  and  Europe  ;  and,  as 
the  medium  of  obtaining  supplies  in  the  former  country 
was  thus  shut  up,  the  Moravian  brethren  at  the  differ- 
ent settlements  were  much  distressed  for  want  of  the 
necessaries  of  life.     Gloomy  apprehensions  were,  of 
course,  excited  ;  and  these  were  considerably  aug- 
mented by  a  series  of  untoward  circumstances.     One 
of  the  two  ships  sent  out  by  the  British  government 
was  lost  in  the  ice  ;  and  tlie   provisions  purchased  in 
London,  in  1809,  could  not  be  sent,  as  the  fitting  out  of 
vessels  from  Great  Britain  to  Greenland  was  found  to 
be    attended   with   much  inconvenience.     A  Danish 
provision  ship  was,  also,  unfortunately  captured  by  the 
English  ;  so  that  only  one  small  vessel  arrived  in  Green- 
land during  the  year,  and  her  cargo  was,  of  course,  very 
inadequate  to  supply  the  various  factories  on  the  coast. 
At  New  Herrnhut  and  Lichtenfels  the  brethren  were 
now  obliged  to  use  such  economy  that  it  was  necessary, 
as  they  expressed  it,  to  measure  every  mouthful  they 
ate,  in  order  to  make  their  provisions  last  as  long  as 
possible ;  and  the  following  extract  of  a  letter,  written 
by  Mr.  Beck,  one  of  the  missionaries,  in  1813,  will 
afford  some  idea  of  the  distress  which  was  felt  in  the 
settlement  of  Lichtenau. 

"In  1807,  we  received  the  last  regular  supplies; 
which  were  sufficient,  in  addition  to  what  we  had  saved 
m  former  years,  to  maintain  us  for  a  considerable  time ; 
and,  as  we  hoped  that  the  interruption  occasioned  by 


the  war  would  not  last  long,  we  felt  no  anxiety ;  but 
when  both  the  colonists  and  our  brethren  at  New 
Herrnhut  and  Lichtenfels  began  to  suffer  privations, 
we  cheerfully  helped  them,  out  of  our  store,  to  various 
necessary  articles,  of  which  we  afterwards  felt  the 
want.  In  the  north,  there  was  still  some  trade,  by 
which  partial  relief  was  obtained ;  but  here  nothing 
could  be  derived  from  that  source.  We  thanked  God, 
however,  that  we  had  still  the  means  of  supporting 
life,  though  deprivedof  many  little  comforts,  as  coffee, 
sugar,  and  wine  ;  and,  afterwards,  of  butter  and  salt  ; 
at  last,  we  were  the  only  people  that  had  any  tobacco, 
the  favorite  article  of  barter  with  the  Greenlanders  ; 
and,  with  this,  we  were  enabled  to  purchase  birds,  fish, 
and  a  small  supply  of  vegetables,  together  with  furs, 
for  our  boats  and  clothing." 

In  this  situation,  both  the  Moravian  brethren  and 
the  colonists  remained  till  the  year  1811,  when,  not- 
withstanding the  war,  the  British  government  humanely 
permitted  the  Danes  to  send  vessels  with  provisions 
to  their  factories  in  Greenland;  and  the  congregations 
in  Europe  were  enabled,  by  the  same  means,  to  trans- 
mit supplies  to  their  faithful  missionaries,  who,  on 
receiving  them,  were  filled  with  emotions  of  joy  and 
gratitude. 

In  1812,  J.  C.  Kleinschmidt,  whose  wife  had  been 
removed  into  the  worid  of  spirits,  after  a  residence  of 
nearly  nineteen  years  in  Greenland,  resolved  to  convey 
his  young  family  to  Europe,  in  order  to  place  them  m 
one  of  the  schools  belonging  to  the  United' Brethren. 
He  accordingly  quitted  Lichtenfels  in  the  month  of 
July,  and,  after  a  tedious  and  perilous  voyage,  he 
arrived  at  New  Herrnhut,  where  he  embarked  with 
four  of  his  children,  and  the  widow  and  daughter  of 
another  missionary,  in  a  vessel  bound  for  Leith  in  Scot- 
land.    At  first,  the  wind  was  propitious,  and  they 
congratulated  themselves  on  the  probability  of  a  pleas- 
ant and  speedy  voyage;  but,  before  they  had  sailed  any 
considerable  distance,  a  tremendous  storm  arose  from 
the  north-west,  and  raged  for  three  days  with  unabated 
violence.    When  the  tempest  was  at  its  height,  on  the 
evening  of  the  29th,  the  passengers  were  alarmed  by  a 
dreadful  crash,  and  the  vessel  seemed  to  shake  to  its 
centre,  as  if  from  some  terrific  concussion.  The  fact  was, 
that  an  electric  flash  had  struck  the  ship,  and  thrown 
down  two  of  the  sailors,  one  of  whom  expired  imme- 
diately.   The  mariners  were,  of  course,  thrown  into  the 
utmost  consternation,  and  the  captain,  pale  and  agitated, 
rushed  upon  tho  deck,  exclaiming,  '<  We  are  all  lost, 
and  there  is  not  a  ship  at  hand  to  save  us !"   It  seems 
he  had  anticipated  that  the  vessel  had  taken  fire ; 
but   this  fear  was  happily  unfounded ;    and  whilst 
Kleinschmidt  and  his  widowed  sister  were  solemnly 
commending  themselves  and  the  dear  children  to  the 


Lord  Jesus,  in  whose  presence  they  expected  shortly 
to  appear,  the  v.dence  of  the  storm  gradually  suli 
sided.  A  series  of  severe  gales  and  contrary  winds 
subsequently  prolonged  the  voyage,  and  rendered  it 
necessary  to  put  them  on  short  allowance  of  water  •  a 
circumstance  which  was  peculiarly  distressing  to  the 
children.  A  few  days  afterwards,  however,  the^ 
amved  safely  m  Leith  roads;  and,  though  a  gainful 
bereavement  here  awaited  our  excellent  missionary, 
yet,  whilst  he  wept  over  the  loss  of  a  beloved  child 
he  acknowledged  with  unfeigned  gratitude  the  sooth- 
ng  and  affectionate  attentions  which  he  received  from 

^m:lT  ~'  *"'' ''-' ""'  ^"  ''^  '''y 

Durbg  the  absence  of  this  excellent  man,  a  most 
painful  catastrophe  occurred  in  the  congregatioL  which 
he  had  long  served  with  equal  devotednefs  and  IS 
tion.     A  party  of  seventeen  baptized    Greenlanders 
having  celebrated  Christmas  at  the  settlement,  wer" 
returning  to  one  of  the  villages,  or  out-places,  as  they 
are  called,  m  which  they  resided,  by  ali  order  of  the 
government,  for  promoting  the  interests  of  trade.  When 
hey  set  out  in  their  skin  boat,  it  was  so  intensely  cold 
that  Reaumur  s   thermometer   stood  twelve  degrees 
below  the  freezing  point.     On  approaching  the  mLse 
of  floating  ice  their  fragile  bark  was  soon  crushed  in 
pieces  ;  but  they  escaped  upon  a  large  ice  field   and 
wandered  about  for  several  houi-s.     During  the  night 
however,  a  tremendous  storm  arose  from^he  noftl ' 
which  IS  supposed  to  have  driven  them  into  the  sea' 
as  they  were  never  heard  of  afterwards. 

Having  placed  his  children  in  the  care  of  the 
brethren  at  Fulneck,  in  Yorkshire,  and  having  again 
entered  into  the  state  of  matrimony,  Mr.  Kleinschmid" 
and  his  wife,  with  several  other  brethren  and  sisters 

Greenland;  and,  after  a  safe  and  tolerably  pleasant 

DiskTn'  'T"'^'  '^"y  ""^^'^  ^^  Godha'ven," 
renin  ,'^i  A  ^"P*""  ''"'•"S  most  ungenerously 
refused  to  land  them  near  either  of  the  missionary 

settlements.thoughneither  the  wind  northeice  preclud- 
ed him  from  setting  them  ashore  atLitchtenfelsorlVew 
Hermhut.    His  conduct,  on  this  occasion,  appears  to 
have  been  the  result  of   wanton  and  premeditated 
barbamy;  for  though  the  sailors  repeatedly  remon- 
strated with   him  on  the  cruelty  of  carrying   these 
passengers  so  far  out  of  their  way,  he  continued  sailing 
on,  and  merely  replied,  "  Never  mind,  they  have  the 
summer  before  them."  In  consequence  of  this  unfeeling 
treatment  two  of  the  brethren  had  to  sail  back  in  a 
bo.t  SIX  hundred   miles  to  New  Hermhut ;  another 
amdy  were  compelled  to  proceed  ninety  miles  further, 
to  L«htenfels  ;  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kleinschmidt,  afte^ 
reaching  the  first  of  these  settlements,  had  stUI  to 


GREENLAl^. 


53 

perfom  .  voyage  of  five  hundred  mUes  before  they 
amved  at  Lichtenau.  At  length,  however,  by  thJ 
persevermg  care  of  their  Heavenly  Father,  they  all 
amved  m  safety  at  theL-  respective  pl«5es  of  destination, 
and  forgot,  ^idst  the  congratulations  of  their  beloved 
brethren  and  sisters,  the  perils  to  which  they  had 
been  so  recently  exposed.  ' 

.1 '"  ^®*^;  ?^  ""^'"""'es  at  New  Hermhut  had  the 
pleasure  of  baptizing  an  adult  convert  from  heathen- 
ism ;  and.  as  such  an  occurrence  had  not  taken  place 
•n  that  setUement  for  several  years,  a  deeper  imLs- 
sion  than  ordinary  was  made  on  the  minds  of  all  the 
spectators.  At  this  time,  indeed,  there  were  but  few 
pagan  Greenlanders  in  the  vicinity  of  this  district 
most  of  the  inhabitants  having  been  baptized  either 
by  the  Moravian  or  the  Danish  missionaries,  and 
instructed  in  the  leading  tmths  of  Christianity. 

The  winter  of  1817  appears  to  have  been  unusu- 
ally  severe,  and  the  frequency  of  the  storms  from  the 
north-east  increased  the  cold  to  such  a  degree,  that 
even  the  warmest  clothing  proved  insufficient  to  keep 

f  .  fT'-     ^^^  P*^'  Greenlanders  were  now 
precluded  from  cjtaining  any  subsistence  by  fishine  • 
and,  as  their  winter  stock  of  provisions  was  soon 
exhausted,  they  suflfered  severely  from  hunger  at  the 
approach  of  spring.     This  was  a  source  of  unspeak- 
able grief  to  the  missionaries,  whose  hearts  yearned 
over  the  hosts  of  half-famished  children  crying  for 
food  at  their  doors,  whilst  pmdence  reminded  them  of 
their  own  limited  means,  and  of  the  legitimate  claims 
of  fifty-seven  boys  and  sixty  giris,  then  in  their  own 
schools      Providential  aid,  however,  was  much  nearer 
than  had  been  anticipated  ;  for  when  the  natives  were 
m   immment   danger  of  perishing   with   famine,   the 
weather  suddenly  changed,  an  opening  was  made  in 
the  ice,  and  an  ample  supply  of  seals  and  herrings 
dispersed  the  general  gloom,  and  excited  the  most  lively 
gratitude  to  that  adorable  Being  who  "openethhis 
hand  and  satisfieth  the  desire  of  every  living  thing." 
In  a  letter  written  at  Lichtenau  on  the  3d  of  July, 
1818,  the  excellent  missionary  Beck  observes,  "  Most 
of  our  Greenlanders  have  learned  that  most  important 
lesson,  that  there  is  no  good  in  ourselves;  but  that  we 
must  keep  close  to  Jesus,  as  poor  creatures,  standing 
in  constant  need  of  Am  help  and  mercy.     They  make 
these  declarations  with  full  conviction  of  heart,  and  we 
see  manifest  proofs  that  the  Holy  Spirit  is  daily  guid.ne 
them  into  all  tmth.     Of  the  greatest  part  of  our  con- 
gregation   we  may  say   with   confidence,  that   their 
words  and  walk  give  us  great  joy  and  encouragement. 
Many  of  the  excluded  persons  have  been  led,  with 
weeping  and  supplication,  to  confess  the  error  of  their 
ways,  and  to  retum  to  the  fold.     And   those   who 
reraamed  faithful  have  been  preserved  in  the  conviction 


h4 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


that  real  happiness  and  rest  are  only  to  be  found  in 
Jesus. 

"  Compared  with  other  missions,  our  increase  has 
been  but  small.  One  girl,  however,  has  been  baptized ; 
and  five  families  have  come  to  us  from  the  heathen, 
all  of  whom  assert  that  it  is  their  earnest  desire  to 
be  converted  to  Christ.  This  they  continually  repeat, 
and,  in  process  of  time,  we  shall  know  whether  the 
declaration  proceeds  from  their  hearts  ;  for,  during 
the  summer  they  leave  us  with  the  rest,  to  go  in 
search  of  food,  and  to  procure  a  stock  for  winter  con- 
sumption. 

"  There  are  many  heathen  in  the  south,  in  the 
vicinity  of  Staatenliook,  but  their  hearts  are  as  cold  as 
the  ice  by  which  they  are  surrounded.  In  June,  we 
had  a  considerable  company  here,  who  accompanied 
our  people  during  the  herring  fishery  ;  but  not  one 
of  them  evinced  the  least  inclination  to  listen  to  the 
truths  of  the  gospel.  They  all  returned  home,  the 
ways  of  the  heathen  being  more  congenial  with  their 
dispositions  than  those  of  the  people  of  God.  We 
hope,  however,  that  a  time  will  yet  come,  when  they 
shall  not  only  hear  but  believe." 

In  the  same  year  (1818)  five  families  of  the  believ- 
ing Greenlanders,  who  had  hitherto  lived  in  the  out- 
places, took  up  their  abode  at  Lichlenfels,  regardless 
of  the  displeasure  of  the  traders  ;  ami  as  the  congrega- 
tion knew  how  essentially  both  they  and  their  children 
would  be  benefited  by  residing  under  the  eye  of  the 
missionaries,   they  received  them  with  the  greatest 
pleasure   and    afl^ction.     It  seemed,  indeed,  on  this 
occasion,  as  if  there  were  a  peculiar  revival  of  life 
and  love  among  the  people,  and  whenever  the  church 
Was  opened  for  divine  worship,  it  was  filled  with  serious 
and  attentive  hearers.    During  the  Christmas  holydays 
both  old  and  younn;  afforded  the  most  pleasing  demon- 
strations that  the  Holy  Spirit  was  progressively  leading 
them  into  all  truth  ;  and  one  day,  in  particular,  a  party 
of  them  came,  of  their  own  accord,  to  the  front  of  the 
mission-house,  and  began  to  sing  hymns  of  praise  and 
thanksgiving,  accompanied  by  musical  instruments,  with 
such  solemnity  and  devotion,  that  none  of  the  brethren 
within  doors  could  refrain   from  tears.     The  singers 
themselves  were  evidently  affected  by  the  great  truths 
which  I- ing  upon  their  lips,  and  one  of  tliem  was  heard 
to  say  afterwards,  "  I  have  often  attended  and  assisted 
at  such  solemnities ;  but  1  never  felt  what  I  experi- 
enced on  this  occasion.    Surely  our  Saviour  was  present 
with  us  to-day.     We  have  made  a  new  and   entire 
Burrendor  of  our  hearts  to  him,  and  he  has  graciously 
ncceptpd  them.     Oh  !  that  we  may  evince  our  thank- 
fulness, by  keeping  the  promises  which  we  have  made, 
and  by  living  more  to  his  honor!"     During  this  year, 
6v8  persons  were  receivec?  into  the  congregation  at  | 


Lichtenfels,  and  eleven  were  admitted  to  a  partici- 
pation of  the  holy  communion. 

In  a  letter,  dated  Lichtenau,  June  25,  1819,  Jio 
missionary  Kleinschmidt  says, "  During  the  last  winter 
a  great  quantity  of  snow  fell,  but  our  Greenlanders 
were  very  constant  in  their  attendance  at  church. 
The  Lord  our  Saviour  has  shown  great  mercy  towards 
us  and  our  people.     His  love  and  power  have  been 
manifested    among    us,   and    the    congregation   has 
increased  both  in  numbers  and  in  the  grace  of  Jesus 
Christ.     More  adults  have  been  baptized   than  for 
many  years  past ;  and  in  all  our  meetings  the  Lord 
has  been  present  to  bless  us.     It  was  to  us  an  easy 
and  delightful  duty  to  speak  to  our  people  of  the  suf- 
ferings and  death  of  our  Saviour ;  for  their  hearts  were 
prepared  to  receive  the  doctrines  of  the  cross,  and  the 
divine  power  of  the  word  was  displayed  in  their  walk 
and  conversation.     Often  have  we  shed  tears  of  joy 
and  thankfulness  for  this  singular  proof  of  the  mercy 
of  God,  towards  us ;  and  when  we  have  joined  our 
dear  people  in  their  songs  of  praise  '  unto  Him  that 
was  slain,  and  hath  redeemed  us  unto  God   by  his 
blood,'  we  have  felt  an  emotion  of  rapture  which  words 
are  inadequate  to  describe." 

The  following  interesting  particulars  are  extracted 
from  a  letter  of  Mr.  Beck,  written  at  Lichtenau  in  'he 
same  year  and  month  as  the  preceding  communicati  in. 
"The  Southlanders,   or  those  Greenlanders  who 
live  beyond   Cape  Farewell,  though  not  quite  wild, 
are  ignorant  of  the  things  of  God,  and  in  reality  a 
heathen  race.     Many  of  them  come  hither  every  year 
to  catch  a  small  species  of  herrings  in  our  bay  ;  and, 
as  our  people  are  at  the  same   place,  the  way  of  sal- 
vation is  sometimes  explained  to  them.  Some  of  them, 
indeed,  appear  to  have  been   led  to  reflection  ;  but 
they  cnnnot  resolve  for  the  sake  of  the  gospel,  to  quit 
their  own  country,  and  take  up  their  abode  with  us.    A 
few  parties  of  them   have  been  here  on  a  visit  ;  but, 
though  we  spoke  seriously  to  them  of  the  necessity  of 
convnrsion,  not  one  of  them  could  he  persuaded  to  re- 
main with  us.  Tlio  time  of  their  visitation  does  not  seem 
yet  to  Imve    arrived  ;  but  if  the    Lord    would  open 
their  hearts,    as  he    did    that  of   their  rour>trynian, 
Kaynrnak,  ihcir  present  objections  would  soon  vanish, 
"Thcio  is  another  description  of  heathen  who  live 
on  this  .side  of  Cape  Farewell,  and  frequently  join  our 
people  at  what  are  called  the  out-pluccs.     These  have 
acquired  some  knowle<lgc  of  the  truth,  and  not  only 
oicasionnlly  attend  the  worship  of  the  believing  Green* 
landers,  but  consider  themselves  as  good  as  those  who 
have  been  admitted  iriio  the  church  by  baptism,  because 
they  have  al)an(loned  their  gross  heathenish  pracu'cet. 
"As  to  our  own  congregation,  the   Ix)rd   has  been 
very  gracious  throughout  the  past  year,  and  has  pre- 


iil' 


JIfii 
I" 

kri* 


served  among  them  a  true  hungering  and  thirsting  after 
the  word  of  hfe,  that  they  might  find  pasture  for  their 
souls  Our  daily  meetings  have  been  numerously 
attended,  and  the  eagerness  of  the  people  for  divine 
ordina^.ces  has  been  so  great,  that,  when  they  have 
arrived  just  at  the  commencement  of  the  evenine 
service,  after  having  spent  the  whole  of  the  day  at 
sea,  they  have  come  to  the  church  wet,  cold  and 
hungry  as  they  were,  without  even  stopping  to  take 
the  slightest  refreshment. 

"  Though  the  last  winter  was  not  so  severe  as  the 
precedmg  one,  yet  the  sea  froze  twice  to  a  consider- 
able distance  from  the  siiore ;  so  that  the  Greenland- 
ers  were  prevented  from  going  out  to  catch  seals.  As 
early  as  November,  the  cold  reached  the  tenth  degree 
below  the  freezing  point;  and,  there  being  no  snow, 
the  springs  and  brooks  were  all  frozen,  which  occa^ 
sioned  a  great  scarcity  of  freah  water.  Our  people 
however,  had  .  tolerable  supply  of  the  necessaries 
oi  lile.  and  none  had  cause  to  complain." 

Shortly  after  this  letter  was  despatched  to  Europe 
two  heathen  families  came  to  Lichtenau,  and  afforded 
ample  cause  of  rejoicing  to  the   missionaries  at  that 
settlement      They  had  resided  for  a  considerable  time 
in  the  neighborliood.  and  had  frequently  been  visited 
and  exhorted  by  the  brethren,  but  never  appeared 
.      ned  to  attend  to  the  things  connected  with'  their 
eternal  interests.     One  of  the  men.  who,  for  a  Ion. 
series  of  years,  had   been   visited  by   the  missionary 
Beck,   now  addressed  him  to  the   following  effect 
How  ,s  It  that,  notwithstanding  you   have  so  He- 
quently  spoken  to  me  about  Jesus  Christ,  your  words 
never  made  an   impression  on  my  heart,  but  now  I 
begin  to  leflect  upon  them  as  I  never  did  before  ? 
What  a  stupid  creature  have  I  been,  in  approving 
the  way,  ^f  „„  ,       ,,^„_  an.l  persisting  in  the  practice 
of  their  customs  !  Now,  however,  I   have  for  the  first 
^me  discovered  where  true  happiness  is  to  be  found  !" 
Th,,s  ,^,  was  fully  corroborated  by  the  old  man's 

l.ft  n„  I  deportment,  «„,|,  after  a  suitable  time,  ho  was 
pu  he.  y  baptized,  together  with  bin  wife,  hist  vo  sons 
and  h.s  daughtor.  and   they   all   asserted,  with  gS 
energy   that  they  l,„,l   now   no   other   desire  in  ,l"o 
world  ^^^^^^^^^^ 

Anothor  ,,ea„„n  Greonlan.ier.  who  had  frequently 
t  kcl  alKuu  ,;onvers,o„.  h„t  apparently  without  any 
de  sense  of  its  vast  importan..,.  was  soi.ed  with  I 
d.  "r.lor  w  noh  he  oonrc-ived  ,W,,Ui  probably  prole 
fu.ai.  Ho  thoretiire  desired,  notwithstanding  hi  weak- 
ness, ,h„,  he  might  be  carried   to  l.ich.enau;  „nd   on 


GREENLAND. 


iR  visited  by  the  brethren,  | 


liis  soul  lik 


;«  one  who  had  benn  I 


lie  spoke  of  the  state  of 


tunately  with  the  Lord  for  the  pardon  of  his  sins,  he 
expressed  such  an  ardent  desire  to  be  admitted  nto 
he  pale  of  the  Christian  church,  that  it  was  deemed 
•mproper  to  refuse  his  request,  and  the  rite  of  baptisrn 
was  administered  to  him  on  his  sick  bed,  whilst  a  sen 
sation  of  unusual  solemnity  seemed  to  pervade  the 
nunds  of  all  who  were  assembled  both'witJin  ^d 

eTcraLed  '"  M  ''  'T  '"''  '^'"'^''^'^  transaction,t 
the  mT  T  '  •"  ^'  "">«' satisfactory  reliance  on 
the  mercy  and  merits  of  the  Redeemer  i  and,  in  the 
course  of  the  year,  his  widow  and  two  children  were 
united  to  the  congregation  by  baptism.  Several  others 
expressed  a  warm  desire  to  become  partakers  o  the 
I  blessings  enjoyed  by  the  people  of  God,  and  wi.Wn 
he  space  of  twelve  months,  seventeen  Adults,  gTt 
::X1;.^  '''''  oldandunder,andfifteen  LLI 

thi  J  timl"''"''""'""  1  "  ^''^"'^"^  hymn-book,  about 

theirf    ^''"!'«''«)""S  natives  eagerly  adopted  it  in 
their    family   devotions,    and   such    as'  were    unable 
o  read    got  others  to   repeat   the   hymns    to  .hern! 
and    bus  committed  them  to  memory.     "One  even 

Imu'      'Z    ^'-  ^"''   "'  ^"^^^^'^  ^  GreenLder's 
o  se,and   saw  one  of  our  native  assistants  sitting 

in    f  r""","'""'  "  ''^ '""'-  ""'^  ^  ""'"'-  of  boyf 

ittmg  before  him,  each   with   his  book,  employed  in 

earning  the   verses,  and   singing   delightfully,   whilst 

i.e  other  inmates  were  quietly  listening  to  them.     In 

another  house,  some  of  our  sisters  were   teaching  the 

g  .Is  to  s„.g  the  new  tunes,  and  we  have  had  a  general 

meeting  for  singing  every  week." 

In  a  letter  from  Liehtenfels,  dated  June  15,  1820 
Uie  missionary  J  G  Gorcke,  after  some  remarks  on  the 
manuscript  translation  of  the  Now  Testament,  adverts 
to  tins    subject   m  the    following   terms :    "  We    see 
already    what   ^roat  benefit  «c,-ru3s   to  us  from    the 
pnntmg  and  distribution  of  such  works,  by  the  blessing 
jvlnch  a...o,„pan,ed  the  new  hymn-book,  printed  m 
Oormany   aiHl  sent  tons  Inst  year.     This  has  been 
enlarged    by  the  introdiution  of  many  new   hymns 
some  of  winch   have  tunes  hitherto  unknown   to  !"•' 
and  the  use  of  ,t  has  infuse.l  new  life  i.-.o  that  beautiful 
part  of  our  worship.     Our  (Jrconlamlers  .spc„,l  many 
an  evening,  even  till  mi.lnigh.,in  rca.lii.g,  I.  .rnin^,  and 
s".gnig  the  new  hynms  „n,l  versos;  and  they  hav'-  fZ 
'iuently    expressed  their  ideas   respecting  the  use   of 
'<'"'  "'  a  very  striking  and  affecting  manner.      A.none 

.1.0  school  chihlrcn.  also,  the  liveliest  joy  has  S 
excite,  by  this  valuable  present.  Some,  who  saw  how 
>">.el.  those  who  could  rca.l  delighted  in  it,  whilst  they 
thonisn  vna  wnr,.  ......i.i..   ...  .  .     .  J 


.1." ,.!..,  or  ..,„„„„,  .„.,  „„i,  1-  :::si:^  1 2:2 


ore  unable  to  use  it,    applied 


In    t)i< 


iiig  Willi  the  utmost 
and  understand  so  interesting  a  book.     Nay, 


that   they  might 


MISSIONS  OP  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


many  of  our  youth,  of  both  sexes,  who  had  been  in  a 
state  of  indifference,  or  guilty  of  deviations,  have  been 
awakened  by  its  contents,  and  constraiued  to  seeic  for 
mercy,  and  have  subsequently  evinced  the  greatest 
consistency  of  conduct." 

In    the   course   of  the   preceding    summer,   two 
heathen  families  arrived  at  Lichtei.fels  on  their  way  to, 
and  theii  return  from,  the  north.     As  they  staid  sev- 
eral days,  and  attended  the  worship  of  the  congrega- 
tion, the  brethren  entered  into  conversation  with  them, 
and   found  them  ingenuous  and   unreserved.     They 
acknowledged  the  necessity  of  conversion  in  order  to 
the  obtaining  of  everlasting  happiness  ;  but  they  ob- 
served that  they  could  not  possibly  exchange  their 
fine  southern  land  for  the  dreary  spot  inhabited  by  the 
missionaries.     They  seemed  extremely  anxious,  how- 
ever, that  some  teachers  might  be  sent  to  them  ;  in 
which  case,  they  expressed  a  confldencc  that  many  of 
their  countrymen  would  embrace  the  truths  of  the  gos- 
pel.    A  widow  belonging  to  this  party  at  last  made  up 
her  mind  to  remain  with  the  brethren  ;  and,  as  she 
was  soon  and  evidently  favored  with  clear  views  of 
her  own  state  as  a  sinner,  and  with  a  thorough  con- 
viction of  the  precious  truth  that  "  C'-.rist  Jesus  came 
into  the  world  to  seek  and  to  save  those  that  were 
lost,"  she  was  solemnly  admitted  into  the  church,  by 
the  name  of  Magdalen.     As  no  adult  heathen  had 
been  previously  baptized  at  Lichtenfels  for  a  period  of 
seventeen  years,  the  solemn  transaction  was  attended 
by  such  a  "melting  sense  of  the  presence  and  grace  of 
the  adorable  Redeemer,  that  every  heart  was  over- 
whelmed with  indescribable  emotions,  and  every  eye 
was  suffused  with  tears. 

On  the  29th  of  June, the  venerable  missionary  Beck, 
then  in  the  eightieth  year  of  his  age,  celebrated  the 
jubilee  of  his  missionary  labors  ;  having,  on  that  day, 
completed  the  fiftieth  year  of  his  service  in  Greenland. 
He  was  born  in  this  inhospitable  country,  where  his 
parents  had  been  long  employed  in  the  work  of  the 
mission  ;  and,  after  receiving  his  educotion  in  Europe, 
ho  returned  to  his  native  land,  as  a  preacher  of  the 
gospel,  on  the  29th  of  June,  1770,  being  then  nearly 
thirty  years  of  age  ;  and,  from  that  time,  his  labors 
were  uniformly  characterized  by  zeal  and  fidelity,  an<l 
frequently  attended  with  a  peculiar  blessing.  Fn 
alluding  to  this  subject,  about  a  foi  might  before  the 
completion  of  the  term  to  which  we  have  directed  the 
reader's  attention,  he  thus  writes  : — "  It  is  now  fifty 
years  since  I  received  and  accepted  my  call  to  serve 
this  mission,  in  which  my  dear  fathor  was  employed 
during  forty-throo  years.  The  Greenlanders  have  no 
correct  idea  of  such  a  number  of  years,  and  would 
not  understand  the  design  of  a  ^uA/iccehibraiion,  which 
has  been  proposed.     Nay,  rather  would  I  celebrate  it 


m  stdlness  and  private  meditation,  in  humility  and  a 
conscious  sense  of  my  unworthiness,  and  in  praising 
my  merciful  Lord  and  Master,  who  has  shown  such 
favor  to  an  unprofitable  servant.  I  see  many  here,  to 
whom  I  had  the  privilege  of  speaking  '  a  word  in  sea- 
son,'  when  they  were  wild  heathen,  and  I  rejoice  that 
they  are  now  feithful  followers  of  Christ,  and  adorn 
the  religion  which  they  profess." 

During  the  last  week  in  July,  whilst  two  of  the 
missionaries  were  busily  engaged  in  superintending 
the  repairs  of  the  church  at  Lichtenau,  the  Greenland 
assistants  were  deputed  to  visit  those  members  of  the 
congregation  whose  residences  were  scattered  on  the 
coast,  and  to  invite  them  to  attend  an  approaching 
celebration  of  the  Lord's  supper.  This  measure  was 
crowned  with  the  desired  success,  and  numbers  came 
to  the  settlement  from  the  out-places,  earnestly  desirous 
of  enjoying  such  a  season  of  spiritual  solace  and  refresh- 
ment. It  was  particularly  pleasing  to  hear  that  the 
conduct  of  these  persons,  whilst  at  a  distance  from 
their  teachers,  and  deprived,  in  a  considerable  measuro, 
of  the  means  of  grace,  had  been  consistent  with  their 
holy  profession  ;  and  some  of  the  assistants  appeared 
truly  charmed  with  the  idea  that,  in  a  short  time, 
some  of  their  heathen  countrymen  would  fulfil  their 
promise  of  coming  to  Lichtenau,  for  the  purpose  of 
hearing  the  gospel. 

On  the  4th  of  August,  a  boat  arrived  at  the  settle- 
ment, with  a  party  of  heathen  Greenlanders,  consist- 
ing of  four  widows  with  their  families ;  and  on  the 
following  day  an  aged  native,  called  Neppinek,  arrived 
with  his  family  from  the  south.  As  all  these  persons 
had  for  some  time  expressed  a  wish  of  taking  up  their 
abode  near  the  missionaries,  with  a  view  to  their  spir- 
itual instruction,  they  were  received  with  the  greatest 
kindness,  and  the  most  earnest  prayers  were  offered 
on  their  behalf,  that,  through  the  instrumentality  of 
the  brethren,  they  might  be  led  to  an  experiment- 
al knowledge  of  the  salvation  which  is  in  Christ 
Jesus. 

About  ten  days  after  the  arrival  of  these  Green- 
landers, one  of  the  assistant  brethren,  named  Moritz, 
brought  the  body  of  liis  only  son,  a  youth  of  thirteen 
years  of  ago,  to  Lichtenau,  for  interment.  It  seems 
he  had  gone,  with  some  of  his  companions,  to  bathe 
in  a  pond,  and,  venturing  into  too  deep  water,  was 
unfortunately  drowned  lieibre  any  one  could  hasten  to 
his  assistance.  As  ho  was  a  boy  of  an  amiable  dispo- 
sition, docile,  attentive  ond  obedient,  his  parents  were 
overwhelmed  with  grief  in  consequence  of  his  untimely 
end.  They  would,  indeed,  have  been  utterly  inconsola- 
ble had  not  the  poignancy  of  their  sorrow  been  allevi- 
ated by  the  cheering  hopo  that  his  disembodied  spirit 
was  removed  to  a  state  of  cnulcss  felicity. 


Early  m  the  month  of  September,  a  heathen  Green- 
ander  came  with  h.s  family  to  spend  the  winter  h, 
the  settlement  at  Lichtenau,  assuring  the  missionaries 
that  It  was  h.s  earnest  desire  to  turn  to  the  Lord.  Bu 
a  short  time  had  elapsed  since  he  was  exposed  to  the 
most  mimment  dangerof  his  life,  and  this  circumstance 
might  probably  have  strengthened  his  pious  ^Zl 
and  resolutions.     Having  harpooned  a  large  seal,   he 
wounded  animal  turned  upon  him  with  the  most  savage 
fury,  and  not  only  rent  a  hole  in  his  kajak,  but  even 
a  tacked  h.s  person,  tearing  his  clothes,  and  wound  ng 
hnn  severely.    Providentially,  a  baptized  native  hasten^ 
ed  to  his  assistance  at  the  very  juncture  when  he  was 
beginningto  sink  ;  and,  though  the  dying  seal  attacked 
Uie  new  comer  with  sufficient  force  to  tear  a  hole  in 

both  tTe  Gro'  TT  r  "°"  "^"'^^  -'--'«^.  -d 
On  the  .H?"  ^:^^^y  ''^''P''^  ^^"''  'heir  lives. 
On  he  15th  aGreenlander,whohad  formerly  been 
a  ca„d.date  for  baptism,  arrived  from  the  south,  and 
told  the  brethren  that  he  came  for  the  purpose  of 
unburdening  his  mind  upon  various  subjects^  Among 
other  things  he  said,  «  O!  that  our  Saviour  would  bu! 
draw  me  away  from  all  other  objects  to  himself!  I 

ZUZT     '^-''^  ''•^^"'-S-^'  deceiver.  n,d 
both  I  and  my  fanuiy  have  long  since  abandoned  the 
practice  of  heathenish  customs.     The  heathen  who 
hve  farther  southward,  have  often   invited  me  to  ^sk 
the  n  ;  but  I  have  invariably  refused,  because  theyl 
continued  to  do  the  works  of  the  devil.  Wofrenuen,  y 
converse  on  these  subjects,  and  express  a  wish  It  tie 
teachers  at  Lichtenau  would  come  and  live  with 
and  instruct  us;  for  though  we  men  can   go  in  o"; 
kajaks    to    visit    the  teachers,   our   wives  Ld    chil 
dren,  who  would   rejoice   in   an    opportunity    of  re- 

coum'iy.'"'"'"""'  ""   """'"'"S  ^^  ^'"'^  »'--  «wn 

ogaher  the  whole  company  of  ,|,e  Greenlandcrs  who 
des.gne.l  ,„  reside  wi.l.  thom  during  the  winter,  th  y 
had  .0  sa,,nu.,.on  to  discover  that  there  were  I'learly 
fifty  heathen  more  tlmn  in  ,|„.  preceding  winter,  who 

ad  conie  among  then,  for  ,he  first  ,in,e  ;  and  when 
they   eonnnenee.l   their   regular  services,   they   were 

Tli T    ";I  ";■"  ""■>' '''''  ""'"^^ou^ly  and  eagerly 
attended  by  all  classes.  °    ^ 

With  a  view  to  promote  the  spiritual  welfare  of  the 

now  comers,  a  weekly  meeting  was  held  expressly  for 

le.    instruction;  when   the   brethren,  by  .Ulreing 

o  lead  them  ,„  n  knowledge  of , he  Lord  Jesus  Chris, 
On  one  o    these  occasions,  n  female  native  observed' 
It  IS   uideed   a  crcu.ns.anee  which  should  excite  us 
^gratitude  and  ahnsemen,.  ,ha,  we,  who  are  so  lir.l 


GREENLAND. 


6T 


':.,       ,    "•"•-■"^^m,  mat  we,  wlio  are  so  lirtle    I  l>„...,..,„,  i...  ..:.  ...     „  .  . i-- .-^-i  me  imtu, 

«"nny  oi  aiteiu.on,  have  a  separate  meetinir  for  mli    ii  »V  n  "'./  i"  •"'"  V'7  "'""''  '"  **"'*''"  ^^°"  »«"»'  ; 
Vol.  I._Nos.  5  &t  G.  "^        [f'  "  *""*  h*"''  ^"""8  tl>o  last  winter  and  this  autumn,  many 


gious  instruction.    O  that  we  may  make  a  right  use  of 
such  an  important  privilege !"  ^ 

In  a  letter,  dated  Lichtenfels,  June  2.  1821  th« 
m^sionary  Gorcke  writes  to  the  following  effect  •_ 
"Brother  K  emschmidt,  at  Lichtenau,  has^ow  mal 
a  fair  copy  of  the  whole  New  Testamem  in  the  Green 
land  language.  We  have  all  revised  and  corrected  U 
according  to  our  best  ability,  and  it  is  to  be  sent  to 
Lngland  this  year,  to  be  presented  to  the  venerab  e 

Brush  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  who  have  geJe  ! 

ou3^  offered   to  print  it  for  us.     The   SocLy  w' 
udge  for  themselves  of  the  number  of  copies   whTch 

will  be  wanted,  when  they  are  informed  that  theTh  ee 

congregations  under  thecareofthe  brethren  in G  een- 

land  consist  of  1278  persons,  old  and  young-  com. 

pnsmg  359  at  New  Hermhut,  331  at  Lic'hten^ls  Id 

ova  at  Lichtenau. 

"As  to  our  congregation  here,  grace  and  peace  from 
God  our  Saviour  have  ruled  among  us.  and  his  ^0.1^" 
has  attended  the  preaching  of  the  word  of  his  cross 
Last  year,  a  female  heathen,  between  seventeenrd 

e.ghteenyearsold,cametoresidehere,andgavussome 
reason  to  hope  that  she  would  be  truly  converted  unl 
Ood;  but  m  an  attack  of  illness,  during  the  months 
of  Novembe.  and  Deccmber.she  evidently  lost  gZnd 
and  her  heathenish  habits  began  to  re-appear,  ^ovv 
however,  she  seems  to  repent  of  these  absurditie-' 
and  cries  to  the  Lord,  with  many  tears,  for  pardon  ;  sp 
that  I  am  again  induced  to  indulge  the  hope  that  she 
"'ay  yet   be  born    again  of  the    Holy    Spirit.     She 
possesses  a  remarkably  good  capacity  for  learning,  and 
.f  her  heart  was  savingly  changed,  she  might  be  useful 
to  our  mission  in  a  variety  of  ways  " 

nry  Beck,  of  Lichtenau.  observes,  "  We   have  not 
ninch  to  report  that   is  new.  as   the  history  of  every 
year  IS  .nearly  similar  to  that  of  the  former.    However 
1  will  mention  a  few  occurrences  which  may  bo  inter' 
csting  to  you.  ' 

"  in    1797,  the   Danes  established  a  new  factory 
about  tinrty-five  miles  southward  of  us,  near  the  island 
of  Cape  farewell,  and  appointed  a  Greenland  cate- 
Hust  n,  take  charge  of  the  congregation,  as  „  branch 
of  the  mission.     The  missionary  goes  thither  twice  a 
yer:r  to  adimnister  baptism  to  the  catechumens,  &c. 
Hetween  that  place   and  Lichtenau,  there  were,  and 
still  are,  sonu.  heathen  families  settled,   who  always 
preferred    coming  to    us,  if  th..y  wanted    any   thiiiK 
W  Len  we  we„,  ,0  see  our  own  people  i„  the  out-places 
'"  the.r  ne,Rhl,orl,.,o,l,  from  year  to  year,  we  visited 
tl"'".,  and  preached  the  gospel  among  them,  b,„  with- 
out  any  visible  effect.     It  has  now  pleased   the  Ix^rd 
"■ny  opini,  to  Mwukun  their  souls  ; 


58 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


of  them  came  to  us,  who  appeared  to  be  in  earnest  for 
their  conversion.  Thirteen  fi'^ilts  from  among  the 
heathen  have  already  been  added  to  the  Christian 
church  by  baptism;  and  there  are  several  heathen 
families,  in  the  islands  belonging  to  this  district,  who 
have  declared  their  intention  of  coming  among  us, 
and  of  embracing  the  truths  of  the  gospel.  These' 
have  been  frequently  visited,  during  the  winter,  by 
our  Greenland  assistants,  who  were  received  with 
every  demonstration  of  joy. 

"  One  man,  who  had  often  been  present  when  the 
gospel  was  preached,  but  would  not  hear  any  thing  about 
conversion,  came  hither,  at  Christmas,  with  his  whole 
family,  in  order  to  attend  our  public  services  ;  and 
paid  the  most  serious  attention  to  the  great  truth  with 
which  he  was  formerly  offended.    In  fact,  he  appeared 
completely  changed  in  his  whole  deportment,  and  re- 
turned with  a  resolution  to  remove  hither.    Before  this 
design  could  be  put  in  execution,  however,  he  was  seiz- 
ed with  a  bowel  complaint,  which  threatened  speedy 
dissolution,  and  he  died,  crying  to  Jesus  for  mercy,  and  I 
expressing  a  wish  to  "J!  Greenland  assistants,  by  whom 
he  was  visited,  that  he  might  be  buried  at  Lichtenau. 
"  We  will  wait  and  see  what  the  Lord  will  do  for 
the  south  Greenlanders.     They  are  much  attached  to 
their  own  country,  and  think  there  is  not  a  better  or 
more  beautiful  place  in  the  world.    The  time,  however, 
may  soon  arrive,  when,  as  in  former  instances,  tliey 
may  excite  others  to  come  and  believe  the  gosi    l  for 
their  salvation. 

"  The  number  of  Greenlanders  now  belonging  to 
tiiis  settlement  is  not  far  short  of  six  hundred ;  and 
during  the  winter  our  people  have  diligently  attended 
at  church.  The  building,  indeed,  is  too  small,  and 
frequently  could  not  contain  tiie  numbers  that  came 
to  it,  especially  when  the  rite  of  baptism  was  admin- 
istered. At  Christmas  and  Easter,  when  the  natives 
from  the  out-places  come  hither,  there  is  no  room  for 
many  either  U    lit  or  stand." 

At  New  Hermhut,  in  the  mean  time,  the  state  of 
the  congregation  wns  peculiarly  satisfactory.  The 
meetings  of  every  description  wore  well  attended 
during  the  winter,  and  the  grace  bestowed  upon  the 
communicants  was  clearly  demonstrated  by  the  uniform 
tenor  of  their  conduct  and  conversation.  The  young 
people,  also,  evinced  an  increasing  desire  after  "  tJie 
one  thing  needful  ;"  and  the  obedience  and  docility 
of  the  children  afforded  ample  cause  of  gratitude 
to  (Jod.  In  addition  to  these  mercies,  ll;o  wyiter 
proved  remarkably  mild,  and  the  missionaries,  in  gen- 
eral, enjoyed  an  excellent  state  of  health  ;  though, 
in  consequent  n  of  the  wet  weather  during  the  months 
of  Juno  and  July,  fevers  prevailed  among  many  of 
the  (ireenlandcrs  to  an  alarming  dogroo. 


A  strong  desire  having  existed  for  some  time,  to 
ascertam   the   practicability  of  establishing  a  fourth 
settlenient,  m   the  neighborhood  of  Staatenhook,  or 
Cape  Farewell,  in  consequence  of  the  wishes  express- 
ed  by  the  heathen  in  that  quarter  for  the  introduction 
of  the   gospel  among  them,   the  missionary  Klein- 
schmidt  was  commissioned  by  the  directors  of  the 
Moravian  missions  to  undertake  a  reconnoitring  voyage, 
southward  from  Lichtenau,  during  the  summer  of  182l' 
He  was  directed  to  obtain  the  best  information  concern- 
mg  the  state  of  the  country,  and  the  character  and 
disposition  of  the  natives  of  southern  Greenland  •  to 
ascertain   whether  any  difficulties  existed  to  prevent 
the  establishment  of  a  new  mission  in  that  district ; 
and,  finally,  to  communicate  the  truths  of  the  gospei 
to  such  of  the  heathen  as  might  fall  in  his  way,  hum- 
bly depending  on   the  divine   blessing  to  crown  his 
labors  with  success. 

With  this  commission  and  with  the  best  wishes  and 
fervent  prayers  of  his  fellow  laborers,  Mr.  Klein- 
schmidt  set  out  from  Lichtenau  on  the  3d  of  July, 
in  company  with  three  native  assistants,  Benjamin,' 
Frederic,  and  Shem  ;  the  first  two  having  their  fam- 
ilies with  them.  Eight  Christian  females  were  en- 
gaged as  rowers  ;  so  that  the  whole  company  consisted 
of  thirteen  adults  and  four  children,  in  two  women's 
boats. 

During  the  first  day  they  proceeded  about  thirty  Eng- 
lish miles,  and  in  the  evening  they  arrived  atNennor- 
tahk,  the  last  Danish  establishment  towards  the  s....  Ji ; 
where  they  experienced  a  most  hospitable  reception 
from  the  resident  merchant.  The  kindness  which  they 
here  received  was  tiie  more  welcome  in  consequence  of 
their  having  just  escaped  from  a  violent  shower,  which 
not   only  drenched  their  clothes,  but    threatened  to 
fill  their  boats.     But  their  spirits  were  sadly  damped 
on  hearing  that  the  sea  was   so  completely  covered 
with  drift-ice  towards  the  south,  that  it  would  be  im- 
practicable for  their  boats  to  pro<;eed  ;  and 'to  increase 
their   ai)prohensions,  a  storm    arose  from    the  same 
quarter,  which  might  be  naturally  oxpocied   to  drive 
the  ice  towards  the  land,  and  tlius  frustrate  the  whole 
design  of  their  undertaking. 

In  tiiis  exigency  Mr.  Kleinschinidt  cried  unto  the 
Lord  for  help,  and  that  adorable  Being,  who  ruleth 
the  waves,  and  holdeth  the  winds  in  the  hollow  of  his 
hand,  vouclmfed  to  hear  and  to  answer  the  petitions  of 
his  faithful  servant.  On  the  morning  of  the  5tli,  the 
storm  died  away  in  silence,  the  heavy  clouds  dispersed, 
and  from  the  summit  of  a  lofty  hill  hut  little  ice  wu 
to  be  scon.  In  fact,  the  Greenlanders  were  of  opinion 
that  the  frozen  masses  lii..d  beep  driven  to  the  north- 
ward, and  that  the  storm  had  rather  furthered  than  im- 
peded the  progress  of  the  brethren. 


On  the  6th,  they  resumed  their  voyage,  having  been 
joined  by  a  party  of  heathen  from  the  south;  so  that 
their  ittle  flotilla  was  augmented  to  three  boats  and 
eightkajaksj  and,  in  the  forenoon,  they  passed  a  lofty 

CT^^'  "'m  '°7^'^^'  "  ^'"^  y^^''  «in"'  '^  boat 
filled  with  Southlanders  was  upset,  and  all  on  board 
perished. 

"Having  heard,"  says   Mr.    Kleinschmidt,  "that 
several  boats  full   of  straggling  heathen   had   lately 
arrived  m  this  neighborhood,  I  felt  a  great  desire  to 
visit  them,  and  to  speak  to  them  of  the  way  of  sal- 
vation.    In  the  evening  we  cama  within  sight  of  their 
camp ;  and,  on  our  approaching  nearer,  they  invited  us 
to  come  forward,  promising  to  accompany  us  to  the 
south      We  found  here  twelve  tents,  and  as  many  on 
the  other  side  of  the  water,  filled  with  a  considerable 
number  of  people.    When  I  stepped  on  shore,  I  found 
myself  surrounded  by  a  crpwd,  all  pressing  forward  to 
bid  me  welcome  ;  and,  before  I  could  begin  to  address 
them,  both  old  and  young  repeatedly  exclaimed,  •  We 
are  quite  in  earnest,  we  all  wish  to  be   converted.' 
When  I  replied,  that  having  such  an  opinion  of  them, 
1  had  felt  anxious  to  visit  them  and  to  speak  to  them 
concerning   the  Saviour,  they  said,    '  You  are,  then 
worthy  that  we  should  thank  you,  and    we  will  nav 
attention  to  your  words.'     On  expressing  my  surprise 
at  their  numbers,  they  cried  out,  '  Did  you  suppose, 
then,   hat  we  heathen  in  the  south,  were  only  a  few  ? 
O  no  !  we  are  a  great  multitude.'     Soon  after,  a  poor 
old  Southlander,  named  Ajangoak,  whom  I  had  seen 
twenty  years  before,  at  New  Herrnhut,  and  who  had 
since  become  blind,  came  creeping  along,  supported 
by  a  stick.     He    appeared  deeply  affected,  aid  said, 
I  repent  truly  that  I  formerly   paid  no  attention  to 
your  words,  and  that  I  have  put  off  my  conversion  so 
long.      am  now  near  unto  death  ;  but  I  always  exhort 
my  children  to  remove  to  your  settlement,  which  thev 
have  promised  to  do."  ^ 

Our  missionary  and  his  party  had  no  sooner  pitched 
the.r  tents,  than  the  people  from  the  opposite  shore 
came  over  m  their  boats  and  kajaks,  to  express   their 
gratitude  for  so  friendly  a  visit.     Among  those  who 
pressed  forward,  with  pleasure  in  their  countenances, 
and  "words  of   welcome  "  on  their  lips,  were  two 
jamilies  who,  on  one  occasion,  had  spent  a  month  at 
Lichtenfols,  and  seemed  likely  to  profit  from  the  glad 
tidings  which  then  sounded  in  their  ears.     The  nrs 
sionaries  were  sorry,  therefore,  when  they  returned 
to  the  south,  as  fearing  that  all  their  serious  impres- 
sions would  bo  soon  obliterated;  but  it  now  appeared 
that  the  instructions  which  they  had  received,  remained 
indelibly  impressed  on  their  memory,  and  they  ex 
pressed  an  earnest  desire  to  devote  themselves  to  th« 


GREENLAND. 


sg 


Jesus. 


spiritof  inquiry  and  serious  attention  prevailed  amon^ 
the  generality  of  the  heathen,  at  this  place,  that  Mr 
Kleinschmidt   had    scarcely  time    either   to   eat  l; 
drink ;  his  tent  being  constantly  filled,  and  the  entrance 
to^U^crowded  with  Southlanders,  anxious  for  admS 

«l'rJn/!'Hf""  P«°P'«'"«»y«  this  faithful   laborer. 
I  repeatedly  explained  the  object  of  my  visit   and 
that  my  brethren  had  sent  me  L  them,  becT  'e  we 
could  not  bear  the  thought  that  they  sh;uld  be  oZ 
but  wished  to  teach  them  to  know  Jesus,  that  tS 
might  find  eternal  life  and  salvation  in  h  m.     Thev 
rep  led,  .  This,  indeed,  is  the  main  reason  why  we 
wish  to  be  converted;  that,  when  we  die,  our  souls 
may  find  a  safe  passage  into  eternal  rest.'     I  rejoiced 
to  find  that  the  three  native  assistants  I  had  brought 
with  me  were  never  ashamed  of  the  gospel,  but  con- 
fessed Christ  boldly  before  their  heathen  countrymen- 
declaring  to  them  that  if  they  did  not  turn  to  Jesus,' 
and  believe  m  him,  they  could  never  be  saved    '  We  ' 
said  they,  'were  children  of  wrath,  and  no  better  than 
you  ;  but  we  have  found  pardon  and  rest  for  our  .souls 
with  the  Saviour.'  I  frequently  heard  them  conversing 
.n  this  way  with  their  countrymen,  and   was  much 
affected  by  it.  especially  when  they  described  the  love 
mercy,  truth  and    grace,  which  are  to  be   found  in 
Jesus,  and  the  happiness  of  living  in  communion  with 

After  spending  the  greater  part  of  the  day  in  famil- 
•ar   and   instructive  conversation,  Mr.    Kleinschmidt 
proposed    holding  a  public   meeting.      On   the  first 
mlimation  of  his  design,  the  people  quitted  their  tents 
and  assembled  to  the  number  of  three  hundred  or  up- 
wards  m  the  open  field.     Even  blind   Aiangoak  pro- 
cured somebody  to  lead   him  to  the  plice,  that   he 
might   not  lose  so  interesting  en  opportunity.     Our 
missionary  seated  himself  on  an  eminence,  having  his 
assistants  close  to  him  ;  whilst  the  men  sat  down  on 
the  right  and  the  women  on  the  left,  in  regular  order. 
When  all  were  seated,  some  of  the  old  people,  ad- 
dressing the  young  and  the  children,  desired  them  to 
take  off  the.r  caps,  to  fold  their  hands,  and  to  remain 
perfectly  still.   An  appropriate  hymn  was  then  sung  by 
the  Christian  Greenlanders.  whose  powerful  and  melo- 
dious voices  .sounded  delightfully  among  the  circum- 
jaoent  rocks;  and  Mr.  Kleinschmidt  and  the  assistant 
Henjaimn  delivered  two  affectionate  and  highly  ani- 
mated discourses,  to  which  the  heathen  listened   with 
the  greatest  seriousness  and  the  most  unremitting  at- 
tention.    Another  hymn  was  then  sung,  which  closed 
the  solemnities  of  this  highly  interesting  day. 

11"  a!!!  ^'*''  '"  **"'  '"''abitants  of  the  little  encamp. 
""•'  "t  ""r  misaioiittiy   party  set  out  with 


-  •"  •"-•""°  iiicmseives  lo  thn   I     ...«»»  A„. •      _  .    .  "...p- 

11  IS,  also,  pleasing  to  add.  that  such  a      ii'."„'"  r"'  T""  ^  ""''  '"'^''""'"y   P»"y  »««  out  with 
6         an.  tnat  such  a  ||  thom  for  the  south,  and  they  ,vero  afterwards  joined 


60 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


by  two  boat3  from  the  opposite  shore;  the  rowers 
observing  that  they  must  conduct  the  visitors  to  their 
habitations  near  Staatenhook,  and  there  receive  them 
properly.  For  some  time  the  voyage  proved  very 
pleasant ;  but,  on  arriving  within  a  short  distance  of 
Staatenhook,  the  brethren  from  Lichtenau  encountered 
such  an  immense  quantity  of  ice  that  they  could  not 
venture  to  penetrate  it,  but  hastened  for  safety  towards 
the  shore.  Most  of  their  friends,  however,  apparent- 
ly regardless  of  danger,  continued  to  work  their  way, 
both  between  the  fields  of  ice  and  agaList  a  strong 
current,  and  all  reached  their  dwellings  in  safety. 

After  spending  the  sabbath  in  a  small  bay  called 
Nutarmio,  and  speaking  affectionately  to  the  heathen, 
concerning  the  salvation  which  is  in  Christ,  Mr. 
Kleinschmidt  feared,  from  the  appearance  of  the  coast, 
on  the  morning  of  the  9th,  that  it  would  be  impracti- 
cable to  proceed  any  farther.  At  length,  however, 
he  was  informed  by  a  friend,  who  had  been  recon- 
noitring from  the  top  of  a  hill,  that  the  ice  was  rapidly 
dispersing,  and  in  a  short  time  the  sea  became  per- 
fectly calm.  He,  therefore,  set  out  immediately  with 
his  companions,  and  in  the  evening  arrived  at  a  place 
called  Narksamio,  which  is  the  rfouthemmost  point  of 
the  continent  of  Greenland,  Staatenhook  being  an 
island  divided  from  it  by  a  narrow  channel. 

On  their  approach  to  Narksamio  our  party  rowed 
by  an  encampment  consisting  of  several  tents,  and  the 
inhabitants  immediately  launched  their  boats,  and  fol- 
lowed them  to  the  place  of  debarkation.     «  These 
good-natured  people,"  says  Mr.    Kleinschmidt,  "  re- 
ceived me  with  open  arms.     One  of  them,  in  the  joy 
of  his  heart,  jumped  into  my  boat,  and  seized  my 
box  of  provisions,  designing  to  carry  it  on  shore  ;  but, 
not  knowing  how  to  handle  it,  he  turned  it  bpttom  up- 
wards, by  which  much  was  spilt  or  otherwise  spoiled. 
When  I  afterwards  opened  it,  and  the  damage  became 
known,  they  all  expressed  the   greatest  regret,  and 
observed,  in  excuse  for  the  poor  distressed  man,  that 
he  was  in  such  a  hurry  because  he  had  the  greatest 
desire  to  he  converted." 

Our  missionary  was  now  conducted  to  a  spacious 
verdant  plain,  which  appeared  peculiarly  eligihle  as  a 
station  for  a  settlement.  It  is  enclosed  by  two  bays 
fit  for  shipping,  the  land  sloping  gradually  towards 
each  ;  and  from  the  interior  proceeds  a  brook  of  fresh 
water,  ever  flowing,  and  abounding  with  salmon.  The 
land,  for  an  extent  of  several  miles,  both  east  and 
west,  is  flat,  and  covered  with  birch,  juniper  bushes, 
and  dwarf  willows,  which  would  afford  an  ample  sup- 
ply of  fuel ;  and  the  hills,  which  are  of  a  moderate 
height,  arc  covered  with  grass  to  their  summits,  and 
form  a  striking  contrast  with  the  aspect  of  the  western 
coast.  I 


After  an  interestuig  conversation  with  the  natives 
on  the  possibility  of  some  missionaries  coming  to  re- 
side among  them,  Mr.  Kleinschmidt  addressed  them 
in  the  open  field,  with  his  usual  fervor  and  affection, 
from  that  beautifiil  passage,  "  Unto  you  that  fear  my 
name  shall  the  Sun  of  Righteousness  arise  with  heal- 
mg  in  his  wings,"  and  the  greatest  order  and  solemnity 
prevailed  during  the  discourse.     The  next  morning 
some  aged  females  expressed  a  strong  desire  to  hear 
something  more  concerning  Jesus  ;  and  the  Greenland 
assistant,  Shem,  in  speaking  to  the  people,  not  only 
exhorted  them  to  seek  the  Saviour  with  full  purpose 
of  heart,  but  gave  them  an  affecting  account  of  the 
mercy  of  Christ,  as  illustrated  in  his  own  experience. 
"  Even  me,"  he  exclaimed,  "  wretched  sinner  as  I 
was,  Jesus  did  not  despise,  but  sought  me  with  un- 
wearied diligence  ;  and  because  he  is  so  gracious,  he 
does  not  withdraw  his  power,  but  resolves  to  preserve 
me  as  his  own  property.     And  thus  he  is  disposed 
towards  all  who  have  a  desire  wrought  in  their  souls 
to  know  him,  and  to  be  converted  by  his  Holy  Spirit." 
As  the  Greenlanders  had  stated  that  at  the  extremity 
of  the  bay  there  was  a  considerable  quantity  of  birch 
wood,  our   missionary  and  two  of  the  native  assist- 
ants set  out  in  their  boat,  and,  on  landing,  walked 
several  miles  into  the  country ;  but  they  found  only 
low  bushes,  such  as  abound  in  most  parts  of  this  dis- 
trict. They  then  began  to  ascend  a  lofty  hill,  in  order 
to  obtain  a  view  towards  the  eastern  sliore,  but   the 
heat  was  so  oppressive,  and   the  inusquitoes  Avere  so 
numerous  and  troublesome,  that  thoy  were  unable  to 
reach  the  summit.    They  discovered  a  beautiful  grassy 
valley,  however,  and  a  fine  lake,  both  of  which  ap- 
peared to  extend  to  the  eastern  sea. 

Fresh  intelligence  on  the  part  of  the  natives  induced 
Mr.  Kleinschmidt  and  his  friends  to  make   a  second 
excursion,  and,  accordingly,  on  the  11  ih,  they  rowed 
the  whole  day  along  the  coast,  leaving  Staatenhook 
behind  them,  and  the  continent  of  Greenland  on  the 
left  ;  but  their  search  after  wood   proved  unavailing. 
On   going  on  shore,    however,  to  seek   quarters    for 
the  night,  they  were  agreeably  surprised  to  find  some 
tents  filled  with  straggling  Greenlanders,  who  had  come 
hither  in  search  of  provisions  ;  and  a  favorable  oppor- 
tunity was  thus  afforded  of  addressing  tliem  on  the 
interesting   subject  of   the  love   of  Christ,    and    his 
willingness  to  save  all  that  come  unto  God  by  him. 

On  the  1 3th,  after  affectionately  commending  the 
inhabitants  of  this  eastern  coast  to  the  care  of  that 
omnipotent  Saviour  to  whom  the  Father  hath  promised 
"  the  heathen  for  his  inheritance,  and  the  uttermost 
parts  of  the  earth  for  his  possession,"  the  brethren 
set  out  on  their  return  ;  and,  though  laboring  against 
both  wind  and  tide,  they  proceeded  without  much 


GREENLAND. 


difficulty  till  they  got  round  to  the  western  side  of 
Staatenhook,  when  the  strong  north  wind  came  full 
upon  them.     The  sea  then  became  so  boisterous  that 
the  female  rowers  were  put  to  great  inconvenience, 
and  the  whole  party  were  exposed  to  hnminent  dan- 
ger  from  the  violence  of  the  wpves.     At  length,  how- 
ever, they  were  enabled  to  run  into  a  small  bay  for 
shelter ;  and,  the  following  day,  they  walked  across  the 
country  to  Narksamio,  a  distance  of  about  four  miles. 
Here  the  inhabitants  immediately  assembled  from  both 
sides  of  the  water,  and  our  missionary  addressed  them 
on  the  pathetic  subject  of  our  Lord's  agony  in  the 
garden  ;  a  subject  which,  in  relation  to  the  conversion 
of  Kayamak,  must  be  for  ever  identified  with  the 
success  of  Christian  missions  in  Greenland.     Some 
following  days  were,  also,  devoted  to  their  spiritual 
mstruction,  and  when  the  missionary  party  were  about 
to  leave  them,  the  regret  which  they  evinced  was  only 
equalled  by  the  gratitude  which  they  expressed. 

The  friends  from  Lichtenau  were  accompanied  back 
to  their  tents  by  severaJ  of  the  heathen ;  and  when 
they  set  out  on  their  return  home,  they  were  attended 
by  a  boat  full  of  the  inhabitants  of  Staatenhook,  whose 
affections  had,  no  doubt,  been  excited  by  tho  blessed 
tidings  of  salvation  which  had  been  brought  to  their 
ears.     A  northern  gale  had  providentially  cleared  the 
sea  of  ice  ;  and,  as  the  female  rowers  exerted  all  their 
strength,  they  proceeded  with  great  rapidity,  and  at 
length  arrived  in  perfect  safety  a:  Lichtenau,  grateful 
for  the   protection   of  their   Heavenly    Father,   and 
rejoicing  in  the  prospect  of  the  grand  object  of  their 
excursion  being  crowned  with  ultimate  success. 

Intelligence  relative  to  the  missions  in  Greenland  is 
communicated  by  the  brethren  Gorcke  and  Eberie,  in 
letters  dated  March  and  July,  1823.     The  former  of 
these,  in  a  communication  from  Lichtenfels,  observes, 
•'  Though  we  have,  in  general,  the  greatest  satisfaction 
m  observing  the  Ci.ristian  walk  and  conversation  of 
our  Greenlanders,  and  their  growth  in  grace  at  home, 
we  sometimes  feel  much  uneasiness  respecting  those 
of  our  young  people  of  both  sexes,  who  are  obliged  to 
attend  the  seal  catching  of  the  colonists  in  the  out- 
places ;  where  they  are  too  apt  to  become  familiar 
with  persons  by  whom  tiiey  are  seduced  to  sin.     It  is 
out  of  our  power  to  prevent  such  connections  ;  partly 
because  by  that  occupation  they  must  earn  their  sub- 
sistence, and  partly  because  we  are  expected  by  gov- 
ernment to  encourage  our  people  to  serve  the  mer- 
chants in  every  possible  way,  in  order  to  promote  the 
trade  of  the  colony.     Wo  can  do  nothing,  therefore, 
but    pray   for   such    poor    people,    reminding  them, 
whenever  an  opportunity  occurs,  of  what  they  have 
heard  of  the  way  of  salvation,  and  warning  them  against 
the  snares  laid  fcr  thsm  by  the  enemy." 


61 

To  Mr.  Michael  Eberie,  of  Lichtensu,  we  are  indebted 
for  the  following  particulars:  "As  to  our  congregation 
here,  we  have  reason  to  rejoice  over  mostof  them,  and 
are  particularly  encouraged  by  seeing  so  many  heathen 
arrive  among  us,  declaring  their  sincere  desire  to  hear, 
believe,  and  experience  the  power  of  the  gospel,  and 
to  become  happy  followers  of  Jesus.     During  the  last 
winter,  thuty  persons  from  among  the  heathen,  and 
eight  children,  were  baptized ;  thirty-eight  were  made 
partakers  of  the  holy  communion ;  and  nine  were  re- 
ceived into  the  congregation.     During  the  four  years 
that  I  have  resided  here,  one  hundred  and-  sixteen 
persons  from  among  the  heathen  have  received  the 
nte  of  baptism.     At  the  close  of  1822,  our  congrega- 
tion consisted  of  six  hundred  and  eighty-five  persons, 
comprising  five  hundred   and  seventy-one  baptized] 
and  one  hundred  and  fourteen  unbaptized,  under  m- 
struction.     And  this  year  we  have  the  prospect  of  a 
still  greater  increase,  as  many  heathen  from  the  south 
have  sent  us  word  that  they  intend  to  come  hither, 
and  are  desirous  of  tummg  with  their  whole  heart  to 
Jesus." 

In  a  letter  from  Lichtenfels,  June,  1824,  Mr.  Gorcke 
says,  "  Among  young  and  old,  there  is  a  great  desire 
to  be  instructed.  This  is  seen  by  a  diligent  attention 
at  church,  and,  when  we  speak  with  the  natives  individu- 
ally, by  their  thankfulness  and  love  to  the  Saviour,  with 
which  their  hearts  and  lips  overflow."  In  this  letter, 
Mr.  Gorcke  mentions  that  the  success  of  the  mission 
had  determined  them  to  form  a  new  station,  which 
was  called  Fredericstall.  The  missionary  Klein- 
schmidt  gives  the  following  narrative  of  this  under- 
taking, under  date  October,  1825. 

"  The  participation  expressed  by  you  and  our  Eng- 
lish brethren,  in  the  welfare  of  the  mission  in  Green- 
land, and  especially  in  that  of  this  new  settlement, 
comforts  and  encourages  us  greatly. 

"  I  wish  we  may  be  able  to  cheer  your  hearts  with 
good  news  from  this  place.     We  can,  indeed,  truly 
declare,  with  thanks  and  praise  to  our  gracious  Saviour, 
that  he  has  helped  us  hitherto,  and  done  for  us  above 
all  we  could  have  expected.     Our  outward  situation, 
however,  is  more  uncomfortable  than  ever,  for  we  have 
not  as  yet  benn  able  to  leave  our  hut,  built  of  sods. 
The  building  materials  destined  for  our  dwelling  house 
are  at  length  arrived.     They  were  brought  hither  in 
women's  boats.     The  frame  of  the   house  is  set  up, 
and    one  half  of  the   roof  finished,  but  we   are  not 
sure  whether  we  shall  be  able  completely  to  fit  up  one 
or  two  rooms  before  the  winter  sets  in.     We  shall  do 
our  utmost  to  accomplish  this,  that  we  may  employ 
our  large  Greenland  house  entirely  as  a  temporary 
chapel,  as  the  frame  and  wood-work  of  the  newohurch. 
jireparod  at  Copenhagen,  could  not  be  brought  hither 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


by  the  ship  this  year ;  and  we  do  not  know  when  it 
_  will  arrive,  much  as  we  stand  in  need  of  it,  to  accom- 
modate our  increasing  congregation,  the  present 
place  bemg  much  too  small,  and  it  being  unpleasant 
to  have  a  crowd  pressing  upon  us,  particularly  at 
baptisms. 

"  I  will  first,  my  dear  brother,  give  you  a  short 
account  of  our  proceedings  since  autumn,  1824.    We 
were  obliged  to  live  in  our  tent  twelve  weeks,  to  the 
17th  of  October,  the  day  on  which  we  moved  into 
our  little  room,  being  one  third  of  a  building,  con- 
structed 6f  sods,  in  the  Greenland  fashion.     We  re- 
joice to  be  able  on  the  2d  of  November  to  consecrate 
the  other  two  thirds  as  a  place  of  worship  for  our  small 
congregation.     It  is  twenty-four  feet  long  and  sixteen 
wide.     The  Lord,  who  does  not  despise  the  meanest 
service  in  his  church,  was  pleased  to  grant  us  on  this 
day,  in  this  humble  temple,  a  special  blessing,  and  to 
fulfil  his  promise  unto  us,  that  wherever  even  but  a 
few  are  assembled  in  his  name,  he  will  be  in  the  midst 
of  them.     Twelve  persons  were  admitted  as  candi- 
dates for  baptism. 

"  Fifty  persons  have  returned  hither  from  Lichtenau, 
and  have  been  joined  by  about  200  heathen  from  this 
neighborhood,  so  that  there  are   about  250  Green- 
landers  living  here.     They  put  up  their  winter  dwell- 
ings on  our  land,  and  all  express  their  earnest  intention 
to  turn  to  Jesus,  and  be  converted.     This  is,  indeed, 
a  most  encouraging  beginning,  and  our  little  chapel  is 
already  much  too  small.     Though  we  thought,  that, 
new  as  this  undertaking  was,  we  should,  for  the  first 
winter,  have  nothing  to  do,  but,  as  it  were,  to  remove 
stones  and  rubbish,  and  prepare  for  our  work,  it  ap- 
peared that  the  Holy  Spirit  had  already  wrought  such 
conviction  of  the  necessity  of  conversion  in  the  hearts 
of  the  heathen  in  these  parts,  that  we  could  confidently 
believe,  that  the  day  of  their  visitation  was  come.    On 
the  19th  of  December,  forty  candidates  were  made 
partakers  of  holy   baptism,   and   during   the   winter 
months,  as  the  work  of  the  Lord  and  his  spirit  became 
more  and  more  manifest  and  effective,  many  more 


were  admitted  to  the  same  privilege.  Since  our  ar- 
rival here,  on  the  27th  of  July,  1824,  one  hundred 
and  four  heathen  have  been  baptized. 

«  To  describe  what  our  God  and  Saviour  has  done 
for  us  during  this  first  year  of  our  abode  in  this  place, 
is  beyond  the  power  of  words;  we  will  rather  fall  at 
his  feet  adoring,  and  pray  that  our  obedience  and 
activity  in  his  service  may  give  praise  and  glory  to  his 
name." 

From  New  Hermhut,  Mr.  Lehman  writes,  July  14, 
1826,  "  During  the  last  year  we  have  experienced 
manifest  proofs  of  the  favor,  protection,  and  govern- 
ment of  our  Lord,  in  this  congregation.  Our  people 
grow  m  grace,  and  in  the  love  and  knowledge  of  their 
Saviour.  Twenty-eight  have  been  admitted  to  the 
Lord's  Supper.  The  joy  we  experienced  in  behold- 
ing this  work  of  the  Lord,  and  his  Spirit,  in  the  hearts 
of  our  people,  the  love  and  confidence  we  enjoy,  and 
their  Christian  walk  and  conversation,  makes  this 
dreary  and  frozen  region  a  paradise  to  our  souls," 

By  intelligence  received  in  1828  and  1829,  it  is 
stated,  that  at  Fredericstall,  '.'  120  children  receive 
instruction,  who  distinguish  themselves  by  their  dili- 
gence." Recent  information  places  this  congregation 
at  over  300  persons,  including  the  baptized,  and  those 
who  are  on  trial. 

From  New  Hermhut,  brother  John  Lehman  writes 
in  1827,  "  The  number  of  the  congregation  is  370; 
184  are  communicants.  I  may  with  confidence  call 
our  flock  a  people  of  God." 

The  Report  of  the  Synodal  Committee  for  18P/J,  at 
Hermhut,  in  Germany,  contains  the  following  state- 
ment, in  reference  to  Greenland :  "  Our  four  settle- 
ments have  experienced  much  blessing  in  the  enjoy- 
ment of  the  grace  and  favor  of  God.  At  Frederic- 
stall  a  temporary  church  had  been  constructed  after 
the  manner  of  a  Greenland  winter  house.  A  provision 
house  was  likewise  erected  ;  and  their  new  church, 
built  at  Copenhagen,  had  been  landed  at  Julianen- 
haab." 


ISLAND  OF  ST.  THOMAS. 


63 


CHAPTER   II.    • 
ISSIONS  TO  THE   WEST  INDIA   ISLANDS. 


ST.  THOMAS. 


In  contemplating  the  singular  and  interesting  origin 
of  the  missions  of  the  United  Brethren  to  the  West 
Indies,  we  are  forcibly  reminded  of  the  question  which 
occurs  m  the  prophecy  of  Zechariah,  "  Who  hath 
despised  the  day  of  small  things  ?"  And,  whilst  we 
trace  the  important  effects  resulting  from  "  a  word 
spoken  m  season,"  we  are  irresistibly  constrained  to 
admire  the  wisdom,  power,  and  mercy  of  him  who 
demanded  of  the  far-famed  ancestor  of  the  Jewish 
nation,  "  Is  any  thing  too  hard  for  the  Lord  ?" 

The  little  maid  who  had  been  taken  japtive  by  the 
Syrians,  and  introduced  into  the  service  of  Naaman's 
Wife,  proved  the  honored  instrument  of  directing  her 
diseased  master  to   the  wonder-working   prophet  of 
Israel ;  and  a  negro,  named  Anthony,  who  became 
acquainted  with  the  servants  of  Count  Zinzendorf 
whilst  that  nobleman  was  attending  the  coronation  of 
Christian  VI    in  1731,  at  Copenhagen,  first  gave  rise 
to  the  Idea  of  sending  out  missionaries  to  these  be- 
nighted islands,  where  the  miseries  of  personal  slavery 
were  superadded  to  those  of  Satanic  bondage.     This 
man,  m  the  course  of  conversation,  stated  that  he  had 
a  sister  in  the  island  of  St.  Thomas,  who,  with  many 
ol  her  hapless  companions,  earnestly  desired  to  bo 
instructed  in  the  way  of  salvation,  and  earnestly  im- 
plored the  God  of  heaven  to  send  some  person  to  their 
^sistance,  capable  of  giving  them  religious  instructions. 
This  statement  was  afterwards  repeated  at  Herrnhut, 
Anthony  having  obtained  permission  to  visit  that  set- 
tlement ;  and,  though  it  was  now  added,  that  the  negroes 
could  obtain  no  opportunity  of  attending  to  the  truths 
ot  the  gospel  unless  their  teachers  were  united  with 
them  m  their  daily  and  laborious  avocations,  two  young 
men,  Leonard  Doberand  Tobias  Leupold, immediately 
forme.l  the  resolution  of  going  to  those  poor  untutored 
creatures,  and  absolutely  declared  their  willingness  to 
tell  themclve,  as  slaves,  should  such  a  step  prove 
necessary  to  the  accomplishment  of  their  purpose 

Most  of  the  congregation  seemed  to  consider  this 
proposal  as  the  mere  effe,  vescence  of  youthful  zeal 
sad  ffiorc  than  twelve  months  were  suffered  to  glide 


away  before  any  thing  was  done  in  consequence  of  it. 
At  length  however,  it  was  determined  that  the  mat- 
ter should  be  referred  to  the  lot,  a  method  of  ascer- 
taimng  the  will  of  God  which  is  common  among  the 
United  Brethren ;  and  as  Dober  was  thus  selected  for 
he  arduous  work,  he  was  despatched  to  Copenhagen 

/""l'  V^^'  """"''"'^  ^y  °°«  of  the  brethren 
named   Nitschman,  who  was  merely  to  accompany 

Tzl^^jr'' "  '*•  ^'°'""' "''  »^-  -  -- 

In  their  journey  to  the  capital  of  Denmark,  they 
visited  a  number  of  pious  people  ;  but  these  almost 
uniformly  disapproved  of  their  design,  and  pointed  out 
the   difficulties   and  dangers   to  which   they  would 
inevitably  be  exposed  in  attempting  to  carry  it  into 
execution.     In  fact,  there  was  no  individual  who  en- 
couraged them,  except  the  Countess  of  Stolberg :  she 
however    animated  them  to  go  forward;  observing,' 
that  our  adorable  Redeemer,  in  whose  cause  they  were 
engaged,  was  worthy  that  his  servants  should  sacrifice 
not  only  their  comforts,  but  their  lives  for  his  sake. 

On  their  arrival  at  Copenhagen,  our  travellers  were 
again  assured,  by  their  best  friends,  that  their  scheme 
was  enthusiastic,  if  not  absolutely  impracticable.  Some 
asserted  that  no  vessel  would  convey  them  to  the 
island  of  St.  Thomas;   others,  admitting  the  possi- 
bihty  of  their  reaching  the  place   of  their  destina- 
tion, contended  that  there  was  little  or  no  probability 
of  their  being  allowed  to  preach  to  the  slaves  ;  and 
even  the  negro,  Anthony,  having  suffered   himself  to 
be  prejudiced  against  the  church  of  the  United  Breth- 
ren, retracted  all  his  former  statements  respecting  his 
sister,  and  her  unhappy  companions.  Regardless,  how- 
ever, of  all  the  arguments  which  were  used  to  dissuade 
them  from  pursuing  their  favorite  object,  and  unmoved 
by  all  the  difficulties  with  which  they  were  surrounded 
Dober  and  his  companion  resolved  to  follow  their  own 
convictions  of  duty  ;  casting  all  their  care  upon  him 
whase  salvation  they  were  so  anxious  to  communicate 

to  thoir  norighinar  Tnllnn.  .:_ mi-  .      , 

J. — Q „  ,i„jj5.„     inisunsnakeiisteHd- 

lastness  not  cniy  excited  the  admiration  of  several 


64 


MISSIONS  OP  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


persons  of  distinction,  but  eventually  induced  them  to 
befriend  and  assist  the  missionaries  in  their  arduous 
undertaking. 

The  brethren,  at  length,  succeeded  in  obtaining  a 
passage  to  St.  Thomas,  and  arrived  at  that  island  on 
the  13th  of  December,  1732,  after  a  voyage  of  about 
ten  weeks.     Their  first  object  was  to  seek  out  An- 
thony's sister,  and  they  had  the  happiness  to  perceive 
that  both  she  and  many  other  negroes  to  whom  they 
were  introduced,  heard  the  word  of  truth  with  gladness, 
and  evinced  the  most  anxious  desire  for  religious  instruc- 
tion.    They  had,  also,  abundant  cause  of  gratitude  to 
God  for  his  providential  mercies  ;  a  friend  in  Copen- 
hagen  having,  without  their  knowledge,  written  to 
a  well  disposed  planter,  Mr.  Lorenzen,  who  kindly 
received  them  into  his  house,  and  gave  such  full  em- 
ployment to  Nitschman,  who  was  by  trade  a  carpen- 
ter, that  he  was  enabled  to  provide  both  for  himself 
and  his  companion. 

Thus  situated,  the  brethren  passed  their  time  very 
agreeably  for  about  four  months,  earnestly  praying  for 
the  conversion  and  eternal  happiness  of  the  poor  slaves 
by  whom  they  were  surrounded  ;  but,  at  the  expira- 
tion of  this  time,  it  became  necessary  that  Nitschman 
should  return  to  Europe  ;  and  by  his  departure,  Do- 
ber  was  left  without  any  present  means  of  subsistence ; 
as  the  want  of  clay  of  a  proper  quality  rendered  it 
impracticable  for  him  to  pursue  his  occupation  as  a 
potter.     Dark  and  cheeriess,  however,  as  were  his 
prospects,  he  resolved  to  maintain  his  post,  reposing 
all  his  wants  upon  that  adorable  Being  who  hatii  said, 
"  Thy  bread  shall  be  given  and  thy  water  shall  be' 
sure."     In  a  few  weeks  he  obtained  the  situation  of 
tutor  to  the  governor's  son ;  but  as  the  duties  of  this 
situation  left  him  very  Httle  time  for  visiting  and  in- 
structing  the   negroes,    he   solicited    his    dismission, 
and  afterwards  lived  in  great  poverty  in  the  village  of 
Tappus,  earning  a  scanty  subsistence  by  watching  on 
the  plantations,  and  other  services. 

During  the  year  1733,  many  of  the  inhabitants  of 
St.  Thomas  were  carried  off  by  famine  and  contagious 
diseases ;  and  a  rebellion  of  the  negroes  at  St.  Jan 
which  continued  above  six  months,  and  was  marked 
by  a  series  of  horrid  atrocities,  spread  terror  and  con- 
sternation through  this  and  the  adjacent  islands.  The 
labors  of  this  devoted  missionary  were,  of  course,  ren- 
dered doubly  difficult ;  but,  whilst  he  was  struggling 
with  poverty,  and  almost  sinking  beneath  his  anxious 
cares,  a  party  of  fourteen  brethren  and  four  sisters 
were  on  their  way  from  Europe,  partly  designed  to  aid 
in  the  instruction  of  the  slaves  at  St.  Thomas,  and 
partly  destined  to  commence  a  new  mission  in  the 
island  of  St.  Croix. 

These  persons  sailed  from  Stettin  on  the  12th  of 


lZ7      '    ?^'  ^"'  '''*''  ^"^''K^  ""^  "Pl«t«  with 
hardships  and  dangers.     As  the  number  on  board. 

mcludmg  the  crew  and  passengers,  amounted  to  nearly 
a  hundred  persons,  the  vessel  was  most  uncomfortably 
crowded;  and  the  brethren  were  confined  to  a  room 
below  the  second  deck,  only  ten  feet  square,  and  so 
low  that  they  could  not  even  sit  upright,  but  were  in 
general,  obliged  to  lie  on  the  floor.     To  add  to  this 
calamity,  the  violence  of  the  wind  and  waves  some- 
times precluded  them  from  going  on  deck  for  several 
days  together;  and,  after  encountering  many  storms, 
the  captam  was  obliged,  by  stress  of  weather,  to  run 
into  the  harbor  of  Tremmesand,  in  Norway,  where 
they  were  detained  three  months.     On  resuming  their 
voyage,  at  the  end  of  that  time,  they  had  to  encounter 
many  violent  gales  ;  and,  on  reaching  the  torrid  zone 
they  were  greatly  distressed  and  enfeebled  by  want  of 
water  and  thesmallness  of  their  apartment.  At  length 
however,  they  landed  at  St.  Thomas  on  the  11th  of 
June,  and,  about  two  months  after  their  arrival,  the 
missionary   Dober  returned  to  Europe,  having  been 
chosen  to  fill  the  office  of  an  elder  among  the  conere- 
gation  at  Herrnhut. 

As  the  brethren  who  had  been  left  in  St.  Thomas 
unfortunately    fell    victims  to  the  insalubrity  of  the 
climate,  the  mission  in  that  island  suffered  a  temporary 
suspension.     In  Dec.  1735,  however,  Frederic  Mar- 
tin  and  John  Bonike  sailed  from  the  Texel,  in  order 
to  renew  the  mission.     Immediately    after   Martin's 
arrival,  he  assembled  the  catechumens  left  by  Dober 
and  addressed  them  in  so  pertinent  and  affectionate  a 
manner,  that  they  listened  to  his  instructions  with 
mingled  attention  and  delight;  and  the  negroes  from 
other  plantations,  hearing  of  his  kind  and  conciliatory 
manners,  were  induced  to  attend  him,  till,  at  theexpi- 
ration  of  a  few  months,  he  had  the  pleasure  of  address- 
mg  upwards  of  two  hundred  individuals,  on   the  great 
subjects  connected  with  their  eternal  salvation.     The 
saving  power  of  divine  truth  was  also  demonstrated  in  the 
conversion  of  several  of  his  hearers,  and,  on  the  30th 
of  September,  1736,  three  persons  were  admitted  into 
the  church  by  baptism,  as  the  first  fruits  of  the  slaves 
in  this  island.     Indeed,  the  benign  influence  of  the 
gospel  began  to  appear  so  conspicuously  in  the  man- 
ners and  deportment  of  many  who  received  religious 
instruction,  that  several  of  the  proprietors  felt  inclined 
to  favor  the  mission,  and   one  of  them   assisted  the 
brethren,  in  the  autumn  of  1737,  to  purchase  a  small 
plantation,  to  which  they  gave  the  name  of  Pomun- 
enberg. 

Scarcely  had  the  brethren  taken  possession  of  this 
new  settlement,  when  John  Bonike  was  summoned 
into  eternity  under  Very  painful  circumstances.  This 
missionaiy  had  come  to  the  island  with  the  design  of 


working  at  his  irade.  for  the  Qiinn»..     r  »*     . 

the  Lord     L.L-'   ^^  ^"""^^^  himself  before 
whin  a  tremendous  clap  oflr  J"'""'  ^"''•=^^''«''' 

among  the  ne<rm„<,  ,u       •  "   ''"San  to  spread 

.he  invasion  of  w'trSr"  1  'r'""^'  ^'"'-'^« 
jects,  resolved  .7  poXfloXt^^^^^^^^^^  '''  ^ 
work  so  completely  subvekite  oTh        ^^^'''''  "'^'^ 

Olhers  endeavored  lo  brin.  .h.  .       ?•  "°  ""■"  • 

even  .  ^L,  orZ^L-Td  Z^LT^TJ,'"' 
unhappily  prejudiced  ajains,  the  S  """"" 
a  memorial  lo  the  Dani.h  1  b""""".  presented 
e-led  in  ,».io„^h°'Sit^TE', ■"*'■.  "' 
mdof  the  ordinance,  admini,,e  J?  k"  \.  *  .'°"' 

lariyof  .  marriage  which  h"h.d  w  '  .■""!•  P""™- 
hi,  a„i,tant  Ften'ndlich.  Ind  .mll^r:^'  llTd" 
been  converted  to  Christianity  '      ° ''"' 

M  and  Freundlich.  „ith  the  ^JTof  .J^L^^  t" 
been  or^n.,,,  .,„.  .„,  „  .  „,„„  J*'','"",  ^- 


ISLAND  OP    ST.  THOMAS. 


ly  cireumstances      S  '^^ '"P"'^?'"^^  of  his  worlds 

that  of  the  J^n.^::^:^::::^^''  r 

but  used  ever;'    1"  •  T"'^  ''''^^'^^  &<>•"  him, 

from  the  sna;i;:„7othich"  t 'C"  'k  '"°^^'  '''™ 
At  the  time  to  which  wf.  ""happily  fallen. 

was  taken  up  ^:^:^:L2o7,:^1;^1  r '^' 

value  of  ab^ut'fifte  n  rixlnt"  r''''"  '''"''  '°  ^« 
that  Martin  and   FreLKoh       '*  ^««  "ow  suggested 

knowledge  of  this  robber'       hT  ''""^  ''"^   «°™« 
summoned  to  ^^e  T^deZ'.        *''^^  r ''' "''cordingly 

orjudicature.rtl^ivTfolSJCSn'^'S"^''"" 
now  placed  in  a  comnUt^  ^i       ^"''"°"-     They  were 

Princfples  precluded  ttfrot^^^^^^^       ''t  ""?^°"' 
and  their  offer  of  answ^rbg  J""^^^^^^^^ 
strictest  veracity,  and  as  fn   th«  ^      *""  '""''  *''• 
proved  unsatisflcto"      No  c„n,r''"'"  °^  ^'^' 
could  induce  them  to';iola.:  tH-   ar^f  tW^ "'' 
sciences;  and  thi.  wci.       "'""'"ates  of  their  con- 
thirty  rixdoHars  and    n     '"'''''^"  '^'^  ^«'«  fi°ed 
to  raL  such  a  sum  ;ir"'"'"'"°^"'«''  '"^^ility 
with  the  wife  of7rfu/dlir:„r'"'?'  ^°  P^^"' 
their  fine  was  increased  fit  I        '  '"  *^''  '"""'''"' 
to  ninety  rix  dla^     '  '°  '''^'^'  '''"'  '•"«"^"''« 

But  ^yhilst  the  missionaries  were  thus  for  n  « 
surrounded  by  clouds  and  darkness   thev  ha7,K        "' 
solation  of  knowing  that  « the  r;d  7th;  T     /""" 
not  bound  "  and  tL  „™  i       7  *°  ^^^  was 

lively  inte;es:in'  tt^  £"^0?^ 't  '^'b  '"^'^  * 
only  continued  to  meet  TogXr  with  a  '"''^''\^^' 
spiritual  edification,  but  somSs  ^  Jrj  •""''' 
s.derable  numbers  under  the  Sows  of  S  "'"°"' 
where   they  poured  out  th.i7f  ^  P"'™' 

anduni.edysinj4ThV';:sro?;h:r^^^^^^^^ 

allusion  to  this  period.  Mr.  Martin  observes   "Since 
cri:w"'aL;r°'=°"S-S--  »-  been  daily'Tn 

strj;:i;tdr:„;Li  's;r\?'^'^  '-^ 

pie.  also,  have  been  led  Jf  serLs  reT  .  k  '''"■ 
confinement ;  so  that  I  trus^  Z'Zm'SZIIZ 
blessing  to  the  whole  country.  Even  in  the  iSrt  ! 
good  appears  to  have  been  doneTaniere  is  ^  T 
a  soldier  now  who  ventures  to  d;f:me  I"  hZh  t 
first  they  were  wicked  enough  in  this  resp'ect  f ''an 
not  describe  what  the  Lord  is  doing      Mav  L  „    m 


the  grace  of  God,  to    persevere,  waiting  on  him  to 
overrule  all  for  his  own  glory." 

Whilst  the  missionaries  remained  in  confinement,  and 
before  they  could  convey  any  intelligence  of  their  mis- 
fortunes to  their  friends  in  Europe,  Count  Zinzendorf 
was  providentially  led  to  visit  St.  Thomas,  and,  about 
the  end  of  January,  1739,  he  arrived  in  that  island 
with  two  brethren  and  their  wives,  who  were  designed 
to  assist  in  the  instruction  of  the  negroes.     He  imme- 
diately waited  on  the  governor,  and  obtained  the  liber- 
ation of  the  missionaries  ;   and  it  is  pleasing  to  add, 
that  Fredler  himself  was  subsequently  liberated  from' 
confinement,  as  no  proof  could  be  brought  forward  to 
substantiate   the   foul   and   cruel   charge   which  was 
brought  against  him. 

Count  Zinzendorf  was  equally  surprised  and  grati- 
fied at  the  extent  of  the  field  which  God  had  opened 
to  the  labors  of  the  brethren  ;  as,  at  tliis  time,  the 
negroes  who  regularly  attended  the   preaching  of  the 
gospel  amounted  to  800.     These   persons  assembled 
every  evening  as  soon  as  they  had  finished  their  daily 
labors,  and,  on  several  occasions,  the  count  addressed 
them  himself     Many  of  the  Europeans,  however, 
regarded  them  with  the  most  inveterate  hostility  ;  and 
on  the  day  before  the  departure  of  their  noble  visitor, 
when  the  baptized  slaves  were  returning  from  a  fare- 
well meeting,  they  were  attacked  by  a  party  of  white 
people,  with  slicks  and  drawn  swords,  and  the  mission- 
ary house  at  Posaunenberg  became  a  scene  of  riot 
and  spoliation  ;  the  glasses,  chairs,  and  other  articles 
of  furniture,  being  either  dashed  to  pieces  or  thrown 
out  at  the  windows.     The  governor,  indeed,  expressed 
his  strong  disapprobation  of  this  outrage,  and  assured 
Zmzendorfthat  the  missionaries  might  rely  implicitly 
on  his  protection  ;  yet,  scarcely  had  the  count  set  sail 
for  Europe,  when  more  flagrant  acts  of  violence  were 
committed,  and  it  became  necessary  to  hold  the  meet- 
ings for  worship  in  the  woods,  and  to  employ  watcl,- 
men  to  apprize  the  congregation  of  the  approach  of 
their  enemies.     In  a  few  weeks,  however,  the  fury  of 
persecution  began  to  subside  ;  and  shortly  afterwards 
in  consequence  of  the  petitions  drawn  up  by  the  ne' 
groes,  and  presented  to  the  king  of  Denmark,  an  order 
arrived  from  Copenhagen,  sanctioning  the  ordination 
of  tlie    missionary   Martin,  and    authorizing  him    to 
preach,  to  solemnize  marriage,  and   to  administer  the 
sacraments. 

The  mission  now  began  to  assume  a  very  favorable 
aspect  and  Martin  and  his  faithful  colleagues  pursued 
their  labors  with  unremitting  assiduity  ;  as,  besides 
preaching  on  their  own  plantation,  the  proprietors  of 
three  other  estates  permitted  them  t,..  vi.  .  .'vMr  ne<rroes 

the  glad  tidings  of  salvation.     In  .viiti .    ou  i;ns  sub- 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


ject,  in  1740,  Mr.  Martin  says,  «  Scarcely  .  day  passes 
but  some  of  these  poor  creatures  call  upon  us,  bemoan- 
•ng  their  sin  and  misery,  and  praying,  with  floods  of 
tears,  for  divine  grace.  When  we  walk  out,  we  fre- 
quently observe  one  and  another  praying  and  crying 
o  the  Lord  Jesus,  to  be  cleansed  from  their  sins  by 
his  precious  blood.  The  power  of  the  word  of  atone- 
ment, in  convincing  them  of  their  sinful  state,  and  in 
magnifying  the  riches  of  divine  grace,  is  truly  sur- 
pnsing."  ^ 

It  appears,  from  authentic  documents,  that  on  one 
day  forty,  and  on  another  ninety,  negroes  were  admitted 
into  the  church  by  the  solemn  rite  of  baptism  ;  but, 
whilst  the  hearts  of  the  missionaries  exulted  in  the 
extension  and  success  of  their  labors,  their  constitutions 
began  to  sink,  and  breaches  were  fi-equently  made 
among  them  by  death.  In  the  European  congrega- 
tions, however,  persons  were  always  found  possessing 
sufficient  zeal  for  the  cause  of  Christ,  and  sufficient 
affection  for  the  souls  of  men,  to  induce  them  to  sup- 
ply  the  places  of  those  who  had  entered  into  the  rest 
which  remaineth  for  the  people  of  God. 

Inl749,  Bishop  WatteviUe  arrived  at  St.  Thomas 
for  the  purpose  of  holding  a  visitation  there,  and  in 
the  adjacent  islands  ;  and  during  his  stay,  which  con- 
tinued about  two  months,  above  a  hundred  persons 
were  baptized,  comprising  many  aged,  blind,  and  lame 
I  persons,  who  came  from  a  considerable  distance 
A  new  awakening,  also,  arose,  and  spread  with  such 
rapidity,  that,  on  one  sabbath,  three  hundred  and 
eighty  negroes  requested  to  have  their  names  enrolled 
among  the  catechumens,  and  in  a  very  short  time  their 
numbers  amounted  to  nine  hundred,  exclusive  of  be- 
tween two  and  three  hundred  children. 

The  following  year  was  marked  by  the  death  of 
tliat  indefatigable  laborer,  Frederic  Martin,  who  ex- 
changed  the  toils  and  sorrows  of  earth  for  the  joys 
and  glories  of  heaven,  after  he  had  faithfully  publish- 
ed the  gospel  of  Jesus  to  the  negroes  for  a  period  of 
fifteen  years.  Other  hands,  however,  continued  to 
cultivate  the  vineyard  which  he  had  left  for  ever,  and 
the  unction  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  like  the  fertilizing  dews 
ol  tlie  morning  and  evening,  cause-'  r  uc!:  sruit  to  bo 
brought  forth  to  the  honor  of  God. 

In  the  year  1753,  the  brethren  cJii  ->  *  >  ^e  of 
their  plantation  from  Posaunenber^  _  ,  _  ,  Utnnhut; 
and,  about  the  same  time,  they  purchased  another 
estate  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  island,  whicli  they 
called  Niesky.  In  each  of  these  places  they  preach- 
ed the  Fospel  to  crowds  of  attentive  hearers,  and  up- 
wards  a  hundred  persons  were  annually  admitted 
'nto  tl.  church  by  baptism.  They  also  preached 
on  several  estates,  by  permission  of  the  proprietors, 
who  became  more  and  more  convinced  that  the  instruc- 


uonof  the  negroes  tended  to  their  own  advantage 

thwneserncewaslikewise.occasionallyperforTdr. 
small  chapel  .n  the  village  of  Tappus,  for  their 
vemence  of  the  sick  and  infirm  ;a„d  in  all  thel 
abors.  as  well  as  in  the  instruction 'of  so^elndreds  of 
children,  d.spei.ed  through  the  whole  island,  the  „is. 
onar.es  received  considerable  aid  from  the  Ltive  a  . 

w  ntv  L"  "rr'"'  "'  *''"  '-«'  «-ounted" 
twenty.four,  and  whose  public  addresses  and  private 
exhortafons  were,  in  many  instances,  blessed  T  the 
souls  of  their  sable  countrymen. 

haJ"so!oI;if  "rf'«'-°f  ^«""n"nicants  in  this  island 
had  so  cons  derably  mcreased,  that  it  became  neces- 

In  1776,  a  party  of  six  missionaries  de^tin«^  .^ 
labor  in  this  part  of  the  Redeemer"  ^hulh 
unfortunately  shipwrecked  off  one  of  he  8^'.."^ 
«les  called  Walsey.  ProvidenSy,  h  ^:,^M; 
were  so  near  the  shore  that  they  all  escaped  with 
We,  except  one  female,  who  fell  among  the  trlt 

«"to7'TrJ'''-'''"'^''""  "^'^  melanchoTst' 
pStv  bv  t  "°"  ""^  '''"'''^  ""»'  Sreat'^bos- 
erlS.  K  P'°P"«»°'  of  the  isle,  till  they  were 
enabled  to  ob.am  a  passage  to  Norway  ;  and  earlTb 
the  followmg  spring  they  proceeded  to  St.  ThomL 

An  uncommon  drought  which  occurred  in  1 78qT„H 
lasted  nearly  three  years,  occasioned  a  univer/ fin 
ure  o  the  crops,  and  was  attended  by  the  most  friSt 
ful  ca,a™,t.es.     As  famine  prevailed  b  eveTquan    " 

able  pr.ce,  great  numbers  of  the  negroes  died  of  want 
and  others  were  unable  to  attend  divine  worshrp  in 
co..sequence  of  their  extreme  weakness.     SeveS  of 
the  planters  were  induced,  by  want,  to  sell  thei  slaves 

ZZ1Z7  *''  ''''''''  ^'"^''^"  negroes Tet  e  : 
arated  from  the  presence  and  instructions  of  the  breth 

rj  Ttr'u'.  ''^  "'^''^^  ''^-'-'^  -ere  preduded' 
from   uifihng  their  religious  duties,  in  conseLence  of 
their  having  been  appointed  to  watch  the  2nZ 
particularly  on  the  sabbath.    NotiXirsl' 
distresses,  however,  the  work  of  the  Lord  Continued 
to  prosper  ;  many  new  hearers  attended   the  p  lach 
ng  of  the  gospel  ;  and.  in  one  year,  240  negroe  weJe 
baptized,  by  the  njissionaries,  in  St.  Thomafand  th" 
two  adjacent  islands. 

Jr..  '"^^^'/''^   missionary   Leupold   and  his   wife 

TtZZ^  "  ""'•''  ^'^'"'  "'^''^^  °"  their  passagt 
St^  Thomas,  were  captured  by  an  English  privafeer 
and  earned  to  the  island  of  Tortola.     Here  they  e„: 

.  o.  me  r.„g,i,„  ,a„guage  rendered  their  situation 


ISLAND  OF  ST.  THOMAS. 


67 


still  more  trying.  At  length,  however,  throueh  th. 
mterference  of  a  German  captain,  they  ;b  Zed  their 
ies^a'tir  "^'^  '''-''  ''''''''  toth^eplace^f  ttT . 

Off  the  coast  of  St  Sr^.l^t'r  rnTTaJ 
.mpracticable  against  such  a  supe  ioT  C  the  coT 
mandant  was  under  the  necessity  of  capitulati„;  T„' 
effus.on  of  human  blood  was  thus  happily  plvented 

Scent  1,  h  ^''^^'^'Sn^y  -^  St.  Thomas  and  the 
aajacent  isles,  however,  was  soon  aeain  cedoH  to  .K„ 
crown  of  Denmark,  and  no  events  occurred   fo^sv 

.a?nJr '  "'""  '"  '''  '"'^^'°"'  -"'^y  «^  P««icu- 
In  the  year  1817,  a  contagious  fever  prevailed  here 

and  .„  ,he  neighboring  islands,  which  fvas  ,.2^ 

fatal  to  Europeans,  and  extended  its  rava.es  to  the 
missionary  settlements,  where,  in  less  than  five  weeks 
n'ToJ?  • '"fr  ^"'  ^^^  "^  *"«  sisters  weTe   at' 

SeA  ^  .  ""*  *""  ^'"^  '^'''''"^''  they  were 
U  elrlX  """"V  "'^^  "•''^"*  ^"^  ^^^'"'•'tive  in 
us  effectsthan  any  former  one  remembered  by  the 
oWes   inhabitant.     At  New  Hermhut,  the  roof  of  the 

wh"tV".T""''  ''""^  '  '•'^  ^«»«  of  the  old  chur  h 
which  had  been  converted  into  a  workshop,  were  com- 
pletely rent  asunder;  the  largest  trees  wer^eX 
torn  up  by  the  roots  or  broken  in  pieces;  and  the 
whde  surface  of  the  country  seemed  covered  \^S 
earth  and  stones.     At  Niesky,  the  devastations  we  e 
nearly  similar;  and   in   the   harbor  of  St.  Thomas 
many  lives  were  lost ;  as  all  the  vessels  exceptTi 
were  driven  on  Shore,  and  a  great  proportion  of  thei^ 
crews  fell  victims  to  the  merciless  fury  of  the  storm 
1  he  missionaries,  however,  together  with  their  families 
and  negro  servants,  were  all  mercifully  preserved,  and 
heir  houses  and  churches,  though  severely  injured, 
remained  standing.  ^      j"«cu, 

has  been  advancing.  In  1825,  the  missionary  Hope 
gave  pleasing  statements  respecting  the  prospects  in 
the  Danish  islands  as  to  the  grand  object,  viz.  "the 
blessing  attending,  and  the  fruit  arising  from  the 
preaching  of  the  gospel."  0„  the  12th  of  Feb  1825 
there  was  a  dreadful  conflagration  in  the  town  of  St" 
1  nomas  ;  the  mission  house  and  church  were  spared  • 
but  many  free  iiegroes,  belonging  to  the  congregation 
at  Niesky  lost  their  all.     This  year,  missionaries  were 

M^  rn'M^r-  ""'■"^'   '"^  '^"^  ^'""^^  Slates. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eberman  sailed  from  Philadelphia,  in 


6d 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


the  brig  Seahorse,  bound  to  St.  Thomas.     At  the  dis- 
tance  of  about  twenty  miles  on  this  side  of  the  Capes 
of  Delaware,  the  vessel  was  struck  by  a  violnnt  squall, 
and  instantly  tlirown  on  her  side.     Brother  Ebcrman] 
together  with  other  passengers,  and  the  captain  and 
crew,  were  enabled  to  support  themselves  above  water 
by  holding  fast  to  the  rigging.     The  helpless  situaiion 
of  sister  Eberman  prevented  her,  alone,  from  extricating 
herself  from  the  baggage  ;  which,  as  the  cabin  filled 
with  water,  was  drifting  about,  and  completely  jammed 
her  in.     Providentially,  she,  by  supporting  herself  on 
the  floating  trunks,  was  raised  up  into  the  most  forward 
birth  in  the  cabin  ;  so  that,  although  she  was  up  to 
the   chin   in    the  water,    room  was  left  for  respira- 
tion.    Notwithstanding  every  exertion  on  the  part  of 
the  captain  and  crew,  it  was  impossible  to  come  to 
her  assistance  ;  nor  could  an  attempt  be  made  to  cut 
her  out,  every  thing  movable  having  been  washed 
overboard.     But  it  pleased  God  to  send  help  in  time. 
About  half  an  hour  after  the  vessel  had  been  struck, 
another  outward-bound   vessel  approached  ;  and,  by 
the  kind  and  judicious  exertions  of  her  captain,  who 
boarded  m  a  boat,  and  brought  the   necessary  tools,  a 
hole  was  cut  through  the  side  of  the  vessel,  just  above 
the  head  of  sister  Ebernmn  ;  through  this  opening 
she  was  drawn  out,  before  life  had  fled,  after  she  had 
remained  in  imminent  danger  of  death  for  near  an  hour. 
Bishop  Huefl^el,  in  his  journal,  seems  to  have  been 
much  gratified  with  the   various  settlements  on  tiiis 
island.     At  New  Herrnhut,    he  says,  •'  The  burial- 
ground  is  approached  by  a  shady  avenu     of  beautiful 
t-ees,  and  is  remarkable  for  tiie  tombs  ol  a  number  of 
faithful  servants  and  handmaids  of  the  Lord.     After 
public  service,  which  was  attended  by  a  great  number 
of  hearers,  I  had  the  favor,  for  the  first  time,  to  bap- 
tize two  converts  from  among  the  heatiien  :  one  couple 
were  then  married  according  to  the  forms  of  our  church  ; 
and    m  the  evening  meeting,  seven  persons,  baptized' 
as  children,  were  received  into  the  congregation." 

In  18si9,  the  new  mission  premises  at  Niesky  were 
completed,  and  the  brethren  had  the  gratification  to 
occupy  them  upon  the  7th  of  July. 


ST.  CROIX. 


In  the  year  173:),  the  fine  and  extensive,  but  long 
neglected,  island  of  St.  Croix  was  sol.l  by  the  crown 
of  Prance  to  the  Danish  West  India  Company  ;  and 
t  .e  Lord  Ch.mberlain  Plcss,  having  purrhased  six 
plantations,  applied  to  Count  Zinzendorf  for  some  of 
the  United  Brethren  to  go  „ut  a.  ..v.-rscers  of  his  es- 
tutcs,  and  at  the  same  time  to  employ  themselves  in 


the  religious  instruction  of  the  slaves.  This  request 
was  no  sooner  communicated  to  the  congregation,  than 
several  of  the  brethren  and  .listers  volunteered  their 
services  to  form  a  colony  in  St.  Croix,  as  they  con- 
sidered  "  a  great  door  and  effectual  "  was  opened  for 
the  conversion  of  the  negroes  ;  and,  in  the  month  of 
August,  four  married  couples  and  ten  unmarried  breth- 
ren quitted  Herrnhut,  with  the  view  of  proceeding  to 
St,  Croix.  Some  of  them,  however,  were  finally 
destined  to  assist  the  missionaries  in  St.  Thomas. 

After  a  tedious  and  dangerous  voyage  from  Copen- 
hagen, the  colonists  arrived  at  St.  Croix  in  the  month 
of  June,   1734  ;  but  the  insalubrity  of  the  climate, 
added  to  their  incessant  laoor  in  clearing  the  land,  had 
such  an  effect  upon  their  health,  that  they  all  sicken- 
ed,  one  after  another ;  and,  oefore  the  expiration  of 
the  year,  ten  of  their  number  were  removed  into  the 
worid  of  spirits.    Their  places,  indeed,  were  supplied, 
eariy  in  the  ensuing  year,  by  a  second  company  of 
eleven  persons  from  Herrnhut ;  but  these  were  soon 
attacked  by  the  same  diseases  which  had  proved  fatal 
to  their  predecessors  ;  and,  as   the   colony    did    not 
answer  in  other  respects,  the  few  who  survived  either 
went  to  Si.  Thomas,  or  returned  to  Europe,  and   the 
idea  of  a  settlement  in  St.  Croix  was,  for  the  present, 
abandoned.     The  negroes  on   that  island,  however,' 
were  not  left  wholly  destitute  of  instruction,  as  the 
missionaries  in  St.  Thomas  visited  them  occasionally, 
and  were  successful,  at  least,  in  awakening  their  atten- 
tion to  the  important  truths  which  occasionally  sound- 
ed in  their  ears. 

In  1740,  a  colony  was  again  settled  in  St.  Croix, 
and  Christian  Gottlieb  Lsrael,  George  Weber,  and  the 
wife  of  the  latter,  removed  thither  from  St.  Thomas, 
in  order  to  renew  the  mission,  and  establish  it,  if  pos- 
sible, on  a  pernwnent  basis.  A  year  or  two  afterward, 
the  missionary  Martin  arrived  on  a  visit,  and  purchased 
a  sm;ill  estate  for  the  brethren  :  he  also  baptized  two 
negro  men  and  two  women,  who  were  tli.-  first  slaves 
in  this  island  received  into  the  Chrisiiun  clmrrh.  The 
cliiiinte,  however,  proved  so  destructive  to  the  health 
of  the  Europeans,  that  they  were  compelled,  however 
relurt.inily,  to  quit  the  scene  of  their  lajiors  ;  and  no 
missioiiaiy  was  siaiioiiod  there,  for  u  constancy,  till  the 
year  :7r)3. 

The  first  persons  who  siicreoded  in  making  good 
their  footing  on  this  island,  were  (Jeorgi^  Olineherg, 
and  two  other  brethren,  who  wen?  joyfiilly  received 
hy  the  Christian  negroes  ;  hut  both  they  nnd  the 
slaves  in  their  neighborhood  were,  for  sonic  time,  kept 
111  a  st.ite  of  conslant  iilnrm  by  the  repeated  attempts 
of  some  wicked  incendiaries  to  burn  their  Iiouros.  In 
some  instances,  the  fire  was  discovered  and  extingiii.sh- 

ed    boror/>     if     linri     Anna    •n||rK    mi-'U' 


much  fni?rhief,  but 


in   oincrs. 


the  huts  of  the  negroes  were  completely  consumer! 
and  Ohneberg's  house  was  eventually  destZel' 
though  h.  furniture  was  happily  rescued  ro7tht' 
conflagrafon  Nothing,  however,  could  shak™  his 
resolution  of  remaining  at  his  post;  and,  whe„  h 
.nflex.b,hty  on  this  point  became  known,  the  tor^h  of 
persecut.on  was  extinguished,  and  the  mission  began 

who  h  T  '"'^  "  r'""'"^  '"P^'=»'  «''«'  "'«  brethrfn! 
who  had  previously  resided  on  one  of  the  Company^ 

plantations,  purchased  an  estate  of  four  acres,  to  whfch 
they  gave  the  name  of  Friedensthal,  and  ;recTed  a 
church  and  dwelling  house  upon  it.     The  numlerof 
persons  who  attended  the  preaching  of  the  ^osll 
aiso.   rapidly   increased,  and   upwards  of  a  huTdred 

ri:fo7v:;sr''^ ''-''-' -^^  ^'^  ^"-^  ^T^^' 

In  1765,  a  new  mission-house,  at  the  west  p„^  „f 
.he  island,  was  unfortunately  destroyed  by  "n'he 

course  of  a  few  yea«,  however,  in  addition  to  t  le  r^! 

and  in  1771    the  settlement  in  this  district  received 
the  name  of  Friedembcrg.  received 

The  ensuing  year  was  a  period  of  severe  trial.     Bv 
a  hurncane,  which  occurred  on  the  31st  of  Aun" 
^.e  church,  , he  dwelling-houses,  and  all  the  offi  e    of 
Fnedensthal,  were  completely  blown  down  ;  the  ne  vly 
e^cted  house  at  Friedensberg  was  romov;d  froTi  s 
«Uuation  and  materially  injured  ;  and  the  bre.h  Inand 
their  families    who  had  sought  an  asylum  i„   their 
cellars   were,  for  several  hours,  kept  in  constant  ex 
pectatiun  of  death.     The  famine  and  epidem  ^  iek 
nss  which  followed  the  tempest,  swep.^ff  .iT^f 
the  slaves  and  diminished  the  number  of  the  missiona 
nes^    Amidst  the  general  distress,  however,  the  cause 
of  Go.l  continued  to  flourish;  .|,o  ne.roes  apncaro. 
more  and  more  anxious  to  ascertain  ,1,.  way  of'suu". 
tjon  ;  and  .such  was  the  spirit  of  hearing  among  .lu-n. 
that,  nouv.thstandmg  the  public  services  nt  Kriodens,h„i 

wore  held  for  nearly  .w.e!ve  mon.hs  in  , he  op" 
he    au.  tory    f..e,„e.uly    consisted   of  more  'th  „    a 
thousand    persons,  nn.l    „,„„y  were  every  month  J. 
""»«   to  the  privilege  of  Christian   bapLm.     s.., 
'"'loed,  was  .he  rapi.l  progress  of  .he  n.ission,  .h„,   ,' 
soon   became  desirable  ,o  ob.ain   a   .hir.l    and  more 
cen.n.-uls,.u„„on;  and,  in  177H,  „n  es.a.c  was  p„r- 
chase.l  for  .ha.  purpose,  .o  which   .he  brethren  gave 
the  name  of  Vrir.dvmfeUi.  ^ 

ant^orr'n"'"""'  ^""•'"^"'".'■•"•'"•'rly  ,hc  command- 
ant of  St.  lho„„,s,  and  a  kin<l  patron  of  .he  mission- 
aries was  „,.p,.in.e,l  governor-general  of  .he  Dani.sl. 
We,  India  islands  „„d  .ook  up  his  residonee  in 
St.  l-roix,  which  hud  been  cons.i.u.ed  .he  sea.  of  .ho 

governmen..    The  joy  which  .his  even.  dim.,..,!,,. I 

the  breihron,  however,  was  of  short  duration  ;  as  .I'.i^' 


ISLAND  OF  ST.  CROIX. 


69 


oration  having  been  previou  ly  de Wd   L  t' 

.on  of  the  governor  in   1801  ;  but  the  bre  hTn  « 
Friedensberg  were  severely  tried,  in  consequence  ^f 
heir  mission-house  being  occupied  as  an  1.0^^^. 
!    he  British  .roops.     For  some  .ime.  indeed,  .fertu 
lar  services  were  performed  in  the  chapel,  and  Inled 
by  numerous  congregations,   but  the  offensive  smell 

erable   rendered  it  impossible  to  meet  in  such  a  situa 
^on.     Some  of  the  missionaries,   therefore    went  Tn 
Friedensthal.  and  others  were  kindly  accommXeS 
on  a  neighboring  plantation,  for  about  two  monl 
when  the  hospital  was  removed  to  the  west  en7of  the 

Fnedensfeld   was   consecrated  to  the  worship  of  the 
hving  God   and  on  that  interesting  occasion 'a  gre« 

ol  the  island,  comprising  several  members  of  the 
legisia.ure,  assembled  together ;  indeed,  the  con.re! 
ga  .on  was  so  numerous,  that  not  a  third  par  Zw 
obtain  admittance  wi.hin  the  doors  ;  and  thl  ser'c  s 

blessing  ''•^''"'"'  •"  ""'  ""•'"''^'1  -^''  »  Pecuhlr 

etf.     of  .he   la.e  venerable  Matthew  Wied,   da.ed 

•nedcnsberg,  August.  18*Mn   which   he  sa;s,  "as 

to  the  progress  of  the  mission  in  this  island,  .houdi  we 

••anno,  speak  of  any  great  awakening  amo  g  ,  '  „L! 

Sroes,  ye,  we  may  declare,  .o  ,he  praise  of  God   .l"It 

'<als  many  .„  us  from  among  .he  hea.hen,  who  ear- 
neslly  „„,u,re  what  they  must  do  .o  be  .sav^d  " 

from  a  le..er,da.od  July,  ,8^(5.  i.  appears '.ha,  .he 
congregation   a.    F.ie.lensfeld    is  in  a  flourishing  co  ! 

The  mos,  Krn,ifyingtes.imony  to  the  state  of  thing, 

, '  ,  •  U""  '.'  '^^"""'  '"  "■*'  J""^""'  "'■  'ho  venerable 
-  op  Christian  (ictlieh  Hueffel.  la.e  superin.cnde.U 
<.f  he  congrega.ions  in  Nor.h  America,  and  a  member 
<.f  «hecoj^,ference  of  the  Uni.y  i„  Saxony,  and  who 
V...  c;™...i.,.iu„.^  i,,  visit  the  stations  of  .he  bre.hren, 
in  th«  Leeward  West  India  islands.     He  writes,  April 


TO 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


I:jl 


SO,  1828, "  I  went  to  Friedensfeld,  the  newest  settle- 
ment of  the  brethren  in  this  island.  The  missiona- 
ries received  me  with  joy.  I  waited  upon  the  govern- 
or-general of  the  Danish  islands,  Admiral  Von  Barden- 
fleth,  who  bore  testimony  to  the  good  effects  of 
the  labors  of  the  brethren,  of  whom  he  spoke  in  the 
most  favorable  terms ;  and  afterwards  gave  us  many 
proofs  of  his  good  will.  At  the  communion,  the  liturgy 
was  read  in  Creole,  but  the  prayer  in  English. 
About  400  communicants  attended,  which  was  not 
their  full  number.  It  was  quite  affecting  to  me  to  see 
how  quietly  this  large  company  dispersed  toward 
evening,  among  whom  were  many  cripples  and  lame 
people,  no  doubt  still  meditating  on  the  blessings 
which  the  Lord  had  imparted  to  them." 

The  account  of  the  state  of  the  mission  in  St.  Croix, 
and  the  other  Danish  West  India  islands,  is  admirably 
exhibited  in  the  following  letter  from  Mr.  Klingenberg, 
dated  Nov.  4, 1829. 

"In  regard  to  the  mission  in  these  islands,  which, 
as  is  well  known,  has  existed  now  for  nearly  a  century, 
we  can  declare,  with  humble  thankfulness  to  the  Lord, 
that  it  still  continues  to  be  a  light  unto  all  around,  and 
a  striking  evidence  of  the  mercy,  power  and  faithful- 
ness of  God  our  Saviour.  This  is  apparent  not  only 
in  the  diligent  attendance  of  the  negroes  on  the  means 
of  grace,  and  in  the  blessings  vouchsafed  on  festival 
occasions,  and  particularly  at  the  administration  of  the 
holy  communion,  but  likewise  in  the  walk  and  conver- 
sation of  the  majority  of  our  church  members.  We 
must  at  the  same  time  admit,  that  there  are  niany,])ar- 
ticularly  among  those  who  have  enjoyed  the  benefit  of 
early  Christian  instruction,  from  whom  we  might  rea- 
sonably expect  better  things  ;  and  we  feel  it  necessary 
to  watch  and  pray  fervently,  and  without  ceasing, 
against  that  favorite  device  of  Satan,  wliicli  consists 
in  leading  men  to  believe  that  the  religion  of  Christ  is 
a  mere  system,  and  that  the  outward  profession  of 
godliness  is  sufficient,  though  unar('onip:inic(i  by  a  real 
conversion  of  lieort.  In  many  who  apply  to  us  for  ad- 
mission to  the  privileges  of  the  church,  we  could  wish 
to  discover  a  deeper  conviction  of  their  sinfulness, 
and  a  more  earnest  desire  to  heronie  savingly  a(-(juainl- 
ed  with  Jesus  as  tiicir  Saviour ;  hut  this  is  an  expe- 
rience to  wiiich  the  .servants  of  God  who  labor  in 
Christian  countries  are  no  strangers.  Sometiines 
we  feel  discouraged,  because  renmrkahle  instances  ol 
the  power  of  divine  grace  are  no  longer  so  frequent  as 
in  fonner  times,  or  as  they  appear  to  be  in  other  mis- 
sions, wliicii  an?  only  beginning  to  prosper  ;  but  we  are 
again  cheered  liy  the  discovery,  tiiat  the  work  of  the 
Holy  Spirit  is  proceeding  in  the  hearts  of  many,  of 
whom,  perhaps,  wo  hud  been  tempted  to  indulge  but 
feeble  hopes.     Our  conversations  with  individuals  arc 


often  truly  edifying,  and  we  regret  the  more  that  the 
language  in  which  they  are  of  necessity  held  renders 
it  difficult  for  us  to  do  justice  to  them.  Many  an  ex- 
pression uttered  by  a  poor  negro  in  the  Creole  lan- 
guage, and  which,  notwithstanding  the  imperfection, 
and  the  apparent  childishness  of  this  dialect,  strikes 
us  as  both  forcible  and  apposite,  would,  if  translated 
into  an  European  language,  sound  very  weak,  and  almost 
unmeaning.  This  must  account  for  a  defect  in  our 
diaries,  which  has  probably  often  been  noticed  by  our 
European  brethren. 

"  From  our  benevolent  government,  and,  in  general, 
we  must  add,  from  the  white  population  of  these  islands, 
our  missionary  work  continues  to  receive  every  degree 
of  encouragem'jnt  and  support.  The  change  which 
it  has  been  the  instrument  in  the  hand  of  God  of 
effecting  in  the  characters  and  conduct  of  no  inconsid- 
erable portion  of  the  negro  population,  is,  indeed,  too 
evident  to  be  denied.  Our  governor-general,  Mr.  Van 
Scholten,  was  pisased  to  give  us  a  very  gratifying 
proof  of  the  estimation  in  which  he  holds  the  breth- 
ren's mission,  during  a  visit  which  he  paid  to  Frie- 
densfeld, in  the  beginning  of  the  present  year.  After 
attending  divine  service  in  our  church,  he  made  par- 
ticular inquiries  concerning  the  progress  of  the  mission 
in  St.  Croix,  and  tiie  number  of  negroes  under  our 
care  ;  on  being  informed  that  the  latter  amounted  to 
(5000,  he  declared,  in  presence  of  his  attendants,  that  he 
considered  it  would  be  for  the  benefit  of  the  colony,  if 
a  much  larger  proportion  of  its  population  (amounting 
to  21,000)  was  In  connection  with  our  church,  prom- 
ising, at  the  same  time,  to  promote  the  cause  of  the 
mission  by  every  means  in  his  power." 


ST.  JAN. 

A  few  years  after  the  commencement  of  the  mission 
in  St.  Croix,  the  attention  of  the  bretiiren  was  provi- 
dentially directed  to  St.  Jan,  the  third  ond  smallest 
of  the  Danish  West  India  islands.  Some  of  tiiem,  in- 
deed, had  previously  visited  it,  in  consequence  of  a  few 
of  the  converts  at  St.  Thomas  having  been  transferred 
tiiithor  :  but,  in  17'1I,  a  circimistance  occurred  wliidj 
was  peculiarly  adapted  to  give  u  powerful  impetus  to 
their  exertions.  A  pious  iiinn,  named  Jens  Hasrnus, 
an  overseer  of  one  of  the  plantations,  who  had  form- 
ed nn  acquaintance  with  the  missionnriosat  St.  Thom- 
as, began  to  address  i\w  word  of  salvation  to  the  ne- 
groes under  his  core,  and  occasionally  invited  Frederic 
Martin  and  others  to  come  over  and  assist  him  in  this 
labor  of  love.  Great  attention  was  thus  excited  among 
the  slaves,  and,  in  the  course  of  a  few  years,  it  was  so 


endent  A.  the  word  spoken  was  attended  with  a 
dmne  blessing  that  a  small  estate  was  purchased  as  a 
missionary  settlement,  and  called  Bethany  L  ;^ 

LLToT^r^r"'^''"^^'^"''"^-''-.^"^^ 

island  of  St.  Thomas,  took  up  his  residence  there  as 
the  harbmger  of  life  and  salvation  to  his  fellow  men 

*or  some  t.me  the  progress  of  the  mission  appea.^. 
ed  extremely  slow  ;  as  the  negroes,  in  too  ma'y  ." 
stances,  seemed  unconscious  of  the  privileges  connected 
with  the  means  of  grace.  After  the  lapse  of  a  few 
years,  however,  a  considerable  revival  took  place,  and  a 
contemporary  wnter  has  justly  observed,  that, "  though 
acenT"  l";'  '""''"^  ""  ""'^^  ^reat  as  i'n  the  ad- 
Lntltt       '  r  .'^»\P-'"^P'.  greater,  in  propor- 

In  1766,  the  church,  which  had  been  unfortunately 

blown  down  by  a  tempest,  was  rebuilt,  to  the  S 

joy  of  .he  converted  negroes,  who  had  been  compel  ed 

for  several  months,  to  hold  their  religious  meetingsTn 

he  open   a.r,  and  to   forego   the   celebration    of  the 

Lord  s  supper.     And,  i„  1782,  the  brethren  purcha    d 

a  house  and  a  p.eceof  ground,  in  another  part  of   he 

«land,  for  the  accommodation  of  those  negroes  who 

were   precluded,  by  distance,  from  regularly  I  .^nd! 

.ng     i.e    worship    at   Bethany.     I„    ,L   se'^^.Ceni 

winch  was  called  E^.aus,  a  new  church  waser^ed; 

and   a   m.ss.onary  was   settled  ;-two  circumstances 

which  appeared  ,o  afford  much  gratification  to  the 

wlme  u.lmb..ants  of  the  neighborhood,  as  well  as  to  the 

peculiar  objects  of  the  mission. 

In  the  month  of  August,   1793,  a   dreadful  hurri- 
cane  occurred  m  the  West  India  islands,  and  provTd 
part.cuh.rly  destructive  at  S,.  J„n      Of  ,ho   two  mis 
s-onary  settlements,  Bethany  and  E.nn.aus,  the  fonnor 
was  most  exposed  to  the  fury  of  the  to.npest,  and  ti.e'o 
the  scene  was  truly  appalling.    The  storm  com.nenced 
m.hoeven.ngof  the   l.th,  and  before   .norning    , 
b  ethron   and  many  p^sons,  both  E..ropenns  and  peo- 
ple of  color  who  had  (led  to  them  fro.n  ditr-r,...  part, 
"f      0  n...gborl.„od  could  scarcely  find  shelter  in  any 
pf  the  Innhhugs.      Almu,  ..jfrlu  o'clock  the  wind  sud- 
<l-nl.v  veercl  to  the  south,  when  all  the  houses  of  the 
ncR.oes  were  swept   away  in  an   instant  ;  an.l.  soon 

after,  thechnrch  fell  with  a  trcnendous  crash,  a, d 
ru.ns  were  wh,.led  into  ,I,e  air,  an.l  carried  t^  a  co  - 
siderahle  ..stance  ;  bonr.ls.  bea.ns,  rafters  and  shin.l,., 
flying  .n  all  d.rect.ons.  The  ,„issi.,n-ho„se.  also  wn 
...  the  tnost  nnn,inent  .longer,  as  i,  erncked  and  .rem- 
bie,i  to  the  hmndation,  whilst  the  sea-water,  which  had 
been  .Ir.ven  upon  the  roof  by  the  i.npe.uosity  of  the 

C-  ;""'";"•:"""'  "'^''"""'  i"'"  nil  <1..-  apartments, 
I  rov..Icnlially.  however,  this  wa«  "-= -'    

With  the  church  and  dwelling-hous;  of  the  brJdSTa;  , 


ISLAND  OF  JAMAICA. 


It  IS  to  be  regretted  that  a  regular  historv  of  tJ.- 
missmn  in  St.  Jan  has  not  been  publish^    Tt  seems 
however,  that  n  the  year  Ifti^  ti,„  "seems, 

;.^  brethren  on  this  isCd  t!;L;l?S:;rJ 

Lh  H    '  '"'.'"^'"S  '=''"'^'«"'  """J  «f  'h-  number  67? 
had  been  admitted  to  the  holy  sacrament. 

Ihe  hurricane  which  was  felt  so  severelv  in  <!» 

Crotx  m  the  autumn  of  ,819,  also  visi    dThe    s,a„d 

alyettrns'"'^^^^^^^^ 

me  storm,  and  the  ram  poured  into  th^  rr^rr..  ■    . 
rents       All  »K„  u  K~   ,  "'^  rooms  m  tor- 

11  the  spouts  being  completely  blown  away;  and  S 
the  negro  houses,  except  one,  were  utterly'iLs  "oyed 
The  accounts  respecting  the  labors  in  this  island  are 
kr  more  scanty  than  is  desirable.     For  several  years 
no  narrative  can  be  furnished  from  the  ordinary  ouZ 

and  thed.ffidence  w.th  which  they  exhibit  their  glori 
oils  ac  nevements  in   .he  missionary  cause,  havef  U  i 

in  1828  the  Sv     -1     1    . »  ""'"•'•"h.ng  mission,"  and 


JAMAICA. 


^In  comphance  w.th  the  request  of  some  gentlemen 
po^ess,ng  consi.lerahie  estates  in  Jamaica.^tl  e  r"  v 
^echanah  George  Caries  „n,l  two  othe  biethren 
were  sent  to  that   island,  i.,  October,    HsJ    ZZ 

•""^  of  the  gospel.  An.l  on  their  airival  everv 
tl'-ng  appearcl  propitio..s  to  their  un.lerta  ,  '  IZl 
proprietors  who  ha.l  solieite.l  -heir  assist  cen^toiu 
•■"Sngcl  to  s..pp„rt  .hem,  b...  g.vo  then,  „  L"  so  and 


n 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


Europeans,  also,  attended  the  preaching  of  Mr.  Ca- 
ries, and,  as  they  exhibited  the  most  serious  attention, 
he  resolved  to  address  them  separately,  and  had  rea- 
son  to  hope  that,  in  some  instances  at  least,  the  word 
spoken  was  blessed  by  the  Holy  Spirit  to  the  conver- 
sion of  their  souls. 

Prosperity  continued  for  some  time  to  attend  the 
exertions  of  the  brethren,  who  had  now  two  regular 
inissionary  stations,  called   Carmel  and  Emmaut;  be- 
sides preaching  occasionally  on  Mesopotamia,  Bogue, 
and  Island  plantations ;  and  as  the  number  of  cate-' 
chumens  now  amounted  to  four  hundred,  and  that  of 
the  baptized  to  seventy-seven,  it  was  judged  expedi- 
ent that  the  mission  should  be  strengthened  with  new 
laborers.     Some  other  brethren  were  accordingly  sent 
out  to  Jamaica  ;  but  these,  unfortunately,  differed  in 
opinion  with  their  predecessors,  and,  conceiving  that 
many  of  the  slaves  had  been  baptized  without  afford- 
mg  sufficient  proof  of  their  conversion,  they  establish- 
ed a  system  of  greater  strictness,  which  was  produc- 
Uve  of  the  very  worst  effects ;  as  the  negroes  were 
completely  discouraged,  whilst  the  zeal  of  the  missiona- 
ries was  paralyzed,  by  the  interruption  of  that  harmony 
which  was  so  essential  to  their  own  happiness,  and  the 
success  of  the  cause  in  which  they  were  mutually  en- 
mp^'     In  1759,  Nathanael  Seidel  was  sent  over  on 
a  visitation,  but  his  attempts  to  revive  the  sinking  cause 
proved  unavailing,  and,  in  the  course  of  the  year,  he 
returned,  with  Mr.  Caries,  to  Europe. 

In  1764,  Frederic  Schlegel  arrived  from  North 
Anaerica,  with  authority  to  take  upon  himself  the  gen- 
eraJsupenntendenceof  the  mission ;  and  by  his  prudent 
•nd  conciliatory  conduct,  harmony  was  restored  among 
the  brethren  ;  the  negro  congregations  were  speedily 
augmented ;  many  of  the   baptized,   who  seemed  to 

have  renounced  their  professionofChristianity,returned 
Wth  joy  to  their  teachers  ;  and  such  success  attended 
the  renewed  exertions  which  were  now  made  in  the 
name  of  the  Lord,  that  in  the  year  1767,  the  audito- 
ry, on  one  plantation  alone,  increased  to  five  times  its 
usual  number  ;  and  in  that  and  the  following  year  up- 
wards of  230  slaves  were  admitted  to  the  baptismal 
font.  ' 

The  death  of  the  amiable  Schlegel,  which  occurred 
m  the  month  of  September,  1770,  proved  the  harbin- 
ger of  misfortunes  to  the  mission.  The  negroes,  no 
longer  anxious  to  attend  the  preaching  of  the  gospel 
sunk  into  a  state  of  coldness  and  indifference ;  the 
baptized,  m  some  instances,  relapsed  into  paganism  • 
a  distressing  scarcity  of  provisions,  and  the  anticipation 
Of  a  hostile  attack  in  1778,  depressed  the  spirits  of  the 
brethren  ;  and  the  insalubrity  of  the  climate  threaten- 
ed to  sweep  them  to  an  untimely  grave.  Nothing,  in 
fact,  could  have  encouraged  them  to  remain  at  their 


post  but  a  deep  senie  of  the  value  of  those  immortal 
souls,  to  some  of  whom  their  labors  might  be  eventu- 
ally blessed  by  the  great  Head  of  the  church. 

In  1797,  the  progress  of  the  mission  was  still  further 
impeded  by  a  rebellion  of  the  Maroons,  or  runaway 
slaves,  who  occupy  several  villages  in  the  mountains, 
and  by  the  consequent  introduction  of  martial  law.    The 
general  tranquillity  being  disturbed,  all  business  was  of 
course  suspended,  and  persons  of  ell  ranks  were  obliged 
to  bear  arms.     From  this  service,  however,  the  mis- 
sionanes  were  happily  exempted,  and  their  places  of 
residence  were  fortunately  at  a  considerable  distance 
from  the  disturbed  districts.     They  were  also  merci- 
fully  preserved,  the  following  year,  from  the  depreda- 
tions and  atrocities  of  the  runaway  negroes ;  and  it 
afforded  them  peculiar  pleasure  to  observe  that  many 
of  the  slaves  who  attended  their  preaching  were  more 
attentive  to  the  gospel  than  they  had  been  for  several 
years. 

In  the  spring  of  18C0,  Joseph  Jackson  and  Thomaa 
Elhs,  together  with  their  wives,  set  sail  for  Jamaica, 
at  the  request  of  some  of  the  principal  planters,  who 
had  kindly  undertaken  to  defray  the  expenses  of  their 
maintenance,  without  trenching  upon  the  general  funds 
of  the  United  Brethren  ;  and,  some  time  after  their 
arrival,  the  affairs  of  the  church  began  to  assume  a 
more  animating  aspect. 

In  1804,  fifty  years  from  the  commencement  of  thi» 
mission,  the  brethren  observe,  "  Though  we  cannot 
exult  over  an  abundant  in-gathering  of  souls,  which 
these  fifty  years  have  produced,  or  even  over  our 
present  prospects,  yet  we  have  sufficient  cause  of  grat- 
itude to  the  Urd  for  having  preserved  a  seed  in  Ja- 
maica, which,  in  his  own  good  time,  may  grow  up  in- 
to a  r\c\\  harvest.  It  appears  from  the  church  register, 
that,  from  the  beginning  of  this  mission  to  the  present 
period,  938  negroes  have  been  baptized." 

The  death  of  the  zealous  and  excellent  missionary 
Jackson,  which  occurred  on  the  9th  of  December,  1808, 
was  a  serious  loss  to  the  brethren  in  Jamaica.     The 
word  of  his  divine  Master,  however,  continued  to  bo 
•jwned  and  blessed  ;  and  considerable  success  attended 
a   regulation    which    was    established   in    1812,    re- 
specting the  inslnictiiig  of  the  catechumens  in  classes. 
"  It  is  pleasing,"  says  one  of  the  brethren,  "  to  see 
the  eagerness  with   which  the  negroes  attend   these 
meetings.     We  are  chiefly  occupied  with   preparing 
questions  and  explaining  different  texts  of  Scripture; 
and  as  they  are  all  anxious  to  be  able  to  give  suitable 
answers,  they  never  absent  themselves  but  from  urgpnt 
necessity." 

In  1815,  Mr.  Ward  and  his  wife  were  sent  out  from 
Knglnnd  as  assistants  to  the  mission  in  Jamaica  ;  and, 
soon  after  their  arrival,  they  fixed  on  a  place  called 


Wilhamsfield,  as  the  most  convenient  spot  for  their 
residence,  having  previously  taken  charge  of  the  in- 
struction of  the  negroes  on  the  Island  and  Windsor 
plantations.     On  the  former  there  were  some  baptized 
slaves,  the  gospel  having  been  preached  there  for  a 
series  of  years ;  but  those  belonging  to  the  latter  were 
Ignorant  pagans.     The  labors  of  Mr.  Ward,  in  each 
of  these  places,  excited  a  great  spirit  of  attention,  and 
many  of  his  hearers  expressed  themselves  desirous  of 
more  particular  instruction,  that  they  might  be  pre- 
pared for  the  rite  of  baptism.     The  exertions  of  the 
brethren  at  Carmel  were  also  equally  successful,  and 
the  new  stations  of  Elim  and  Peru   appeared   to  be 
the  scenes  of  a  very  serious  and  progressive  awakening. 
In  a  letter  from  New  Eden,  near  the  Bogue  planta- 
t.on,  Mr.  Becker  states  that  twenty-one  negroes  had 
been  baptized  from  Easter  1817,  to  Easter  IsiS,  and 
that  ten  had  been  admitted  to  the  holy  communion  ; 
and  he  adds,  "  I  may  say,  with  thankfulness  of  hear 
to  our  Saviour,  that  our  congregation  is  increasing  both 
m  number  and  grace.     Our  place  lies  in  the  centre  of 
four  estates  ;  and,  as  the  negroes  from  these  frequently 
at.^nd  the  meetings,  our  house  is  generally  crowded 
With  attentive  hearers."  o  /  u 

The   missionary  John    Hafa,  in  a  communication 
from  Carmel,  dated  April  20,   1819,  observes  that 
since  Ins  arrival,  ten  negroes  had  been  baptized,  and 
one  mulatto,  formerly  admitted  into  the  church  of  Eng- 
land, had  been  received  into  the  congregation.   «'  The 
number  of  baptized  belonging  to  Carmel,"  says  this 
writer,  "  ,3  140,  and  about  200  new  people  are  under 
mstruction.     Not  a  sabbath  passes,  but  some  new  ne- 
groes come  to  us,  requesting  their  names  to  be  written 
down,  and  intimating  their  desire  to  hear  the  gospel 
and  be  converted.     I  have  begun  to  hold  an  evening 
meetmg  on  Wednesdays  and  Fridays,  with  such  as 
can  attend.     During  the  Passion  week,  we  met  everv 
evening,  and  riic  place  was  crowded. 

"As  to  Peru    the  place  of  meeting  was  in  a  sad 
condition  when  I  first  arrived,  but  since  that   time  it 
has  been  put  into  better  order.     On  the  Su.uiay  nAer 
Easter,  I  preached  there  for  the  first  time,  and  had  so 
largo  an  auditory  that  the  place  could  hardly  contain 
one  half  of  the  negroes  who  were  wailing  for  me 
After  the  service,  I  baptized  three  children,  and  spoke 
w.  h  eighty-five  new  people  ;  but  I  was  then  obliged 
to  leave  them,  though  about  fifty  others  were  waiting  to 
see  me.  '  ° 

On  the  Hthof  May,  1820,  the  church  at  New 
Eden  was  co„secrnte<I  for  the  celebration  of  divine  wor- 
sh.p  ;  an,  the  missionary  Becker  observes,  in  commu- 
ntcatrng  tins  intelligence,  "  I,  was  a  day  of  rejoicing, 
as  the  presence  of  the  Lord  was  with  us,  and  he  filled 

our  jlonrtp  uMil.     J. 

u    ! i..i..t     ,^„c,,.^£j  ,ru5t  ana  confidence  in  hun. 

Vol.  I.— Nos.  7  Si  8.  19 


ISLAND  OP  JAMAICA. 


78 


The  buildmg  is  forty-one  feet  long  and  thirty-one  broad 
and  was  completely  crowded  with  hearers.  Many 
mdeed  who  attended  this  solemnity  could  not  possi' 
bly  find  room  within  it ;  for  as  this  was  the  first  consecra- 
tion  of  a  church  belonging  to  the  brethren  in  Jamaica 
many  people  were  led  thither  by  curiosity.  After  the 
public  service,  eleven  adults  were  baptized,  and,  in 
another  nieeting,  three  persons  who  had  been  baptized 
when  children,  were  received  into  the  congregation 

From  Easter  1819  to  Easter  1820,  ninety-three 
persons  have  been  added  to  the  church  by  baptism  or 
reception,  and  nine  have  been  admitted  to  the  Lord's 

Zv  FH  ^'  *^"  t''  °^  '^'^'  '^'  congregation  at 
New  Eden  consisted,  m  all,  of  five  hundred  and  five 
persons." 

In  a  letter  dated  Carmel,  February  20,  1821   tho 
missionary  Hafa  observes,  «  We  have  been  obliged  to 
S've  up  going  to  preach  at  Peru,  too  many  difficulties 
being    aid  in  the  way.     However,  more  negroes  than 
formerly  come  now  to  Carmel,  so  that  our  place  of 
meeting    has   become    too  small   to  contain    the  au- 
ditory   On  the  first  prayer  day  this  year  sixteen  adults 
were  baptized,  three  received  into  the  congregation, 
and  twenty  added  to  the  class  of  candidates  for  baptism. 
1  he  fields  appear  ripe  for  the  harvest,  and  the  more  the 
enemy  of  souls  endeavors  to  impede  the  work  of  God 
the  more  eager  the  negroes  seem  to  hear  and  believe' 
the  gospel.     Many  now  come  hither  from  estates  of 
which,  some  time  ago,  we  had   not  even  heard  the 
names ;  and  they  all  say  that  they  desire  to  escape 
from  the  ^yratll  to  come,  and  to  learn  how  they  may 
become  Christians,  not  only  in  name,  but  indeed  and 
in  truth.     Much  might  be   done  if  we  could  get  a 
place  of  our  own  near  the  mountains,  as  there  are 
many  there  who  are  very  desirous  of  hearing  the  gospel  • 
hut  they  live  from  ten  to  fifteen  miles  from  this  place' 
and  my  other  avocations  will  not  permit  me  to  visit 
them  as  I  wish." 

^  In  respect  to  the  congregation  at  New  Eden,  Mr 
James  Light  states,  in  a  letter  dated  June  23    1821 
that  It  then  appeared  to  be  in  a  very  prosperous  state.' 
I  he  number  of  hearers,"  he  says,  "  increases,  es- 
penally  from  the  coffee  plantations  in  the  mountains, 
and    several    from  Island  estite  attend  occasionally. 
l..e  chapel  and  chape]  hou.c  command  an  agreea- 
ble prospect.     It  may  be  compared  to  a  light  shininir 
ni  d.ukness,  reflecting  its  beams  on   all  around  ;  and 
may  tho  light  of  .lie  word  of  Go.l  shine  from  thence 
mlo  the  hearts  of  many  !     When  1  visited  that  place 
on  tho  4th  of  May  last,  I  found  that  one  hundred  and 
forty-six  individuals  had  been  baptized  or  admitted  to 
the  Urd's  supper  from  Easter  1820,  to  Easter  1821." 

As  the  missionaries  nt  Curmol  Ua,l  >.ur.<.n>»Ji.. :_» 

^. ..........  ...^  .^.„,^_ 

ed  out  to  their  friends  in  England  the  expediency  of 


74 


forming  a  settlement  in  the  vicinity  of  the  May  day 
mountains,  it  was  at  length  resolved  that  they  should 
purchase  a  house,  with  some  land,  in  that  neighbor- 
hood, at  a  place  called  Fairfield  ;  of  which  Mr.  Stob- 
wasser  observes,  "  It  is  in  an  eligible  spot  for  a  mis- 
sionary station,  as  its  elevation  renders  it  cool  and 
healthy,  and  the  climate  appears  almost   European. 
The  house  is  convenient,  but  at  present  in  a  dilapi- 
dated state,  wanting  considerable  repairs.     Its  situa- 
tion is  pretty  central  for  the  negroes,  retired,  and  par- 
ticularly liked  by  them,  which  is  a  main  qualification 
for  a  settlement." 

Intelligewce   from  Jamaica  is  contained  in  a  letter 
from  Mr.  Becker,  dated  New  Eden,  May  20,  1823 
and  is  to  the  following  effect :  "  I  may  say  with  truth 
that  the  Lord  has  done  wonders  in  this  mission.  When 
I  came  to  this  place,  twelve  years   ago,  I  found  very 
kw  who  knew  anything  more  than  that  they  had  been 
formerly  baptized   by  a  missionary.     Not  long  after 
I  perceived  that,  by  preaching  the  Redeemer's  word 
m  simplicity,  convictions  were  excited  in  tiie  minds  of 
the  negroes,  and  their  blind  eyes  began  to  be  opened  • 
so  that  many  were  led  to  inquire,  '  What  must  we  do 
to  be  saved  ?'     At  present  this  is  still  more  frequently 
the  case.     Our  new  church,  though  capable   of  con- 
taining about  five  hundred  persons,  is  much  too  small, 
as  the  congregation  generally  auiouiits  to  nine  hundred' 
On  the  27th  of  Ai)ril,  twelve  persons  were  baptized 
and  twenty-two  added  to  tiie  list  of  candidates  for  bap- 
tism.    From   Easter    1822,  to   Easter   ]8i:i,  ninety- 
nine  adults  have  been  ba|)tized  or  received   into  the 
congregation,  and  fifty-two   have  been   admitted  to  a 
participation    of  the    holy   communion.     Tliese   are 
mdeed,  encouraging  proofs  of  the   work  of  the    Holy 
Ghost  ;  and,   thmigh,   in  a  few   insimices,  n  spirit  of 
persecution   manifests  itself  against  those  who  attend 
our  churcii,  we   trust   the  Lord   will  nown  his  own 
cause  with  prosperity,  and  increase  the  desiio  of  the 
negroes  to  hear  his  word,  and  to  exp.^rienco   deliver- 
ance from   the   power  of  sin,  by  resorting  to  him  for 
safety  and  protection  ;  an.l   we   prav    that  they  ,nav 
walk  worthy  of  the  gospel,  be  faithful  and  ol.o.lient  in 
their  respective  stations,  and  in  all  cirrumstances  ap- 
prove Ihemselves  the  children  of  God." 

In  1825,  brother  Ellis,  who  is  stationed  at  the  new 
mission  place,  calle.l  Fairfield,  speaks  of  the  pro^iess 
of  the  work  of  God  :  "  About  one  hundred  slaves 
from  a.ljacent  plantations,  lia.l  given  in  their  names,' 
as  desirous  of  religious  instruction.  The  number  of 
persons  at  Fairfield  amounted  to  one  thousand  and 
forty-sever,  ;  among  whom  there  are  two  hundred  and 
sixty-one  eominunicnnts,  and  one  hundred  and  forty- 
one  baptized  members  of  the  church." 

In  this  year,  the  brethren  commenced  the  erection 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


of  a  new  church  at  Fairfield,  which  was  opened  for 
worship  m  January,  1826.   Much  encouragement  was 
afforded  to  the  efforts  of  the  missionaries  at  Hope- 
town,  a  neighboring  plantation,  belonging  to  Mr.  Scott 
who  kindly  erected  a  place  of  worship.     To  supply 
this  station,  brother  Daniel  Hague  and  his  wife  sailed 
from  Liverpool  in  June,  1825,  and  arrived  at  Fair- 
field  August  10,  to  the  great  joy  of  the  brethren  and 
congregation.     But,   alas !    how   momentary  are    all 
earthly  enjoyments.     Mr.  Ellis  writes,  "  On  Wednes- 
day,  the  •24th,  brother  Hague   began   to  feel  slightly 
indisposed,  and,  before  morning,  fever  came  on      The 
next  day  medical  aid  was  called  in,  and  proper  medi- 
cine applied,  but  without  the  wished-for  relief     We 
continued,  under  the  directions  of  the  doctors,  to  use 
every  possible  remedy,  till  Monday,  the   29tli,  in  the 
morning,  about  7  o'clock,  when  he  departed  in  peace, 
111  firm  reliance  upon  his  God  and  Saviour.     This  be-' 
reavement  we  believed  to  be  more  than  we  could  bear ; 
but  what  were  we  called  upon  still  to  witness  ! 

"  Before  the  departure  of  our  dear  brother  H.,  we 
had  the  grief  to  hear  the  doctor  declare  that  sister  H 
had  symptoms  of  the  same  fever.     Every  precaution^ 
ary  measure  was  now  taken,  if  possible,  to  disperse  the 
disease,  but  in  vain  ;  the  fever  became  more  and  more 
alarming.     Our  attention  was  now  called   to  brother 
Berger,  who  was  seized   with  head-ache  and  fever 
The  whole  attention  of  Dr.  Dempster  was  now  taken 
up  in  watching  every  change  which  occurred.     On 
Friday,  September  2,  at  2  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  it 
pleased  our  SaViour  to  release  our  dear  sister  Hague  • 
and  on  the  following  morning,  the  same  happy  change 
took  place  with  our  dear  brother   Berger.     Thus   in 
the  space  of  five  days,  was  our  adult  family  reduced  to 
one  half  the  number.     Our  consolation   is   to  know 
that  they  -dl  died  in  peace,  as  jiardoned  sinners,  trust- 
ing in  the  merits  of  their  crucified  Saviour. 

"  Brother  Hague  said,   'I   am   unfit   to  serve  the 
Saviour;  but  he  knows   my  heart,  and  my  motives  ; 
and  if  I  have  sinned  in  reaching  out  my  hand  to  touch 
the  ark,  Ihumhly crave  thy  forgiveness, O  my  Saviour!' 
"  'I  his  was,  indeed,  a  dark  dispensation.   Mr.  Hague 
was  a  young  man  of  extraordinary  piety,  and  fine  at- 
tainmcnls.      He  had  been  a  surressfnl  teacher  in  the 
school  at  Fulneck,  and  had  for  y.-ars  longed  most  ar- 
dently  for  the  period  when  he  should  be  appointed  to 
missionary  labors.    It  is  well  that  it  was  in  his  heart  r 
In  1826,  the  band,  of  brethren   was  reinforced   by 
brother  G.    Tima-us,  and   two  others.     Mr.  Tima-us 
was  removed  from  his  labors  by  typhus  fever,  Novem- 
ber II,  1827. 

Recent  intelligence  from  Carmel,  Irwin,  New  Eden, 
and  the  other  stations,  is  of  (he  most  gratifying  nature. 
The  missionaries  have  received  very  acceptable  as- 


Crh^T''?"'"''™*^'^'*"^"^  his  wife  from 

.llimre's"  J  ^""«'' S''"-     Tl,e  circular  7Z 

he  Zsion  »r„t    """'"'^  "'  "--hut  announces 

mT  Em,  S  ''\'""«^««  «'  «"  'he  four  stations." 

inthefn^l      •  '^l  P'^'P""'^  "'^  »he  good  cause 

n  the  following,  v.ew  of  the  mission,  ^vhich  he  addresses 

to  the  directors  in  1830.  "uuiesses 

''  The  progress  of  the  mission  in  this  island  contin- 
ues,  I  am  thankful  to  say,  on  the  whole,  encouraging 
Our  auduones  at  Fairfield   are  very  numerousTaf- 
jcularly  on  Sundays:  and,  to  man/of  our  heler 
he  doctnne  of  Christ  crucified,  which  we  preach  „' 
B  mphcay,  approves  itself  as  the  power  of  God  „„  o 
salvation.     I„  brother  Zorn  and  L  wife,  who  ely 
a  good  state  of  health,  we  possess  active  and  w!E 
^sistants  who  have  already  become  familiar  with  S 
rouune  of  duty.     I„  the  early  part  of  September   we 
had  an  opportunity  of  seeing  the  greater  number  of 
our  married  people,  at  a  meeting  specially  appointed 

kv  ;„d  Chr"  ."'  '""  '  '^'""  ''  "J''''=«  '"  "-ir  fidel. 
ty  and  Christian  conduct  towards  one  another.     The 
s.ght  of  tins  company,  consisting  of  one  hundred  and 
e-ghty  negro  couples,  of  whom  te  can  believe   that 
however  abandoned  some  of  tliem  may   1.  "'  £„' 
.n  times  past,  , hey  are  now  living  according  to  tl^ 
scriptural  institution  of  marriage,  could  not  fail  to    xcke 
feelings  of  gratitude  in  our  hearts.     The  children  of 
uch  parents  may  be  said  to  enjoy  much  comfort  and 
many  advantages,  in  comparison  with   others,  whose 
pa  ents  lead   irregular  lives.     We   have,  inde  d,  st  II 
to  lament,  that  ."stances  of  unfaithfulness  occasionally 
occur,  even  among  persons  of  this  class  ;  but  I  trus^ 
they  are  becomm^  more  and   more  rare  ;  and,  to  the 
pra.se  of  our  faithful   Saviour,  we  can   state, 'that  an 
nstance  has  very  lately  occurred  of  the   influence  of 

dmne  grace,  in  counteracting  the  strongest  temptation 
to  tr  n    re,    „,,  ,,,^,.  ,^.  ,^^^^.      ^  ^,^^^  ^^  I 

^»tl.<ul  „.  the  application  of  this  universal  remedy  - 
Among  the  new  p.-ople  who  come  tons,  from  ti.ne^o 
.me  we  have  not  unfrcjuontly  observed  a  willingness 
hardly  to  bo  expecte.l,  ,o  exchange  an  ilhVit  connection 
fi>r  an  honorable  alliance  ;  this,  however,  is  notgenlr- 

.  ai  birr'  """'  '•'"'  "'  """""^''  "'  ''"'  -  ««  be 
incapable,  for  some  time,  of  understanding  even  the 
form  o.  go.llnu.ss.  Nothing  but  the  poter  of  I  e 
gospel  IS  capable  of  subduing  and  effectually  reform- 
ing such  characters." 


ISLAND  OP  ANTIGUA. 


t5 


ANTIGUA. 

The  bretliren  residiuL^  in  St.  Thoma-.  baH  fnr  =ume 
time,  earnestly  desired  an  opportunity  of  introducing 


he  word  of  eternal  life  among  the  negroes  employed: 
n  those  islands  of  the  West  Indies  which  belonged  to 
the  crown  of  Great  Britain.  Their  own  „urfb2 
however,  were  comparatively  so  few,  their  laborTve^; 
so  arduous,  and  their  constitutions  were  so  frequen!lv 
auacked  and  shaken  by  disease,  that  the  b  nlvo Lm 
wish  which  glowed  in   their  bosoms  could  notfor  a 

named  s::L;s,t:::;'ji4tvSrtr 

hTsT:  '"r  '"""^  '^P^"^^"-  -  ''-  ai    of  the 
Holy  Spirit,  of  commencing  a  mission  in  that  island 

Having,  on   his  arrival,  explained  his   vie       a„d 
wishes  to  the  governor,  he  received  some  encoura  "e 
ment   and  obtained  permission  from  certain   prop! 

h  IT  r  ''"'  P'^""^^'''"^  '  '"''  'hough  bo  h 
he  and  h,s  wife  were  afterwards  attacked  with  sick- 
ness, and  severely  straitened  in  respect  to  their  dr- 
cumstances  he  confidently  looked  up  to  God,  believ- 
■ng  that  light  would  arise  out  of  dar'kness,  ai^d  eom 
fornng  himsel  with  the  recollection  of  the'  assurance 
tliat     those  who  sow  m  tears  shall  reap  in  joy  " 

For  some  time  the  brethren  continued  to  labor 
with  very  little  appearance  of  success  ;  as  but  few 
o  the  slaves  attended  their  preaching,  and  even  those 
who  were  baptized  were  unfortunately  removed  to 
other  islands,  and  thus  separated  from  their  teachers 
In  the  year  1761,  however,  a  piece  of  ground  was 
purchased  in  the  town  of  St.  John,  for  the  purpose  of 
a  missionary  establishment,  and  a  place  of  worsl^p  was 
erected  for  the  accommodation  of  the  negroes 

In  1764,  Samuel  Isles  was  removed,  by  death,  from 
the  scene  of  bis  labors  ;  and  for  about  five  yea;s  th^ 
nnssion  continued  in  a  very  languishing  state  ;  but,  at 
the  expiration  of  that  time,  a  missionary  named  Brown 
arrived  from  North  America,  and  his  labors  were  so 
abundantly  blessed,  that  it  soon  became  necessary  to 
enlarge  the  church  ;  and  on  that  occasion  the  zeal    of 
the  converted  negroes  was  most  pleasingly  demonstrat- 
etr     On  coming  to  the  evening  meeting,  each   indi- 
vidual  brought  a  few  stones  and  other  materials  with 
him  ;    the  different  departments  of  the  work  were  di- 
vided beiween  such  as  were   masons  and  carpenters  • 
and  those  who  could  not  assist  in  enlarging  the  edifice 
provided  refreshments  for  the  builders  ;  so  that  the 
requisite  alteration   was  completed  by  the    voluntary 
labor  of  these   poor  slaves,   after  the  completion   of 
their  respective  daily  tasks. 

Whilst  the  most  unfeigned  gratitude  was  excited  by 
this  gleam  of  prosperity,  the  clouds  were  beginning  to 
gather  around  the  missionaries,  and  their  faith  was 
destined  to  be  exercised  by  some  severe  trials.  The 
brctiiren  who  had  hitherto  assisted  Mr.  Brown  were 
compelled,  by  severe  indisposition,  to  leave  the  island  ; 


76 


I'  *' 


a  faithful  laborer  named  Brookshaw,  who  arrived  in 
ir/1,  was,  in  a  few  weeks,  numbered  with  the  dead ; 
the  wife  of  Mr.  Brown  also  fell  a  victim  to  disease  ; 
and,  in  1772,  the  island  was  visited  by  a  hurricane 
which  threw  down  one  of  the  houses  on  the  missiona- 
ry settlement,  and  materially  injured  the  others,  though 
the  church,  in  which  the  negroes  had  sought  an  asylum, 
was  providentially  preserved. 

In  the  midst  of  these  calamities,  however,  the  work 
of  God  continued  to  go  forward,  and,  immediately  after 
the  hurricane,  a  new  awakening  appeared  among  the 
slaves,  and  continued  to  spread  in  all  directions.     A 
desire  for  religiousinstruction  was,  of  course,  augment- 
ed, and,  in  1775,  the  number  of  persons  who  attended 
public  worship  amounted  to  two  thousand,  and  from 
ten  to  twenty  were  baptized  almost  every  month.     A 
new  and  more  spacious  church  was,  therefore,  erected 
in  St.  John's  in  1773  ;  and  in  the  following  year,  a 
piece  of  ground  was  purchased   &t  Bailcy-hill,   near 
the  town  of  Falmouth,  for  the  purpose  of  forming  a 
second  establishment,  for  the  accommodation  of  those 
negroes  who  lived  at  a  considerable  distance  from  the 
former  station.     From  thii  place,  which  proved  incon- 
venient,  owing  to  the   steepness  of  the  ascent,  the 
brethren  removed,  in  1782,  to  a  more  eligible  spot 
which  they  designated  Grace-hill;  and,  though  the 
external    circumstances  of  the  mission  were    rather 
difficult,  the  Christian  slaves  being  exposed  to  famine, 
sickness,    persecutions,    and     depredations,   and    the 
island  being  taken  by  the  French,— the  cause  of  divine 
truth  remained  firm  and  immovable,   and,   after  the 
restoration  of  peace  in  1783,  no  less  than  sixty  adults 
were  received  into  the   church   at  St.  John's,  by  the 
rite  of  baptism,  in  one  day,  and  in  the  course  of  twelve 
months  the  congregations  in  that  town  and  at  Grace-hill 
were    augmented    by    the    accession    of   more    than 
seven    hundred    persons.        The    missionaries    also 
preached,  at   stated  times,    in    different   plantations  ; 
and  one  of  the  native  assistants  actually  built  a  chapel 
at  his  own  expense,  sufficiently  capacious  to  accom- 
modate four  hundred  hearers. 

Many  of  the  planters  were  now  convinced  of  the 
beneficial  effects  of  the  gospel  upon  their  slaves,  and 
numbers  of  tiie  overseers  found,  by  experience,  that 
the  reproof  of  the  Christian  teachers  was  much  more 
efficacious  than  corporeal  punisii.nent ;  when  any  of 
the  slaves,  therefore,  had  committed  an  offence,  they 
were  sent  to  the  missionaries,  instead  of  being  subjected, 
as  formerly,  to  the  discipline  of  the  whip.  Some  of  the 
proprietors,  however,  were  decidedly  hostile  to  the  labors 
of  the  brethren ,  and  not  only  prohibited  their  negroes  from 
attending  the  means  of  grace,  but  punished  Those  who 
did  so  with  unexampled  severity.  For  no  other  offence 
Ihan  that  of  attending  the  preaching,  a  negro  was  not 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


on^  cruelly  reated  by  a  party  of  white  people,  but  wa, 
even  compelled  to  give  his  own  wife  fifty  lashes, 
because  she  h«  nought  the  protection  of  the  local 
authont.es.     Another  time  an   aged  female  negro, 

ted  a  theft,  but,  in  fact,  from  hatred  of  her  religion,  was 
put  ,n  irons  and  unmercifully  flogged  ;  and  the  next 
day  she  was  chained  to  two  negroes,  and  dragged  to 
the  field  to  work  ;  but  death  put  a  periodio  her 
sufferings  by  the  way. 

Amidst  all  these  persecutions,  the  church  of  God 
m  Antigua  resembled  the  burning  bush  which  Moses 
saw  m  the  vicinity  of  Horeb.  The  word  of  the  Lord 
continued  to  run,  ana  was  glorified  ;  the  two  congre- 
gations, m  1788,  consisted  of  more  than  six  thousand 
members  ;  and  so  many  new  doors  were  opened  for 
preachmg  the  gospel,  that  the  missionaries  were 
exceedmgly  thankful  when  they  found  useful  and 
zealous  assistants  in  many  of  their  converts,  to  visit 
he  sick,  give  advice  and  reproof  if  n"eeded,  and  report 
to  tlie  missionaries  the  state  of  the  congregation. 
Ihey  xvere,  however,  not  employed  in  preaching. 
In  1790,  the  state  of  Mr.  Brown's  health  rendered  it 

'"Tii'^"'..'.''"'  ^^  '•'""''^  '^'''^  <'^«"'  the  West  Indies; 
and  Mr.  Watson,  who  succeeded  him  in  his  superin- 
tendence  of  the  mission,  was,  two  years  afterwards, 
removed  to  the  church  triumphant.  A  suitable  suc- 
cessor, however,  was  found  in  the  Rev.  H.  C  Tschirpe 
and  the  cause  of  God  continued  to  be  crowned  with 
such  increasing  prosperity,  that,  in  1796,  it  became 
necessary  to  fonn  a  third  settlement,  to  which  the 
brethren  gave  the  name  of  Grace-bay. 

The  beginning  of  the  year  1805  was  a  period  of  great 
anxiety  in  Antigua,  as  the  proximity  of  a  French  fleet 
naturally  excited  apprehensions  of  an  invasion  ;  and. 
on  the  10th  of  March,  the  town  of  St.  John  was  thrown 
into  the  utmost  confusion,  by  a  report  that  the  enemy 
had  actually  effected  a  landing.  This,  however,  proved 
to  be  a  false  alarm,  and  the  island  was  mercifully 
preserved  in  peace. 

In  1810,  the  missionaries  commenced  a  Sunday 
scliool,  on  the  Lancasterian  plan  of  instruction,  at  St. 
John's ;  and  though,  at  first,  they  had  but  eighty 
scholars,  that  number  was  soon  increased  to  seven 
hundred,  and  the  progress  not  only  of  the  children, 
hut  of  their  parents,  who  appeared  equally  anxious  for 
tuition,  both  surprised  and  delighted  the  teachers.  A 
scliool  was  also  opened  on  one  of  the  plantations  near 
Grace-hill,  where  the  scholars  were  instructed  one  day 
in  every  week. 

In  1812,  owing  to  the  dryness  of  the  season  and  the 
war  with  America,  provisions  became  extremely  dear, 
and  Indian  corn,  the  principal  food  of  the  negroes, 
could  hardly  be  obtained  at  any  price.     Famine  and 


disease  prevailed,  ,n  consequence;  and  more  than 
two  hundred  of  the  congregation  at  St.  John's  were  in 
a  short  pe«od.  consigned  to  the  grave.     The  faith  of 

heirGoTT^'  '•'"''';'  "-^  graciously  sustained  by 
he,r  God  and  Saviour,  who  not  only  provided  for  their 
temporal  wants,  but  continued  to  crown  their  faithfu 
and  unremutmg  labors  with  distinguished  success. 

In  1817   the  brethren  were  encouraged  to  form  a 
fourth   settlement,  by  the  solicitation  of%he  coZial 
government;     which,    with    the    most    praiseworthy 
hberahty,  presented   them  with  ten  acres  of  land  for 
Uns  purpose,  together  with  £1000  currency  towards 
budAng  a  church  and  dwelling-houses,  and  a  grant  of 
£300  per  annum  for  the  support  of  the  missionar  es 
The  propneeors  of  the  adjacent  plantations,  also,  aware 
of  the  benefit  which  their  negroes  would  receive  from 
religious  mstruction,    contributed    a    handsome   sum 
towards  the  erection  g{  the  necessary  buildings.     Th" 
difficulty   of  procuring   stones   was   for   sometime  a 
considerable  hmdrance  to  the  work;    but  at  leuRth  a 
quarry  was  opened  about  three  quarters  of  a  mile  from 
the    spot,  and  the  missionaries   obtained    such    kind 
assistance  from  the  masons,  carpenters  and  laborers 
belonging  to  the.r  neighbors,  that  their   church    U 
substantial,  well-built   edifice,  64  feet  by  30  in  the 
dear)    was    solemnly    consecrated  on   the  6th    of 
December,  1818. 

To  this  new  settlement,  which  the  brethren  named 
NewJieldt^yo  others  were  subsequently  added,  in  the 
year  1822  one  at  Cedar-hall,  and  the  other  at  Mount! 
joy ;  and  if  is  peculiarly  pleasing  to  add,  that  in  each 
of  these  stations  large  congregations  were  collected 

.fa  'I".  ^uK^f-  •^"'^'  ^®^^'  '^'  U»'««d  Brethren 
celebrated  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  the  opening  of 
their  cluirch  at  St  John's;  when  it  appeared  Ihat 
there  had  been  baptized  and  received  into  the  congre- 
gation in  that  town  sixteen  thousand  and  ninety-Sne 
negroes,  young  and  old  ;  and  that  thirty-five  mal  and 
as  many  female  missionaries  had  been  employed  in  the 
important  service  of  making  known  to  their  benighted 
fellow  creatures  the  way  of  eternal  salvation.  And  it 
-   stated    by  the  Rev.  C.  F.  Richter  that,    between 


ISLAND  OF  BA'RBADOES. 


IS 


Eas.r  1822  and  Easter  1823,  f::ZZ^ZZ^ 
adult  negroes  had  been  baptized  or  received  into  the 
congrcRatioiv  at  St.  John's  ;  one  hundred  and  four  at 

fiftel'a;  ^  ?;:'"  "!.«™-''«y  ■>  one  hundred  and 
fifteen  at  Nowfiel.i ;  and  cighty-nin,  at  Cedar-hall- 
forming  a  to.a  of  seven  hundred  and  sixty-five  with  n' 

Bettlemcnts,  to  the  holy  communion. 


11 
In  1825  and  1826.  the  synod  at  Hermhut  appointed 
brother  Wright  from  St.  Kitt's,  and  brethrel  M^r 
Snnon  and  K.ppel.from  Europe,  to  the  service^fX 
mission  in  Antigua.  At  this  period,  14,823  slave! 
were  receiving  instruction  from  the  brethren 

In  1828,  the  venerable  Joseph  Newby  writes    that 
tereth,     hadbeenencourage'dtoerect'anrit^^^ 
wh    K  u  i*  ''  ""'* '°  ••epair  the  premises  at  Grace-bay 
which  had  sustained  injury  from  the  repeated  shS 
o    earthquakes  which  had  occurred  in  'the  pre^elg 

Twelvp  rT^i  *^''  ''"■'  °P""«''  f°'  'he  children 
Twelve  hundred  negroes  had  lately  partaken  of  the 

firsuime"!""""""'  '"'"'^-'"^  ''  "'°™  ^'^  ^  f"'  *e 

of  r."  '"'"i.''°"  c*"'"''  ^"^  ^"""  P^*' »°  the  education 

and  the'm  •''  '  ''""'^  '"  ""'  P™-'^  '"  -in, 
ils  7"°""'^^  --^P""  v-'y  interesting  exami^ 
nations..    The  questions  proposed  to  the  children  re- 

spectmg  the  celebrations  of  the  brethren's  church  Le 
answered  with  propriety.     The  statement  of  b^'ther 

Say'' 28  IS  " '  ';r '"'''  '■™™  ^--^'y 

May  ^8,  1829,  is  as  follows :  "  The  Lord  still 
continues  to  bless  our  endeavors  to  train  up^he  ^ 
dren  i„  his  nurture  and  admonition.  Some  of  tSo  e 
who  m  .heir  childhood,  were  taught  to  read  in  o^' 
Sunday  schools,  have  since  become  worthy  meml^rs 
of  the  church.  Mr.  Newby  writes,  in  August  th." 
on  two  recent  occasions,  there  were  baptiz;d  or 
received  into  the  congregation  at  St.  John's  fiftl 
nine  persons,  and  sixty-four  admitted  as  candidates 
Forty-eight  persons  had  received  the  sacrament  of  tie 
supper,  for  the  first  time. 

Dy  Mr.  C.  H.  Zellner,  who  entered  on  his  work  with 
very  promising  appearances  of  success. 


BARBADOES. 


In  1765,  two  of  the  United  Brethren  were  sent  to 
Barbadoes,  m  order  to  commence  a  mission  on  that 
.s  and.     One  of  them,  however,  exchanged  time  fo 

stS  V^^'l  'r  ^^'  ""''  ^"'^«' '  J"-ompanion 
seduced    by  the  love  of   the  world,  neglected    and 

finally  abandoned  the  cause  in  which  he  had  engaged 

and  a  third  who  was  sent  to  fill  up  the  place  of  tho 

first,  soon  followed  his  predecessor  to  the  silent  tomb. 

The  undertaking  was,  therefore,  suspended  till   the 

month  of  May,  1767  when  Mr.  Benjamin  Bruckshaw 

resolved,  m  humble  dependence  on  the  promised  aid  of 

the  Holy  Spint,  to  make  someattempts  forthe  renewal 

K„.K»        ~r      ,'  .'''^''^'^""cingcoraialjy  approved 
by  the  president  of  the  council  and  the  resident  clergy, 


18 


MISSIONS  OP  THE*  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


m 


he  immediately  began  to  preach  to  the  negroes  at 
Bridgetown,  with  the  consent  of  many  of  the  plant- 
ers, who  not  only  permitted  their  slaves  to  come  un- 
der the  sound  of  the  gospel,  but  occasionally  encour- 
aged the  missionary  by  their  own  attendance. 

In  the  month  of  August,  Mr.  Bennet  arrived  from 
North  America,  and  he  was  soon  afterwards  joined  by 
other  laborers,  to  assist  in  this  infant  but  important 
cause  ;  and  as  their  hearers  were  continu  Ally  increas- 
ing, they  purchased  a  building,  the  interior  of  which 
had  been  burnt,  and  fitted  it  up,  both  as  a  dwelling- 
house  and  a  place  of  worship.  Here  the  word  of 
truth  appeared  to  be  attended  with  convincing  power, 
and  six  negroes  were  initiated  into  the  church  by  bap- 
tism. Several  of  the  planters,  also,  invited  the  breth- 
ren to  preach  on  their  estates  ;  so  tliat  the  aspect  of 
the  mission  was,  at  this  time,  peculiarly  encouraging. 
The  brightest  morning,  however,  is  not  unfrequently 
overcast  by  heavy  clouds,  and  the  anticipation  of  ex- 
tensive success  in  Barbadoes  was  soon  succeeded  by 
painful  apprehensions.  Many  of  the  slaves,  it  appear- 
ed, had  attended  the  preaching  merely  from  curiosity, 
and  now  began  to  absent  themselves  from  the  means 
of  grace ;  and  even  among  those  who  might  be  con- 
sidered as  stated  hearers,  tliere  were  so  few  indica- 
tions of  vital  godliness,  tiiat  they  could  not  with 
propriety  be  admitted  to  the  privilege  of  baptism. 
Pecuniary  and  other  difficulties,  also,  tended  to  embar- 
rass the  mission  ;  and,  after  the  removal  of  Mr.  Bruck- 
shaw  to  Antigua,  in  1771,  and  the  death  of  his  col- 
league Bennet,  the  following  year,  a  spirit  of  dissen- 
sion was  unhappily  excited  among  the  remaining 
brethren,  and,  at  length,  only  one  missionary  was  left 
on  the  island  ;  so  that  the  instruction  of  the  catechu- 
mens could  not  be  prosecuted  with  requisite  diligence, 
nor  was  it  practicable  to  pay  that  attention  to  the 
state  of  the  baptized,  converts  which  their  circuni- 
.stances  rendered  absolutely  necessary. 

In  1773,  some  dawnings  of  success  appeared  to 
attend  the  zealous  labors  of  John  Angerman,  whose 
whole  soul  appeared  to  be  engaged  in  the  great  work 
before  him  ;  but  scarcely  two  years  had  elapsed  when 
he  was  summoned  to  the  presence  of  his  adorable 
Master;  and,  though  his  successors  continued  to  sow 
the  precious  seed  of  the  gospel,  in  hope  of  a  harvest 
on  some  future  occasion,  no  change  of  importance 
occurred  in  the  general  aspect  of  affairs  for  several 
years.  Very  few  negroes,  except  those  who  had 
formerly  been  baptized,  and  whose  numbers  did  not 
exceed  twenty,  attended  the  ministrations  of  the 
brethren  ;  and  even  those  who  assented  to  the  truths 
of  the  gospel,  afforded  melancholy  proofs  that  their 
souls  were  still  under  the  domination  of  Satan.  The 
planters,  alao,  with  a  few  exceptions,  were  n  nv  averse 


to  the  instruction  of  their  slaves  ;  and,  in  1730,  a  trC' 
mendous  hurricane  involved  both  the  missionaries 
and  their  hearers  in  the  most  serious  difficulties. 

Amidst  these  trying  and  discouraging  circumstances, 
the  brethren  were  enabled  to  "  wait  patiently  on  the 
Lord,"  and  to  pour  out  their  souls  in  fervent  prayer  for 
that  divine  interference  which  could  alone  render  the 
doctrines  of  the  cross  effectual  to  the  conversion  and 
eternal  salvation  of  the  "  dark  bewildered  race"  by 
which  they  were  surrounded.  In  the  year  1790,  their 
supplications  began  to  be  answered,  as  their  congre- 
gations visibly  increased,  and  sometimes  amounted  to 
a  hundred  and  fifty  ;  and,  in  addition  to  this,  the  de- 
portment of  those  negroes  who  had  for  some  time 
been  united  with  the  church,  became  more  consistent 
with  the  spirit  and  temper  of  the  gospel,  and  several 
others,  having  given  satisfactory  evidence  of  their  con- 
version, were  admitted  to  the  rite  of  baptism.  The 
proprietors  of  different  plantationsAvere,  also,  gradually 
disposed  to  lay  aside  their  former  prejudices,  and  the 
missionaries  were  treated  with  respect  and  kindness 
by  the  local  government. 

As  the  situation  hitherto  occupied  by  the  brethren 
in  the  parish  of  St.  Thomas  was  both  unhealthy  and 
inconvenient,  and  as  their  dwellings  had,  for  some 
time,  been  in  a  dilapidated  condition,  they  purchased 
a  small  estate,  in  1794,  consisting  of  a  spacious  house 
and  four  acres  of  land,  very  eligibly  situated  in  the 
midst  of  sf>me  populous  estates,  and  nearer  to  the 
town  than  their  former  residence.  To  this  settlement 
they  gave  the  name  of  Sharon.  ■ 

In  the  month  of  November,  1798,  Mr.  James  Wal- 
ler and  his  wife,  together  with  an  unmarried  sister 
named  Mary  Grant,  embarked  at  Bristol,  to  proceed  to 
join  the  missionaries  at  Barbadoes ;  but  the  wind 
proved  adverse,  and,  after  having  been  driven  about 
for  some  time  in  various  directions,  they  were  over- 
taken by  a  dreadful  storm,  in  which  the  ship  became 
totally  unmanappable,and,  at  length,  struck  on  a  rock, 
near  the  harbor  of  Kinsale,  in  Ireland.  For  tiie  space 
of  four  hours,  they  wore  in  constant  expectation  of  be- 
ing swallowed  up  by  the  waves,  but  the  ebbing  of  the 
tide  showed  them  the  practicability  of  reaching  the 
shore,  which  was  only  about  two  hun<lred  yards  dis- 
tant. At  this  juncture,  however,  a  gang  of  robbers, 
armed  with  knives  and  hatchets,  rushed  upon  them 
with  the  most  savage  ferocity,  and  commenced  plun- 
dering the  wreck  and  threatening  the  lives  of  all  on 
board.  Providentially,  however,  these  ruffians  were 
put  to  flight  by  a  garty  of  the  military,  who  fired  among 
them,  and  killed  four  or  five  of  their  party  ;  and  the 
passengers  safely  escaped  to  Kinsale,  whence  they  af- 
terwards obtained  a  passage  to  Barbadoes. 

Towards  the  close  of  1817,  the  congregation  con- 


sisted  of  two  hundred  and  fourteen  members,  of  whom 
sixty-eight  had  been  admitted  to  a  participation  of  the 
Lord's  supper.  It  also  appears  that  the  whole  num- 
ber  of  negroes  baptized  by  the  brethren,  from  the 
commencement  of  the  mission,  did  not  exceed  three 
hundred  and  thirty  adults,  and  one  hundred  and  fifty 
children  ;  making  a  total  of  four  hundred  and  eiehtv 
mdlviduals. 

Intelligence  from  the  missionaries  in  Barbadoes  is 
contamed  in  a  letter  of  the  Rev.  C.  F.  Berg,  dated 
Sharon,  October  18,  1819,  and  is  descriptive  of  a 
storm,  which  appears  to  have  been  more  destructive 
than  any  other  since  the  memorable  hurricane  of  1780 
After  describing  the  menacing  aspect  of  the  sky 
and  the  violent  gusts  of  wind  on  the  preceding  night' 
this  missionary  observes—"  On  the  13th,  in  the  morn- 
ing, the  sky  had  an  awful  appearance  ;  and  at  ten 
o  c  ock,  the  wind,  increasing  in  strength,  began  to  de- 
molish the  stable,  and  to  blow  off  particles  of  thereof 
of  the  church.     I  then  secured  the  stable  with  boards 
and  nails ;  but  whilst  I  was  thus  employed,  both  our 
negro  houses  were  thrown  flat  to  the  ground.     At 
twelve,  it  grew  exceedingly  dark,  and  now  the  wind 
increased  to  a  most  alarming  degree  of  violence,  and 
torrents  of  ram  poured  down  with  the  greatest  impet- 
uosity.    Four  of  the  window  shutters  of  the  church 
were  blown  off,  which  I  took  up -and  nailed  on  again 
though  not  without  danger  of  my  life.     While  I  was 
standing  in  the  south  door,  watching  the  dreadful  scene  of 
devastation,  I  was  suddenly  roused  by  a  violent  crack  of 
the  wall,  and  a  quantity  of  mortar  and  plastering  fall- 
ing   down,  the  roof  cracking  with  a  dreadful  noise. 
We  were  in  the  old  house  which  stood  in  the  hurri- 
cane of  1780  ;  but  now  the  water  penetrated  throu.'h 
the  roof  and  windows,  and,  the  floor  being  inundated, 
1  was  obliged  to  make  a  drain,  to  let  it  run  off. 

"  About  four  o'clock,  it  began  to  lighten  and  thun- 
der, the  flashes  following  each  other  in  rapid  succes- 
sion ;  an<l,  as  the  wind  was  still  on  the  increase,  and 
one  of  the  large  trees  in  our  yard  was  torn  up  by  the 
roots,  we  did  not  think  ourselves  any  longer  safe  in 
the  house.     At  five  o'clock,  the  wind  abated,  and,  for 
about  five  minutes,  there  was  a  perfect  calm  ;  but  it 
soon  returned  with  the  same  violence  as  before,  and 
continued  till  the  evening  of  the  15tli ;  the  rain,  in 
the   mean  time,  pouring  down  in  incessant  torrents 
and    sweeping   off    the    ground    the    spoils   of    the 
tempest. 

"  Our  damage  is  great,  and  I  may  venture  to  say 
that  £200  sterling  will  not  repay  it ;  but  it  appears 
comparatively  small  when  I  contemplate  the  suffer- 
ings of  our  neighbors.  All  the  negro  houses  are  either 
blown  down  or  unroofed,  and  many  houses,  apnar^ntly 
much  stronger  than  our's,  are  leveled  with  the  ground 


ISLAND  OF  BARBADOES. 


79 


According  to  the  statement  in  the  newspaper,  one  es- 
tate  IS  sunk  into  the  earth,  and  on  another,  two  larw 
houses  have  been  removed  more  than  two  hundred 
yards.  In  the  town,  seven  white  persons,  with  their 
houses,  and  all  m  them,  were  blown  into  the  sea  :  and 
the  produce  of  the  island  is  either  destroyed,  or  so 
materially  injured,  that  dearth  and  famine  sta,;  us  in 
the  face.  In  the  midst  of  all  these  calamities,  how- 
much     aVIt;    ° -l"^"  congregation  eomfoks  me 

dren  ;f  gL     T-     ''  "T^  °^  ''''"'  ^^°  '^"«  'chil- 
dren of  God,  and  lovers  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ 
who  will  preserve  and  help  them."  ' 

In  few  places  is  there  a  greater  call  for  prudence  in 
the  missionary  than  m  this  island.  Few  of  the  plant- 
ers are  decidedly  in  favor  of  having  religious  in' ru  - 
gn  imparted  to  their  people,  and  the  faithful  servant  of 
Christ  has  often  had  to  meet  with  those  who  would 

: ;  ve™  '  F^'^'^^'  ^°  !'^ '""''''  ''^'  ^"^^y  -g'' 

be  saved.        For  several  years,  the  journals  of  the 
brethren  afforded  but  little  that  can  be' deemed  inter! 

In  TI23  an74"^j'"  ''"°''  "^ '''''"  P^''^"'=«  -d  faith. 
In  1823  and  4,  the  progress  of  the  mission  was  more 

encouraging,  and  a  greater  hunger  and  thirst  after  the 
«ord  of  God    appeared,  than   ever  before  since  its 
commencement.     The  missionaries  were  invited  to 
twenty  different  plantations,  and  Mr.  Haynes  built  a 
chapel  and  missionary  residence  on  his  estate,  with 
the  permission  of  the  colonial  legislature.     In    826 
brother  Taylor  and  his  wife  arrived  from  Ant,gua,Tnd 
were  received  with  great  joy  by  Mr.  H.  and  his  family. 
Accounts  from  Sharon  and  Mount  Tabor,  in  Febru- 
ary, 1828,  are  interesting.     Mr.  Brunner  writes,  "  At 
Sharon  we  baptized  twelve  adults,  and  received  seven 
as  candidates  ;  and  at  Tabor,  on  the  same  day,  five 
were  admitted  to  church  privileges  " 

Bishop  Hueffel  records,  in  the  journal  of  his  visit  of 
mspection_'<I  went  to  Mount  Tabor,  on  the  27th. 
Bro  her  Taylor's  hou.se  stands  by  itself;  at  the  foot  of 
he  hill  hes  Mr.  Haynes's  negro  village  ;  the  cottages 
a.e  placed  in  regular  rows,  and  every  other  arrange- 
ment  proves  the  kind   attention  which  Mr.  and  Mrs 
Haynes  pay  to  the  temporal  and  spiritual  welfare  of 
those  whom  the  Lord,  by  his  providence,  has  entrust- 
ed to  their  care.     After  the  public  service,  two  adults 
were  baptized;  brother  Taylor  addressed  the  candi- 
dates for  baptism  in  an  impressive  discourse ;  five  per- 
sons were  received  into  the  congregation  " 

Before  leaving  the  island,  the  bishop  waited  upon 
tlie  president  of  the  council,  and  the  Right  Rev  Dr 
Coleridge,  the  lord  bishop  of  Barbadoes,  by  whom  he 
was  received  in  a  cordial  manner,  and  with  expressions 
of  regard  for  the  brethren's  missions. 

The  success  granted  to  the  labors  of  Mr.  Brunner 
»n  the  year  1828,  is  worthy  of  grateful  notice;  one 


09 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


hundred  and  two  adults  were  baptiied,  and  fifty-three 
children,  during  that  period. 

In  January,  1830,  Mr.  Taylor  addressed  the  society 
in  a  letter,  from  which  the  following  is  an  extract : — 
*'  Our  gracious  Lord  is  pleased  to  lay  his  blessing 
upon  our  feeble  testimony  of  his  love  to  sinners,  and 
to  grant  us  many  cheering  proofs  that  it  is  not  deliv- 
ered in  vain.  The  festivals  of  our  Saviour's  birlh,  and 
those  of  the  new  year  and  Epiphany,  were  seasons  of 
real  refreshing  from  his  presence.  At  the  love-feast 
with  the  children,  ninety-seven  were  present,  most  of 
whom  attend  our  school.  In  the  course  of  the  year 
1829,  there  have  been  baptized  at  Sharon  sixty-nine 
adult  negroes,  and  admitted  to  the  supper  fifty-two 
persons.  The  congregation  consisted  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty-one  communicants,  one  hundred  and  ninety- 
seven  baptized  adults,  and  one.  hundred  and  tuenty- 
four  baptized  children  ;  there  are  ninety-four  candi- 
dates for  baptism  and  one  hundred  and  sixty-eight 
now  people  ;  making  the  total  of  individuals  under  our 
care  amount  to  seven  hundred  and  forty-four.  At  the 
same  period,  the  congregation  at  Tabor  consisted  of 
thirteen  communicants,  thirty-six  baptized  adults,  and 
twenty-seven  children ;  making,  with  thirty-seven 
candidates  for  baptism,  and  fifty-eight  new  people,  an 
aggregate  of  one  hundred  and  seventy-one  persons. 


ST.  CHRISTOPHER. 

The  brethren  in  Antigua  having  been  repeatedly 
solicited  to  extend  their  missionary  labors  to  the  neigh- 
boring island  of  St.  Christopher,  to  which  mariners 
usually  give  the  familiar  name  of  St.  Kitt's,  Messrs. 
Birkby  apd  Gotwald  were  sent  thither  in  June,  1777, 
and  were  cordially  received  by  one  of  the  planters, 
who  had  for  some  time  expressed  an  earnest  wish  for 
the  instruction  of  his  slaves  in  the  important  truths  of 
the  Christian  religion. 

Having  hired  a  house  in  the  town  of  Basseterre, 
they  commenced  preaching  to  the  negroes  ;  but  though 
these  attended  in  considerable  numbers,  and  the  breth- 
ren were  countenanced  in  their  undertaking  by  many 
of  the  proprietors,  the  progress  of  the  gospel  was 
comparatively  slow,  as  in  1784,  seven  years  from  the 
first  establisliment  of  the  mission,  the  number  of  con- 
verts scarcely  exceeded  forty.  These,  however,  ap- 
peared to  have  been  made  the  subjects  of  a  genuine 
change,  and  their  walk  and  conversation  were  "  ac- 
cording to  godliness." 

In  1785,  the  brethren  purchased  a  piece  of  ground 
for  the  establishment  of  a  regular  settlement,  and  the 
place  of  worship  which  they  now  erected  was   so 


numerously  attended,  that  a  more  spacious  church 
soon  became  indispensably  necessary.  This  was  ac- 
cordingly completed  in  1789,  the  believing  negroes  not 
only  assisting  in  the  work  by  manual  labor,  but  also  aid- 
ing it  by  pecuniary  contributions.  On  the  day  of  con- 
secration, eighteen  persons  were  baptized,  and  three, 
who  had  previously  belonged  to  other  denominations, 
were  admitted  as  members  of  the  church.  The  num- 
ber of  baptized  persons,  at  this  time,  amounted  to 
two  hundred  and  seventy-nine,  besides  about  eighty 
catechumens. 

A  sacred  flame  was  now  kindled  in  the  island, 
which  continued  to  spread,  until,  in  the  course  of  a 
few  years,  the  congregation  consisted  of  two  thousand 
five  hundred  persons,  and  the  attendance  on  public 
worship  was  so  numerous,  that  it  was  only  on  the 
week-day  evenings  the  hearers  could  be  accommodated 
within  the  walls  of  the  church  :  on  the  sabbath,  when 
the  negroes  were  in  the  habit  of  coming  from  various 
distant  plantations,  great  numbers  were  obliged  to  re- 
main in  the  open  air  around  the  building. 

In  1792,  the  town  of  Basseterre  was  visited  by  a 
dreadful  inundation,  and  a  hurricane,  which  raged 
in  the  ensuing  autumn,  proved  extremely  destruc- 
tive ;  but  on  each  of  these  occasions  the  missionaries 
were  mercifully  preserved,  though  their  premises 
sustained  considerable  injury.  The  work  of  the  Lord 
also  continued  to  prosper  in  their  hands,  and,  in  the 
course  of  a  short  time,  they  obtained  the  privilege  of 
preaching  to  the  negroes  on  no  less  than  fifty  plan- 
tations. 

The  invasion  of  St.  Christopher's  by  a  French 
fleet,  which  had  previously  been  anticipated,  took 
place  on  the  5th  of  March,  1805,  when  General  Bal- 
bot  fixed  his  head-quarters  in  the  neighborhood  of  the 
missionaries,  and  stationed  a  guard  of  four  privates 
and  a  corporal  at  the  entrance  of  their  burial  ground. 
A  capitulation,  however,  being  agreed  upon,  the  ene- 
my quitted  the  island,  after  levying  a  contribution, 
burning  six  vessels,  spiking  the  cannon,  and  destroy- 
ing the  powder  magazine  ;  and  the  brethren  were 
enabled  to  resume  their  labors  without  further  fear  of 
interruption. 

For  some  following  years,  no  occurrence  worthy  of 
particular  narration  marked  the  progress  of*  the  mis- 
sion in  this  island.  Those  who  were  employed  in  it, 
however,  persevered  in  their  interesting  work  with  unre- 
mitting zeal  and  faithfulness  ;  the  vacancies  occasioned 
by  the  death  of  some  of  their  number,  were  soon  sup- 
plied by  other  devoted  servants  of  Christ ;  and,  in 
every  year,  some  of  the  negroes  were  received  into 
the  church  by  baptism,  whilst  others  exchanged 
worlds,  rejoicing  in  the  grace  of  God,  and  in  the  glo- 
rious doctrine  of  the  atonement. 


In  the  year  1819,  a  new  settlement,  called  5e<Ae»- 
da,  began  to  be  formed  on  the  Cayon  estate,  and  on 
the  25th  ofFebruary,  1821,  the  church  at  that  place 
was  solemnly  consecrated  for  the  celebration  of  divine 
worship ;  a  circumstance  which  appeared  to  excite 
the  most  fervent  gratitude  in  the  breasts  of  many  aged 
and  infirm  negroes,  who,  on  account  of  their  distance 
from  Basseterre,  had  previously  enjoyed  but  few  op- 
portunities  of  attending,  on  the  sabbath,  to  hear  the 
word  of  God. 

On  the  9th  of  September,  1821,  the  island  of  St. 
Christopher  was  visited  by  «  dreadful  hurricane, 
which  raged  with  the  greatest  fury  during  several 
hours,  and  was  productive  of  much  devastation  in 
Basseterre,  and  throughout  the  country  to  a  considera- 
ble extent.  The  missionaries,  however,  were  era- 
ciously  preserved  in  both  their  settlements;  though 
most  of  their  fences  and  enclosures  were  thrown  down 
and  their  houses  cracked  and  trembled  in  such  a  man- 
ner as  to  excite  the  most  lively  apprehensions. 

The  Rev.  J.  Johansen,  in  a  letter  from  Basseterre, 
dated  April   12,   1823,  observes,  "  Concerning  the 
mission  in  this  island,  I  may  say  with  truth,  that  the 
Lord  contmues  to  bless  our  poor  exertions.     On  our 
communion  and  prayer  days  we  have  manifest  proofs 
that  he  is  present  with  us,  and  there  are  always  some, 
who,  on  those  occasions,  advance  in  church  privileges. 
From  Easter  1822  to  Easter  1823,  one  hundred  and 
fifty-three  negroes  were  either  baptized  or  admitted 
at  Basseterre,  and  seventy-two  at  Bethesda  ;  making 
a  total  of  two  hundred  and  twenty-five.     May  our 
encouragements  excite  us  to  pray  that  the  word  of  the 
cross  may  more    and  more    prove  itself  to  be  '  the 
power  of  God,'  for  the  conversion  of  all  who  hear  it, 
that  our  Saviour  may  see  of  the  travail  of  his  soul 
and  be  satisfied." 

The  missionary  Sautter  writes,  April,  1824,  from 
Basseterre,  "  One  hundred  and  thirty-three  were  bap- 
Voi,.  I.— Nos.  7  &  8.  13 


ISLAND  OF  ST.  CHRISTOPHER. 


181 

tized  since  Easter  1823,  and  seventy-two  admitted  to 
the  Lord's  supper;  at  Bethesda,  one  hundred  and 
eight  of  the  former,  and  fifty  of  tiie  latter  description." 
At  the  end  of  1826,  the  congregation  at  Basseterre 
consisted  of  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  seventy- 
seven  persons,  of  whom  six  hundred  and  six  were 
communicants.  There  were  also  three  hundred  and 
two  candidates  for  baptism,  and  five  hundred  under 
gospel  instruction ;— total  2579. 

At  Bethesda,  there  had  been  received  into  the 
church,  since  1821,  three  hundred  and  six  adults: 
and  one  hundred  and  ninety-four  children  had  been 
baptized.  This  congregation  consisted  of  nine  hundred 
and  ninety-five  members,  three  hundred  and  sixteen 
o»  whom  were  communicants,  and,  with  the  addition 
of  catechumens,  and  candidates  for  baptism,  number- 
ed in  all  1780  persons. 

A  letter  from  brother  Hoch,  February  6,  1829 
mentions,  that  he  has  been  cheered  at  Bethesda,  "  by 
several  circumstances  connected  with  the  course  of 
the  congregation."  «<  The  congregation,  at  the  close 
of  the  year,  consisted  of  four  hundred  and  twenty-four 
communicants,  three  hundred  and  seventy-eight  bap- 
tized  individuals,  four  hundred  and  sixty-six  baptized 
children,  who,  with  two  hundred  and  two  candidates 
for  baptism,  and  four  hundred  and  six  new  people, 
form  a  total  of  1876  under  our  care." 

Intelligence  from  Basseterre,  in  1830,  from  the 
missionary  Shick,  is  of  a  highly  gratifying  nature,  in- 
asmuch as  It  shows  the  steadfastness  of  the  faith  of 
the  converts  in  this  island.  Mr.  Shick  remarks,  "  Of 
our  communicants  generally,  we  can  declare  with 
truth,  that  they  seek  to  glorify  God  by  thdr  walk  and 
conversation.  Nor  are  we  without  cheering  evidences 
that  the  Spirit  of  God  carries  on  his  work  in  tKe  heart 
of  many  a  poor  ignorant  negro,  hading  him  to  inquire 
What  must  I  do  to  be  saved  ?' " 


/.c 


6» 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


H»'' 


CHAPTER   III  . 
MISSIONS   IN    NORTH    AMERICA. 


11  I : 


A  TRACT  of  land  having  been  offered  by  the  trus- 
tees «f  Georgia  to  Count  Zinzendorf,  and  that  noble- 
man having  expressed  a  hope  that  an  effectual  door 
was  thus  opened  for  the  introduction  of  divine  truth 
among  some  of  the  Indian  tribes  on  the  new  continent, 
a  number  of  the  United  Brethren  left  Herrnhut  in 
November,  1734,  and  arrived  in  America  the  follow- 
ing spring. 

Having  cleared  a  piece  of  ground,  and  formed  a  set- 
tlement near  the  river  Ogache,  they  immediately 
commenced  their  missioaary  labors,  by  preaching 
among  the  Indians  of  the  Creek  nation  ;  many  of 
whom  resided  on  an  island  called  Irene,  about  five 
miles  from  'he  town  of  Savannah,  and  possessed  a 
tolerable  knowledge  of  the  English  language.  They 
also  established  a  school  for  the  education  of  the  chil- 
dren ;  and,  for  some  time,  their  prospects  were  very 
encouraging,  Tiieir  exertions,  in  this  quarter,  however, 
were  soon  and  unexpectedly  interrupted,  by  the 
commencement  of  hostilities  between  tho  Engiisli  and 
the  neighboring  Spaniards  ;  and  their  refusal  to  lake 
up  arms,  on  that  occasion,  excited  so  much  dissatisfac- 
tion in  the  minds  of  the  other  inhabitants^  that  the 
brethren  were  under  the  necessity  of  abandoning  their 
flourishing  plantations,  and  of  rrtiring  into  I'enn- 
Bylvania. 

In  the  mean  time,  Mr.  Spangenl)erg,  who,  with 
Messrs.  Tiiltschig  and  Soiffart,  iiad  condurtcd  ilio 
colony  to  Georgia,  returned  to  the  congregation  at 
Herrnhut,  and  gave  such  an  affecting  representation  of 
the  state  of  the  savages  in  America,  that  several  of  the 
brethren  declared  their  readiness  to  devote  their  ser- 
vices, and  even  their  lives,  to  a  mission  so  important  and 
truly  benevolent.  One  of  those.  Christian  Henry 
Ranch,  was  accordingly  despatched  to  New  York, 
where  he  arrived  in  July,  1710. 

Shortly  after  his  landing,  Mr.  Rauch  was  informed 
that  an  embassy  of  Maliikan  Indians  had  arrived  in 
tho  city,  to  treat  with  government.  He,  therefore, 
went  inmiediately  in  searcii  of  them,  and,  though  their 
appearance  was  extremely  ferocious,  and  they  were 


evidently  in  a  state  of  inebriety,  he  was  by  no  means 
discouraged,  but  waited  patiently  till  they  were  sober, 
and  then  asked  two  of  them,  named  Tschoop  and 
Shabash,  whether  they  wished  a  teacher  to  settle 
among  them  and  instruct  them  in  the  way  of  salvation. 
They  immediately  intimated  their  willingness  to  ac- 
cede to  such  a  proposal ;  and,  in  a  subsequent  inter- 
view, it  was  agreed  that  he  should  accompany  them 
to  their  residence  at  Shekomeko,  an  Indian  town 
about  twenty-five  miles  to  the  eastward  of  North  River 
on  the  borders  of  Connecticut. 

On  reaching  the  place  of  his  destination,  our  mis- 
sionary met  with  a  very  hospitable  reception  ;  but, 
the  next  day,  when  he  began  to  speak  seriously  of 
the  things  of  God,  the  Indians  treated  his  instructions 
with  derision  and  contemi)t.  Regardless  of  their  be- 
havior, however,  he  persisted  in  testifying  of  the 
evil  of  sin,  and  the  necessity  of  salvation  by  .Jesus 
Christ,  visiting  them  daily  in  their  huts,  and  travelling 
to  the  adjacent  towns  ;  though,  as  he  neither  possessed 
a  horse  nor  money  to  hire  a  boat,  he  frequently  suf- 
fered extremely  from  heat  and  fatigue,  and  was  some- 
times refused  admission  into  the  houses  of  those  to 
whom  \h\  longed  to  couununicate  the  invaluable  truths 
of  the  gospel. 

Thus  he  proceeded  for  some  time  with  little  or  no 
prospect  of  success  ;  but,  at  length,  it  pleased  God 
to  touch  the  hearts  of  tin-  two  Indians  whom  he  had 
first  addressed  in  New  York,  and  whenever  ho  con- 
versed with  them  of  the  sufl"erings  of  the  Redeemer, 
and  the  all-suliicieucy  of  his  atonement,  their  eyes 
overdowed  with  tears,  and  theyliitterly  lamented  their 
former  ignorance'  of  the  true  (Jod  ond  their  bigoted 
devotion  to  dumb  idols. 

The  work  of  the  Holy  Spirit  in  the  conversion  of 
these  savages  was  so  evident,  that  the  sidijecl  soon 
Bctpiired  publicity  ;  and  the  neighboring  Christians, 
whose  atteiitiiin  to  the  gospel  seems  to  liavo  been 
roused  by  this  extraordinary  circmusiance,  were  anx- 
ious of  hearing  the  missionary  themselves,  lie  ac- 
cordmgly  complied  with  their  «oli<itations  to  address 


them  occasionally,  and  the  word  spoken  appears  to 

have  been  owned  and  blessed  to  many. 

In  tills  manner  Mr.  Rauch  continued  to  labor  for 

about  twelve  months ;  but  just  as  he  began  to  antici- 
pate that  the  seed  sown  by  his  instrumentality  would 
soon  produce  some  fruit  to  the  honor  of  his  adorable 
Master,  some  white  people  in  the  neighborhood.'con- 
ce.vmg  that  the  conversion  of  the  Indians  would  prove 
injurious  to  their  interest,  propagated  the  basest 
reoorts  a?ain(!»   1  i>i    O..J ..._ii     •     ..  ,    . 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


..pom  »6.i„.,  „i,„,  .„,  ..,„'.„';i;^rd  z:z::  wTi°"r'  T"",  'r  '"^  «""'■"'  ''•-'^i^'" 


■  .    ..„     V  """gaiuu  iiie  savages 

to  threaten  his  hfe  if  he  did  not  imu.ediately  quit  the 
place      Under  these  circumstances,  he  resolved  to  with- 
draw lor  a  season,  and  accepted  the  situation  of  teacher 
in  a  farmer  s  family  at  a  short  distance.     He  found  it 
impossible    however,   to  abandon   "the   work   of  an 
evangelist,"    and,    though    exposed    to    ,he    greatest 
indignities  and  the  most  imminent  danger  of  liis  life   he 
persisted  in  visiting  the  Indians  at  Sl.ekomeko,  ;ili,  at 
length,  his  meekness,  patience,  fortitude,  and  perse- 
verance, completely  disarmed  their  resentment,  and 
convinced  them  of  the  falsehood  of  the  reports  which 
had  been  so  industriously  circulated  to  his  disadvantage. 
The  fnen.Iship  of  the  Indians  was  no  sooner  re- 
gamed,  than  the  happiest  effects  were  seen  to  follow 
the  preaehmg  of  the  gospel  among  them.     Many  were 
deeply  iinpressed  by  the  relation  of  the  sufferings  and 
death  of  Jesus;  and,  whilst  torrent.s  of  tears  streamed 
f  om  their  eyes,  the  renewing  gmce  of  the  Holy  Spirit 
Jone  conspicuously  i„  ,heir  con.Iuc.  and  conversation. 
This  was  strikingly  exemplified  in  Ts.-hoop.  whose 
affections  had,  for  a  short  time,  been  alienated   from 
h.s  teacher,  but  who  had  subsequently  and  successfully 
exerted  himself  in  removing  the  unfounded  pn.judices 
of  his  countrymen.     This  man,  whilst  in  an  unregen- 
erate  state,  was  pre-eminent,  amoi-  his  brethmi,  in 

dnmkemiess.  ferocity .  ,uu|  debauchery,  and  had  actually 
crippl.Ml  hnnsell  in  the  .service  of  Satan!  Now,  how- 
•  ever,  the  lion  appeared  to  have  be.M,  transformed  i„,o  „ 
lamb  ami  the  demoniac,  when.  „„  ,„„,,|  „,„.„•  „^ 
could  formerly  bind,  was  seen  in  a  state  of  sanity  and 
peace,  <.|othed  with  the  garments  of  salvation,  and 
sitting  at  the  feet  of  Jesus. 

Speakin,.;  to  the  brethren  ,,f  his  own  cnversion  he 
one  d.iy  said,  "  I  was  born  among  the  heatli..n,nnd  have 
grown  old  among  them,  and,  therefore,  I  know  how  the 
heathen  ihmk.  A  preacher  once  ram,,  among  us,  and 
began  to  tell  us  that  th,.ie  was  «  (iod.  We  replie.l 
'Dost  thou  think  us  so  ignorant  as  not  to  know  that  > 
Kelurn  to  the  place  when.e  thou  earnest.'  Another 
preacher,  who  aAerward  visite.l  us.  insisle.l  upon  the 
wickedness  of  lying,  stealing  ami  intoxication.  Wo 
•nswered,    'Thou  fool,   d„st   tlun.    suppose   we    are 

UnuCMuninipd   u'lth     th'—  '>      T> • 

repeat  thy  exhortations ;  for  who  are  more  notoriou, 


83 

liars,  thieves  or  drunkards  than  thy  own  people? 
After  some  time,  brother  Rauch  came  into  my  hut. 
and  addressed  me  to  this  effect ;  '  I  am  come  to  you  in 
he  name  of  the  Lord  of  heaven  and  earth.  He  sends 
to  inform  you  that  he  will  deliver  you  from  your 
present  miserable  situation,  and  render  you  completely 
happy.  For  this  purpose  he  became  a  man,  gave  £ 
h.e  a.  ransom,  and  shed  his  precious  blood  for  pe  • 
jshmg  sinners.;  When  he  had  finished  speaking'he 
lav  down,  fnt  onoH  «.;,i,  i.:.  •  f     ■vuig,  ue 


sound  sleep.  !. hen  began  tr;h;::^'<wLn;S: 
-an  IS  this  ?  There  he  lies  and  slee;s  ;  and,  houghl 
nnght  easdy  kill  him,  and  throw  his  body  intolhe 
wood.s.  this  gives  him  no  concern  !'  At'the  sal 
time    IS  words  were  too  deeply  rooted  in.  my  mind  to 

Christ  shed  for  sinners  presented  itself  to  my  imngi- 
nation.  I  afterward  interpreted  what  I  had  heard  to 
my  countrymen,  and  thus,  through  the  grace  of  God. 
an  a  kening  eommenced  among  us.  If,  ...erefore 
brethren,  you  would  have  your  words  to  gain  entrance 
mong  the  .athen,  continue  to  preach  Christ,  and  1 
eflicacy  of  ins  sufferings  and  death  " 

In  1742,  Count  Zinzendorf,  having  engaged  to  in- 
spect the  .iifrcrent  settlements  of  LI?.,;:' n 
America,  paid  a  visit  to  Shekpmeko,  and  had  the 
pleasure  of  witnessing  the  baptism  of  Tschoop,  Sha- 
bash  and  two  other  Indians,  who  were  admitted  into 
he  church  on  the  22d  of  February,  „s  the  first  fruits 
of  the.r  nation.  The  count  also  made  several  journey, 
.mo  the  interior  by  which  means  a  friendly  inti.  JZe 
«ns  established  with  several  Indian  tribes,  .some  of 
-horn  might  otherwise  have  opposed  and  impeded 
the  labors  ol  the  missionaries. 

The  mission  now  began  to  assume  a  most  oncour. 
a^mg  appearance,  as  the  hands  of  Mr.   Rauch  were 
strengthened  by  the  arrival  of  some  prudent,  zealou, 
a-Hl  courageous  fellow  laborers  ;   the  young  converts 
evinced  a  delightful  warmth  of  heart,  whilst  speaking 

of.heloveo.  (iodin(;i.ris,;„nd„,,,„dia,;.  ,,,iS 
frcMuently  came  from  a  distance  of  twenty  miles  ,o 
•'•■ar  the  gospel,  were  so  deeply  affect Jd  by  i„ 
.".I.ress.ve  truths,  that  they  were  bathe,!  in  L  , 
•l-mng  the  sermon,  a„.l  sometimes  fell  prostrate  on  t  e 


,  "  -^  "^ "   'losirato  on  tli 

groumi,  overpowere.l  by  the  aeuteness  If  ,|,„i,  ...nvi^- 

loiis,      I  he  missionaries,  who  live.I  an,l  ,lie..se,l  in  the 

ndian  maimer,  also  extemle.l  their  labors  to  some  of 

the  n..,ghl.ormg  towns  ;  „,^d  such  a  powerful  sensation 

r"":'"'   ""  •'"''"•'"-  -''ich  they  prcache,!.  ,b„,  th^ 

hear  so   the  savages  wore  completely  melted,  and  the 

stan.inr,l  of  the  cross  began  alrea,Iy  to  wave  in  holy 

trmmph  aiimlst  the  str,ine  hol.ls  of  .S„.a„  ^.^  -r  -•/ 

I"  March.   Hi.-,    ten  of  the  converted  InWan/'^i 

Shekomeko  were,  for  the    first  time,  udmitted  to  . 


84 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


I'i 


I  li'i 


IM 


participation  of  the  holy  communion  ;  and  in  the 
month  of  July,  a  new  chapel  was  opened,  thirty  feet 
long  and  twenty  broad,  which  enabled  them  more 
conveniently  to  hold  their  meetings  for  public  worship. 
Some  rules  were  also  drawn  up  by  the  brethren,  for 
the  regulation  of  their  social  intercourse,  and  for  the 
maintenance  of  good  order  in  the  settlement ;  and,  at 
the  close  of  the  year,  the  number  of  baptized  Indians 
amounted  to  sixty-three,  exclusive  of  those  in  the 
town  of  Pachpatgoch,  where  a  missionary  and  his 
wife,  from  Bethlehem,  had  recently  taken  up  their 
abode. 

Hitherto,  though  exercised  with  trials,  and  some- 
times exposed  to  vexations,  the  missionaries  had  not 
met  with  any  serious  interruption  to  their  labors  ;  but, 
in  the  spring  of  1746,  a  most  violent  persecution  was 
raised  against  them  by  some  Europeans  in  the  neigh- 
borhood. These  persons,  having  failed  in  their  base 
attempts  to  detach  the  Indians  from  their  teachers, 
and  to  seduce  them  into  drunkenness  and  other  vices, 
now  endeavored  to  alarm  their  own  countrymen,  by 
representing  that  the  brethren  were  in  league  with  the 
French  in  Canada,  and  had  been  employed  to  furnish 
the  savages  with  arms  for  the  express  purpose  of 
murdering  the  English.  Tliis  cruel  and  absurd  report 
was  spread  through  the  whole  country,  and  excited 
such  terror  in  the  adjacent  town  of  Sharon,  that  the 
inhabitants  remained  under  arms  for  a  whole  week, 
and  some  were  so  panic-stiuck,  that  they  actually 
abandoned  their  plantations. 

The  missionaries  were  now  required  to  serve  in  the 
militia,  and  on  their  pleading  the  exemption  to  which 
they  were  entitled  as  ministers  of  the  gospel,  they  were 
dragged  from  court  to  court,  in  order  that  some  charge 
might  have  been  substantiated  agamst  them  ;  but,  as 
gold  loses  none  of  its  purity  by  passing  through  the  fire, 
they  were  liunornbly  acquitted  in  every  instance,  and 
the  most  distinguished  of  the  magistrates  acknowledf^ed 
the  purity  of  their  designs  uiid  llie  nlilily  of  their 
exertions.  The  malice  of  their  enemiuH,  however, 
was  not  diminished,  though  their  attempts  had  thus 
far  proved  abortive.  They,  therefore,  had  recourse 
to  other  measures,  and  not  only  procured  an  act  of 
assembly  ordaining  that  all  suspected  persons  should 
take  the  oath  of  allegiance,  or  be  banished  from  the 
province,  but  they  succeeded  in  obtaining  another  act, 
prohibiting  the  missionaries  from  instnicting  the  Indians, 
under  (he  absurd  pretence  of  their  being  connected  with 
the  French. 

Tliough  the  injustice  of  this  act  was  felt  and 
acknowledged  by  every  unprejudiced  person,  the 
brethren  considered  it  iheir  duty  to  obey  the  authority 
of  the  state  ;  and,  with  bleeding  hearts,  but  with 
Unshaken  confidence  in  God,  ihcy  ieft  (hcif  bt-iuVeti 


congregation,  and  retired  to  Bethlehem.  The  Indians, 
in  the  mean  time,  continued  to  hold  their  religious 
meetings  as  usual,  and  were  occasionally  visited  by 
their  teachers,  though  at  the  risk  of  severe  persecution. 
The  members  of  the  congregation  were  soon  afterward 
invited  to  remove  from  the  province  of  New  York, 
and  to  settle  in  the  vicinity  of  Bethlehem  till  a  more 
eligible  spot  could  be  procured  fo-  their  permanent 
residence  ;  and  though,  at  first,  they  started  several 
objections  against  this  proposal,  many  of  them  were 
soon  compelled  to  embrace  it,  by  the  malicious  perse- 
cution of  the  white  people  in  their  neighborhood,  who 
forcibly  dispossessed  them  of  their  lands,  and  even 
applied  to  the  local  authorities  for  a  warrant  to  exter- 
minate them,  as  enemies  of  the  state. 

In  Apti\,  1746,  two  families  of  the  emigrants, 
consisting  of  forty -four  persons,  arrived  at  Bethlehem, 
and  erected  some  huts  for  their  temporary  accommo- 
dation ;  but  as  an  Indian  town  could  not  be  con- 
veniently supported  m  that  situation,  the  brethren 
purchased  a  tract  of  land,  abbut  thirty  miles  distant, 
near  the  confluence  of  the  rivers  Mahony  and  Lecha. 
To  this  spot  the  Indians  immediately  repaired,  with  a 
view  to  clear  and  cultivate  the  ground,  and  here  a  new 
town  was  marked  out,  which  they  called  Gnadenhut- 
ten,  or  Tents  of  Grace. 

On  receiving  intelligence  of  the  formation  of  this 
settlement,  many  of  the  converted  Indians,  who  had 
previously  refused  to  quit  Shekomeko,  were  induced  to 
remove  thither  ;  but  the  situation  of  those  who  still 
remained  became  more  and  more  embarrassing.     The 
Indians  attached  to  the  French  army,  having  made  an 
irruption  into  the  country,  had  advanced  within  a  day's 
journey  of  the  town,  marking  their  progress  by  confla- 
gration and    murder.      I'he    Christian    natives,  slill 
residing  in  that  settlement,  were,  therefore,  kept  in  a 
state  of  the  most  fearful  anxiety  ;  and  none  of  the 
brethren  had  an  opportunity  of  visiting  them   till  the 
month  of  July,  when   Messrs.  Post  and  Hagon  went 
thither  from  Bethlehem.     On  that  occasion,  though 
the  chapel  was  secured  to  tl)e  Indians  by  a  written 
deed  of  gift,  it  wns  found  net  I'ssary  to  give  up  all  idea 
of  holding  meetings  for  religious  worship  there,  and 
the  missionaries  took  leave  of  Shekomeko  with  .sor- 
rowfid  hearts,  though  with  unfeigned  gratitiule  for  that 
manifestation  of  divine  mercy,  which  had  here  been 
afforded  to  the  heathen ;  of  whom  sixty-one  adults 
had  been  received  into  the  church  by  the  rite  of  baptism, 
within  two  years,  exclusive  of  those  who  had  been 
admitted  to  the  same  privilege  at  Bethlehem. 

At  Onadenhutten  tin-  Indian  congregation  continued 
for  several  years  in  a  pleasing  course,  and  inrroased  to 
aliout  five  hundred  pi-rsons  ;  who  evinced  the  sincerity 
uf  ilit'ir  prufcssiun  tiy  iiie  liHrininiy   uhiiii  prcvuiied 


among  them,  the  industry  with  which  they  cultivated 
their  fields,  the  solicitude  which  they  expressed  for  the 
rehgious  education  of  their  children,  and  the  unshaken 
confidence  which  they  reposed  on  tJ.e  grace  and  power 
of  the  Lord   Jesus,   in  seasons   of  severe    sickness, 
and  under  circumstances  of  peculiar  trial.     The  mis- 
sionaries also  evinced  their  zeal  and  devotedness  to 
the  cause  m  which  they  had  engaged,  not  only  by  pay- 
ing the  greatest  possible  attention  to  the  wants  of  their 
flock  at  this  settlement,  but  by  embracing  every  op- 
portunity of  publishing  the  gospel  among  the  Iroquois, 
«n  the  banks  of  the  Susquehannah.     Many  perilous 
journeys  were  undertaken  with  this   view,  and  the 
lives  of  the  brethren  were  sometimes  in  imminent  dan- 
ger from  the  profligacy  and  inebriety  of  the  ferocious 
tnbe  whom  they  labored,  but  without  success,  to  con- 
vert  to  the  faith  of  Christ:  two  of  their  number,  ho^v- 
ever,  obtained  permission  from  the  Great  Council  at 
Onondago  to  reside  in  the  country,  in  order  to  gain  a 
competent  knowledge  of  the  language. 

In    1752,  a   numerous  embassy  of  Nantikoks  and 
Shawanose  arrived  at  Gnadenhutten,  and  concluded  a 
solemn  league  of  amity  with  the  brethren.     The  fol- 
lowing   spring    another    embassy    arrived    attended 
by   three    Iroquois    Indians,  and  proposed  that   the 
congregation  should  immediately  quit  their  settlement 
and   remove   to  Wayomik,  a  town   belonging  to  the 
Shawanose.     For  this  most  unexpected  proposal,  no 
reason  was  assigned ;  but   it  afterward  appeared   that 
the  savages,  having  resolved   to  join  the   French  in 
ho»..mies  against  the  English,  were  desirous,  in   the 
tirst  instance,  of  providing    a   safe  retreat   for   their 
countrymen,  that  they  might  attack  the  white  people 
in    the  neighborhood  of  Gnadenhutten   with  ereater 
facility.  ° 

Though  most  of  the  Christian  Indians  were  decid- 
edly  averse  to  the  idea  of  emigration,  a  party  of  up- 
wards of  eighty  resolved  on  removing  to  Wayon.ik  • 
but  these  had  scarcely  commenced  their  journey' 
when  their  loss  was,  in  some  degree,  made  up  by  tile 
nrriyal  of  fifty  converts  from  an  establishment  about  a 
day  s  journey  from  Bethlehem,  whcncMhey  had  been 
expelled  by  order  of  the  proprietor  of  the  estate.  Thij 
cirrumstnnre  exceedingly  cheered  the  congregation,  and 

seemed  fo.nspiro  the  native  assistants  with  new  zeal  and 
persevernnreinthedischargeofiheirduties.  Thehnavy 
clouds,  however,  which  had  for  some  time  menaced 
tins  settlement,  were  not  yet  dispersed.  They  were 
not  only  obliced  to  pay  a  «orl  of  tribute  to  the  Iro- 
quois,  ns  an  n,knowledgm..nt  of  their  dependence  on 
that  wnrhko  nation,  but  «  new  and  singular  message 
was  sent   to   them,   to  the  followin,^  effect:    "The 

.    .u    ~,r ""i""!-,  in  wnoniia^o,  speak  the 

tnith  and  he  not.     They  rejoice  that  some  of  the  be- 


NORTH  AMERICA, 


85 


leving  Indians  have  removed  to  Wayomik;  but  now 
they  hft  up  the  remaining  Mahikans  and  Delawares 
""! ''V5"?  "^T  in  Wayomik  also;  for  there  a  fire' 

s  kindled  for  them,  and  there  they  may  plant  and 
think  on  God  :  but  if  they  refuse  to  hearken  to  th"s 
message,  the  Great  Council  will  come  and  cleanse 
their  ears  with  a  red  hot  iron  (implying  that  they 
wou  d  bum  their  houses),  and  suL  them 'through  the 
liead  with  musket  balls."  This  menace  inducedVme 
of  the  congregation  to  remove;  but  the  majority  re- 

otrviir"'"T  "'"  ''"'  '''''''''''  -™«  of  'hem 
observ  ng,  m  reference  to  the  threat  of  the    Great 

Council.  "The  God  who  created  and  redeemed ^is" 
also  able  to  protect  us,  nor  need  we  dread  the  dis- 
pleasure  of  man,  since  not  a  hair  can  fall  from  the 
head  of  a  Christian  without  the  divine  permission." 

I  he  missionaries  at  this  station  now  began  to  resume 
their  Itinerant  labors  among  the  heathen  residing  at  a 
distance;  and,  though  the  journeys  which  they  per- 
formed were  attended  with  many  inconveniences  and 
dangers,  they  considered  themselves  amply  remuner- 
ated  for  all  their  toils,  when,  by  the  instrumentality  of 
their  preaching,  converts  were  added  to  the  church 
and  those  who  had  already  cast  in  their  lot  with  the 
people  of  God,  were  seen  to  continue  in  the  faith  and 
hope  of  the  gospel.  Little  did  some  of  them  suppose, 
whilst  thus  rejoicing  over  their  occasional  visits,  thai 
so  terrific  a  catastrophe  awaited  them  at  home. 

On  the  commencement  of  hostilities  between  the 
French  and  English,  an  Indian  war  broke  out,  accom- 
panied by  It.  usual  horrors,  and  spreading  consterna- 
tion  and   dismay   through,  all    parts  of  the  country 
1  he  first  outrage  was  committed  in  the  vicinity  of  Sho^ 
mok.n,  where  three  of  the  Moravian  missionaries  resid- 
ed ;  but  by  the  overrulin-  providence  of  God  they  were 
mei-c.fully  preserved.     The  brethren  at  Gnadenhut- 
ten, however,  who  had  resolved  to  remain  at  their 
post,  notwithstanding  the  imminent  danger  to  which 
they  were  exposed,  as  friends  of  the  British  govern- 
ment,  were  doomed  to  drink  the  cup  of  bitterness, 
even  to  the  dregs.     In  the  evening  of  November  24 
1755,  Willi.:  the  brethren  in  the  mission-house  were 
sitting  at   supper,  they  heard  an  unusual  barking  of 
dogs,  followed  by  the  report  of  a  gun.    Some  of  them 
immediately  went  to  the  <loor,  when  they  perceived 
to  their  unspeakable  terror,  a  party  of  French  Indians' 
with  their  muskets  pointed  towards  the  house,  and  in 
llie  space  of  a  second,  they  fired,  and   killed   Martin 
i%it8chman  on  the  spot.     His  wife  and  some  others 
were  wounded,  but  they  precipitately  rushed  up'stairs 
to  the  garret,  and  harricadoed  the  door  .so  firmly  with 
bedsteads,  that  their  savage  pursuers  found  ii  ;,...„,..:_ 
bie  to  lorce  it  open.     Resolving,  however,  not  to  be 
disappointed  of  their  prey,  the  sanguinary  monsters  set 


66 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


rvi 


fire  to  the  house,  which,  in  a  short  time,  was  com- 
pletely enveloped   in   flames.     Two  of  the  brethren 
had  previously  effected  their  escape  by  jumping  out 
of  a  back  window,  and  now  one  of  the  sisters  and  a 
boy  saved  their  lives  by  leaping  from   the   burning 
roof     One  of  the  missionaries,  named   Fabricius,  at- 
tempted to  follow  their  example,  but,  being  discovered 
by  the  Indians,  they  despatciied  him  with  their  hatch- 
ets, cut  away  his  scalp,  and  left  him  lifeless  on  the 
ground.     All  the  others  who  had  fled  to  the  garret 
were  burned  to  death.     Mr.  Senseman,  who,  on  tiie 
first  alarm,  bad  gone  out  at   the  back  door,  had   the 
heart-rending  anguish  of  beholding  his  wife  perish  in 
this  dreadful  manner.     When  literally  surrounded  by 
the    devouring   element,   this    excellent  woman  was 
heard  to  exclaim,   in  the  true  spirit  of  a  Christian 
martyr,  "Dear  Saviour!    it  is  nil  well."     No   less 
than  eleven  persons  perisiied  on  this  melnncholy  oc- 
casion, viz.  seven   missionarie.s,  tiiree  of  their  wives, 
and  a  female  child  only  fifteen  months  old  !     The  in- 
human savages  having  completed  their  work  of  butch- 
ery at  the  mission-house,  set   fire  to  the  stables,  and 
thus  destroyed   all  the  corn,  hay  and  cattle.     They 
then  regaled  themselves  with  a  hearty  meal,  and  de- 
parted.    They  afterward  relumed,  however,  lo  burn 
the  town  and  ravage  the  plantations ;  but  the  whole 
of  the  congregation  providentially  esra])ed,  having  fled 
to  the  woods,  as  soon  as  tiiey  saw  tiie  mission-house  in 
flames,  and  were  apprized,  by  one  of  the  brethren,  of 
the  tragical  catastrophe. 

Dreadful   and  disastrous  as  were  these  events,  they 
became  the  means,  in  the  hand  of  Divine  Providence, 
of  averting  a  much  more  extensive  calamity.     Some 
agents  of  tiie   prince  of  darkness  had,  at    this  time, 
contrived  the  destruction  of  the  wiiole  estabiisiunent 
of  tlie  United   Brethren  in  North  America;  and   tiie 
sparks    of  suspicion    wiiicli   had   been    kindled    on   a 
previous  occasion,  by   intimations    of   a   treasonable 
correspondence  with  the  enemy,  were  now  blown  into 
a  flame,  by  an  infamous  faiirication  in  one  of  the  news- 
papers, purporting,  to  be  a  letter  from  a  French  ollicer, 
in  which  he  was  re|iresenle(l  as  saying,  that  "  the  con- 
quest of  the   English  would  s(M)n   be   effected  by  his 
countrymen,  as  the  Indians  had  already  espoused  their 
cause,  and  the  Moravians,  who  we-e  decidedly  friendly 
to  them,  would  render  every  assistance  in  their  pow- 
er."    The    publiraticm  of  this    vile   forgery    excited 
•uch  a  general  feeling  of  indignation,  that  in  the  Jer- 
seys a  declaration  was   publicly  made,  with  beat  of 
Hruinr  that  Hetlileliem  should  bo  destroyed,  and  the 
most   dreadful   menaces   were   added,  timt   in  alt  the 
Moravian  settlements  such  a  carnage  should  be  short- 
ly iiuide   as   Imd   never    previously  been    lieanl  of  in 
North  America.     VV.hilst  we  shudder,  therefore,  nt  the 


calamitous  fate  of  those  who  perished  at  Gnadenhut- 
ten,  we  are  constrained  to  admire  the  stupendous 
wisdom  of  that  God,  who,  by  permitting  the  Indians 
in  the  pay  of  France  to  commit  such  an  inhuman 
atrocity  upon  the  very  people  who  had  been  industri- 
ously  represented  as  their  friends  and  adherents,  estab- 
lished the  innocence  of  a  slandered  community,  be- 
yond the  power  of  contradiction,  and  providentially 
rescued  their  other  settlements  from  impending  de- 
struction. 

After  the  murderous  attack  on  the  missionaries  at 
Gnadenhutten,  a  few  of  the  converted  Indians  re- 
moved  to  Wayomik,  but  the  greater  part  fled  to  Beth- 
lehem, where  they  were  received  with  fraternal  kind- 
ness, and  treated  with  the  greatest  hospitality.  This 
circumstance,  however,  tended  to  involve  both  the 
brethren  and  their  converts  in  new  and  trying  difficul- 
ties. The  savages,  on  the  one  hand,  peremptorily  in- 
sbted  on  their  countrymen  rising  in  arms  against  the 
English,  and  even  threatened  to  murder  them  in  case 
of  refusal ;  whilst,  on  the  other,  there  arose  a  set  of 
fanatics  among  the  Europeans,  who  demanded  the  to- 
tal extermination  of  the  Indian  tribes,  as  a  race 
accursed  of  God  ;  and  these  were,  of  course,  highly 
uicensed  against  the  brethren  at  Bethlehem,  for  afford- 
hig  protection  to  persons,  whom  they,  in  their  wisdom, 
identified  with  the  ancient  Canaanites. 

Thus  situated,  the  inhabitants  of  Bethlehem  con- 
sidered themselves  as  sheep  ready  to  be  slaughtered, 
and  knew  not,  on  retiring  to  rest  at  night,  whether 
they  should  ever  again  behold  the  light  of  day. 
Their  dependence  on  the  God  of  their  mercies,  how- 
ever, remained  unshaken,  and  they  resolutely  deter- 
mined to  remain  at  their  post.  At  the  same  time, 
they  adopted  the  most  prudent  measures  for  tlieii  de- 
fence, surrounding  the  settlement  with  palisadoes,  and 
maintaining  a  constant  watch  both  day  and  night.  They 
were  thus  happily  preserved  from  tlio  attacks  of  the 
savages,  who  continued  to  ravage  the  neighboring 
country,  and  to  commit  the  most  liorrid  barbarities. 

After  some  time,  the  Indian  roiifircKation  began  to 
enjoy  repose  and  tian(|uilliiy  benealli  the  protection  of 
their  kind  friends  at  Hetlileliem;  three  of  the  mission- 
aries devoted  themselves  entirely  to  their  instruction; 
portions  of  the  Scripture  and  moral  1  ymns  were  trans- 
lated for  their  use  ;  the  schools  were  recommenced 
and  diligently  attended ;  and  the  cliildren  frequently 
met  together,  to  sing  the  praises  of  their  (Jod  and 
Saviour.  The  converts,  also,  with  very  few  excep- 
tions, remained  steadfast  in  their  Christian  profession, 
and  exhibited  many  satisfactory  proofs  of  the  influence 
of  the  gospel  oti  their  hearts  and  lives. 

In  the  month  of  June,  H.'iT,  a  piece  of  land,  about 

a  mijn  djsliinl  frnni   nntlilehc!!!.  ■■'n°.  kl: 


V   6' 


....I  u.. 

;iv'a  tjy 


government  for  the  formation  of  an  Indian  settlement- 
and  here  a  town  was  erected,  under  the  superintend' 
ence  of  the  brethren,  which  was  called  nL     TWs 
^f^""  ^°«"«':  completed  than  most  of  the  baptized 
who.  m  obed.enca  to  their  savage  countrymen    had 
returned  to  Wayomik,  or  fled  to  the  SusqSnah 
af  or  the  massacre  of  the  missionaries,  reLned  and 
sohcted  permission  to  reside  in  the  town.     The  i„- 
habuants   .ndeed,  increased  so  rapidly,  in  consequence 
of  the  return  of  those  who  had  wandered   in  various 
direcfons  durmg  the  late  troubles,  that,  after  the  lapse 
of  a  short  time,  it  became  necessary  to  divide  them 
and  to  form  a  second  settlement  for  their  accommoda- 
t  on.     Accordmgly,  the  brethren  at  Bethlehem  pur- 
cha  ed  ,  tract  of  land,  comprising  about  fourteen  iL- 
dred  «cres,  belund  the   Blue  Mountains,   and  a  new 
.own  called  Wech^yetank,  was  erected  under  tL  inl 
spection  of  one  of  the  missionaries 

As  the  scene  of  the  contest  between  the  French 
and  Lnghsh  was  now  changed,  Pennsylvania  and  tie 
adjacent   provmces  were  happily  delivered  from  the 
presence  of  the  hostile  savages  ;  and,  for  a  considerable 
time,  the  mestu.able  blessings  of  peace,  repose,  an 
prosper, ty,  continued  to  be  enjoyed  in  each  o    the 
new  so  tlen,e„,s.     In  ,76.3,  however,  both  the  inc    ! 
s.ons  of  the  Indians  and  the  clamor  of  certain  Euro- 
peans for  the  extirpation  of  all  the  native  tribes,  were 
"nhappdy  renewed.     A  party  of  Irish  freeboo.  -r      , 
particular   declared  that  any  Indian  who  presumed   o 
appeann  the  woods  should  be  instantly  shot,  and  that 
If  only  one  white  man  were  murdered  in  that  neighbor- 
hood,  the  most,  exemplary  vengeance  should  be  takn, 
upon  all  the  inhabitants  of  Nain  and  Wechquetanlc      In 
consequence  of  these  menaces,  the  congregations  were 
repeatedly  harassed  by  false  alarms,  and,  at  length,  they 
received  the  appalling  intelligence,  that  an  Irish  settle- 
ment, a  few  miles  from  Bethlehem,  ha.l  been  attacke.l 
by  n  party  of  the  savages,  who  had   killed  a  captain 
a  lieutenant,  several  sol.liers,  and  a  person,  whose  wife' 
narrowly  escaped,  though  she  ha.l  occasioned  the  awful 
disaster,  by  ineonsidentely  expressing  her  sentiments 
m  respect  to  some  Indians  who  lodged  in  that  quarter 
This  circumstance  excited  the  most  serious  apprelu-ii- 
8.ons  ,„  each  of  the  new  missionary  settlements,  nor 
«ere  they  1^  nny  means  ui.fouii.led.     The  very  next 
day,  about  nity  white  men  assembled  on  the  opposite 

the  n.ght,  and  murder  all   the   inhabitants  ;  bu,  some 
person  ,n  the  neighborhood  having  pointed  out  the 

ddhc.ilty  „„d  danger  of  their  enterprise,  they  were  in! 
ducedto  return  honie.     On  the  same  day,  a  p„r,y    f 
he  Insh  freebooters  arrive.1  at  WeehqueUmk.   vith  the 
design  of  destroviuLr  il.n  .v.|„>i..  „<•  .i.!    ...        .      I 

place  ;  but  the  missionary  was  fortunate  enough  tore- 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


m 


strain  their  fury  by  some  well-timed  presents  nnH  hv 
givmg  them  plenty  to  eat  and  drink  ^  On     '•'.         u^ 
settlement,  Wv^er,  they  were"htd?o"arrfhat^ 
unless  the  Indians  removed  very  shortlv  X,  '      ,  J 
return  and  massacre  them  all.     L  aS^  ^  .re^ 
pected  m  the  course  of  the  night,  as  several  spies  lere" 
discovered  lurking  about,  and  a  fire  at  a  short  itrnee 
b    rayed  a  neighboring  encampment:  but  as  the  rab 
ell  m  torrents  for  several  hours',  the  enemy  was  nduced 
to  abandon  or  postpone  his  design. 
As  It  was  impossible  to  remain  any  longer  at  Wech 

t:::t  U.e°"  '"^-^'-^  ^"^  charge  iTiToi" 

tovn     ^'/.       *=«"g''^S^"o"  resolved  to  abandon  that 

town,  and  to  accept  an  invitation  to  one  of  the  breVh 

ren  s  settlements,  called  Nazareth  ;  though  they  we  e 

under  the  painful  necessity  of  leaving  their  gfowing 

crops  and  many  of  their  cattle  behind  them.     Z  a! 

they  were  preparing  to  depart,  their  attention  was  excit 

ed^by  a  discharge  of  fire  arms  in  the  neighbori.ood  ;  a^d 

l.e  Indians,  supposmg  that  their  savage  countrymen 

had  attacke,!  some  of  the  settlers,  proposed  ZZnZ 

to  the  assistance  of  the  latter.     The  n'ssionary  l.ow! 

ever   represented  that  their  arms  should  only  b    t^ed 

"  self-defence;  and  it  soon  afterwards  appeared   that 

te  firing  had  proceeded  from  a  party  ofTold;:;  ^ 

hat  the   savages,  against  whom  it  was   directed,  had 

ittu-ed  without  committing  any  <lepred»tions. 

The  inhabitants  of  Nain.  in  the  mean  time,  were  in 
a  complete  state  ot  blockade  ;  the  settlers  heir; 
enraged  against  tliem.  on   account  of  the  crue lt£  of 
I.eir  countrymen,  that  the  converted  Indians  co  id  no 
onger  go  to  Bethlehem  without  exposing  thei.is  Ives 
.0  the  most  severe  treatment ;  and,  even  at  home,  the, 
were  under  the  necessity  of  maintaining  a  strimva  cj 
bo.    by  day  and  night.    Having  adopte.l  such  ,       sur:, 
fcr     eir  defence  as  preclude.l  the  enemy  from  attack 
■ng  l-n  without  danger,  they  began  to'entertain  ^ 
cheering   hope   that    government   would    soon    inter! 
pose  on  their  behalf;  but  this  anJcipation  was  sal 
ly  'I'sappomted.     One  of  their  members,  named  Re- 
natus.  was   suddenly  apprehended  as  the  Indian   who 
had  murdered  an  Irish  settler  ;  and,  as  the  widow  of 
he  deceased  swore  to  his  identity,  he  was  imme.lia.ely 
removed  to  Philadelphia  and  thrown  into  prison      The 
news  of  this  ciicuinstance  spread  through  the  country 
uith  inconceivable  rapidity,  and    inflamed  the    rage 
of  the   Europeans  to  such   a   pitch  of  madness,  that 
the  immolation  of  the  two  congregations  appeared  nl- 
most  inevitable.  ' 

At  this  critical  juncture,  an  express  arrived  from 
«  iMladelphin,  with  an  order  from  the  chief  imu^istnite!,. 
lliat  all  the  (Christian  Indians   from    ^nin   at-J   VVr^h 
T.etank  should  deliver  up  their  arms  and  repair  to 
that  city,  where  they  would  be  placed  under  the  pro- 


88 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


P.l 


m 


tection  of  the  government.  This  was  a  source  of 
deep  distress  to  the  converts,  who  dreaded  nothing  so 
much  as  the  idea  of  a  separation  from  their  teachers ; 
but,  on  being  assured  that  the  missionaries  would  not 
forsake  them,  they  resolved  to  submit  to  the  will  of 
God  ;  and  on  the  arrival  of  the  sheriff,  they  delivered 
up  their  weapons  with  a  degree  of  composure  which 
demonstrated  the  influence  of  the  gospel  upon  their 
minds ;  as  an  Indian,  previous  to  conversion,  would 
prefer  the  loss  of  his  head  to  that  of  his  musket. 

The  congregation  from  Nain  having  joined  their 
brethren  who  had  recently  removed  from  Wechque- 
tank  to  Nazareth,  the  whole  company  set  forward  on 
their  journey,  accompanied  by  some  of  the  mission- 
aries, on  the  8th  of  November  ;  and  it  was  truly  af- 
fecting to  behold  these  poor,  unoffending  people,  among 
whom  were  many  sick  and  infirm,  besides  women  and 
children,  travelling  patiently  along,  in  utter  ignorance 
of  their  future  destiny.  On  the  road  they  suffered 
much  from  fatigue  and  other  hardships,  and  in  some 
places  they  were  exposed  to  the  insults  of  the  set- 
tlers, who  loaded  them  with  abuse  and  maledictions. 

On  their  arrival  at  Pliiladelphia  they  were  ordered 
to  be  lodged  in  tho  barracks  ;  but,  as  the  soldiers  who 
were  quartered  there  peremptorily  refused  them  ad- 
mittance, the  unfortunate  creatures  were  kept  stand- 
ing in  tho  street  from  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning  till 
three  in  the  afternoon,  exposed  to  the  derision  and 
threatenings  of  a  clamorous  mob,  ^vho  charged  them 
with  all  the  outrages  committed  by  the  savages,  and 
even  talked  of  murdering  them  on  the  spot.  At  length 
the  magistrates  ordered  them  to  proceed  six  miles 
farther,  to  Province  Island,  in  the  river  Delaware  ; 
where  they  were  lodged  in  some  large  buildings,  and 
kindly  supplied  by  government  with  whatever  they 
needed. 

They  had  not  been  long  in  this  asylum  when  they 
received  the  distressing  intelligence  that  the  town  of 
Wechquetank  had  been  burnt  by  some  of  the  infuriat- 
ed settlers ;  and  that  some  incendiaries  had  also  at- 
tempted to  set  fire  to  Bethlehem,  and  had  actually 
reduced  the  oil  mill  to  ashes.  It  was  also  stated  that 
a  party  of  Europeans  had  attacked  a  number  of  In- 
dians in  the  village  of  Canestoga,  and  murdered  four- 
teen of  them  in  their  huts.  The  rest  having  fled  to 
the  town  of  Lancaster,  the  magistrates  took  them  un- 
der their  protection,  and  lodged  them  in  the  work- 
house, a  strong  and  secure  building.  The  inhuman  mur- 
derers, however,  marched  info  the  town  at  noon-day, 
broke  into  the  workhouse,  and,  though  the  poor,  de- 
fenceless Indians  begged  for  mercy  on  their  knees,  they 
butchered  them  all  without  pity,  and,  having  thrown 
their  mangled  bodies  into  the  street,  they  departed  with 
a  shout  of  malignant  triumph,  threatening  that  tho 


Indians  in  Province  Island  should  soon  share  a  8imi« 
lar  fate. 

A  proclamation  was  now  issued  by  government,  of- 
fering a  considerable  reward  for  the  apprehension  of 
the  ringleaders  of  these  assassins.   Such  was  the  state 
of  insubordination  at  that  time,  however,  and  so  gen- 
eral was  the  rage  of  tho  white  people  against  the  In- 
dians, that  the  magistrates,  apprehensive  of  the  most 
disastrous  consequences,  resolved  to  send  the  converts 
from  Province  Island  to  the  English  army,  by  the  way 
of  New  York.     Accordingly,  on  the  4th  of  January, 
1764,  they  quitted  their  asylum,  and,  on  their  arrival 
at  Philadelphia,  they  were  provided  with  wagons  for 
the  aged,  the  sick,  and  the  children,  and  the  heavy 
baggage ;  and  were  protected  from  the  assaults  of  the 
mob  by  a  party  of  seventy  Highlanders.     In  all  the 
towns  through  which  they  passed  they  were  grossly  in- 
sulted by  the  populace  ;  but,  after  about  a  week's  jour- 
ney, they  arrived  in  safety  at  Afnboy,  where  two  sloops 
were  ready  to  carry  them  to  their  place  of  destination. 
Just  as  they  were  preparing  to  embark,  however,  a  mes- 
sage arrived  from  the  governor  of  New  York,  strictly 
enjoining  that  no  Indian  should  enter  that  province,  and 
even  prohibiting  the  ferryman,  undera  severe  penalty, 
from  conveying  them  across  the  river. 

This  circumstance  was  no  sooner  communicated  to 
the  magistrates  at  Philadelphia,  than  orders  were  issued 
for  the  Indians  to  return   to  that  city ;  and  on  their 
arrival  they  were  lodged  in  the  barracks,  and  attended 
day  and  night  by  a  military  guard.     The  mob,  how- 
ever, continued  to  increase  both  in  number  and  fury, 
so   that    government    found    it   necessary    to   make 
preparations   for   repelling   their   audacity    by  force. 
The  guard  was,  accordingly,  doubled  ;  a  rampart  was 
thrown  up  in  the  middle  of  the  square ;  and  eight 
heavy  pieces  of  cannon  were  phiiited  in  the  front  of 
the    barracks.     An  association   of  the  citizens,  com- 
prising many  of  the  young  Quakers,  was  also  formed 
by  the  celebrated   Benjamin   FVuiikiin,  and   avowed 
their  readiness  to  assist  in  defending  the  Christian  In- 
dians.    Twice  the  conspirators  meditated  an  attack, 
hut  the  preparations  ma<le  by  government  so  com- 
pletely overawed  them,  that  they  wisely  abandoned 
so  dangerous  an  enterprise.     Some  gentlemen  were 
then  deputed  to  inquire  what  complaints  they  had  to 
make,  and,  on  their  asserting  tlint  several  of  the  Indians 
were  nmrderers,  whom  they  had  seen  at  Pittsburg,  one 
of  their  ringleaders  was  admitted  into  the  barracks,  in 
order  to  point  out  the  culprits.     He  accordingly  ex- 
amined them  all  with  minute  attention,  but  was  unable 
to  recognize   an    individual    as   chargeable  with    the 
smallest  offence.     It  was  then  asserted  that  the  Qua- 
kers had  removed  six  of  the  Indians,  and  concealed 
them   in  a  place  of  safely :  but,  upon  investication. 


this  charge    proved  to  be  totally    unfounded.     The 

hTp^ierttr"'^"'^'^^'^"^^-"^"'"^ 

During  their  residence  in  the  barracks,  which  lasted 
nearly  fourteen  n,onths.  the  Indians  kept  up  .heir 
rehg-ous  meetings,  and  on  the  sabbath  such  crowds 

could  not  contain  them;  the  greatest  silence  and 
decorum,  however,  were  invariably  preserved,  and 
mov.?KT'  '''?  P^'J"'^'''^^  "'■  -"^ny  effectually  re- 

comp  n,ed  wuh  sa-ing  power.  The  Lori's  Supper 
was  also  admmistered  at  stated  times,  and  one  of  the 
m,ss.onaries  even  opened  a  school  fo;  instructing  1  e 
youth  m  the  English  language  ^ 

Notwithstanding  the  enjoyment  of  these  privileges 
and  the  generous  supply  of  all  their  wants  bv  tS 
Bnt.sh  government,  the  Indians  began  to  grow  Z 
jected  and  melancholy  in  a  situation  which  they  con 
sidered  as  httle  short  of  imprisonment ;  some  of  2 
young  people,  impatient  of  restraint,  ex  .ibit^d  s tron. 
symptoms  of  insubordination  ;  and  o'n  the  ['o^ZI 
of  fever  and  the  small  pox,  which  broke  out  as  Ihe 
summer  advanced,  many  of  .hem  began  to  meditate  „ 
e  cape  from  the  barracks.    The  exhortations  and  advice 

f  T  I  °'^  "-e^'gnafon  ;  and  though,  during  the 
penod  of  mfection,  upwards  of  fifty  pe'rs^.  wefe  Z 
moved  from  the  congregation  by  death,  their  loss  was 
abundantly  compensated  to  the  survivors,  by  the 
cheermg  reflection  that  most  of  them  had  departed 
ejo.cmg  m  the  faith  of  Christ,  and  anticipaLg 
ready  admittance  mto  that  celestial  city  where  the 
mhabitam  shall  not  say,  "  I  am  sick." 

Among  the  Indians  lodging  in  the  barracks,  at  this 
.me,  Renatus,  whom  we  have  already  mentioned  as 
having  been  impnsone.l  on  a  charge  of  murder,  appears 
to  have  been  placed  in  the  most  distressing  c ircum- 
stances  ;    three  of  his  nearest  relatives  having  be  n 
successively  corned  ofl'  by  disease,  whilst  he  was  in 
expectation  of  being  br.n.ght  to  con.lign  punishme, 
for  a  crime  of  which  he  was  entin  y  i„„ocent.     Wl' 
informed  of  this  mournful  event,  he  burst  into  a  flood 
of  tears,  and  exrlaimcl,  '<0!  to  lose  my  father,  my 

;lr'^i  ?:':":'':'^' ''■•)-''■- -fined  ^^ 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


89 


prison  !     This  is  almost  too  murl,  to  bear  !"     He  de- 


voted  the  w  ole  of  his  time,  however,  to  reading  and 

raTmo't'lT'"-'"  ••:""'""  '"^  '"«''  ''-nno^en  e 

acouir  '  '•"'"■'■^  '"■'""'•  "'"'  '"'  "•-  '"'"-nbly 
acquitted  .-a  c.rcuu.stnnre  which  proved  highly  ben- 
eficial ,o  the  brethren,  as  it  complLly  removed  lo 
odium  which  had  so  long  been  ;ast  upon  thrcin! 

verts,  and  which   had  rendere.l  the  mLion  itsLf  a,    I  =it>.».:™  -p-.  -.-  -     i    •         -  •  - ^  "■  '- 

object  of  generui  though  most  unjust  susi.irion  i  ;•";  """  ""^  '^^^"lanty  oi  .(.,  appearance,  many 

Vol.  I.-N08.  7  k  8.  ^  '  "°"'     j^     "  '''''  '*"*  '«  ""«"''  seriously  ,0  the  preaching  of  thJ 


On  the  cessation  of  hostilities,  and  the  subseauent 
restoration  of  peace,  in  March,  1765,  the  IndiaZere 
h  crated  from  the  barracks,  and  received  theTg"  eS 
ntelhgence  that  a  tract  of  land  had  been  ass^  d  to 
hem  as  a  settlement,  on  the  banks  of  the  Susque! 
.annah.     1„  their  journey  thither,  however,  theyrd 
to  encounter  a. variety  of  difficulties;  for,  as  the  an^ 
mosity  of  the  white  people  had  not  y;t  subid   they 
were  CO       „ed  to  travel  by  a  ver/circuhous  ^^^ 
and   hrough  extensive  forests,  where  it  was  necessary 
to  cut  their  way  for  miles  together.     In  some  places 
the  hiUs  were  so  steep  and  rocky,  that  they  were 
obliged  to  unload  the  wagons  and  carry  their  Llage 
forward   in    detached    parcels,  so   that   they   hS  f o 
travel  over  the  same  ground  repeatedly.     At  other 
..mes  their  progress  was  impeded   by  rivers  so  broad 
and  deep,  that   they  were  under  the  necessity  of  en- 
camping  on   the  banks,    till  they  had  constructed  a 

At  night  they  were  sometimes  forced  to  lodge  in  the 
swamps,  no  dry  ground  being  sufficiently  contiguous 
and  whenever  they  passed  through  a  part  of  "he 
country  wluch  afforded  neither  game  nor  fish,  they 
were  so  severely  distressed  for  provisions,  that  they 
were  glad  to  foed  upon- wild  potatoes,  notwithstanding 
the  unpleasant  taste  of  those  roots  ;  and  to  satisfy  thf 

t.ees,  and  made  them  suck  the  juice  which  exuded 
umler  the  bark.     They  had  also  frequently  noS  o 
drink  but  the  muddy  water  found  inlwampy  puddle 
One  night  they  were  greatly  alarmed  byThe  woods 
being  on  fire,  and  burning  with  great  fory  around  their 
encampment    till  one  o'clock  in  the  morning       A 
their  fatigues  and  trials,  however,  were  comparatively 
forgotten  in  their  religious  meetings,  which  they  he  d 
every  evening   in  the  open   air,  around  a  large  fire 
and,    after  travelling  for  five  weeks,  they  arrived  in 
safoiy  at  the  end  of  their  journey. 

Having  fixed  on  a  convenient  spot  for  a  settlement. 

they  began  to  ere_ct  a  town  which,  when  completed 

cons.sted  of  fortyjiouses  built  of  wood,  in  the  European 

manner,  and  thirteen  Indian  huts,  besides  a  dwelling 

for  the  missionaries,  and  a  neat  and  spacious  chapel 

li.e  i,.ouiid  adjoining  the  houses  was  laid  out  in  gar- 

dens;  an.l  between  the  town  and  the  river  a  tract  of 

about  two  hundred  and  fifty  acres  was  divi.led  into 

regular  plantations  of  Indian  corn.     To  this  settlement 

t  u.y  gave  the  name  of  Frtcdenshuctten,  or  "  Tents 

of  I'eace." 

Soon  after  the  formation  of  this  settlement,  great 
numbers  of  Indians  flocked  to  it  from  various  quarters- 
"n<l,  whilst  all  of  them  admired  the  excellencv  of  its' 


90 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN, 


m 


li'H 


if 


gospel,  and  were  filled  with  concern  for  their  eternal 
salvation.  The  congregation  was,  of  course,  pro- 
gressively increased,  and,  in  less  than  two  years,  it 
became  necessary  to  build  a  larger  place  of  worship. 
Two  spacious  schools  were  also  erected  for  the  use  of 
the  young  people ;  and  the  brethren  were  richly  re- 
munerated for  all  their  labors  by  seeing  the  work  of 
the  Lord  prospering  in  their  hand. 

In  the  autumn  of  1767,  the  excellent  missionary 
David  Zeisberger  undertook  a  journey  to  the  Ohio, 
as  he  had  been  informed  that  some  of  the  Indians  on 
the  banks  of  that  river  were  desirous  of  hearing  the 
gospel.     His  first  design  was  to  visit  Goshgoshuenk  ; 
and  though,  on  various  occasions,  he  received   the 
most  unfavorable  accounts  of  the  people  of  that  place, 
he  resolutely  pressed  forward,  relying  on  the  goodness 
of  his  cause,  and  the  protection  of  his  Divine  Master. 
The  hardships  endured  by  himself  and  the  two  Indian 
assistants  by  whom  he  was  accompanied  on  this  oc- 
casion, were  very  severe ;  as  they  had  frequently  to 
cross  extensive  plains  covered  with  such  high  grass 
that  a  man  on  horseback  was  nearly  hidden  by  it,  and, 
after  a  fall  of  either  rain  or  dew,  the  travellers  were 
completely  wetted  to  tiie  skin.     As  they  proceeded, 
the  aspect  of  the  wilderness  became  more  dreary,  and  j 
they  were  often  compelled  to  work  a  patli  through 
the  thickets  by  day,  and  to  sleep  in  the  open  air  at 
night,  exposed    to  the   inconveniences  both  of  cold 
and  rain. 

On  their  arrival  at  Goshgoshuenk,  it  appeared  that 
the  character  of  the  inhabitants  was  quite  as  bad  as  it 
had  been  represented,  and  that  the  vilest  abomina- 
tions of  heathenism  were  practised  among  them  with- 
out a  blush.     They  readily  consented,  however,  to 
convene  an  assembly  in  order  to  hear  the  words  of 
the  missionary;  and,  after  due  deliberation  in  their 
council,  they  requested  that  teachers  might  he  sent  to 
reside  in  their  town.     This  circumstance  heing  com- 
municated to  the  directors  of  the  mission  at  Bethlehem, 
they    determined    to   send    Messrs.    Zeisberger   and 
Senseman,  with  several  Indian  families  from  Friedens- 
huetten  to  Goshgoshuenk,  to  form  a  regular  missionary 
station  in  that  town,  as  there  appeared  some  proba- 
bility of  introducing  the  gospel  with  success,  even  in 
a    place    which    seemed    hitherto  to    have  been  the 
favorite  seat  of  Satan's  empire.     These  two  brethren 
accordingly  set  out  in   April,  1768,  accompanied  by 
their  friends  Ettwein  and  Heckenwalder,  as    far   as 
Wayomik,  where  they  expected  to  be  joined  by  the 
famdies  of  the  Christian  Indians.     Here   the  whole 
company,  together   with  their  host    and    his  family, 
were  m  the  most  imminent  danger  of  losing  their  lives 
by  an  accident,  which,  however,  was  mercifully  pre- 
vented  by  the  interposition  of  Divine  Providence. 


The  circumstance,  which  is  too  interesting  to  be  passed 

over  in  silence,  is  thus  narrated  by  one  of  the  party : 

"The  only  white  man  residing  at  Wayomik  was 
Mr.  Ogden,   a  shopkeeper,  who  received  us  most 
kindly,  and  did  every  thing  in  his  power  to  render 
our  abode  as  pleasant  as  possible.     His  dwelling  con- 
sisted of  two  small  buildings  closely  adjoining.      In 
one  of  these  he  kept  his  articles  of  trade ;  and  in  the 
other,  where  our  baggage  was  deposited,  stood  some 
barrels  of  gunpowder.     He  slept  in  his  shop,  out  of 
which  a  door  communicated  with  the  powder-maga- 
zine.    As  the  weather  appeared  to  threaten  rain,  he 
laid  a  sufficient  quantity  of  straw  on  the  floor  of  the 
latter  apartment,  for  us  to  sleep  upon ;  charging  us, 
however,  not  to  smoke  our  pipes  there,  as  some  grains 
of  powder  might  be  scattered  on  the  ground,  and  some 
of  the  barrels  were  open.     When  we  retired  to  rest, 
our  host  placed  a  candle  in  his  own  room,  in  such  a 
situation  that  its  light  shone  into  our  apartment.     A 
traveller,  however,  who  had  accompanied  us  hither, 
drew  the  candle  nearer,  to  examine  a  wound  in  his 
faot.     Mr.  Ogden,  at  first,  expostulated  with  him  on 
the  danger  of  bringing  the  candle  so  near  to  the  straw ; 
but  as  he  promised  to  use  the  utmost  caution,  and  to 
put    the   candle  out   as  soon  as  he  had  dressed  his 
wound,  our  host,  at  length,  yielded  to  his  entreaties, 
and  closed  the  inner  door.     We  then  lay  down,  and, 
having  warned  him  to  take  care  of  the  candle,  imme- 
diately  fell    asleep.      The  traveller,  also,  overcome 
with  weariness,  sunk  into  a  profound  slumber  before 
he  had  extinguished  the  light.     The  next  morning, 
Zeisberger  called  me  out  of  the  house  into  the  adjoin- 
ing wood,  and,  pulling  the  candle  out  of  his  pocket, 
communicated  to  me  what  he  thought  it  prudent  to 
conceal  from  our  hospitiible  host.     '  My  brother,'  said 
he,  '  had  not  the  eye  of  Him  who  never  slumbereth 
nor  sl.'C'peth  been  upon  us  last  night,  we  should  all 
have  been  blown  into  the  air,  and  no  one  would  have 
known  how  it  happened.     I  slept  soundly,  being  ex- 
tremely fatigued,  and  was  in  my  first  sleep,  when  I 
feh  as  if  some  one  had  roused  me  with  a  violent  shake. 
I  immediately  sat  up,  and  saw  the  wick  of  the  candle 
hanging  down  on  one  side,  all   in  a  flame,  and  the 
candle  itself  on  the  point  of  falling  into  the  straw, 
which  I  was  just  in  time  to  prevent.     After  this  I 
could    not  sleep  again,  but  lay  silently  thanking  the 
Lord  for  the  extraordinary  preservation  which  we  had 
experienced.'  " 

On  their  arrival  at  Goshgoshuenk,  the  brethren 
were  received  with  every  token  of  weJcomo,  and  the 
Indians  attended  in  considerable  numbers  on  the 
religious  services  which  they  established.  In  a  short 
time,  liowever,  the  charm  of  novelty  having  subsided, 
a  violent  opposition  was  excited   m  the  breasts  of 


many,  by  the  jealousy  of  the  chiefs,  the  artifices  of 
the  sorcerers,  and  the  promulgation  of  the  most  un- 
founded  and  absurd  accusations  against  the  brethren 
Such,  m  fact,  was  the  hostility  now  manifested  against 
the  doctnnes  of  the  gospel,  that  even  some  who 
expressed  the  greatest  satisfaction  at  the  arrival  of 
Mr.  Zeisberger  and  his  companions,  now  spoke  of 
theni  with  malignant  hatred,  and  even  proposed  that 
all  the  Christians,  including,  both  the  missionaries  and 
their  converts,  should  be  put  to  death  and  thrown  into 
tlie  river. 

Regardless  of,  these  difficulties,  and  unappalled  by 
the  menacing  clouds  which  began  to  gather  so  rapidly 
over  their  heads,  the  brethren  resolved  to  continue  at 
their  post;  and  with  this  design  they  erected  a  small 
winter  house,  at  a  short  distance  from  the  town,  where 
they  might  celebrate  the  holy  communion  with  their 
own  people,  and  address  the  truths  of  the  gospel  to 
them,  and  to  such  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  place  as 
might  wish  to  attend.     This  plan  was  productive  of 
great  good,;  not  only  as  the  Christian  Indians  were 
enabled  to  enjoy  their  solemnities  without  interruption 
but  as  many  others  were  induced  to  come  under  the 
sound  of  the  gospel,  notwithstanding  the  abuse  and 
persecution  of  their  neighbors. 

As  the  missionaries  perceived,  after  some  time,  that 
•he  opposition  of  their  enemies  rather  increased  than 
subsided,  they  retired  to  a  convenient  though  barren 
«pot,  about  fifteen  miles  distant,  oh  the  opposite  bank 
Df  the  river,  where  they  built  a  new  settlement,  which 
they  called  Lawunakhannck.     In  this  removal,  they 
were   accompanied   by   all    those   Indians   who   had 
become  attached  to  the  gospel,  and,  within  a  short 
time,  several  of  these  were  admitted  into  the  church 
by  the  rite  of  baptism.      Even   the   inhabitants  of 
Goshgoshuenk,  by  degrees,  began  to  acknowledge  the 
injustice  of  their  persecution,  and  the  council  of  that 
town   were    so   fully  convinced  of  the  disinterested 
designs  of  the  missionaries,  that  they  adopted  them  as 
members  of  the  Delaware  nation,  and  begged  them 
to  bury  in  oblivion  all  that  was  past. 

The  congregation   now  seemed  likely  to  increase 
rapidly  in  numbers,  as  Indians  from  different  quarters 
were  almost  continually  arriving,  with  a  desire  to  hear 
the  gospel ;  and  the  truths  which  were   sounded  in 
their  ears  were,  by  the  agency  of  the  Holy  Spirit 
conveyed   to  the  hearts  of  many.     In  the  spring  of 
1770  however,  a  war  broke  out  between  the  Seneka 
and  the  Cherokee  nations,  and  the  brethren  were  .o 
frequently   annoyed    by   the    marching  of  warriors 
through  their  settlement,  that  they  were  again  obliged 
to  emigrate  to  a  more  tranquil  part  of  the  country. 
Accordingly,    having   embarked   on   the    Ohio    and 
passed  by  Pittsburg,  they  proceeded  to  the  junction 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


91 


of  this  great  river  with  the  Beaver  Creek ;  and,  at  the 
end  of  a  fortnight,  during  which  they  were  exposed  to 
many  penis  and  hardships,  they  amved  at  V  place 
which  seemed  exactly  suited  to  their  purpose,  and  here 
they  began  to  erect  a  new  settlement,  to  which  they  cave 
the  appellation  of  Friedenstadt,  or  the  "Town  of 
Peace." 

The  neighboring  Indians  were  at  first  overwhelmed 
with  surprise  on  seeing  a  people  settle  among  them 
whose  manners  and  customs  were  so  different  from 
those  of  the  other  native  tribes,  and  whose  religious 
doctrines  were  so  completely  at  variance  with  their 
own  Ideas  on  the  subject  of  religion.     In  some,  how- 
ever,  this  astonishment  was  superseded  by  determined 
opposition,  particulariy  after  one  of  the  chiefs   had 
removed   to   the   settlement,  -in   consequence  of  his 
attachment  to  the  gospel.     This  enraged  the  adverse 
party  to  such  a  degree,  that  they  annoyed  the  brethren 
m  every  possible   way,  disseminating  the  most  un- 
founded  calumnies   against  the  missionaries;  forging 
messages  in  the  names  of  the  neighboring  chief'  to 
drive  them  from  the  settlement;  striving  to  inveigle 
the  converts  into  the  sin  of  drunkenness;  and  even 
threatening  to  massacre  the  whole  congregation. 

Unmoved  by  all  these  trials  of  their  faith,  the  mis- 
sionaries  continued  to  teach  and  preach  the  glad 
tidings  of  salvation  through  their  adorable  Saviour ;  and 
such  a  visible  blessing  attended  their  labors,  that  their 
briTTT'^  daily,andsome  of  them  might  indeed 
be  considered  as  «  brands  taken  out  of  the  burning  » 
To  Illustrate  this  fact,  it  is  only  necessary  ,o  remark, 
that  one  of  the  party  who  so  inhumanly  massacred 
he  bretlH-en  at  the  settlement  on  the  Mahony  some 

hearers  of  the  gospel,  and  was  frequently  so  deeply 
affected  during  sermon,  that  he  shed  floods  of  tears, 
hough  nothing  IS  considered  so  disgraceful  by  a  pagan 
Indian  as  for  a  man  to  weep.  On  this  subject  a  con- 
vert once  remarked,  at  a  town  about  thirty  miles  from 
Friedenshuetten,  "I  would  not  have  wept  if  my  ene- 
mies  had  cut  the  flesh  from  my  bones;  but  I  now 

Tf  my  iZn.''   ''°'  ''"  ^°'''^"^''  '''^  "^'"'^'  ''«'^"««« 

The  first  person  baptized  at  this  settlement  was  the 
«.fe  of  a  blind  and  venerable  chief,  who  had  accom- 
pamed  he  brethren  to  their  former  station,  and  there 
cast  in  his  lot  with  the  people  of  God.  On  that  occa- 
sion  she  was  decidedly  hostile  to  the  religion  adopted 
by  her  husband  ;  but  she  was  now  desirous  of  profess- 
ing  her  entire  allegiance  to  the  Saviour.  Many  of 
he  Indians  also  appeared  to  be  deeply  impressed 
when  they  saw  her  solemnly  dedicated  by  baptism  to 
a  triune  Jehovah ;  and  a  celebrated  chief,  who  had 
formeriy  vaunted  that  he  could  confute  the  missiona- 


92 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


'?{• 


ries  Dy  nis  arguments,  now  became  deeply  convinced 
of  the  truth,  and  afforded  the  most  pleasing  proofs  of 
its  invincible  power. 

The   treachery  of  the   Iroquois,  in   clandestinely 
selling  to  the  English  the  land  which,  in   1765,  they 
had  formally  ceded  to  the  Christian  Indians  at  Fried- 
enshuetten,  compelled  the  congregation,  consisting  of 
two  hundred  and  forty-one  persons,  to  abandon  that 
settlement.    Accordingly,  in  the  month  of  June,  1772, 
they  set  out  in  quest  of  a  new  residence,  some  of  them 
proceeding  by  land,  and  a  still   greater  number  by 
water ;  and,  at  the  expiration  of  eight  weeks,"  during 
which   they  suffered  a  variety  of  almost   incredible 
hardships,  they  arrived  at  Friedenstadt,  where  they 
met  with  a  most  cordial  reception,"  and  were  enabled 
to  recruit  both  their  strength  and  spirits,  previously  to 
their  removal  to  a  spot  which  had  been  obtained  for 
their   future  settlement  on   the  banks  of  the  Mus- 
kingum. 

In  consequence  of  a  friendly  invitation    from  the 
council  of  the  Delawares,  the  missionary  Zeisberger 
had  undertaken  a  journey  into  their  country  ;  and  had 
fixed  on  a  tract  of  land  with  an  excellent  spring,  a 
good  soil  for  plantations,  abundance  of  game,    and 
every  requisite  convenience  for  an  Indian  town  ;  and, 
on  his  soliciting  a  grant  of  this  spot  on   behalf  of  the 
converts  under  the  care  of  tlie  brethren,  the  chiefs  of 
the  council  readily  acceded  to  his  request,  and  also 
made  a  formal  cession  of  all  the  adjacent  lands  within 
certain    boundaries,  comprising   a   very  considerable 
territory.     They   likewise   determined  that  none  but 
Christian  Indians  should  settle  in  that  district,  and  that 
the  natives  residing  on    the   borders    should  neither 
disturb  the  worship  of  the  missionaries,  nor  prevent 
their  own  countrymen  from  going  to  hear  the  gospel. 
On  tills  eligible  spot,  therefore,  a  new  town,  called 
Schoenbrunn,  or  the  "  Beautiful    Spring,"  was  soon 
afterwards  erected  by  five  families,  under  the  super- 
intendence of  the  indefatigable  Zeisberger ;  and  these 
were  now  joined  by  the  congregation  froni  Friedens- 
huelten. 
I       The    situation   of  affairs    at    Friedenstadt,  in    the 
mean  time,  became  equally  painful  and  alarming.   The 
repeated  encroachments  of  the  heathen  Indians  occa- 
sioned much  perplexity,  and  the  consequences  of  the 
trade    which    they   carried    on    in    spirituous   liquors 
became  quite  insupjiortable.     Sometimes  the  savages 
brought  a  quantity  of  rum  close  to  the  town,  and, 
after   drinking  to  excess,  they  raved    like    maniacs, 
threatening  destruction  to  the  missionary,  and  com- 
mitting various  acts  of  outrage.     The  congregation, 
therefore,  resolved  to  quit  so  unpleasant  a  neighbor- 
hood, and  followed  their  friends  to  the  b-inks  of  the 
Muskingum,  where  they  established   a   new  settle- 


i 


ment  called   Gnadenhuetten,  about  ten  miles  below 
ocnoenbrunn. 

The  tranquillity  of  both  these  colonies  unfortunately 
proved  of  short  duration;  as,  in  addition  to  the  con- 
tmuance  of  a  petty  warfare  among  the  Indian  tribes, 
hostduies  at   length   commenced   between   some  of 
them,  and  the  settlers  in  Virginia;    and,   in  conse- 
quence  of  the  rage  of  the  savages  against  the  white 
people,  the  missionaries  were  frequently  placed   in 
most  perilous  circumstances.      Numerous  troops  of 
warriors  marched  through  the  settlements,  some  going 
upon   murderous   expeditions,   and   others    returning 
with  scalps  and  prisoners,  threatening,  as  they  passed, 
that  both  the  towns  should  be  attacked  and  destroyed. 
Keports  of  the  most  terrifying  nature  were  also  circu- 
lated  with  avidity;  and  several  hostile  parties  actually 
appeared  in  'the   neighborhood,    with  the  design  of 
seizing  on  stragglers ;  so  that  the  women  were  driven 
from  the  plantations  at  noon-day,  and  all  the  inhabit- 
ants were  under  the  necessity  of  confining  themselves 
to  their  houses,  for  days  and  even  weeks  together. 
At  length,  however,  government  having  assisted  the 
Virginians  with  a  body  of  regular  troops,  the  undisci- 
phned  Indians  were  soon  compelled  to  submit,  and 
peace  was  happily  re-established. 

Amidst   all    these    perplexing   circumstances,    the 
settlements  were  not  only  mercifully  i)reserved  from 
injury   but  the  work  of  God  appeared  to  increase  and 
abound,   through  the  instrumentality  of  a  preached 
gospel.     The  chapel  at  Schoenbrunn,  though  capable 
of  containing  five    hundred  persons,  was  much   too 
small    for  the   accommodation  of  the   hearers ;   and 
among  the  strangers  who  here    heard,  for  the  first 
tune,  the  glad  tidings  of  salvation,  were  many  war- 
riors, who  were  deeply  impressed  with  concern  for 
their  immortal  souls,  and  subsequently  requested  per 
mission  to  come  and   reside   among   the    converted 
Indians.     One  of  the  chiefs,  also,  was  baptized  in  the 
faith  of  Christ ;  and  the   Indian  who  was  appointed 
his  successor,  declined  the  offer,  choosing  rather  to 
be   an    humble    follower  of  the   Redeemer,  than  to 
occupy  the  highest  rank  among  his  pagan  countrymen. 
The  Indians  who  had  originally  invited  the  breth- 
ren into  this  part  of  the  country,  had  now  formed  so 
favorable  an  opinion  of  their  character  and  labors,  that 
they  not  only  confirmed  their  former  a.s,  in  the  name 
of  the  whole  Delaware  nation,  but  also  sent  an  em- 
bassy to  them,  desiring  that  a  third  settlement  might 
be  established  in  their  vicinity.     This  proposal  was 
readily  agreed  to,  and  a  new  town,  called  Lkhtvnau, 
was  commenced  on  the  east  side  of  \he  Muskingum, 
to  which   the  missionaries   Zeisberger  and  Hecken- 
walder,  with  eight  families  from  Schoenbrunn,  removed 
in  the  month  of  April,  1766.    This  little  colony  was 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


soon  increased  by  the  accession  of  many  Indians,  who 
were  induced  to  renounce  their  heathen  superstitions 
and  to  embrace  the  faith  of  the  gospel ;  and,  as  the 
three  settlements  were  situated  at  a  moderate  distance 
from  each  other,  a  friendly  intercourse  was  kept  up 
between  them,  which  proved  extremely  encour- 
agmg  to  the  missionaries,  and  highly  profitable  to  the 
souls  of  their  people. 

The  pleasing  prospects  which  now  appeared  to  be 
opening,  were  soon  and  suddenly  douded,  in  conse- 
quence of  the  war  which  had  commenced  between 
Great  Britain  and  her  American  colonies ;  for  though 
the  strictest  neutrality  was  intended  to  be  preserved  in 
respect  to  the  belligerent  powers,  the  brethren  were 
placed  m  such  circumstances,  that  it  was  almost  im- 
possible  to  avoid  giving  some  offence  either  to  the 
English,  the  Americans,  or  the  Indians,  who  sided 
with  one  or  other  of  the  contending  parties. 

Tiie  chiefs  of  the  Delaware  council  resolved  not  to 
mterfere  in  the  war ;  and  to  this  resolution  they  firmly 
adhered.    One  of  their  tribes,  however,  called  Mon?ys 
secretly  withdrew  themselves  from  the  body  of  the  na- 
tion, and  united  with  the  Mingoes,  an  idle  and  cruel 
race,  celebrated  for  nothing  but  robbery  and  murder 
They  tlien  endeavored  to  gain  a  party  among  the  enemies 
of  the  mission,  and  even  ventured  into  the  settlements 
with  the  express  design  of  seducing  some  of  the  pro- 
fessing Indians  to  join  them.     In  Schoenbrunn  this 
attempt  was  unfortunately  too  successful,  as  they  there 
found  a  number  of  persons  who  seemed  to  rejoice  in  so 
favorable  an  opportunity  of  renouncing  Christianity  • 
and  though  the  missionaries  spared  no  pains  which 
reason   could   suggest  or  affection   could    dictate,  to 
recover   these    poor  backsliders,    they    persisted    in 
returning  to  their  pagan  idolatry.     It  even  appeared, 
from  subsequent   intelligence,   that  the  Monsys  and 
their  deluded  partisans  had  formed  a  plan  to  murder 
the  missionaries,  or  to  convey  them  to  Fort   Detroit  • 
as  the  determination  of  the  Delaware  chiefs  to  remain 
strictly  neutral  was  supposed  to  have  resulted  entirely 
from    their    advice    and    influence.      The    brethren 
therefore,  resolved  to  remain  no  longer  in  a  situation 
where  the  congregation  was  in  such  danger  of  seduc- 
tion ;  and  accordingly  they  retired,  with  the  majority 
of  their  people,  to  Lichtenau,  whilst  the  remainder 
preferred  removing  to  Gnadenhuetten. 

In  the  autumn  of  1777,  the  brethren  at  Lichtenau 
were  informed  that  a  body  of  two  hundred  Huron 
warriors  were  marching  against  that  settlement,  headed 
by  one  of  their  chiefs-,  who,  by  way  of  distinction,  was 
called  the  half-king.  After  mature  deliberation,  how- 
ever. It  was  deemed  practicable  to  avert  the  impending 
danger  by  conciliatory  measures,  and,  accordingly ,some 
of  the  Christian  Indians  set  out  to  meet  the  Hurons 


93 

with  a  large  supply  of  provisions,  and  at  the  same  time 
an  embassy  was  sent  to  the  half-king,  who  received 
hem  kindly,  listened  attentively  to  their  representa- 
tions, and  set  out  the  same  day  for  Lichtenau,  where 
he  behaved  in  the  most  friendly  manner,  and  main- 
tained  the  strictest  order  among  his  warriors.  The 
maintenance  of  these,  however,  was  attended  with 
considerable  trouble  and  expense,  and  the  brethren 
fel   truly  thankful  when  they  took  their  departure 

It  was  now  deemed  advisable,  in  consequence  of  the 
danger  to  which  they  were  continually  exposed,  that 
most  of  the  missionaries  should,  for  the  present,  quit 
the  Indian  country  and  retire  to  Bethlehem      The 
intrepid  Zeisberger,  however,  determined  to  remain  at 
Lichtenau,   and  Mr.  Edwards  chose  to  continue  at 
Gnadenhuetten ;    and,    though  the  settlements  were 
twenty  miles  distant  from  each  other,  they  kept  up,  as 
far  as  possible,  a  regular  intercourse  ;  and  in  travelling 
through  the  country,  they  derived  essential  advantages 
from  the  friendship  of  the  Hurons,  which  they  had 
successfully   conciliated.      At  home,    however,  they 
were   frequently  agitated    by  alarming   reports,    and 
deeply  distressed  on  witnessing  the  scenes  of  cruelty 
and  misery  which  passed  in  review  before  them ;  as 
ttie   Huron  warriors,  who   were  in  league  with  'the 
English,  repeatedly  traversed  their  settlements,  carry- 
ing  the  scalps  or  wounded  bodies  of  their  enemies  as 
trophies  of  their  military  prowess,  and  dragging  their 
uniortunate  prisoners  to  tortures,  at  the  bare  idea  of 
vyliich    humanity  involuntarily  shudders.     At  length 
the  Delaware  Indians,  who  had  so  long  favored  the 
missionaries,  and  so  firmly  persisted  in  taking  no  part 
m  the  war,  were  persuaded  to  unite  with  the  English 
against  the  colonies ;  and  as  all  the  Indians  engaged  in 
hostilities  had   resolved  that   the  hatchet  should  fall 
on  the  head  of  every  one  who  refused  to  accept  of  it 
the  congregations  were  now  placed  between  two  cruel 
enemies.and  their  destruction  appeared  to  be  inevitable  • 
particularly  as  the  young  converts  declined  to  take  up 
arms,  when  repeatedly  urged  to  do  so  by  the  Dela- 
ware chiefs. 

Durip-  this  period  of  anarchy  and  confusion,  some 
considerable  changes  took  place  in  the  settlements  of 
the  brethren.     The  faithful  part  of  the  congregation  at 
Schoenbrunn  had,  as  we  have  stated,  withdra^vn  from 
that  town  ;  audit  was  subsequently  deemed  expedient 
to  quit  Gnadenhuetten,  and  to  unite  the  whole  of  the 
mission  at  Lichtenau.     Some  inconvenience,  however, 
attended  this  arrangement,  and  it  was  therefore  deter- 
mined that  part  of  the  Christian  Indians  should  return 
to  Gnadenhuetten,  and  that  Schoenbrunn  should  be 
rebuilt,  though  not  in  the  former  situation,  but  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  river.     And  as  Liehteiiau,  which 
had  been  hitherto  considered  a  station  of  the  greatest 


94 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


1.^ 


1     K 


security,  now  became  exposed  to  the  outrages  of  the 
savages,  it  was  thought  proper  to  abandon  this  town 
also,  and  to  form  a  new  settlement  about  twenty  miles 
distant,  which  was  called  Salem. 

It  is  peculiarly  pleasing  to  relate,  that,  amidst  all  the 
external   trials    with  which   the  congregations   were 
exercised,  their  faith  in  God  remained  unshaken,  and 
the  graces  of  the  Holy  Spirit  became  more  and  more 
apparent  in  their  deportment  and  conversation.     They 
seemed,  in  fact,  to  be  indissolubly  united  in  the  bonds 
t)f  fraternal  affection  ;  and,  whilst  they  enjoyed  refresh- 
ing communion  with  each  other  as   brethren,  they 
evinced  a  spirit  of  forgiveness  and  kindness  towards 
their  enemies,  particulariy  those  who  had  apostatized 
from  their  Christian  profession  at  Schoenbrunn.     For 
these  unhappy  creatures,  who  had  been  seduced  from 
the  paths  of  peace  and  holiness,  they  poured  out  their 
most  fervent  supplications  before  the  throne  of  grace  ; 
and  their  prayers  were  so  far  answered,  that  many  of 
^he   wanderers,   especially  the    young  people,    were 
cgnvinced  of  their  folly,  acknowledged  their  guilt,  and, 
at   their  earnest  request,  were  re-admitted  into  the 
bosom  of  the  congregation.      The  preaching  of  the 
gospel,  also,  continued  to  be  attended  with  such  a 
peculiar  unction,  that  many  of  the  heathen  Indians, 
who  occasionally  passed  through  the  settlements,  were 
melted  down   beneath   its   sacred   influence;  and  a 
remarkable  awakening  took  place  among  the  juvenile 
part   of  the    congregation,  who,  in    the  most  earnest 
manner,  and  even  with  tears  in  their  eyes,  begged  to 
be  admitted  to  the  rite  of  baptism. 

The  Christian  Indians  and  their  beloved  teachers 
now  enjoyed  an  interval  of  calm  repobe,  seldom  wit- 
nessing any  of  the  horrors  of  the  war,  except  when  the 
warriors  occasionally  marched  through  their  settle- 
ments.    Trials  and  difficulties,  however,  still  awaited 
.hem,  and  a  storm  was  already  gathering,  of  which  they 
nad  formed  no  anticipation.     The  English  governor  at 
Fort  Detroit,  having  formed  an  unfavorable  idea  of 
the  missionaries,  whom  he  considered  in  the  character 
jf  spies,    carrying   on    a    correspondence  with    the 
\mericans,  applied  to  several  of  the  Indian  tribes  to 
jarry  off  both  them  and  their  congregations,  whom  he 
ionsidered  as  very  dangerous  neighbors.     His  propo- 
sal having  been  rejected  in  a  variety  of  quarters,  he 
U  length  applied  to  the  half-king  of  theHurons,  who, 
« the  instigation  of  Captain  Pipe,  one  of  the  Delaware 
chiefs,  and  an  inveterate  enemy  of  the  mission,  consent- 
5d  to  make  the  attempt. 

In  the  month  of  August,  1781,  the  half-king, 
accompanied  by  Captain  Pipe,  a  British  officer,  and 
upwards  of  three  hundred  warriors,  arrived  in  the 
vicinity  of  Gnadenhuetten  ;  !ind  assuming  the  mask  of 
friendship,  proposed   the    removal  of  the  Christian 


Indians  as  a  measure  dictated  by  regard  for  their  safety, 
and  represented  the  country  to  which  they  wished  them 
to  migrate,  as  a  complete  paradise.     Finding,  however, 
that  their  design  was  not  likely  to  be  accomplished  so 
easily  as  they   had  explected,  they  laid   aside  their 
seeming  friendship,  and  committed  such  outrages  that 
Gnadenhuetten,  formerly  the  seat  of  peace  and  indus- 
try, was  converted  into  a  theatre  of  riot  and  depreda- 
tion ;  and,  finally,  the  missionaries  were  seized  by  a 
party  of  Hurons,.and  declared  prisoners  of  war.     As 
they  were  dragged  away  from  the  settlement,  one  of 
the   savages   directed  a  tremendous   blow  with   his 
lance  against  the  head  of  Mr.  Senseman,  but,  provi- 
dentially,  missed  his  aim.     A   Monsy   Indian  then 
approached  the  captives,  and  seizing  each  of  them  by 
the   hair  of  the   head,   shook  them   violently,  and 
exclaimed,  in  a  taunting  manner,    "  Welcome  among 
us,  my  friends." 

The  missionaries  were  now  conducted  into  the  camp 
of  the  Delawares,  where  some  of  the  savages  sang  over 
thepi  the  death-song,  whilst  others  stripped  them  to 
their  shirts,  and  secured  them  in  two  huts,  where  they 
had  to  sit  or  lie  upon  the  bare  ground,  without  any 
thing  but  a  few  rags  to  shield  them  from  the  cold. 
Another  party  of  warriors,  in  the  mean  time,  marched 
off  for  Salem  and  Schoenbrunn  ;  and,  on  their  arrival 
at  those  settlements,    they  plundered    the    mission- 
houses  of  every  thing  which  they  chose,  and  carried  off 
such  of  the  missionaries  as  remained,  together  with 
their  wives  and  children  ;  singing  the  death-song  as 
they  led  them  away.     On  this  occasion,  one  of  the 
brethren  narrowly  escaped  being  killed  by  the  blow  of 
a  tomahawk;  and  poor  Mrs.  Senseman,  who  had  been 
confined  only  three  days,  was  compelled  to  accompa- 
ny   these  merciless  barbarians,  in  a  dark  and  rainy 
night,  with  her  infant  at  her  breast.     By  the    kind 
care  of  her  Heavenly  Father,  however,  both  she  and 
the  child  were  preserved  from  injury  ;  and  she  felt 
truly  thankful  that  she  was  enabled  to  walk,  as  other- 
wise  her  life  and  that  of  her  dear  otiipring  would  have 
been  sacrificed  by  the  Indians. 

The  next  day  the  prisoners  obtained  permission  to 
see  each  other,  and  their  interview  was  so  tender  and 
affecting,  that   even   the  hearts  of  the  savages  were 
melted,  and  the  feelings  of  remorse  and  sorrow  were 
visibly  depicted  in  their  countenances.     The  females 
who,  under  all  their  sufferings,  had  evinced  the  most 
surprising  composure  and  resignation, were  soon  liberat- 
ed, together  with  the  missionary  Micliaol  Jung ;  but,  as 
their  habitations  were  almost  destroyed,  they  went  to 
lodge  in  the  house  of  another  of  the  brethren  named  She- 
bosh,  who,  having  adopted  the  Indian  mode  of  life,  was 
considered  as  a  native  by  the  Hurons,  and  thus  escap- 
ed  t'  e  captivity  which  awaited  his  coadjutors. 


of  the  Chnstmn  Indians  caused  them  to  act  like  our 
Lord  s  discples,  when  he  was   apprehended  in  the 
garden   of  Gethsemane;   as  they   all  forsook   their 
teachers  and  fled.     On  arrivingin  fhe  woods  To JveT 
hey  wept  so  loud  that  the  air  resounded  witHhe  ; 
ame„tat.ons.     And  when  they  had  recovered  tZ 
he  first  impressions  of  terror,  they  not  only  ventured 
to  return  to  the  settlement,  but  even  recovered  many 
of  the  articles  which  had  been  stolen  from  themisTon- 
ar.es,  or  generously  purchased    them  in  ordT  Zt 
they  might  be   restored  to   their  legitimate   owner! 
Some  of  them  also  adopted  the   plan  of  carryW 
Wankets  to  the  prisoners  at  a  late  hour  in  the  elen^,^ 
and  of  fetchmg  them  away  very  early  in  the  morninl' 
that  there  might  be  no  possibility  of  their  being  car nS 
ott  by  thieves  during  the  day 

After  the  brethren  had  remained  in  confinement  for 
several  days,  the  Indian  chiefs  thought  proper  to  st 
them  at  liberty,  enjoining  them,  ho^vever,  to  remove 
with  their  people  to  another  partof  the  countrrTo 
comply  with  this  injunction  they  were  aware   fhat   in 
addition  to  the  los.  of  their  three  beautiful  seulemem 
they  must  leave  behind  them   property  of  vTioS 
descnptions  to  the  amount  of  twelve  thouLnd  do  I 
unfortunately  however,  there  was  no  alternative  and 
the  continued    outract,"    ..f  tho    c„  "'«i'»e,  ana 

them  ;n  o  1  '^"^^''~  ^'  ^''e  savages  constrained 
them,  n  a  short  tune,  to  submit  to  the  prooosed 
emigration.  proposed 

In  their  removal  from  the  banks  of  the  Muskingum 
hey  were  escorted  by  a  troop  of  savages,  wl  o^  uT-' 

miles.  They  went  partly  by  land  and  partly  by 
water ;  but  some  of  the  canoes  unfortunately  s'^ink'^ 
and  those  who  were  in  them  lost  all  their  little 
Foperty  though  their  lives  were  providentially  saved 
Tho  e  who  proceeded  by  land  drove  the  cattle  of 
which  a  numerous  herd  had  been  collected  from  Uvo 
of  the  settlements.  In  the  prosecution  of  tle'r 
tedious  journey,  the  brethren  and  their  wives  usualTy 
travelled  m  the  midst  of  their  beloved  flock  One 
mormng,   however,  when  the  Christian  Indians  were 

•det  d  '\:T  ""^  •'"'r  "  "''"  ^'^  "-'^  -"'I- "- 
JZ    '  J     k'""'!''   ^""''"^  *'^«   missionaries  away 
alone,  and  whipped  their  horses  till  ,he  poor  animals 
became  quite  unmanageable.     In  consequence  of  th 
and  the  swampy  state  of  the  road,  the  wife  of  Zeis 
berger  was  twice  thrown  from  her  horse,  and  in  o  le 
.nstance  was  dragged  a  considerable  distance  with  h" 
foot  hanging  m  the  stirrup  ;  but  through  the  goodne! 
of  God  she  was  preserved  from  material  injury      The 
wiZrH    "'r  '"""^^^  «« '•"^^  -  ?-!»>  e,  but,  not 
n'gni ,    so  that  tho  imssionaries  were  not 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


95 


rescued  from  their  perilous  situation  till  the  next 
mommg.  Amidst  all  the  fatigues  and  harhip"  o 
Uns  migration,  however,  the  most  perfect  unity^Ld 
resignation  prevailed  among  the  brethren  a^d^hdr 
peop  e  ;  not  an  mdividual  was  heard  to  utter  a  com- 
plaint or  to  express  the  slightest  dissatisfaction  S 
committmg  their  case  unto  the  Lord,  they  wereTnaS 

':  Tm  i"  "''"•  •"  ^^«''  -f-«»S  Sr.nTthev 
even  held  their  daily  meetings  on  the  road  ^ 

At  the  expiration  of  four  weeks,  our  travellers  nr 

Hurons  and  his  warriors  left  them  without  any  direc! 
tions  how  to  proceed.  Thus  abandoned  in  a  dtsert 
country,  where  there  was  neither  game  nor  any  othe" 
provisions,  though  it  had  been  represented  to  theri  as 
a  terrestrial  paradise,  they  wandered  about  for  some 
time,  not  knowing  how  to  act.  At  length,  they  deter- 
mmed  to  pass  the  winter  in  Upper  Sandusky  rand 
having  fixed  on  the  most  eligible  spot  which  theycodd 

smlTutrof r  '^^7  -r— .  they  consfructid 
small  huts  of  logs  and.  bark  to  shield  them  from  the 
inclemency  of  the  weather.     Their  situation,  how! 
ever,  was  truly  deplorable,  the  savages  having  stolen 
their  blankets  and  every  other  article,  on  the  journey 
except  their  utensils  for  manufacturing  maple  sugar  • 
and  their  want  of  provisions  being  so  great,  that  the 
missionary  Shebosh,  and  some  of  the  Christian  Indians! 
were  absolutely  compelled  to  return  to  the  forsaken 
settlements  on  the  Muskingum,  to  fetch  the  Indian 
corn  which  had  been  left  growing  in  the  plantations. 
In  this  hazardous  enterprise,  Shebosh  and  five  of  his 
companions  we/e  made  prisoners,  and  carried  to  Pitts- 
burg ;  but  tlie  rest  of  the  party  returned  safely  with 
four  hundred  bushels  of  com.  ^ 

The  Christian  Indians  had  only  just  begun  to  settle 
themselves  in  Sandusky,  when  a  message  Lived  from 
the  governor  of  Fort  Detroit,  commanding  Ihe  mi™ 
sionaries  to  repair  to  that  place,  and  answer  the  accu- 
sations which  had  been  laid  against  them.     Accord- 
in^y,  four  of  the  brethren,  accompanied  by  as  many 
Indian  assistants,  set  off  without  delay;  and  they  were 
not  only  mercifully  preserved  during  their  long  and 
penlous  journey,  but  the  providence  of  God  so  won- 
derfully overruled  events  on  their  arrival,  that  Captain 
f  ipe,  their  accuser  and  inveterate  foe,  was  compelled 
to  avow  their  innocence,  and  t6  acknowledge  that  he 
and  the  chiefs  connected   with   him   were  alone  to 
blame.     The  ground  of  their  accusation  it  seems  was 
in  fact,  simply  this:_The  Delaware  Indians  who,  at 
that  time,  were  in  strict  alliance  with  their  Christian 
countrymen,  occasionally  received  letters  from  Pitts- 
burg and  other  places;  and,  as  they  could  not  deci- 
pher their  contents,  they  generally  applied  to  the 
brethren  to  read  them,  and  in  some  instances,  to 


96 


MISSIONS  OF*  THE  UMTED  BRETHREN. 


answer  them  in  the  name  of  the  chiefs.    To  have 
refiised  such  a  request  would  have  been  extremely 
ungrateful,  and  might  have  led  to  serious  consequences ; 
yet,   for    this    innocent  service,   rendered  to   him- 
self and  his  associates,  had  Captain  Pipe  represented 
them  as  carrying  on  ,i  treasonable  correspondence. 
The  governor,  however,  was  now  so  thoroughly  con- 
vinced of  their  integrity,  that  he  not  only  declared 
them  innocent  of  the  crimes  alleged  against  them,  but 
ordered  them  to  be  supplied  with  clothes  and  various 
articles,  of  which  they  had  been  plundered,  and  sent 
them  back  to  their  congregation  with  an  assurance 
that  their  exertions  for  civilizing  and  instructing  the 
Indians  in  the  truth  of  Christianity  had  excited  his 
warmest  approbation. 

The  settlers  at  Sandusky  now  enjoyed  a  temporary 
repose,  and  were  abundantly  refreshed  in  waiting  upon 
God  in  their  daily  worship.      Some  additions  were 
also  made  to  the  church  by  baptism;  and  those  who, 
for  a  season,  had  been  seduced  into  the  paths  of  error 
were  made  sensible  of  their  guilt,  and  were  affection- 
ately restored  to  their  forfeited  privileges.     But  whilst 
spiritual  consolation  abounded,  the  temporal  concerns 
of  the  congregation  were  truly  distressing;    as  pro- 
visions could  scarcely  be  obtained  in  any  way,  and 
absolute  famine,  with  all  its  terrors,  began  to  appear 
among  them.     In  consequence  of  the  severity  of  the 
winter,  there  was  no   forage  for  the  cattle,  many  of 
which  perished  with  hunger ;  and  the  want  of  the  poor 
was  so  extreme,  that  they  greedily  devoured  the  car- 
casses of  these  poor  animals.     Others    lived   exclu- 
sively on  wild  potatoes;  and,  at  Christmas,  the  mis- 
sionaries   were    unable    to   celebrate  'the  holy  coin- 
inunion,  not  having  either  bread  or  wine  sufficient  for 
that  purpose 

-impelled  by  the  pressure  of  the  increasing  famine, 
several  parties  returned  to  the  seltletnenls  on  the 
Muskingum,  as  they  understood  that  a  great  quantity 
of  corn  was  still  in  the  fields,  superior  in  quality  to 
that  which  was  sold  at  an  exorbitant  price  in  San- 
dusky. It  was  also  reported  that  there  was  now  no 
longer  any  danger  in  visiting  that  part  of  tli(.  country 
In  crediting  this  intelligence,  however,  the  Christian 
Indians  wore  awfully  deceived ;  as  a  scene  of  treach- 
ery and  murder  was,  soon  afterward,  there  exhibited 
which  has  scarcely  a  parallel  in  the  history  of  the' 
most  barbarous  nations. 

Some  of  those  American  fanatics  whom  we  have 
already  noticed,  as  holding  the  idea  that  the  Indian 
tribes  were  accursed  of  Cod,  and  that  it  was  a  posi- 
tive  duty  to  attempt  their  extirpation,  were  highly 
incensed  against  the  governor  of  Piiishurg,  in  conso- 
qurnce  of  his  having  liberated  the  Christian  Indians 
wo  h,.l  hocn  taken  j.risoncrs  with  the  missionary 


Shebosh,  at  Schoenbrunn;  and,  as  they  understood 
that  the  converted  natives  at  Sandusky  were  some- 
times compelled  to  revisit  the  Muskingum,  in  order 
to  obtain  provisions,   they  barbarously  lecolved   to 
murder  those  unfortunate  creatures,  to  destroy  their 
settlements,  and  then  to  proceed  to  Sandusky,  and 
massacre  the  residue  of  the  congregation.  Accordingly, 
in  the  month  of  March,  1782,  the  conspirators,  to  the 
number  of  about  a  hundred  and  sixty,'  directed  their 
steps  toward  Gnadenhuetten,  and,  about  a  mile  from 
the  settlement,  they  met  the  son  of  Mr.  Shebosh  in 
the   woods.     They  immediately  fired,  and  wounded 
him  so  severely  that  it  was  impossible  for  him  to 
escape ;  and  though  he  implored  their  compassion  in 
the  most  touching  manner,  assuring  them  that  he  was 
the  son  of  a  white  Christian,  they  were  deaf  to  his 
entreaties,  and   barbarously  cut  him  in  pieces  with 
their  hatchets.     They  then  proceeded  in  search  of  the 
Indians,  whom  they  found  gathering  the  corn  in  their 
plantations,  and  addressed  them   in  such  a  friendly 
manner,   professing   to    pity   their  misfortunes,   and 
promising  to  conduct  them  to  Pittsburg,  where  their 
wants  would  be  supplied,  and  their  persons  protected 
from  their  enemies,  that  the  poor,  unsuspecting  crea- 
tures not  only  treated   them   in   the  most  hospitable 
manner,  but  even   delivered  all  their  weapons    into 
their  ca-e,  and   showed  them   the   different  articles 
which  they  had  secreted  in  the  woods. 

In  the  mean  time,  John  Martin,  one  of  the  native 
assistants,  went  to  Salem,  to  inform  his  countrymen  at 
that  place  of  the  arrival  and  friendly  designs  of  the 
Americans;  and,  as  the  latter  expressed  a  desire  to 
see  that  settlement,  a  party  of  them  were  conducted 
thither,  and  received  with  tho  same  hospitality  as  they 
had  experienced  at  Gnadenhuetten.     With  the  most 
consummate  hypocrisy  they  here  renewed  their  }>ro- 
fessions  of  fiiciulship,  and  easily  persuaded  the  unsus- 
pecting    Indians   to   accompany  them.     Before  they 
entered   the   town  of  (Miadenhuctton,  however,  they 
suddenly  seized  their  astonished  victims,  rohhed  them 
of  their  arms,  and  even  of  their  jmcket  knives,  and 
ciiiricd  them  bound  into  the  settlement,  where  their 
iiiifortunate  brethren  were  already  in  a  state  of  rap- 
tivity.     The  unfeeling  wretches   then  assembled   in* 
council,  and  resolved,  by  a  majority  of  votes,  that  tho 
whole  of  their  prisoners  should  he  put  to  death  on  the 
following  (lay. 

The  Indians  being  apprized  of  their  sad  destiny, 
were,  at  first,  naturally  overwhelmed  with  aslonish- 
inent  and  horror.  In  a  short  time,  however,  they  he- 
cniiie  rolh^ted  and  resigned  ;  and  not  only  sjient  tho 
night  in  .solemn  prayer  and  mutual  exhortations,  but, 
as  the  morning  np|iroaelied,  tluy  united  in  singing  the 
praises  of  their  adorable  Redeemer,  in  whose  immo 


diate   presence  they  were  soon  to  appear,  and  at 
whose    sacred  feet  they  expected,  in  a  fe;  hLt 

reledTbov:''  ''°°'-^"^'"  -°-^'  --^^^  «»  ""e 
The  day  of  execution  having  arrived,  the  inhuman 

murderers  fixed  on  two  houses,_one  for  tieren 
he  other  for  the  women  ..A  children,- to  wS 
hey  gave  the  horrid  but  appropriate  nam'e  of  sla'2 

bZT     S"  ^°    P°°'''  '""°''^»'   ''^•'""tures,  being 

bound  w.  h  ropes,  two  and  two  together,  were  led 
"Uo  the  places  appointed  for  them,  and  there  Lied 
and  nu,rdere,,  ;„  cold  blood,  without  regird^t' 
or   age       In    this    manner   perished    no    less    than 
nmety.s.x  unoffending  person.,,  among   wl  ^m    w  " 
five  valuable  ass.tants  and  thirty-five  childrenT    Tie 
patience,  p.ety,  and  resignation  with  which  they  met 
he.r  fate  were  so  remarkable,  that  even  thei    Ibo 
ca   assassms  acknowledged  "they  were  good  In    an 
as  tljey  sang  and  prayed  to  their  latest  bfeath."  ' 

rhe  only  individuals  who  escaped  this  sanguinary 
catastrophe  were  two  youths,  in   whose  beh!l/Z 

iTrif  r  ^'"'"'^ ""'««' 1'av.ng  fortunately  disengaged 
Imnself  fron.  the  cords   with  which  he  was    bound 

cellar  r.  the  house  whore  the  women  and  children 
were  slaughtered;  and,  early  ,he  next  morni  ,  h" 
made  Ins  way  into  a  neighboring  thicket.  Tl  e  iane 
of  the  other  youth  was  s.ill  more' singular.  T  ,e  b  ood 
tiursty  ruflmns  gave  bin.  only  one  blow  on  the  lea 
cut  off  h,s  scalp,  and  then  left  him.  Af.e  "  Zl't 
time,  he  recovere.:  his  senses,  and  perceived  that  he 

hloo.l.     In  the  nndst  of  these  he  saw  one  of  the  .  on- 

to  raise   Inmseir     He,   however,  remained  perfectlv 

M-  I.  ns  If  he  bad  been  dead,  and  .his  precau.io    ;  :?  J 

heinennsol   l„.sdeliven„,ee;foi-,jus,  .,   ,U\     'Z^, 

ure,oneofthen...rdererse-.,ein,and,  pej:; 
ha,  Abel  was  still  nhve,  be  immedia.ely  d Ispatehe d 
bnn    wih    two   or   ih.ee    heavy  blows. '  Tlu'    o.. 

you.b    , hough  su„...ing, he  n,o.stani,o  pain  from  bs 

wounds    lay  perfer.ly  mo.ionle.ss  ,i||  „ig|„.  when    he 

ventured  to  creep   ,o  ,he  .loor,  „„d   escaped  into  the 

djacen    wood.     Hero  he  me.  with  his  companion  wlio 

imd  . so  happdy  eluded  de.s...uc,i„n;  and,  llefore,; 
quitted  their  place  of  coneealmen,,  ,hey  observed  ,he 
wrcehes  making  merry  over  the  success  of  their  m!i  ! 
derous  enterprise,  and  setting  fire  ,o  the  houses  in 

winch.. oy  had  shed  such., .reams  of  innocent  biLT 

It  subsequently  appeared  that  the  Indians  had  been 

nppnml  o(  the  approach  of  the  white  nnnn...  i..   ."!!!! 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


97 


Srdity  T:;  "rtr-"^''  .»^«  ---^  caution  and 
uuuuy,  yet,  on  this  occas  on    tbpv  ft.if  i 

supposing  that  they  had  nothi^g^o  a^^h trfrolT ' 
Americans,  but  only  from  the  Lvager  ThtiT  t^ 

-u:d  trri5?7-  ^  ^^^^^^y 

them       A  '"'   calamities  which  awaited 

and  he  i„„'  S,   ;  ZZTJ^  """""^  ""'""'• 
.he  I„di.„.     The'y  ZTl,  „  XTS"  """  " 

ir.'rerzti  r  -»?  -•"*- "s: 

the  town  ^  "'^  mortification   to  find  that 

lialf-kin^  of  ih!  r  ,     """""  '°  'commission  the 

-oke  to  the  brethren,  fv;:s:t„ds'^^ "di::  ^^ 

-..at  their  bLit:::;.^:::^^^^^^ 

g.^^  m?„  '  'T'"!"'"'  ""  "•-'  l-ar.-renc  ng 
gr.  f,  ..nd  appeared  altogether  inconsolable.  Thf 
missionaries,  however,  pointed  out  the  duty  of  inphck 

^..■on,o.bed^inewill,andthevcn^ri'S 
"<-r!,rr,  in  a  fervent  and  appropriate  prayer   «  eom 
".0.1  e    them  to  God,  and  to'.l.e'word'of    L'^ra::"" 
On    leir  arrival  a.  De.roit,  on  .he   U.l.  of  A  .HI 

wnl  ■"■'"  "'"■"  '"''S*-'^  '"  "'0  barracks   1  ut 

Here  afterwards  permit.ed  to  remove    to    a    n  i'v  1 
I'ouso  in  ,he  environs  of  .he  town.     Thoy  werr  i^ 
,   vtsited.  in  the  most  friendly  manner,  by  tS  goJer  l, 

I  rtspe,t  to  the  charges  which  ha.l  been  renewed 
ngnmst  , hem  and  explieitly  ..„,ed,  that  ii  J:^^^^^^^^ 
l.'-n.  from  San.h.sky,  it  «,,  his  principal  object  to 
H'scue  them  from  ,h,  perils  ,o  whieh  ,  ey  !«  ex! 
l-.;.l  n,  tha.  set.leinen..  He  then  gave  or  lers  ,ha 
"II  «ho.r  wan.s  shouhl  be  .supplied  from  .1  e  g  v    „ 

tl"  S-«l..!.  ,o  bn,.,i.e  children,  and  to  bury  .he   hW 

wlienevertheymigli.  be  applied  .ofi,rtlioi;Xt^^ 

Ihe  liuinu,,  n,  Sandusky,  i„  ,he  mean  time   were 

exercised  with  trials  of  no  ordinary  nature.   Tl,;  S 

I  .=:v.|mgs  wore  continued  after  the  .leparture  of  t^lloi; 

II  toachers,  „„d  the  assistants  exhorted  the  congreg,. 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


tion,  in  the  most  affectionate  manner,  to  adhere  stead- 
fastly to  the  truths  of  the  gospel ;  but  whilst  this  ad- 
vice was  suitably  received  by  some,  there  were  others 
who  evinced  the  grossest  perfidy,  and  even  ascribed 
all  their  misfortunes,  and  the  massacre  of  their  friends 
on  the  Muskingum,  to  the  missionaries.     At  the  same 
time  the  half-king  of  the  Hurons,  whose  guilty  con- 
science would  not  permit  him  to  rest  in  the  vicinity 
of  a  body  of  Christian  Indiansj  sent  a  peremptory  order 
to  the  congregation  to  quit  that  part  of  the  country. 
Conscious  of  their  inability  to  resist,  and  distracted  by 
the   confusion    recently  excited    among  themselves, 
they  determined  to  separate ;  and,  accordingly,  one 
party  migrated  into  the  territories  of  the  Shawanose, 
whilst  the  remainder  fixed  their  temporary  abode  near 
Pipe-town,  with  the  intention  of  subsequently  removing 
nearer  to  the  river  Miami. 

The  reader  will,  no  doubt,  be  disposed  to  regret  a 
circumstance  which,  for  the  present,  put  a  period  to 
a  mission  once  so  prosperous  and  promising ;  but  "  the 
ways  of  God  are  not  as  the  ways  of  man,"  and  poor, 
shortsighted   mortals,  instead  of  even    venturing   an 
opinion  upon  the   mysterious  movements  of  Divine 
Providence,  should  silently  await  the  fulfilment  of  the 
encouraging  promise,  «'  What  I  do  thou  knowest  not 
now,  but  thou  shalt  know  hereafter."     At  the  very 
time  that  the  believing  Indians  were  driven  from  San- 
dusky, the  unfeeling  wretches  who  had  so  recently 
imbrued    their   hands   in    innocent    blood,   were  ad- 
vancing against  that  settlement.     By  the  dispersion  of 
the  congregation,  however,  thnir  barbarous  purpose 
was  completely  frustrated  ;  and   their  arrival  in  this 
part  of  the  country  proved  the  prelude  to  thoir  own 
destruction,  as  they  were  here  overtaken  by  u  party  of 
British  and  Indian  warriors,  and  the  greater  part  of 
them  were  cut  in  pieces. 

The  governor  of  Detroit  now  conceived  that  he 
should  render  the  greatest  possible  service  to  the 
brethren  by  having  them  safely  removed  to  Betlile- 
heni  ;  but,  on  finding  (hnt  no  considerations  rould 
detach  them  from  the  cause  of  the  Indians,  and  un- 
derstanding that  they  were  desirous  of  forming  a  new 
settlement,  to  which  their  poor,  dispersed  converts 
might  be  invited  to  return,  ho  kindly  entcr.'d  inio  a 
negotiation  with  the  chiefs  of  (ho  Chippcway  tribe, 
and  obtained  from  them  a  grant  of  land  on  the  banks 
of  the  Huron,  alwut  twenty  miles  to  ijie  north  of 
Detroit.  Ho  also  furnished  them  with  boats,  planks, 
provisions,  tic.  out  of  the  governincnt  stores,  and 
even  sent  to  the  dispersed  Christian  Indians,  inviting 
them  to  return  to  their  teachers.  As  this  mossage 
was  accompanied  by  a  string  of  wampum,  several 
families  ventured  to  accept  it;  ami,  in  July,  lim, 
the  missionaries  removed  to  the  place  which  had  been 


procured  for  their  residence,  and  erected  a  town  which 
they  called  New  Gnadenhuetten. 

By  the  unremitting   labors  of  the  brethren,   the 
environs  of  the  new  town,  which  had  been  formerly 
covered  with  brushwood,  and  infested  with  swarms 
of  stinging  insects,  were  soon  transformed  into  regular 
plantations,  and   the   settlement  began  to  assume  a 
pleasing  and  cheerful  aspect.     The  inhabitants,  how- 
ever, were  as  yet  but  few  in  number ;  as  the  greater 
part  of  the  Christian  Indians  remained  in  the  country 
of  the  Twitchees,  at  a  distance  of  two  hundred  and 
fifty  miles.     Verbal  messages  were,  indeed,  frequently 
sent   to   them   by   the   missionaries;   but,    in   many 
instances,  the  import  of  these  was  perverted  by  the 
bearers,  who,  from    interested   motives,  represented 
that  it  would  be  extremely  unsafe  to  pass  through  the 
English  territory;  though,  in  point  of  fact,  the  gov- 
ernor of  Fort  Detroit  acted  as  a  friend  and  a  father  io 
all  who  needed  his  assistance  in  returning  to  theif 
teachers.     At    the   same    time,   some  of  the  native 
chiefs  commanded  them,  in  a  peremptory   tone,  to 
submit  to  their  fate,  and  to  return  to  their  former 
mode  of  life ;  as  the  gospel  would  no  longer  be  per- 
mitted  even    to   be   named    in    the  Indian  country. 
With  the  timid  and  irresolute   this  language  had  the 
desired  effect ;    many  of  them  continuing   to  reside 
among  the  heathen,  and  some  few  relapsing  into  pagan 
superstition.       Others,  however,    happily    illustrated 
the  declaration  of  our  blessed  Lord,  that  "Where  the 
treasure  is,  there  will  the  heart  be  also ;"  and,  alike 
regardless  of  menaces,  and  unmoved  by  the  probability 
of  ill-treatment   on   their  journey,  they  returned  to 
their  teachers  the  following  spring,  and   once  more 
realized   the    indescribable   happiness   of  "dwelling 
together  in  unity,"  at  the  foot  of  the  cross.     The 
settlement   was,    also,    occasionally   visited    both    by 
heathen  and  white  people,  and  some  of  the  former, 
convinced  of  their  sinfulness,  and  constrained  to  fly 
to  Christ  for  life  and  salvation,  were  received  into  the 
chunh  l.y  the  rite  of  baptism. 

The  termination  of  a  long  and  sanguinary  war.  and 
the  recognition,  by  Great  Britain,  of  the  independence 
of  the  United  States  of  America,  in  178;j,  seemed  to 
promrso  a  season  of  calm  repose  to  tiio  missionaries 
and  their  people;  but  trials  and  difficulties  still 
awaited  them.  The  early  and  unexpected  severity 
of  the  ensuing  winter  compelled  the  congregation  to 
disperse  themselves  through  the  country  in  quest  of 
provisions,  and  many  of  them  who,  for  a  considerable 
tmic,  had  subsisted  on  nothing  but  wild  roots,  were  in 
the  most  imminent  danger  of  perishing  with  famine, 
when  a  numerous  herd  of  deer  strayed  into  their 
neighborhood,  and  thus  providentially  supplied  their 
pressing  wants.     It  siiould  also  bo  added,  that  con- 


^•Zh    »  1     "''"'  ''°»'««''ed,  during  the  scarcity, 
2f  "•: '-t^r^"  «  D^t'oit;  but,  on  the  return  of 

Sr  tS  ^fr.  "PP"*'  '•'^"^^'^^  -  industrious?; 

to  labor,  that  the  demands  of  their  creditors  were  soon 

and  satisfactorily  liquidated.  «e  soon 

The  ensuing  harvest  proved  very  productive,  and 

would   flounsh   .„   peace   and   prosperity;    but   the 
Indians,  who  seemed  destined  to  find  no  res  ing-place 
were    given    to   understand,   that   the    Chippewavs' 

riTe  th'r  '"'  "'''^''  '""^y  ''^'  SranteTonT 
pretence  that  it  was  one  of  their  principal  hunting 
d.  nets;  and  they  were  also  assured,  tha't  the  mos! 
fetal  consequences  would  result  from  their  attempTn. 
tocontmue  a,  New  Gnadenhuetten.     They  aXd 

ZfZtlt  H  "'•''"  '"  '^"-of -other rLZce 
and,  by  the  k.nd  assistance  of  the  governor  of  Detroit 
wo  procured  them  a  compensatiL  of  ^io  hundr  d' 
dollars  for  their   houses  and   plantations,  they  were 
conveyed  to  the  coast  of  Cayahaga.  whe^  the'yTik 

tnL  '.•",. •^'1  ?■■  '^'  P--^^^"*' '"  -  old.  desei^d 
town  which  had  been  formerly  occupied  by  the  tribe 
of  Indians  called  Ottaways.  k  this'place'^^hey  ave 
he  name  of  Pifgerruk,  or  "Pilgrim'  Rest ;"  and 
though  the  season  was  considerably  advanced,  they 
cleared  the  ground  for  plantations,  and  even  ventured 
to  sow  some  Indian  corn. 

During  their  residence  on  this  spot,  they  were  vis- 
ted  by  heathen  Indians  of  differen.  tribes,  particularly 
he    Ottaways,    Ch.ppeways,    and    Delawares,   who 
appeared  desirous  of  hearing   the   gospel,     dthi 
however    attempted,  from    time   to  time,  to  seduce 
their  behoving  countrymen  from  the  faith  of  Chris 
and  so  many  alarming,  .hough  unfounded,  reports  of 
ne  V    ,.03..1.,,es    and  impending  calami.ie;,  hVassed 
and  dismayed  the  congregation,  that  „„othe    removal 
be     me  ..Hl..spons„ble.     Accordingly,  i„  the  mon.li  o 

n,  if'  ^'^. ''""''"'  Pi'K*"-™'',  and,  proceeding 
partly  by  land  and  partly  by  ,ater,  arrived,'at  leng.I*' 
n  the  vieimty  of  Pettquotiing,  where  the;  formed  a 

rx:i;r"'^"'''^-'''^^'^«^««-hena:: 

As  it  was  the  grand  object  of  the  missionaries  to 

communicate  the  g|„d  tidings  of  salvation  to  the  unin! 

truced  heathen,  their  removal  to  this  spot  app,"  r, 

o  have  been  immediately  overnilod  by  Divine  Pov" 

many  of  whom  attended  on  the  public  worship   a  ,d 
Home    were   savingly   convinced    of  tl.o    power'  and 

preciousness  of  the  gospel.     Amonir  thn,„  ^ 
tin,.  .„.«      11-         f^    I    '•     '»inong  tnoso  who  were 
tl  us    esci led  from  ,hn  slavery  of  Satan,  and  brought 
>nto  the  glorious  liberlv  of  .hn  .I.il..,„„  „r ^._/    ^^  I 
two  Indians  forineriy  noted  for  the  most  abandoned  I 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


99 


profligacy.     One  had  actually  formed  «  nlo«   • 

past,  of  murdering  some  of  the  ZonaSes  '^^^ 

even  concealed  himself  with  the  desien  nf  '        •  • 

decid^rl^-i  aZ-   o7X-Lre7  t 
t^mh  7:,^r  ?^'"  '^"°'  I'avingtll.Vedl^ 
Se;\Se\mo:tr'''"""^'^    "^^P''"6   «»»« 
his  abode  tuh    hTltSrT'  "Vr  "P 
lieving  Indians,  also,  who  had  be-  ^'"^  ^^   -■'  ^" 

thelate  troubles,  ret^rnt;  by  dreeslS'^^ 
and  several,  who  had  relapsed  for  a S  Lo  „!       '™ ' 

evinced  such  genuine  repentance  ThatthT""' 
-entuany  restored  to  the'prirg'es  'o^^theTh^ 
zea  and'Tr'^'"  '''  ^""^  «™e.  exhibited  the  u,mo« 

and  harmoniously  together;  and  this  is  to  be  found 
no  where  but  among  yourselves !"  ""* 

ecl  a   J\ew  Salem  without  molestation  ;  but  at  the  nv 
piration  of  that  time,  they  were  so  serio!!:;"!  tyej 
by  the  dealers  in  rum,  and  so  much   alarmed  bv^he 
recommencement  of  hostilities  between    U.e  ^  n 
and  Americans    that  in  April,    1791,  the  whole  coL 
gregation,  consisting  of  upwards  of  two  hundred  rZ 
ons,  crossed  Lake  Erie  in  thirty  canoes,  and  fixed  on 
a  temporary  asylum  in  the  British  territory      I„ ts^ 
than  twrlve  months,  however,  they  experienced  such 
repeated  molestations  from  some  of  tlJr  whi  e '21- 
bors,  and  received  sud,  threatening  messages  from  t 
-ages,  in  case  of  their  refusing  to  take  u  .  theTa      ! 
et  against  the  Americans,  that  they  were  compelled 
o  remove  to  Upper  Cana.Ia;  where  the  gove  nVnt 
md  benevolently  assigned  them  a  tract  of'|„„  "  1" 

o    thenvor  Thames    which  disembogues  into  I,ake 
S  .    Clair.      Here    thcy   erected  a   new  settlement 
which  they  called  FnirficU ;  and  such  wasthe  aTpl-' 
cation  of  the  Indians  to  agriculture  and  a  variety  of 
.unmifacturos,  that  ,h.,- not  only  supplied  their  own 
want,   but  uere  enabled  to  carry  on  a  beneficial  trade 
Uh    heir  neighbors.      I,  i.  „,,o  worthy  of  re^rk 
hat.  though  there  were  formerly  no  white  se,,|„rs  wS 
tlnrty  leagues  of  .bis  .lis.rict.  .ho  lands  „Hi..„„:  ." 
f  «.rndd  were  now  rnpidly  tenanted,  and.  in  a  short 
time,  travellers  began  to  pass  so  frequently,  both  by 


no 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN, 


da 


land  and  water,  that  the  missionary  station  might  be 
considered  as  lying  in  the  high  road  to  Niagara. 

Shortly  after  their  arrival  at  Fairfield,  the  brethren 
were  frequently  visited  and  attended  in  their  public 
meetings  by  many  of  the  Chippeway  and  Monsy  In- 
dians ;  few,  if  any  instances  of  genuine  conversion, 
however,  occurred  among  the  former  ;  and  the  latter 
were  so  decidedly  inimical  to  the  truth,  that  they  not 
only  rejected  it  themselves,  but  did  all  in  their  power 
to  impede  its  progress.     The  dealers  in    spirituous 
liquors  also  placed  many  obstacles  in  the  way  of  the 
mission,  by  seducing  the  heathen  who  occasionally 
visited  the  settlement  into  drunkenness,  which  soon 
obliterated  their  serious  impressions,  and  led  to  the 
perpetration  of  various  crimes.     But,  amidst  all  these 
discouragements,  the  missionaries  steadily  prosecuted 
their  Master's  work,  and  cheered  themselves  with  the 
pleasing   reflection   that  the  professing  Indians  who 
resided  with  them,  were,  with  few  exceptions,  walk- 
mg  according  to  godliness,  and  encouraging  each  other 
in  the  faith  and  hope  of  the  gospel. 

In  the  summer  of  1797,  two  of  the  missionaries 
were  sent  to  survey  the  tract  of  land  on  which  the 
towns  of  Gnadenhuetten,  Salem,  and  Schoenbrunn, 
formerly  stood  ;  as  the  American  Congress  had  kind- 
ly granted  this  district,  together  with  four  thousand 
acres  of  ground  adjoining  each  of  the  settlements,  to 
the  United  Brethren,  for  the  express  purpose  of  evan- 
gelizing the  heathen.  On  their  arrival,  they  found 
the  country  completely  overgrown  with  long  grass, 
briers,  and  brushwood,  and  infested  with  bears,  snakes, 
serpents,  and  other  animals  and  reptiles,  which  tlioy 
could  only  dislodge  by  setting  the  impervious  thicket 
on  fire.  Some  ruins  of  the  houses  were  still  standing 
at  Gnadenhuetten,  and  the  spot  where  the  unoffending 
Indians  had  been  so  inhumanly  butchered  was  strongly 
marked ;  many  of  their  bones  lying  unconsumed 
among  the  extinguished  ashes. 

After  mature  deliberation  it  was  determined  to  re- 
new the  mission  on  the  banks  of  the  Muskingum  ;  for 
though  the  Indians  have,  naturally,  nn  unronqueralilo 
aversion  to  reside  in  a  place  where  any  of  tlieir  friends 
have  been  killed,  those  whose  minds  had  been  en- 
lightened by  the  gospel  of  Christ,  had  abandoned  this 
superstition.  Accordingly,  in  the  month  of  August, 
1798,  the  venerable  David  Zeisbernor,  in  the  seventy- 
seventh  year  of  liis  ago,  set  out,  with  his  aged  and  in- 
finn  wife,  the  missionary  Mortimer,  and  several  Indian 
families,  consisting  of  thirty-three  persons,  to  re-occu- 
py a  field  which  had  lain  dormant  for  more  than  seven- 
teen years. 

On  their  arrival  nt  the  place  of  destination,  they 
fixed  on  a  spot  near  the  former  silo  of  Schoenbnmn, 
and  erected  a  town  which  they  called  Goihen.     This 


was  the  thirteenth  Mtdement  formed  by  Zeisberger  in 
the  Indian  country,  and  here  both  he  and  his  faithful 
colleague  pursued  their  ministerial  labors  with  unremit- 
tmg  zeal  and  diligence ;  and,  though  their  hearers 
were  comparatively  few,  the  word  of  truth  appears  to 
have  been   blessed   to   some   of  the  heathen,  whose 
families  eventually  took   up   their  abode    with   the 
brethren,  and  made  a  public  profession  of  Christianity. 
In  the  autumn  of  1799,  an  attempt  was  made  to  in- 
troduce the  gospel  among  the  Cherokee  Indians,  and, 
after  various   negotiations,  two  of  the   brethren,  A. 
Steiner  and  G.  Byhan,  went  thither,  and  took  up  their 
abode  in  a  district,  to  which  they  afterwards  gave  the 
name  of  Spring  Place.     Here  they  had  various  diffi- 
culties  to  encounter ;  but  the  friendship  of  a  gentleman, 
named  Vann  proved  of  the  most  essential  service  to 
them  ;  for  his  character  was  so  universally  respected 
by  the  Indians,  that  the  mere  circumstance  of  enjoy- 
ing his  patronage  might  be  considered  as  a  complete 
security   against   molestation.      Having   erected   the 
necessary  buildings,  they  opened  a  school  for  the  edu- 
cation of  Indian  boys,  and  several  of  the  chiefs  read- 
ily placed  their  sons  there.     These,  as  they  became 
acquainted  with  the  benefits  to  be  derived  from  tuition, 
appeared  to  take  peculiar  pleasure  in  their  studies,  par- 
ticulariy  in  learning  hymns  and  portions  of  Scripture. 
They  also  seemed  much  impressed,  when  listening  to 
the  interesting  narration  of  the  Saviour's  dying  love ; 
and  some  of  them,  after  leaving  the  seminary,  kept 
up  a  pleasing  correspondence   with   their   teachers. 
Many  years,  indeed,  rolled  away,  before  much  fi-uit 
appeared  in  respect  to  the  grand  design  of  the  mission  ; 
but  that  God  who  hath  said   that  his  word  siiall   not 
return  unto  him  void,  at  length  poured  out  a  gracious 
unction  upon  his  gospel,  so  that  a  considerable  number 
of  the  Ciierokccs  were  induced  to  abjure  their  former 
superstitions,  and  some  of  the  most  respectable  char- 
acters in  th(!ir  nation  professed  their  faith  in  Christ, 
and  were  received  by  baptism  into  the  bosom  of  the' 
church. 

About  twelve  months  after  the  commencement  of 
the  mission  to  the  Cliorokccs,  the  Great  Council  of 
the  Delaworo  Indians  residing  on    the   banks  of  tho 
Woapikamikunk,  sent  a  message  to  tho  brethren  at 
Goshen,  requesting  that  some  perscns  might  ho  ap- 
pointed to  settle  among  them,  and  instruct  them  in  the 
princii)les  of  the  Christian  religion.     Accordingly,  in 
tho  lotter  end  of  February,  1801,  Messrs.  Kluge  and 
Luckenbach,  with  twelve  Christian   Indians,  set  out 
wuh  the  view  of  promulgating  the  gospel  in  that  part 
of  the  country,  and,  on  their  arrival,  they  were   re- 
ceived  with   every  demonstration   of  friendship  and 
cordiality.     The  district  assigned  for  their  habitation 
was  situated  between  nine  populous  towns,  ard  great 


numbers  of  the  heathen  flocked   to  hear  their  ^• 
courses.     Some  of  these  inH„„w  "  °"" 

the  missionaries,  IT^et^ilT"  '"T''  "'"^ 
end  of  the  year  1809  .t  ^T  '  '^  '*""'  »'  t^e 
inented  to  twentIT;«       '"''  '^"'""'"nity  was  aug- 

contained   trtitT^fXr^'c^^^^^^^^^^^ 

i;er<:jr'm!:i"t;-'-^^^^^^^^^ 

who  hadTvariabttrirHT"'^''''  ''"''  ^-''^- 

divested  on  s  au  LSv        •  -  "'"  ''"'"^^^'  ^^ 
exhibit  their  hatred  a^ainsTtir"^"  ^^ '^^an  to 

threatened  to  murder  tffe^?  -^"'P"''   ""''   "^^^ 

killing  their  cZ     Z  TTr'T'  "''''  ^^'-'^ 
suing  year  thevlrJt^'l  """'^  ?''"  "''^he  en- 

it  is  scLeV  plE  :  :l  'h  T-  r'^''''^^'  '»>« 
witho..t  a  thXf  trrr         ''"" '^'"•^'^'-'  -'-ns 
In  the  month  of  February   IftOR  „  cu 

council,  for  Z  purpose  Text      '°  ^""^^"'^  "^  ^^""^ 
witchcraft  and  secrefno  "'^."^'"'""""'•""g  the  arts  of 

ressionfrom^JhlTcuSTar';    lr"lr 
same  time  t  was  resolvpd  .),of  .1        '""'"^e.     At  the 

denying  the  crimes  Ldfo   h  •    T  ''''°  P'"'^"^'' '" 

down  with  war  hatc""«       i"-'      "^'  '^""'''  '''  ^"' 

been  prisoners'Lf  r  ^^7  '  "'  'i  '^'"y  ^"^ 
erable  chief  Tettepachsit  ofV  T"''"''  "'^  ^^"■ 
Indians  by  poisonoT in''  ?  """«  ^'^•'"™>'''•^  '"-"X 
still  in  his^^s  ession     a'nd         f '  T"  "*■  "'"^''  "-« 

founded  chUe.i;;:^:i";;r:ir'"r''''^  ""■ 

posts  and  began  to  roast  him  o    r„    1^ ''  u    ',? 
to  endure  his  excruciating  agoni  "  tl  o  1  ,   "     '' 

I>ret«;ndod  t'mt  l.n  l.n.l  c      ^  ""^^'  "'"  P""''  old  nmn 

Christian  I  J        aTZT;  '"  '"'  '"'"^"  "^  "- 

the  n.is.,ionaries,  a  d  a's  J^  f' "  "" '^ '■'"■'''^•-  ''^ 
vert  residing  wi  h  th  ,r'  A  .  '  ""'  °"'>^  '^°"- 
despatched'to  tie  ^Lem  rLri  """''"^'/' 
force  ;  and  though,  on  bein.  .  J^^'"''  ''»"  "^vay  by 
P«chsi,,  ,he  latt e'r  onfest?.!  aTlTf  ""'  '^^"*'- 
witlKuu  the  slightest  foui  ::   « 

n:o;=L:'."j'^_-/  ^»^  ^vi.enT„ii:;z:; 

.     t  ....  ,„,Kc  tno  most  important  discoveries. 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


edraVzsrjtrex^^^^^^^^ 

in  a  circle.  He  then  accu^^  ?1»  u'^  ""  •^°'^" 
other  aged  chief,  of  the  prdce  IT"^''''.  »"''  '»- 
stated  that  man;  persons'haTbe  S'"""'  ""'* 
graye  by  the  former ;  and  though Tn  '  "t'""''^ 

he  ayowed  that  he  had  no  pSn  i^  h  *""  *°  '^°'''"''' 
stated  that  he  had  an  eS  spirit  "  h''  '^'"'"•°"'  ^" 
which  he  could  effect  stiH  gr'e  r^i^LT^X''^ 
cision  was  highly  gratifying  to  th  ^'"®'-  ^his  de- 
all  the  accufed^'e^^r  „d  :;tcS^^^^^^^^^ 
d^ned   crimit.ls,   that  they  mirnrelct%r^^^^ 

to  the  missionary  settlemen  ,  and  tffe^^Sf  '" 
large  fire  close  to  the  habitatio^  of  tLe  tethren  r  ' 
sm.ck  the  aged  chief  on  the  head  wkh  a  hitch  '       J 

then  e„.e^.ed  Z:Z  So^r  anTj"  ^^'Z 
bread  and  tobacco,  boasting  ofTe'  atl  '""ll'^i 
which  they  had  just  perpetfated.  tCpI  s"d' 
howeyer,  to  intercede  with  their  M.r  P'T"^''' 
Joshua;  and,  after  thei  d  plnur  L"  '"""  °' 
Luckenbach  set  out  with  the  dl^L      r    ."l^^'^nary 

consoling  that  unfortunate  prisoner'  bul  ZT,  ''"'' 
proceeded  half  wav  on  Lie  "       "^'^  >  ""t  he  had  not 

the   distressing  lTel.giTa7'  "'""r"^  "'=^'^^'' 

already  been  iLolatS      d  bit  ^1/"""    ""'^ 

•nies.     With  these  heayy  tiding  he^      ''T  '""" 

Christian  friends  •  and   LT^       ,    ^'"•""^'^  '"  bis 
'""  >   ana,  as  the  sett  emen*  ;»e«if 

=.;r;:iii:jts::\;pr:;^^  ^^^  ' 

Goshen.     Joshua,  iZl    nV    teT  S  T'  ^r"" '°       * 
burning  pile,  prayed  most  feryeZ  ^  "L'h"'«?  °"  "'^ 
and  continued  either  nravinV !,    •  "  ^''^'°"''' 

Lord,  until  his  strengt  K'ex  ::f::,*^r';T'  1°  '''' 
minated  his  suffering.  An  S  u '  •''  '^'""''  •^'■- 
scene,  testified  ZtT    u  "  ''''°  witnessed  the 

God.rgifiri^^-r-'"^'"'''''^'''''''^ 

Joshua's  father  was  one  of  the  two  fir,f  In^- 
were  baptised  at  Bethlehen.  in  lilS  cl.  nt  ?'  "'"' 
dorf  himself,  together  with  tl.„        '  ^'"'""■ 

officiating  on\hc'olcasio:'      "    ""^^'"""y  B"ttner. 

wi'r;"'f:w "  rrr"  ""•"''  '^  '"^ '-«''-". 

lu  a  lew  years,  to  disseminate  the  blessinc,  ^ 

;r«^r;'rrzfr: ^»'  »''^s.:. 

the   Creeks ;  and  with  this  view    sphIo,..     . 


108 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BREl'HREN. 


Sandusky,  and  on  the  banks  of  the  river  Flint.  Va- 
rious untoward  circumstances,  however,  rendered  it 
impracticable  to  retain  these  stations,  and  the  whole  of 
them  were  successively  though  most  reluctantly  aban- 
doned. 

On  the  I7th  of  November,  the  church  of  the  United 
Brethren  was  deprived  of  one  of  its  greatest  ornaments, 
by  the  death  of  the  excellent  and  laborious  Zeisber- 
ger ;  who  breathed  his  last,  in  the   presence  of  his 
brethren  and  his  beloved  flock,  at  Goshen,  having  at- 
tained  to  the  venerable  age  of  eighty-seven  years, 
seven  months,  and  six  days.     His  life,  for  upwards  of 
sixty  years,  was  devoted  to  the  cause  of  God  among 
the  Indians  ;  and  when  the  in6rmities  of  old  age  rap- 
idly increased  upon  him,   he   appeared   particularly 
anxious  to  complete  his  translations  of  portions  of 
the  Scriptures  and  of  discourses  into  the  Delaware 
language.  He  finished  the  hymn-book  now  used  by  the 
Indian  congregation,  which  consists  principally  of  hymns 
of  his  own  translating,  and  occupies  three  hundred 
and  fifty-eight  pages  in  octavo.    In  addition  to  this,  he 
also  translated  the  Harmony  of  the  Four  Gospels,  and 
many  smaller  pieces,  which,  at  the  time  of  his  decease, 
were  partly  printed,  and   partly  left   in  manuscript. 
He  also  published  a  second  edition  of  his  Delaware 
Spelling  Book,  and  left  behind  him  a  valuable  gram- 
mar in  the  same  language.* 

•  "  Mr.  Zeiiborger  wm  a  naUve  of  Moravia,  in  Germany,  fV^ 
Whence  he  emigrated  with  hia  parent*,  at  an  early  age,  to  Herrnhut 
in  Upper  Luaatia,  for  the  sake  of  obtaining  religion,  liberty  In 
1738,  he  came  to  thi*  country,  landed  in  Georgia,  where  at  that 
Ume  some  of  the  United  Brethren  had  begun  a  settlement  for  the 
purpo.e  of  preaching  the  goepel  to  the  Creek  nation.  From  thence 
he  removed  to  Pennsylvania,  and  a.si.ted  at  the  commencement  of 
the  aettlemcnt.  of  Bethlehem  and  tiizueihr-Extraetedfrom  an 
obituary  nouce  rimttmfor  lAe  PUtsburgk  GatUte,  by  the  Ret.  B.  Morti- 
vur,kufaUlfful  fellow  laborer,  teho  yet  turviret,  and  uUie  well  known 
and  beloved  minuter  of  the  congregation  in  Aete  York. 

"  A.  with  the  death  of  the  Rev.  David  Zeisbergor,  who  entered 
intotheaorviceof  thi.  miwion  .hortly  after  iU  first  commencement, 
>  period  1.  closed,  highly  interesting  as  to  external  incident,  and 
occurrence,  relating  to  the  mission,  it  may  be  proper  summarily 
to  state,  that  from  the  commencement  of  this  mission  among  the 
Mohicans,  in  New  York  and  Connecticut  states,  in  1740,  and  the 
Delaware,  in  Pennsylvania,  a  year  later,  unto  the  year  1808,  inolu- 
•ive  (a  period  of  near  seventy  years),  between  thirteen  and  four- 
teen  hundred  souls  wercf  baptized  by  the  brethren  ;  of  whom  a  con- 
(iderable  number  departed  this  life  in  the  Chri.lian  faith,  rejoicing 
in  the  hope  of  soon  being  in  the  presence  of  their  Redeemer ;  while 
other,  who  were  living  in  the  aanie  f.iUi  had  been  prematurely  cut 
off  from  the  land  of  the  living  by  an  inhuman,  lawless  band. 
Others,  again,  had,  on  account  of  troubles,  por.ocutions  and  wars, 
b«en  compelled  to  resort  to  place*  of  safety,  beyond  the  reach  of  their 
adversaries.  The  number  of  Christian  Indian.,  under  the  .peciti 
car.  of  niiHionarie.  at  these  .tatiun.,  exceeded  two  hundred  soul., 
at  the  tune  their  much  beloved  senior  miuionary,  Zeisberger, 
departed  this  life  Kiclii.ive  of  the  ten  brethren  .n.l  ,i,|ers 
and  onechild,  who,  in  November  of  the  year  17fW>,  were  murdered, 
at  their  sUtion  on  Mahony,  near  the  Christian  Indian  village 
Onadenhuetton,  six  missi.maries  have  departed  thi.  life  «t  their 
pcu,  vii.  Gottlieb  Buttnar.in  1746,  at  Bhtkomeko,  an  Indian  vil- 


The  congregation  at  Fairfield  continued  for  several 
years  in  a  flourishing  state,  both  in  respect  to  external 
prosperity  and  the  consistency  and  spirituality  of  the 
greater  part  of  its  members.  The  missionaries  were, 
indeed,  occasionally  alaimed  for  the  morals  of  their 
young  people,  by  the  introduction  of  the  rum  trade 
into  their  immediate  vicinity,  and  they  had  also  to  regret 
that  few  of  the  neighboring  heathen  appeared  to  be 
suitably  affected  by  the  word  of  divine  truth;  but 
whilst  they  mourned  over  ^hese  circumstances,  they 
were  enabled  to  rejoice  in  the  gradual  illumination  and 
genuine  conversion  of  many  who  had  been  baptized 
as  children,  in  the  settlement ;  and  their  joy  was 
abundantly  increased  when  others,  who,  for  a  time,  had 
been  seduced  into  sinful  practices,  returned  with  con- 
trite hearts  and  weeping  eyes  to  the  foot  of  the  cross, 
and  humbly  entreated  that  they  might  be  re-admitted 
mto  the  bosom  of  the  church.  In  the  autumn  of  1813, 
however,  inconsequence  of  the  war  between  America 
and  Great  Britain,  the  tranquil  abodes  at  Fairfield  be- 
came the  resort  of  fugitives  from  the  adjacent  country  ; 
the  church  and  school  house  were  occupied  by  sick 
soldiers  ;  and  the  Christian  Indians  were  compelled  to 
abandon  the  settlement. 

In  their  removal  from  this  spot,  where  they  had 
enjoyed  the  blessings  of  repose  for  upwards  of  twenty 
years,  they  were  to  be  accompanied  by  one  of  the 

lage  then  in  the  province  of  New  York,  and  bordering  on  the  Con- 
necticut  river;  David   Bruce,  in  1749,  at  Pachgatgoch,  in   Con- 
neclicut ;  John  Hagen,  about  the  year  1750,  at  Sliamokin,  in  Penn- 
sylyania ;  Gottlob  Senwman,  in  1800,  at  Fairfield,  in  Upper  Canada ; 
William  Edward.,  aged  about  .evenly,  in  1801.  at  Goshen,  on  the 
Muskingum;  and  David  Zeisberger,  at  the  same  place,  in  1808- 
while  at  Bethlehem,  in  the  ume  year,  the  two  venerable  mi.sion*' 
ries,  (.rube  and  Youngman,  were  also  called  from  hence  to  meet 
together  m  the  presence  of  that  Lord  and  Saviour,  whom  they  m> 
faithfully  served  here  below,  to  receive  their  reward  of  him      It 
IS  remarkable  that  these  last  three  venerable  missionaries,  who,  at 
an  early  period  of  their  lives,  had  entered  into  that  service  with 
the  resolution  to  endure,  for  Christ's  sake,  all  hardships,  privation, 
persecution,  and  danger.,  which  might  befall  them— and  who,  in- 
deed,  had,  during  long  .ervice.,  given  proof  of  their  firmnew,  by 
the  numcrou.  hard.hips  and  trials  they  had  endured-should  live 
to  .uch  advanced  ages  a.  they  did,  and  therewith  enjoy,  generally 
good  health  to  the  la.t.     Bernhard  Adam  Orube,  who  had  been  the 
flrat  mi..i..nary  to  the  Delaware.,  and  spoke  their  language  well, 
died  at  Bctlilehcin.on  the  WHh  of  March,  1808,  aged  ninety-throe 
years  and  three  month..   John  (ieorge  Youngman,  first  a  missionary 
to  the  Mohicans,  in  Connecticut,  and  afterwards,  for  a  number  of 
yearn,  the  same  to  the  Delawares  on  the  Susquehannah,  in  Penn- 
sylvania, and  in  the  western  country,  died  al.o  at  Bethlehem,  in 
July  of  the  .ame  year   (1808),  aged  eighty. eight  year,  .nd  three 
month. ;  and    David   Zeisberger  died  in  November  of  the  same 
year,  at  Oochen,  on  the  Muskingum,  aged  eighty-eeven  year,  and 
.even  month..    I  will  only  .ubjoin  the  name,  of  .uch  a.  wore  ac- 
tually employed  in  the  iorvica  at  the  cIom  of  thi.  period  of  tha 
mission.    1808.     Tliew   are,    Benjamin    Mortimer,  John    Schnall, 
Abraham  Luokenbach  and  Chri.lian  Frederic  Dencko,  with  their 
wive.  ;  and  Michael  Young,  Benjamin  Haven  and  John  Joachim 
Ilagen,  .ingle  brethren. "—W«cA«i(Wi/w'»  Airru/iM,  p.  418. 


missionaries  named  Dencke  •  h»t »«,«  «.k 

SchnaU«.dJ„„g,remainetn\hrser:t^^^^^^^^ 
desig.  of  retiring  as  soon  as  possible  to  BeieL 

mde  and  a  half  fro.  FairfieldAe'tten^'^  ^^J^t 
-    J°d  A^encans,  .n  which  the  latter  proved  victorfous 
In  the  evening,  a  number  of  their  oLers  ente  ed The 

c  eted  stores  belonging  to  the  British  army  ^  AH  the 
trunks  and  boxes  of  the  brpth«„  .  ^  .  ^ 

even  the  roofs  of  thl  church  L^'^  '^u'"'""'''  '"^ 

searched  with  the  nTostt:  fuTtigit 'Td  T 
next  mornine,  when  thn  <,„u-       /^'8"*"<=e  >    and,  the 

On  the  arrival  of  General  Harrison  wi  h 
other  officers,  Mr.  Schnall  waited  uZhim  to  ''7™' 
his  protection,  and  to  solirir  ^„   "P°"  """' 'o  ""P'ore 

and  such  part  of  their  hnZlll       I  '=°'»'^J"'o'-, 

diately  pacJ  up.    t:  wfefTh    /CilT^ 
mture  and  hve  stock,  amounting  in  value  to  ; 

hundred  dollars,  were  consequently  ^eft    to   r'""' 
vade.  by^whom  the  settlement  Jas'tn^'^- 

mJes  higher  up  the  river;  but  S  MrZr 
who  had  remained  behind  ,i  1  he  col  „  ?  ,^' 
rA4iil»  nf  .!,„  coujd  ascortaui  thp 

result  of  the  engagement,  reached  that  soot  l,«  f  i 
U  deserted,  and  was,  for  some  time  a  a  Jos    . 

and   manuscripts,  together   with   tZ   f  . ''°''' 

clothing  which'  he  ifud  save  i  ',,  'S.^  h^r'^r  "' 
tunes  seemed  to  bo  comnietX  Ir.^  '  "'"'^"■- 
reaching  the  place  of  his  d.,^™*'''  ''^'"'  "" 

Indian  Lndi  ^0' «;'':rnd^^'„:7'  "r 

tears  in  their  eyes,  expressed 'their  llkSes  t  Goi 
for  such  an  unexpected  interview  ,,  ""^ '°  ^""^ 
that  some  alanning  intellig  „ee  L  In^'^.T'"'"^ 
gregation  ,0  break  up  their  encara,ll„r,  ""  '°"- 
precipitatelv  into  .h„  .„3  '  -  '  r"'' """^ '°  '^'"^ 
"   "         '  ""'  though  much  con- 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


-  103 

fusion  had  ensued,  and  oarent,  haA  u 

fromtheirchildren/whilstSyltentonT"^"''*^'' 
preservation,  the  whole  of  the  fr^SeTw/r^h  "°f 
collected  in  Delaware  town  with  thpf  '^^''^ 

woman,  who  had  been  ZideredTrT^T' ''''' 
from  Fairfield.  'uraerea  at  a  short  distance 

they  erected  a  nSr  of  tT"  '"  1  '"°°^''  ^^''^ 
for  the  missionary  a„;  a  ch«  ',  f"""  ^"'^  "  ''""^^ 
was  considered^aLerls  on T  '  "'  'r  '''"  ^''"^^•«» 
to  the  Americanl^Tr;rrmrrL'r°™^ 
spring,  farther  toward  the  moumls  '        ''  '"^""S 

'Jn  the  termination  of  thp  w-r    .i. 
their  former  station  on  the  rfveTTh    ^^  '"'"^^  ''^ 
residing  for  some  time  in  hut"  on  tJe   rofTh  '"''"u 
buildings,  thev  ereotpH  o  «„  *  '"^""  oW 

of  the  riverTwSh  .h    ""  °°  '^'  "PP'*^"^   ^ank 

^«.V>/r  To  this ' tcl  Z  ''''  '''  "'^^  °^  ^««' 
of  1815,  when  the  ri  V  ^^  '""'''''^ '"  '''«  «"'"«" 

dredandnine^trtTforw^tye:^ 

rtv^tr^^gtrr  ^^^^ - 

savingly  converted  to  G0I:      banrr"".'"'  "^ 
of  the  blessed  Trinity,  and^i't  h    11  ^th' 

=^^X:h:=:-i:Eff 

which  afterward  Ipd  t«  »„      .      •  '®  people, 

neighborhood  ""  '"'^"^'^^  ^^^^J^^"'"?  in  the 

In  the  month  of  Sep  tern  bpr    laio  .u 

missionary  John  Schnalftxpi  ed  af  N;:'Fa!rS"' 
the  sixty-s  xth  vear  of  h.=  .         /•      .  airheld,  in 

■MlJEnant  fevet  h,d       ""'"."»""  'he  Indians.     A 
individual,  were  ,£ei  wT     „„?    1™ '' ^°""' 

oo„,i„.„ey  of  fci,  ,„,,,  „j  ,3„'™;''"  'J-  «>• 


104 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


themselves  in  such  a  manner  as  to  cherish  a  hope  that 
they  are  looking  for  something  better  than  paganism. 
The  re-admission  of  an  Indian,  on  the  6th  of  January, 
who  had  been  excluded  many  years  back,  seemed  to 
make  a  favorable  impression  upon  the  careless  among 
our  young  people,  as  he  had,  at  one  time,  been  fore- 
most in  every  thing  evil,  but  now  appeared  before  the 
congregation  as  a  weeping  penitent  suing  for  mercy. 
Between  Christmas  and  the  new  year,  a  female  Indian 
who  had  been  taken  ill  in  this  settlement,  was  baptized  on 
her  death-bed,  and  several  days  after\vard,  she  depart- 
ed, as  we  have  reason  to  believe,  happily  in  the  Lord." 
On  the   25th    of  June,    the   same   correspondent 
writes  that,  though  some  circumstances  of  a  painful 
nature  had  occurred,  the  missionaries  were  enabled  to 
rejoice  that  by  far  the  greater  part  of  their  congrega- 
tion continued  to  be  faithful  followers  of  Christ,  and 
that  their  confidence  in  the  help  of  the  Lord    was 
frequently  revived  and  strengthened  by  proofs  of  his 
mercy  toward  them.     A  new  mission  house  was  at 
this    time  partly  erected;  and  it   is  stated  that   the 
Christian  Indians  most  cheerfully  lent  their  assistance 
towards  the  building,  without  any  remuneration. 

After  three  years  had  passed  away  without  any  of 
the  heathen  being  publicly  consecrated  to  God  by  the 
rite  of  baptism,  the  missionaries  had  the  pleasure  of 
baptizing  three  Indian  females;  one  on  Christmas  day, 
1822,a  second  on  newyear'sday,  1823, and  the  third  on 
the  feast  of  the  Epiphany.  Two  of  these,  an  aged  wo- 
man and  her  daughter  about  fourteen  years  old,  had 
removed  in  the  preceding  spring  from  the  upper  Mou- 
sy town  to  New  Fairfield,  and  here  their  hearts  were 
opened  to  the  word  of  the  gospel,  so  that  they  earnestly 
desired  to  be  made  partakers  of  the  privileges  of  the 
children  of  God.  The  other,  who  was  sister-in-law 
to  one  of  the  female  assistants,  had  resided  four  or 
five  years  in  the  settlement,  and,  during  that  time, 
had  been  a  diligent  attendant  on  the  means  of  grace, 
but  had  not  appeared  to  desire  a  closer  connection 
with  the  church.  Now,  however,  she  entreated  with 
tears,  that  she  might  be  baptized  ;  and  as  she  made  a 
satisfactory  confession  of  her  faith,  and  avowed  her 
exclusive  dependence  for  salvation  on  the  all-sufficient 
sacrifice  of  Calvary,  her  request  was  granted,  and  the 
divine  presence  seemed  to  be  enjoyed  by  ail  who 
witnessed  the  solemn  ordinance. 

In  a  communication,  dated  April  8,  1823,  Mr. 
Luckenbach  says,  "  We  celebrated  the  Passion  week 
and  Easter  holydays  in  peace,  and  with  the  blessing 
of  our  Ijord,  which  was  truly  manifest  in  all  our  meet- 
ings. The  sugar  boiling  season  is  about  Easter,  and, 
if  this  festival  happen  early,  it  is  generally  productive 
of  much  disturbance.  It  also  creates  considerable 
inconvenience  to  our  Indians,  and  prevents  them  from 


attending  at  church  as  they  otherwise  would  ;  as  they 
are  obliged  to  take  advantage  of  the  time  when  the 
sap  runs  from  the  maple  trees.  We  had  no  reason, 
however,  to  complain,  but  rather  rejoiced  to  find  that, 
with  few  exceptions,  they  were  willing  to  submit  to 
any  trouble,  rather  than  lose  an  opportunity  of  hear- 
ing the  account  of  the  sufferings,  death  and  resurrec- 
tion of  our  Saviour.  An  Indian  named  Simon,  who 
had  been  baptized  at  Petquotting,  but  had  after- 
wards left  the  congregation,  and  lived  for  more  than 
ten  years  among  the  wild  heathen,  returned  hither  this 
spring,  and  begged  most  earnestly  for  re-admission. 
He  was  in  a  rapid  consumption  ;  and  as  we  believed 
he  had  sought  and  obtained  mercy  from  him  who 
treats  all  returning  prodigals  with  compassion,  he  was 
re-admitted,  and  assured  of  the  forgiveness  of  the  con- 
gregation on  his  sick  bed. 

"  Many  of  the  boys  in  the  school  have  made  good 
progre^,  and  are  able  to  read  their  own  language  well. 
They  even  begin  to  understand  English,  and  read  the 
three  epistles  of  St.  John  in  that  language.  After 
hearing  single  verses  four  or  five  times  distinctly  re- 
peated, they  learn  them  by  heart,  and  appear  delighted 
with  this  mode  of  instruction. 

"  The  winter  has  been  excessively  severe,  and  the 
snow  was  so  deep  that  the  cattle  belonging  to  the 
Indians,  which,  in  general,  fare  but  poorly  during  that 
season,  could  scarcely  find  any  food,  so  that  many  of 
them  perished.  When  it  began  to  thaw,  the  river 
Thames  rose  to  an  extraordinary  height,  and  if  the  ice 
in  it  had  not  floated  off  before  the  rise,  much  damage 
would  have  been  done." 

From  this  settlement,  October  13,  1823,  Mr.  Luck- 
enbach writes  as  follows  : — "  Since  my  last,  the  number 
of  our  inhabitants  has  been  augmented  by  sixteen  per- 
sons from  Goshen,  two  from  among  the  heathen  at 
Sandusky,  and  four  of  the  Monsy  tribe.     The  latter 
is  a  family,  consisting  of  an  aged  mother,  who,  four 
years  ago,  was  baptized  at  Old  Schoenbnmn,  on  the 
Muskingum,  her  son,  grandson,  and  great-grandson. 
Her  son  is  upwards  of  fifty  years  old,  and  has  very 
indifferent  health.      Being  asked  why  he  wished  to 
reside  in  our  settlement,  he  replied,  '  I  have  no  greater 
wish  that  to  lay  down  my  hones  in  this  place.     All  1 
long   for  is    to   experience   the    pardon  of  my   sins, 
through  the  mercy  of  oar  Saviour,  before  I  die,  and  to 
be  received  by  baptism  into  the  Christian  church.     I 
now  believe   all  which  I   formerly   heard  at  Schoen- 
bnmn, concerning  our   incarnate  God  and  Redeemer, 
who  died  upon  the  cross  to  save  us  from  eternal  death. 
In  this  place  my  poor  soul  derives  comfort  and  good 
hope ;  and  I  am  therefore  come  to  dwell  among  the 
believers,  and  to  die  with  them,  because  among  the 
heathen  I  find  neither  rest  nor  peace  I' 


received  into  the  conereeation      Th    i,  \     i  '   "'"^ 
died  amoiiKthe  heathp„  ""V""  "^  ^^'  mother,  who 

In  the  diary  transmitted  by  the  brp«hr»n  T      i 
bach  and  Haman,  in  May   1824  th«  u"""^^"' 

were  "reauestPrf  to      7'u        ',  ^^^  ^'^'^  '•'a'  'hey 
tins      h!^    I  ^        ""  ^^^  ^^"  ''""^  Philip  lena- 

my  mis-spenl  years.     I  l,,,.  Iive,l  T    ■    ™>^  _,""»'' 
«fttr  I  ]„d  lef,  ,|,e  beiievm  I  Tnl    j,        ^* '    ""■ 

DuHng  ,„.  J, »::  uti„i™;i,x7'"'''' 

0.U  d  ,  „„,i„|y  ,         ,.,.,  ,  „,j  ,^  J^-     Ve.  never 

ery  for  n.eroy,  Jd  rl,.!    .'  ^i  H'w  T'T  " 
.f|».  expe„W,  ,le  nn^rt'eJ:  *£,r;;jr' 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


105 

giveness  of  the  conereeation       n  .    l- 
w.to.e.,erseyeHf,^^^^^^^^ 

-ho.X«'g«t^  the 

mind  the  maV  Lors    iotl^  ir^  "^/^""^  '» 
w'hich,  in  the  Lu!l  '  ;  .j^?  ^™"'  '"''  '«*«™al, 

in  heartfelt  prt'  ^1^:  ''r'  "'  °'  """'"« 
view,  we  have  cause  to  declare" to  S,  "^  ^°'"'  "^ 
faithful  Head  of  his  chJohl         ^  P™'«  °^  the 
good  thing,  buuht^h:^^ dote\ru'r  '"'^'  "° 
we  deserve.     Blessed  be  his  na^I  foHt  r  """  ''"'' 

consists  of  two  hundred  t/  °''  congregation 

dred  and  sev^nty-ont  of  wl''''"  T'^"''  °"^  •>""- 
ty-six  unbapSed  for^l  I  ""  "'  ^'"^''^'^  ""'^  ^hir- 
bers.     Includ  nf  'J^''^:^"!"'  «'«  communicant  mem- 

number   of  inhl  a'ts "^"7 i^™^  '^^   ^^^^^ 

amounts  to  two  hundred  InH  ?'  ''°''  °^  ^^^^' 
lSO«   .1,  "unared  and  twelve   persons  "     1„ 

1826,  the  government  in  Canada  madeZ  fi    . 

dation  greatly  needed.  accommo- 

Encouraging  letters  from  New  Fairfield  Hot»^  0.1. 
January,   1828,  state  that  new  year's  di;  1  HK 
signalized  by  the    baptism    of  a   youn.   Cl^n  " 

woman  named   Deborah      tL  IJ     ^  ■  ^^''PP^way 
attended  with  a  great  blessinj     ?!^'"%"'%''''d  been 
heathen,  who  hfd  JL„  f     ^    Three  fam.hes  of  the 
)  WHO  naa  Deen  forced  to  remove  fmm  ,u  ■ 

iTSdrrrSrir^'-'"-^--- 

SIX  of  whom  are  communicants,  nine  adults  ,^ot  ban- 
fzed   and  thirteen  unbaptized  children.  ^ 

difJcu;y";frcri:;\,t\r''°"  'r '"''''"-'' 

r  '"  resisting  the  attempts  of  their  nno-n,, 
sSs^'irr'^'^"^^  "nchristian'games  arj  s':^. 
ThT"  P''"'"'  ""^  '^'^'B*'  m  ardent  spirits 

The  more  recent  accounts,  however,  contain  theTd 
.ntenigence,  that  many  who  have  hitherto  been  addict- 
ed  to  ntemperance,  appear  very  desirous  to  refo  m 
and    that    the  critical  season  of  sugar-boilin/n«2 
wuhout   any   painPu,    exhibitions  ; 'Le.\S:J 
Luckenbach  writes  that  "  scenes  of  drunkenness  had 
almost  entirely  ceased  at  New  Fairfield,  and  that  the 
n.ecmg3  were  assiduously  attended  by'manyo    1 
heathen  who  have  taken  up  their  residence  beW  he 
town,  several  of  whom  seem  to  be  in  «  ho.eA°  -.-- 


106 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


The  new  church  was  solemnly  consecrated  on  the 
nth  of  September  1828,  the  same  day  on  which, 
thirteen  years  before,  the  old  church  had  been  ded- 
icated. On  this  occasion,  the  Lord  was  implored  in 
a  most  earnest  manner  to  revive  his  work  in  the 
congregation.  The  edifice  will  accommodate  three 
hundred  persons.  At  this  solemnity  the  Episcopalian 
minister  from  Chatham  was  invited,  and  preached 
upon  the  occasion. 

At  the  close  of  1829,  this  mission  was  deprived  of 
the  venerable  assistant  Stephen.  He  was  more  than 
ninety  years  of  age,  and  had  served  his  countrymen 
in  this  character  upwards  of  half  his  life  with  useful- 
ness and  pleasure.  Mr.  Haman,  also,  was  called  to 
mourn  the  loss  of  his  excellent  wife,  who  had  faith- 
fully occupied  the  sphere  allotted  to  her.  The  mis- 
sion received  a  pleasing  accession  in  the  arrival  of 
brother  and  sister  Miksch. 

Letters  from  brethren  Haman  and  Miksch  were 
received  in  the  close  of  1830,  imparting  very  encour- 
aging accounts  of  the  Indian  congregation.  A  spirit 
prevailed  which  greatly  animated  the  missionaries. 
.  At  the  annual  festival,  two  adults  were  admitted  to 
holy  baptism,  three  to  the  communion,  and  three 
others  were  absolved  and  readmitted.  The  whole 
number  of  Indians  under  the  care  of  the  brethren,  at 
New  Fairfield,  at  the  close  of  1830,  amounted  to  two 
hundred  and  eighteen  souls.  Of  these,  thirty-eight 
are  communicants,  seventy-three  baptized  adults,  six- 
ty-eight baptized  children,  twenty  unbaptized  adults, 
and  nineteen  unbaptized  children. 

The  settlement  at  Goshen  was,  for  some  time,  in  a 
languishing  state  ;  the  Indians  residing  at  that  place 
being  completely  surrounded  by  white  settlers,  whose 
conduct  and  conversation  were  productive  of  the  most 
injurious  consequences  ;  and  so  many  of  the  professed 
converts  had  been  seduced  by  their  temptations,  that 
the  United  Brethren  were,  at  length,  under  the  pain- 
ful necessity  of  suspending  the  mission.  In  1822,  the 
last  missionary,  Mr.  Bardil,  who  labored  in  that  quarter, 
retired,  with  his  assistant,  to  Bethlehem,  and  those  of  the 
Indians  who  seriously  desired  the  benefit  of  the  means 
of  grace,  removed  to  New  Fairfield,  in  Canada,  where 
they  were  received  with  every  token  of  affection. 

But  whilst  we  regret  the  unavoidable  suspension  of 
this  mission,  we  are  constrained  to  rejoice  in  the  suc- 
cess whicli,  after  an  interval  of  many  years,  has  attended 
the  faithful  labors  of  the  servants  of  God  among  the 
Cherokee  nation.*    In  a  communication  from  the  Rev. 


*  The  mission  in  the  Cherokee  nation  began  in  1801,  by  the 
Rev.  Abraham  8tcinnr,nf  Salem,  N.C.,  and  was  continued  byhiin 
for  a  few  years,  witli  the  aaaiatance  of  Gottlieb  Byhan,  of  the  aamo 
|)laco.  It  was  afterwards  served  by  brother  John  Gambold  and 
his  faithful  wife. 


L.  D.  Schweinitz,  dated  September  1,  1820,  it  is 
stated,  that  "  The  dawn  of  the  day  of  the  Lord  has, 
of  a  truth,  appeared,  and  the  power  of  his  Holy  Spirit 
is  so  conspicuous,  that  numbers  of  the  Cherokees, 
among  whom  are  several  who  formerly  evinced  par- 
ticular enmity  to  the  word  of  the  cross,  now  experi- 
ence its  salutary  effects,  and  inquire  what  they  must 
do  to  be  saved."     And,  in  respect  to  civilization,  the 
same  writer  observes,  "  The  Cherokee  nation  has,  of 
late,  formed  its  internal  government,  and  the  whole 
management  of  its  public  business,  on  a  new  plan. 
The  English  language  has  been  adopted  as  the  official 
one,  in  which  the  national  records  are  kept,  and  is 
universally  gaining  ground.     Not   a  few  individuals, 
and  those  of  influence,  have  discarded  the  Indian  lan- 
guage and  customs.     Many  of  the  more  respectable 
have  quitted  hunting  entirely,  and  become  agricultu- 
rists ;  and  their  way  of  life  is  described  as  differing 
but  little  from  that  of  the  substantial  planters  in   the 
United  States.     All  the  chiefs,  and  more  especially 
the  yoiinger  among  them,  zealously  espouse  the  cause 
of  civilization  and   instruction,  for  which  a  thirst  has 
become  nearly  universal.     They,  at  the  same  time, 
greatly  favor   the  missionary   and   school    establish- 
ments, which  enjoy,  in  an  eminent  degree,  the  confi- 
dence and  esteem  of  the  nation." 

Intelligence  from  the  Cherokee  country  is  contained 
in  a  letter  from  the  Rev.  J.  R.  Schmidt,  dated  Spring- 
place,  September  22,  1822,  in  which  he  states  that 
two  married  women  who  had,  for  some  time,  been 
candidates  for  baptism,  had  been  lately  received  into 
the  church  by  that  sacred  ordinance,  and  that  about 
two  hundred  persons  were  present  on  the  interesting 
occasion.  Mr.  Proske  was,  at  this  time,  laboring  at 
a  station  called  Oochgdogy,  in  the  absence  of  Mr. 
Gambold,  who  had  been  compelled,  by  an  attack  of 
fever,  to  return  to  Spring-place,  for  that  assistance 
which  his  case  required. 

The  brethren  who  have  occupied  this  interesting 
field  of  labor  have  laudably  turned  their  attention  to 
the  education  of  the  young.     In  1821 ,  a  new  mission 
was  begun  at  a  station  called  Oochgelogy,  under  the 
care    of  Mr.    Gambold,  who,  on    this   account,    left 
Spring-place.    The  Cherokee  mission,  in  1823,  passed 
into  the  hands  of  that  branch  of  the  Society  for  the 
Propagation  of  the  Gospel  which  holds  its  meetings  at 
Salem,  North  Carolina.     A  letter  from  brother  Beuade, 
at  Salem,  dated    Dec.   9,  1823,  gives   the    pleasing 
intelligence  of  the  solemn  dedication  of  a  newly  built 
church  for  the  negroes  in  the  vicinity.     About  ninety 
were  collected  upon  the  occasion.     The  missionary 
Schmidt,  in  his  comnmnicntion  to  the  society,  men- 
tioned the  Christmas  season  for  1824,  as  peculiarly 
mteresting.    "  An  Indian  woman  was  baptized,  together 


with  her  infant  daughter  and  grandson      Ti. 

"ope  01  a  glonous  iramortalitv      Ti,« 

^n  conse,„ence1;2Tntr^o7  iS:  ^^7 
51i«d.  to  sen  SirV    ^  r."""^  ^'^"'^^'^^  «"'!  <=*- 

or^ot%fsti::ttnr^' f-^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 

enlarged  ground  for  T  ''""'/°™«"-'y.  and  furnished 
sheep^f^h„s^'s  Lv^''  '.^^ ''^'^  '^'  ^^P^'^ed 
fold.'  A  cheer  gt^vTof  '?"',"!'  '"'^  ^''^ 
hearts  of  the  brethren  1  rfr'  ^^"'^^'"'^  '^' 
one  hundred  and  fortv  Jr  '  ^"  ^"'^i^nce  of 

preaching;  and  tl^^^ Vv  rwar",'''  ''^  P"^"« 
former  scholar.  NovembTr  iT'  ""'''P'-^'^^  ''X  « 
child  were  baptized  ir  K.  '      '^°'"""   ""^^  her 

gregation  ;  Sit'  Ipe  Td^ ribol^  ^^'""^  ^^"- 
to  the  salvation  of  souls  "  Aborth? ''  P™^P«"ng 
okee  nation  resolved  to  etabli  h  "  '"'.''^ '^'"■ 
printing  office  at  Nevv-TolnrS-  "?  ""^  ""'' 
On  Christmas  dlyS  Z  'T^'l  ""'^'"^"'• 
Oochgelog,  was  c:LS'  SHlTf '^  " 
and,   earlv  in    lfi9fi    »i,         u     .  ^'  ">anner; 

truly  gladdening  and  hopefuT  '''  "'"""   '^'^ 

vea?  inT''  "''  ''■''''  ""^  ''"'^'^  °"  throughout  this 
year,  m   a    very   mteresting   manner      V  u.      j  , 

by   his   death,    has   delivered   fZ,V  '  '''"'' 

dominion  of  sin      TbJA?    v  -^   ^°'^^'  """l 

mm  to  ,„3  eternal  reward. 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


107 

This  inroad  was  soon  followed  hv  th^ 

of  brother  Eder.  from  GprlT         V.      "PP^nt^ent 

and  obserees    "I,    .  T     •      ""•'"«•«••  nation, 
cons„,„li  Jl  It"""*  '"  *""■  "»'  -I" 

twenty-nine  were  ™„      ""ly-two  aduits,  of  whom 
baptized    nd  nrbaXTS"'   ""'  f^""'-^ 

-iidtentaSnlrrS'-SSr"- 
souls.     In  all    onp  h„^A    j   "'' ,'"" ,  total,  fifty-one 

we.  under  th;:-^:^;-^^^^^^^ 

-  o?Ct:fl-^^ --;^^  lg.ga- 

o7re^t'^^-«^™^-'^«-emrttr^'r 

extracted  LmLre„o«!ft'^"''''°"'  ""^''^  '« 
hem,  for  183?.-.     ^        ^  '^^  ^"^'''°'''  «'  Bethle- 

beLl's^if  rrni- '^  ?'^''"^^^''  - »-  »>«- 

bation.  The  work  ofT"'  "  ^'"  "''  ^^^^'^  P^O" 
the  believers  Jas  in/  7'"'  ^'■"''  '"  '^'  '^^"'^  of 
evident    Z'  Z    *"''""'''."«'  ^"PPressed,  but  it  was 

politic"  Zl\rr:zfiT''"''V'  ''^ 

hopeful  state  of  the  mLfon^'^iST,  Sprt"/'^ 
and  Oocheeloev    thn  e„u    i  oprmg-place 

ed  :  and.  af  Z',lVpt~\LT.,r'''  ""r"- 

hLb.enit'dt!:s^s~tLri^ 
«s;:i:;;i::::.rtt::^5rpt.':i~ 

»»  i.  wlula  the  decision  ^f  ^^Xt^SLT^ 
Georgia,  that  missinpar--  -h •  j  j  •  °' 

keete„ito,y,.i„Vhe-.nttH.rt;",r[;i:;: 


108 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


government,  might  be  considered  as  its  agents,  and 
therefore  likewise  exempted  from  the  law,  warranted 
the  return  of  brother  Clauder,  who  had  already  retired 
into  the  state  of  Tennessee,  whence  he   intended, 
from  time  to  time,  to  visit  at  Oochgeloghy.     The  de- 
cision just  alluded  to,  was,  however,  in  the  sequel, 
reversed.     Accordingly,  brother  Clauder,  along  with 
other   missionaries  of  different  denominations,   was 
arrested,  but  immediately  liberated,  on  expressing  his 
intention  to  remove,  and  ten  days'  notice  promised 
hhn  when   that    should   actually  become   necessary. 
Preparatory  to  this  removal,  the  cattle,  harvest,  and 
other  property  at  Oochgeloghy  were  sold,  and  the 
house  and  plantation  committed  to  the  care  of  William 
Abraham  Hicks  and  his  son,  who  removed  thither. 

On  the  nth  of  July,  brother  Clauder  preached  his 
last  sermon  at  Oochgeloghy,  to  a  respectable  auditory, 
and  then  celebrated  the  communion,  with  feelings 
which  can  better  be  imagined  than  described.  Having 
taken  a  mournful  leave  of  the  Cherokee  brethren  and 
sisters,  and  of  all  their  neighbors,  this  missionary 
family,  on  the  22d  of  July,  left  Oochgeloghy,  and 


arrived  at  Spring-place  on  the  23d,  after  having  made 
arrangements  for  the  continued  edification  of  the  con- 
verts at  the  former  place,  under  the  guidance  of  the 
faithful  Indian  brother,  William  Abraham  Hicks,  and 
his  son,  George  Augustus.     The  promise  was  also 
given  that  brother  Byhan,  if  permitted,  would  occa- 
sionally  visit   that    little    flock    from   Spring-place. 
Here  the  exiled  missionary  family  stopped  for  a  fort- 
night, and  then,  on  the  17th  of  August,  proceeded  to 
Salem,  in  North  Carolina.     Brother  Byhan  continued 
his  labors  at  Spring-place  without  interruption.     How 
this  complicated  state  of  things  will  finally  eventuate, 
we  cannot  see.     Certain  it  is,  however,  that  it  enjoins 
upon  us  the  duty  of  incessant  prayer  and  heartfelt 
sympathy.     We  are  aware  that,  in  times  past,  the 
Lord  has  enabled  us  to  thank  him  for  his  wondrous 
ways,  and  has,  in  a  particular  manner,  heretofore  pro- 
tected our  Indian  missions,  under  trials  which  seemed 
insupportable.     Can  we  then  doubt,  but  that,  in  the 
present  course  of  events,  his  purposes  of  peace  will 
finally  prevail  ?     Let  us  implicitly  trust  to  his  all-wise 
guidance  and  his  overruling  power. 


CHAPTER    IV 


MISSIONS  IN    SOUTH   AMERICA. 


PILOERRHUT,  ON  THE  RIO  DE  BERBICE. 


A  GENTLEMAN   in    Amsterdam   having   requested 
that  some  of  the   United  Brethren  would  settle  on 
one  of  his  plantations  in  Berbice,  for  the  purpose  of 
instructing  his  negroes  in  the  truths  of  Christianity, 
Messrs.  Daehne  and  Guettner  sailed  from  Holland  in 
the  month  of  June,  1738,  and  in  about  three  months 
arrived  at  the  place  of  their  destination.     But  the 
stewards  and  managers  of  the  estates  viewed  them 
with  an  eye  of  jealousy,  and  appeared  determined  to 
render  their  situation  uncomfortable.     The  mission- 
aries, therefore,  were  under  the  necessity  of  support- 
ing themselves  by  their  own  labor ;  and  the  hopes 
which  they  had  formed  relative  to  the  evangelization 
of  the  slaves  appeared  to  be  already  crushed,  as  these 
poor  creatures  were  treated   with   a  degree  of  rigor 
which  rendered  it  almost  impracticable  to  have  any 


intercourse  with  them  with  a  view  to  the  attainment 
of  their   language.     The  all-seeing   God,  however, 
raised  up  a  friend  for  his  servants  in  the  time  of  their 
distress ;  and,  through  the  kindness  of  a  gentleman 
belonging  to  the  Surinam  Trading  Company,   they 
obtained  a  tranquil    residence  in  a  small    tenement 
surrounded  by  a  piece  of  arable  land,  about  a  hundred 
miles  distant  from  the  sea-coast.     To  this  little  set- 
tlement they  gave    the    name  of  Pilgerrhut ;  and, 
having  conciliated  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  the 
Indians  in  the  neighborhood,  some  of  whom  under- 
stood a  little  Dutch,  they  embraced  every  opportunity 
of  instructing  them  in  the  great  truths  of  Christianity. 
In   this  labor  of  love,  however,  they  had  to  contend 
with  many  difficulties,  in  consequence  of  their  igno- 
rance of  the  Arawak  language,  and  the  occupation  of 


much   of  their  time   by  manual    lnK„.     r 

period   the   congregatioi  Th Lit  L^  "  *^ 

means  of  defraying  the   pvh-  *''  "°'  "'^ 

.upportoftheirSsiinarie,'      "  """'*'"'  ""  ">« 

bri^'^:;o:::::'^xrrth^- --^^ 

indeed  were  in  ,  '  li  of  """'^  r  °'  '''  ^"'"'-' 
the  settlement"  t  "omeT/r  "T""^  "'""S'' 
were  visited  ahnost  eve  "  dav  M  "  T"""^"^^ 
ever,  resided  at  great  disTan.T"'  f"^  ""'""'  ''°^- 
necessary  that  the  tid  nt  'f  ?'  ""''  '"  '^'"^  "  ^^'>' 
veyed.  No  sooneVfh  ^  r  '''''°"  '^°"'''  »*«  "»"- 
toLquire  a^^raTle•tno^e±^^^^^^^ 
guage,  through  the  medium  of  !  '''"''  '""■ 

had  been  presented  To  ttm  and  thro  .'  T"'"'  "''° 
•nentaiity,  had  been  converled  t  G^J'^h  ' V"'"" 
solved  to  visit  the  savaees  LtJ  '  ^^"  '^^^  '^^ 

and,  on  this  errand    .h^  ^  °'^"  ''"Stations ; 

cessity  of  can  vine  th  T^/^  ■'°  "°'  °"h  under  the  ne- 

severa'l   dayTS    hi    Hr^'^  ""'  P'*^^'^--  <•- 

obhged  to  iadrlougTbro:    t^rsTn^d  tfr^"''^ 
the  m  dst  of  a  fom«f  «  j  "^'vers,  and  to  sleep  m 

tunate  y  arrived  at  th»  r  j-  f"^'  "lat  they  unfor- 
were  ffomTome  aid  •  .k""  ''"'^  "''^"  '^'  •"«" 
rendered  cot^tdy^'bl t'^  ^  '"''^  -« 

invariably  seized  with  jJro;  at  .1  "°'"'"  ""^ 
-   -^.  -h   Piercing   siririL"^; 

an^I^^^t^.^Xd^'^^^'^^^'^'^^'^^'^ 
which  they  had  und.wl,  ^f"^^*^''^  '"  '^e  work 

the  year  7747  thevt        '  r^/°^^-r<l  'he  close  of 
that  a  sp  rit  of  w  '^    '"""'''  ^'''^  ""^Peakable  joy, 
of  Godtgan  ^anT  '"•'""•^ -^P^^t-g  «he  thing 
viously  toTws    tl^    "i  "™°"^  "'^  ''^'''''«"-     Prl 
alreaci^  men  iSe    \sTis teTthr'''  "'"  '^^^    "-" 

by  the  blood  of  ri.         ^°°*'  "^'^'  "'■  redemption 

instructions  of  the  -    "'ost  md.fferent ;  so  that  the 

abroa.l,  wee  received  ;r"'"'  '"''  "  '"'"^  -'^ 
of  Jtme   1748  thf  ""Semess,  and  by  the  end 

into  thesis  tt;;;; ?!;r. t«^  .•?-  -^-d 


SOUTH  AMERICA. 


109 


into  tl,«  .h         "-y-"""^  persons  had  bee 
•nto  the  church  by  baptism,  after  nffordin. 


the  most 


satisfactory  proofs  that  their  heart..  h^A  h 

by  the  grace  of  the  Holy  Spirit  '"  ""'^•"^ 

Many  of  the  converts  now  ohminn^  ■    • 

erect  some  huts  at  PilgerrhuT  „„ '"""V"""'""'"  "" 
of  ground  in  the  vicin  fy    t,  l'„S'  ^  ''f '^'''^  "^  P-« 

this  arrangement,  the  b'r^lSren  t re  Xir "  °' 
tam  them  till  thf  Pn««»,-  oDJiged  to  mam- 

formerly  a  tutor  in  the  Pr„.  «  «ev    x.  &.  Schuman, 

arnved.'about  thi  same  ^ZT:^::^  \'^"^^"' 
intendence  of  the  mission     !' ^  •u"'''^  ^^^  '"P^r- 
twelve  months,  heTci  3^^^^^^^ 
e<Jge  of  the  language,  S  he  Tas' el  S' to  adr" 
the  natives  without  an  interpreter  ''''^'''' 

cloud.  On  the  arrivll If  ^  ^^''^  ""^  menacing 
that  some  unfavorTble  1'"'"  ''''"'°'-' ''  «PP«"«' 
had  reached  tCclZ^^Z  1 '""^  '""^^°" 
the  express  orders  of  thrdLe  o^  ^^^^^^^  '^''  ^^ 
now  summoned  before  .!,„  p  °  ..  .  '^'■^"  "^"^ 
take  an  oath  of  a  legLe  'o  Z    '  "'  "''""'''  *° 

somation  of  Mr  &liiin„„   .  ?"  'Ii«  repre- 

the  gospel      A  vLT    I.    r    '"*"■""'  ""'* '"  «"'brace 
iiouDies.        Iho   missionaripo   ,vp.„     ■      .  ' 

Poro,„p,oHl,  f„«d.„  ,„-;„.,  L'lnirS 


no 


MISSIONS  OF  THK  UNITKD  IJHKTIIKKN. 


lli(«ii-fi«t||l(im«Mit,  but  worn  nnlorod  to  lot  thniii  livodU- 
pt'iKoil  ill  thiMvooiU,  to  clotho  lilt)  rimvoiii,  mill  to  pay 
n  inx  (or  oncli  ortlinm.  It  wim  iil^o  «M|iiirml  tlutt  tli« 
Im'llirtiii  nIioiiIiI  tiiko  tlio  oiitli  prtvu'rilKul  to  tliiMii,nii(l 
Hpptmr  III  Hriii!i  on  tint  piinidt',  lor  tlitt  ptirpo^o  ol'  lining 
uxoivisod  ill  iiiiliinry  <liHy.  And  on  ono  wciision  two 
of  till'  (Miriilimi  liulitins  worn  Coivilily  iiikcn  iVoin  l»il- 
Korrhiii.Niid  rompolliMl  to  xiirvn  uh  xoldiKrH  in  iliorol- 
oiiy  ;  w  riicninsliinco  which  siiiick  niich  terror  into 
tlioir  t-oinpiiiiions,  tliiii  iiiiniy  of  ilioin  Hod  prwipiiatrly 
into  tlio  wtiod^  tlioiinh  thoy  uhi'rwnrd^<  voniiinul  l»y 
dfj^rtM's  to  riMnrn. 

In  conjtiMpH'iirt'  of  iIh'no  cin'uniKliiiiopd.  nonmof  tjut 
inisxioiiiiiiiis  reiiinicd  to  Kiiinpo,  luii  tti(<  oihurx  pni- 
fttrrod  tiikiiig  tho  imih  ol'  ulli>t;iiiiici<  to  liiddiiig  n  finiil 
adioii  to  their  helovi'd  eoni^regiition. 

For  neveriil  siureodiiiu;  yeur^,  the  lireihreu  pursued 

llieir  lnlior!«  without   loolesiiiiion  ;  nnd  they  hnd  ilit> 

»«tisfrtition  of  witno!f«inn  the  invinrihlo   power  of  the 

gospel  upon  the  iiiiiidH  of  soine  of  ih(>  most  ferocious 

trilw's,  who  were  cimsiilered  iis  liiirhuriiuis,  even  hy  the 

Aniwnkt,  in  eonsoipienco  of  their   fenstinu;  upon  the 

He-tli  »if  their   enemies    taken    captive    in    war,     The 

•riiunphs  of  the  eioss  were  indecil  nio.il  coinpiciioini 

•Miioni!;    persons  of  this   deicriplion  ;  and    the  greater 

pnrt  of  the  eoni;ieu,alion  airoided  decisive  pi»ofs  that 

ihey  were  Christians  in  reality.     The  nalivi- assisiaiUs 

•Uo  rcndeii>d  the  most   essenlial   services  to  the  mis- 

slonaiies,  noi   only   hy    iMcasionally  visiiinu;  nnd  dis. 

coiirsinn  with  thoir  snvnuo  coimtrynien,  hut  hy  accoin- 

punying     the    converts   on   their    hnnlinn   or    tishini; 

eupcthiiiins,  and  prc-icrvini;  ainoiii;  iheiii   the  ohseiv- 

unce  of  daily  M>lia;iou»  ext>rcises,  dnriuB;  tlioir  Iciiipo- 

Mry  iihseiic(<  Imni  the  sctllcnient. 

At  ilie  close  of  the  year  17 .'>(">,  the  por<onsdwellin|; 
at    IMi;errhui  amounted  lo  two  hundred  nnd  thirty- 
three,   exclusive  of  children   not    yet   Impti/.ed  ;  and 
upwards  of  sixty  oth<-rs  resideil  in  the  vicinity,      lint 
whil-t  the  missionaries  were  ihiinkfnily  conteinplaiinu 
the  success  which  had  crowned  their  exertions,  pariic- 
ularly  within  the  last  nine  years,  dillicniiies  ,.f  the  mosi 
painful  iialuie  awaile.l  them,  and  evenis  were  permitted 
lo  tHvia,  .i,.t  only  peculiarly  afflictive  in  tlieins,.|ves, 
Imi  eveiitimllv  suhvernivo  of  this  iinp«)riaiii  mission. 
^  In    I7.*.S.    Mr.    'Vhuman    was    compelleil    (o   visit 
Kui\>p,',  and  the  per-ion  intended   to  supply  his   pl.ice 
boinc  disap|H,i,ued  of  n  passnge  to  Surinam,  the  selile- 
ment  at  IMtcrrhul  was  left  without  an  or.laine.i  minis. 
icr;  and. I-  the  two  missionaries  who  had  hitherto  acted 
a*  Hs.isiani,   i„  t|„,  ,„i„i>,ry.  cnild   not    prosuino  to 
»dnum^ter  the  sacraments  of  haptisni  and  the  Lord's 
supp,-r.  the  spiritual  cnjoymenis  of  the  congregation 
were  seriously  impeded.      In  tho  course  of  the  follow- 
•ng  >e«r.  a  contagions  distemper  lin>ke  out.  and  raged 


with  iineoiiiinon  violoiico.iieoonipaniod  with  u  Hciircity, 
which  progroHKively  ineroased  to  nucIi  a  degree,  thbt 
the  Indiana  liiid  no  otiiiir  food  for  iiionllis  logothor 
than  wild  fruits  and  rooi-i  of  the  field.  In  coii-uMpioiico 
of  llieso  calainitio.s,  the  recently  llourishing  Hellleniont 
of  I'ilgerrlmi  wan  ooinparalively  de.seriod,  its  inlmh- 
itants   heiiig   reduced   to  twenty-two  persons  ;   hut  nH 

«'•"  '"''"''" ■'<"'  fondly  anticipated  the  return  id"  mor« 

auspicious  limeM,  they  resolved  lo  eoiitimm  itt  thoir 
post,  An  insurreetioii  of  ilm  negroes  in  ihe  ccdony, 
in  mm.  however,  during  which  the  Fori  was  hiirnti 
ami  Ihe  surrounding  country  laid  waste,  eoinpidlud 
iheiii  loipiit  their  favorile  residence,  and  to  seek  llitiir 
safely  in  a  precipilatn  llighl.  They  in'coiiliiigly  rolirmi 
lo  Demerara,  whence  several  of  the  missionaries  ro- 
turned,  hy  the  first  Nhip,  to  Kurope  ;  and  two,  who 
remained  in  expeetulion  of  inslrneiions  from  home, 
were  Niimmoned  into  eleriiity  hefore  the  ilelerminutiun 
of  llio  dir(>clors  could  roach  them. 


SIIAHON    ON  TIIF.  SAKAMKCA. 

The  congregation  at    llerrnhiii  Imving  entered  into 
an  agroemeni  with  the   Dutch  Surinam  Company  for 
the  esiahlishmeni  of  a  regular  selllenieni  in  llial  cidoiiy, 
live  of  the  hrelliron  wore  sent  ihither  in  \T,\\t ;  and, 
on  thoir  arrival  al  ParamarilM),  they  were  pro\idenlially 
iiitiodiiced    lo   ihe   notice   of  a    pious   citizen    naiiiod 
Hoemper,  who  kindly  orecled  a  small  house  for  thoir 
lemporary  residence,  and  suhseipieiilly  lent  llieni  tliroo 
of  his  own   negroes   to  assist   in   the  ciiliivation   of  n 
piece  of  land  which  ihi'y  purchased  al  a  short  dislniiro 
from   the   town.      Ilei(>   they  connived   lo   procure   n 
siihsisienco  hy  iinnmal  lahor ;  hut  as  they  had  nciihor 
lime   nor  opportimily  for  visiting  the   miii\e  Indians, 
and  as  the  atiendance  of  their  iieighliois,  hoih  .lew.s 
and  nominal  Christians,  at   tho  liiiio  i\(  iheir   family 
devoluins.  was   inleidicled   hy   the  government,   I  hoy 
determined  to  ipiii  a  spot  where  every  door  a|(|iear«'(! 
lo  he  closed  against  tho  arcoinplishineiil  of  their  w  islios, 
and.  alter  so.ae  lime,  ihey  transferred  their  sclilenuMit 
to  a    planlalion   on  ihe   hanks  of  the  Coitika.      Iloro 
Ihey  wore  in  llio   imniediato  vicinity  of  tho  lieaihon, 
lo  whom  Ihey  hmged  lo  communicale    ihe   i',lid   iiewn 
of  salvation  ;  hut  as  their  aiipiainlance  with  ihe  Am- 
wak   language  was  oxlroniely   imperfool,  llioy  could 
have  hut   little  intercourse  with  the  natives  ,  and,  n* 
tho   harnumy   which    hud    hilhcrlo    suhsisied    among 
themselves  was  now  unforlunnlely  inlerrupled  hv  dis- 
sension,   this   new    station    was   ahandoneii    in     1*15, 
some  of  the  lirethien  returning  lo  F.iirope.  and  others 
removing  either  lo  I'ilgerrhut  or  I'ennsylvuniB. 


AAor  n  Iuiimu  of  ninn  v«ni>.  ;. .       •    .     . 
«».«t  «u,no  a,  «.„,,„  ZS    '  :  •'";'«•"'  •^'''""'"'"• 

of  the  uumon  i .  S.  "' ,"""'"  '"'  '''"  ^•""-•w«l 

.'.iti lMW,X/';l;/''^'---'"'Kly«n„. 

mom  in  ll,.ii      ,       '^"'      ''""••""•""loftlio  Kovorn. 

•"".  i"  IN..:.: :' ;  f  :t-"r"  "■  ""■  '•"""•^ = 

iTcthnrnHmv,,,)  ,.,.1    li      "/•""'•"•""•"""  o(H.,v.,„ 
tnu.H  of  I. .  I      ;        T''  "  '^'■""'  "'■'-"  -l-">" 


SOUTH  AMKUICA. 


'"•"i..i.,K  l,.l,„,,s.  .iH.y   .o,       ,1      "  "'■""""'  ""•'  "" 
ntu'l  (or  „||  ,|,.,i    sMili.  I  ""•••"^"lv..H  ro„„„„,.. 

'i,,., ;!:;  il ;  ;z  :r '^••'•' '^''-''^^^ 

-""••K  'iH.  i„.a,i ;  ;„:  ""■•;. «"""-'  <•.■...., 


Hi 

'"-•ttl.>„K..a.  and  rotin,.,|  i    ,"  n  j.  ^3  l'  '""''"'•''  "'" 

;::"•■  '-»  of  the  ».iH,sion.u.i  H   1 .        •  r  "'"'""^ 
t-livo,  r«t„ni,.,l  u;i,i.  ■'".  "iiimMl  Mr^hiiinor  and 

«"v<Tnor  ul..  „,,„,;,  2  ;"""   "•"^""•""•'f.      Tho 


In  cither  ,o     .  •  '"."'•  "'"  '"'"""^  '^'-^" 

">  '"'v  (...vail,.,    . .    I      .'■  """'  ""'""•'■  "I'l"'"" 

'•''^|...  n  •;;;:.:;;;:;:' 7 ''r'''"r'^^^^^^^^ 

^-' '"'..  -..hi  and  ::.;"':;:;;  ;i'^ ""- »- 

'"  "  "i<"t   'lilaoi,l,,,,.,l     ...  '  '"".He  wan  alno 


'.* .:.,';''■;;.;,■■"''  ,■ « "■»,  ;;;;;;;■'  r''- ,  •'■ ■■ «  ; 


''■•''<i'<n.nN,and.  ins.Hn..    „.  "''''"'^^^^^^^ 

-'.'I... ;.:;z^r:;::''••^'''• '''••"• '•'"'•'•' 

••'"•   'l...i,.  ,,   ,„„,   ,  ,,  ;,. '""^     -..t..s/a,.,o..v  proofs 

H<'ly  Spiri,.  "  '''"""■'>'  'r''-li....Ml  hy  ,1,. 

•."i;j';:;,l;::":;:i':;.i;"' '^'rp"-.i.iK...i ,., 

f..e.ni,.s,  |„.„,.v,.r   „,.■,.  n.  .  '' "'...idal.le 

"•'"•.  ^ i"..'....: :.;,;;  :'".""^' ^>- 


''■'■- '''''<iii..ri.-sj,X;J,;Tn"'''':'^  "•■'•■'''''•'•J 

'•-;;;:--.;o.:oo;i;;;:;:;;;;lt:';:,;''''^'-^ 

•""'-'|...'.w...     ..'     ""^•.''''"i     '""'    "..n.e   or    ,|,„,       i„ 
•n-H  ..dly   ,,,,',    r;;:"''^'   """^''    '•"'^'-'   r.| ,    had 


<  "'"' ^  -i",  only  v;,.u.,.,        ,  i,,  " '   ''^  "'"       ""•...  rnurn,.,    „       ,f' "    '"'''   '"'"-"••.   ••-'-'  of 

of  lhe.o  I.Mlian.  „,  ,|h.  s.  """«  "^^'•'"'•''"<<'       lo  sixiv  .'""■"'"'.''"'  ''""•^n.^ation.  ,„„,  in,r,.as,.d 

»'"!   •l.-i.'   .lis-ipl..,,   Uy    'onnd,  ,d  "":^'""n'i<..s       ,.,•   „.,,,„,.       '        "    '  V-^r .,.|y  j,,  „„.  ,,„„,,„,, 

S'-- , ^' -i-iy. T:^^c:r7 "'"  '•"" -':'-..  :..;•;::; ;"", ""•  "'"^  ^'-^• 

'^"'•,"  ' -'«•<'--  .■-.....way  H|,,v  ,  '        ■"'";"'■>'•       K"v.Tnn.n„  and  .In       .  """"'■"    ""•  '"'"•"''' 

«■<-"  'I.-..-  I.idin,  ,d,„...  as  ,1.0       1^    '''''•^''^'''•''       ''nh..irn.ntr,  r^    r 

""•'''""•'> I    "leven    «,.n,    ,„L,"   .        '     """^"'"-  fro...   dr.w.d  of  /,.     '''''•^' '^'^''' ''"''>  •'•'•'"'i'<l..''l.  partly 

«'"l...>l.  rnv,|  i,„.   „,  """"  '^^'"''.  «"<l  from  thi.  i;'   ''"'""■'"'"  """-^io-mries  were  „„,h.r  ,,"       • 

""  '^""  ='""•      • '"'y  'J'"n  contrived  ,u  so.  firo  i'  """''  '"  "" "         ''""'"''  '''"'' 


113 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


'ill 

i 


HOPE,  ON  THE  CORENTYN. 

It  has  been  already  stated,  that  a  tract  of  land  on 
the  Corentyn  was  granted  to  the  United  Brethren,  at 
the  same  time  that  a  settlement  was  obtained  on  the 
Sarameca.     To  this  station  the  excellent  and  indefat- 
igable missionary  L.  C.  Daehne  went,  in  April,  1757, 
accompanied  by  a  few  Indians,  who  assisted  him  in 
erecting  a  hut,  and  clearing  a  small  piece  of  ground. 
In  a  short  time,  however,  they  all  forsook  him,  and 
lie  was  left  alone  in  a  dreary  wilderness,  the  haunt  of 
tigers,  serpents,  and  venomous  reptiles.     Here,  how- 
ever, he  resolved  to  remain,  in   the   hope  of  being 
made   instrumental  to  the  conversion  of  some  of  the 
Indians  ;  though  such  as  occasionally  passed  his  lonely 
dwelling,  assured  him  that  some  of  their  countrymen 
would  kill  him  ;  and  the  soldiers   in   the  Fort  sent 
to  warn  him  of  his  danger,  and  to  invite  him  to  place 
himself  beneath  their  protection. 

"  In   the  month  of  November,"  says  tliis  intrepid 
and  devoted  herald  of  the  cross,  "the  Caribbee  In- 
dians resolved   to  put  their  threats  against  me  into 
execution ;  and  one  day,  as  I  sat  at  dinner,  about  fifty 
of  them  arrived  in  canoes,  and  surrounded  my  hut. 
This  was,  indeed,  a  frightful   sight  ;    some  of  them 
being  armed  with  swords,  and  others  with  tomahawks. 
I  immediately  went  out  to  them,  however,  and,  in 
the  Arawak   language,  bade   them  welcome.     They 
answered,  in   a   surly  tone,  that   I  should  speak   the 
Caribbee  language  ;  but  I  assured  tlicm  that  I  did  not 
understand  it.     After  talking  with  each  other  some 
time,  they   asked   me,  through   the   medium  of  their 
Arawak  interpreter,  who  had  given  me  permission  to 
build  on  their  land  ;  and,  on  hearing  that  1  had  acted 
by  the  authority  of  the  governor,  they  asked  what 
views   I    had   in   coming   hither.     I  then  wont  up  to 
their  chief,  and  said,  '  My  brethren,  on  the  other  side 
of  the  great  ocean,  having  heard  that  there  are  many 
Indians  on  this  river  who  are  ignorant  of  their  Creator, 
have   .sent   me   hither,  to   tell   you  of  your  Creator's 
love,  and  what  he  has  done  for  the  salvation  of  your 
souls.'      After  inquiring  whether  I  was  a  Frenrhiimn 
or  a  Dutchman,  he  asked  if  I  had  never  heard  that 
the  Indians  intended  to  kill  me  ?  I  replied,  '  Yes,  but 
I  cannot  believe  it,  for  some  of  your  nation  have  lived 
with  mo,  and  they  can  tell  you  that  I  am  a  real  friend 
of  the  Indians.'     He  replied  that  he  had  heard  so,  and 
had  also  been  informed  that  I  was  a  dillbrcnl  sort  of 
Christian  from  the  generality  of  the  white  people.     I 
then  said.  '  I  am  your  friend  ;  how  is  it  that  vou  have 
romc   to  kill   me  ?'     He  answered,  '  We  h.ive   done 
wrong  ;'  and  upon  his  saying  this,  every  countenance 
•oeme.l  altered,  and  the  parly  dispersed.     The  chief. 


however,  remained  some  time  with  me,  and  inquired 
whether  other  people  would  come  to  live  here.  And 
when  I  assured  him  that  none  but  my  brethren  would 
come,  he  appeared  pleased,  and  behaved  very  kindly. 
When  he  was  going  away,  I  asked  for  some  of  the 
cassabi  which  I  perceived  in  his  pouch,  observing  that 
his  people  could  easily  procure  more,  and  I  was  here 
alone  and  in  want.  He  immediately  gave  me  some 
cassabi  and  fish,  and  then  took  leave,  with  an  assurance 
that  he  would  often  come  to  see  me.  Thus  my 
Saviour  delivered  me  from  my  foes,  and  preserve^  me 
amidst  great  dangers  ;  so  that,  at  the  close  of  the  year, 
I  had  constraining  cause  to  thank  and  adore  him." 

Besides  the  danger  to  which  he  was  exposed  from 
the  pagan  Indians,  this  devoted  missionary  was  also  in 
inuninent  peril  of  his  life  from  the  serpents   and  wild 
beasts,  by  which  his  solitary  abode  was  surrounded  ; 
as  appears  from  the  following  particulars,  narrated  by 
himself,  and  published  in  the  "  Periodical  Accounts 
relating  to  the  Missions  of  the   United  Brethren."— 
I'  One  evening,  being  unwell,  and  going  to  lie  down 
in  my  hammock,  I  perceived  a  large  serpent  descend- 
ing upon  me  from  a  shelf  near  the  roof  of  my  hut. 
In  the  scuffle  which  ensued,  the  creature  stung  or  bit 
me   two  or  three  times,  and,  pursuing  me  closely, 
twined  itself  round  my  head   and  neck.     Supposing 
that  this  would  be  the  occasion  of  my  death,  I  wrote  with 
chalk  upon  the  table,  '  A  serpent  has  killed  me  ;'  lest 
my  brethren  should  charge  the  Indians  with  the  deed. 
Suddenly,  however,  that  promise  of  our  Saviour  was 
impressed  upon  my  mind,  '  They  shall  take  up  ser- 
pents,  and  it  shall  not  hurt  them.'     And,  seizing  the 
reptile  with  great  force,  I  tore  it  loose,  and  flung  it  out 
of  tiie  hut.     I  then  laid  down  to  rest,  in   the   neace 
of  God.  ' 

"There  was  also  n  tiger,  which,  for  a  long  time,  kept 
near  my  hut,  watching  an  opportunity,  perhaps,  to 
seize  upon  its  inhabitant.  He  roared  drea.lfully  e  cry 
evening  ;  and,  though  I  invariably  kindled  a  large  fire 
before  I  went  to  bed,  it  fre.|uently  went  out,  and 
would  have  proved  but  a  j)oor  defence,  if  the  Lord 
had  not  protected  me." 

In  addition  to  these  perils,  and  the  excruriiiling  an- 
guish wliirh  he  sometimes  endured  from  the  stings  of 
the  black  ants,  whilst  gathering  wood  for  fuel,  Daehne 
freriuently  sulfered  severely  from  hunger,  and  often 
arose  in  the  morning  without  knowing  whether  he 
shoidd  taste  a  nmrsel  of  food  during  the  wholi.  day. 
In  this  extremity,  however,  some  Indians  were  gener- 
ally led  by  Divine  l»rovidence  to  visit  him,  and  to  re- 
lieve his  prc-oing  wants  by  sharing  with  him  their  lit- 
tle portion  of  cassabi ;  and,  in  some  instances,  when 
ho  was  completely  exhausted  uith  labor,  they  kindly 
assisted  in  clearing  the  groiuid      Some  of  the  Warau 


SOUTH  AMERICA 

Indian,  indeed,  lisuned  «lMnlivelv  tn  il.  .1  j    j. 
"hioh  ho  „,  .„i„„,  ,„  com^„i"f  !„«','''  ""''"S; 

l»  ™  chee„J  u„de,  hi,  he.vie,,  X.'r'rd 

uuuis ,  as,  in  addition  to  the  r  nafnral  ^.„  j    r 
approaching  the  habitation  of  a    Lk  1  °^ 

=SdXirrrrF°=-- 


iia 


that  many  of  ,ho  snmJr    .  l      "^        "^  «"«'C'patio„ 
Many  of  those-  ln.li,.„„  who  had  heon   f„„nerlv  r« 

fiehls  ,„  ,ho  n..i^hborhoo,l  ;  and   iho„.l   .1     ax 


this  place  ""ea.witii  the  missionaries  at 

'orB  to  ,„i,  ,h,  sem,n,e«  „  „„™  L  „d  ,  °°" 

i'nrLz:;s:ttr  ^  -  -  ^- * 

/   ujiuii  me  public  services,  thev  d!H  «„.        i 
t'-eir  appearance  in  the  church  for  .vei  Td  "' 
months  together.     Manv  of  ti,        •  I    ,     ^^  ®^^" 

indifferent  to  what  xuTujL  '  "  .^^f^^    ''PP--''  «« 


VOL.  I._JV„,.  y  8,  ,„  ^^  II  And  the  following  year,  during  the  war  between  Great 


the  throne  of  grace   "Wh;;'  K        '  .      "^  before 

j»,ified.„,.hr.:t;,t'2iS.:„7;"jrS 

ur«c  ol  ]7,).),  „  cnnlaiiiod  „|™,rd,  „f  „  |.„„j    j      . 
««y  ml,.l,„.,„,,,  „„,  „,,„ „„  ,  2  b"'^ 

of  1 .0  Indm,,,,  „cro  i„  i„„„i„i„„  ,|  „, ,",.'" 

'" .  ™.k  ..i,id,  h.d  Won  f.„„„„rf  ,„  „„  1,7,;";; 

forward,  ,„  ,|,o  „,,,,„  ,,„„  „f  „,„  ,„„.        ^    ■    »' 

:: '"; ",'""  ""■>:■ """"i  "ini"  i-™.  .ho;  ,■  i 


114 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


■fffr 


*H 


Britain  and  Holland,  Mr.  Kluge  had  the  misfortune, 
whilst  returning  from  Paramaribo  in  the  vessel  belong- 
ing to  the  missionaries,  to  be  captured  by  an  English 
privateer,  plundered  of  all  his  stores,  and  carried  to 
Berbice,  then  occupied  by  a  British  force.  Here  he 
was  attacked  with  a  violent  fit  of  sickness  ;  but,  by  the 
kind  attentions  of  the  persons  with  wliom  he  lodged, 
his  healtli  was  restored,  and  he  was  afterwards 
permitted  to  ransom  his  vessel,  and  to  return  to  the 
Corentyn. 

The  settlement  of  Hope  had  been  visited,  in  the 
mean  time,  by  a  number  of  the  Indians  of  the  Warau 
tribe  ;  and,  notwithstanding  the  peculiar  profligacy  of 
their  character,  and  the  supposed  limitation  of  their 
mental  rapacities,  several  of  them  were  powerfully 
impressed  with  the  truths  of  the  gospel,  and  in  tho 
course  of  the  year  1796,  thirty-six  of  their  number 
came  to  reside  with  the  brethren,  with  a  view  to  the 
benefit  of  tlieir  religious  instructions.  Many  of  the 
heathen  were  also  led  to  tiiis  station  from  different 
parts,  imploring  advice  and  assistance,  in  consequence 
of  an  epidemical  disease  which  prevailed  about  tiiis 
tmie  ;  and  the  missionaries  gladly  availed  themselves 
of  so  favorable  an  opportunity  of  recommending  Chris- 
tianity as  tiie  only  effectual  antidote  against  the  fear 
of  death. 

During  tiie  years  1797  and  1798,  a  scarcity  pre- 
vailed in  the  country  little  short  of  J.solute  famine,  in 
consequence  of  the  plantations  having  been  nearly 
destroyed  by  a  prodigious  swarm  of  large  ants ;  and 
such  terror  was  excited  by  a  reported  commencement 
of  hostilities  between  some  of  the  Indian  tribes,  that 
upwards  of  two  hundred  fugitives,  including  Arawaks 
and  Waraus,  took  refuge  among  the  brethren.  By 
tiie  good  providence  of  God,  however,  both  the  mis- 
sionaries and  tlieir  flock  w(  ,■  preserved  in  the  season 
of  deartii ;  and,  though  the  savages  did  not  appear  to 
derive  any  benefit  during  their  residence  at  Hope,  the 
settlement  was  improved  by  their  labors  ;  as  they  cheer- 
fully assisted  in  clearing  the  ground  in  the  vicinity,  for 
tbe  purposes  of  building  and  for  plaiiiutions. 

Towards  tho  close  of  I7»!>,  the  numbir  of  persons 
residing  with  the  missionaries  at  this  station  amounted 
to  nearly  three  hundred  ;  but  within  the  spare  of  a 
few  years,  partly  in  (M)nse(picnc('  of  the  ravages  pro- 
duced  by  the  small-pox,  and  partly  owing  to  the  roving 
disposition  of  the  Indians,  the  population  was  materi- 
ally reduced,  and  in  Dcrember,  IH(H.  it  only  nmsistcd 
of  one  hundred  and  forty-six  individuals.  A  consider- 
able number  of  baptized  persons,  however,  were  living 
scattered  among  the  wood.<i, 

In  tho  month  of  August,  ISOfi,  tho  entire  seltlo- 
ment,  comprising  the  church,  the  mission-house,  and 
«11  the  Indian  huts,  was  destroyed  by  (iro  ;  tho  flamos 


running  along  the  thatched  roofs  with  such  impetuous 
fury  that  it  was  utterly  impracticable  to  arrest  their 
progress.     The  fire,   which   was   supposed   to  have 
been  kindled  by  incendiaries,  broke  out  in  the  after- 
noon,  whilst  the  missionaries  were  taking  some  refresh- 
ment ;  and,  together  with  the  buildings,  destroyed  all 
the  implements  of  gardening  and  husbandry,  the  stores 
of  the  Indians,  the  tacklo  and  rigging  of  the  large 
boat,  and  various  other  articles.     Providentially,  how- 
ever,  the  brethren  succeeded  in  saving  a  quantity  of 
gunpowder,  two  barrels  of  flour,  the  greater  part  of 
their  clothes,  and  their  books  and  manuscripts.     They 
also  felt  peculiarly  grateful  that  no  individual  sustained 
any  personal  injury. 

This  awful  catastrophe  was  soon  afterwards  suc- 
ceeded by  an  epidemic  disorder,  which  swept  off  most, 
if  not  all,  of  those  Indians  whose  hearts  had  been 
savingly  changed  by  the  power  of  divine  grace,  and 
whose  deportment  was  consistent  with  the  doctrinesof 
the  gospel.  These  expired  with  a  satisfactory  convic- 
tion that  he  in  whom  they  had  believed  would  receive 
their  souls  unto  himself,  and  raise  up  their  bodies  at 
the  last  day  ;  but,  after  tlnu  removal,  the  survivors 
became  so  refractory  and  dissolute,  and  even  evinced 
such  a  spirit  of  enmity  against  the  gospel,  that,  in  1808, 
the  brethren  were  under  the  painful  necessity  of  quit- 
ting a  station  where  there  was  no  longer  any  appear- 
ance of  their  labors  being  crowned  with  success. 

About  four  years  afterward  the  mission  was  renewed 
at  a  place  about  three  miles  distant  from  the  site  of 
the  former  settlement,  by  Messrs.  Genth  and  Hafa, 
who  had  recently  arrived  in  Surinam  ;  and  two  or 
three  families  took  up  their  abode  with  them,  whilst 
about  thirty  baptized  Indians  resided  within  a  short 
distance.  As  no  particular  success  intended  their  la- 
bors on  this  spot,  however,  the  brethren  removed,  in 
1817,  with  five  of  the  Arawaks,  to  a  station  on  the  river 
Neukeer,  with  the  hope  of  proving  instrumental  to  the 
conversion  of  the  negroes  on  the  adjacent  plantations  ; 
but  even  this  anticipation  seems  to  have  been  disap- 
iminted,  and  the  station  was  ultimately  relinquished. 


II 


BAMBEY,  ON  THE  SARAMECA. 

The  goveniorof  Surinam,  having  concluded  a  peace, 
in  I7(M,  with  the  Bush  nei^roes  on  the  river  Sarameca, 
felt  extremely  anxious  thai  .some  measures  might  be 
adopted  with  a  view  to  the  melioration  of  the  charac- 
ter of  that  ferocious  race,  whoso  cruelties  and  dejire- 
ilaiions,  in  lime  past,  had  proved  so  alarming  and  inju- 
rious to  the  colonists ;  and,  as  ho  judiciously  considered 
llml  nothing  was  so  likely  to  accomplish  this  dcsirablo 


object  as  their  conversion  to  P l.ri..;-  ••     l 
the  United  Brethren  trt.ejfo    ."""^^^V^''''^^'^'' 
mission  among  then,      S   n  T"''''''""^"' "^ '^ 
S.011,  were  acfordi„l  sfn     "i  ^'"''ri  ''''''''  '"'«' 
the  month  of  DecemberT7«^        T  ^"^"'"ibo  in 

they  were  pres:::T:'Z%t%T''  ^"^^"'' 
the   agent  of  eovernmpnr        u  "'^  "^S'""^^  hy 

Jectof%heirvisra?d„h  .  u^'P''^"'*'  "'«  ''^■ 
•nent  they  migh  trecetf  7'^'''  t''  ^''«*^^«'  ''««»- 
plied  to  Wmself.  "'' '"  ^'•''"'''  '=°"«'der  as  if  ap- 

into  the   world  of  sn^r^f        .""''""' '"">™"ed 

loss  in  the  death  of  on    of  th/Th^r  '""'''''•  "^^^^ 
who  had  erected  a  smal  ho    efoJ't'""''  ^'''"•' 

the  brethren  had  acndled  ITJ  C"f '  ""^  ^^■''^" 
«he  lang,.age,  they  bl'to  exn  ^"""^  .^"""'"''^^  "'^ 
of  the  village  the  imnortam  7^  ?  "'« inhabitants 
them  from  a  di  ta^  nart  '^'^  ""^  '""^  '^'""S*'' 
plaining  the  wa^  o  aCi^nTZ'^'n'T  '''"'  °''  -" 
Creator  and  Redeem  of  J  r''^'""'^  ^^'-»' ''- 
rl.o^  .i.„  :.  ,  .    '  "1  man.      1  his,  however,  ex 


SOUTH  AMERICA. 


115 


pts:svt:r;rpLr"m^r"i'  -'-''  -  ^- 

tucJe  to  withstanVrere„a^:o'f"h''  '"'  '''^  '■°«'- 
to  despise  the  vengeance  of   h       •'/.""'"'^""'' ""'' 
he  avowed  his  convLl^  of   h  '/t' T^"  ''«''°'« 
tian  religion.     As  aTrn.?    r    k      '""''  "'^ »''«  Chris- 
dote  has'been  related  in  th     P^'''  ^""""''"S  «"««- 
the  Missions  of   he  UniteS^   T'"''  ^*'^°"'"«  ^^ 
the  arrival  of  the  missY"n  '       7'^''"  '-"  ^'^^  "^er 
Clare  that  the  idlTftl  ,"'' i''''"^  ''^^'^  ^^em  de- 
nor  injure  them     e  Im  '"  '°"'^  "^"^er  help 

where'  the  cr^^e  or  all"  """"^  ''^  »''«  riveJ 
ered  as  the  g^d  of  the  vH  '  T' T''"''  "''^  «°"«'d- 
on  discovering  tlcrtjrfh!'  1'  '"  ''^""' ^  «"d. 
his  loaded  gu^  in  his  a„  'to  th^  oT"'  '  ^'^^''^'"« 
'  I  intend  to  shoot  thee  Jfiw  i?  h  "  '"^  ''^^'''  ••- 
bullet  will  do  thee  no  harm  l'./  7  "'  "  '"''  '"^ 
creature,  it  will  kill  thee.'  He  1  e„  ted '"J.""''^  ' 
and  shot  the  animal  dead."  ^'^  ^'^  P'^^^^' 

chapel ;  but  toulT  h"  c     ';  IZ  "°"^^' .--«'<^  « 

they  were  under  the  nece  sTtv  of  '"'"'"^  y^"' 

negroes  lower  do.vn  the  n  7to  /T^'l""''  "" 

T"r7  """  "eaeemer  of  man      Th.ck  """*'    I  called  fiamAcy.     HerPl.„,     '       ^,  P'"^«  which  they 

cted  the  jealousy  of  .he  idol  ,"iesl     'rf''"":'^''-'  "-       --^  hardship  ,  and    wh^^rr"'.''''^  ''''  ^°  ^"''"''^ 

who,  perceiving  that  their  diabold,  ^     ^'""^.'^^«««  5       indifference  whicSthe  n^        ^'^  '^'"^'^  '"S^^"''''  the 

over  the  loss  of  those  whn  L       "''^"''ntly  to  mourn 

cessively  fell   victims  to  ,i    '„  """'ng,  but  who  sue- 
were  sefzed  aft^ tlir  arri t:, ''"'''  """  ""'■^"  'hey 

wi^i^^;::::  r 'i„i;rTr'""^  ^'f' 

l"m,was.effarr:;i!r!«'r-^'^«o-e- 


who,^;^™i^^^;"'pHests  and  priest;;; 

ger  of  subversfoi  "e  1  Ifd  ;r  r-^  ''^'^  '"  '^- 
countrymenthat  .LirdS  Imk  r  r;P^'-^"""«"« 
with    any    who   should  d  re   ,o  "^'''^ '"'^"^'''^ 

•he  whi.e  people.  Some  f  l^ZJ:  ^'^  «-'  «'' 
s'rous  that  ,he  missionaries  sho  dd  .  '  ""'''"  ''•'■ 

but  as  Arabim   the  ,  "^'."h""!'!  be  p„t  ,o  death  ; 

taken   them     me'    h."  "'^  "^^^^^  ^'  Abini,  had' 
proper  to  attack  tl"m       ^     "'""'    "°   ''"''  'hought 

Pieceoflandintlev  fni.t'  "?  ?"'"'  ""  "  -'»» 
from  ,he  I,„„,boo  can  /,;'  [''/'"r"''"' '?"'"'"'' 
•heir  friend  Arahini  b,  i     '  ,         'T^"""''^"'-   '^cre 

•h-h.c.nnesofXXcln7L':r''':^"'^"-^ 
deep  impression  on  L  m  ,  i  1  ^     ",:  '"''"'  ''""'°  " 
sentiments  among  hisrou,  '^  *'"""'^''   hi^ 

'"•luoed  u>  attend  tlle^r^'!';?'-"'^ -horn  wore 

won'cn  would  expose    he        "''       7''  """^'  "''  'he 

'heir  ...d.  ,y  suei;  an  no;  .T,;:.;;;;;'"'  ^•^"^"""-  -^ 

.r^nc;:;;;:'':;^i;;j;;;;;;^^th/bre.,.renh„.,.ho 

'he  dn.rch   by  ^iTZj  ,    *"'"    '^^■"•■"'  ^rabini   into 

nn.l  thoroughly  sa.isHedof  ,ir'n!I'J'7;'''^   ''™"  '""« 

'«  f-d;  nn.l, hey  naturally    o^:^^^ 
cious  circumstance  that  il.n    ""*^""'  "  «"  '"'  nuspi. 
tl'e  nation  shnnul '"!  "'V""^'  ■•e^pectahle  chief  of 
'"■""''  '°  °"  «f'eiirst-rruit  of  their  la 


cecd  him   was  Ief7  r  """'  "Pl'^'^'^d  to 

B-bey.i::,;::;;::^'^-'x-^-onths.at 

friends  nor  a.  end  m'S^  7'""'' '"""«"'''''-•• 

"  -no.,.  pitiaWe  Ln      T  l''   "  "'"'^  """•"'""'^  '" 

hi^  Redeemer,  ho   ev     "  wa?.  n"T-  """='"■"'  ''^'^  "^ 

position    of   liZ    PI      '^'^     '"'''""'' '''"'■"'^''- 
I  ■    "I    ivnmo    I'rovidence    on    his    l>„i,„if 

"     -T  p,.ut.-  to  tiie  j.luntations  in  the  woods      On 
one  occasion,  whilst  she  was  absent,  he  oServod" 


116 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


after  passing  a  most  restless  night,  that  an  immense 
swarm  of  ants  had  penetrated  through  the  roof,  and 
were  rapidly  spreading  themselves  over  the  interior  of 
liis  chamber.  In  a  short  time  they  approached  his  bed, 
and  by  degrees  covered  his  body,  entering  into  his 
sores  and  causing  the  most  intolerable  pain.  After  a 
short  time,  however,  they  quitted  him,  and  resumed 
ti)eir  march  ;  and  from  that  time  he  gradually  recov- 
ered his  health. 

Though,  in  consequence  of  the  influence  of  their  idol 
priestesses,  the  female  negroes  had,  for  a  series  of 
years,  peremptorily  refused  to  come  under  the  sound 
of  the  gospel,  the  superstition  of  a  few  at  length  began 
to  give  way  ;  and  in  the  year  1780,  the  wife  of  Ara- 
bini  and  two  other  women  were  baptized,  together 
with  three  men  and  two  children.  Indeed,  a  consid- 
erable change  appears  to  have  been  wrought,  about 
this  time,  in  tiie  sentiments  of  sonic  of  the  heathen, 
among  whom  the  converted  chief  labored  most  assidu- 
ously, in  attempting  to  awaken  their  attention  to  the 
things  connected  with  their  everlasting  peace. 

In  1785,  the  roving    disposition   of    the    negroes 
induced  them  to  remove  to  the  moutl.  of  the  Wara 
Creek,  and  the  missionaries  were  consequently  obliged 
to  fix  on   another  settlement,  to  which  they  cave  the 
name  ofNew  Bambey.     Here  two  circumst  ,    ■  g  oc- 
curred which  evinced  that  though  the  generality  of 
the  negroes  had  no  desire  to  embrace  the  truths  of  the 
gospel,  they  wore,  in  some  degree,  open  to  conviction, 
with  regard  to  the  exposure  of  their  foolish  and  cruel 
superstitions.     On  the  demise  of  one  of  Arabini's  fe- 
male relatives,  who  had  been  the  priestess  of  an  idol, 
the  believing  chief  considered  it  his  duty  to  prohibit 
the  observance  of  any  pagan  rites  at  her  funeral.     In 
his  absence,  however,  the  heathen  sorcerers  pretended 
that  the  corpse  would  bo  immovable  till  the  person 
should  be  discovered  who  hod  occasioned  her  death. 
They  were   accordingly  proceeding   to  institute  this 
inquiry,  and  would,  no  doubt,  have  soon  fixed  on  some 
unfortunate  creature,  who  must  have  suffered  exami- 
nation by  torture  and  subsequent  iiniiiolaiion  for  an  im- 
aginary crime;  but,  at  this  criticnl  juncture,   Arabini 
arrived,  and   confounded    the   idolatrous    priests     by 
showing  the  assembled  negroes  with  what  facility  the 
body  might  be  removed. 

The  other  instance  occurred  in  1791,  when  a 
woman  pretended  that  she  had  repeatedly  dreamed  of 
a  certain  man  coming  to  her  with  a  firebrand  in  his 
hand  ;  winch  she  considered  as  an  infallible  token  that 
he  possessed  the  art  of  mixing  poison,  for  the  destruc- 
tion of  the  negroes,  and  consequently  ought  to  be 
commute.!  to  the  flames.  A  council  was  accordingly 
summoned  to  decide  the  fate  of  the  accused  person, 
and  the  consequences  might  Invo  proved  fatal,  hud 


not  Arabini,  in  his  official  capacity,  presided  at  the 
consultation.  He,  however,  providentially  succeeded 
in  rescuing  the  intended  victim  firom  destruction,  by 
pointiiig  out  the  absurdity  and  injustice  of  condemning 
an  individual  upon  no  other  evidence  than  the  dreams 
of  a  distempered  imagination. 

Subsequently  to  this  period  the  gospel  seemed  to 
make  some  progress  in  the  highlands,  or  upper  coun- 
try;   and  it  was  remarked  by  the  brethren,  that  in 
those  villages  where  the  sorcerers  had  formerly  exer- 
cised the   most  commanding   influence,  the  deepest 
impressions  were  now  made  by  the  promulgation  of 
divine  truth.     It  seems,  however,  after  all  the  sacri- 
fices  of  the  missionaries,  in  respect  of  labor,  suffering, 
and  even  life  itself,  that  the  whole  number  of  negroes 
who   had   been   baptized  by  them,    from    their  first 
entrance  into  the  country  to  the  commencement  of  the 
nineteenth  century,  amounted  only  to  fifty-nine  ;  and 
at  that  period,  no  more  than  forty-nine  persons,  includ- 
ing catechumens,  belonged  to  the  congregation. 

During  some  succeeding  years,  nothing  occurred 
particularly  worthy  of  relation  ;  but  in  1810,  a.refrac- 
tory  spirit  began  to  appear  among  many  of  the 
negroes,  \vlio,  by  a  host  of  Satanic  emissaries,  were 
alike  excited  against  the  brethren  and  the  colonial 
government :  and,  about  three  years  afterward,  a  vari- 
ety of  circumstances  occasioned  the  relinquishment  of 
a  mission  which  had  recently  become  exceedingly 
burdensome  in  point  of  expense,  whilst  its  general 
aspect  was  more  and  more  discouraging. 


PARAMARIBO. 


When  the  United  Brethren  first  visited  the  shores 
of  South  America,  as  the  harbingers  of  redeeming  love, 
the  religious  instruction  of  the  slaves  in  this  colony 
formed  one  part  of  their  benevolent  designs.     In  con- 
sequence of  the  circulation  of  some  base  and  calum- 
nious reports,  however,  the  inhabitants  were  strongly 
prejudiced  against  them,  and  even  the  admission  of 
their  neighbors,  at  the  time  of  family  devotion,  was 
prohibited    by    the   governor.       From  these  circum- 
stances it  might  have  bo(  ii  supposed  that  no  good  could 
have   been  effected  in  the  cai>ilal  of  Surinam  ;    hut 
whilst  the    doors   of  the   brethren    were    closed    by 
authority  against  those  who  might  have  been  inclined 
to  listen  occasionally  to  "  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus," 
Christopher  Kersten  (nid  a  few  of  his  friends,  who 
engaged  in  business  in  Paramaribo,  .mliraccd  every 
opportunity  of  communicating  instrur  unn  if)  the  negroes 
whom  they  hired  as  journeymen  ;  asui,  after  a  lapse  of 
time,  they  had  not  only  the  sali-^faciiou  of  perceiving 


from  the  European  setT.         ^       '  f  "^  "PP°^'''«" 
arrival  of  .J!  '  ""'^  **"  "'«  subsequent 

ererdi/xTeirtiororr^'  ^  ^""^^''^-^ 

considerable    nu.nb  rs Tked    tT    T^'^'  ""'^ 
which,  in   „,any  instancenvl  '     "  ^^'P*^'' 

mulMd  from™"  ommb  ?° '","'"''  '"''S'™  I"-! 

fm  .1.0  reader  „.,  be  convince.l,  byrpcLuf    '.' 

r.ltCpi::i'tvfr.7r '•''"-'  ■"  '>" 

Christianity      A  nlhl     f  fT'    "^  ''"''   '""'^^aced 
also  necels'arily  ered  -t  "o    ?"  T^^''^^  ^^"^ 
or  ...ese  were^diveZ;th:re::t!;r  t^^^^^ 
governor  perceived  that  a  female  slave  11.0"^ 
formerly  celebrated  for  her  skill  in  7'  ^'"'" 

had  lately  joined  the  ct   7  ""'"'S'  ''"'  ^^''o 

a...l  evidc^uiy 'il'^re:^:^'  ^*"""  "'"'"■' 
In  order  to  try  her  since  .v,"  re  T''  ''''^'■"^• 
into  conversation  with  h^' ■"''*''  '"'  ''"""■'"I 
n.eamn«    ;      i;^^::;^P--'''-'ojoinin 

"oration  forherclpZ  e  Sledrr',":  "  "'""■ 
sal,  however,  with  re  nec^f,,!  f  '''""'' ''"'^  P'-"P«- 
•o  himself  wleMo    'fiP"'"^'    '^™"''«''.  ""'i  appealed 

goven,or  replied  in  a  frielyTne.Y     "'"""''r   "" 

On  another  occasion   •iv-r>  f~     «      » 

""  '  "^°  ^'■•'""'c  slaves,  who  had 


SOUTH  AMERICA. 


117 


been  united  to  the  church  of  the  breth« 
mended  by  their  mistress  to  pe  form  !!'  ''''''°'"- 
tncks  for  her  amusement ;  ^d  oTtheT  "'^^'■°'"»»''= 
the  impossibility  of  obev;^„       i,  "  ^presenting 

had  ma'de  a  solemn  renuStH^^^^^^^^^        "''^^  '''«' 
she  threatened  them  wir  H  !  '""P^''''"'°"«. 

-hment.     Regard^  T  L  ^  """''  'f '"P'^'^  ?"«- 
not  only  persisted  in  th.  ■"'"''  ''°^^^«^'  'hey 

gaveeach  other  .si  .T'"'"''°"«  '^^^^^^  but 
-it  to  the  s  vere^t  s  Z„'  ''^'''^^  "'^>'  ^-'d'sub-  • 
-her  than  dish^tTar;  ^r^^ef ''  ''1^' 
engagmg  in  the  abominable  practices  of  ..f?'?  ^^ 
Another  remarkable  instan^ce  of  plus  /or;-.  T''''"-' 
manifested  in  the  conduct  of  I  T  '°""»de  was 
sixteen  years  of  a.e     ilts  "''"''  ^°""''  »hout 

Jewish  rdigion\vS'so  WhT''''''  "'^  P^"^^^^^'^  'he 
his  admissfon  'i  To  letirTcr  ''^''""^  °^ 
threatened  to  have  him  h     T     J  ^''™''  '''^t    he 

"  T^a,"  replit^hel  rgtusTaV^r'^  '^^ " 
but  it  is  not  in  your  power  to  !„'  ^°"  """^  '^^  ' 
Lord  Jesus,  or  fo  deprive  me  oH^'"  "'  '?""  '''' 
hath  imparted  to  my  soul"  Pro  /  ^"?f  '''^''=*'  ^« 
boy  found  a  friend  Tnd  p  otect^r  "  r'""^  "'"  P°°' 
prevented  the  Jew  from';^:;  -srerS  '^'^ 
eut^andtooktheyLglnvetr^r'Sr^- 

Bn^^lnrHriLritr'r  T'  •^^'^-"  «- 

beenrevolutioniSb;   he  F'e:c''"t7  """-'^   '"'^ 
at  Paramaribo  were  pVcTd  in  r     '      '  ""^^""'''"es 

faction  to  perceive,  hive  ;  th!  7hi:t;'^T'■ 
were  increasingly  blessed  to   he  convS  ionTnd 
vers.on  of  immortal  souls ;  and  in  the  yTarieoo  .hrt 

Nothing  particular  seems  tohave  transpired  forseve 
•I  years  m  the  history  of  this  missi,^. ;  ZTTs 
pleasmg  to  state,  the  work  of  the  Lord  c^nUn  ed  to 
prosper,  and,  though  painful  occurrences  ZZLl, 
happened  ,n  respect  to  the  seduction  or  falling  ^y 
of  some  of  the  converts,  the  n.issionaries  had  abun^ 
dant  cause  of  thankfulness,  for  the  general  con  is  encJ 
nd  p.ety  which  prevailed  among  their  memb    s  „nj 

andoftheHa.;.^^;.:^:-;!^^;;^^^ 


118 


dialect  of  the  negroes,  was  also  productive  of  the  best 
effects,  in  exciting  both  children  and  adults  to  learn  to 
read  ;  and  a  generous  donation  of  Dutch  Bibles  and 
restanients  from  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Socie- 
ty, enabled  many  to  peruse  at  leisure  those  blessed 
truths  which  they  had  previously  heard  from  the  lips 
of  their  teachers.  ^ 

On  the  21st  of  January,  1821,  a  dreadful  confla- 
gration  took  place  at  Paramaribo,  which  threatened 
complete  destruction  to  the  missionary  settlement  in 
that  city.     Respecting  this  awful  calamity,  the  breth- 
ren observe,  in  one  of  their  communications,  "  Be- 
tween one  and  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  we  were 
alarmed  by  the  cry  of  Jirc,  and  saw  an  immense  vol- 
ume of  smoke  ascending  from  the  east  end  of  the  city 
Ihe  wmd  blowing  violently  from  the  north-east,  with 
a  clear  sky,  the  conflagration  spread  with  great  rapid- 
ity, and  no  resistance  could  be  made,  as  all  the  houses 
were  bu.lt  of  wood,  and   the  fire  engines  were  out  of 
order.     About  midnight,  the   most   beautiful   part  of 
the  city  was  laid  in  ashes,  and  both  the  Lutheran  and 
Roman  Catholic  churches  had  become  a  prey  to  the 
flames    Amidst  these  terrific  scenes  we  assembled  in  our 
church,  and  cried  unto  the  Lord  in  fervent  prayer   to 
save  us  and  our  neighbors  from  destruction.     We  then 
worked  hard  all  night,  ,o  remove  as  many  of  our  goods 
as  possible,  bemg  zealously  assisted  by  many  negroes 
belonging  to  our  congregation.     Meanwhile  the  ragine 
flames  approached  nearer  and  nearer  to  the  missL- 
hous^c,  and  on  the  22d,  in  the  morning,  they  had  seized 
the  houses  opposite  to  us,  the  wind  driving  them  with 
violence  tou-ards  our  premises.     A  flake  of  fire  falling 
on  the  shingle  roof  of  an  outhouse  at  this  moment,  it 
began  already  to  kindle  ;  but  just  then  the  wind  ceas;d, 
the  fire  began  to  subside,  and  our  dwellings  were.nei- 
cifu  l>'  preserved.     In  our  evening  worship  we  return- 
ed   hnks  to  that  God  who  alone  could  and  did  save 
us  m  the  l.ourof  danger;  and  we  repeated  our  thanks- 
Srr  °"  ""  '■°"°^^'"«  Sunday,  in  the  public  service, 
winch  was  very  numerously  attended. 

dred  h.n  r   "'""  'r^'"^-''"'"-  '•«"«.  «l>ove  four  hun- 
dred buildings,  each  comprising  three  or  four  .Iwcii- 
y,  will,  outhouses,  have  been  consumed.     Many  of 
our  negro  brothers   and  sisters   have   lost    both   their 
.ouses  and  all  their  goods.     We  have  not  heard,  ho 
ever   that  any  of  them  have  lost  their  lives,  thought 
.s  said  ,  a.  many  others  have  perished  in  the  flamts.'' 
Ihe  Rev.  J.  D.  Lutze,  in  a  letter  dated   May  20, 
1 82    observes,-..  As  to  our  mission,  the  consecp.ence 

tin  1.  .7 1    .;■"""""  ''"^'^  ''^^"  ■•""-  -'"'-y 

about  the  concerns  of  their  souls,  have  been  led  to 
seno^  reflection  ;  and  those  who  believe  at  all  in  he 
l.ro,.dence  of  a  just  and  righteous  God,  consider  it  as 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


a  chastisement  received  at  his  hands.     The  night  be- 

ore  t^,  event  took  place  was  spent  in  the  3'rit 

ous  and  outrageous  manner,  with  all  kinds  of  heathen- 

.sh  games  and  dancing,  as  an  aft.r  celebration  of  the 

^^ZIT  f  77^-'-  The  streets  were  thronged 
with  pepple  of  all  descriptions  ;  the  brightness  of  The 
moon  favored  their  purpose;  and  the  uproar,  with 
shouting,  singing,  and  knocking  violently  al  the  doors 
of  quiet  people,  was  really  dreadful.  On  the  follow- 
ng  Sunday,  when  our  church  was  crowded  with  atten- 
t.ve  hearers,  brother  Genth,  in  his  sermon,  adverted 
to  the  behavior  of  the  populace  on  that  night,  andTb- 
served  that  It  precisely  resembled  that  of'th;  people 

slyedTy  te.^""°"'''''  '^'°'^  '''''  '"'^  "^  '- 
"  At  the  end  of  the  year  1820.  the  congregation  at 
Paramaribo  consisted  of  nine  hundred  and'sixV-n"ne 
persons,  including  seven  hundred  and  twenty-two  com! 
."umcants.  ninety-three  baptized  adults  not  yetl 
n.itte.1  to  the  Lord's  table,  and  one  hundred  and  fifty, 
four  baptized  children.  Besides  these  there  are  foy. 
eight  candidates  for  baptism  ;  seventy-two  new  people 
belonging  to  us.  and  sixty-five  at  Fairfield  estate 
making  a  total  of  eleven  hundred  and  fifty-four  negroes 
under  our  care."  ^  "egroes 

In  a  subsequent  communication  from  the  missiona- 
nes,  reccved  at  Hervnhut  in  1822,  they  state  thatthe 
anniversary  of  the  late  dreadful  visitation  had  bee.! 
observed  by  them  as  a  day  of  public  thanksgivLg 
and  tha   the  general  emotion  which  seemed  to  prevfi 
among  the  assembled  negroes,  excited  the  hope  tha 
a  salutary  impression  had  been  made  upon  their  hearts 
by  the  review  of  past  mercies.     The;  also  observe, 
a   a  most  remarkable  fact,  that  on  the  day  alluded  to 
and  almost  at  the  same  hour  in  which  the  conflagra- 
t.on  burst  out  .n   1821,  they  were  again  alarmed  by 
he  ery  of  fire.    The  flames  were,  in  fact,  issuing  from 
an    apothecary's   shop   at   no  great  distance,  Ihich 
hreatened  to  mvolve  the  brethren  once  more  in  the 
d  epcst  distress  ;  but  by  the  exertions  of  the  citizens 
they  were  happily  extinguished,  before  they  had  oc- 
casioned any  considerable  damage 

Intelligence  from  Paramaribo  is  contained  in  a  letter 
dated  March  1,  1824,  in  which  the  Rev.  W.  C.  Genth 
writes  to  thefollowing  effect :_..  Last  year  an  epidem- 
.cal  disorder  prevailed   in  this  colony,  attendell  with 
a  convulsive  kind  of  cough,  fever,  and.  in  some  in- 
stances, with    spitting  of  blood.     It  was    introduced 
from  Cayenne,  and  seemed  to  proceed  alon«  the  coast 
from  the  eastward,  nor  did   it  spare  the  Indians  and 
Hush  negroes.   In  this  city  we  fared  pnmy  well,  though 
many  of  the  negroes  were  attacked  by  it ;  and  dur- 
•ng  IIS  continuance,  we  were  obliged  to  suspend  our 
evening  meetings,  as  very  few  persons  could  come  out, 


and  the  streets  were  almost  deserted      Fv»      r 
had  subsided,  many  nersnn,  ,  ^^"^  "'^'^r  't 

lignanc  fevers.      ^  ^     ""'  ^'"'  ^""^^  off  by  ma 

i"gJeh;t;ri:at£;"^^p--^«.-'htheb,ess- 

we  experience  that  he'rwitZr^r**''  •^""^•''  ^^^ 
of  the  word  of  reconri  L^        V'"'^*''"'"^"'«P«^ver 

the   hearts   oJ  t  ^heare T  n  ^'  ""'^  "«"'f^^'  ■" 
seventy-six    adu  ts    Ta  ^"""^    "'«    last   year, 

added  ^to   thetlhty  th7r 'f  b^'''^^^"  '-- 
whole  number  of  our  neL  •   "P""""      ^Jie 

of  1823,  amounted    o  one  .'""'■'T'*'"'  "'  *^«  <'l-« 
of  whom  seven  rltdl    tS;!^!'  •^'^"'^^-"- ' 
cants;  one  hundred  and  thltvvT      '■'.'°"""""'- 
yet  admitted  to  the  communn^       >'"'"'''  ^"'  "«' 
ninety-two  baptized  Sr  =  ""';" ^ '!""''-^ -^ 
are  one  hundred  and  fif  v  olW/      /'  "'"'"'  »''«'•« 
new  people  under  instSrir         '''P''^'"' «-' 
hundred  and  thirty-nine  pe'onTTr '"''' "^ '^^'^'^^ 
hundred    and  twenty-one  n"oes  ^'j" ''.'•««•- one 
on  the  plantations  of  Fairfield   R,'     .     ^^'"^   '°  "^' 
hoop,  where  we  are  at  fi!  I  n   '  ^'>"'''«0P'  ""d  Afoll- 
the  course  of  the  "a      823   f^  ''^  P''^''^'''  ^"^^  '" 
baptized  on  these  estls      '   '''"'''"  P^"''-  --« 

us 'n^ra^d^s 't;i?rr  ^- -s-s  visit 

ago,  and  expressed  alt  ^  'd:  ire  foTre^- '  ""  '°"« 
tion.     Thevannpnrn^    .^uesire  tor  religious  mstruc- 

tion  and  fSiT^ChrST '  ""  ^-'— vic- 

worthy  man  among  tZ'uT'."  ''"'''''''  ""'^ 
taught  to  read  and  J  1  '  5  u"'"  ^'■'''"■*^"  '""""^'-'y 
-tion  are   confolX'-^/t^--''^  and  convert 

Christian  fellowshin  amnnl  Vi     V    ^    P^''   niaintains 

li«b  H.,„„a„  received  .l!ir?*       ""'"'  ••"""■  ««- 
Surinam.  '"  '°  "'™  "»  'I'""!!,  in 

■lay  was  I.  ;„;:::::  r''""'","'''"-  "■« 

Mn.ro|.a.io„      A  ...T  '"lemnily  by  a  large 

'I-  in  X,  i»d ' ::  xr.;:,";  "■  "t  """»-'• 

llicywere  i»„oranl  F,™,l,       i      .         ^  Ihein,  „l,en 


SOUTH  AMERICA. 


119 


truiit;t;xr  ^^"-^  ''-^^-''  ^-^^  - 

the  captains  of  Dutch  and  a!"'""''''""^'^*^''^"'" 

in  the  port.  A  large  chandelr  "  "''''^'  ^'  ^°<=ho' 

ident  merchant  fo   te  tf    "'h  '''^'"'^'  ">'  ^  '«- 

the  Dutch  inscription  on  t<.  To  1""-*^'"'^'''  '^«'' 
of  God."  '      -^o  the  praise  and  glory 

to  ^^^^^'':''Xt^^^^  had  the  pleasure 

general  disposition  of  the  h^         "'^'■°"''  ""^^  the 
teresting.  ^''^  ''^"^''^  ^as  devout  and  i„. 

detdleratLmtnhTm-'-''™'  '"^'^''^"'^l  S-es  a 
^v'neh  its  objects  a:eto:;;iri'^«   — r  in 

given  uTitj;-^?;:;;:-^"'^'  "1  •'^^  h- 

doors  have  also  beeroLn.H  r^'T  '"''  "^^^^  ^^^ 
gospel  into  many  p  ;„SS!  °',  •'''  '"'"•^"'^^  °^  «''o 
^vhich  are  regufaJ^vS  W  T  Tr^'  '"""  °^ 
we  give  to  the  negroes  is  rbl«fl    ^  instruction 

give  you  an  idea^n  :e 'vt L  VX^"''"""  '"« 
we  first  wait  for  an  invitation  from  ,t  ""'""""  *'"" 
attorney,  who  may  express^! T  .1  I^-oP^etor  or 
struct  their negroei:in  ZZZ^^:^  ^IfT"'''  '"' 
ticable  for  us  to  attend  to  th^Ir  '^ 'tisprac 

days  are  appointed  on  the  tl.e  '^""t"".'  "  '^^ 
meet  the  negroes  As  »II  »  ,  '  "  "''"*'''  '^'^  may 
by  water,  a  LSoat  (Lt So' is  ''^7-^-^ 
s<x  negroes  as  rowers  bSZ^  ?  '"P'°>'^^' ^''b 
the  missionary  from  one  .f?        ^elms-man,  to  bring 

'be  fifteen  pla^ntZ^n  tourc:  ^  tZ  ^°  ^'f '' 
sionary  for  three  weeks  a,  H,„  ?  '  ^"P'oys  a  mis- 
different  rivers  and  cre;k3  „d"  ''''  '''  ^""^^^'^  °» 
tance  from  each  other  Th  I  '  ^^''^'^'-able  dis- 
Boehmer  make  Lse  vovn  ,  '"''■'"  ^'"S'  "nd 
Paramaribo  for  that  nurnr'  alternately,  and  leave 

tlieir  eondilion  TlL    ,1   ,   T     ''"»""«W«  P««  of 

tTons      Jf  r'!  "T'^  •'"  "'^  «bove-mentioned  pW 
t'ons.     Here  m  this  city,  many  persons  have^  been 
e  negro  consmirntinn  •  if  tan-,   .       , 
-'ghty-four  adults  and  fifty-seven  cJ.ildrea 


dred 


130 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


were  baptized,  and  our  congregation  numbers  one 
thousand  four  hundred  and  seventy-two  baptized  per- 
sons, among  whom  eight  hundred  and  eighty-eight  are 
communicants.  To  these  may  be  added  four  hundred 
and  twenty-four  new  people  and  candidates  for  baptism; 
in  all,  two  thousand  and  forty-three  negroes  under  our 
care.  The  preaching  of  the  gospel  in  our  mission  ch;!rr> 
is  attended  by  a  great  number  of  persons  of  all  colors ,  aud 
is  made  by  the  spirit  of  God  life  and  power  uoto  many 
hearts.  We,  who  are  weak  instruments  in  the  hand  of  the 
Lord,  have  been  enabled  to  carry  on  our  work  uninter- 
ruptedly and  in  health.  The  schools  with  our  negro  chil- 
dren have  been  held  with  success,  and  many  have  been 
taught  to  read  the  Scriptures  in  their  own  language." 
In  consequence  of  the  prosperous  state  of  the  mis- 
sion in  Surinam,  the  directors  called  Mr.  Bute  to  its 
service,  who,  with  his  wife  and  child,  embarked  for 
Paramaribo  from  Gloucester,  in  Massachusetts.  They 
arrived  at  their  station  on  the  25th  of  May.  In  18.30, 
the  congregation  consisted  of  nearly  one  thousand 
eight  hundred  members;  and  Mr.  Gen th,  who  had 
made  a  journey  of  nineteen  days,  and  visited  thirteen 
plantations,  found  much  to  encourage  him  in  his  work 
of  faith  and  labor  of  love. 


SOMMELSDYKE. 

The  laudable  aud  unremitting  exertions  of  the  mis- 
sionaries at  Paramaribo,  in  attempting  to  extend  the 
blessings  of  the  gospel  to  the  negroes  employed 
on  the  plantations  in  different  parts  of  the  colony, 
were  attentively  observed  and  duly  appreciated  by 
government:  and,  in  1785,  they  received  the  grant  of 
a  tract  of  land,  comprising  about  fifty  acres,  on  the 
banks  of  the  Comniewyne,  and  near  the  site  of  an  old 
fortification  called  Sommehdyke. 

Much  time  and  money  were  necessarily  expended 
in  clearing  and  draining  this  district,  the  whole  being 
a  complete  swamp,  thickly  covered  with  brush-wood  ; 
and  the  first  two  missionaries,  Messrs.  Haidt  and 
Clausen,  who  went  thither  in  the  spring  of  1786,  fell 
victims  to  the  unwholesomeness  of  the  situation  in  the 
course  of  a  few  weeks.  Other  devoted  men  of  God, 
however,  were  found  to  supply  their  places,  and  their 
faithful  ministration  was  so  eminently  owned  and  bless- 
ed, that  a  considerable  number  of  negroes  flocked 
from  the  ci'^umjacent  estates  to  hear  the  word  of  the 
cross ;  and  before  the  expiration  of  the  year,  there 
were  not  only  about  n  hundred  and  fifty  catechumens 
under  regular  instruction,  but  upwards  of  forty  per- 
sons had  been  admitted  into  the  church  by  the  sacred 
rite  ot  baotism. 


But  whilst  the  brethren  were  affectionately  directing 
their  sable  auditors  to  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  as  the 
only  medium  of  salvation,  a  formidable  obstacle  was 
thrown  in  the  way  of  their  work  by  several  of  the 
planters  ;  some  of  whom  considered  all  attempts  to 
evangelize  the  heathen  as  superfluous  and  useless ; 
V.'  '  t  others  desired  that,  if  instruction  were  given  to 
lii' ,  iisives,  the  missionaries  should  visit  tliem  on  their 
;:  ,.ective  estates  ;  as  there  was  no  way  to  Sommels- 
dyke  but  by  water,  and  a  boat  could  not  always  be 
procured  for  their  conveyance.  A  circumstance  also 
occurred  in  the  month  of  March,  1788,  which  was 
calculated  to  increase  these  difficulties,  and  to  check 
the  progress  of  the  mission. 

Twelvfi  ni',;ri^  \,  ic  on  and  one  man,  who  longed, 
like  the  sweet  singer  of  Israel,  to  appear  in  the  courts 
of  the  Lord,  having  one  day  obtained  permission  to  visit 
Sommelsdyke,  set  out  for  that  settlement  in  an  old 
crazy  boat,  alike  regardless  of  the  condition  of  their 
little  vessel,  and  unmindful  of  the  danger  incurred  by 
its  being  too  heavily  laden.  They  had  the  happiness 
of  reaching  their  place  of  destination  in  safety ;  and 
once  more  united  with  the  brethren  in  the  delightful 
services  of  the  sanctuary.  On  their  return,  however, 
the  boat  unfortunately  sunk,  and  three  of  the  females 
lost  their  lives,  whilst  the  others  escaped  by  swimming. 
One  of  the  women,  after  having  gained  the  shore, 
plunged  thrice  into  the  water,  in  order  to  rescue  her 
beloved  companions,  but  her  last  exertion  was  produc- 
tive of  complete  exhaustion,  and  she  fell  a  victim  to  the 
noble  but  unsuccessful  efforts  of  sympathizing  humanity. 
In  some  instances,  as  the  brethren  had  anticipated, 
the  restrictions  of  the  negroes  were  now  increased, 
and  on  one  estate  particulariy,  they  were  not  only  pro- 
hibited from  visiting  the  missionary  station,  but  they 
were  even  compelled  to  labor  during  tliose  hours  of 
the  sabbath  in  which  they  had  formeriy  listened  with 
avidity  to  the  truths  of  the  gospel.  The  proprietors 
and  managers  of  other  estates,  however,  acted  with 
greater  kindness ;  and  some,  who  acknowledged  the 
benefits  resulting  from  Christian  instruction,  even 
promised  to  provide  a  boat  for  their  slaves,  that  they 
might  not  be  precluded  from  attending  the  house  of 
God.  The  mission,  therefore,  still  continued  to  make 
its  way  under  the  divine  blessing,  and  at  the  close  of 
1789,  upwards  '-f  a  hundred  baptized  negroes  belonged 
to  the  congregation  at  Sommelsdyke,  besides  a  consid- 
erable number  who  were  in  the  liabit  of  attending  reg- 
ularly upon  the  means  of  grace. 

For  several  succeeding  years  no  circumstance  of 
particular  interest  transpired;  but  the  missionaries 
steadily  persevered  in  their  labors  of  faith  and  love, 
and  the  blessing  and  influence  of  the  Holy  Spirit 
elTectualiy  triumphed  over  the  obstructions  which  were 


LABRADOR. 


occasionally  placed  In  their  path.  Their  hearers,  also, 
for  the  most  part,  evinced  a  growing  attachment  to 
those  blessed  truths  which  had  ilkiminated  their  dark 
understandings,  aiid  softened  their  adamantine  hearts  • 
and  notwithstanding  the  ravages  whid»  had  been  made 
a  few  years  previous,  by  the  introduction  of  the  small 


121 

pox,  the  baptized  members  of  the  church,  in  1816 
amounted  to  one  hundred  and  four  persons.  The  ill-' 
ness  of  the  missionaries,  however,  and  other  circum- 
.stances  which  occurred,  after  the  cession  of  the  colony 
to  the  kmg  of  the  Netherlands,  led  to  the  suspension 
ot  the  mission  at  this  insalubrious  station. 


CHAPTER  V. 
MISSION   IN   LABRADOR. 


The   first  idea  of  sending  out  missionaries  to  the 
Esquimaux,  appears  to  have  originated  in  a  conjecture 
that  a  national  affinity  subsisted  between  those  people 
and  the  Greenlanders ;  and,  though  the  excellent  and 
devoted  Matthew  Stach  did-not  succeed  in  his  appli- 
cation to  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  for  permission 
to  attempt  the  evangelization  of  the  Indians  belonging 
to  their  factories,  a  ship  was  fitted  out  in   1752    bv 
some  of  the  United  Brethren,  and  several  other  mei^ 
chants    for  the    purpose  of  trading   on    the  coast  of 
l^abrador.     Accordingly,  four  missionaries  sailed  from 
London  on  the  17tli  of  May,  taking  with  them  the 
frame  and  materials  of  a  house,  a  boat,  various  kinds 
of  seeds,  and  different  implements  of  agriculture  ;  and 
on  their  arrival  in  a  fme  bay,  which,  in  compliment  to 
one  ol   the  ship-owners,  they  called  Nisbet's  Haven 
they   went  on  shore,  and  fixed  on  a  spot  for  their 
future  residence,  to  which   they   gave   the  name  of 
Uopedale. 

After  the  lapse  of  a  few  weeks,  the  vessel  proceed- 
ed farther  to  the  northward,  with  the  design  of  open- 
mg  a  commercial  intercourse  with  the  natives  on  the 
coast ;  and  as  the  Esquimaux  were  fearful  of  ventur- 
ing on  board,  on  account  of  the  guns,  a  party  of  five 
manners  went  among  them  in  an  unarmed  boat,  un- 
der the  direction  of  the  mate,  Christian  Erhardt  a 
member  of  the  Moravian  church,  who,  in  his  voyages 
to  the  shores  of  Greenland,  had  obtained  a  tolerable 
knowledge  of  the  language,  and  naturally  supposed 
he  might  make  himself  understood  on  the  present  oc- 
casion. Neither  Erhardt  nor  his  companions,  howev- 
er returned  ;  and,  as  the  captain  had  no  other  boat 
and  consequently  possessed  no  means  of  sending  in 
search  of  them,  he  was  under  the  painful  necessity 
or  SR.hng  back  to  the  missionaiies,  and  of  requesting  i 
Vol.  I.— Nos.  11  &  12.  18 


their  assistance  to  work  the  ship  in  her  return  to  Eu- 
rope.  As  the  best  of  his  men  were  lost,  and  it  was 
impracticable  to  accomplish  the  voyage  without  some 
aid,  they  acceded  to  his  request;  and  as  it  appeared, 
tlie  following  season,  that  the  persons  who  had  so  in- 
cautiously gone  on  shore,  without  any  weapons  of  de- 
fence, had  been  cruelly  murdered,  the  mission  was 
for  some  time  abandoned. 

Notwithstanding  these  inauspicious  circumstances, 
divine   mercies  were  in  store  for  the  poor  benighted 
Esquimaux  ;  and   Jens  Haven,   who  had   previously 
labored  as  a  missionary  in  Greenland,  sailed  from  Eng- 
land in  the  spring  of  1764,  with  the  hope  of  conveying 
the  blessed  intelligence  of  salvation  to  the  inhabitants 
of  Labrador.     On  the  4th  of  September,  he  obtained 
an  interview  with  some  of  their  chiefs,  on  the  island 
of  Quirpoint,  and,  to  their  great  astonishment,  address- 
ed them  in  a  language  so  analogous  to  their  own,  that 
they    had  but  little   difficulty  in  comprehending   his 
meaning.      After  a  short  conversation,  in  which  he 
professed  himself  their  friend,  and  stated  the  important 
object  of  his  visit,  they  persuaded  him  to  accompany 
them  to  their  huts  on  an  adjacent  island,  and  on  his 
arrival  he  was  greeted  in  the  most  amicable  manner. 
Here  he  repeated  his  design  of  instructing  them  in  the 
knowledge  of  God  and  the  things  connected  with  their 
everlasting  happiness ;    and,  on  bidding  them  adieu, 
he  promised  to  return  in  the  ensuing  spring  with  some 
of  his   brethren,  in  order  to  take   up  his  residence 
among  them. 

On  his  arrival  in  Newfoundland,  Haven  was  treated 
with  the  greatest  kindness  by  Sir  Hugh  PaUiser,  to 
whom  he  had  been  recommended,  and  who  assured 
him  that  the  establishment  of  a  mission  .indorse-  the 
Esquimaux  would  be  equally  agreeable  to  himself,  as 


;;fii.l 


199 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


governor,  and  to  the  board  of  trade.     He,  tlierefore, 
sailed  again  for  Labrador,  in  May,  1765,  accompanied 
by  C.  L.  Drachart,  formerly  one  o{  tlie  Danish  mis- 
sionaries in  Greenland,  and  two  other  brethren.      On. 
this  occasion,  they  penetrated  farther  into  the  interior 
of  the  country,  and  on  their  return  to  the  coast,  they 
had  an  opportunity  of  addressing  several  hundreds  of 
the  natives,  who  seemed  to  listen  to  them  with  pro- 
found attention  ;  but  on  several  other  occasions,  they 
either  evinced  a  total  indifference  to  the  truths  which 
were  sounded  in  their  ears,  or  spoke  in  a  way  which 
demonstrated  the   hardness  of  their   hearts,  and  the 
blindness  of  their  understandings.     Thus,  when  Dra- 
chart endeavored  to  explain  the  depravity  of  all  man- 
kind in  an  unconverted  state,  they  acknowledged  that 
his  remarks  might  be  very  just  in  respect  to  foreigners, 
but  considered  them  altogether  inapplicable  to  them- 
selves.    When  he  attempted  to  direct  their  thoughts 
to  the  person,  power,  and  victorious  grace  of  Christ, 
they  supposed  he  alluded  to  some  distinguished  war- 
rior, who  would  save  them  from  the  aggressions  of  for- 
eigners, and  assist  them  in  vanquishing  their  northern 
foes.     And  when  he  alluded  to  the  important  subjects 
of  the  atonement  and  regeneration,  and  told  them  that 
many  of  the  Greenlanders  had  been  washed  from  their 
sins  in  the  Redeemer's  blood,  they  coolly  observed-  that 
those  persons  must  have  been  extremely  wicked  to  have 
rendered  such  a  process  necessary.     On  some  occa- 
sions, indeed,  the  savages  appeared  to  entertain  feel- 
ings of  great  distrust  toward   their  European  visitors ; 
and  a  variety  of  circumstances  seemed  to  preclude,  for 
the  present,  that  regular  formation  of  a  mission  which 
the  brethren  and  their  friends,  both  in  England  and 
Germany,  so  ardently  desired. 

In  the  year  1768,  an  Esquimaux  woman  and.  her 
two  sons,  who  had  been  taken  prisoners  whilst  on  a 
predatory  expedition,  were  sent  to  England  by  the 
governor  of  Newfovmdland ;  end  the  eldest  boy,  a 
youth  of  about  thirteen  years  of  age,  was  jilaced  in  the 
seminary  belonging  to  the  United  Bretln-cn  at  Fuineck, 
in  Yorkshire.  Here  he  applied  himself  diligently  to 
study,  and  soon  made  considerable  proficiency,  both 
in  reading  and  writing.  He  also  appeared  to  be  seri- 
ously Impressed  by  the  religious  instructions  which  he 
received  ;  and,  on  most  occasions,  exhibited  a  remark- 
able quickness  of  apprehension,  united  with  great  do- 
cility. But  whilst  he  was  progressively  acquiring  a 
fund  of  knowledge,  which  it  was  fondly  hoped  might, 
at  some  future  period,  have  proved  of  incalculable 
advantage  to  his  countrymen,  he  was  unfortunately 
seized  with  the  small  pox,  and,  after  having  been  bap- 
tized, at  his  earnest  request,  in  the  name  of  a  Triune 
God,  his  disembodied  spirit  was  removed  into  those 
mansions  where  the  inhabitant  shall  not  say,  "I  am  sick." 


The  mother  of  this  youth  was  treated  with  great 
kmdness  by  several  persons  of  distinction  in  London  ; 
and,  m  consequence  of  her  earnest  and  repeated  solici- 
tations, a  tract  of  land  ii)  Esquimaux  bay  was  granted, 
by  an  order  in  council,  to  the  United  Brethren,  for 
the  express  purpose  of  establishing  a  mission   among 
the  heathen   in    that  part  of  the  world.     A  brig  ol 
about  one  hundred  and  twenty  tons  burthen  was  then 
purchased,  with  the  design  of  annually  visiting  Labra- 
dor, and  trading  with  the  natives  ;  and,  in  the  month 
of  May,  1770,  Messrs.  Haven,  Drachart,  and  Jensen, 
sailed  from  England,  in  order  to  explore  the  coast, 
and  to  fix  on  a  convenient  situation  for  a  settlement. 
On  their  arrival  they  availed  themselves  of  the  first 
opportunity  of  preaching  the  gospel ;  and,  notwith- 
standing the  grant  which  they  had  previously  obtained 
from  the  British  government,  they  deemed  it  advisable 
to   purchase   fom  the  savages  the  piece  of  ground 
which  they  intended,  by  the  divine  permission,  to  occupy 
as  a  missionary  station.     They  then  returned  to  Eng- 
land, to  make  further  preparations  for  the  accomplish- 
ment of  their  benevolent  design. 

The  interest  excited  by  an  attempt  to  introduce 
the  cheering  light  of  revelation  among  the  wretched 
and  benigiited  Esquimaux  was  very  great ;  and  seve- 
ral members  of  the  Moravian  church,  both  male  and 
female,  avowed  their  willingness  to  abandon  all  the 
comforts  of  civilized  society,  and  to  expose  themselves 
to  every  species  of  inconvenience  and  privation  for 
the  furtherance  of  so  truly  important  an  object.  Ac- 
cordingly, in  the  spring  of  1771,  a  company  of  four- 
teen persons,  comprising  three  married  couples,  a 
widower,  and  seven  single  brethren,  sailed  for  Lab- 
rador, and,  after  a  tedious  and  hazardous  voyage, 
arrived,  on  the  ninth  of  August,  at  their  place  of  des- 
tination. 

The  day  after  their  arrival,  they  took  possession  of 
the  spot  which  had  been  purchased  by  Haven  in  the 
preceding  summer,  and  gave  it  the  appellation  o{ Nain. 
They  also  immediately  conunenced  the  erection  of  a 
mi.ssion-liousc,  the  frame  and  materials  of  which  they 
had  brought  from  England  ;  but  groat  exertions  were 
required  to  complete  it  before  the  commencement  of 
winter,  which,  in  these  northern  regions,  is  so 
intensely  cold,  that  rum  placed  in  the  open  air  freezes 
like  water,  and  rectified  spirits  in  a  short  time  become 
as  thick  as  oil. 

In  this  situation  the  brethren  could  obtain  but  few 
of  the  necessaries  of  life  ;  and,  as  a  considerable  delay 
occurred  in  the  forwarding  of  sup|)lies  from  England 
the  ensuing  year,  their  provisions  were  almost  entirely 
exhausted,  and  they  began  to  look  forward  with  pain- 
ful apprehensions,  though  with  pious  resignation,  to  all 
the  sufferings  connected  with  famine ;  as,  in  addition 


LABRADOR. 


to  two  pieces  of  meat,  they  had  nothing  left  but  a 
quantity  of  berries,  which  they  had  collected  from  the 
hills  and  dried  for  the  winter.  At  this  critical  juncture 
however,  the  brig  Amity  arrived  safely  in  their  harbor, 
and  their  sorrow  was  turned  into  joy,  by  the  kind 
providence  of  that  adorable  Being  who  "feedeth 
the  young  ravens  that  cair  upon  hini,"  and  without 
whose  express  permission  not  even  a  sparrow  can  fall 
to  the  ground. 

The  conduct  of  the  Esquimaux  had  been  uniformly 
friendly  towards  the  brethren  from  their  first  arrival  • 
and,  as  the  latter  acted,  upon  all  occasions,  in  the  most 
open  and  mgenuous  manner,  entire  confidence  was 
soon  established,  between  them.     In  former  times  no 
European  could  have  passed  a  night  among  these  sav- 
ages,  then  characterized  as  thieves   and  murderers 
lyithout  the  most  imminent  danger  ;  but  now  the  mis- 
sionanes   regardless  of  the  inclemency  of  the  season, 
travelled  across  the  ice  and  snow  to  visit  them  in  their 
winter  houses,  and  were  hospitably  entertained  for  sev- 
eral days  and  nights  successively.     These  visits  were 
afterwards  returned  ;  and,  in  consequence  of  the  friend- 
ly  mtercourse  thus  opened,  the  natives  not  only  asked 
the  advice  of  the  brethren  in  all  difficult  cases,  but 
even  chose  them  as  umpires  in  their  disputes,  and  in- 
variably submitted  to  their  arbitration.     They  also  lis- 
tened with  silence  and   attention  to  the  preaching   of 
tlie  gospel,  and  in  a  few  instances  the  hope  was  enter- 
tained that  impressions  were  made  which  might,  at  a 
subsequent  period,  be. productive  of  some  fruit  to  the 
honor  of  the  Redeemer.     Generally  speaking,  howev- 
er, they  were  too   little  acquainted' with  their   own 
guilt  and  wretchedness  to  discover  the  necessity  of  sal- 
vation,  or   the  suitability    and    preciousness  of  that 
Saviour  who  was  represented  to  them  as  the  only  ref- 
uge from  the  wrath  to  come.     Though  devoted  to  the 
gratification  of  the  most  brutal  passions,  and  habitually 
committing  the  grossest  sins  with  delight,  they  were 
never  destitute  of  excuses  and  causes  of  self-gratula- 
tion.     Thus  the  man  wJio  was  notoriously  addicted  to 
lying,  consoled  himself  with  the  reflection  that  he  had 
no  propensity  to  thieving  ;  the  robber  exulted  because 
his  hands  had  never  been  imbrued  in  human  blood  • 
and  even  murderers  rejoiced  that  they  were  not  for- 
eigners, wiiom,  it  seems,  they  consider  as  the  vilest  of 
mankind.     The  angekoks,  or  sorcerers,  also,  as  might 
naturally  be  expected,  employed  all  their  arts  to  pre- 
vent tiieir  countrymen  from  receiving  the  gospel. 

Notwithstanding  thes.;  sad  proofs  of  intellectual 
darkness,  tlie  missionaries  cheered  themselves  with 
the  reflection  that  the  word  of  the  Lord  could  not  re- 
turn unto  him  void  ;  and  the  following  circumstance  an- 
imated them  to  persevere,  with  redoubled  zeal,  in  their 
attempts  for  the  conversion  of  ihe  perishing  heathen. 


123 


Amannamed  Anauke,  whohad  beenformerlya  fere 
cious  and  desperate  character,  was  at  length  induced  to 
attend  the  preaching  of  the  brethren,  and,  after  hearinR 
them  repeatedly,  he  pitched  his  tent  in  their  settle- 
ment, m  1772,  and  remained  there  till  the  month  of 
November,  when  he  removed  to  his  winter  house, 
t-ven  then  his  anxiety  for  further  instruction  in  the 
things  of  God  was  so  great,  that  he  actually  returned  on 

Zll7u-  rT'^  °^  '^""''•"S  a  few  days  more  with 
the  heralds  of  the  cross ;  though  the  Esquimaux  are  nev- 
er accustomed  to  travel  in  that  manner;  as,in  summer, 
they  pass  from  one  place  to  another  in   their  kajaks 
and  in  winter,  they  perform  their  journeys  in  sledges' 
*  roni  the  time  of  his  second  departure,  the  missionaries 
heard-nothing  of  him  till  February,  1773,  when  his  wife 
came  to  Nain,  and  stated  that  he  had  died,  calling  on 
the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus.     She  said  that,  on  his 
being  first  seized  with  the  illness  which  terminated  his 
mortal  existence,  he  prayed  fervently,  and  expressly 
stated  that  he  had  no  wish  to  remain  any  longer  on 
earth,  but  felt  anxious  to  depart,  that  he  might  be  with 
Christ.    When  his  end  was  visibly  approaching,  his  wife 
according  to  the  custom  of  the  heathen,  began  to  utter 
the  most  mournful  lamentations,  and  exclaimed,   "  O' 
my  dear  husband  !  canst  thou  leave  me,  and  thy  beloved 
children  ?"     But   he  calmly  replied,   "  Do  not  weep 
for  me :  I  am  going  to  that  dear  Redeemer  whose  love 
IS  so  great  towards  mankind."     Though  no  Christian 
friend  was  present  to  direct  or  influence  him,  he  would 
not  permit  one  of  the  angekoks,  who  are  considered  as 
the  physicians  of  the  Esquimaux,  to  come  near  him  ; 
but  committed  himself  unreservedly  into  the  hands  of 
that  great  Physician  who  descended  from  heaven  to 
bind  up  the  broken-hearted,  and  With  whom  he  was 
enabled  to  hold  sweet  communion,  even  when  heart 
and  flesh  were  failing.     After  his  demise,  this  person 
was  invariably  spoken  of  by  the  natives,  as  "  the  man 
whom  the  Saviour  took  to  himself" 

As  this  was  a  clear  and  satisfactory  proof  that  the 
bow  which  had  been  drawn  at  a  venture  had  not  been 
drawn  in  vain,  and  as  many  of  the  heathen  residing  in 
the  vicinity  of  Nain  were  remarkably  attentive  to  the 
gospel,  and  expressed  the  most  profound  reverence  for 
the    name    of  Jesus,  the    brethren    now   resolved  to 
select  from  among  their  hearers  such  as  appeared  the 
most  seriously  inclined,  and  to  form  them  into  a  class 
of  catechumens,  in  order  to  prepare  them,  by  suitable 
instructions  for  the  holy  rite  of  baptism.     At  the  same 
time  they  determined  to  erect  a  church  capable  of 
containing  some  hundreds  of  persons,  as  the  apartment 
in  the  mission-iiouse  which  had  been  hitherto  used  for 
the  celebration  of  divine  service  could  no  longer  con- 
tain the  congregation. 

In  1774^  four  of  the  missionaries  formed  the  design 


124 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


N4» 

is  I 


li  i„ 

m 


nil.. 
'.Hi  i 


of  exploring  the  coast  to  the  northward,  as  the  ob- 
taining of  provisions  for  the  Esquimaux  at  Nain  was 
attended  with  considerable  difficulty.     They  accord- 
ingly embarked  in  a  small  vessel  which  had    been 
sent  to  them  from   Newfoundland  ;  but  their  expe- 
dition  proved  peculiarly  unfortunate,  as,  after  expe- 
riencing several  disasters,  and  escaping  some  imminent 
perils,  their  little  bark  was  driven  among  the  rocks 
and  dashed  to  pieces.     After  passing  the  .night  wi^i 
the  most  anxious   feelings,  they  betook   themselves, 
early  in  the  morning,  to  their  boat ;  but  this  was  soon 
wrecked,  and  two  of  the  brethren,  Brasen  and  Leh- 
man, were  unfortunately  drowned,  whilst  their  com- 
panions and  the  sailors  saved  their  lives  by  swimming 
to  a  barren  rock.     Here  they  suffered  severely  from 
the  cravings  of  hunger  and  the  inclemency  of  the  air  ; 
and  in  this  situntinn  they  would,  no  doubt,  have  per- 
ished, had  they  not  providentially  succeeded  in  drawing 
their  boat  on  the  rock,  and  so  far  repairing  its  damages, 
as  to  enable  them  once  more  to  venture  themselves 
in  it.     In  this  shattered  little  vessel'  they  embarked 
on  the  fourth  day  after  their  sliipwreck,  and  were  for- 
tunately perceived  by  an  Esquimaux  in  hiskajak,who 
towed  them  into  the  harbor  acij*  'ning  their  settlement. 
In  the  summer  of  1775,  in  compliance  with  the  in- 
structions   which    they  had    received    from    Europe, 
Messrs.  Haven  and  Jensen  set  out  with  the  design  of 
connnencing  a  new  settlement  at  a  place  railed  Okkak, 
about  a  hundred  and  fifty  miles  to  the  northward  of 
Naiii.     As  this  spot  appeared  peculiarly  eligible  for 
the  purposes  of  a  mission,  being  abundantly  furnisJM'd 
with  wood  and  fresh  water, contiguous  to  an  excellent 
haven,  and  surrounded  by  a  numerous  population  of 
the   heathen,   the   land   was    inunedialely    purcliasfd 
from   the    Esipiimaux  ;    and   as   soon  as  the  ensuing 
season  permitted,  the  m''  sionaries  took  up  their  resi- 
dence here,  and  began  to  preach  the  glad  tidings  of 
salvation  to  the  natives  in  the  vicinity.      At  fust  they 
met   with   nnicli   discouragement  ;    but,  knowing  the 
goodness  of  their  cau,se,  and  the  onnii|)otent   pcmcr 
of  their  Divii-.e  Master,  they  piocecdcti,  with  unslmken 
resolution,  in  their  work,  till  nt  length  some  iridiciiiions 
of  siieeess  began   to  appear,  and,  in    nHl.ihfy   had 
the  satisfaction  of  ministering  among  thirty-eight  per- 
sons who  had  l)e<'u  Impii/.cd   in   the  faith  of  Christ, 
besides  ten  others  who,  as  cat"clnunens,  were  receiving 
particular  instruction. 

In  the  journeys  ami  voyages  wlii<-h  the  hrcthren 
had  occasionally  to  perform  in  these  inhospitable  re- 
gions, ihcy  were  iier essnrily  exposal  to  nnniy  hardships 
ond  dangers,  and  the  deliverances  which  they  expe- 
rienced on  some  orcasions  were  truly  remarkable. 
One  instance  of  this  kiiid  is  too  replete  with  intufcsi 
to  bo  puSstid  ovur  ii!  siit'uce. 


W.  Turner  and  S.  Liebisch,  two  of  the  missionaries, 
set  out  from  Nain,  one  morning  in  the  month  of  March, 
in  a  sledge  drawn  by  dogs,  and  accompanied  by  another 
sledge  containing  two  Esquimaux  men,  a  woman,  and 
a  child,  in  (Jrder  to  visit  the  new  settlement  at  Okkak. 
As  the  weather  was  fine,  and  the  track  over  the  frozen 
sea  in  excellent  order,  they  travelled  with  facility  at 
the  rate  of  about  six  miles  an  hour,  and  had  every 
reason  to  expect  that  they  should  arrive  at  the  end 
of  their  journey  in  two  or  three  days.  After  having 
passed  the  islands  in  the  bay,  they  kept  at  a  consider- 
able distance  from  the  shore,  both  to  avoid  a  high  and 
rocky  promontory,  and  to  gain  the  smoothest  part 
of  the  ice.  About  eight  o'clock,  tl^ey  met  a  party 
of  Esquimaux  driving  their  sledges  towards  the  land, 
and  were  by  them  dissuaded  from  proceeding.  The 
missionaries,  however,  discovering  no  cause  of  alarm, 
resolved  to  prosecute  their  design  ;  and  though  some 
of  their  own  companions  soon  afterward  observed  that 
there  was  a  ground-swell  under  the  ice,  and  that  a 
grating,  disagreeable  noise  might  he  heard  on  applying 
the  ear  to  the  surface,  yet  as  the  weather  remained 
clear  and  the  wind  blew  strong  from  the  north-west, 
no  sudden  change  was  anticipated. 

The  travellers  continued  their  progress  till  the  sun 
had    gained    its    greatest   altitude,  and   sca>-cely  any 
alteration  had  even  then  become  visible  in  the  aspect 
of  the  horizon  ;  but,  as  the  motion  of  the  sea  beneath 
the  ice  became  more  ])erceptihle,  it  was  judged  advi- 
sable to  keep  near  the  shore.     The  ice  also  exhibited 
many  cracks  pikL  chasms  of  more  than  a  foot  in  width; 
hut  as  these  arc  very  common,  and  the  dogs  leap  over 
them  without  either  fear  or  (liHiculty,  the  Esquimaux 
appeared  to  think  nothing  of  their  appearance  on  the 
present  occasion.      In  liie  afternoo:!,  as  the  sun  de- 
clined, the  sky  was  gra<lii  dly  overspread  witli  clouds, 
the  wind   increased  to  u  stonn,  and  the  snow,  both  on 
ihe   ice  and  the  sununits  of  the  iidjueent  mountains, 
was  blown  about  1,^  partial  whirlwinds  till  it  seemed 
t"  fill   the  atmosphere.     The   ground-swell   hud    also 
increased,  by  this  time,  to  such  a  degree,  that  its  ef- 
fects becune  equally  extraordinary  and  terrific  ;  for 
though  the  ice  was,  in  some  parts,  ten  or  t^velve  feet 
in  thickness,  nnd  several  leagues  s(|nure,yet  th('  swell 
of  the   sea   undernenth   gave   it   such   an   undulatory 
motion,  that  the  sledges  nppeiired,  in  some  instuiK-os, 
10  be   drawn   with   innnenst-  dilliculty  over  a   rising 
acclivity,  ami  shortly  after   rushed  onward  with  a  ve- 
hK'ity  which   seemed   to  threaten   de;,tiiiclion  to  the 
dogs  and   their  drivers.     Alarming  noises,  sitnilnr  to 
the   report   of  cannon,  were  mNo   hoard   in   dilferent 
directions,  tM-casioned  by  the  bursting  of  the  ice  at  a 
distunco. 

In  this  terrific  situation,  the  Esquimaux,  who  now 


perceived  that  their  danger  was  increasing  every  mo- 
ment, drove  as  hastily  as  possible  toward  the  shore  ; 
but  as  they  approaclied  it,  the  scene  became  more 
and  more  appalling.      The  immense  masses  of  ice 
which  had  detached  themselves  from  tho  rocks,  were 
tossed  to  and   fro,   and  sometimes  dashed   to  atoms 
against  the  precipices,  with  a  noise  which,  in  addition 
to  the  ho.,iing  of  the  wind,  the  roaring  of  the  waves 
and   the   drifting  of  the  snow,  almost  deprived  our 
travellers  of  the  senses  both  of  hearing  and  seeing. 
The  dogs  were,  also,  so  completely  terrified,  that  it 
was  scarcely  possible  to  drive  them  forward  ;  and  as 
the  only  time  for  effecting  a  landing  was  the  precise 
juncture  when  the  rising  and  falling  body  of  ice  came 
to  a  level  with  the  coast,  the  attempt  was  extremely 
hazardous.     By  the  good  providence  of  that  Saviour 
however,  who  is  set  forth  in  the  Scriptures  of  truth, 
BS  "a  hHiing-place  from  the  wind,  and  a  covert  from 
the  tempest,"  both  sledges  reached  the  shore,  and,  by 
dint  of  persevering  exertion,  were  safely  drawn  upon 
the  beach.  . 

Scarcely  had  the  missionaries  and  their  companions 
congratulated  each  other  on  tiieir  escape,  when  that 
part  of  the   ice  which  they  had  so  recentl     nuitted, 
burst  asunder,  and  the  water,  rushing  up  from  beneath, 
precipitate,,  it  into  the  sea;  and,  in  the  course  of  a 
few  seconds,   as   if  i„  obedience   to  a   nroconcerted 
signal,  the  whole  frozen  mass,  extending  for  .several 
miles  along  the  coast,  began  to  break,  and  to  disappear 
in    large   masses    amidst    the    foaming   waves      The 
spectacle  which  now   presented   itself  was   so  truly 
sublime,  and  the  noise  which  accom,ianied  the  disrup- 
tion of  the  ice  was  so  overpowering,  that   ev.n  the 
Ls.pmnaux  were  deeply  affected,  and   the  brethren 
found    It   impossible  to  express,  .so  fervently  as  they 
could  have  desired,  their  thankfulness  to  God  foi  his 
gracious  interjiosition  on  (..c>ir  behalf 

As  night  was  now  coining  on,  and  -lu,-  wind  was 
IHcrcinKlv  col.l,  ,|,e  Ks.p.imaux  constructed  what  is 
called  a  >  n.nv-l.ouse.  about  ihi.ty  p„ces  from  the  beach"- 
at  nine  .,  .'lock  the  whole  parly  nvpt  inio  it,  grateful 
for  imj  place  of  refup<  from  ili,.  i,ul..,n,Micy  „f  ,1,0 
watlu-r  ;  and,  after  taking  some  slight  refreshment 
and  .singing  a  hymn,  they  lay  down  to  rest.  I  „.ibisrh 
however,  was  predmled  from  K|..,-|,i„g,  p„rily  b^  ,|„; 
viol..|it   pain  arisin.r  ,.,„„  „  „„„  ,|,^,„„    ,,_,^,  ^ 

the  terrilic  roaring  ..f  tho  storm  ;  and  „  i.s  u  r.-mark- 
ahlo  (art,  that  the  wakefulness  of  this  missionnry  ,aved 
the  uh.,1,.  party  from  destruction.  •  AImmii  twooVlock 
in  the  m.,riung,  .some  water  fell  from  the  roof  of  the 
.now-house  on  the  lip.s  of  Mr.  U,ibisch.  who  was 
naturally  alarmed  at  fmding  il,,,,  i,  ,„,,i,j  ^^^^      „« 

fnnifiiittwi    ftiitn*      K... ■  1 1 


LABRADOR. 


retnaiiifd  ijujnt,  howc 


tlQWnL'i>|.       till 


'        •   -7  -       •     ■!-■  tirs;p  Jinj^    ncrniuS 

more  frequent,  and,  before  ho  could  give  an  alarm, 


1S5 

two  treme,  .i  us  waves  broke  successively  near  the 
house,  forcing  in  a  large  quantity  of  water,  and  carry- 
ng  away  the  slab  of  snow  which  had  been  placed,  in 
■eu  of  a  door,  at  the  entrance.     The   Esquimaux, 
however,  were  soon  roused  to  a  sense  of  their  danger 
and  one  of  them,  with  a  large  knife,  opened  a  passage 
hrough  the  side  of  the  house,  which  was  carried  awa^ 
by  an  overwhel.nmg  body  of  surl",  just  as  the  inmates 
thebeT    "       '"'''^^^^^^'''"'"S'-P-tof 

The  travellers  were  thus  delivered  a  second  time 
from  die  most  imminent  peril,  by  the  good  hand  of 
U  eir  Heavenly  Father  ;  yet  as  it  was  scarcely  possi- 
ble to  stand  against  the  wind,  the  sleet,  and  the  snow 
their  situation  was  extremely  painful   during  the  re^ 
mainder  of  the  night.     The   woman   and   her  child 
were  wrapped  up  in  a  large  skin,  and  before  the  dawn 
"I  day,  the  Esquimaux   formed  an  excavation  in  tho 
snow,  to  screen  them  and  the   two  missionaries  from 
the  storm.     Licbisch,  however,  suffered  so  severely 
from  the  affection  in  his  throat,  that  he  was  unable  to 
respire  in  such  a  confined  situation,  and  was  obliged 
to  sit  at  the  entrance,  covered  ,vith  skins,  till   day- 
light,  when  another  snow-house  was  erected    about 
eight   feet  square,  and   from   six   to  seven   feet  in 
height. 

As  the  brethren,  on  sotting  out  from  Nain,  had  an- 
ticipated  a  safe  and  speedy  journey  to  Okkak,  their 
sl(K;k  of  provisions  was  very  .sm.ill,and  the  Esquimaux 
had  brought  nothing  for  their  own  sustenance  ;  con- 
ceiving,  no  doubt,  that  their  little  wants  would  have 
been  well  and  gratuitously  supplied.     But,  us  it  was 
uncertain  how  long  they  might  be  detained  in  their 
present  situation,  it  now  became   necessary  to  divide 
what  remained  into  regular  portions,  and  it  was  finally 
resolved  that  no  more  than  a  biscuit  and  a  half  should 
be  consumed  daily  by  each  individual.     In  addition 
to  the  privations  which  they  thus  suffered,  tlie  roof 
of  their  snow-hou.sc   was   gradually   nu-hcd    by    the 
breath  of  its  inhabitants,  and  they  were  literally  soaked 
with  water,  not  having  un  article  of  clothing  dry  about 
them,  nor   a   dry  spot  on  which   they  cdiiM   rf-pose. 
These   painful  circumstniiccs,  together  with  the  unfa- 
vorable slate  of  the  weather,  and  the  uncertainty  of 
their  final  escape,  deeply  depressed  their  spirits,  and 
threatened    to  overwhelm    them   with   despair.      At 
length,  however,  the  sea  began   to  fic(>ze  again,  and, 
after  spending  six  days  in  this  melancholy  place,  they 
set  off  to  return  to  INain,  and  happily  arrived  at  that 
settlement   in  safety,  to  the  unspeakable  joy  of  their 
friends,  who  bad  .suffered  the  jiiost  distressing  anguish 
of  mind  during  their  absence. 

in  the  month  of  August,  1782.  tho  brethren  pro- 
ceeded to  form  a  third  settlemenl,  at  a  jiluco  to  tlio 


\m 


fJWi 


186 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


■ih 


ml  i 


ill;.. 


m 


southward  of  Nain,  to  which  they  gave  the  appella- 
tion of  Hopedale.     This  spot  had  been  formerly  re- 
connoitred, and  considered  particularly  eligible  for  a 
missionary  station  ;  and  it  was  now  iioped  that  great 
numbers  of  the  Esquimaux  would  rejoice  in  the  op- 
portunity  of  receiving   religious   instruction.      This 
pleasing  anticipation  was,  for  the  present,  disappoint- 
ed ;  and  for  several  years  the  preaching  of  the  gospel  on 
this  spot  appeared  to  be  attended  with  so  little  success, 
tliat  both  the  missionaries  and  the  directors  in  Europe 
felt  inclined  to  relinquish  such  an  unprofitable  station. 
The  great  Head  of  the  church,  however,  had  other- 
wise determined,  and  Hopedale,  in  the  sequel,  became 
tlie  scene  of  an  awakening  which  afterwards  extended 
its  blessed  influence  to  ti)e  other  settlements,  and  con- 
strained   the    friends  of  the   Redeemer   to  exclaim, 
"  What  hath  God  wrought !" 

In  1796,  nn  epidemical  disease  broke  out  in  Labra- 
dor, and  raged  for  several  months  with  unabiiting  sever- 
ity ;    so  that   the   brethren   were  under   the    painful 
necessity  of  suspending  their  public  services  for  weeks 
together,  as  the   Esquimaux  wore  quite  incapable  of 
leaving   their  habitations.     It   was  also   a  source  of 
ferief  to  the  missionarie?  that   the  time  of  sickness 
proved  a  season  of  temptation  to  some  of  (heir  con- 
verts, who,  on  fiiidiiiu;  ijiat  the  medicines  with  which 
they  were  su|)plio(i  did  not  immediately  relieve  them, 
had  recourse  to  thei/  old  heathenish  practices,  with  a 
view   to    their    recovery.     Most  of  these,   however, 
were  subsequently  convinced  of  their  sinful  folly,  and 
carne-tly  implored   the   pardon   of  the  con^rettation. 
In-  the  missionary  settlements,  but   few   persons   fell 
victims  to  this  disorder  ;  but   among  the  surrounding   > 
heathen,  who  still  rejecterl  the  gospel  of  the  Redeem- 
er, it  proved  fatal  in  many  instances. 

In  the  month  of  Deeendier,  IH(M),  nn  event  occur- 
red which  it  is  impossible  to  record  without  sensations 
of  sorrowful  reirret.  The  excellent  missionary  J.  W. 
Reimnn  went  out  one  morning  from  the  seiilemerii  at 
Ho|)e(lale,  with  the  design  of  procuring  some  fresh 
provisioi.s  by  shooting  ;  but  as  ho  did  not  return  in 
the  course  of  the  day,  his  friends  nntiiralh  l.ei;im  to 
entertain  the  most  distressing  appri'hensions.  particu- 
larly as  the  country  was  at  this  time  completely  covered 
with  ice.  About  sewn  o'clock  in  the  eveniiur,  four 
of  the  Esquiimuix  set  olf  in  (piest  of  hjin.  and,  as  the 
light  of  the  moon  was  favorable  to  their  object,  they 
continued  their  search  during  the  whole  of  the  night, 
occwioiiiiHy  dise|iari;in!{  their  muskets,  with  the  hope 
of  directing  him  touanl  ihem.  Their  exertions,  how- 
over,  were  uufortunuleiy  productive  of  tu)  success  ; 
an.l  though  every  part  whieh  could  he  thought  of  was 
subsp,|„ently  esplun,!,  his  brethren  ueri'  nev.T  able 
to  discover  in  what  mamiur  he   had  perished,  though 


of  the  certainty  of  his  death  not  the  vestige  of  a  doubt 
could  possibly  exist. 

At  the  commencement  of  1804,  the  missionaries 
were  much  discouraged  on  a  review  of  the  small  suc- 
cess which  seemed  to  have  attended  their  faithful 
ministration  among   the  heathen   in   Labrador;    but 
before  the  end  of  that  year,  it  was  their  privilege  to 
behold  the  dawn  of  a  brighter  day,  and  to  witnesii 
effects  which  they  were  aware  could  only  have  been 
produced  by  the  agency  and  influences  of  the  Holy 
Spirit.     In  former  times  it  had  been  a  subject  of  deep 
regret  that  the  instructions  received  by  the  Esquimaux 
in  the  different  settlements,  during  the  wintei;,  were 
too  generally  forgotten   in   their  summer  excursions, 
when,  by  associating  with  their  heathen  countrymen, 
they  laid  themselves  open  to  temptation,  and  in  many 
instances  relapsed  into  their  former  practices.      On 
the  return  of  the  professing  natives  to  Hopedale,  how- 
ever, in  the  year  to  which  we  are  now  alluding,  the 
brethren  were  abundantly  gratified  to  find,  not  only 
that  they  had  b6en  preserve'  from  falling  into  outward 
sins,  but   that  they  had  made  the  most  important  ad- 
vances  in   knowledge,  faith,  and  humility,  and   had 
become  so  deo|)ly  sensible  of  their  own  depravity  as 
sinners,  and  of  the  power  and  preciousness  of  Christ 
as  a  Saviour,  that  they  were  enabled  to  sjieak  experi- 
mentally of  the  things  of  God  to  those  around  them  ; 
and  such  an  unction  appeared  to  attend  their  artless 
but  holy  and  energetic  conversation,  that  many  who 
had  previously  posses.sed  nothing  more  than  the  form 
of  religion,  were  now  awakened  to  a  sense  of  its  vital 
iiiiportance,  and  began  earnestly  to  incpiire  how  they 
might  be  delivered  from  their  offences  and  received 
into  the  divine  favor. 

The  awakening  so  happily  commenced  at  Hopedale, 
soon  communicated  its  sacred  influence  to  Nain.  where 
it  appears  to  have  been  promoted  !>)■  a  reniarkuble 
circumslnnee.  A  young  man  named  Siksigak.  who 
had  formed  the  design  of  putting  away  his  Christian 
wife,  and  marrying  another  who  was  iittaehed  to  all 
the  superstitions  of  the  heathen,  happened  to  arrive 
at  his  mother's  lunise  in  Hopedale  at  the  time  that 
the  family  were  engaged  in  their  evenintj  ilevotion. 
He  apiieared  astonished  nt  what  he  saw  and  heard, 
but  no  impression  wits  at  that  time  made  upon  his 
mind,  neither  could  lie  he  dissuaded,  after  the  close 
of  the  domestic  service,  from  his  wicked  purpose, 
either  b^  the  persuasions  of  his  r-lations,  or  the  advice 
and  entreaties  of  the  missionaries.  The-  following 
day,  however,  r  special  prayer-meetinn  was  held,  in 
his  presence,  for  his  eouversiim  to  (iod  ;  and  on  that 
oeeasi<in  his  mother,  whilst  piniring  out  her  supplica- 
tions before  the  throne  of  grace,  oxrluimed,  with  K 

pathos    OMil    fervor    expreisive  itf  (he    !!!>e!i~!!!v  :•.(  ia-r 


feelings    "Lord  Jesus,  behold  this  my  child,  whom 
I  now  desire  most  solemnly  to  surrender  to  thee 
O    condescenu  to  accept  him  as  thine  own,  and  suffer 
not   his  immortal  soul    to  be  lost   for  ever  "     Thp 
prayer  of  faith  was  heard  and  answered  ;  the  youne 
man  was  immediately  convinced  of  the  error  of  his 
ways;    his  heart  was  subsequently   affected   by  the 
great  doctrines  of  the  gospel ;  and  similar  effects  were 
produced  on  his  favorite  companion  named  Kapik  ;  so 
that^they  not  only  exhibited  an  entire  rhang.  of  spirit 
conduct    and  conversation,  but,  on  their  reu.rn  to  IVain' 
they  boldly  proclaimed  the  preciousness  of  that  >ros' 
pel  which  they  had  fo.md  to  be  the  power  of  God  un- 
to their  own  salvation.     Their  friends  were  naturally 
astonished  at  this  unexpected  change,  an.l  some  of 
them   reated  the  truths  which  .Iropped  from  their  lins 
wih,lens,on  and  contempt;  but  on   many  of  the  in- 
habitants of  the  settlement  an  impression  was  made 
which  led  to  the  most  beneficial  results.    Several  per- 
sons who    had    formerly    possessed  nothing  more   of 
Chnst.anity  than  its  mere  profession,  were  now  con- 
viiK^ed  that  thoy  ha.l  hitherto  been  deceiving  themselves 
and  othors  ;  an.l  whilst  they  .•ontemplate.l,  with  feel- 
ings of  true  contrition,  ,he  hypociisv  of  their  conduct 
.  an.l  ,l,c  treachery  of  their  liear.s,  they  confessed,  with' 
floods  of  penitential   tears,  the   sins  which   they  l.a.l 
oncecommmed  with  impunity,  but  ,ho  recollection  of 
which  now  humbled  them  to  the  dust. 

Tho  inflligeuco  of  these  interesting  everts  was 
soon  conveyed  to  Okkak,  and  an  awakening  took  phu'e 
at  that  settlement,  which  prove.l  ,o  be  of  ,he  Lrd. 
1  his  was  pnncipally  owing  to  tj,e  visit  of  some  Chris- 
tum Ksqunnaux  from  Nain,  who.  i„  i,  f.,,,,,,,,  ,,,,| 

for  the  salvation  of  their  co.mtrym,.u,  ur„t  from  one 
tent  lo  another,  testifying  of  ,h,,  love  of  Christ  to 
ruined  .sinners,  an.l  illustrating  his  willingness  to  .save 
"II  Unit  crtie  unto  him  by  relating  their  own  experi- 
ence. A  sacre.l  fir..  „„s  thus  kindled  in  the  hearts  of 
Ihe.r  au.hiors,  who  voluntarily  has„,„,|  ,„  the  niis- 
».onan..s,  „ck„owl..,lging  the  formality  and  emptiness 
ol  the.r  (ormer  pn.lessions,  and  imploiin.  .lir.vtinn  in 
the  way  of  true  and  vital  go,llin,-ss.    Kv.-n  the  lu.all>..n 

from  the  north.  wbo.K'.-asionnllypasse.lthroughOkkak 
were  evidently  .struck  Hith  a.lmiiali..n  at  what  thev 
»aw  an.l  hear.l.  an.l  tlu.se  wh.,s,.  ivsi,|..ne,.s  were  more 
c..nl,«uous.  f..|t  so  .le..ply  i„tcreste.l  i„  the^Wnr,,,,  I 
win.'h  had  pro.lu,.,.,l  such  ast.,nishin,;  eff.Tl.".  that  thev 
res.,lve.l  to  take  up  tlu-ir  alm.I,.  among  the  Inlievers  ' 
In  allu.„on  (.,  «  circums!,.n,,M,f  this  .l..sc.ipiio„. 
which  .H-enircl  in  I8().",.  ,|„.  ,nissi.,nari..s  at  llop,..lah. 
observe,-..  As  ., con  as  i,  was  known  that  s.,me  of  th, 


LABRADOR. 


heathen  had  obtained  pcrnil 


llei 


Nion  to  les'iile   „,  the  ,,,,,. 


nent.  our  Ks.piinpu.x  exhibite.l  „  .spin,  .,1  joy  and  i 
gladncs  which  u  wa«  truly  nlTecingtowitne,..'  From  jj 


127 

their  first  arrival  our  people  had  not  failed  to  speak 

to  them  of  the  mercy  which  the  Lord  had  shown  !n 

leir  own  conversion,  and  to  preach  Jesus  to  them   " 

the  only  Saviour;  and  now,  on  perceiving  that  Thev 

were  to  be  inhabitants  of  the  place,  they  ifa  dly  k„ew 
how  o  ,  ^^,^,^^^  ^^^  ^^y  ^        y  knew 

tl  oir  lUtre  a?    ""?  "!''  '!'"'"  '^'''^^"^0,  and  to  Lttfe 
tl.o.r  httle  affairs.     It  also  happened  that,  early  in  the 

"orning,  a  party  of  heathen,  who  had  d  cla  ed   tfat 
hey  would  not   ive  with  the  believers,  had  left  ama„ 

-idehere.    Hehadpitp,jrt:;i.o3:cr 

but  our  people   filled  with  love,  and  anxious  to  serve 

II  who  wished  to   be  convcrte.I,  immediately  tooTi^ 

:  cnvn,  and  removed  it  into  the  mi.Ist  of  their  o/n  dCell- 

proof,  of  affectionate   attention   on  the   part  of  their 
Christian  countrymen,  and  .leclared  that   (or  the  fir 
"ne   in   their  lives,  they  had   met  with   persons  who 
love.l  them  with  disinterested  sincerity."  ' 

In  or.ler  to  ascertain  the  practicability  of  forming  a 
new  settlement  in  a  more  populous  par,  of  the  country 

he  dZr'":  ^T ■'  """  '^"•'''---  ..ruiertoi 
the  .Idh.Mdt  an.l  perilous  task  of  exploring  the  north- 
..u  coast    which   had   hitherto   remaine.l  Lkno^:   o 

jZ7Z  ."".7"'""i  ^'•••"^'•"'S'y>  in  .he  month  of 
jl'  n.-,  Irill,  they  embarked  in  a  two-masted  shallop 
Mongmg  to  one  of  the  converts  name.l  Jonathan 
»  '•'.  though  considered  as  chi,.f  of  his  nation  a.  Kope- 
''•'h-.  rem  dy  cngage.l  in  this  ar.luous  .service,  with  the 
'■hec-ring  hope  that  he  might  thus  be  made  instrumental 
<"war,ls  the  m.roduction  of  the  gospel  into  the  Unga- 
va  country.  Il.>  appears,  in-le..!.  ,o  have  been  a  .nan 
of  superior  understan.ling.  an.l  gn.at  personal  courage 
""•I  wh...,  any  of  i,i,  ,„„„,„,„  represente.l  the 
1-nls  to  Vhich  1...  w..„|,|  be  exposcl   ii.    his   intcude. 

voyage    he  ^vo, eph.MVhen   I   h.-ar  peopl..    talk 

'"""  !'";  ''""«-  •>'•  '-i-l^   kil'."l,  I  recoll.'c,  '„,„,  .lle 

"V"  .'r  Jesus  m.luce.l  him  lo  submit  to  .leatl,   for  us  ; 

•""   therefore  „  would  be  no  great  ma.,..r  if  we  were 

"•  1"^"  ""r  liv,.s   in  his  s,.rvi,....  slu.ul.l  that  be  hi, 

pleasure  .•onceriiing  us." 

''"'•;• '•'•••<'."»"i"ing  parly,  which.  hesi.l,.s  th..  eapiain 
and  the  nussionaries.  consist...|  of  f.,„,  ,.;s,,„i„.,.,.x 
f.  nihes  f,,,.n  Hope.lale,  an.l  a  llhl,  from  Okkak.  who 
'■••"'""••I  'h-  shall.ip  in  a  skin  boat,  pro.-eede.l  with 
;;<">^i'l.'n.bl..  .lifficuby.  on  acount  ..f  th-  ,„„sses  .,f 
"oatuig  ic...  till  th.-y  aniv.Ml  a.  Nullatailok  Ibn  ,  i„  the 
•'•"l"l<'«'-.M..,f  „.„th  laliiu.h..  Here  they  formed  n 
lim.-  en.ampmcui.  an.l  remaine.l  .m  shore  till  t|„.  l.'-.th 
ol  Jnlv.  wh,.,,  ,l.,.y  pr.H-..,.d..,|  towards  Nachvak  - 


wli 


tli.ri,  11   I, til.,. 


suniiner  resilience.   Hy  these 


"ay, 

-qmmniis  iiii.i  fixed  their 


■Pti 


natives  I ! 


ley  were  cordially 


128 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


^■^■^ 


i 


welcomed,  and  some  of  them  appeared  deeply  impress- 
ed with  the  truths  of  the  gospel,  particularly  one  of  their 
chiefs,  who  expressed  an  ardent  desire  to  be  converted 
to  the  faith  of  Christ. 

On  their  arrival  at  Oppcrnavik,  on  the  25th  of  July, 
the  brethren  had  the  satisfaction  of  meetinc;  with  an 
Esquimaux  named  IJttakiyok,  who,  together  with  his 
family,  had  waited  for  their  arrival  during  the  wiiole 
spring,  and  had  erected  signals  on  the  heights  around 
his  tent,  that  tiiev  might  not  miss  him.  This  was  one 
of  the  first  natives  from  whom  the  niissinnnrius  had  re- 
ceived any  distinct  account  of  the  Ungava  couniry, 
and  he  now  rendered  them  tlje  most  essential  service, 
by  acting  as  their  guide  during  the  remaining  part  of 
their  voyage. 

After  passing  the  desert  regions  to  the  west  of  Cape 
Chudleigh,  and  escaping  the  innninent  perils  to  which 
they  were  exposed  by  innnense  shoals  of  ico  in  some 
parts,  and  dangerous  whirlpools  in  others,  th(!y  discov- 
ered two  placos  suitable  for  the  formation  of  a  mis- 
sionary settlement.  One  of  these  was  a  verdant  spot, 
overgriwif  with  shrubs,  and  situate  near  the  nunith  of 
a  river,  to  which  they  gave  the  name  of  (ieorge's 
River,  in  honor  of  his  Hritannic  majesty.  The  other 
place  was  situated  in  what  they  called  Unity  Hav,  near 
the  c-iuary  oftlu'  Koksoak,  or  Sand  River,  which  is  be- 
tween six  and  seven  hundred  miles  distant  from  Okkak, 
and  about  as  broad  as  the  Thames  at  (Jravcsend.  Thg 
land  is  level  and  dry,  watered  by  several  rivulets,  nnd 
producini;  a  variety  of  trees,  shrubs,  plants,  and  (low- 
ers, well  known  in  Europe. 

The  inhabitants,  having  never  before  seen  a  Eu- 
ropean, were,  at  first,  rather  reserved  ;  but,  after  re- 
ceiving a  few  tiilliug  presents,  they  became  familiar 
and  eonnnimieative,  and  not  only  listened  attentively 
to  the  conversation  of  their  visitors,  but  expressed  a 
strong  <lesire  liint  they  would  come  and  settle  among 
them.  After  n'muining  at  ibis  place  .six  days,  for  the 
purpose  of  exploring  the  eircumjiicent  country,  the 
Inethren  reward-d  the  services  of  their  friendly  pilot, 
Utiakiyok.  by  pn'-cnting  him  with  their  skin-bout,  and, 
on  the  Itli  of  October,  they  arrived  in  safety  at  Ok- 
kak, after  iierformin!?  a  voyage  of  between  twelve  nnd 
thirteen  hundt'cd  miles. 

The  wintci  of  I  s  | 'i  commenced  .10  early,  and  proved 
so'xtremely  inclement,  that  tlm  E-.ipiimaux  were  pre- 
cluded from  obtaining  their  usual  stcM'k  of  provisions  ; 
ami  bad  it  not  hnu  for  the  kiml  assistance  t)f  tliemis- 
•ioi.arii'!!.  who  cheerfully  divided  with  them  their  own 
scanty  store,  they  would  have  experienced  all  the  hor- 
rors of  alwohite  famine.  The  fuilh  and  patience  of 
the  brethren  \m  ic  also  severely  tried,  in  the  same  year, 
in  consetjuence  of  the  late  arrival  of  their  vessel  with 
•upplies  from  Europe  ;  of  which  the  following  olliciul 


detaUs  are  given  in  the  sixth  volume  of  the  Periodical 
Accounts.— "On  the  28th  of  October,  1 8 1 6,  the  J  emima 
arrived  m  the  riverfront  Labrador,  after  one  of  the  most 
dangerous  and  fatiguing  passages  ever  known.     She  ar- 
rived at  the  drift-ice  on  the  Labrador  coast,  on  the  16th 
of  July.  Captain  Fraser  found  it  extending  two  hundred 
miles  from  the  land,  and,  after  attemi)ting  to  get  in, 
first  at  Hopedale,  then  at  Nain,  and  lastly  at  Okkak, 
he  was,  at  length,  completely  surrounded  by  ice,  and 
in  the  most  imnunent  danger  during  six  days  and  nights, 
expecting  every  moment  that  thoship  would  be  crush- 
ed to  pieces  ;  till,  after  very  great  exertions,  he  got  to- 
wards the  outer  part  of  the  ice.     He  was  still  beset  by 
it,  however,  for  forty-nine  days,  and  did  not  reach  Okkak 
till  the  2i)th  of  August,  to  the  astonishment  of  all  our 
brethren,  as  well  as  the  Escpiiniaux.     The  very  next 
day  the  wholecoast,  as  far  as  the  eye  coidd  reach,  was 
entirely  chokeil  up  by  ice  ;  and,  after  lying  at  Okkak 
nearly  three  weeks,  ho  was  twice  forced  back  by  it  on 
his  pasiage  to  Nain,  which  place  he  did  not  reach  till 
the  22(1  of  Septeir'     •.     After  staying  the  usual  time, 
Ca|)tain  Fraser  pr  .ceded,  on  the  3d  of  October,  to 
Hopedale,  with  fine  weather,yet, on  account  of  the  late- 
ness of  the  season  and  the  (juantity  of  (irifl-ii^e,  with  lit- 
tle pros|)ect  of  reaching  that  settlement.    This  circum- 
stance be  mentioned  to  the  brethren  at  Nain.     How- 
ever, brother. Kmoeh  and  his  wife,  and  the  two  single 
brethren  Koerner  and  Christensen,  who  were  noing  to 
Hoiiedale,  went  on  hoard,  and  they  set  sail  ;   but  the 
same  evening  it  came  on  to  blow  exceedingly  hard,  with 
an  innnense  fall  of  snow,  and  very  foguy  weather,  so 
that  they  could   not  see  the  length  of  the   sliip  ;   and, 
being  witliin  half  a  mile  of  a  dangerous  reef  of  rocks, 
the  captain  was  obliged  to  carry  a  press  of  sail  to  dear 
them,  which  be  did  but  just  accomplish  ;  for,  ufwr  that, 
the  gale  increased   to  such  a  degree,  the  wind   being 
right  on  shore,  that  he  could  not  carry  sail  any  longer, 
nnd  was  obliged  to  lay  the  ship  to,  when  the  sea  often 
broke  over  her;  and,  at  last,  as  every  attempt  to  reach 
Hopcilale  proved  unavailing,  he  was  com|ieile(l  tobear 
away  for  England.     Another  gale,  e(pial   to  a  hurri- 
cane, was  experienced  on   the   8tb.  !»ih  and    I  (lib  of 
October  ;  and,  during  the  night   beiwccn  llio  iltli  and 
lOth,  it    was    so   violent    that    the  cajilain    expected 
the  ship  v/ould  have  founrlered.    Slii!  was,  at  one  liine, 
struck  by  a  sea,  which   twisted  her  in  such  a  manner, 
that  the  very  seams  on  her  larboard  side  opened,  and 
the  water  gushed  into  the  cabin,  and  into  the  mate's 
berth,  as  if  it  came  from  a  |)mn|),  and  every  body  at 
first  supposed  her  side  was  stove  in  :  the  Lord,  how- 
ever, was  pleased  to  protect  every  one    from    harm, 
nnd,  considering  nil  things,  the  vessel  did  not  suffer 
nmlerially,  neither  was  any  thing  lost. 

Tlu'    brethren    who    had    been   so  unexpectedly 


brought  to  Europe,  embarked,  in  the  month  of  June, 
1817,  for  the  purpose  of  resuming  their  missionary  la- 
bors ;  but  after  pursuing  their  voyage  for  about  a  month, 
they  met  with  an  unusual  quantity  of  floating  ice,  the 
masses  of  which,  in  some  parts,  and  particularly  when 
illummated  by  the  sun,  exhibited  a  variety  of  the  most 
curious  and  grotesque  appearances  ;  and   in   a   fort- 
night  afterward,  tiiey   encountered  a  furious   storm 
which    drove    them   with    fearf.il     velocity    towards 
an  immense  iceberg;  but,  by  the  good   providence 
of   God,    they    passed   it   in    safety.      The    ensuing 
night  was  extremely  dark,  the  whole  face  of  the  sky 
being  obscured  by  heavy  clouds ;  the   sea  was  also 
violently  agitated  by  the  wind  ;  and  a  feeling  of  hor- 
ror  was  excited  by  the  frequent  crushing  of  the  fields 
and  mountains  of  ice  against  each  other.     Openings 
were  made    indeed,  in  several  places  by  the  fury  of 
the  storm,  but  this  circumstance  only  increased  the 
peril  of  the  voyagers  ;  as  whenever  their  vessel  got  into 
clear  water,  she  naturally  proceeded  with  greater  ra- 
pidity, and  the  shocks  which  she  received  from  coming 
into  collision  with  the   icebergs  became  more  violent 
and  alarming.     In  fact,  both  the  missionaries  and  the 
crew  anticipated  that   the  ship  would  be   eventually 
dashed  to  pieces  ;  and  when,  after  pa.ssing  about  ten 
.ours  in  this  awful  situation,  they  perceived  that  they 
bad  got  rid  of  the  ice,  and  were  at  no  great  distance 
from  the  coast,  they  could  scarcely  believe  the  evidence 
of  their  senses.     They  had  many  other    difticulties, 
however,  to   contend   with,   f„r  nearly    three   weeks 
longer ;  their  passage  being  frequently  impeded,  and 
sometimes  apparently  bl,x.ked   up  ;  and  it  was  not  till 
alter   the  Jemima   had   sustained  considerable  dam- 
age, thai    ihey  succeeded  in  reaching  the  harbor  of 
Hopedalf. 

Sou.r  „f  the  Esquimaux  converts,  in  the  mean  time, 
liad  been  seduced  by  their  heathen  visitors  to  quit  the 
settlements  of  Okkak  and  Hope.iale,  and  to   accom- 
pany them  ,„  the  residence  of  the   Europeans  in  the 
south      la  a  letter  from  the  former  station,  houever, 
dated  September  f),  18IH,  the  n.issioM„,i,s   observe 
'  We  iMU'e  seen  several  striking  and   eiu-ournging  in- 
staneos  of  the  faithfulness  of  the  gooii  Shepherd,  in 
following  his  straying  sheep,  and  causing  them  to  turn 
unto  lum.     Of  those  of  „„r   people  who    wre   lust 
year  m.luced  to  go  to  the  south,  three  families  hav" 
returned,  ,,n.l  w.ili  true    repentance  have  conlVssed 
their  error,  recpiesting  to  he  re-admitted  ;  i,s  they  si.v 
that  thev  '.r.  -•  d  no  rest  for  their  souls  hut  with  Jesus 
•nd  m  I..l;-,H  ,tuj,  with  his  followers."  And  in  a cmimu- 
nication  ii-orr  Hopodale,  re.eived  nbom  the  same  lime 
the  brour: .,  write.  "  Many  of  the  Esquimaux  now  find 
again  that  pasture  for  their  souls,  which,  f„r «  season,  they 
bud  forsaken ;  having  been  seduced  to  prefer  the  husks 
Vou  I.— Noi.  II  k  IS.  ,,, 


LABRADOR. 


139 

of  this  miserable  world  to  that  food  which  endureth  for 
ever.  It  gave  us  inexpressible  pleasure  to  see  two 
strayed  sheep  v.th  their  families,  consisting  of  fifteen 
persons    return..g   to  us.     They   are   now   humWy 

error^and  brought  them  back  to  his  fold. 

h. .  T  ,?  "°'  '""^  '""^''  '""'^  'J""ng  the  winter 
but  he  cold  was  very  severe,  and  some  of  the  heXn' 
Esquimaux,  who  had  endeavored  to  seduce  their  coun" 
trymen  to  go  to  the  south,  suffered  by  it.     A  v.oZ 

SZ  '  '  ?^  ""■°^"  °"  ^''°^«  '"  "''  ""known  and 
desert  regmn,  where  no  assistance  could  be  obtained 
trom  he  European  settlers,  they  perished  mis  Sy 
by  cold  and  hunger."  ^ 

On  the  9tli  of  August,  1820,  the  missionaries  at 
INam  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  the  new  ship  call- 
ed the  Harmony  come  to  an  anchor  in  their  bay,  just 
fifty  years   after   the   first  vessel  arrived  there,  with 
fourteen  brethren  and  sisters  on  board,  with  the  view 
of  lormmg  a  Christian  settlement  in  a  land  which,  pre- 
viously  to  that  period,  had  been  covered  with  tl  ick 
darkness.     They  endeavore.l.   therefore,    to   exp;ess 
their  joy  by  hoisting  two  small  flags,  and  a  white  one. 
on  which  some  of  the  sisters  had  formed  the  number 
50  with   red  riband,  and  surrounded  it  with  a  wreath 
ot  laurel.     Their  small  cannons  were  also  discharged 
and  answered  by  the  guns  of  the  ship,  and  the  Esqui- 
niaux  jired  their  muskets  as  long  as  their  powder  last- 
e<l.     .,„,ne  tunes  of  hymns  expressive  of  thunksgiving 
for  divme  mercies,  were,  in  the  mean  time,  played  on 
wind  instruments,  which,  altogether,  made  a  suitable 
nnpression  on  the  minds  of  the  converts,  and  afforded 
them  a  tolerable  idea  of  a  jubilee   rejoicing.     The 
"n-ss.onary  Kohlmeister  explained  to  them   that   the 
number  on  the  flag  was  i.uended  to  denote  that  this 
was  the  fiftieth  time  tl.u  a  ship  had  come  safely  to 
»he  sett!.-,,  ent  for  their  sakes.  and  that  the  gracious 
preservation  wiiicli  had  been  afforded  during  tliat  long 
period  was  the  cause  of  the  present  rejoicing.     They 
listened   to  this    with    profound  attention,    and   then 
exclaimed,  "  Yes  !  Jesus  is  worthy  of  thanks  !  Jesus 
IS  worthy  of  thanks,  indeed  !" 

"  In  the  public  services  ofthe  day,"  the  missionaries 
observe,  "a  spirit  of  joy  an.l  thanksgiving  prevailed 
throiighom  the  whole  congregation,  and  the  baptism  of 
two  adults   tended  greatly  to  solemnize  this  festival. 
>V.^  I.raised  the  Lord  with  heart  and  voice  for  all  the 
w..ml.Ts  he  hath  wrought   in  behalf  of  the  mission  in 
Labrador,  d.innj,  |„,|f  „  century  ;  in  which  ho  haih  led, 
preserved  nnd   blessed   us  abundantly.     His   mighty 
arm  hath  protected  us  in  many  dangers,  and  the  preach- 
ing of  his  cross  hath  been  attended  with  power  and 
wit.s  t.!«  d^monstraiion  of  his  own  spirit ;  »o  ihul  manT 


I  f  0 


Hi 


130 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


souls  have  thereby  been  brought  in,  as  a  reward  for 
the  travail  of  his  soul.  An  account  of  the  commence- 
ment of  the  mission,  translated  into  the  Esquimaux 
language,  was  communicated  to  the  congregation,  and 
heard  with  great  attention  and  astonishment.  They 
were,  indeed,  surprised  at  the  recital  of  what  had  been 
done  for  so  many  years  '.vith  a  view  to  their  benefit." 
The  jubilee  of  the  mission  was  also  celebrated  in 
the  other  settlements  with  due  solemnity,  and  many  of 
the  Esquimaux  afterwards  observed  that  it  had  been  a 
most  important  and  blessed  season  to  their  souls  ;  as 
they  had  then  been  led  to  consider  more  seriously 
than  on  any  previous  occasion,  what  great  tilings  the 
Lord  had  done  for  them,  in  making  them  acquainted 
with  himself  and  his  glorious  salvation. 

At  Hopedale,  in  the  moan  time,  the  brethren  were 
much  gratified  by  tiio  rciuin   of  one  of  their  young 
Esquimaux,  who  had  been  for  some  time  absent,  and 
who  now  stated  that  he  had  experienced  the  most  gra- 
cious preservation.     It  appears,  tiiat,  on  the  lOtJi  of 
June,  1819,  he  had  been  carried  out  to  sea  upon  a 
flake  of  ice,  which  separated  from  the  main  mass  in  a 
terrible  storm.     In  tiiis  situation  he  gave  himself  up 
for  lost  ;  but  after  some  liino,  he  gained  a  larger  body 
of  drift   ice,  and   was  carried   towards   an   island,  on 
which  he  landed.    Here  he  remained  about  two  months, 
supporting  iiiinself  purtiy  by  the  eggs  of  eider  ducks, 
and   partly  by   the   ducks  themselves,   wiiich  he   oc- 
casionally caugiit  by  some  cords  wliicii   he   happened 
to    iiave    in    his    |iossessioii  ;    and  at  night  lie    slejit 
beneath    the  shelter  of  an    overhanging    rock.       At 
lengtii  he  discovered  a  piece  of  wood  /loating  towards 
the  shore,  ami,  having  with  considendiie  trouble  form- 
ed it  into  a  sort  of  oar   with  his  pocket   knife,    he 
rowed  himself  to  an  island  nearer  to  the  main  land, 
and  thence  proceeded  to  two  other  islands  still  iiioiv 
contiguous.     Towards  the  end  of  August,  or  the  be- 
ginning of  September,  lie  perceived  two  boats  .stee.ing 
towards  the  south  ;  and,  on  his  signals  being  discover- 
ed,   he  was  delivered   from   his  forlorn  and    perilous 
situation,  and  carried   to  the  habitation  of  the  South- 
landers,  where  he  remained  till  the  ice  whs  sufliciently 
firm  to  admit  of  his  travelling  to  Hopedale.      VV'|ii|s( 
relating  these  particulars,  his  eyes  overflowed  wild  joy 
and  gratitude;  and  he  observed  that  during  his  ban- 
ishment from  human  .'society  he  luvvr  felt  alone  ;  as 
the  Lord  Jesus  had   invariably  been   his  companion, 
ills  refuge,  and  his  hope,  iiotwitlislanding  the  prospect 
before  him  was  truly  appalling. 

The  most  important  benefits  appear  to  have  result- 
ed from  the  translation  and  printing  of  ditferent  parts 
of  the  New  Testament  in  the  Ksquiiuaux  language  ; 
and  the  following  particulars,  in  illustration  of  the 
gratitude  which  was  excited  by  tho  kind  and  repeated 


donations  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society, 
will,  no  doubt,  prove  acceptable  to  the  reader. "  Sev- 
eral of  our  Esquimaux  at  Nain,"  says  the  Rev.  B.  Kohl- 
meister,  "having   been   informed  of  the  nature  and 
aim  of  the  Bible  Society,  began,  of  their  own  accord, 
to  collect  seal's  blubber,  by  way  of  making  up  a  small 
contribution    towards    the    expenses  of  that  society. 
Some  brought  whole  seals,  or  half  a  seal,  or  pieces, 
according  to  their  ability.     Others  brought  portions  of 
blubber  in  the  name  of  their  children,  requesting,  with 
the  most  affecting  expressions,  that  their  little  offer- 
ings might  be  accepted.     Having  been  told  that  in 
some   parts  of  the  world,  converts  from   among  the 
heathen,  who  were  poorer  than  they,  had  cheerfully 
contributed  their  mite  towards  the  furtherance  of  the 
spread  of  God's   holy  word,   they  exclaimed,  '  How 
long   have   wc    heard   the  pleasant   and  comfortable 
words  respecting  Jesus  Christ   our  Saviour,  and  how 
many  books  have  we  received   treating  of  him  ;  and 
yet  we  have  never  known  or  considered  whence  they 
came  !     We  have,  indeed,  sometimes  observed  among 
ourselves  that  so  many  books  freely  bestowed  upon  us, 
must   cost  a  great  deal    somewhere  ;  but  we  never 
knew  till  now  that  even  poor  people  have  contributed 
their  little  sums  for  our  instruction  and  comfort.     We 
are,  indeed,    poor ;  yet   we    may   occasionally  bring 
some  blubber,  that  others,  who  are  as   ignorant  as  we 
were  fonncrly,  may  receive  the  same  gospel,  which  has 
been   so  sweet    to   our  souls  ;  and  may  thereby   be 
taught  to  find  the  way  to  Jesus.'     By  these  spontane- 
ous declarations,"  Mr.  Kohlmeister  observes,  <<  a  great 
impression  was  made  upon  our  people.     Each  would 
bring  something,  when  they  heard  how  desirous  other 
nations  were  to  hear  the  word  of  God  ;  and  they  now 
begged  me  to  send  their  contributions  to  those  gener- 
ous friends  who  printed  tho  Scriptures  for  them,  that 
more  heathen  might    be  presented  with  a  hook  so  far 
more  precious  than  any  thing  else  in  this  world." 

At  the  settli-nient  of  Okkak,  a  very  remarkable 
plienomenon  look  place  on  the  7th  of  July,  1821,  of 
which  the  followiii:^  account  has  been  given  by  Mr. 
Joiiatlian  iMenty.ell :— "  On  liie  jirecediiig  day  the 
w<'ather  was  extremely  warm,  with  a  singular  and 
unpleasant  smell  in  the  air.  In  the  morning  of  tho 
7th,  about  seven  o'clock,  the  sky  toward  tho  west 
apjieared  (piiie  hliuk,  as  if  a  heavy  lluiiider-storm 
were  rising  ;  and  about  half  an  hour  afterwards  it  be- 
came so  dark  that  we  could  not  see  to  work,  and  were 
obliged  to  light  candles  The  darkness  was  equal  to 
•hnt  of  midnight,  and  eontinued  till  towards  ten  o'clof.., 
when  it  grew  lighter  ;  hut  the  sky  now  exhibited  a  red, 
(iery  ap|»earance,  as  if  lighted  by  some  great  confl.i- 
gration.  During  the  whole  time  it  was  perfectly  calm. 
Some  of  our  Esquimaux,  who  had  been  at  sea,  told 


us  that  something  hke  ashes  had  fallen  upon  their  ka- 
jaks.     They  were  very  much  alarmed  and  affected 
and  saHl  they  believed  that  the  last  day  was  approachl 
ing,  when  our  Savour  would  appear  in  judgment." 
in.  tn^h    "'n'"""'""i««"'«.  named  Ephraim,  belong. 
71  ]^f^^^^^^^'  ^''l-'enced  a  peculiar  preservation 
01  Ins  hfe,  ,n  the  month  of  April,  1822.     He  went 
with  five  other  Esquin.aux,  to  catch  seals  at  the  edge 
of  the  ,ce,  about  sixty  miles  from  the  settlement ;  but 
^^hen  ho  was  at  a  considerable  distance  from  his  ^om- 
pan.o„s,the.ce  broke  under  him;  and  he  had  only 

3.nk,ng.  I„  tins  sUuat.on,  hanging  over  the  sea,  the 
cold  ben,g  mtense.his  fingers  froze  fast  to  the  ice  • 
and   ins  crcumstance  appears  to  have  been  the  means' 

were  not  heard,  and  he  remained  about  a  quarter  of 
an  hour  m  the  n.ost  dreadful  suspense.  At  length 
however,  just  when  his  voice  began'to  fail,  1^.  Jas  p  rl 
eived  by  h,s  countrymen,  and  rescued  fr'om  destnl 
on.  H,s  remarks  on  the  divine  mercy  evinced  in  his 
de hverance  appear  to  have  been  very  spiritual  and  ed! 
•fy.g;  and  he  stated  that,  although  his  terror  and 

enabled, w,th compos.,,  andresignation.tocommithim- 
self  unreservedly  into  the  hands  of  his  kedeeme,  and 
when  the  danger  seemed  most  imminent,  help  was 
gracously  afforded,  for  which  he  rendered  un  e'g  ed 
hanks  to  hnn  who  was  alone  able  to  succor  him  in  f uc 
distressing  circumstances. 

in  T'^l'^^r'  '"""'  '"."''"K''"'^^  "-elative  to  the  mission 
n  Labrador  is  contained  in  tbree  letters,  written  at 
the  respective  settlements,  and  dated  on  the  lOtl  ,  tl  e 
23d,  and  the  27th  of  August,  1823 

servo  "'"r""""'"f""  '™"  ^'""''  ""-"  '•^''""•«n  ob- 
serve,-. 'Many  are  I  he  instances  which  we  might  ad.luce 

»;;.::";i;;;rv''"''  "''"•"'-'  ""■■■"-■  ^  •■"™"  • 

expressed    l,n„M.lf„,„s.._.vVl,en,.,,.    ,he   Z  a  - 
.■■oaches  ,ha,  you  celebrate  the  holy  communl    f  a, 

ninno,  be  with  y„u,my  spirit  is  s,i,..wn,lw;r 
"•t  ..  seeks  to  be  pivscnnnnon,  you  ;  and  I  i 

IXoutbatlamporim.R.dtolKMvid,  you  ,his  time    I 

-n    hen,orer.Joiced,op„r,„kcM,fbis\..lvand       J 
in  tb(>  holy  sarramont.'  ' 

"  A  widow,  ulio  |i.|,|  ,,,.    ,.,,  ,1 1  •      , 
„f  I      .,  ''"'  Sr>'>*"  old  111  the  abominations 

i;rr:;::'i!;;::'';'™^:™-''' >■■:: 


LABRADOR. 


131 


viour 


"hicli  I  heard  yesterd 


'      "■     ■     "i^  III » 

•ermon,  'Tli..y  tjuu  be  whole  need 


iiy  m  tile 
not  a  physician. 


but  they  that  are  sick;'  and  I  could  not  sleep  last 
n  ght,  for  admiratton  and  joy.'  She  then  alluded  To 
other  texts  which  had  been  imprinted  on  her  memory 
and  after  repeating  these  passages,  'Twill  hav"  meZ' 
and  not  sacrifice;'  and  '  I  am  come,  not  to  call  he 
nghteous,  but  sinners  to  repentance,'  she  burst  ilto  I 
flood  of  tears,  and  exclaimed,  'Thus  our  Savi^urhas 
dealt  with  me  ;  for  I  was  dead  in  sin,  but  he  has  pa^ 
doned  me,  and  graciously  added  me  to  his  flocJ-'^ 

A  communicant,  who  is  the  father  of  a  large  fam- 
dy,  exclaimed  one  day,  '  Who  am  I,  and  what  are 
niy  children,  that  Jesus  shows  so  mu'ch  mercy  uno 
us  ?  Should  we  not  be  entirely  devoted  to  him  '  Yes 
.n  ee  ,  I  feel  that  he  h.s  compassion  on  the  poor  and 
^ther  e,s,  and  provides  them  with  needful  subsistence 
O  .  that  we  could  but  thank  and  praise  him  for  it  as  he 
deserves  !  I  was  much  distressed  to  think  how  I  might 
provide  for  my  own  family,  and  that  of  my  sister^ 
"  a  -idow  with  four  small  children  ;  but  I  have  been 
enabled  to  catch  no  less  than  twenly  seals,  and  thu^ 
Lave  enough  for  some  time.     All  th.^  I  des  re  to  as 
cribe  to  the  mercy  and  compassion  of  my  Jesus  !> 

Another  man,  who,  after  remaining  long  in  the 
class  of  candidates  for  baptism,  has,  af  leng^th,  been 

Wha  thanks  shall  I  render  unto  my  Saviour  that  he 
lias  had  mercy  upon  me,  and  drawn  me  to  himself?  I 
fee   that  I  am  still  very  deficient,  but  I  am  his    I  pray 

qncst  of  food,  1  may  not  be  led  astray,  and  forget  him. 
Hefore  I  was  a  communicant  1  used  to  be  glad  of  that 
t..ne,that  I  might  spend  it  uninterruptedly  I  catchiW 
cals;  now,  however,  I  do  not  care  for  them,  but  am 
desirous  of  obtaining  food  for  my  poor  soul,  and  of  re- 
ceiving new  and  abiding  impressions  of   the   deatli 
and  sufferings  of  Jesus  for  me.' 
^    "  During  (he  last  winter,"  the  missionaries  continue 
ue  perccivo<l  with  great  gratitude  the  traces  of  re- 
newed spiritual  life  among  our  ,lear  Esquimaux.     At 
IH.    commencement  of  the  season,  th,-  enemy  con- 
triveU,  by  means  of  some  insii,c,.,e  persons,  to  create 
confusion  among  our  young  peopk.  ;  but  it   pleased 
tin-  l-onl  ,o  o,,e„  ,]„.ir  hearts  to  receive  admonition 
and  dneenoi,  h-omhis  holy  word,  and  (o  consi.h.r  what 
(  hnst  had  done  and  suffer..!  ,o  re.leom  them  ;  inso- 

;7 '•-'-•Imd  cause  ,o  rejoice  over  the  change 
•^If  ■.t.'.l  m  iheu-  walk  and  conversation.  The  scluKfls 
an.l  daily  worship  were  well  attended  ;  the  scholars 
showed  an  eagerness  ,o  learn,  and  great  dilig,.nce  ;  and 
at  the  exnn.mation  held  ui,h  them,  they  all  afforded 
>'^  i"u,.h  pleasure  and  edification.  Duri..^  the  last 
J'-ni,  three  adults  and  seven  children  were  bapii/ed  • 
five  persons  were  admitted  to  iho  Lor.ls  suppn     four 

won.  It"—:.... I  :„•.-! i!,-  •  ''  '""' 

" 'n<otliccongrrgatKin,  miij  one  depnried 


13a 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


this  life.     The  number  of  inhabitants  in  this  settle- 
ment at  present  is  one  hundred  and  eighty-one." 

From  Okkak  the  missionaries  write  to  the  following 
effect :— "  In  the  autumn  of  last  year  we  were  not  a 
little  concerned  about  the  maintenance  of  our  large 
congregation  at  this  settlement,  as  very  few  seals  were 
caught.     Our  Divine  Preserver,  however,  on  whom 
we  exclusively  rely,  granted  such  success  to  the  Es- 
quimaux afterwards,  that  they  were  enabled  to  lay  in 
a  sufficient  stock  for  the  winter,  and  were  not  under 
the  necessity  of  leaving  us  before  Easter.     None  of 
them,  indeed,  suffered  real  want,  though  we  had  to 
relieve  a  few  of  the  most  indigent  from   our   store. 
They  acknowledged  this  with  the  more  lively  gratitude, 
as  the  heathen  Esquimaux  to  the  north  of  Okkak  suf- 
fered exceedingly  from  famine,  and  one  of  them  ac- 
tually perished  with  hunger.     In  this  distress,  howev- 
er, many  were  brought  to  a  sense  of  their  wretched 
state,  and  a  great  awakening  took  place  among  the 
heathen,  who  began  to  inquire  what  they  must  do  to 
be  saved.     Since  the  commencement  of  the  new  year, 
fifty-nine  persons  have  come  to  reside  in  this  place, 
and  among  these  there  are  several  who  appear  truly 
desirous  of  being  converted  to  God.     A  company  of 
these   poor  people    moved    us    to    great  compassion. 
Their  emaciated  forms  exhibited  a  deplorable  picture 
of  the    hunger  they   had    suffered,   and   proved   that 
they  had  been  nigh  unto  doatii.     O  !  that  this  visita- 
tion might  tend  to  their  genuine  conversion  and  their 
deliverance  from  the  power  of  Satan  and  of  sin  ! 

"  Since  the  departure  of  the  siiip,  in  182'2,  seven 
adults  and  fourteen  children  have  been  baptized  ;  eight 
persons  have  been  admitted  to  a  ])articipation  of  the 
Lord's  supper,  and  three  into  tlie  class  of  can<Iidates 
for  baptism.  One,  baptized  as  a  child,  was  also  re- 
ceived into  tiic  congregation.  The  inhabitants  of  our 
settlement  amount  to  three  hundred  and  forty-one  ; 
and  the  schools  are  diligently  attended  by  one  iuni- 
dred  and  forty  scholars,  whoso  i)rofiriency  in  reading 
tiie  Holy  Scriptures  distinctly  and  with  understanding 
is  considerable,  and  affords  us  nnich  |)leasiire." 

In  1H'2|,  the  missionaries  write  from  Okkak, — 
"  Since  the  new  year,  (ilty-nine  persons  have  come  to 
hve  here;  anioiig  whom  are  several  truly  desirous  of 
obtaining  pardon  and  peace  with  God  iliroiigli  the  merits 
of  Jesus  Christ." 

Under  the  patronage  of  the  British  and  Foreign 
Biblo  Society,  the  work  of  translating  the  Scriptures 
into  the  Esquimaux  lai.guage  has  been  actively  pursued, 
and,  during  this  year,  more  than  sixty  of  the  Psalms  of 
David  were  completed  ;  ami  from  a  letter  received 
from  one  of  the  laborious  brethren  at  this  station,  it 
appears  that  the  IJibh;  Society  produces  blessed  effects. 
"  In  all  the  houses  and  tents  of  our  Christian  Esqui- 


maux, a  chapter  is  every  day  read  from  the  New  Tes- 
tament. We  wish  you  could  see  one  of  the  congre- 
gations offering  thanksgiving  and  praise  to  that  adora- 
ble Saviour  who  suffered  and  died  for  them." 

Perhaps  a  better  idea  cannot  be  formed  of  the  faith 
of  these  missionaries,  or  of  their  temper  and  feelings, 
than  may  be  gathered  from  the  cheerfulness  with  which 
they  encounter  the  privations  to  which  they  are  ex- 
posed in  that  dreary  climate. 

From  a  journal  of  September,  1826,  we  read, 

"  January  19th  was  a  day  of  joy  and  gladness,  when 
we  celebrated  the  forty-ninth  anniversary  of  the  mis- 
sion here,  at  Okkak,  a  corner  of  the  world  the  most 
rough  and  stormy,  but  where  now  the  I^ord  our  Saviour 
has  fixed  his  standard."  And  after  other  details,  they 
remark, — "  Thus  we  may  say  we  have  spent  the  year 
happily  together."  And  where  was  this  happy  year 
spent  ?  In  that  dismal  country,  whore  the  most  comincn 
vegetables  can  scarcely  arrive  at  maturity  during  the 
short  summer.  During  this  happy  year,  "  the  ice  and 
fogs  in  July  killed  all  the  early  plants."  Certainly 
nothing  but  faith  could  enable  a  European  to  pass  "a 
happy  year"  on  the  desolate  coast  of  Labrador. 

The  latest  intelligence  from  this  interesting  station  is 
under  date  of  August  .1,  1830:—"  During  the  past 
winter,  we  have  spent  a  blessed  time  with  our  Esqui- 
maux congregation,  and  the  presence  of  our  Lord  was 
felt  in  all  our  meetings,  but  particularly  at  baptismal 
transactions,  confirmations,  and  the  celebration  of  the 
Ivord's  supper.     The  .schools  were  punctually  held, 
and  diligently  attended,  and  we  experienced  much  sat- 
isfaction in  the  progress  made  by  the  scholars.     Yet 
there  are  several  of  the  adults  who  cause  us  uneasi- 
ness, by  their  apparent  indifference  to  the  concerns  of 
their  souls,  and  some  have  deviated  from  the  right 
way.  Their  number,  however,  is  comparatively  small ; 
and  oven  such  declare,  that  they  yet  hope  to  ho  truly 
converted.     The  number  of  inhabitants  at  Okkak  is 
three  hundred  and  eighty-eight  Esquimaux,  of  whom 
three  hundred  and  fourteen  are  nu>mbers  of  the  congre- 
gation.    Thirteen  adults,  and  two  children  above  two 
years  old,  have  been  baptized  ;  eight  were  received 
into   the  congregation  ;  sixteen  became  partakers  of 
the  holy  connmmion  ;  six  couple  were  married  ;  four- 
teen children  were  born  ;  and  three  adults  and  throe 
children  departed  this  life. 

"  We  had  many  visitors  last  winter,  who  arrived  in 
sledges,  and  again  in  sunnner,  in  boats,  from  the  north- 
ern coasts.  A  few  of  them  appeared  to  pay  attention 
to  our  exhortations,  and  the  gospel  of  our  crucified  Sa- 
viour seemed  to  make  an  impression  u|)on  their  minds 
One  faiTiily  .consisting  of  four  persons,  remaincfl  with  us." 
In  narrating  the  history  of  the  mission  at  I  lopedale, 
the   brethren  observe, — "  Some    of   our   Esipiiniaux 


'Ulh 


have  experienced  the  especiaJ  protection  of  God  in  the 
preservation  of  their  lives.     On  the  16th  of  Novet 
her  last  year,  a  young  man,  „„„ed  Amos,  beingTn  Ws 
kaj.  k  fishing,  a  species  of  whale,  called  1  wZ  fish 
dashed  against  and  overset  his  little  bark.     I   pr^ 

whom   he  was  rescued  from  a  watery  grave  but  hU 

gun  and  all  his  other  implements  we4Tr  cUe^ 

o   ,  which  to  a  poor  Esquimaux  is  a  very  serious  mis- 

wa    o:erselT    "  ""' T  P''"'"^'  —^^'00^", 

he  was  floating  on  his  overturned  kai-ik   Hp  H^n 
"  As  to  the  spiritual  course  of  our  V=r..  ■ 

fonnance  of  some  short  anti.e.J,  wind   't ."         ,Ien 
and  young  people  have  lenrni      Tl  •  .f '''''^en 

supper;  one  was  received  inm  r»,„  '^''  ^ 


LABRADOR. 


1^ 


dates  for  admission  to  the  Lord's  tM 

eW.n.  of  „i  Hundred  .nd^\:r;;:i  "Sy 

.ion  ™  ub„d.x  S"i7z  •-  r,'  "-Hr - 

likewise  o„  ,he  i„c™,e  "  The,,  number  i. 

w:j'si^itni7iirr:?r''""'»'^' 
in  ■il:dt  t'.Tsfr'  '■'" ''""'"'  """•"» 

ra:;Tu.?'  ^  "'"'t-^  d-deri-hich  cTrl?:^ 

lunTred  am  fi^'^'r'  ,  '"  '""  "'^^'^^'  "P--dsof  one 
muKlred  and  fifty  of  the  members  at  Nain  lay  ill      A 

nuss.onary  writes-"  The  .si,„,.,;n„  ,.r  ,ulL"-     ^ 
Pio  was  deplorable  in  the  extreiiie:  'in'l^"^, 


¥,\ 


134 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


every  thing  is  wanting  ;  nor  could  the  patients  assist 
one  another.  In  many  tents,  all  the  families  lay  in  a 
helpless  state ;  nor  could  any  one  give  the  other  so 
much  as  a  drop  of  water.  Those  who  had  recovered  a 
little,  walked  about  as  shadows.  We  were  employed 
early  and  late  in  preparing  medicines,  visiting  and 
nursing  the  sick  ;  and  all  our  spare  time  was  occupied 
in  making  coffins,  and  burying  the  dead;  on  some 
days  we  liad  two  or  three  funerals.  Our  stock  of 
medicine  was  all  expended,  and  at  one  time,  we  feared 
we  should  lose  the  majority  of  our  congregation." 

"  Our  greatest  comfort  was  the  state  of  mind  of 
those  who  departed  this  life.  They  all  declared  that 
they  rejoiced  at  the  prospect  of  soon  seeing  him,  face  to 
face,  who,  by  sufferin  ;s  and  death,  had  redeemed  them 
from  the  power  of  sin,  and  the  fear  of  the  grave.  In 
watching  the  departure  of  many,  we  felt  as  though 
heaven  was  indeed  opening  upon  them.  Thus  the 
Lord  gPthered  in  a  rich  harvest." 

In  August,  1830,  the  missionary  from  Hopedale 
writes — "  The  word  of  the  cross,  which' we  preach,  has, 
in  the  past  year,  penetrated  into  the  hearts  of  most  jf 


those  who  heard  it.  Few  have  remained  indifferent, 
and  we  have  perceived  with  joy  that  many  have  found, 
m  the  doctnne  of  Christ's  atonement,  salvation  and 
deliverance  from  the  power  of  sin.  Some  young  peo- 
ple, who  as  yet  turn  a  deaf  ear  to  the  exhortations 
given,  continue  in  a  wayward  course,  and  we  wait  with 
patience  for  the  time  when  the  good  Shepherd  will 
find  them,  and  8»ing  them  to  his  fold.  In  our  schools, 
we  have  the  pleasure  to  see  the  children  making  con- 
siderable progress,  but  some  of  the  elder  ones  learn 
very  slowly.  Those  in  the  first  class  can  read  well, 
and  turn  to  Scripture  texts  and  hymns  with  great 
facility." 

The  signal  success  which  has  attended  the  labors  of 
the  brethren  in  Nain,  Hopedale  and  Okkak,  has  de- 
termined the  friends  of  the  cause  to  undertake  a  fourth 
station,  at  a  place  called  Kangertlnksoak,  about  eighty 
miles  to  the  north  of  Okkak.  This  measure  was 
strongly  urged  by  the  Rev.  F.  J.  Mueller,  who  returned 
to  Europe  in  October,  1829,  after  a  faithful  service  of 
thirty-five  years. 


CHAPTER    VI 


MISSION    IN   SOUTH   AFRICA. 


im 


An  application  having  been  made  to  tlie  congrega- 
tion at  Herrnhut,  for  a  missionary  to  go  out  to  the  Cape 
of  Good  Hope,  for  the  purpose  of  introducing  the 
light  of  divine  revelation  among  the  beniglitod  Hot- 
tentots, George  Schmidt,  a  zealous  and  Courageous 
herald  of  the  cross,  volunteered  his  services  on  tliat 
occasion  ;  and,  having  obtained  the  sanction  of  the 
directors  of  the  Dutch  East  India  Company,  he 
sailed  from  Europe,  and,  after  a  tedious  voyage, 
arrived  at  his  place  of  destination  on  the  9th  of  Julv' 
17:37.  •" 

After  waiting  upon  one  of  the  governors,  by  whom 
lie  was  treated  with  great  kindness  and  urbanity,  he 
fixed  his  abode  about  sinenty  miles  from  Cape-town  ; 
where,  with  the  assistance  of  two  Hottentots,  named 
Africo  and  Kibbodo.  he  erected  a  hut  and  laid  out  a  gar- 
den. The  following  spring  he  removed  to  a  spot  near 
Serjeant's  River,  and  there  collected  a  number  of  the 
natives,  to  whom  he  frccpiently  preached,  through  the 


inedium  of  an  interpreter,  the  glad  tidings  of  salva- 
tion. He  also  established  a  school  for  the  instruction  of 
children,  which  rapidly  increased  from  a  small  begin- 
ning ;  and  the  divine  blessing  evidently  attended  his  la- 
bors. The  Hottentots,  who  regarded  him  with  senti- 
ments of  united  respect  and  affection,  listened  with  the 
most  profound  attention  to  his  discourses,  and,  in  some 
instances,  the  word  preached  was  applied  to  the  hearts 
of  the  hearers  with  irresistible  power  by  the  Holy 
Spirit;  so  that,  in  the  course  of  a  few  years,  several 
of  them  were  baptized  in  the  faith  of  Christ. 

In  the  autunm  of  1743,  circumstances  rendered  it 
expedient  that  Mr.  Schmidt  should  visit  Europe.  Ho 
therefore  placed  his  little  congregation,  consisting  of 
forty-MJven  persons,  under  the  care  of  one  of  the  bap- 
tized Hottentots,  and  set  sail  for  Holliuid  ;  but  on  his 
arrival  in  that  country,  he  had  the  mortification  to  find 
that  the  East  India  Company  would  not  permit  him 
to  return  ;  some  persons  having  thrown  out  the  absurd 


and  wicked  insinuation  that  the  interests  of  the  colony 
would  be  injured  by  his  missionary  labors. 

Various  attempts  were  made  by  the  United  Breth- 
ren to  procure  the  removal  of  the  obstacle  thus  thrown 
m  their  way,  and  to  obtain  permission  to  send  to  the 
Hottentot  converts,  who  continued  for  a  considerable 
time  to  meet  together,  fondly  anticipating  the  return  of 
their  revered  minister;  but  nothing  was  effected  for 
nearly  half  a  century.  At  length,  however,  a  new 
application  was  made  to  the  directors  of  the  company 
at  Amsterdam,  which  was  favorably  received  :  and  in 
the  month  of  July,  1792,  Messrs.  Marsveld,  Schwinn, 
and  Kuehnel,  sailed  from  Holland,  for  the  purpose  of 
renewing  the  mission  in  South  Africa. 

On  their  arrival  in  Cape-town,  they  were  received 
with  great  condescension  by  the  governor,  who  assur- 
ed hem  of  his  protection,  and  expressed  his  anxious 
wish  for  their  success.  Many  pious  persons,  also, 
congratulated  them  on  the  important  service  which 
they  had  undertaken,  and  fervently  blessed  God  that 
a  door  was  at  length  opened  for  the  dissemination  of 
divine  truth  among  the  ignorant  and  long  neglected 
Hottentots. 

Having  been  recommended  to  take  up  their  abode 
at  Bavian  s  Kloof,   about  a  hundred  and  twenty  miles 
to  the  eastward  ofCape-town,  they  set  out  for  that  place 
on  the  20th  of  December,  under   the  proteetiol  oJ  a 
person  named  Teunis,  the  baas  or  overseer  of  an 
extensive    district,    who   had   received    orders   from 
the  governor  to  protect  them  from  molestation,  and  to 
furnish  them  with  all  things  requisite  for  their  estab- 
lishniL-nt.     The  journey  was  performed  in  about  four 
days,  their  wagon  being  drawn  by  twelve  oxen  ;    and 
they  had  the  satisfaction  to  find  that  the  place  which 
had  been  pointed  out  as  the  most  eligible  for  a  mis- 
sionary settlement,  was  the  identical  s|K)t  where  their 
excellent  brother  Schmidt  had  formerly  resided      Part 
of  the  wall  of  his  house,  indeed,  was  still  standing,  and 
m  the  garden  were  several  fruit  trees  planted  by  his 
hands  ;  ^yhllst  various  ruins  of  walls  at  a  short  distance 
marked  the  site  of  Hie  lowly  cottages  which  were  once 
mhabitud  by   Ins  affectionate   hearers.      One  of  the 
females  wjiom  he  had  baptized  by  the  name  of  Helena 
was  also  found  out,  and  appeared  to  have  a  tolerable 
recollertion  of  her  former  teacher  ;  tliougli,  being  now 
eighty  years  of  age,  and  almost   blind,  slie  acknowl- 
edged, that  she  had  forgotten  his  instructions.     A  Nqw 
Testament    in  the    Dutcli    language,    however,    with 
wliicli  he  had  presented  her,  ha<l  been  carefully  pre- 
served as  a  precious  relic,  and  was  now  taken  out  of  a 
leather  bag  enclosed  in  two  sheep-skins,  to  be  exhib- 
ited to  the  missionaries. 

Such  of  the  Hottentots  as  remembered  Mr.  Schmidt 
or  had  heard  of  his  exertions  for  the  benefit  of  th.eir 


SOUTH  AFRICA. 


136 


nation,  welcomed  the  arrival  of  the  brethren  with 
every  mark  of  innate  satisfaction.     Others,  Towever 
whose  mmds  had  been  poisoned  by  the  Ditch  boo« 
mthe  vicmity,  viewed  them  with  evident  feelinVsTf 
'^ICZ     "  \'  """''  "^^^  '''"'"  ^-d  one  :  S  m 
ness    buTffw  tr"'"  fatusat  first  with  great  kind-' 
ness     but  If  we  listen  to  their  instructions,  more  of  their 
^ount^ymen  will  come,  and  transport  ul  as  slay  s  t^ 
«atavia.       Some  other  persons  were  gravely  told  that 
he   missionaries  were  in  the  habit  of  be^tilg  tE 
scholars  with  the  most  merciless  severity    and  that 
.hey  had  actually  a  chest  filled  with  bamL  "thfc 
were  intended  to  be  used  as  instruments  of  ciia  U  j 
nent      Notwithstanding   these   and   other   teS" 
eports,  however,  which  were  industriously  circu  a  ed 
by  the  agents  and  emissaries  of  Satan,  the  IS:^ 
h  d  no  sooner  erected  their  house  and  opened  a  school 
han  considerable  numbers  of  the  Hottentots  flocked 
to  hear  the  word  of  life  from  their  lips  ;  and,  in  aThort 
.me,  their  pupils  amounted  to  upward;  of  forty  adul 
and    more    than   thirty  children.      Indeed,  they  a 
evinced  the  utmost  anxiety  to  learn  ;  and  in  the  meet 
.ngs  which  were  held  for  divine  worship,  they  listened 
with  the  most  reverential  silence,  and  e'^nced   by  the 
emotion  visible   in    their  countenances,    that   seWous 
nipressions    were   made  by  the  word  of  God   upon 
their  hearts      Some  of  them  were  accordingly  placed 
under   particular   instruction,  as   preparatory^o  tS 
InTon^oT  *"'  ''^"'•^'^  of  Christ;  and  before  the 

'f  f,  °™'  'rf "  P""'""'  ^'^'^  •^^P'i^ed  in  the  name 
of  the  Triune  Jehovah. 

But   whilst    the  brethren    were  gratefully   praising 
heir  adorable   Master  for  the  success  with  which  ho 
had  been  pleased  to  crown  their  attempts,  some  dark 
clouds  were  beginning  to  gather  around  them,  and  a 
variety   of  painful  circumstances  were  permi  ,ed  t^ 
exercise  their  faith  and   patience.     The  anticipation 
of  an  attack  upon  Cape-town  by  the  French,  induced 
he  governor  to  order  all  persons  in  the  colony,  capa- 
be  of  bearing  arms,  to  hasten  to  the  defence  of  that 
r,  ,7  '•  "'    I'  "'!  S'-'^ater  part  of  the  male  Hottentots 
at  Uav.an  s  Klool    were  thus  compelled  to  remove  to 
the   town    their  wives  and  families   were  left  in  the 
greatest  distress,  and  some  of  them  experienced,  for  a 
season,  all  the  horrors  of  ftunine ;    whilst  otlie.;  sub- 
sisted principally  upon  wild  honey,  found  in  hollow 
lees   to  which  they  were  fortunately  directed  by  acer- 
nun  bird  called  the  cuculus  indicator,  or  honey  guide 
Attempts  were  also  made,  about  the  same  finie,  to 
circmscribe  the  limits  of  the  land  belonging  to  the 
settlement;    Baas   Tuenis,    who  had   hitherto   b    ^ 
considered  decidedly  friendly  to  the  missionaries,  now 
became  their  enemy;  and  Mr.  Schwinn,  i„  travellinR 
to  Lape-town,  on  one  occasion,  experienced  the  most 


ft! 


f 


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IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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11.25 


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u 

IkJUi- 


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'/// 


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Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


33  WIST  MAIN  STRUT 

WUSTIR.N.Y.  M5S0 

(716)  •72-4903 


VJa 


136 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


unkind  tre«tni''nt  from  some  of  the  colonists,  wlto  pe- 
remptorily refused  him  either  lodging  or  refreshment ; 
in  consequence  of  which  he  was  compelled  to  ride  one 
night,  attended  by  only  a  single  Hottentot,  through  a 
desert  part  of  the  country,  infested  by  runaway  slaves, 
and  too  frequently  the  scene  of  depredation  and 
murder. 

These,  however,  were  not  the  only  difficulties  which 
were  thrown  in  the  way  of  the  mission  ;  but  in  pro- 
portion as  the  Hottentots  became  attached  to  their 
teachers,  the  farmers,  conceiving  their  temporal  inter- 
ests likely  to  be  injured,  became  so  violent  in  their 
opposition,  that  some  of  them  actually  menaced  the 
brethren  with  death ;  and  others,  by  preferring  various 
unfounded  complaints  against  them,  induced  the  gov- 
ernment to  interdict  them  from  building  a  church  ;  to 
order  the  principal  part  of  the  cattle  belonging  to  their 
hearers  to  be  driven  from  the  settlement ;  and  to  pro- 
hibit the  missionaries,  in  future,  from  admitting  any 
Hottentots  among  them  who  could  not  produce  a  cer- 
tificate from  the  farmer  with  whom  he  had  resided, 
that  his  term  of  servitude  had  expired.  After  some 
time,  however,  the  orders  relative  to  the  removal  of 
the  cattle  and  the  admission  of  natives  at  Bavian's 
Kloof  were  revoked ;  and  though  the  brethren  could 
not  obtain  permission  to  erect  even  a  temporary  place 
of  worship,  they  consoled  themselves  by  contemplat- 
ing the  work  of  the  Holy  Spirit  as  evinced  in  the 
conduct  and  conversation  of  their  hearers,  and  by 
witnessing  the  beneficial  effects  which  attended  their 
exertions  in  the  school,  both  among  the  adults  and 
children. 

In  the  month  of  .Tune,  1795,  a  numerous  body  of 
the  colonists  rose  in  arms,  with  the  view  of  obtaining 
by  force  the  redress  of  certain  grievances  of  which 
they  complained,  and  among  these  the  attempt  to 
evangelize  the  Hottentots  occupied  a  prominent  place. 
Various  alarming  reports  were  consequently  spread 
through  the  country,  and  the  settlers  at  Bavian's  Kloof 
were,  for  several  weeks,  kept  in  a  state  of  the  most 
fearful  anxiety.  One  day  it  was  reported  that  o  large 
body  of  the  rebels  was  advancing  in  order  to  take  the 
missionaries  and  their  people  prisoners,  and  transport 
them  to  Batavia ;  another  day  it  was  said,  that  the 
insurgents  had  vowed  to  exterminate  oil  who  should 
decline  to  assist  them,  and  that  several  of  the  farmers 
had,  in  consequence,  retired  precipitately  to  Cape- 
town ;  and  on  another  occasion  it  was  confidently  os- 
sertcd,  that  the  !iettlomcnt  had  been  doomed  to  de- 
struction, and  in  a  few  hours  would  be  laid  in  ashes. 
The  losi  account  seemed  very  likely  to  be  founded  in 
fact ;  and  the  converted  natives,  terrified  with  appro- 
henxion,  crowded  around  the  mission-house,  exclaim- 
*n|,  "  O  !  that  they  would  but  spare  our  teachers  !" 


Many  of  them  also  declared  their  determination  to 
remain  with  the  brethren  to  the  last  extremity ;  and 
others  who,  yielding  to  the  impulse  of  fear,  resolv- 
ed to  flee  for  shelter  to  the  mountains,  took  such  an 
affecting  farewell  of  their  beloved  instructers  that  the 
latter  were  scarcely  able  to  return  their  "parting  bene- 
dictions. 

On  the  29th  of  July,  two  horsemen  arrived  at  the 
mission-house,  and  stated  that  Pisani,  the  leader  of  the 
rebels,  who  was  marching  behind  the  mountains  at  the 
head  of  eight  hundred  men,  had  sent  them  to  inform 
the  brethren  that  they  must  quit  Bavian's  Kloof  within 
three  days,  and  remove  either  to  Cape-town  or  to  some 
other  place  inliabited  by  Dutch  colonists,  on  pain  of 
being  severely  punished  in  the  event  of  refusal.  As 
resistance  in  this  case  would  have  been  little  short  of 
madness,  and  as  delay  might  have  proved  extremely 
dangerous,  the  missionaries  prepared,  whh  heavy 
hearts,  to  set  out  for  the  Cape ;  whilst  the  Hottentots 
expressed  their  grief  in  the  most  affecting  manner, 
and  acknowledged  that  the  removal  of  their  teachers 
was  a  righteous  judgment  sent  from  God,  in  conse- 
quence of  their  unthankfulness  and  disobedience. 

After  loading  two  wagons  with  their  goods,  and  mak- 
ing all  other  requisite  arrangements  for  their  removal, 
the  brethren  took  an  affectionate  farewell  of  their 
beloved  flock  on  the  31st  of  July  ;  and,  on  the  3d 
of  August,  they  arrived  at  Cape-town,  where  they 
were  politely  received  by  the  commissary,  to  whom 
they  explained  the  cause  of  their  journey.  He  ap- 
peared equally  surprised  and  indignant  at  the  insolence 
of  Pisani,  whom  he  represented  as  the  ringleader  of 
only  a  small  party  of  the  insurgents  ;  but  as  such  a 
character  might  probably  have  proceeded  to  extremi- 
ties in  the  event  of  his  orders  having  been  disobeyed, 
he  sold  the  missionaries  had  acted  wisely  in  quitting 
their  settlement.  The  appearance  of  a  Britisli  force 
off  Cap«-to«  n,  however,  and  the  anticipation  of  an  im- 
mediate attack,  had  determined  the  rebels,  for  the 
present,  to  suspend  their  demands,  and  to  unite  in  re- 
pelling the  invaders.  The  missionaries,  therefore,  after 
the  lapse  of  a  few  days,  received  permission  to  return  to 
their  converts,  by  whom  they  were  received  with  ev»?ry 
demonstration  of  gratitude  and  affection.  The  colony 
soon  afterwards  surrendered  to  the  arms  of  his  Britan- 
nic majesty,  and  the  mission  at  Bavian's  Kloof  was  kind- 
ly taken  under  the  protection  of  the  new  government. 

An  interval  of  repose  now  succeeded  the  late  trying 
circumstances,  and,  in  many  instances,  the  wonl  o^  ^he 
cross  was  peculiarly  owned  and  blessed  by  the  great 
Heod  of  the  church,  to  the  conviction  and  conver- 
sion of  immortal  souls.  A  considerable  number  of 
new  people  came  to  the  settlement  from  great 
dlitanpoi  •      th«    inatnjclions     >iven    in     th*     achno! 


appeared  to  be  diligently  improved;  a  church  was 
erected  by  the  express  permission  of  the  English  com- 
mandant ;  and  before  the  close  of  the  year,  twenty 
adult  converts  were  admitted  to  the  rite  of  baptism 

In  the  month  of  February,  1796,  the  brethren  had 
a  new  and  convincing  proof  of  the  unwearied  vigUance 
and  merciful  protection  of  that   good  Shepherd  by 
whom  all  their  concerns  were  graciously  superintend- 
ed.    Some  of  the  neighboring  farmers,  who  were  ex- 
tremely mimical  to  th6  instruction  of  the  Hottentots 
had  assembled  about  a  hundred  armed  men,  with  the 
design  of  murdering  the  missionaries  and  destroying 
their  settlement.     Scarcely  had  they  assembled,  how- 
ever, at  their  appointed  place  of  rendezvous,  when  a 
notice  arrived  from  the  British  general,  stating   that 
the  plot  had  been   discovered,  and  that  the  sliehtest 
attempt  towards  putting  it  in  execution  would  sub- 
ject the  conspirators  to  the  most  exemplary  punish- 
ment.    Attempts  were  subsequently  made  to  starve 
the  brethren  and  their   people,    by  withholding   the 
needful  supplies  of  provision ;    and,  for  a  short  time, 
the  inhabitants  of  the  settlement  were  severely  ha- 
rassed, in   consequence   of  being   unable   to  obtain 
either  corn,  salt,  wine,  or  other  necessaries  from  their 
neighbors.     The   all-wise    God,   however,  in  whose 
hands  arc  the  hearts  of  men,  so  overruled  events,  that 
those  very  persons  who  had  recently  been  the  most 
inveterate     gradually  began   to  change   their   senti- 
ments, and  sonw,  of  .hose  who  had  formerly  thirsted 
for  the  blood  of  the  missionaries,  now  began   to  ac- 
knowledge   the    utility    of  their   labor.,   and    sent   a 
wagon  load  of  corn    to  the  settlement,  at   a   lower 
price  than  the  same  article  would  have  produced  in 
other  parts  of  the  country. 

Several  persons  in  the  colony,  and  particularly  those 
residing  at  Cape-town,  were  now  led  by  curiosity  io 
visit  Bavian's  Kloof;  as  the  reports  which  had  been 
circulated  respecting  that  useful  and  improving  settle- 
ment had  excited  a  considerable  degree  of  interest. 
And  among  those  who  were  desirous  of  witnossine 
the  improvement  whicl-  had  been  effected  in  the 
character  and  conduct  of  a  race  formerly  so  ignorant 
and  degraded  as  the  Hottentots,  was  Mr.  Barrow 
from  whose  Travels  in  the  Interior  of  Southern  Africa' 

the  following  account  is  extracted  : 

"Wo  hnlted,  late  in  the  evening,  at  a  place  called 
Bavian  s  Kloof,  whore  there  is  a  small  establishment 
of  Moravian  missionurios.  Early  next  morning,  I  was 
awakened  by  some  of  the  finest  voices  I  had  ever 
lionrd  ;  nnd,  on  looking  out,  I  saw  a  group  of  female 
Hotlontots  sitting  on  the  ground.  It  was  Sunday,  and 
they  had  assembled  thus  early  to  chant  their  morn- 
ing hyirn.  They  were  all  neatly  dressed  in  printed 
cotton  pnrrn  A  Bij^ht  «a  v«ry  .iifferent  Jrom  what 
Vol.  I.—Nos.  II  &  18.  gQ 


SOUTH  AFRICA. 


we  had  hitherto  been  in  the  habit  of  observing  with 
regard  to  this  unhappy  class  of  beings,  could  not  f«I 
of  proving  grateful,  and  at  the  same  time  it  excited  a 
degree  of  curiosity  as  to  the  nature  of  the  establish- 
ment.     The  good  fathers,  who  were  three  in  number, 
were  well  disposed  to  satisfy  every  question  put  to 
them.     They  were  men  of  the  middle  age,  plain  and 
decent  m  their  dress,  cleanly  in  their  perLs ;  of 
modest  manners,  meek  and  humble  in  their  deportment, 
but  nitelhgent  and  lively  in  conversation,  zealous  in 
the  cause  of  their  mission,  yet  free  from  bigotry  or 
enthusiasm.     Everything  in  the  place  partook  of  [hat 
neatness    and   simplicity   which   were   the   strongest 
features  m  the  outline  of  their  character.    The  church 
which  they  had  constrocted  was  a  plain,  neat  building ; 
their  mill  for  grinding  corn  was  superior  to  any  in  the 
colony ;  and  their  garden  produced  abundance  of  vege- 
ah  es  for  the  use  of  the  table.     Almost  every  thing 
that  had  been  done  was  by  the  labor  of  their  own 
hands.      Agreeably  to  the  rules  of  the  society  of 
which  they  are  members,  each  of  them  had  learned 
some  usefu:  profession.     One  was  skilled  in  every 
branch  ot'  smith's  work,  the  second  was  a  shoemaker, 
and  the  third  a  tailor. 

"  These  missionaries  have  succeeded  in  bringing 
together  into  one  society  upwards  of  six  hundred 
Hottentots,  and  their  numbers  are  daily  increasing. 
They  live  in  small  huts  dispersed  over  the  valleys 
to  each  of  which  was  attached  a  piece  of  ground  for 
raising  vego.nhlfis,  and  their  houses  and  gardens  were 
very  neat  and  comfortable.     Those  Hottentots  who 
chose  to  learn  the  respective  trades  of  the  missionaries 
were  paid  for  their  labor  as  soon  as  they  could  earn 
wages.     Some  hired  themselves  out,  by  the  week 
month,  or  year,  to  the  neighboring  peasantry  ;  others' 
made  mats  and  brooms  for  sale  ;  some  had  poultry 
and  others  found  means  to  subsist  by  their  cattle 
sheep  and  horses.     Many  of  the  women  and  children 
of  soldiers  belonging  to  the  Hottentot  corps  reside  at 
Bav.ans   Kloof,   where  they  are  much  more  likely 
to  acquire  industrious  habits  than  by  remaining  in  the 
camp.  ° 

"On  Sundays  they  all  regularly  attend  the  per- 
formance  of  divine  service,  and  it  is  astonishing  how 
ambitious  they  are  to  njipear  at  church  neat  and  clean. 
Of  about  three  hundred  that  composed  the  congrew- 
tion,  about  half  were  dressed  in  coarse  printed  cottons, 
and  the  other  half  in  the  ancient  sheep-skin  dresses 
«nd  It  appeared,  on  inquiry,  that  the  former  were  the 
first  who  had  been  brought  within  the  pale  of  the 
church  ;  a  proof  that  theii  external  circumstances  at 
^ast  had  suffered  nothing  from  their  change  of  life. 

I    "crsuosinn   ani\   oviin.«i-    i i   ?        •     . 

i  -  —  1—  "=-J  convincca  tnem,  Uiai 

cleanhness  in  their  persons  not  only  added  much  to 


lit 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


the  comfort  of  life,  but  was  one  of  the  greatest  pre- 
servatives of  health ;  and  that  the  little  trifle  of  money 
they  had  to  spare,  was  much  better  applied  in  pro- 
curing decent  covering  for  the  body,  than  in  the  pur- 
chase of  spirits  and  tobacco ;  articles  so  far  from  being 
necessaries,  that  they  might  justly  be  considered  as 
the  most  pernicious  evils, 

"  The  deportment  of  the  Hottentot  congregation 
during  divine  service  was  truly  devout.  The  discourse 
delivered  by  one  of  the  fathers  was  short,  but  full  of 
good  sense,  pathetic,  and  well  suited  to  the  occasion  ; 
and  tears  flowed  abundantly  from  the  eyes  of  those  to 
whom  it  was  particularly  addressed.  The  females 
sang  in  a  style  that  was  plaintive  and  affecting,  and 
their  voices  were,  in  general,  sweet  and  harmonious." 
The  arrival  of  some  fresh  missionaries  from  Europe 
in  1798,  induced  the  brethren  to  convert  their  place 
of  worship  into  dwelling-rooms  ;  and  as  the  number 
of  inhabitants  in  the  settlement  had  no;v  increased  to 
upwards  of  twelve  hundred  and  thirty  persons,  and 
many  strangers  came,  at  different  times,  to  hear  the 
gospel,  they  resolved  to  erect  a  new  and  spacious 
church,  capable  of  containing  fifteen  hundred  hearers. 
The  foundation  was  accordingly  laid  on  the  8th  of 
January,  1799,  and  on  the  same  day  in  the  ensuing 
year  it  was  solemnly  consecrated  for  the  celebration 
of  divine  worship.  Tiiree  hundred  and  four  individ- 
uals were,  at  this  time,  members  of  the  congiegation, 
and  of  these  no  less  than  eighty-four  had  been  admit- 
ted to  the  rite  of  baptism  within  the  space  of  twelve 
months. 

In  the  month  of  July,  1800,  an  epidemical  fever 
of  a  bilious  nature  made  its  appearance  in  Bavian's 
Kloof,  and  raged  for  several  months  with  unremitting 
fury  ;  and  when  it  was  at  its  lieiglit,  six,  eight,  and 
even  ten  deaths  occurred  in  the  course  of  a  week. 
This  visitation  was  felt  the  more  severely  as  the  farm- 
ers in  the  neighborhood,  from  a  natural  dread  of  in- 
fection, were  unwilling  to  employ  any  of  the  Hottentots 
belonging  to  the  settlement,  and  these  poor  creatures 
were  consequently  precluded  from  obtaining  the  means 
of  subsistence.  The  brethren,  hounvcr,  did  every 
thing  in  their  power  to  ameliorate  the  distressing  situa- 
tion of  their  afflicted  people,  as  will  appear  from  the 
following  statement  of  the  Rev.  C.  L.  Hose,  who  had 
formerly  resided  at  Labrador,  but  had  been  recent- 
ly appointed  to  superintend  the  mission  in  South 
Africa. 

"  In  order  to  bo  more  regular  in  our  attendance  on 
the  sick,  we  engaged  in  this  duty  by  rotation,  each 
missionary  and  his  wife  visiting  a  certain  district  every 
week.  In  doing  this,  we  had  to  make  ■  circuit 
of  four  or  five  miles,  and  our  visits  were  attended 
with  no  little  danger  to  ourselves,  as  the  fever  waa  I 


very  infectious.  Through  the  mercy  of  God,  how- 
ever, none  of  us  were  seriously  afiected  by  it.  In 
performing  this  duty,  grief  and  joy  alternately  pos- 
sessed our  hearts.  When  we  crept  into  the  Hottentot 
huts,  and  saw  the  poor  people  lying,  in  the  greatest 
misery,  upon  nothmg  but  a  sheep-skin  spread  on  the 
bare  ground,  without  medical  aid,  and  often  without  a 
morsel  to  eat,  and  the  convalescent  tormented  by 
hunger,  whilst  a  number  of  poor  naked  children  were 
crying  for  food,  we  were  overwhelmed  ivith  sorrow. 
We  exerted  ourselves,  indeed,  to  the  utmost  of  our 
power,  to  procure  them  nourishment,  and  the  most 
necessary  medicine  ;  but  our  resources  were  soon  ex- 
hausted, the  number  of  those  who  needed  relief  being 
so  great ;  for  scarcely  a  cottage  was  without  patients, 
and  in  some  of  them  three  or  four  persons  were  con- 
fined at  once ;  and  others,  after  recovering  from  the 
first  attack,  were  seized  a  second  and  even  a  third 
time  ;  in  which  case  the  disease  mostly  proved  fatal. 
Then  again,  when,  on  discoursing  to  them  of  the  love 
of  Jesus,  and  setting  before  them  the  comforts  of  the 
gospel,  we  saw  them  listen  with  eagerness  to  our 
address,  forget  all  their  external  wretchedness,  and 
patiently  resign  themselves  to  the  will  of  the  Lord, 
declaring  their  confident  hope  that  he  would  receive 
them  into  his  everlasting  kingdom,  and  extolling  his 
goodness  in  sending  teachers,  to  instruct  them  in  the 
knowledge  of  their  Redeemer ;  when  we  saw  and 
heard  all  this,  we  were  so  greatly  strengthened  and 
encouraged  in  the  performance  of  our  duty,  that  we 
forgot  all  our  pain  and  sorrow,  and  our  hearts  over- 
flowed with  thanksgivings  to  God." 

The  fame  of  Bavian's  Kloof  had  spread,  in  the 
mean  time,  to  very  remote  distancrs.  and  a  thirst  for 
instruction  had  begun  to  appear  in  vaiious  directions. 
1%  the  month  of  January,  1801,  a  whole  family  came 
to  the  settlement  from  the  confines  of  Caffraria,  after 
a  journey  of  six  weeks  ;  another  party  of  twenty-three 
persons  arrived,  in  June,  from  a  very  distant  part  of 
the  country ;  and  u  man  and  his  wife  from  the  land 
of  the  Bushmen  soon  followed.      Another  woman, 
who  subsequently  arrived  with  her  family,  stated,  that 
she  understood  Bavian's  Kloof  to  be  an  asylum  for 
poor  distressed  sinners  like  herself,  who  had  become 
tiri!(l  of  the  service  of  Satan,  and  were  desirous  of 
obtaining   rest   for  tiieir  souls.     The  power  of  God, 
indeed, was  evidently  manifested  at  this  time,  and  the 
missionaries  had  abundant  cause  to  rejoice  that  they 
had  not  labored  in  vain,  nor  spent  their  strength  for 
nought. 

On  the  conclusion  of  peace,  and  the  restoration  of 
the  colony  to  the  Dutch,  the  brethren  found  a  kind 
friend  and  |)a(run  in  the  new  governor.  General  Jansen, 
at  whose  suggestion  the  name  of  their  settlement  was 


SOUTH  AFRICA. 


changed  from  Savian't  Kloof,  or  Baboon's  Glen,  to 
Chuadenthal,  or  Gracevale.  By  his  interference,  also, 
and  that  of  the  commissary,  M.  de  Mist,  a  tract  of 
cultivated  land,  which  had  been  unjustly  wrested  from 
the  Hottentots  by  the  neighboring  farmers,  was  restored 
to  its  legitimate  owners,  and  further  encroachments 
were,  in  a  great  measure,  prevented.  One  of  the 
missionaries  was  likewise  appointed  chaplain  to  a 
Hottentot  corps  which  had  been  raised  for  the  defence 
of  the  colony  ;  and  in  the  discharge  of  his  ministerial 
duties  in  that  capacity,  he  obtained  the  entire  appro- 
bation of  the  constituted  authorities. 

In  the  month  of  January,  1806,  the  Cape  was  once 
more  attacked  successfully  by  a  British  force  ;  but, 
though  the  government  was  transferred  into  other 
hands,  the  missionaries  continued  to  enjoy  the  same 
favor  and  protection  which  had  formerly  excited  their 
warmest  gratitude.  Sir  David  Baird,  and  many  Eng- 
lish officers  and  gentlemen,  visited  Gnadenthal  in  the 
most  condescending  and  friendly  manner ;  and  Lord 
Caledon,  who  was  appointed  governor  in  1807,  evinced 
the  most  friendly  disposition  towards  the  brethren, 
and  encouraged  them  to  form  a  second  settlement  at 
a  place  called  Grucnekloof,  or  Grepn-g)en,  in  the 
high  road  between  Cape-town  and  Ti. ;  ..nha  Bay. 

To  this  spot  Messrs.  Schmitt  and  Kohrhammer  re- 
moved, with  their  wives,  in  the  month  of  March,  1808, 
and  took  up  their  residence  in  a  farm-house,  the  lease 
of  which  had  just  expired.  They  then  applied  to  the 
Hottentot  caption  of  that  district,  explaining  the  ob- 
ject they  had  in  view,  and  requesting  him  to  convene 
his  people,  that  the  word  of  salvation  might  be  ad- 
dressed to  them.  About  a  hundred  persons  were 
accordingly  assembled,  and,  after  listening  with  the 
most  profound'  attention  to  a  solemn  and  pathetic 
discourse,  several  of  them  agreed  to  reside  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  mission-house ;  and  eighteen  lots  of 
ground  were  immedintely  measured  off,  for  the  erec- 
tion of  their  huts,  and  the  formation  of  their  gardens. 
The  subseciucnt  labors  of  tlie  brethren  at  this  new 
station  were  cvidmtly  attended  with  the  blessing 
of  the  Holy  Spirit  ,  as  many  of  tlieir  hearers  were 
constrained  to  acknowledge  the  depravity  of  their 
own  hearts,  and  to  cast  themselves  simply  and  un- 
reservedly upon  the  grace  and  mercy  of  that  com- 
passionate Saviour,  who  Imtli  been  so  appropriately 
styled  "  the  receiver  of  sinners."  One  of  them,  in 
conversing  with  the  missionaries  on  the  state  of  his 
soul,  observed,  "  Wherever  1  am,  I  cannot  help  think- 
mg  that  all  is  not  right  with  me.  When  I  am  working 
with  other  men  who  are  speaking  on  subjects  with 
which  1  should,  in  former  times,  have  been  highly 
gratified,  I  cannot  bear  to  listen  to  tiieir  cimversation, 
bit  am  e-omjicHcd  to  retiio  luio  iho  woods,  and  pray 


139 


to  Christ  for  mercy  ;  when  I  seem  to  obtain  consola- 
tion."  Another  remarked,  one  day,  with  great  energy, 
"  I  seem  to  be  surrounded  by  my  sins,  like  a  man 
sitting  in  the  midst  of  a  fire,  and  am  ready  to  be  con- 
sumed by  the  anguish  of  my  spirit ;  but  in  this  situa- 
tion I  stretch  out  my  arms  toward  heaven,  and  ex- 
claim. Lord  Jesus,  suffer  some  drops  of  thy  heavenly 
grace  to  quench  the  flame  which  threatens  to  de- 
stroy me  i" 

But  whilst  the  brethren  were  contemplating  with 
sacred  delight  these  indications  of  the  work  of  God 
upon  the  minds  of  the  heathen,  a  circumstance  occur- 
red  which  threatened  to  be  productive  of  the  most 
disastrous  consequences.  One  night,  the  slaves  in  a 
district  called  Hottentot  Holland,  rose  in  rebellion,  to 
the  number  of  three  hundred,  and  resolved  to  set  fire 
to  Cape-town,  to  murder  all  the  European  males  in 
the  colony,  and  to  reduce  the  females  to  slavery. 
They  had  actually  seized  and  bound  several  of  their 
masters  ;  carried  off  arms,  horses,  and  wagons  ;  and 
committed  a  variety  of  depredations.  By  the  prompt 
exertions  of  government,  however,  this  formidable 
insurrection  was  crushed,  and  the  ringleaders  of  the 
plot,  with  many  of  their  deluded  adherents,  were 
made  prisoners  by  the  dragoons,  who  had  been  appoint- 
ed by  Lord  Caledon  to  scour  the  country  in  every 
direction. 

In  1811,  an  accident  occurred  at  Gruenekloof, 
which  cannot  be  related  without  feelings  of  sympathy 
towards  the  sufferers,  mingled  with  sentiments  of 
gratitude  to  that  God  who  interfered  on  the  behalf 
of  his  servants  in  the  hour  of  imminent  peril.  The 
neighborhood  having  been  lately  annoyed  by  the 
depredations  of  wolves,  a  day  was  fixed  for  hunting 
and  destroying  those  noxious  animals.  Accordingly, 
on  the  sixth  of  August,  the  brethren  Schmitt  and 
Bonatz,  accompanied  by  about  thirty  Hottentots,  set 
out  in  the  morning,  armed  with  loaded  muskets.  At 
a  short  distance  from  the  settlement  they  discovered 
a  wolf,  and  fired  at  him,  but  as  he  was  only  slightly 
wounded,  he  retreated  among  the  bushes,  and  effect- 
ually eluded  their  pursuit.  Perceiving,  after  some 
time,  that  there  was  no  probability  of  discovering  the 
fugitive,  the  missionaries  determined  on  giving  up  the 
chase  ;  but  as  they  were  returning  homeward,  some 
of  the  Hottentots,  who  had  been  left  behind,  exclaim- 
ed, that  they  saw  the  wolf  in  an  adjacent  thicket. 
Mr.  Schmitt  immediately  rode  back,  dismounted  from 
his  horse,  and  followed  the  persons  by  whom  he  had 
been  recalled  through  the  almost  impervious  bushes. 
When  they  reached  the  middle  of  the  thicket,  one 
of  their  dogs  started  the  animal,  which  proved  to  be 
a  tiger.  The  Hottentots  on  the  outside  of  the  thicket 
immediotely  provided  for  their  safety  by  a  precipitate 


140 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


flight,  whilst  the  persona  within  proceeded  slowly  with 
their  guns  pointed,  intending  to  shoot  the  animal  as 
soon  as  it  made  its  appearance;  for  though  it  had 
been  distinctly  seen  by  their  companions,  the  thick- 
ness of  the  bushes  had  hitherto  concealed  it  from 
their  view.     At  length  the  ferocious  creature  sprang 
unawares  upon  the  Hottentot  by  whom  Mr.  Schmitt 
was   attended,  and,  throwing   him   down,  began  to 
lacerate  his  face.     The  missionary  had  scarcely  time 
to  aim  his  piece,  when  the  monster  quitted  the  Hot- 
tentot, and  made  a  spring  at  him.     As  his  musket 
was  of  no  use  at  such  close  quarters,  he  prudently 
threw  it  from  him,  and  shielded  his  face  with  his  arm, 
which   the   tiger  seized   close   to  the  elbow.      Mr. 
Schmitt,  however,  was  providentially  enabled  with  the 
same  hand  to  grasp  the  animal's  fore  feet,  and,  seizing 
him  by  the  throat  with  the  other,  to  throw  him  on  the 
ground.     He  then  held  him  firmly  down,  by  kneeling 
on  his  body,  till  one  of  the  Hottentots  arrived  to  his 
assistance,  and  despatched  the  formidable  savage  by 
shooting  him  through  the  heart.     Tlie  wounded,  mis- 
sionary and  the  Hottentot  were  then  conveyed  to  the 
settlement,  where,  by  the  blessing  of  God  on  the 
medical  aid  which  was  procured  from  the  Cape,  they 
were  happily  restored  ;  though  the  inflammation  pro- 
duced by  the  teeth  and  claws  of  the  tiger  was,  for 
some  days,  truly  alarming. 

The  mission  still  continued  to  enjoy  the  patronage 
and  protection  of  government,  and,  under  the  smile 
of  the  Almighty,  the  converts  at  each  of  the  settle- 
ments appeared  to  make  considerable  progress  in  the 
knowledge  of  divine  truth.      Many  of  the  heathen, 
also,  who  came  from  considerable  distances,  evinced, 
by  their  artless  observations,  that  they  had  been  led 
to  the  brethren  by  the  immediate  influence  of  that 
adorable  Redeemer  who  had  resolved  to  bring  them 
under  the  sound  of  his  precious  gospel.     One  of  them, 
in  speaking  to  the  missionaries  on  this  subject,  remark- 
ed, "  God  has  led  me  in  a  wonderful  way  from  the 
lower  country   to  this  settlement.     I  was  first   told 
about  Bavian's  Kloof  by  some  travelling  natives,  who 
said  that  teachers  had  come  across  the  great  waters, 
for  the  express  purpose  of  instructing  the  Hottentots, 
and  that,  in  their  discourses,  they  described  an  illus- 
trious  personage,  who  came  down   from  heaven,  in 
order  to  save  poor  sinners  from  the  black  kloof,  of 
which  we  had  heard  such  dismal  accounts  ;  and  to 
introduce  them,  after  death,  into  a  most  delightful 
country.     From  that  time  my  thoughts  were  continu- 
ally occupied  with  the  necessity  of  visiting  this  place, 
but  I  could  not  accomplish  my  dosiro  till  God  in  his 
providence  led  me  hither."     On  another  occasion  a 
woman  stated  that  when  she  was  a  girl,  her  ftiiher  one 
day  called  his  family  around  him,  an  I  addressed  them 


to  the  following  effect :— «  My  dear  children,  though 
you  are  Hottentots  and  despised  by  men,  let  it  be 
your  study  to  behave  well ;  for  I  have  a  strong  presen. 
timent  that  God  will,  at  some  future  time,  send  teach, 
ers  to  our  nation  from  a  distant  country.  As  I  am 
already  edTanced  in  years,  it  is  probable  that  I  may 
not  live  to  see  that  day;  but  you,  who  are  young,  will 
hereafter  discover  that  your  father  has  told  you  the 
truth.  As  soon,  therefore,  as  you  are  informed  that 
such  people  have  arrived  in  our  land,  hasten  to  them, 
reside  wherever  they  take  up  their  abode,  and  be 
obedient  to  their  instructions."  Shortly  after  the 
demise  of  this  Hottentot,  his  prediction  was  fulfilled  ; 
and  when  the  intelligence  reached  his  daughter,  she 
removed  to  Gnadenthal,  where  she  was  instructed  in 
the  way  of  salvation,  and,  after  some  time,  was  admit- 
ted into  the  church  by  the  rite  of  baptism. 

The  Rev.  C.  I.  Latrohe,  the  excellent  and  inde- 
fatigable secretary  tc  the  United  Brethren's  society, 
in  England,  for  the  furtherance  of  the  gospel  among 
the  heathen,  having  been  appointed  to  hold  a  visitation 
in  this  mission,  arrived  at  the  Cape  on  the  24th  of 
December,  1815,  accompanied  by  four  male  and  two 
female  missionaries.     This  visit  appears  to  have  been 
productive  of  much  benefit,  both  in  a  spiritual  and 
temporal  sense ;   as  the  brethren  were  animated  to 
proceed  in  their  arduous  labors  with  increasing  zeal 
and  diligence,  and  various  disorders  which  had  for- 
merly occurred  at  Gnadenthal  were  effectually  pre- 
vented  for  the  future  by  the  introduction  of  several  sal- 
utary rules,  and  the  establishment  of  a  regular  police, 
consisting  principally  of  fathers  of  families  in  the  settle- 
ment.    Mr.  Latrohe  also  assisted  at  the  laying  of  the 
foundation  of  a  church  at  Gruenekloof,  and  undertook  a 
reconnoitring  journey  into  the  interior  of  the  country, 
with  a  view  to  the  establishment  of  a  third  settlement 
in  South  Africa.     This  expedition,  in  which  he  was 
attended  by  three  of  the  missionaries,  and  the  land 
surveyor  to  the  colonial  government,  occupied  rather 
more  than  two  months  ;  and  they  finally  fixed  on  a 
tract  of  land  situate  on  the  banks  of  the  fVitte  Revier, 
near  the  frontiers  of  Caffraria,  as   the  most  eligible' 
spot  for  a  new  missionary  station.    Having  performed 
these  and  other  important  services,  and  having  had 
various  opportunities  of  witnessing  the  urbanity,  con- 
descension   and    benevolence   of   the   governor,    the 
colonial  secretary,  and  other  gentlemen  in  authority 
at  the  Cape,  Mr.  Latrohe  quitted  the  shores  of  Africa 
about  the  end  of  October,  and,  after  a  pleasant  and 
expeditious  voyage,  returned  in  safety  to  his  beloved 
charge  in  London. 

In  the  beginning  of  December,  the  inliabitants  of 
Gnadenthal  were  suddenly  involved  in  distress  by  the 
descent  of  a  torrent  from  the  mountains,  which  over- 


SOUTH  AFRICA. 


whelmed  great  part  of  their  premises  with  destructive 
Tiolence.  This  calamity  has  been  thus  described  by 
some  of  the  brethren  :—• 

"  On  the  last  day  of  November,  it  had  rained  with- 
out mtermission,  though  not  faster  than  it  often  does 
here  ;  but  on  the  1st  of  December,  the  rain  increased 
m  an  alarmmg  degree,  and  continued,  without  cessation 
or  abatement,  till  the  ensuing  morning.     Our  three 
brooks  coming  out  of  Bavian's  Kloof,  Siebenvonteyn 
valley,  and  Komland's  Kloof,  swelled  to  a  prodigious 
height,  carrying  with  them  trees  and  large  stones,  and 
threatening   general   desolation.     The  noise  of  the 
waters  and  the  rolling  stones  was  terrific,  particularly 
m  Bavian's  Kloof,  behind  our  dwellings.      In   the 
kloof  itself,  which  is  of  considerable  width,  and  through 
which  the  brook  commonly  winds  in  a  gentle  stream, 
all  the  bushy  and  rocky  eminences  ^vere  completely 
covered,  and  the  whole  glen  becoming  too  narrow  for 
the  impetuous  torrent,  it  tore  away  large  parts  of  the 
rocks  and  earth  on  each  side,  with  all  the  trees  that 
had  been  planted  on  the  slopes.     The  dike  forming 
the  mill-stream,  was  in  the  most  imminent  danger 
of  being  burst  and  carried  away,  as  the  water  had- 
made  several  large  apertures  in  tlie  ground,  close  to 
Its  foundation.     The  flood  now  rushed  with  surprising 
violence  out  of  the  opening  of  the  glen,  and  meeting, 
on  the  left,  with  resistance  from  the  projecting  rocks, 
the  whole  mass  of  water  fell  upon  a  dike  made  several 
years  ago,  at  the  expense  of  government,  of  which 
there  was  still  a  part  remaining  ;  and  carried  ofl^  that 
and  the  greater  part  of  the  grove  of  trees  planted  by 
the  missionaries,  together  with  the  gardens  of  the 
brethren  Leitner  and  Beinbrech.      From   hence  it 
turned,  for  a  short  space,  into  the  old  bed  of  Bavian's 
Revier,  but  soon  spread  and  burst  through  the  middle 
of  the  adjoining  ground.     Here  it  met  the  torrent 
rushing  down  from  Siebenvonteyn,  and  uniting  itself 
with  that  stream,  inundated  the  whole  valley,  down 
to  the  river  Sonderend,  destroying  all  the  groui  ds  and 
gardens  of  the  Hottentots  in  its  course.     The  hieh 
foot-bridge  leading  from  the  main  part  of  the  settle- 
ment to  the  Caffro  kraal,  at  least  fifteen  feet  above 
the  level  of  the  brook  in  dry  weather,  was  covered 
and  carried  away,  and  the  place  filled  with  stones  and 
sand      To  the  right,  behind  the  burying-ground,  the 
small  brook  descending  from  Komland's  Kloof  pre- 
cipitated itself  with  equal  violence  into  the  settlement 
covonnR  the  land  with  sand  and  stones,  and  wholly 
deniohshmg  many  of  the  gardens.    The  walls  of  many 
of  the  Hottentots'  houses  were  already  soaked  throuah, 
pnd  threatened  to  fall  upon  the  inhabitants  ;  and  as 
the  ram  rather  increased   than   diminished    towards 
nigiit,  the  poor  people  quitted  them,  and  sought  for 
_.  .n„-i.  j.r^rr.bcs,  aim  in  houses  on  more  elevated  i 


141 


ground.  We  opeiied  both  the  church  and  the  school- 
house  for  their  reception,  and  rendered  them  otherwise 
all  the  assistance  in  our  power.  Two  men,  however, 
unfortunately  lost  theu-  lives. 

"From  the  9th  to  the   12th,  men,  women  and 
chUdren  were  busily  employed  in  attempting  to  lead 
the  Bavian's  Revier  mto  its  old  channel.     This,  how- 
ever, proved  a  very  difficult  undertaking,  partly  for 
want  of  proper  tools,  and  partly  because  many  of  the  na- 
tives were  at  work  with  the  farmers.     The  brook  was, 
indeed,  brought  to  flow  within  ite  former  bed,  but  the' 
banks  were  but  imperfectly  secured,  and  it  was  found 
necessary  to  leave  the  main  work  till  after  the  harvest. 
On  this  occasion,  we  were  much  pleased  to  see  such 
willingness  and  diligence  as  are  not  always  met  with 
among  the  people,  and  are  by  no  means  natural  to 
the  Hottentot  nation  ;  and  when  we  spoke  with  them 
of  the  damage  which  had  been  done  to  their  grounds, 
they  replied,  that  they  had  cguse  to  thank  the  Lord* 
for  his  mercy,  that,  notwithstanding  their  great  demerit, 
they  had  been  chastised  with  so  mu'-h  lenity." 

On  the  29th  of  January,  1817,  the  governor.  Lord 
C.   Somerset,   accompanied   by  his   two   daughters, 
Capjain  Sheridan,  and  Dr.  Barry,  paid  a  visit  to  the 
settlement  at  Gnadenthal,  and  expressed  the  highest 
gratification  whilst  surveying  the  various  improvements 
in  that  district.     In  the  evening  the  whole  party  at- 
tended the  celebration  of  divine  service  in  the  church 
and  appeared  much  pleased  with  the  singing  of  the 
Hottentots ;  and  the  following  day,  his  excellency  and 
suite  visited  the  school,  the  smithy,  the  cutlery,  and 
the  joiner's  shop ;  and,  before  they  departed,  his  lord- 
ship presented  the  brethren,  in  the  names  of  himself 
and  his  daughters,  with  three  hundred  rix  dollars,  for 
the  use  of  the  school ;— an  example  which  was  gen- 
erously  followed  by  Captain  Sheridan. 

About  the  middle  of  July,  the  weather  was  very 
cold  ;  it  froze  hard  at  night,  and  the  mountains  were 
completely  covered  with  snow.     "During  the  first 
four  days  of  this  month,"  the  missionaries  observe, 
"and  eypecially  in  the  nights,  the  hills  aflbrded  us  a 
magnificent  spectacle,  though  not  without  an  alloy  of 
anxiety.     It  is  here  customary  to  clear  the  land  by 
setting  the  bushes  and  heath  on  fire,  both  for  the  de- 
struction of  serpents  and  other  noxious  vermin,  and    • 
to  produce  a  crop  of  good  grass ;  and  on  this  occa- 
sion, a  fire  had  been  kindled  in  a  glon,  to  clear  away 
the  Imish-wood,  with  a  view  to  jet  at  the  larger  trees. 
As  combustibles  were  plentiful   in  the  glen,  the  fire 
burnt  very  fiercely,  and  set  all  the  heath  in  a  flame, 
which  ron  along  in  various  channels  up  and  down  the 
sides  of  the  mountains,  occasionally  doubling  the  points 
of  the  rocks,  and  forming,  ot  a  distance.  »hn 
curious  figures. 


mnnt 


148 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


"  As  long  as  the  wind  blew  off  oar  place,  and  the 
fire  kept  in  uncultivated  regions,  it  was  an  amusing 
sight ;  but  about  noon,  on  the  third  day,  the  wind 
changed,  and  we  began  to  entertain  fears  for  our  build- 
ings. The  fire  now  descended  into  Bavian's  Kloof, 
close  behind  the  settlement,  and  approached  toward 
us.  The  Hottentots  were  summoned  by  messengers 
sent  through  the  village,  and  by  ringing  the  church 
bell,  to  help  to  extinguish  the  flames  ;  and,  after  some 
hours  of  hard  labor,  a  stop  was  put  to  their  spreading 
in  the  glen,  for  which  we  were  truly  thankful  to  God  ; 
as  it  has  sometimes  happened  that  such  fires  have  done 
great  damage  both  to  dwellings  and  plantations." 

On  the  7th  of  April,  1818,  the  Rev.  H.  Schmitt 
and  his  wife,  together  with  three  single  brethren  and 
the  widow  Kohrhammer,  arrived  at  the  Witie  Revier ; 
and  with  the  assistance  of   he  Hottentots  who  had 
accompanied  them  from  Gruenekloof  and  Gnadenthal, 
they  began,  after  a  short,  time,  to  clear  the  ground  as- 
signed them  by  government,  and  to  prepare  mate- 
rials for  the  erection  of  a  mission-house,  a  church,  and 
other  buildings.     Considerable  numbers  of  the  natives 
were  also  induced  to  attend  the  preaching  of  the  gos- 
pel, and  several  Hottentot  families  obtained  permission 
to  reside  in  the  new  settlement.     But  whilst  both  the 
spiritual  and  temporal  labors  of  the  Redeemer's  ser- 
vants seemed  likely  to  he  crowned  with  the  most  com- 
plete success,  a  predatory  irruption  of  the  Onffres  iiiio 
the  colony,  involved  the  brethren  on  this  spot  in  the 
greatest  calamities,  and  excited  in  the  breasts  of  their 
friends,  both  in  Africa  and  Europe,  the  most  painful 
anxiety  on  their  behalf     The  following  particulars 
relative  to  this  distressing  event  are  extracted  from  a 
letter  written  by  Mrs.  Schmitt  to  the  Rev.  C.  I.  La- 
trobe,  and  dated  March  2,  1819. 

"Toward  the  end  of  January,  repeated  reports 
of  the  approach  of  the  Caffres  began  to  make  us  un- 
easy respecting  our  own  safety  ;  and  on  the  6th  of 
February,  our  anxiety  was  much  increased  by  a 
message  from  Mr.  Scheper,  jun.,  at  the  Slagboom 
farm,  informing  us  that  a  party  of  them  had  entered 
the  Witte  Revier  glen,  and  had  stolen  one  of  his  oxen 
in  the  night,  notwithstanding  twenty  farmers  be- 
longing to  a  commando  lay  at  his  house.  The  com- 
mander of  these  men  also  sent  us  a  message  request- 
ing that  we  would  send  twenty-two  of  our  Hottentots 
well  armed  to  his  assistance.  This  we  of  course  re- 
fused, as  we  hud  not  so  many  effective  men  at  our 
l>lace,  and  could  not  think  of  leaving  our  own  premises 
without  protection.  The  commander,  therefore,  re- 
turned to  UitPnhngon  ;  and  the  following  day,  Mr. 
Scheper  came  to  us,  begging  us  to  take  him  and  his 
family  into  our  houses  for  protection,  as  he  considered 
It  no  longer  safe  to  remain  at  his  own  residence.     As 


he  had  neither  wagons  nor  men  to  effect  his  removal, 
we  sent  two  wagons  and  six  Hottentots,  little  thinking 
what  would  befall  us  before  their  return. 

"  The  9th  was  a  day  of  terror,  such'  as  none  of  us 
had  ever  before  experienced.   In  the  afternoon,  as  we 
were  sittmg  in  our  hut,  we  heard  a  plunging  in  the 
river.     Thinking  that  our  neighbor  Scheper  was  com- 
mg  back  with  his  goods,  we  opened  the  door  towards 
the  fording  place  ;  but  how  were  we  shocked  to  see 
the  Caffres  issuing  out  of  the  thicket,  about  two  minutes' 
walk  distant  from  us,  with  a  most  horrid  yell,  and  each 
carrying  a  bunch  of  assagays  or  javelins  in  his  hand  I 
At  first  we  could  think  no  other  but  that  their  design 
was  to  attack  our  persons,  as  the  cattle  were  all  out  in 
the  fields.     My  husband,  therefore,  called  to  the  Hot- 
tentots to  be  on  the  alert,  and  I  helped  to  make  as 
much  noise  as  I  was  able,  though  almost  dead  with 
fright.  In  a  minute  our  people  all  ran  together,  and  made 
towards  the  Calfres,.whose  intention,  we  soon  saw,  was 
t6  attack  the  cattle,  which  were  on  their  way  home. 
They  met  them  in  the  river,  which  was  so  full,  that 
our  herdsmen  could  not  cross  it  without  undressing ; 
nor  did  they  perceive  the  Caffres  approach  till  the  lat- 
ter had  succeeded  in  separating  two  hundred  and  thirty- 
six  head  of  cattle  from  the  herd.     They  fired  among 
the  thie/es,  but  we  cannot  tell  with  what  effect. 

"None  but  those  who  have  experienced  such 
troubles  can  form  a  correct  idea  of  our  situation.  We 
stood  as  if  fixed  to  the  spot,  looking  after  our  lost  cat- 
tle, as  long  as  we  could  see  them ;  and  as  we  heard 
frequent  shots,  we  were  in  doubt  whether  any  of  our 
herdsmen  would  return  alive ;  but  oh,  how  thankful 
were  we  to  see  them  all  coming  in  without  having  re- 
ceived  any  injury ! 

"  We  spent  a  most  distressing  night,  starting  at  every 
sound,  and  expecting  the  Caffres  to  return  and  attack 
us.  All  the  men  kept  watch,  and  all  the  womnn  and 
■children  were  assembled  in  the  long  building  which 
we  use  as  a  temporary  church.  The  condition  of  the 
poor  Hottentots  might  have  melted  a  heart  of  stone. 
It  had  rained  heavily  the  whole  day,  and  all  was  wet 
both  within  and  out  of  doors.  The  children  were  cry- 
ing for  their  usual  evening  supply  of  milk,  but,  as  most 
of  the  cows  were  stolen,  their  distressed  mothers  had 
nothing  to  give  them.  Providentially,  however,  we 
had  a  good  stock  of  rice,  with  which  we  helped  them 
for  the  present 

"  On  the  lOth,  Mr.  Scheper  arrived,  but  without  his 
property.  The  Caffres  had,  no  doubt,  watched  the 
proceedings  both  at  his  and  our  places,  and  gave  him 
tlic  meeting  in  the  glen.  The  cattle  were  driven  before 
the  wagons  by  his  German  servant,  and  one  of  our  Hot- 
tentots. Suddenly  a  troop  of  Caffres  rushed  out  of  the 
bushes,  took  the  man's  gun  out  of  his  hand,  and  struck 


•tm\> 


SOUTH  AFRICA. 


him  dead  with  their  assagays.    They  also  threw  an  as- 
sagay  at  our  Hottentot,  but  it  only  pierced  his  jacket 
and  he  made  his"  escape  to  the  wagons.    It  was  in 
yam  to  attempt  to  save  the  cattle,  without  endaneer- 
mg  more  hves,  the  Caffres  being  too  many  for  them 

"  Yesterday  (March  1),  the  Cafires  paid  us  a  second 
visit,  and  attacked  the  cattle  so  slyly,  that  they  were 
not  perceived  till  they  had  separated  thirty  from  the 
herd.  When  they  seized  upon  the  fiftt,  they  exclaim- 
ed in  Dutch, '  You  may  take  the  rest  home  ;  we  shall 
call  for  them  another  time.'  To-day  the  Hottentots 
set  out  to  recover  the  thirty,  but  they  were  driven  too 
far  into  the  woods." 

From  this  period  none  of  the  Caffres  were  seen, 
during  several  weeks,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Witte 
Revicr;  and  though  the  brethren  considered  it  ne- 
cessary to  keep  strict  watch  around  their  premises, 
they  resumed  their  former  occupations  mth  cheerful- 
ness, and  almost  forgot  the  alarm  and  loss  which  they 
had  suffered;  being  unfeignedly  thankful  to  God  for 
the  preservation  of  their  lives,  and  for  the  continued 
means  of  subsistence.     In  the  evening  of  the  13th  of 
April,  however,  after  the  celebration  of  the  Lord's 
supper,  ,t  was  stated  that  three  Caffres  had  been  seen 
between  the  huts,  and  the  following  morning  five  of 
those    formidable    enemies  were   observed    to   pass 
through  the  bushes  near  the  mission-house.     As  it 
was  naturally  conjectured  that  they  designed  to  steal 
some  of  the  cattle,  four  of  the  Hottentots  attempted 
to  trace  them,  but  failing  in  this,  two  of  them  return- 
ed,  and  the  other  two  went  on  to  the  herd.     There 
were  now  eleven  men  in  charge  of  the  herd,  but 
whilst  they  were  conversing  on  the  appearance  of  the 
strangers  in  the  settlement,  they  were  most  unexpect- 
edly attacked  by  a  numerous  body  of  Caffres,  who 
rushed  upon  them  out  of  the  bushes,  in  various  direc- 
tions at  the  same  moment.     In  opposing  the  removal 
of  their  cattle,  the  herdsmen  fired  their  muskets  twice  • 
but  their  ammunition  being  now  exhausted,  nine  of 
them  were  overpowered  and  cruelly  murdered  by  the 
robbers,  whilst  the  other  two  escaped  to  the  mission- 
house,  with  the  intelligence  of  this  sad  catastrophe 

The  excellent  missionary,  Mr.  Schmitt,  alludinr 
to  this  mournfol  event,  and  to  other  trying  circum- 
stances connected  with  it,  observes,  in  a  letter  dated 
U.tenhagen,  July  17,  1819,  "  It  is  out  of  my  power  to 
describe  what  we  and  our  people  have  suffered  from 
the  beginning  of  February  to  the  17th  of  April,  when 
we  were  obliged  to  quit  the  settlement;  especially 
dunng  the  last  week,  when  both  our  minds  and  bodies 
were  harassed  almost  beyond  the  power  of  human 
strength  to  bear.  The  lamentations  of  the  poor 
widows  and  children  of  the  nine  murdered  Hottentots 

pierced  our  verv  hnnrtg    and  a!!  mir -'t - 

-._, J  88S!)  all  Q^if  Bitcrapis  to sootne 


143 

^  ^  Th'  "?1*''™""'«'  «<>™fo"  to  them,  were  in 
ZLrf  ^f  !«',«'*"'  'J^-'d  ;-the  catUe,  which  had 

hitherto  supplied  them  with  meat  and  milk,  were  all 

SkyT^  ""''  "''"""''  *°  '''*  '^'"'''  "■ 

of 't'hY'nJ"'''  '*'"  »h«  Caffres  were  still  in  possession 
of  the  adjacent  woods  and- mountains,  and  were  not 
sure  but  that  every  moment  a  murderous  attack  might 
be  made,  upon  us.  Our  Hottentots  were,  therefore 
furnished  with  nine  muskets,  and  a  quantity  of  pow 
der  and  shot;  but  they  had  no v  entirely  lost  UieTr 
courage,  and  all  our  persuasions  to  make  them  seek 
and  bury  their  brethren  were  of  no  avaS  foT  hey 
were  apprehensive  that  if  they  entered  the  woods, 
they  should  all  share  the  same  fate.  Countless,  in' 
deed,  were  the  sighs,  tears  and  prayers,  which  we 
offered  up  to  our  God  and  Saviour,  during  these  days 
oJ  horror  and  anguish. 

"There  being  no  oxen  left,  we  could  not  quit  the 
place,  on  account  of  the  aged  and  infirm,  and  the  chil- 
dren  ;  but  on  the  very  day  on  which  the  Caffres  had 
visited  us  in  such  a  terrible  manner,  two  Hottentots 
were  found  wiHing,  m  spite  of  extreme  danger,  to  set 
out  for  Uitenhagen,  with  the  letters  which  we  had 
written  to  Colonel  Cuyler,  the  landrost,  and  to  our 
brethren  at  Gnadenthal.     The  colonel  ^as  much  af- 
fected on  hearing  what  had  befallen  us,  and  despatch- 
ed,  without  delay,  fifty  armed  colonists  and  thirty  Hot- 
tentots to  escort  us  and  our  congregation  to  Uitenhagen. 
After  having,  by  God's  mercy,  survived  that  night 
of  terror  between  the  14th  and  15th  of  April,  we  be- 
gan  to  pack  up  the  most  needful  articles  of  "'-hing 
&c. ;  and    buried  many  of  the  heavy  goods  in  the 
ground,  or  concealed  them  in  the  thicket ;  and  on  the 
17th,  we  left  the  Witte  Revier,  with  aching  hearts 
and  truly  in  deep  mourning.    Such  silence  prevailed  as 
if  no  more  than  two  or  three  were  setting  out.     Hav- 
ing  only  five  wagons,  and  those   pretty  well  loaded 
the  little  children  could  not  sit  in  them,  but  their 
parents  or  friends  carried  them  in  their  arms.     Every 
one  of  the  bigger  children,  as  well  as  the  rest  of  the 
people,  took  something  to  carry  ;  as  a  young  child,  a 
sheep,  or  a  small  parcel. 

"The  Sunday  river  being  swollen,  and  the  ford 
very  deep,  it  required  no  small  skill  and  exertion  to 
carry  the  old  and  infirm,  the  sick,  the  children,  and 
the  sheep,  across  the  stream ;  but  a  party  of  peasants 
who  were  deeply  affected  by  the  fate  of  the  congre- 
gation, and  showed  great  compassion  for  us,  placed 
themselves  in  a  row,  standing  up  to  their  breasts  in  the 
water,  and  handed  them  to  each  other.     Thus  we 
crossed  the  river  in  safety,  and  encamped  during  the 
night  on  the  plain.     And  on  our  arrival  at  Uitenh»irfi„ 
Colonel  Cuyler  and  his  lady  received  us  with  much 


m 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


compassion,  and  assisted  us,  in  every  way,  to  the  ut- 
most of  their  ability. 

"  On  the  18th  of  May,  brother  Hofiman  went  again, 
with  a  company  of  Hottentots  and  some  armed  boors, 
to  the  Witte  Revier.  He  found  every  thing  burnt  by  the 
Caffires,  who  had  even  thrown  the  doors  into  the  fire,  to 
get  out  the  iron  hinges  and  fastenings.  The  unripe  corn, 
pumpkins,  beans,  and  other  vegetables,  which  we  were 
compelled  to  leave  behind  us,  were  utterly  destroyed, 
partly  by  the  Cafiires,  and  partly  by  the  elephants." 

It  now  appeared  that  the  mission  on  the  Witte  Re- 
vier, once  so  promising  and  replete  with  interest,  must 
be  finally  abandoned.  The  great  Head  of  the  church, 
however,  had  designed  otherwise  ;  and  though,  in  his 
inscrutable  wisdom,  he  had  permitted  his  servants  to 
be  driven  for  a  season  from  that  favorite  spot,  in  the 
course  of  a  few  months  his  providence  opened  the 
way  for  their  return.  Accordingly,  in  the  latter  end 
of  October,  peace  having  been  previously  concluded 
between  the  Caffres  and  the  colonial  government,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Schmitt,  together  with  the  brethren  Hall- 
beck,  Schulz,  and  Hoffinan,  thirty-four  Hottentot  men, 
and  women,  and  a  few  children,  set  out  from  Uiten- 
hagen,  with  the  design  of  re-establishing  a  station, 
which,  in  former  times,  had  been  abundantly  blessed 
by  the  presence  and  approving  smile  of  their  Re- 
deemer. In  speaking.of  their  removal,  and  of  the  com- 
mencement of  the  new  settlement,  to  which  the  breth- 
ren resolved  to  give  the  name  of  Enon,  Mrs.  Schmitt 
writes  as  follows : — 

"  From  the  moment  of  our  leaving  the  Witte  Revier, 
I  had  always  a  firm  belief  that  we  should  return  and 
live  here  in  peace  ;  but  when  it  was  resolved  that  we 
and  the  single  brethren,  with  all  the  Hottentot  men, 
should  return  hither,  I  felt  a  dread  which  I  shall  not 
attempt  to  describe.  During  the  whole  journey, 
however,  my  heart  was  engaged  in  prayer,  and 
the  nearer  we  approached  the  place,  the  more  peace 
of  mind  I  felt.  When  we  passed  the  ruins  of  our 
dwellings,  I  shut  my  eyes,  fearing  the  sight  of  them 
might  make  me  still  more  afraid.  Here  the  Hotten- 
tots with  the  wagons  made  a  halt,  but  brother  Hall- 
beck  and  my  husband  ordered  our  drivers  to  proceed 
into  the  midst  of  the  bushes,  where  we  now  live. 
They  obeyed  silently,  and,  leaving  the  oxen  unyoked, 
we  all  assembled  in  a  circle,  on  the  spot  where  our 
house  now  stands,  and  falling  on  our  knees,  brother 
Hallbeck  offered  up  a  prayer.  Never  shall  I  forget 
this  hour!  Our  hearts  were  filled  with  peace  and 
confidence  in  God. 

"  As  soon  as  this  was  ended,  the  brethren  and  the 
male  Hottentots  began  to  clear  away  the  thorn-bushes, 
while  I,  with  our  maid  Louisa,  and  two  widows  of  the 
murdered  men,  who  had  come  with  us  of  their  own 


accord,  were  employed  in  pitching  the  tents  and  pro- 
viding  victuals. 

"  On  the  24th  of  November  we  \)egan  to  build  our 
new  house,  and  on  this  oc6asion,  my  husband,  brother 
Hofifman  and  myself,  with  some  of  the  Hottentots,  all 
turned  masons ;  and  we  began  the  new  year  within  the 
walls,  though  the  thatch  was  not  yet  put  upon  the  roof. 
I  may  truly  assert  that  I  never  spent  a  more  happy 
new  year's  day.  In  the  aflernoon  we  treated  all  those 
Hottentots  who  had  assisted  at  the  building  with  tea 
and  cakes.  They  set  a  table  at  one  end  for  us,  and 
brought  benches  in  for  themselves.  Their  conversa- 
tion was  unreserved  and  edifying ;  and  the  mercy  of 
God  in  bringing  us  again  in  safety  together,  was  ex- 
tolled by  them  with  humble  joy  and  gratitude." 

Of  the  rapid  and  interesting  improvements  which 
were  subsequently  effected  at  this  settlement,  a  toler- 
ably accurate  idea  may  be  formed  from  the  following 
remarks  of  the  Rev.  H.  P.  Hallbeck,  contained  in  a 
letter  dated  November  30,  1821. 

"  What  I  felt  at  the  first  sight  of  this  village  of  the 
Lord  no  language  is  able  to  describe.     I  had,  indeed, 
been  informed  of  the  changes  that  had  taken  place  here, 
since  I  first  witnessed  its  beginnings ;  but  even  the 
lively  descriptions  given  in  brother  Schmitt's  letters 
presented  things  much  more  faintly  than  I  now  saw 
ihem  with  my  own  eyes.     The  wilderness  and  the 
impenetrable  thicket  of  1819  were  still  present  to  my 
imagination.     Judge,  therefore,  of  my  surprise,  when 
I  saw  that  wilderness  transformed  into  fruitful  gardens ; 
that  thicket  extirpated,  and  a  fine  vineyard  planted  in 
its  place  ;  the  lurking  places  of  tigers  destroyed,  and, 
in  their  stead,    the   comfortable  habitations  of  men 
erected !     Imagine  my  heart-felt  pleasure  when,  on 
the  spot  where,  two  years  ago,  we  knelt  down  in  the 
fresh  track  of  an  elephant,  and  offered  up  our  first 
prayer  for  the  prosperity  of  his  establishment,  I  now 
found  a  beautiful  orange  tree,  adorned  at  once  with 
ripe  fruit  and  fragrant  blossoms ;  and  when,  shortly  af- 
ter my  arrival,  I  was  invited  to  tea  under  the  huge 
yellow  tree,  in  the  shade  of  which,  but  lately,  there 
were  no  assemblies  but  those  of  wild  buffaloes,  ele- 
phants, and  other  dreaded  inhabitants  of  the  desert. 
You  used  to  say,  that  every  tree  and  shrub  planted  at 
Gnadenthal  was  an  ornament,  not  only  to  the  place, 
but  to  the  gospel ;  and  you  may  say,  with  equal  truth, 
that  every  tree  and  thorn  bush  which  is  extirpated 
here,  to  make  room  for  more  useful  plants,  is  not  so 
much  a  proof  of  the  strength  of  the  human  arm,  as  of 
the  efficacy  of  God's  holy  word  ;  for  by  its  influence 
the  work  was  accomplished.     It  is  certainly  more  than 
I  had  expected,  to  find  here  a  piece  of  ground  nearly 
three  times  as  large  as  the  great  garden  at  Gnadenthal, 
.  cleared,  leveled,  and  laid  out,  as  a  garden  and  vine- 


SOUTH  AFRICA. 


yard  for  the  missionaries,  besides  about  forty  gardens 
of  tbe  Hottentots ;  and  all  this  done  amidst  a  variety 
of  other  needful  work,  and  even  in  the  most  distress- 
ing times." 

At  the  settlements  of  Gnadenthal  and  Gruenekloof 
nothing  particularly  worthy  of  relation  occurred  till  the 
month  of  July,  1822,  when  the  inhabitants  were  in- 
volved in  deep  distress,  by  the  rains  and  floods  with 
which  they  were  visited.      Of  the  painful  circum- 
stances connected  with  this  visitation,  the  following 
afiecting  details  have  been  given  by  Mr.  Hallbeck  :— 
"  Not  only  are  the  gardens  at  Gruenekloof  almost 
totally  ruined,  the  large  pond  filled  and  turned  into  a 
sand-hillock,  several  Hottentot  cottages  thrown  down, 
and   their  gardens  swept   away,  but  the   north-west 
gable  end  of  our  beautiful  church  is  changed  into  a 
heap  of  ruins.     It  was  in  the  night  of  the  23d  that  this 
dreadful  misfortune  took  place,  without  any  of  us  per- 
ceiving it  till  the  following  morning,  when  we  made 
the  fatal  dUcovery.     Our  consternation  and  distress 
you  may  more  easily  imagine  than  I  can  possibly  de- 
scribe ;  indeed  we  are  so  overwhelmed  with  care  and 
trouble  on  all  sides,  that  as  yet  we  have  not  been  able 
to  think  deliberately  on  the  proper  measures  to  be 
adopted  in  this  general  emergency.     Many  thousand 
dollars  will  be  required  to  repair  the  damage  sustain- 
ed, and  no  time  must  be  lost,  in  order  that  we   may 
save  the  other  walls  and  the  roof     But  at  the  present 
period  we  can  hardly  obtain  provisions  for  money,  and 
the  expense  and  trouble  of  providing  for  a  number  of 
laborers  will  be  very  great.     God  only  knows  how 
we  shall  find  our  way  through  the  surrounding  dark- 
ness !    But,  after  all,  there  is  only  one  way  for  us  open  ; 
which  is,  not  to  cast  away  our  confidence,  but  to  keep 
close  to  him  who  alone  is  able  to  heal  the  wounds 
which  his  hand  has  inflicted. 

"At  Gnadenthal,  though  none  of  the  buildings  be- 
longing to  the  missionaries  have  fallen,  our  poor  Hot- 
tentots have  suffered  most  severely.  Forty-eight 
houses  have  been  so  materially  injured  as  to  be  ren- 
dered uninhabitable  for  some  time,  and  of  this  number 
upwards  of  twenty  lie  in  ruins.  Tlie  rivulets  which 
irrigate  our  valley  have  overflowed,  and  damaged  some 
of  the  gardens ;  but  the  river  Sonderend  rose  to  an 
enormous  height.  All  the  boats  belonging  to  the 
farms  higher  up  the  river  were  carried  away,  and 
picked  up  by  our  Hottentots.  Great  quantities  of 
trees,  bushes,  roots  and  trunks  were  also  brought 
down  the  stream,  and  collected  at  the  foot  of  the 
bridge ;  the  wood  work  of  which  was  now  dislodged, 
and  some  of  the  beams  and  planks  were  carried  to  the 
distance  of  several  English  miles. 

"  Besides  the  loss  sustained  by  the  falling  of  houses, 
our  Hottentots  have  also  In-.t «  grr.^t  many  cattle,  by  wet 
Vol.  I.— Nos.  13  it.  14.  2£ 


146 


and  cold.     I  have  this  morning  made  a  list  cf  aU  the 
oxen  which  remain,  and  by  this  means  have  discover- 

fi?  o^u   ^l  *"""^'*''  ^^"^  ^^'""^  '^^y  Po^'^sed  on 
the  26th  of  May,  one  half  are  either  consumed  in  con- 
sequence  of  famine,  or  have  perished  by  the  severity 
01  the  weather,  in  the  short  space  of  three  months.     In 
fact  we  are  ruined  outright,  and  all  the  fond  hopes  of 
progressive    improvement,  which   once  cheered  the 
spirits  of  the  missionaries,  will  be  entirely  bliehted 
unless  God  dispose  the  hearts  of  benevolent  friends  to 
grant  us  their  assistance.     Often  have  I  used   that 
expression,  emaciated  with  hunger,  but  never  did  I 
feel  the  force  of  the  phrase  so  powerfolly  as  in  these 
days,  when  my  door  is  incessantly  besieged  by  women 
and  children,  who  present  to  my  eyes  the  frightful 
reality  of  what  was  formeriy  only  a  faint  picture  in  my 
imagination." 

Whilst  the  brethren  and  their  respective  flocks  were 
thus  severely  exercised  at  Gruenekloof  and  Gnaden- 
thai,  the  settlers  at  Enon  were  also  drinking  deeply 
of  the  cup  of  aflJiction,  as  will  appear  from  the  follow- 
mg   statement,  extracted  from  a  letter   of  the   Rev. 

J.  H.  Schmitt,  dated  September  11,  1822: 

"  For  these  two  years  past  our  people,  generally 
speaking,  have  not  tasted  a  morsel  of  bread  ;  for  it 
was  not  to  be  procured  in  any  way.  Add  to  this,  that 
from  their  gardens  they  reaped  no  vegetables  last  sum- 
mer ;  nor  could  we  assist  them,  in  any  material  degree, 
from  our  stores.  They  did  not  lose  their  confidence, 
however,  m  their  heavenly  Father,  but  said,  '  He  who  • 
did  not  abandon  us  in  our  most  dreadful  distress,  during 
the  Caffre  war,  will  not  forsake  us  now.' 

"  You  will  say,  '  If  the  Hottentots  have  no  bread  or 
garden-stuff  to  eat,  by  what  do  they  support  life  ?' 
They  get  buffaloes,  by  hunting  in  the  woods  ;    and 
sometimes  an  old  worn-out  bullock  or  cow  is  killed. 
They  have,  likewise,  milk  ;  but,  in  general,  they  live 
upon   fruits  growing  wild    in  the  fields  and    forests. 
The  most  nutritious  among  these  is  the  boer-bohnen,  a 
kind  of  wild  bean,  growing  on  a  tree  in  the  woods  ; 
but  as  the  elephants  happen  to  be  very  fond  of  this 
vegetable,  they  sometimes  come  and  put  the  Hotten- 
tot intruders  to   flight.     The  root  called   <'A:oe  is  also 
found  in  plenty  in  the  low  grounds,  among  the  bushes." 
The  6th  of  January,  1823,  was  observed  at  Gna- 
denthal with  peculiar  solemnity,  as  being  the  festival 
of  the  Epiphany,  and  the  twenty-third  anniversary  of 
the  opening  of  the  church  in  that  settlement.     On  this 
occasion  four  adults  were  baptized,  eight  were  receiv- 
cd  into  tile  congregation,  and  of  twenty-four  persons 
who  were  present  as  spectators  at  the  holy  commu- 
nion, eleven  were  intended  to  be  confirmed  previous 
to  the  next  celebration  of  that  interesting  oriinance. 
It  also  appeared  thatTrom  the  6th  of  January,  1800, 


146 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


when  the  church  was  consecrated,  till  this  anniversary, 
one  thousand  and  five  adults  and  eight  hundred  and 
eighty-nine  children  had  here  been  admitted  to  the 
rite  of  baptism. 

Towards  the  end  of  the  same  year  the  brethren  at 
this  station  were  visited  by  a  Hottentot  captain  named 
Absalom  Pommer,  chief  of  a  kraal  at  Sandvonteyn, 
situated  beyond  the  mountains,  about  four  days'  jour- 
ney from  Gnadenthal.  He  earnestly  entreated  the 
missionaries  to  supply  his  people,  amounting  to  about 
fifty  persons,  with  a  teacher  ;  observing  that,  though 
they  were  blind  heathen,  they  were  desirous  to  hear 
the  word  of  God,  as  their  children  were  growing  up 
in  ignorance,  and  the  parents  were  incapable  of  giving 
them  any  instruction.  Two  of  the  brethren,  Messrs. 
Stein  and  Beinbreck,  were  accordingly  deputed  to 
visit  Sandvonteyn,  and  the  poor  people  appeared  over- 
joyed at  their  arrival.  On  account  of  the  scanty  sup- 
ply of  water,  however,  and  some  other  unfavorable 
circumstances,  it  was  judged  impracticable  to  form  a 
settlement  in  that  place  ;  and  the  missionaries  return- 
ed, leaving  the  poor  Hottentots  overwhelmed  with  dis- 
appointment. 

The  following  account  from  Gnadenthal  is  contain- 
ed in  a  letter  of  the  Rev.  H.  P.  Hallbeck,  dated  Jan- 
uary 21,  1824,  in  which  the  writer  observes,  "  We 
)iave  celebrated  a  very  happy  Christmas  and  entrance 
into  the  new  year.  Many  strangers  attended  our  wor- 
ship ;  and  on  new  year's  day  there  were  so  many 
Hottentote,  slaves,  and  others,  that  a  particular  meet- 
ing was  held  with  thenj,  in  which  they  were  seriously 
and  affectionately  reminded  not  to  neglect  the  day  of 
grace,  but  to  seek  to  obtain  the  one  thing  needful.  A 
deep  and  salutary  impression  seemed  to  be  made  upon 
them.  On  the  6th  of  January,  thirteen  adults  were 
admitted  to  the  rite  of  baptism,  and  three  baptized  as 
children,  were  received  into  the  congregation.  At  the 
celebration  of  the  holy  communion,  on  the  1 1th,  thirty- 
two  persons  were  present  as  spectators,  of  whom 
seventeen  will  be  confirmed  next  month.  It  appears  to 
us,  and  we  are  assured  by  some  old  and  faithful  mem- 
bers of  our  congregation,  that  during  the  solemn  festi- 
vals lately  celebrated,  many  have  been  stirred  up  to 
consider  their  ways,  and  to  turn  unto  the  Saviour  for 
pardon  and  peace." 

It  is  no  uncommon  thing  to  hear  men  assail  Cliris- 
tian  missions  under  the  mask  of  friendship  to  science  and 
civilization.  But  the  attack  is  vain.  Facts  prove  that 
the  Bible  is  the  sure  harbinger  of  all  the  comforts  and 
charities  of  life.  In  1826,  the  missionary  records  in 
his  Journal—"  A  new  dwclling-nouse  is  building  under 
the  inspection  of  a  Hottentot  mason  of  Gnadenthal, 
and  I  am  surprised  at  the  accuracy,  neatness  and 
expedition  with  which  the  woric  is  done.     This  Hot- 


tentot has  not  his  equal,  as  a  mason,  neither  among  the 
Europeans  nor  the  Africans  in  the  whole  neighborhood. 
I  am  happy  to  add,  that  he  is  an  excellent  character, 
and  a  pattern  of  sobriety,  industry,  and  Christian 
temper." 

In  July,  1828,  Mr.  Hallbeck  mentions,  that  "  three 
elderiy  people  have  departed  this  life  in  the  faith  of 
Christ,  full  of  hope  and  happiness.  Among  them 
was  a  chapel  servant  and  an  overseer.  It  is  a  token  for 
good,  that  when  such  faithful  members  of  the  congrega- 
tion leave  us,  there  is  no  scarcity  of  approved  charac- 
ters to  supply  their  places,  but  a  choice  among  many." 
The  latest  account  is  from  the  same  missionary, 
April,  1830 :  "  Several  members  of  our  missionary 
family  are  at  present  suffering  more  or  less  from  indis- 
position, though  not  of  so  serious  a  nature,  as  to  unfit 
them  for  active  exertion.  Meanwhile,  the  work  in 
which  we  are  engaged  continues  to  be  abundantly 
blessed.  We  have  just  had  the  pleasure  to  see  fifty- 
two  persons  of  both  sexes  advanced  in  the  privileges 
of  the  church,  many  of  whom  have  afforded  us  much 
satisfaction  by  their  simple  and  experimental  declara- 
tions. An  infant  school  has  been  opened  with  eighty 
children  at  this  station.  The  instructers  are  young 
Hottentots,  who  have  been  trained  by  Mr.  Hallbeck. 
The  total  of  Hottentots  and  CafTres  at  this  station  is 
one  thousand  three  hundred  and  twenty-two." 

From  Gruenekloof  intelligence  is  furnished  by  Mr. 
Clemens,  in  a  letter  dated  November  12,  1823,  in 
which  he  remarks,  "  The  character  of  the  Hottentots 
belonging  to  this  congregation  differs  somewhat  firom 
that  of  those  at  Gnadenthal,  owing  to  their  vicinity  to 
the  Cape,  and  their  more  frequent  intercourse  with 
Europeans.  We  therefore  find  them  more  liable  to 
be  seduced  into  irregularities,  of  which  we  had  some 
painful  instances  in  the  beginning  of  the  present  year; 
but  it  pleased  the  Lord  to  bring  the  transgressors  to 
repentance,  and  our  sorrow  was  turned  into  joy,  by  the 
blessing  which  attended  the  celebration  of  the  Passion 
week  and  Easter ;  when  wo  truly  felt  the  Redeemer's 
presence  with  us,  and  a  renewed  impression  was  made 
upon  all  our  hearts  of  his  love  to  sinners,  and  of  what 
it  cost  him  to  deliver  us  from  the  power  of  sin  and  from 
eternal  death.  Six  adults  and  one  child  were  baptized, 
and  twenty  persons  were  added  or  re-admitted  to  the 
congregation." 

In  1827,  tlie  same  missionary  writes — "  The  inter- 
nal state  of  our  mission  varies,  yet  we  often  witness  evi- 
dences of  the  power  of  divine  grace  among  our  poor  Hot- 
tentots. Tiie  Passion  and  Easter  seasons  were  periods 
of  special  blessing.  Thirty-three  were  admitted  to  dif- 
ferent congregational  privileges,  and  on  Easter  Monday 
we  had  a  very  impressive  service,  at  which  eleven  adults 
were  baptized,  the  greatest  number  ever  baptized  at 


SOUTH  AFRICA. 


once  at  Gruenekldof.  Our  settlement  has  considerably 
improved  since  you  were  here,  and  iu  appearance  is 
not  u  Uttle  improved  by  the  erection  of  several  walled 
houses  which  do  credit  to  the  Hottentots." 

In  1830,  the  mission  had  encouraging  tokens  of  the 
divme  presence  and  approbation.  The  inhabitants  had 
mcreased  to  the  number  of  five  hundred  and  sixty. 

At  Enon,  the  circumstances  of  the  brethren  and 
their  little  flock  continued  to  be  very  distressing  in  the 
latter  end  of  1823,  as  will  appear  from  the  following 
extract  of  a  letter  written  by  Mrs.  Schmitt  on  the  2d  of 
November:   "  On  the  6th  of  October  we  had  a  fine 
rain  at  which  there  was  general  rejoicing ;  but  when.it 
continued,  with  little  intermission,  for  four  days  and 
nights,  we  began  to  be  alarmed  about  the  rising  of  the 
river.      Early  on  the  morning  of  the  10th,  brother 
Halter  who  had  the  charge  of  our  recently  erected  mill 
went  to  see  whether  tlie  dam  near  the  river  was  in 
order  so  as  to  stand  against  any  body  of  water  which 
might  be  expected  to  come  down  ;  but  there  was  no 
dam  to  be  seen,  and  he  was  obliged  to  flee  as  quickly  as 
possible,  that  the  flood  might  not  overtake  him.     He 
had  scarcely  got  into  our  room,  before  the  river  over- 
flowed its  banks,  and  we  saw  the  mill  in  great  danger, 
as  the  works  were  already  under  water. 

"  We  now,  as  quickly  as  possible,  and  during  tor- 
rents of  rain,  brought  our  corn,  flour  and  all  that  was 
movable,  into  the  loft  over  the  church.     We  could  then 
do  no  more  than  pray  to  our  Saviour  to  give  us  lesir- 
nation  to  his  will,  and  wait  the  event.     Our  poor  Hot- 
tentots fled  to  us ;  many  of  their  houses  being  washed 
down  by  the  flood.     All  our  eyes  were  fixed  on  the 
mill,  which  stood  in  the  midst  of  a  fierce  and  rapid 
torrent.     In  about  eight  hours  the  water  rose  upwards 
of  sixteen  feet,  and  tiie  breadth  of  the  stream,  in  the 
smallest  part,  was  upwards  of  six  hundred  feet.     Our 
beautiful  corn  field  was,  I  believe,  more  than  five  feet 
under  water,  and  tiiere  was  not  a  single  bush  or  young 
tree  to  be  seen.     Large  trees  were  torn  up  by  the 
roots,  and  carried  by  the  stream  over  our  corn-land 
One  of  these  struck  the  north-west  corner  of  the  mill, 
and,  giving  entrance  to  the  water,  soon  brought  it   to 
the  ground.     Part  of  the  wall  fell  upon  the  water- 
wheel  and  broke  it.     The  pump,  however,  remained 
standing,  and  no  material  damage  is  done  to  the  mill- 
work  inside  the  building.     The  house  would  probably 
have  stood  against  the  torrent,  had  it  not  been  struck 
by  the  tree.     The  water  was  now  only  four  feet  from 
our  dwellings,  and  we  were  alarmed   for  our  own 
safety  ;  but  about  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  it 
began  to  subside,  so  that  we  could  spend  the  night  at 
ease  in  our  house.     Most  of  the  Hottentots,  whose 
houses  had  been  damaged,  lodged  in  our  church.   Our 
own  buildings  have  suffered  no  materia!  injury,  nor 


147 

our  garden  and  vineyard  ;  but  the  lower  part  of  the 
Hottentots'  gardens,  which  lie  in  a  line  with  our  com- 
land,  is  entirely  swept  away.    The  poor  people  had 
been  very  diligent  in  planting,  and  it  was  a  pleasure 
to  see  how  every  thing  was  thriving ;  but  now  all  is 
carried  away,  and  a  bed  ol  stones  covers  the  ground ! 
Much  as  these  misfortunes  afflict  us,  however,  we 
have  great  reason  to  thank  God  that  we  have  built 
just  on  this  spot,  for  there  is  not  so  safe  a  place  alonir 
the  whole  river,   in  case  of  floods.      Had  we  built 
on  the  old  place,  we  must  have  fled  to  the  hills  :  for 
nearly  all,  from  one  hill  to  the  other,  was  under  water  » 
In  a  letter  of  the  Rev.  J.  H.  Schmitt,  dated  xVo- 
vember  15,  1823,  the  writer  observes,  "We  rejoice 
when,  by  the  liberality  of  our  friends  in  England  we 
are  able  to  assist  the  poor  people,  and  especially  the 
children  of  the  poor.     In  the  beginning  of  this  year, 
some  very  wretched  families  of  the  Gunna  and  Bush- 
men's tribes  came  hither  ;  and  out  of  mere  pity  we 
could  not  do  otherwise  than  permit  them  to  stay.     We 
must  provide  them  with  neariy  every  article  of  subsist- 
ence ;  but  we  are  ... warded  by  perceiving  that  there  is 
a  manifest  work  of  the  Holy  Spirit  in  their  souls,  and 
that  the  word  of  the  cross  proves  itself  to  be  the  power 
of  God  unto  them.     These  poor  people,  and  many 
beside  them,  give  undeniable  evidence,  that  men  who 
have  lived  in  darkness,  and  in  the  practice  of  every 
kind  of  iniquity,  when  they  receive  the  gospel  into 
their  Iiearts,  truly  experience  that  Jesus  has  power  to 
forgive  sin,  and  to  deliver  the  soul  from  its  dominion. 
Often  do  we  see  these  encouraging  instances  of  the 
grace  of  God  imparted  to  the  vilest  and  most  degraded 
of  the  human  race.      Thus  they  become  Christians 
indeed,  and  show,  in  their  lives  and  conversation,  that 
they  are  truly  converted.     But  till  a  poor  ignorant 
heathen,  by  the  grace  of  God  and  the  teaching  of  his 
Spirit  accompanying  the  word,  begins  to  understand 
what  Jesus  has  done  and  suffered,  out  of  love  to  such 
wretclied  beings  as  we  all  are,  and  sees  the  necessity 
of  turning  to  him  for  pardon  and  rest,  all  attempts  to 
bring  him  into  a  decent  course  of  hfe,  and  to  civilize  him, 
will  be  in  vain.      He  remains  dead  in  sin,  and  has' 
neither   inclination  nor   power  to  do  what   God  has 
commanded,  or  what  good  men  prescribe  for  his  wel- 
fare.    I  may  say  this  with  regard  to  two  Cafires  living 
here.     One  is  an  old  man,  very  feeble,  and  can  work 
no  longer ;— the  other  a  young,  bold,  heroic  character, 
and  in  liis  best  years.     They  are  both  the  same,  how- 
ever, in  their  experience  of  the  grace  of  God  in  their 
souls.     The  latter  was  formerly  like  a  wolf,  but  has 
now  become   a  lamb.     He   often  makes  me   think 
of,  and  pray  for,  the  nation  to  which  he  belongs,  and  of 
which  I  consider  that  in  these  two  men,  the  Lord  has 
given  us  the  first-fruits." 


ns 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


In  18S5,  there  was  occasion  to  lament  the  conduct 
of  some  of  the  younger  members  of  the  congregation ; 
but  Mrs.  Schmitt,  in  the  following  year,  testified  to 
their  sincere  repentance,  and  described  her  school  as 
in  a  prosperous  condition.  On  Easter  Monday,  ten 
adul'^  were  baptised ;  and  on  the  foliGwing  Lord's 
day,  thirty,  who  had  been  baptized,  and  thirteen,  ad- 
mitted to  the  Lord's  supper  since  1825,  attended  the 
usual  thanksgiving  on  that  day. 

In  a  communication  made  in  1828,  by  the  same 
missionary,  the  state  of  the  cause  is  represented  as  full 
of  CDfourageuient.  He  says, — "  The  longer  I  have 
been  at  Enon,  the  more  clearly  have  I  seen,  that  the 
Lord  himself  directed  our  steps  to  this  place.  The 
gospel  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  is  heard  with  eager 
attention  and  profit,  of  which  we  have  encouraging 
proof,  particularly  among  the  new  people.  We  wish 
that  some  of  the  older  inhabitants  showed  more  hun- 
ger and  thirst  after  the  experience  of  the  grace  of  their 
Saviour. 

- "  During  this  year,  twenty-seven  adults  and  six- 
teen children  were  baptized.  Such  days  are  to  us, 
and  our  Hottentot  congregation,  truly  festival  days  ; 
when  we  see  so  many  added  to  the  church  of  Christ, 
and  can  believe  that  he  receives  them  in  mercy,  as  the 
reward  of  the  travail  of  his  soul." 

It   may  be    necessary    to   observe,  previously   to 
closing  the  present  chapter,  that,  in  the  latter  end  of 
1822,  the  United  Brethren  in  South  Africa  were  so- 
licited by  government  to  undertake  the  religious  in- 
struction of  a  number  of  lepers,  or  persons  afflicted 
with  what  is  there  termed  the  Lazarus  disease,  for 
whom    the    hospital   of  Hemel  en  Anrde  had   been 
erected,  in  a  romantic  situation,  at  the  foot  of  a  moun- 
tain, called  the  Tower  of  Babel,  and   at  a  moderate 
distance  from  the  sea.     The  Rev.  J.  P.  Lietner  and 
his  wife  accordingly  removed  thither  on  the  21st  of 
December,  and  had  the  satisfaction  to  find  that  most  of 
the  patients  were  overjoyed  nt  their  arrival.     Some  of 
them,  who  had  been  previously  united  to  the  church,  at 
Gnadenthai   or  Groenekloof,  cxclniined, — "  Now  we 
perreivc  tlint  our  Saviour  has  indeed  heard  our  proyors, 
and  sent  us  help  ;  for  we  have  often  entreated  him  to 
send  one  of  our  teachers  to  us."     Oilicis,  who  were 
formerly  very  wild,  and  who  used  to  spond  f^rcnt  jjnrt 
of  their  time  in  fiddling  and  dancing,  wlieii  tlu-y  honril 
that  missionaries  had  arrived  to  instruct  them  in  tlio 
way  of  salvation,  in  their  joy  broke  their  fiddles  to 
pieces,  and  soon  afterward  bcciunc  serious  and  atten- 
tive hearers,  whenever  the  word  of  life  was  dispensed 
among  tlictn. 

Intelligence  from  this  scene  of  labor  is  oontoined  in 
a  conununieation  from  Mr.  i^ietnor,  dated  January  9. 
IHV4,  in  which  ho  observes,  «"  As  to  the  preaching  of 


the  gospel  in  this  place,  we  should  deny  the  power  of 
our  Saviour's  grace  did  we  not  gratefully  declare,  that 
he  has  granted  his  blessing  to  attend  our  feeble  tebti- 
mony.  Many  a  poor  Hottentot  has  thereby  become 
convinced  of  his  lost  condition  through  sin,  and  been 
taught  to  seek  forgiveness  and  deliverance  from  its 
thraldom,  through  the  power  and  mercy  of  our  Re- 
deemer. Some  of  the  patients  have  departed  this 
life  in  reliance  on  the  merits  of  Jesus,  with  a  sure  and 
joyful  hope  of  everlasting  rest  and  bliss.  Thirteen 
adults  and  five  children  have  been  added  to  the  church 
by  holy  baptism,  and  one  person  has  been  admitted  to 
the  Lord's  supper.  In  short,  we  may  with  truth  de- 
clare, that  the  word  of  atonement  has  not  been  preach- 
ed here  in  vain,  but  has  approved  itself  the  power  of 
God  in  the  hearts  of  these  wretched  sufl^erers,  who 
are,  indeed,  outcasts  from  human  society.  To  him  be 
all  the  glory." 

In  December,  1824,  Mr.   Lietner  writes, — "  We 
have  ventured  to  erect  a  temporary  chapel  for  the  use 
of  the  unfortunate  patients.     It  is  thirty-two  feet  long, 
and  fifteen  broad,  and  is  built  in  the  Hottentot  manner, 
of  stakes  and  unburnt  brick.     All  the  materials  we 
have  procured  ourselves,  exce|,t  the  timber,  which  was 
furnished  by  government ;  and  the  work  was  perform- 
ed by  our  people  without  remuneration.     The  \\hoIe 
fas  complated  within  a  month,  so  that  we  were  able, on 
the  12th  instant,  to  make  a  solemn  dedication  of  it  to 
the  Lord,  on  which  occasion  four  adults  were  baptized 
into  the  death  of  Jesus.     It  was  tndy  a  day  of  bless- 
ing and  refreshment  from  his  presence,  and  we  were 
now  convinced,  that  he,  who  is  rich  in  mercy  towards 
the  meanest  and  most  afflicted  of  his  creatures,  does 
not  despise  the  outcasts  among  whom  we  are  called  to 
labor.     Brother  Lemmertz  and  his  wife,  and  sister 
Bcinbrech,  were  present  with  us   at  this  solemnity. 
You  will  understand  that  our  church  is  of  the  humblest 
description,  when  I  mention  that  it  is  without  doors, 
windows  or  benches.     We  trust,  however,  to  obtain 
means  for  the  |iiiroliase  of  these  nerossory  accommoda- 
tions.    During  the  past  year,  .^eventeen  adults  have 
been  hnpti/.ed,  four  admitted  to  the  holy  commnnion, 
and  twenty-two  have  become  candidates  for  baptism  ; 
twenty-eii;lit  patients  have  (le))ai-ted  this  life,  of  whom 
eiftlit  had  been  baptized  ;  fifty-one   lepers   have  been 
broiiulit  hither  from  various  parts  of  the  colony  ;  so 
that  the  whole  ninnher  of  iiiliahitants  is  ot  present  one 
hundred  and  nineteen  ;  of  these,  three  adults  and  six 
children  nre  in  a  healthy  state.   I  can  declare  with  truth, 
rnnrerninc;  the  majority  of  those  who  compose  our 
little  (hx'k,  tliut   it    is   their  sineere  desire  to  live  to 
Jesus.     The  word  of  his  patience   is  the  daily  spirit- 
ual fond,  hy  u'hicii  ihcir  hungry  souls  are  nourisiied. 
and  they  arc  enabled,  amidst  nil  their  afflictions,  to  re- 


ASIATIC  RUSSIA. 


joice  in  his  salvition.     Pray  for  us,  that  his  precious 
word  maycontinue  to  have  freecourse  and  be  glorified." 
It  is  gratifying  to  hear  that  this  leper  institution  has 
been  extensively  useful.     In  1828,  Mr.  L.  writes,— 
"Ar'ong   the    lepers   are   seventeen    slaves;    some 
of  them  are  truly  converted ;  their  walk  and  conver- 
sation are  an  honor  to  the  gospel.     In  1827,  we  began 
to  build  a  new  church,  the  temporary  one  being  ready 
to  fall.    The  building  will  be  eighty  feet  long,  twenty- 
two  wide.     We  have  cause  to  rejoice  at  the  manifest 
proofs  we  behold  of  the  work  of  the  Lord  and  his 
Spirit.     Mr.  J.  E.  Tietze  informs  a  correspondent  on 
the  6th  July,  1830,  that  the  members  of  the  little 
flock  at  the  institution  walked  worthy  of  their  Chris- 
tian profession,  and  proved,  by  their  whole  conversa- 
tion, that  "  they  account  the  sufferings  of  the  pres- 
ent time  as  not  worthy  to  be  compared  with  the  glo- 
ry that  shall  follow." 

In  1828,  a  mission  was  commenced  among  the 
Tambookkies,  in  a  healthy  region  on  the  Klipplaats 
river.  Some  of  the  superabundant  population  at  Enon 
was  drafted  off  in  the  establishment  of  this  new  sta- 
tion. The  brethren  Hoffinan  and  Lemmertz,  with 
their  wives,  were  kindly  received  by  the  chief  Bowana, 
and  that  part  of  the  nation  under  his  control.  In 
1829,  an  attack  from  the  savage  Fetkannas  led  the 
brethren  to  retire  to  the  military  post  on  Klaas  Smit's 


149 


nver,  where  they  collected  a  congregation  of  about 
sixty  Hottentots  and  others.    The  missionaries  men- 
t.on  the  foUowmg  proof  of  a  noble  spirit  m  a  Christian 
Hottentot :-«  AH  the  individuals  composing  oursmdl 
flock,  twenty-four  in  number,  old  and  young,  are  stead- 
last  m  their  determination  to  return  to  the  Klipplaat 
as  soon  as  possible.     Hendrick  Beukes,  one  of  the 
most  respectable  of  the  Hottentots,  who  sustained  a 
loss  of  mne  hundred  dollars,  his  whole  stock  of  cattle 
havmg  been  carried  off  by  the  Fetkannas  (nineteen 
oxen  and  SIX  horses),  being  asked  by  brother  Lem- 
mertz  whether  he  was  willing  to  return,  apparently 
astonished  at  the  question,  replied,  '  Yes,  sir ;  and 
not  only  to  the  Klipplaat,  but  I  hope  one  day  to  assist 
in  bnnging  the  gospel  to  the  Fetkannas  themselves.' 
Sh)  speaks  a  Hottentot,  with  a  wife  and  family,  who 
narrowly  escaped  ^vith  his  life,  after  losing  nearly  all 
h.s  woridly  substance."     This  is  the  true  missionary 
spirit.     Ought  not  such  a  spirit,  displayed  by  a  Hot- 
tentot   to  speak  loudly  to  many  a  professing  Christian 
m  civilized  countries,  who,  from  an  excessive  attach- 
ment  to  the  things  of  this  world,  declines,  or  at  least 
hesitates,  to  contribute,  either  in  person  or  substance, 
to  the  advancement  of  Christ's  kingdom  ? 

The  mission  has  subsequently  been  recommenced, 
and  the  faithful  laborers  are  cheered  with  hope  that 
the  wilderness  will  soon  blossom  as  the  rose 


CHAPTER   VII. 


MISSION    IN    ASIATIC    RUSSIA. 


An  imperial  edict  having  been  issued  by  Catharine 
ihe  Great,  empress  of  Russia,  in  bolialf  of  the  United 
Brethren,  granting  them  free  permission  to  sottle  in 
her  dominions,  and  promising  tiioni  complete  liberty 
of  conscience,  five  missionaries  sailed  from  Germany 
in  1765,  cn<l  proceeded  to  the  banks  of  the  Wolga, 
where,  with  tiio  assistance  of  some  Ru-ssians,  they 
formed  a  settlement,  to  which  they  gave  the  name  of 
Sarepln.  In  the  course  of  a  few  years,  this  place, 
whicli  was  situated  on  the  high  road  leading  to  I'ersia 
and  India,  by  the  way  of  Astrachan,  become  a  flourish- 
mg  and  populous  little  town,  and  the  discovery  of  a 

"! r.  -•••'!«  tnrr  Uisiaiicc  OI    nvc  ITiiios,  Umw 

tojjother  a  great  number  of  visitors  of  different  nations. 


many  of  whom  remained  some  time  at  the  settlement 
or  m  the  vicinity,  for  the  benefit  of  the  water.  ' 

The  primary  object  of  the  missionaries,  however 
111  building  Sorepta,  was  not  the  establishment  of  a 
nourishing  colony,  but  the  introduction  of  the  gospel  to 
the  surrounding  heathen,  and  the  securing  of  an  ad- 
vantageous station  for  such  of  their  brethren  as  might 
bo  subsequently  induced  to  labor  in  the  same  depart- 
ment of  the  Lord's  vineyard.  They  were  accordingly 
very  desirous  of  forming  an  acquaintance  with  the  Cal- 
imic  Tartars,  who  occupy  an  immense  tract  of  coun- 
try on  each  side  of  the  Wolga  :  and  their  wish,  in  this 
respect,  was  speedily  fulfilled  ;  as  a  numerous  horde  of 
that  nation  encamped  in  their  immediate  vicinity  loon 


160 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


after   their  arrival,  and  many  of  them  became  the 
patients  of  Dr.  Jeachim  Wier,  the  practising  physician 
in  the  settlement.     Among  tlsese  was  a  prince  of  the 
Derbet  tribe,  who,  with  his  retinue,  took  up  his  winter 
quarters  near  Sarepta,  in  1767 ;  and  on  his  removal, 
in  the  ensuing  spring,  he  invited  two  of  the  brethren 
to  accompany  him  to  the  immense  plain  called  the 
Great  Steppe,  assuring  them  of  his  friendship  and 
protection,  and  promising  to  facilitate,  as  far  as  he 
might  be  able,  their  attainment  of  the  language.  This 
proposal  was,  of  course,  gratefully  accepted ;  and  for 
a  period  of  about  two  years,  the  missionaries  who  had 
been  selected  for  this  purpose  resided  witli  the  Cal- 
mucs,  following  them,  with  their  tents  and  cattle,  in 
their  occasional  migrations,  and  cheerfully  conforming 
to  their  mode  of  life.     During  the  whole  of  tliis  time 
they  were  treated  with  civility  and  kiiidnuss,  and  were 
permitted  to  preach  the  gospel,  williout  even  the  slight- 
est opposition  from  the  priests  ;  but  as  no  bouelit  seem- 
ed likely  to  result  from  their  continued  resideiico  with 
the  horde,  they  relinquished  their  wanderings,  and 
confined  their  missionary  instructions  to  such  of  the 
Tartars  as  occasionally  visited   the  settlement,  or  re- 
sided within  a  moderate  distance. 

In  the  summer  of  1774,  an  event  occurred  which 
threatened  complete  destruction  to  tiie  mission,  but 
which  was  graciously  overruled  by  the  providence  of 
that  God  who  incessantly  watches  over  the  interests 
of  his  people.     A  formidable  troop  of  insurgents,  who 
had  for  some  time  excilcd  terror  and  dismay  by  their 
devastations  in  various  provinces  of  the  Russian  em- 
pire, made  an  irruption  into  the  government  of  Astra- 
chan,  reduced  the  town  of  Suratof,   and  completely 
routed    a    parly  of  the    military,  who   attempted    to 
check  their  progress  at  a  place  called  I'ruleika,  within 
sixty  miles  of  Sarepta.     The  brethren  were  first  ap- 
prized of  these  nlarming  facts  by  some  fugitives,  who 
arrived  at  the  settlement  on  the  "iSth  of  August  ;  and 
about  tiio  same  time  they  received  a  message  from  the 
commandant  of  Czarizin,  avowing  his  total  inability  to 
defend  Sarepta,  nnd  reconuncuding  the  inluibitnnts  to 
provide  for  their  safety  by   immeiiiato  fligiit.     The 
whole  of  the  women  and  children,  accordingly,  .set  out 
the  same  night,  accompani'MJ  by  sevr  ill  of  the  bretii- 
ren.and  proceeded,  partly  by  laiul  and  |)iirtly  by  water, 
to  Astraclian,  where  they  arrived,  after  many  hard- 
ships and   perils,  on  the  7th  of  September.     Sixty- 
five  of  their  companions,  in  the  mean  time,  remained 
at    Sarepta.  anxious    to   secure   their   most   valuable 
property,  nnd  determined  not  to  abandon  their  post 
till  retreat  should  become  indispensable.     On  the  1st 
of  SepleinlH-r,  iiowever,  some  very  alarming  reports 
reached  the  seltlenunt,  which  induced  them  to  floe 
for  theif  Hrcs  ;  and  it  was  not  uniii  the  yili  tlmi  limy 


received  the  joyfiil  intelligence  of  the  complete  dis- 
conofiture  of  the  insurgents.  When  this  was  made 
known  to  the  fugitives  at  Astrachan,  they  all  returned, 
adoring  the  God  of  their  mercies  that  no  lives  had 
been  lost  on  this  trying  occasion,  and  that  not  an 
individual  of  their  number  had  fallen  into  the  hands  of 
the  rebels. 

The  brethren  now  resumed  their  benevolent  labora 
among  the  Calmucs,  and  other  pagans,  who  frequently 
visited  the  settlement,  and  embraced  every  opportuni- 
ty of  declaring  and  explaining  the  great  truths  of  Chris- 
tianity ;  but,  though  their  auditors  sometimes  appeared 
to  listen  with  pleasure  to  their  conversation,  no  abid- 
ing impressions  were  made  upon  their  minds.  At 
length,  however,  they  had  the  gratification  of  witness- 
ing the  conversion  of  a  blind  Calmuc  girl,  who  had 
been  educated  at  Sarepta,  and  who  was  not  only  ad- 
mitted to  the  riteofbaptsim,  but  subsequently  evinced 
the  genuineness  of  her  faith  by  the  consistency  of  her 
life  and  conversation,  and  at  length  departed  out  of 
time  into  eternity,  confidently  relying  on  the  all-suf- 
ficicnt  atonement  of  the  Son  of  God. 

In  the  month  of  November,  1781,  two  of  the 
brethren,  Messrs.  Grabsch  and  Gruhl,  undertook  a 
journey  to  Mount  Caucasus,  in  order  to  ascertain  the 
truth  of  some  reports  which  they  had  heard  relative 
to  a  tribe  called  the  Tschccks,  in  that  part  of  the 
country  ;  who  were  said  to  have  fled  thither  from 
Europe  some  centuries  ago,  and  to  have  still  retained 
their  peculiar  customs,  and  professed  the  Christian  re- 
ligion, though  their  churches  were  never  occupied,  as 
they  were  no  longer  capable  of  reading  the  books  of 
tiieir  forefathers,  which  were  tiiere  deposited :  in  fact, 
some  of  the  missionaries  were  ready  to  conclude,  as 
the  name  of  Tscheclis  is  assumed  by  tiie  Bohemians, 
that  the  perse;\s  of  whom  they  had  thus  heard  were 
the  descendants  of  their  countrymen,  who,  on  account 
of  their  religion,  were  cruelly  banished  from  Moravia, 
towards  the  close  of  the  fifteenth  century,  nnd  are 
supposed  to  have  retired  to  the  vicinity  of  Mount 
Caucasus. 

On  their  arrival  at  Astrachan,  our  travellers  waited 
on  the  governor,  who  kindly  fiirnislied  tlu-m  with  ihe 
necessary  passports;  and,  after  passing  through  sev- 
eral Tartar  villages,  they  arrived  at  Ueregu,  the  in- 
habitants of  which  are  bigoteil  Mahometans,  and  in- 
veterate enemies  of  Christianity.  Here,  therefore, 
they  found  considerable  difficulty  in  procuringa  lodging, 
till,  at  length,  one  man,  to  oblige  their  guide,  consent* 
ed  to  acf'oinmodato  tliem  in  his  house  for  the  night. 
Usmei  Khan,  the  prince  of  the  comilry,  happened  lo 
bo  in  the  town  at  this  time,  and  as  they  had  letters  of 
recommendation  to  him,  they  t(K)k  the  earliest  oppoN 
lunity  of  apprizing  him  of  the  object  of  their  Journey. 


ASIATIC  RUSSIA. 


It  was  some  time  before  he  could  believe  the  account 
which  Grabsch  gave  of  himself  and  his  companion; 
but  bemg  at  length  satisfied  of  its  veracity,  he  took 
them  in  his  retinue  to  his  residence  at  Bashlu,  and 
provided  them  with  a  guide  to  conduct  them  to  the 
house  of  his  friend  Mahmud  at  Kubasha,  the  princi- 
pal town  belonging  to  the  Tschecks. 

On  arriving  at  this  place,  the  missionaries  were 
equally  grieved  and  disappointed  to  find  that  Mahome- 
tanism  was  the  religion  of  the  inhabitants.     They  re- 
solved,   however,    to   make  every   possible   inquiry 
respecting  their  origin,  their  language,  their  fonner  re- 
ligion, and  their  sacred  books  ;  and,  in  the  prosecution 
of  his  anxious  research,  Gottfried  Grabsch  actually 
visited  all  the  houses,  consisting  of  about  five  hundred. 
He  also  carefully  examined  ail  the  public  edifices,  and 
discovered  the  remains  of  three  well-built  churches 
Over  the  door  of  one  of  these  was  an  inscription,  but 
so  nearly  obliterated  by  the  hand  of  time,  that  no 
part  of  It  remamed  legible  except  the  number  1215  • 
and  on  the  upper  part  of  another  ancient  church^ 
which  had  been  originally  embellished  with  a  profu- 
sion of  architectural  ornaments,  but  now  converted 
into  dwelling-houses,  several  other  inscriptions  -.ere 
visible;  but  the  characters  bore  no  resemblance  to 
those  of  any  alphabet  which  he  had  ever  seen 

Mahmud,    to    whom    the   missionaries    had    been 
recommended  by  Usmei   Khan,    treate.l   them   with 
great  kindness,  and  convened  ten  of  the  inhabitants  of 
Kubasha,  for  the  express  purpose  of  procuring  the 
mformation  which  they  desired.      From   the   united 
testimony  of  these  persons  it  appeared,  that  their  an- 
cestors had  originally  professed  the  Christian  relipjon 
but  that  upwards  of  three  centuries  ago  they  had  em- 
braced the  doctrines  of  the  Koran  ;  and  also  that  they 
had  now  no  books  in  their  possession  written  in  the 
characters  used  by  their  forefathers,  as  the  Arabic  al- 
phabet was  invariably  used  by  them  in  writing  either 
the  Turkish,  the  Tartar,  or  their  own  language      In 
speakmg  on  the  subject  of  religion   they  expressed 
themselves  grateful  to  God,  that  ho  had  mercifully 
directed  them  into  the  right  path  ;  and  assured  Mr 
Grabsch  they  could  never  acknowledge  him  as  a  brotii- 
er   till  he  renounced  the   faith  of  Christ  for  that  of 
Mahomet.     The   remarks   of  their  visitor,  however 
seemed  loinakea  favorable  impression  on  their  minds' 
aiul  Mahmud  assured  him  that,  whenever  ho  came  to 
Kubasha,  he  would  treat  l.im  with  fraternal  kindness. 
•'What,    said  Grtth.scli,  "  thoiiRh  I  should  not  turn 
Mussulman  ?"     "  O  !"  replied  his  host, "  all  that  goes 
for  nothing !" 

On  the  17,h  of  March,  1782,  Mr.  Grabsch  and  his 
lellow  traveller  returned  to  Hashlu.  and  th;.  =s;r,=  da-" 
J.IO.  ceded  to  Derbeni,  where  they  were  received  w'ilh 


151 

the  utmost  kindness  and  hospitality  by  an  Annenian 
to  whom  they  had  letters  of  recommendation :  but  on 
their  attempting  to  leave  that  place  for  Teflis  two 
days  afterward,  they  were  arrested  by  order  of  Hashi 
«ek,  a  person  superior  to  the  khan  in  wealth  and  in- 
fluence,  and  informed  that  they  would  be  detained  till  a 
quantity  of  silk  should  be  restored  which  had  been  recent- 
ly  confiscated  in  the  Russian  territory.     They  had  the 
privdege,  however,  during  their  detemion,  of  walking 
about  the  town;  and,  on  the  18th  of  April,  through 
the   kind   ofBces   of  a  friend   at   Kislar,    they  were 
permuted  to  resume  their  journey,  in  company  with  a 
caravan.  ' 

On  their  arrival  at  the  town  of  Samachia,  thev 
were  mformed  that  the  adjacent  village  of  Wartaschin 
contained  a  congregation  of  Christians,  who  were  sup- 
posed  to  be  the  descendants  of  foreigners,  and  who  had 
peremptorily  refused,  notwithstanding  all  the  threats 
and  persecutions  of  their  priests,  to  embrace  the  doc- 
trines  of  Mahoftiet.  The  brethren  deeply  regretted 
that  they  could  not,  under  existing  circumstances,  visit 
these  people ;  but,  having  met  with  one  of  the  inhabit- 
ants of  the  village,  he  informed  them,  that  the  per- 
sons who  had  been  described  came  originally  from 
Georgia,  and  were  members  partly  of  the  Georgian 
and  partly  of  the  Armenian  church. 

After  a  tedious  and  troublesome  journey,  in  which 
they  had  been  compelled  to  take  a  circuitous  route,  to 
avoid  coming  in  contact  with  the  Lesgians,  who  were 
returning  from  a  predatory  incursion,  and  marking 
their  route  with  depredations,  they  arrived  on  the  26th 
of  June  at  Teflis,  where  they  were  received  with  the 
most  distinguished  condescension  and  kindness  by  the 
czar  or  emperor,  Heraclius  ;  who  not  only  entered  into 
famihar  conversation  on  the  subject  of  the  doctrine 
and  constitution  of  the  church  of  the  United  Brethren 
but  even  wrote  a  letter  to  the  directors  of  the  missions 
in  Europe,  requesting  that  some  of  their  members  might 
be  sent  to  reside  in  his  dominions. 

During    their   stay    in    Teflis,   our   travellers   felt 
anxious  to  proceed  across  the  mountains,  in  order  to 
visit  a  people  called  the  Tschcgcmzes,  resident  on  the 
banks  of  tlieTsliegem,  and  conjectured,  from  the  re- 
semblance of  their  name  to  that  of  the  Tschecks,  to 
be  lineally  descended  from  the  ancient  brethren  of  Bo- 
hemia.   In  a  conversation,  however,  with  some  persons 
from  that  part  of  the  country,  Mr.  Grobsch  was  given  to 
understand  that  they  were  the  descendants  of  a  Tar- 
tar tribe,  who   had   flod   from   the  Russians   into   the 
mountains  in  the  neighboriiood  of  Asiraclian  ;  though 
the    ruins  of  Christian  churches  in  their   immediate 
virinity  intimated  that  a  diflerent  race  of  people  had 
formcriy  dwelt  oii  iiiu  spot  now  occupied   by  them. 
Other  testimonies,  also,  induced  a  belief  that  the  idea 


IM 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


respecting  the  Bohemians  was  v  founded ;  and  as  the 
missionaries  could  not  accomplish  their  intended  visit 
without  great  inconvenience,  they  resolved  to  abandon 
it,  and  set  out  for  Sarepta,  where  they  arrived  in  safety 
after  an  absence  of  about  ten  months. 

The  brethren  still  continued  to  labor  with  unweari- 
ed patience  and  unremitting  assiduity  in  their  attempts 
to  disseminate  the  knowledge  of  divine  truth  among 
the  pagan  hordes  by  whom  they  were  surrounded ; 
but  as  nothing  seemed  to  have  been  effected  among 
the  adults,  they  resolved  to  direct  their  attention  to- 
wards thechildren.  Accordingly,  in  1801 ,  the  mission- 
ary Wendling  opened  a  school  at  Sarepta,  to  which 
one  of  the  Calmuc  princes  was  induced  to  send  his 
son,  named  Makash,  for  the  purpose  of  learning  the 
German  language  ;  and  the  following  year  several  oth- 
er children  were  placed  in  the  new  seminary  for  the 
same  purpose.  In  the  instruction  of  these  it  was 
found  extremely  difficult  to  fix  their  attention,  yet  on 
some  occasions  they  appeared  to  be  impressed  by 
those  passages  t»f  Holy  Writ  which  they  were  taught 
to  read  ;  and  Makash,  in  particular,  afforded  proofs  of 
deep  reflection,  if  not  of  divine  influence.  Having 
one  day  learned  a  verse  relative  to  the  necessity  of 
faith,  he  observed  that  he  had  offered  up  his  petitions 
to  our  Redeemer  for  this  inestimable  gift,  and  the  bless- 
ings connected  with  it,  and  he  had  found  such  enlarge- 
ment of  heart  upon  this  occasion,  that  he  hardly  know 
how  to  give  over  praying.  Being  once  asked  whether 
he  considered  it  a  duty  to  pray  for  our  fellow  creatures, 
he  replied,  "  I  have  often  prayed  tliat  our  Saviour  would 
lead  my  mother  and  relations  to  this  place,  that  they 
might  have  nn  opportunity  of  hearing  of  the  way  of 
salvation ;  or  that  he  would  send  a  teacher  to  them 
with  this  good  news."  At  another  time  he  observed, 
that  after  he  had  been  perusing  the  history  of  our 
Lord's  tempt:itions  in  the  wilderness,  he  felt  strongly 
inclined  to  ub  cnt  himself  from  the  celebration  of  di- 
vine service  ;  but  soon  recollected  tiiat  this  was  n  temp- 
tation of  the  enemy,  and  prayed  to  Jesus  to  deliver 
him  from  it.  "  Afterwards,"  said  he,  "  I  rejoiced  that 
I  went  to  the  preaohinp,  particularly  as  the  subjert  of 
temptations  was  introduced  into  the  sermon,  ahil  1  had 
cause  to  bless  God  that  F  had  not  been  pcnnitted  to 
follow  my  evil  inclination." 

In  the  yciir  IHOM,  the  brethren  were  encouraged  by 
the  committee  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Soci- 
ety to  undertake  the  translation  of  the  New  Testament 
into  the  Cnlmue  language  ;  and  in  the  same  year, 
they  had  the  pleasure  of  ransoming  from  slavery  four 
giris  of  the  Kirgese  nation;  who,  through  the  divine 
blessing  upon  the  discourses  of  their  teachers,  were 
subsequently  emnnripatod  from  the  dominion  of  sin 

Artn    Ctfnn  .     I«f./>fi(*l.t    ##«   n   «*■.**».*  a..-.. ...!_« _.!.|-  *l- - 

ms.i  ....!....  .    „r.!.i...t  I..  .,  -q,,|5_  aLquttmiaiirr  iTitfl  ihc 


things  of  God ;  and  admitted,  at  Easter,  1810,  into  the 
pale  of  the  church  by  the  rite  of  baptism.  These, 
however,  with  the  blind  Calmuc  female,  to  whom  we 
have  already  alluded,  were  the  only  individuals  of  that 
nation  who  had  been  considered  proper  subjects  of 
baptism  after  a  period  of  forty-five  years,  and  the 
mission  was,  in  consequence  of  this  small  success,  soon 
aflerwards  abancioned.  The  encouragement  and 
pecuniary  assistance  of  the  directors  of  the  London 
Missionary  Society,  however,  induced  the  brethren 
to  recommence  their  labors  among  a  people  whose 
immense  numbers,  together  with  the  blindness  of  their 
minds  and  the  grossness  of  their  superstitions,  render- 
ed them  peculiar  objects  of  commiseration. 

The  Calmucs,  in  what  is  called  the  Great  Steppe, 
amount,  according  to  the  most  authentic  information, 
to  upwards  of  sixty  thousand.  Beyond  the  limits  of 
the  Steppe,  on  the  banks  of  the  river  Wolga,  there  are 
about  ten  thousand  more,  who  have  occasionally  em- 
braced the  Christian  faith,  and  are  considered  as  be- 
longing to  the  Greek  church.  And  besides  these, 
sixty-five  thousand  families,  speaking  the  Calmuc  lan- 
guage, live  under  the  protection  of  China,  having 
migrated  from  Russia  in  the  year  1791. 

With  an  ardent  desire  of  proving  instrumental  to  the 
eternal  salvation  of  some  individuals  among  this  vast 
multitude,  the  brethren  J.  (J.  Schill  and  C.  Huebner 
set  out  from  Sarepta  on  the  20th  of  May,  1815,  and, 
after  a  hazardous  and  difficult  journey,  they  arrived 
among  the  Choschut  horde,  who  inhabit  a  district 
about  two  hundred  miles  south-east  of  the  missionary 
settlement,  and  fifty  miles  north-west  of  Astrachan, 
residing  in  kibitkes,  or  tents  covered  with  skins,  some- 
times on  one  and  sometimes  on  the  other  bank  of  the 
Wolga,  and  employing  themselves  in  rearing  and  feed- 
ing of  cattle. 

Here  they  were  introduced  to  the  Calmuc  prince 
Tuemmen,  to  whom  they  had  a  letter  of  recommend- 
ation from  St.  Petersburg,  and  whom  they  found  sit- 
ting in  his  kibitke,  on  a  rough  skin  s^^iread  on  the 
ground,  barefooted,  elnd  in  black  liorse  fur,  and  a 
black  silk  cap  on  his  head.  He  received  them  very 
kindly,  and  caused  several  disites  of  food  to  he  served 
up  to  them,  with  plates,  knives,  forks  and  spoons,  in 
tlic  European  style.  He  also  gave  them  free  permis- 
sion to  reside  in  the  horde,  that  they  might  become 
ihorougldy  acquainted  with  the  religion  and  manners 
of  the  nation,  and  procured  for  them  a  eompetent 
teacher  of  the  language,  in  the  person  of  another 
prince,  named  Ds(>halzen,  who  had  rerently  left  his 
tribe  on  the  Don,  and  had  come  to  reside  in  this  part 
of  the  eotmtry,  as  a  private  person. 

Their  next  visit  was  to  the  lama  or  high-priest,  who 
received  them  with  the  utmost  courtesy,  md  readily 


ASIATIC  RUSSIA. 


permitted  them  to  cultivate  an  acquaintance  with  the 
mferior  priests.      These  are   very  numerous,   and, 
together  with  their  disciples,  are  divided  into  three 
classes,   called   the   Gellong,   the  Goezul,   and   the 
JManschi;    the  former  being  considered  of  superior 
rank.      All  these  sacerdotal  orders  are   profoundly 
reverenced  by  the  laity,  who  are  extremely  ignorant; 
and  every  thing  connected  with  religion  is  carefully 
enveloped  with  the  veil  of  mystery.     The  priests,  in- 
deed, were  extremely  cautious  in  conversing  with  the 
missionaries,  and  soon   began  to  suspect   their  real 
object  in  desiring  to  reside  among  them.     Hence,  on 
one  occasion,  a  Gellong  observed,  «  All  that  is  neces- 
sary to  enable  you  to  transact  business  with  the  Cal- 
mucs  who  come  to  Sarepta,  is  that  you  should  learn  to 
read  and  write  our  language  ;  you  have  no  need  to 
trouble  yourselves  about  our  gods  ;  and  would  do  bet- 
ter to  spend  your  money  at  home,  and  rest  satisfied 
with  having  a  thorough  knowledge  of  one  religion." 

This  mistrust  of  the  brethren  was  particulariy  appa- 
rent, when  the  Gospel  of  St.  Matthew  was  published 
in  the  Mongolian   language,  at   the  expense  of  tlie 
Petersburg  Bible  Society.     The  first  intelligence  of 
this  work  was  conveyed  to  prince  Tuemmen  by  the 
Russian  agent  resident  in  the  horde,  and  it  appeared 
to  give  him  much  uneasiness.     When  two  copies,  ele- 
gantly bound,  were  presented  to  him,  however,  in  the 
name    of    prince    Galitzin,    he  received   them    with 
apparent  satisfaction,  and    immediately  sent   for  the 
missionaries,  to  inform  them  of  the  circumstance.     He 
also  stated,  tliat  they  had  been  recommended  to  his 
protection  in  the  letter  which  accompanied  the  impe- 
rial minister's  present  ;   and  assured  them,  that  no  in- 
dividual, either  of  the  Russian,  Calmuc,  or  Tartar  na- 
tion, should  be  suffered  to  injure  them  with  impunity. 
On    the  1st   of  January,   1816,   prince  Tuemmen 
requested  an  interview  with  Mr.  Sciiill,  and  proposed 
several  questions    relative  to  the  Christian  religion  ; 
but  the  whole  of  these  were  unimportant,  and  evident- 
ly dictated  by  mere  curiosity.     '<  He  likewise  men- 
tioned," say  the  brethren,  "that  he  had  sent  a  copy 
of  St.  Matthew's  Gospel  to  the  lama ;  but  as  he  bail 
very  weak  eyes,    the  writing  would   bo  too  fine  for 
him."     This  expression  was  perhaps  intended  to  iiave 
a  double  meaning,  as  we  were  afterwards  led  to  sup- 
jMise,  from  a  declaration  made  to  us  by  two  learned 
Cainnirs.     Tiiey  asked  us  if  we  had  any  writings  in 
tlieir  laimuage  ;  but  upon  our  showing  them  the  print- 
eii  (Jospel  of  St.  iVlniihew.  they  observed,    '  That  is 
>jour  (l(K-trinc,  and  it  is  ton  fine  for  our  eyes.'     Priests 
of  the  second  and  tiiird  cjass,  however,  continued  to 
request  copies  of  this  work,  and  sometimes  went  so 

fur  as  to  iu)i)i'(ni<  nf  ilmil.^.,!.'',..,,  ..r  >i.„ __i  .1 i_ 

-  --  — "••''•!?  gut^pci,  tiiuiigri, 

111  ecnenil,  they  remarked  tliat  it  was  very  good  for 
Vol,.  I.— -Nos.  13  &  M.  '  *      .^-i 


153 

Christians,  but  not  for  Calmucs.  One  day  a  Gellong  of 
some  consequence  expressed  this  opinion  by  an  allegory 
After  he  had  read  a  portion  of  the  gospel,  and  receiv- 
ed  from  us  the  desired  explanation  of  it,  he  wrote 
upon  a  piece  of  paper  as  follows :— '  A  goose  flew  to  a 
fine,  clear  pond  ;  but  she  could  not  find  rest  there,  and 
as  soon  as  she  heard  the  voice  of  the  hunter,  she  flew 
back  again  to  the  pond  which  she  had  left,  but  which 
she  had  not  forgotten.'  We  begged  that  he  would  ex- 
plain this  parable,  but  he  was  unwilling  to  do  it:  the 
meaning,  however,  was  sufficiently  intelligible." 

Only  ten  copies  of  the  gospel  were,  at  first,  sent  to  the 
missionaries  from  St.  Petersburg,  for  distribution,  and 
these  remained  some  time  in  their  hands ;  but  on  the 
subsequent  reception  of  about  ninety  copies,  they  were 
sought  after  with  such  avidity,  that  nearly  forty  were 
disposed  of  in  two  hours,  and  in  a  few  days  not  a  sin- 
gle  copy  remained  with  the  brethren.  This  demand 
for  the  word  of  divine  revelation  took  place  soon  after 
an  event  which  produced  a  deep  sensation  in  the 
horde,  viz.  the  demise  of  the  prince,  after  a  short  ill- 
ness. Various  offerings  of  camels,  horses,  sheep  and 
money  had  been  made  to  the  priests,  in  order  to  pro- 
cure the  removal  of  the  patient's  disorder,  which  was  a 
pleurisy,  but  all  proved  ineffectual;  and,  though  a 
German  physician  was  afterwards  brought  from  Astra- 
chan,  it  appeared  that  proper  assistance  had  been  too 
long  delayed. 

"  The  prince  breathed  his  last,"  say  the  mission- 
aries,  "in   the  night  between  the  10th  and  11th  of 
June  old  style.    To  that  moment  an  incessant  uproar 
had  b^en  kept  up  in  the  idol  temples ;  where  vocifer- 
ous  prayers  and  unintermitting  drumming  indicated  the 
anxiety  of  the  people  for  the  recovery  of  their  prince  ; 
but  now  a  universal  stillness  ensued,  and  all  mourned 
the  loss  of  the  deceased  ;  for,  though  he  was  seveie 
in  punisiiing  crimes,  he  knew  how  to  make  allowances 
for  faults  and  mistakes  ;  and  was  consequently  both 
beloved  and   feared   by  his  subjects.     Gladly  would 
we  have  visited  him  during  his   last  illness,  but  one 
of  his  attendants  had  advised  us  against  the  attempt, 
assuring  us  that  wo  should  not  be  admitted.     In  the 
visits     whicii     we    had    previously    made    to    him, 
we    had    remarked  a  continual    desire,   on    his    part, 
to   connect    the    gospel    history  with  the    fables    of 
his  own    religion;    but   as   soon    as   we   endeavored 
to    bring  the    fundamental  truths  of  Scripture  home 
to    his  conscience,    he    was   .seized    with   a   kind   of 
agitation,    which    induced    him    to    turn    the    con- 
versation   upon    other    subjects,   or   to  break    it   ofl* 
altogether. 

"  On  the  second  day  after  his  decease,  the  inter- 
ment took  place.     At  a  shori  distanco  from  the  en 
campment,  a  niiudtor  of  Gcllongs   constructed   the 


154 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


tomb  in  which  the  body  was  to  be  deposited.  This 
was  built  of  brick,  of  an  oblong  form,  with  a  hole  in 
each  of  the  four  sides.  A  large,  iron,  three-legged 
chair  was  then  placed  in  the  middle  of  the  enclosure, 
and  above  it  an  iron  ring  secured  by  long  poles,  driven 
into  the  wall.  A  sufficient  quantity  of  wood,  and 
several  kettles  filled  with  melted  butter,  were  likewise 
provided  for  the  occasion. 

"  After  these  preparations  had  been  completed,  the 
funeral  procession  set  out  in  the  following  order : — 
First,  the  Lama,  seated  in  a  covered  car  with  two 
wheels,  drawn  by  ten  Gellongs  and  Goezuls.  After 
him  came  the  corpse,  sitting  upright  on  a  litter,  and 
borne  by  twelve  of  the  principal  servants  of  his  house- 
hold. The  deceased  was  attired  in  a  light  blue  gown, 
the  head  being  bound  with  a  yellow  silk  handkerchief, 
aud  covered  with  a  Calmuc  cap  ;  and  the  body  was 
kept  in  an  erect  position  by  some  persons  who  walked 
on  each  side.  Next  to  the  corpse  walked  two  sons 
of  the  prince,  the  one  twenty,  and  the  other  seventeen 
years  of  age  ;  the  heir  to  the  throne  and  another  son 
being  absent.  A  guard  of  honor,  composed  of  fifteen 
young  saisangs,  or  nobles,  armed  with  spears  and 
muskets,  followed  ;  and  the  rear  was  brought  up  by 
Gellongs  with  music  ;  if,  indeed,  the  noise  of  their 
drums  and  long  copper  horns  may  be  dignified  by  that 
name. 

"  The  procession  having  reached  the  place  of  sepul- 
ture, the  deceased  was  conveyed  into  the  tomb  by 
some  Gellongs,  who,  together  with  the  corpse,  were 
concealed  from  view,  during  this  operation,  by  a  large 
white  cloth  thrown  over  them.  The  body  being 
placed  on  the  three-legged  chair,  the  iron  ring  was 
passed  round  the  neck  ;  and,  the  interstices  being 
filled  with  wood,  the  Gellongs  began  to  wall  up  the 
tomb,  narrowing  it  as  they  advanced.  At  the  top, 
instead  of  a  key-stone,  an  iron  kettle  was  placed,  in 
the  bottom  of  which  was  an  aperture,  and  the  whole 
building  was  daubed  over  with  melted  butter  and 
chalk. 

"  While  the  work  was  thus  proceeding,  the  Lama 
and  the  other  Gellongs  were  busy  in  performing  their 
devotions  in  a  kihitke  appointed  for  the  purpose  ;  the 
monotony  of  their  prayers  being  relieved  by  the  tink- 
ling of  little  bells,  of  which  each  person  held  one  in 
his  hand.  The  sons  of  the  prince,  in  the  moan  time, 
stood  mourning  over  the  grave,  and  behind  them  the 
saisangs,  with  a  great  concourse  of  the  laity.  Soon 
after,  the  Gellongs  formed  a  circle  round  the  tomb  ; 
set  fire  to  the  wood  which  it  contained,  by  means  of 
the  four  apertures  already  described  ;  and  poured  re- 
peated libations  of  melted  butter  through  the  upper 
opening  to  increase  the  strength  of  the  flames.  The 
whole  of  the  contents  being  conaumcd,  the  company 


dispersed.  The  Gellongs,  however,  first  drank  tea 
together,  and  some  of  them  remained  three  days  to 
watch  the  tomb.  To  beguile  the  time,  they  amused 
themselves  by  playing  at  cards  ;— a  practice  in  which 
no  one  durst  indulge  during  the  life-time  of  the 
prince. 

"  The  deceased  was  now,  according  to  the  idea 
prevalent  among  this  people,  translated  to  the  com- 
pany of  the  gods,  from  whom  his  soul,  like  that  of 
every  other  chief,  had  originally  proceeded.  All 
that  remained  of  his  bones  was,  on  the  third  day, 
carried  to  another  place  for  preservation ;  and  the 
tomb,  containing  his  ashes,  which  had  been  damaged 
by  the  fire,  was  repaired,  to  serve  as  a  place  of 
prayer. 

"  Thus  ended  the  government  of  this  good-natured 
and  respectable  prince.  He  had  placed  no  absolute 
impediment  in  the  way  of  the  gospel ;  but  owing  to  a 
predilection  for  his  own  religion,  he  had  beheld  with 
concern  the  attempts  to  introduce  it  among  his  people. 
The  distribution  of  the  Gospel  of  St.  Matthew,  par- 
ticularly, caused  him  uneasiness  ;  and  he  considered 
all  those  who  accepted  copies  of  it  as  persons  of  a 
light  and  wavering  character.  On  this  account  it  was, 
that  many  who  had  refused  to  accept  copies  during 
his  life-time,  willingly  received  them  when  he  was  no 
more." 

The  brethren  were  now  particularly  anxious  to  dis- 
tribute these  sacred  writings,  which  they  knew,  by 
personal  experience,  were  able,  under  the  influence 
of  the  Holy  Spirit,  to  make  men  wise  unto  salvation  ; 
but  various  hindrances  were  opposed  to  the  accomplish- 
ment of  their  pious  wishes.  One  evening  Mr.  Schill 
paid  a  visit  to  a  Gel  long,  in  whose  house  several 
persons  of  the  same  rank  were  assembled,  in  conse- 
quence of  the  arrival  of  a  venerable  priest  named 
Arschi,  from  the  vicinity  of  Astrachan,  who  had 
acquired  the  appellation  of  master  by  his  great  learn- 
ing. This  person,  on  hearing  that  Schill  was  a  native 
of  Germany,  remarked,  '-The  Germans  are  very 
sensible  and  clever  people,  but  they  are  not  competent 
to  understand  tiic  profound  mysteries  of  our  religion." 
He  also  slated  he  iiad  received  a  copy  of  the  Gospel 
of  St.  Mnttiiew  from  Astrachan  ;  but  that  ho  could 
by  no  means  countenance  the  distribution  of  such  writ- 
ings among  the  Calmucs,  and  had  therefore  visited 
the  horde  for  tiie  express  purpose  of  repressing  it. 
Some  days  after  a  Gellong,  who  had  accepted  one 
of  the  first  copies  of  the  Gospel,  called  upon  the 
missionaries,  and,  in  the  course  of  conversation,  ex- 
pressed a  strong  desire  to  return  the  volume  which 
had  been  placed  in  his  hands.  The  brethren  observed, 
that  it  would  by  no  means  appear  friendly  to  return  a 
present  which  he  bad  once  received  ;  and  at  the  same 


ASIATIC  RUSSIA. 


time  assured  him  that  they  should  feel  happy  in  ac- 
cepting any  book  illustrative  of  the  Calmuc  religion  ; 
but  he  replied,  "  Our  religious  writings  are  principally 
Tangutish,  and,  as  that  language  is  sacred,  we  never 
commit  them  into  the  hands  of  laymen."  Several 
other  persons  afterwards  returned  their  copies  of  the 
Gospel ;  yet  it  was  pleasing  to  observe  some  instances 
in  which  this  barbarous  people  appeared  to  thirst  after 
the  waters  of  salvation.  One  student,  in  particular, 
on  obtaining  the  sacred  volume,  observed,  "  I  have 
borne  many  blows  for  the  sake  of  this  book,  but  I 
am  resolved  to  have  it  again ;  though,  in  future,  I  will 
be  very  cautious  how  I  permit  a  Gellong  to  see  it." 

As  the  missionaries  were  allowed  to  instruct  some 
of  the  Calmuc  children  in  reading,  they  invariably 
availed  themsejves  of  that  opportunity  of  speaking  of 
Christ  and  his  great  salvation.     Sometimes  they  were 
joined  on  these  occasions,  by  a  few  adults,  but  it  too 
commonly  happened  that  these,  after  listening  for  a 
short  time,  left  the  company,  observing,   '<  O  !  it  is 
only  the  history  of  Jesus  !"  In  fact,  the  same  persons 
who  would  lend  their  undivided  attention  to  any  story 
about  the  angels,  seemed  as  if  both   their  ears  and 
hearts  were  closed,  when  the  Lord  of  angels  became 
the  topic  of  conversation.    The  brethren  seem,  indeed, 
to  have  indulged  a  sanguine  hope  that  an  exception 
to  this  remark  would  have  been   found  in  an  aged 
woman,  the  mother  of  a  boy  whom  the  late  prince 
had  appointed  to  attend  on  them.     Being  in  an  ill 
state  of  health,  and   particularly  afflicted  with  sore 
eyes,  and  having  heard  from  the  narrations  of  St. 
Matthew,  that  all  manner  of  diseases  were  healed  by 
our  Redeemer,  siio   expressed  an  earnest  desire  to 
obtain  relief  from  his  wonder-working  hand.      The 
missionaries  therefore  embraced  this  favorable  oppor- 
tunity of  explaining  that  the  help  of  Jesus  was  princi- 
pally needed  by  sinners  for  the  cleansing  of  their  souls 
by  his  precious  blood  ;  and   they  stated,  that  if  she 
experienced  the  healing  power  of  his  atonement  in 
her  heart,  she  would  not  only  be  enabled  cheerfully 
to  submit  to  her  present  afflictions,  but  would  also  be 
constrained  to  rejoice  in  tlia  prospect  of  approaching 
dissohrtion,  as  the  moan  of  her  release  from  all  pain 
and  sorrow.     Tiiese  observations  seemed  very  incred- 
ible to  the  person  to  whom  they  were  addressed,  yet 
they  evidently  made  a  deep  impression  on  her  mind  ; 
and  one  day  she  remarked,  "  Whoever  lives  entirely 
without  religion  cannot  expect  any  happiness  in   a 
future  state  ;  and  tiiounii  we  Cahnucs  are  by  no  means 
the  worst  of  people,  yet  it  nnist  be  acknowledged  that 
we  sin  fre(]uently."     She  then   proceeded  to  relate, 
that  a  great  sinner  once  appmircd  before  the  judgment- 
HPut  of  God,  in  the  world  of  spirits.     The  good  works 
and  liie  sini  of  the  individual  being  placed  in  the 


189 


balance,  the  latter  immediately  preponderated.     For- 
tunately, however,  for  the  culprit,  he  had  brought 
with  him  a  single  letter  of  one  of  the  sacred  writings  ; 
and  upon  this  being  added  to  the  good  works,  the' 
scale  turned  as  much  in  his  favor,  as  it  had  before 
been  against  him.   "  This  story,"  say  the  missionaries, 
"  gave  us  the  most  desirable  opportunity  of  first  making 
known  to  her  the  nature  of  sin,  according  to  the  word 
of  God  ;  and  then  of  bearing  witness  of  Jesus,  as  the 
Saviour  of  sinners,  who  is  ordained  to  be  the  Judge 
of  the  quick  and  the  dead ;  and  whose  precious  blood 
alone  can  satisfy  the  demands  of  Divine  Justice  against 
every   guilty  transgressor.      In  consequence  of  this 
conversation  she  fell  into  great  uneasiness  of  mind 
•but  It  seemed  as  if  she  were  kept  from  us  by  some 
m visible  hand.    On  another  occasion,  also,  she  appear- 
ed to  be  affected  by  our  discourse,  but  we  were  un- 
able to  trace  any  abiding  impression  made  upon  her 
heart." 

Early  in  September,  Serbedshab,  the  eldest  son  of 
the  late  prince  Tuemmen,  arrived  from  St.  Peters- 
burg,  to  assume  the  reins  of  government ;  and  one  of 
the  first  duties  he  had  to  perform  was  to  offer  a  sacri- 
fice in  honor  of  his  deceased  father.  This  was  attend- 
ed with  various  ceremonies,  and  employed  the  priests 
for  several  days  successively  ;  for  which  they  received 
a  handsome  gratuity.  Previous  to  the  arrival  of  the 
prince,  indeed,  they  had  exacted  a  contribution  of  ten 
roubles  from  the  inhabitants  of  each  kibitke,  without 
distinction  of  rank  or  possessions  ;  and  the  readiness 
with  which  the  people  came  forward  on  this  occasion 
would  have  done  honor  to  more  civilized  nations,  and 
to  a  better  cause.  It  must  be  remarked,  however, 
that  it  is  a  grand  point  with  the  priests  to  impress  on 
the  minds  of  the  laity,  that  great  liberality  is  prelusive 
of  everiasting  happiness ;  and  from  this  doctrine  they 
derive  a  considerable  revenue,  particulariy  at  the 
celebration  of  a  singular  solemnity  styled  the  Festival 
of  Good  Works,  which  has  been  thus  described  by  the 

missionaries  in  their  diary  for  the  year  1816  : 

"  The  festival  alluded  to  lasted  eight  days,  during 
which  the  laity  were  expected  to  entertain  the  Gel- 
longs.  This  required  a  great  quantity  of  butcher's 
meat  and  mare's  milk.  Eariy  in  the  morning,  the 
guests,  from  four  to  five  hundred  in  number,  assembled 
under  a  wide-spreading  tent.  First  they  drank  tea, 
and  towards  noon  regaled  themselves  with  sour  mare's 
milk  ;  after  which,  tea  ;md  a  supper  of  meat  followed. 
The  intervals  between  the  feasting  were  filled  with  the 
nuirmuring  of  long  Tangutish  prayers,  accompanied  by 
the  sound  of  drums  and  horns.  This  constituted  the 
round  of  their  devotions,  every  day,  from  morning  till  late 


at  nisht.      Tlincnnrhi; 


r-.r  .!„ 


StiVal,  liuWcVcr,  Was 


particulajly  imposing.    All  the  orders  of  the  priesthood 


156 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


m 


assembled    together  in  the  great    tent;   the  Lama 
and  the  Gellongs  being  clothed  in  a  vest  of  red  satin 
without  sleeves.     About  the  loins  they  wore  a  piece 
of  dark  red  baize,  fastened  by  a  girdle,  and  over  the 
shoulders  a  kind  of  mantle  of  yellow  silk.      They 
wore  no  shirt,  so  that  the  arras  remained  nearly  bare. 
The  Lama  was  only  distinguished  from  the  rest  of  the 
Gellongs  by  a  high  yellow  cap,  pointed  at  the  top. 
The   great  tent  stood    near   his  dwelling;  and   five 
kibitkes,  l,tted  up  as  temples,  belonged  to  the  sacred 
enclosu  e.     Around  this  place  an  immense  multitude 
of  persons  of  both  sexes,  adults  and  children,  kept 
incessantly  moving ;  and   whenever  they  passed  the 
temples,  they  bowed  down  to  the  ground,  with  their 
heads  -mcovered.     They  then  seated  tliemselves,  and- 
listened  for  a  time  to  the  prayers  of  the    Gellongs. 
Towards  the  end  of  the  ceremonies,  the  various  orders 
of  the  priesthood  performed  a  similar  revolution,  the 
laity  meanwhile  standing  round  them  in  a  close  circle. 
The  Lama  was  supported  by  two  Gellongs,  who  held 
him  under  the  arm-pits  ;  for,  as  he  generally  remains 
in  a  sitting  posture,  or  is  supported  by  others,  he  finds 
walking  very  difficult.    The  procession  being  conclud- 
ed, the  Lama  was  brought  back  into  his  kibitke,  and 
the  whole  multitude  flocked  around  him,  to  receive 
his  blessing,  which  he   imparted  with  imposition  of 
hands." 

In  the  commencement  of  1817,  the  brethren  perceiv- 
ed a  growing  coldness  and  alienation  in  the  conduct  of 
the  priests  ;  few  of  whom  now  deigned  to  visit  them, 
whilst  others,  on  receiving  visits  from  them,  behaved 
with  actual  rudeness,  and  desired  them  to  quit  their 
kibitkes.  Many  of  the  laity,  also,  who  had  been  warn- 
ed against  the  missionaries,  as  seducers  of  the  unwary, 
advised  their  neighbors  to  avoid  all  intercourse  with 
them ;  and  others  asserted  that  all  who  had  accepted 
of  copies  of  St.  Mathew's  Gospel,  would  eventually 
be  required  to  pay  for  them. 

A  Gellong,  one  day,  asked  the  brethren,  "  Why  do 
you   expend  so  much  money  in  translating,  printing 
and  gratuitously  distributing  a  book,  the  doctrines  of 
which  we  shall   never  receive  ?    Such  expense  is  en- 
tirely useless  ;  for  though  many  of  us  have  your  Gos- 
pel in  our  possession,  we  never  peruse  it  ;  as  it  con- 
tains many  Russian   names  which  we  cannot   under- 
stand ;  and,  besides  this,  we  have  a  suflicicnt  stock  of 
religious  writings  of  our  own."     At  another  time  they 
were  accosted  in  a  more  indecent  manner,  by  a  lialf- 
dnmken  Calmuc,  who  charged  them,  in  the  most  in- 
sulting terms,  with  falsehood  and  imposture.     "  You 
have  given  out,"  said  he, "  that  you  reside  in  our  horde 
in  order  to  acquire  the  language,  but  I  have  sagacity 
enough  to  discern  that  your  real  design  is  to  betray 
and  sell  us.     You  sneak  into  our  kibitkes,  to  pry  into 


our  religion  and  customs,  and  I  have  no  doubt  but  you 
were  sent  hither  by  the  emperor  for  this  purpose." 
Unmoi'ed  by  these  base  calumnies,  and  probably  re- 
membering the  observation  of  the  wise  man,  that  "A 
soft  answer  tumeth  away  wrath,"  the  brethren  mildly 
observed,  that  they  had  no  other  object  in  view  than  the 
temporal  and  eternal  welfare  of  the  people  among 
whom  they  dwelt ;  and  though  the  barbarian  at  first 
replied,  that  he  only  considered  this  as  an  empty  pro- 
fession, he  gradually  became  more  calm,  solicited 
some  tobacco,  and  said,  on  receiving  it,  that  he  had 
merely  called  on  the  missionaries  to  request  that  they 
would  make  a  favorable  report  of  the  Calmucs  to  the 
court  of  St.  Petercburg. 

To  the  painful  feelings  excited  by  attacks  of  this 
kind  were  sometimes  added  the  bitter  pangs  of  disap- 
pointment in  respect  to  those  of  whom  the  most  lively 
hopes  had  been  formed  by  the  brethren.  "  By  one 
Gellong  m  particular,"  say  they,  "we  had  been  treat- 
ed in  a  very  friendly  and  confidential  manner.  Ho 
visited  us  frequently  ;  seemed  attentive  to  what  was 
said  on  the  subject  of  the  counsel  cf  God  concerning 
man's  salvation  ;  and  confessed,  at  imes,  that  the  ex- 
ercises prescribed  by  his  religion,  did  not  afford  him 
true  peace  of  mind.  We,  therefore,  conceived  hopes 
that  he  was  not  far  from  tlic  kingdom  of  God  ;  and 
were  so  much  the  more  grieved  to'^find  that  his  opin- 
ion  on  this  subject  soon  began  to  waver,  and  that  he 
seemed  to  lose  the  impression  formerly  received.  At 
length  he  declared  that  he  visited  us  merely  out  of 
good-will,  and  that  even  if  he  discoursed  on  religious 
subjects,  it  was  chiefly  to  afford  us  a  little  exercise 
in  the  language." 

Prince  Dschalzen  appears  to  have  rendered  essen- 
tial service  to  the  brethren  in  their  study  of  the  Cal- 
muc language,  particularly  by  examining  and  correct- 
ing their  lexicon.     On  visiting  them  one  day,  after  a 
considerable  interval,  he   apologized  for  his  absence 
by  saying,  that  he  had  been  busily  occupied  in  com- 
mitting to  memory  a  number  of  written  tracts,  with  a 
view  of  obtaining  the  remission  of  his  sins  ;  as  he  felt 
anxious  to  secure  his  happiness  after  death.    On  hear- 
mg  this,  the  missionaries  offered  him   a  small  tract 
pnnted   in   the   Calmuc    language,  and  comprising  a 
brief  statement  of  tiie  fundamental  truths  of  Chris- 
tianity.   He  desired  them  lo  read  it  to  him,  and  listen- 
ed to  its  contents  with  the  most  profound  attention  ; 
but  ho  appeared  hurt  at  one   passage,   in  which   the 
wish  is  expressed  that  the  Cahnurs  may  abandon  their 
deceitful  religion  ;  nor  was  he  fully  satisfied,  though 
the  brethren  endeavored  to  explain  the  sense  in  which 
this  expression  whs  to  be  understood,  and  the  reason 
why  they  were  so  anxious  to  make  their  fellow  men 
acquainted  with  the  faith  of  Chris?,  ^hich  they  had, 


ASIATIC  RUSSIA. 


by  experience,  found  to  be  the  only  true  way  to  eter- 
nal felicity.  On  hearing,  however,  that  the  tract  had 
been  printed  at  St.  Petersburg,  with  the  knowledge 
and  approbation  of  prince  Galitzin,  he  dropped  the 
subject,  and  retired  with  an  appearance  of  constrained 
friendship. 

At  his  next  visit,  the  prince  requested  to  see  the 
tract  which  had  been  previously  read  to  him,  and  after 
turning  to  the  passage  which  had  wounded  his  feelings, 
he  inquired  whether  this  writing  formed  a  part  of  the 
sacred  books  belonging  to  the  Christians,  or  whether 
It  had  been  written  to  express  the  ideas  of  some  indi- 
vidual  ?     The  brethren  replied  that  it  was  confessedly 
of  human  composition,  but  that  it  was  nevertheless 
founded  on  the  word  of  God ;  and,  in  proof  of  this 
Msertion,  they  pointed  out  some  quotations  from  the 
Gospel  of  St.  Matthew.     On  hearing  this,  he  read  it 
from  end  to  end,  and  appeared  to  treat  it  with  all  the 
reverence  which  the  Calraucs  are  accustomed  to  man- 
ifest  for  their  sacred  writings.     He  also  observed, 
"  This  Jesus  seems   to  be  a  Burchan,"  (a   person 
translated  among  the  gods,  and  permitted  to  govern 
alternately  witli  his  companions,)  "  such  as  we  have 
in  our  religion."     The  Christian   reader  will  not  be 
surprised,  that  the  brethren  should  remark,  "  Both 
these  interviews  left  a  very  mournful  and  discouraging 
impression  on  our  minds." 

The  reigning  prince  Serbedshab,  on  liis  first  arrival 
at  the  horde,  had  received  the  congratulations  of  the 
missionaries  in  the  most  courteous  manner  ;  and  sub- 
sequently afforded  them  many  opportunities  of  con- 
versing with  him.  Availing  tiiemselves  of  this  cir- 
cumstance, they  one  day  put  into  his  hand  a  little 
tract  relative  to  the  fall  of  man,  and  his  redemption 
by  Jesus  Christ ;  but,  though  he  perused  it  with  great 
attention,  he  merely  remarked,  on  returning  it,  that,  in 
respect  to  the  language,  it  was  written  very  correctly. 
He  did  them  the  honor,  however,  of  inviting  them  to 
dinner,  which  consisted  of  beef  and  soup,  horse-flesh 
with  mustard,  and  a  turkey  with  sour  cucumbers. 

A  sister  of  the  prince  having  been  for  some  time 
afflicted  with  a  swelling  on  her  upper  lip,  she  resolved 
to  go  to  Sarepta  in  quest  of  medical  assistance  ;  and, 
on  this  occasion,  her  brother  sent  to  inform  tlio  mis- 
sionaries tiial  any  letters  they  might  wish  to  send  to 
their  friends  in  the  settlement  sliould  be  duly  deliver- 
ed. Tliis  offer  was,  of  course,  accepted  with  thank- 
fulness ;  and,  after  an  absence  of  a  few  weeks,  the 
princess,  who  had  been  accompanied  in  her  journey 
by  the  venerable  Gcllong,  Arschi,  and  four  other  Cal- 
mucs,  returned  home  perfectly  cured,  and  highly  grati- 
fied by  lier  visit. 

The  death  of  the  lama,  an  event  of  great  impor- 
tance lo  ihu  whole  horde,  occuiTed  towards  the  close 


191 


of  the  year,  and  he  was  succeeded  in  his  high  dignity 
by  an  individual  who  came  from  a  considerable  dii 

SZ'.'^!"t.       *""'  "'^"'''''  '^' appellation  of  "  the 
Hermit.     The  ceremonies  observed  at  his  installation, 
which  took  place  a  few  days  after  his  arrival,  are  thu 
described  by  the  brethren  :-«« A  general  assembly  of 
he  people  having  been  convened  in  the  open  place 

britdr-"  r  "^^^^'' ^''^  prince' wit'h  his 
brother  and  their  relations,  first  entered  into  each  of 
these  temples,  and  bowed  down  before  the  idol  im- 
ages; and  similar  adorations  were  paid  by  the  com- 
mon people,  though  at  a  considerable  distance.    After 
several  processions  of  the  whole  company  round  the 
sacred  enclosure,  the  prince  repaired  to  the  great  tent 
erected  in  the  midst  of  the  temples,  and  to  which  the 
Gellongs  were  likewise  invited,  together  with  the  per- 
son  to  be  installed  into  the  vacant  dignity.    The  reign- 
ing prince,  turning  to  the  latter,  addressed  him  in  The 
following  words  .—'  I  make  thee  lama,  and  bow  down 
before  thee.'     The  new  lama  now  showed  himself  to 
the  people,  all  of  whom  prostrated  themselves  before 
him  on  the  earth,  and  afterwards  each  individual  ap- 
proached  him  in  the  most  reverential  posture,  to  re- 
ceive the  blessings  which  he  imparted  by  means  of  a 
species  of  rosary." 

At  St.  Petersburg,  in  the  mean  time,  an  event  had 
occurred  which  seemed  likely,  under  the  divine  bless- 
ing, to  open  "  a  great  door  and  effectual,"  for  the  diffii- 
sion  of  heavenly  light  among  a  people  who  had  been 
long  and  awfully  enveloped  by  the  dense  clouds  of  ig- 
norance and  the  thick  darkness  of  pagan  superstition. 
Iwo  saisangs,  or  nobles,  of  the  Chorin-Buraet  tribe 
of  the  Mongol  nation,  had  come  to  the  Russian  capital, 
from  the  border  of  the  sea  of  Baikal ;  for  the  purpose 
of  translating  the  gospel  of  St.  Matthew  into  their  dia- 
lect and  character,  which  differ,  in  some  respect  from 
those  in  use  among  the  Calmucs.     This  journey  had 
been  undertaken  at  the  request  of  the  Petersburg  Bi- 
ble Society,  and  with  the  consent  of  the  prince   and 
lama  of  the  tribe.     Whilst  they  were  engaged  in  this 
important  work,  it  pleased  God  to  enlighten  their  un- 
derstanding, and  to  convince   them  so  effectually  of 
the  truth,  that  they  avowed  the  necessity  which  they 
felt  of  openly  confessing  Jesus  as  the  Saviour  of  their 
souls ;  and,  after  a  short  time,  they  gave  a  public  tes- 
timony of  their  conversion,  by  writing  to  the  prince  of 
their  nation  a  letter,  the  perusal  of  which  will,  no 
doubt,  afford  peculiar  gratification  to  the  reader  :— 

"  At  all  times,  gracious  and  benevolent  prince  and 
father  of  the  eleven  tribes  of  the  Chorin-Buraet  peo- 
pie,  DiNOBiL  Galsano  Taischi  !  wo  wish  you  to  en- 
joy  peace,  joy  and  honor  evermore. 

"  We  have  received  fmm  your  exalted  person  a 
letter  of  friendship  and  kind  greeting,  together  with 


158 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


letters  from  the  nobles  in  our  chancery,  and  from  other 
nobles  among  our  people  and  our  families. 

"  We  rejoiced  greatly,  on  reading  the  contents  of 
your  letter,  in  which  you  send  us  loving  exhortations 
and  words  from  your  heart ;  expressing  your  wish  that 
we  might  use .  all  diligence  in  the  translation  of  the 
sacred  gospels.  We  have  nothing  further  to  reply 
to  it. 

"  Of  the  words  and  doctrine  of  the  most  high  God 
and  Saviour,  Jesus  Christ,  we  have  translated  the  first 
book,  called  the  Gospel  according  to  St.  Matthew,  into 
the  Mongolian  language  and  character  ;  and  we  shall 
soon  finish  another  booic,  called  the  Gospel  according 
to  St.  John.  As  far  as  we  know,  we  have  perfectly 
well  understood  the  words  of  the  Calmuc-Mongol 
writing  and  doctrinal  language,and  have  faithfully  trans- 
lated it  into  our  Mongolian  dialect.  As  the  word  of 
God  is  clear  and  plain,  we  can  never  be  tired  of  read- 
ing it ;  and  we  feel  that  it  is  certain  truth. 

"  The  most  high  God  and  Saviour  came  into  this 
world,  as  into  a  great  wilderness,  with  the  design  to 
bring  together,  and  unite  in  one  fold,  men  who  were 
walking  in  various  ways,  in  darkness,  like  straying 
sheep,  having  no  owner.  It  pleased  his  merciful  love 
to  save  and  deliver  them  ;  and,  therefore,  he  left  his 
divine  majesty,  and  came  as  the  Son  of  God  into  this 
world,  being  born  in  a  mean  condition,  and  was  called 
Jesus  Christ. 

"  That  he  might  show  us  the  most  exalted  Father's 
truth,  mercy,  and  love,  in  all  their  clearness,  he  be- 
came our  light,  our  trust,  and  our  guide  into  all  truth. 
He  took  on  himself  the  grievous  sins  and  trespasses  of 
men,  and,  instead  of  them,  gave  us  his  easy  and  gen- 
tle yoke.  Though  he  could  declare  to  his  cruel  and 
savage  enemies,  that  he  might  have  twelve  legions  of 
holy  angels  ready,  at  his  beck,  to  turn  them  into  dust 
and  ashes,  yet  he  delivered  himself  up  to  these  ene- 
mies, and  suffered  himself  by  them  to  be  nailed  to  the 
cross ;  and  all  this  he  did  for  us,  that  we  might  be  in- 
separably preserved  in  his  faith,  and  that  men  might 
be  united  under  his  merciful  hand.  Before  the  cross, 
therefore,  all  the  gods  that  had  previously  been  on 
earth,  all  idol  temples,  and  all  traditions  of  men,  must 
vanish.  The  prophecies  have  been  fulfilled,  and  that 
tree  has  sprung  up,  wiiich  grows  more  and  more  glo- 
rious, under  whose  leaves  those  related  to  each  other 
by  religion,  thougli  widely  differing  in  form,  may  as- 
semble together  and  build  their  nests. 

"  Tlioiigli  eighteen  iiundrcd  years  have  passed  away, 
yet  this  vessel  of  a  reasonable  faith,  this  pearl  of  a  de- 
vout iieart,  has  not  yet  reached  the  ears  of  our  Mon- 
gols and  Buracts.  According  to  our  humble  concep- 
tion, our  highly  exalted  and  most  gracious  emperor  is 
an  instrument  in  the  hand  of  God ;  and  the  society  of 


the  sacred  book  of  religion  called  the  Biblk  is  a  true 
apostle  of  Jesus  Christ. 

"  We  hope  to  send  you  the  translations  of  the  gos- 
pels this  summer ;  and  we  are  of  opinion,  that  you, 
exalted  prince,  according  to  the  upright  and  sound 
judgment  you  possess,  will  receive  them  with  joy. 
We  likewise  believe  that  the  priests,  the  learned,  and 
the  nobles  among  our  people,  and  the  whole  nation, 
will  rejoice  at  it.  We  wish  and  hope,  also,  that  these 
Tunguses  on  the  river  Onon,  the  Selengenskian  Mon- 
gols, and  the  Mongols  beyond  the  frontier,  may  be 
converted  by  it. 

"  As  to  yourself,  having  already  made  most  lauda- 
ble attempts  to  comprehend  this  doctrine,  do  not  any 
longer  act  according  to  the  will  of  your  old  priests. 
As  you  well  know  the  proper  aim  of  religion,  you  will 
soon  love  the  doctrine  of  Christ. 

"  When,  by  the  grace  of  God,  both  our  own  peo- 
ple, and  all  who  speak  the  Mongol  language,  shall 
leave  their  old  belief,  and  receive  the  doctrine  of  Je- 
sus Christ ;  and  when  they  shall  walk  in  the  only  way 
of  salvation ;  then  they  will  likewise  adopt  a  godly 
conversation  and  good  usages;  God  only  can  work 
faith  within  us. 

"Thus  have  we, by  this  letter,  laid  before  you  the 
feelings  and  thoughts  of  our  hearts  in  words  of  truth. 
We  have  made  the  same  confession  to  the  president 
of  the  society  of  this  holy  doctrine,  and  to  other  en- 
lightened persons,  but  particularly  to  our  most  enlight- 
ened teacher,  Jacob  Isaac  Schmidt. 

"  We  are  thoroughly  and  firmly  resolved  to  adopt 
the  doctrine  of  the  Saviour  and  true  God,  Jesus 
Christ.  Though  we  are  as  yet  ignorant  of  the  cus- 
toms and  rites  of  Christendom  ;  and  when  we  return 
home,  shall  neither  find  a  teacher,  on  whose  breast 
we  may  lean  our  heads,  nor  have  a  house  of  God ; 
yet,  after  receiving  such  convictions  of  the  truth,  we 
can  he  satisfied  no  longer,  but  must  remain  true  to  this 
doctrine. 

"  We  hope  that  our  highly  exalted  and  most  gra- 
cious sovereign  (the  emperor),  on  hearing  that  his 
subjects  in  the  uttermost  parts  of  his  empire  will  re- 
ceive Christianity,  will  favor  us  with  wise  and  worthy 
teachers." 

A  copy  of  this  letter  having  been  sent  from  St. 
Petersburg  to  the  missionaries,  they  embraced  every 
opportunity  of  distributing  so  interesting  and  important 
a  document  among  the  Calmucs  of  every  rank  in  their 
neighborhood.  Prince  Serbcdshab  read  it  aloud,  and 
with  great  seriousness,  in  the  presence  of  old  Arschi, 
whose  countenance  evinced  the  workings  of  his  mind, 
particulariy  during  the  recital  of  that  passage  which 
warns  the  prince  of  the  Buraets  from  suffering  himself 
to  be  any  longer  guided   by  his  old  priests.     After 


ASIATIC  RUSSIA. 


Serbedshab  had  concluded  the  letter,  he  said,  "  It  ap- 
pears then  that  these  Buraet  saisangs  are  inclined  to 
receive  the  religion  of  the  Christians ;  but  will  the 
rest  of  their  nation  be  of  the  same  mind  ?     Whoever 
embraces  a  new  faith  without  a  strong  predilection  for 
it,  acts  improperly,  and  to  become  a  Christian  merely 
in  name  will  answer  no  purpose  whatever."     The 
brethren    immediately  replied,  that  this  observation 
was  extremely  just ;  for  it  was  indispensable  that  every 
one  who  made  a  profession  of  Christianity  should  be 
satisfactorily  convinced  of  the  truth  of  that  system ; 
they  also  stated  that  a  change  of  religion  should  be 
perfectly  voluntary,  and  that  no  object  should  be  kept 
in  view  by  the  convert,  but  the  obtaining  of  rest  and 
salvation  for  the  immortal  soul.     In  respect  to  the 
saisangs,  however,  they  observed,  it  was  evident,  from 
their  own  letter,  that  they  had  considered  this  subject 
maturely,  and  had  acted  in  complete  conformity  with 
the  principles  laid  down. 

Soon  after  the  letter  had  been  put  into  the  hands 
of  the  prince,  an  opportunity  occurred  for  communi- 
cating its  contents  to  a  company  of  Gellongs.  They 
listened  to  it  with  evident  astonishment,  and  eagerly 
asked  whether  the  converted  Buraets  designed  to  be- 
come Russians.  As  this  question  evidently  referred 
to  the  loss  of  national  character,  which  the  Calmucs 
consider  as  one  of  the  vilest  degradations,  the  brethren 
reminded  them  that  Jesus  was  the  Saviour  of  sinners, 
without  respect  to  national  peculiarities  and  customs  ; 
and  as  no  nation  enjoyed  any  particular  claim  to  his 
mercies,  so,  in  like  manner,  none  was  excluded  from 
participating  in  them. 

Prince  Dschalzen  being,  about  this  time,  seized  with 
a  fever,  the  missionaries  paid  him  a  visit,  and  present- 
ed him  with  a  copy  of  the  letter  from  the  Buraet  no-, 
bles.     He  read  it  over  several  times,  and  endeavored 
to  find  some  contradictions  in  it ;  but,  failing  in  this 
attempt,  he  at  length  acknowledged  that  the  writers 
were  sensible  and  clever  men.     His  wife  advised  him 
not  to  pay  so  much  attention  to  a  production  which 
might  be  interesting  to  Germans,  but  was  not  design- 
ed for  Calmucs.     The  brethren,  however,  reminded 
her,  that  the  letter  had  been  written  by  two  distin- 
guished individuals  of  the  Mongolian  nation,  and  ex- 
plained to  her,  how  these  persons,  who  had  vainly 
sought  after  rest  in  their  own  religion,  had  obtained 
peace  and  happiness  for  their  souls,  through  faith  in 
that  gospel  which  teaches  that  Jesus  shed  his  all-aton- 
ing  blood  for  the  remission  of  sins. 

"  This  remarkable  letter,"  say  the  brethren,  «<  found 
its  way  even  to  the  lama  himself.  Together  with 
it  we  had  received  from  Petersburg  the  -  Lord's 
prayer,  in  the  Buraet  character ;  and  one  day,  whilst 
the  lama  was  entertaining  us  with  tea  and  sour  mare's 


150 

milk,  we  presented  him  with  both  these  documents. 
He  mvited  brother  Schill  to  sit  down  by  him,  and  to 
read  them  aloud.  This  being  done,  he  showed  us  an 
old  book,  written  in  the  same  character,  and  observed, 
'  That  is  the  old  Mongolian,  which  is  no  longer  under- 
stood  among  our  people ;  our  characters  being  of  later 
date.'  To  his  question,  <  Why  the  two  Buraets  re- 
niamed  m  St.  Petersburg  ?'  we  replied,  that  it  was  for 
the  purpose  of  translating  the  remaining  Scriptures 
into  the  Mongolian.  After  this  he  made  no  further 
mquiries  m  reference  to  the  subject." 

As  it  afterwards  appeared  that  the  new  lama  was 
desirous  of  receiving  more  frequent  visits  from  the 
brethren,  they  called  upon  him  several  times  before 
the  close  of  the  year  1818.     It  seemed,  however,  on 
these  occasions,  that  he  was  more  anxious  to  state  his 
own  religious  views  than  to  obtain  any  information 
relative  to  Christianity.      One  day  he  descanted  at 
considerable  length,  and  in  an  authoritative  manner, 
upon    the    ten   commandments    of  the    religion   of 
lama,  concluding  his  remarks  with  an  assurance  that 
all  who  observed  these  precepts  should  hereafter  ob- 
tam  a  good  birth.     In  this  expression  he  evidently 
alluded  to  the  doctrine  of  transmigration  ;  as  the  Cal- 
mucs believe  that  the  soul  of  man,  when  it  is  not  im- 
mediately doomed  to  hell,  or  translated  among  the 
gods,  after  death,  passes  into  the  body  of  some  living 
creature,  and  in  this  new  form  of  existence  receives 
the  reward  of  previous  virtues,  or  the  punishment  of 
past  vices,  in  the  peculiar  circumstances  in  which  it  is 
placed.     The  lama  also  remarked,  that  "  before  the 
creation  nothing  existed  but  the  eternal  Life  of  the 
world,  by  the  operation  of  whose  will  all  things  were 
brought  into  being  ;"  and  when  asked  to  whom  or  what 
he  alluded  as  the  Life,  he  replied,  that  every  man  and 
every  living  creature  might  be  considered  as  a  part  of 
It.     Having  stated  that  the  three  greatest  yetoc/»  were 
the  Burchan,  religion,  and  the  priesthood,  and  that  all 
these  were  united  in  the  lama,  he  entered  into  a  long 
dissertation  respecting  the  cleansing  of  the  heart  from 
sin ;  and  on  being  requested  to  state  in  whom  this 
cleansing  power  was  vested,  he  pompously  exclaimed, 
"  In  whom  but  man  himself?"     The  brethren,  there- 
fore, availed  themselves  of  this  opportunity  of  explain- 
ing, according  to  the   doctrines  of   the  Bible,   that 
Jesus  Christ,  the  incarnate  Son  of  God,  being  alto- 
gether free  from  sin,  had,  by  the  shedding  of  his 
blood,  procured   remission   of  sins  and  eternal  sal- 
vation for  all  who  should  believe  in  him.     Likewise 
that  by  him  were  all  things  created  that  are  in  heaven 
and  on  earth,  and  consequently  both  the  body  and 
soul  of  man.     On  hearing  this,  he  burst  into  loud 
laughter,  and  exd.ainnpd,  "  What  !   is  there  any  one 
who  can  create  souls  ?"     The  conversation  was  here 


160 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


interrupted  by  the  arrival  of  some  Gellongs ;  and  the 
lama,  after  remarking  that  though  unnecessary  talk- 
ing was  sinful,  it  was  right  and  profitable  to  speak  upon 
religious  subjects,  dismissed  tlie  brethren  witli  an  ex- 
hortatbn  to  pray  diligently  and  to  visit  him  frequently. 
"  At  our  next  visit,"  say  the  missionaries,  "  the 
lama  gave  us  another  well-meant  admonition.    He  had 
observed  that  we  were  in  the  habit  of  killing  gnats  and 
other  vermin   that  annoyed  us.     He  remarked  that 
we  ought  not  to  do  this,  but  deal  in  a  more  gentle 
manner  with  such  creatures  ;  for  though  it  was  true 
that  they  deserved  punishment  for  molesting  us,  yet 
some  allowance  ouglitto  be  made  for  their  want  of  un- 
derstanding. Upon  our  asking  wiiat  was  tJie  reason  that 
the  Calmucs  subsist  almost  entirely  upon  animal  food, 
although  killing  cattle  is  absolutely  forbidden  by  the 
principles  of  their  religion,  he  returned  for  answer, 
that  '  every  thing  in  this  world  was  growing  worse  and 
worse,  and  that  it  must  be  confessed  tiie  decline  of  true 
religion  among  his  nation  had  been  particularly  great 
in  this  respect ;  for  in  earlier  periods  of  their  history, 
they  had  lived  merely  upon  milk  and  water-gruel !' 
It  is  worthy  of  remark,  however,  that  the  Calmucs  in 
this  neighborhood  always  employ  the  Tartars,  who  re- 
side among  them,  to  slaughter  their  cattle. 

Of  the  extreme  darkness  and  wretched  superstition 
of  the  people  among  whom  the  brethren  were  at  this 
time  laboring,  a  tolerably  accurate  idea  may  be  formed 
from  the  following  particulars  extracted  from  the  diary 
of  1818:— 

"  A  saisang  died,  leaving  behind  him  considerable 
property.     At  his  funeral  the  priests  were  very  busily 
engaged.     After  they  had  finished  some  long  prayers, 
the  lama  instructed  the  deceased  at  great  length,  how 
he  must  travel  to  the  world  of  spirits.  The  best  riding 
horse  of  the  saisang  stood   saddled  before  the  door, 
provided  with  a  drinking  glass  ;  and  this  animal,  with 
other  valuable  perquisites,  fell  to  the  share  of  the  la- 
ma.    A  Gellong  afterwards  observed  to  us, '  The  sad- 
dle-horse belongs  now  as  much  as  ever  to  the  deceas- 
ed ;  for  thougli   the  lama  takes  possession  of  it,  he 
makes  an  aerial  horse,  after  the  fashion  of  the  other, 
that  the  saisang  may  travel  upon  it  to  his  new  place 
of  abode.'      Concerning   this   shameful    transaction, 
however,  a  man  of  rather  low  rank  expressed  his  as- 
tonishment to  us,  in  words  to  this  effect :  '  It  is  singu- 
lar that  our  priesthood  are  solicitous  merely  to  provide 
for  the  rich,  and  that  the  latter  alone  are  put  into  the 
right  way  after  death ;  but  that,  on  the  contrary,  the 
poor  are  left  unheeded,  and  are  obliged  to  find  the  way 
as  well  as  they  can  without  a  ^u:h.' 

"  Another  person  asked  advii-<  i »  ^  Ciellon-:;  in  an 
affair  of  marriage,  after  he  had  Liiasc't  .(xed  upon  the 
object  of  his  choice,  and  obtaine-l  tho  consent  of  her 


parents.  The  Gellong  answered, '  There  are  great 
obstacles  m  the  way  of  this  match  ;  and  though  they 
may  certamly  be  removed,  it  will  cost  at  least  a  hun- 
dred roubles.'  The  poor  man,  being  unable  to  raise 
so  large  a  sum,  was  consequently  under  the  necessity 
of  giving  up  all  thoughts  of  the  marriage." 

To  account  for  the  application  made  in  this  instance, 
as  well  as  for  the  abandonment  of  the  intended  union] 
it  may  be  necessary  to  remark,  that  the  Gellongs  pre- 
tend to  be  perfectly  acquainted  with  every  thing  rela- 
tive to  the  stars,  and  plume  themselves  not  a  little  on 
their  skill  in  astrology.  They  are,  of  course,  frequent- 
ly  consulted  as  to  the  result  of  various  undertakings, 
and  even  the  removal  of  the  encampment  must  be 
regulated  by  their  decision,  drawn  from  the  supposed 
aspects  of  the  celestial  bodies.     In  point  of  fact,  how- 
ever, they  are  so  extremely  ignorant  on  the  subject  of 
astronomy,  that  when  the  missionaries  qpce  asked  a 
Gellong  if  he  knew  what  occasioned  an  eclipse  of  the 
sun  or  moon,  he  replied,  « It  may  be  produced  in  dif- 
ferent ways  ;  as  sometimes  the  Tengeri,  or  good  spirits, 
hold  a  dance  in  these  regions,  and  on  other  occasions 
the  obscuration  is  caused  by  an  evil  spirit."     They 
are  also  entirely  unacquainted  with  the  figure  of  the 
earth,  and  the  most  common  phenomena  of  nature ; 
and  as  a  correct  representation  of  the  facts  is  of  no 
utility  in  removing  their  errors,  the  brethren  justly  re- 
mark, '<  It  is  no  matter  of  surprise  that,  if  they  shut 
their  ears  and  understandings  against  facts  which  are 
intelligible  to  human  reason,  they  are  still  more  hard- 
ened agaiust  the  receptionof  those  divine  truths  which 
the  Spirit  of  God  alone  can  explain  to  man." 

In  one  individual,  however,   the  missionaries  had 
the  happiness  of  discovering  an  earnest  desire  to  un- 
derstand and  embrace  the  truth  of  the  gospel.     To 
this  man,  named  Sodnom,   they  were  providentially 
led  to  present  a  copy  of  the  letter  written  by  the  two 
Buraets  at  St.  Petersburg,  and  its  contents  appeared 
to  make  an  immediate  and  serious  impression  upon  his 
mind.     "  This  letter,"  said  he,  "  is  not  to  be  slighted, 
for  it  has  been  evidently  written  from  genuine  convic- 
tion of  heart.     The  authors  have  not  acted  like  the 
generality  of  our  Calmucs,  who  tai  ;  iv>  pains,  to  ex- 
amine inl.^  my  thing,  but  are   perfeciiv-   iitliiferent 
whether  the  doctrines  which    tl    v-    bclipve   Uo  true 
or  erroneous.     We  have,  indeed,  numerous  writings 
on  the  subject  of  our  religion,  but  they  are  either  so 
dark  or  so  contradictory,  that  it  is  impossible  to  obtain 
any  clear  ideas  from  perusing  them.     If  an  explana- 
tion I       equested  of  our  learned  men,  they  merely  re- 
ply,       iie  meaning  of  religion  is  very  deep.'     But 
what  hwnefit  can  I  derive  from  writings,  the  sense  of 
which  is  too  mysterious  for  my  comprehension  ?  What 
I  road  I  ought  to  understand,  or  there  should,  at  least, 


be  some  person  able  and  willing  to  give  me  the  need- 
fill  explanation.  I  am  not  at  all  surprised  that  the  two 
Buraets  have  adopted  the  resolution  mentioned  in  their 
letter,  and  I  smcerely  wisii  they  would  come  hither,  that 
1  might  converse  with  them  on  the  subject."  After  a 
short  pause,  during  which  he  probably  feared  that  he  had 
gone  too  far,  he  added,  "  It  would  not  indeed  be  right 
m  me  to  disbelieve  our  own  religion ,  yet  it  is  very 
possible  that  though  the  trunk  of  the  tree  be  divine 
some  of  the  branches  may  be  the'  work  of  human 
invention." 

The  readiness  with  which  this  man  appeared  to  re- 
ceive divme  truth,  and  the  frankness  with  which  he 
avowed  his  convictions,  excited  the  most  lively  hope 
on  his   behalf,  in   the   breasts   of  the   missionaries! 
who  resolved    to  spare   no    pains  in  his    instruction. 
They  accordmgly  explained  to  him  the  necessity  of 
becoming  experimentally  acquainted  with  Jesus  as  a 
Saviour,  of  obtaining  from  him  the  remission  of  sins,  of 
being  united  to  him  by  faith,  and  of  following  his  bless- 
ed example;  and  these  subjects  of  discourse  were  so 
abundantly  blessed  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  that  Sodnom 
never  appeared  so  happy  as  when  in  the  company  of 
he  brethren,  notwithstanding  the  derision  and  persecu- 
tion of  his  countrymen,  who  taunted  him  witli  his  in- 
clination to  embrace  the  religion  of  the  Germans. 

On  one  occasion  he  expressed  his  deep  regret  that 
the  prince  was  so  indifferent  to  the  great  subject  of 
Christianity,  and  that  the  generality  of  the  Calmucs 
closed  their  ears  against  its  momentous  truths.      The 
brethren,  however,  stated  that  these  were  circumstances 
which  both  the  word  of  God  and  their  own  experience 
led  them  to  anticipate,  and  reminded  him  that   "  not 
many  wise  men  after  the  flesh,  not  many  mii^hty,  not 
many  noble  are  called  ;  but  that  God  had  chosen  the 
foolish  things  of  the  world  to  confound  the  wise,  and 
tlie  weak  things  of  the  world  to  confound  the  things 
which  are  mighty,  that  no  flesh  should  glory  in  his 
presence   '     They  also  stated  that,  in  the  commence- 
ment of  their  mission  in  Labrador,  one  of  the  brethren 
had  even  been  murdered  by  the  inhabitants;  yet  the 
mission  had  not  been  abandoned,  as  other   laborers 
were  found  willing  to  risk  their  lives  in  attempting  to 
convey  the  glad  news  of  salvation  to  the    heathen 
This  remark  deeply  afTuctod  him,  and  he  exclaimed 
with  evident  emotion,  "  It  must,  indeed,  be  an  easy 
thing  to  suflbr  death  for  the  sake  of  Jesus  !"    Sodnom 
was  consequently  considered  as  the  first-fruits  of  that 
precious  seed  which,  since  the  renewal  of  the  mission 
had  been  hitherto  sown  in  tears  among  the  Calmucs  • 
and  the  bretliren  were  enabled  to  close  the  year  1818 
With  sensations  of  joyful  gratitude  and  lively  hope,  to 
which,  for  a  considerable   time  past,  thev  had  been 
almost  'trangers. 

Vol..  I.— Nos.  13  &i  14.  23 


ASIATIC  RUSSIA. 


161 

The  commencement  of  1819  proved  extremely  se- 
vere  and  the  greater  part  of  the  Calmucs  experienced 
much  loss  and  trouble ;  as  many  of  their  cattle  perbhed 
and  It  was  necessary  every  day  to  clear  away  a  laree 
Tiantity  of  the  snow,  in  order  to  obtain  evenVseaT 
and   unwholesome  subsistence  for  those  which  su^ 

7Ji'  rr^u  '."."  ^'^  •"'^""*=^«'  ^»»«™  a  sufficient 
stock  of  hay  had  been  provided  for  the  winter,     ^t 
nom,  though  comparatively  of  low  extraction,  and  con- 
sequently having  but  little  to  lose,  had  his  ful   share  of 
the  general  calamity.     His  heart,  however,  remained 
firmly  fixed  upon  heavenly  things,  and  his  WZZr 
he  enjoyment  of  divine  grace  was  evidently  unal  a" ed 
He  had,  some  time  since,  written  to  the  two  Buraets  ai 
St.  Petersburg  stating  the  impression  which  a  copy  of 
their  letter  had  made  upon  his  mind,  and  explig 
to  them  his  views  of  the  Christian  religion  ;  an.i  thf 
answer  which  he  received  tended  greatly  t;  his  en! 
couragement.      The  missionaries   also  rendered  him 
an  essential  service  by  placing  i„  his  hands  a  copy  o[ 
he  Gospel  according  to  St.  John.     He  perus.d  it  with 
the  most  devout  attention,  and  one  day  emphaticallv 
exclaimed    "This  is  the  soap  which  m'ust  deanse  us 
from  the  defilement  of  our  old  system  of  religion'" 
He   seemed  greatly  delighted   with  the  seventeenih 

Lord  offered  up  for  his  disciples,  previous  to  his  suf- 
of  h?';    M  '  "r,'°"Sed  "dently  for  that  communion 
of  heart  with  all  believers  which  the  Redeemer  solicited 
as  the  portion  of  his  follo^vers  ;  and,  as  a  proof  of  this 
he  ad  ressed  the  brethren  at  Sarepta,  fn  a  letterto 
the  following  effect : — 

"Herewith  I  approach  you  who  live  at  a  distance 
w^hing  you  rest  and  joy.  Since  by  the  instrumental- 
ity of  he  word  of  the  most  high  God,  who  cannot  lie, 
a  small  seed  has  fallen  into  my  heart,  I  entreat  mos 
earnestly  that  you  will  afford  me  your  assistance,  in 
st.il  further  enlightening  my  mind,  remembering  me 
contmually  before  the  Most  High,  and  commending  me 
to  his  grace  and  favor." 

About  this  time  he  gave  the  missionaries  to  under- 
stand that  It  would  be  impossible  for  him  any  longer  to 
attend  the  religious  exercises  of  the  Calmucs  :  that  on 
account  of  the  change  in  his  sentiments,  he  had 
already  suffered  much  persecution  from  his  wife  and 
relatives,  particularly  since  his  neglected  rosary  had 
been  devoured  by  the  mice;  and  that  he  was  ^ware 
his  conduct  would  expose  him  to  the  hatred  of  the 
^yhole  nation  ;  yet  he  said  it  was  his  most  earnest  de- 
sire to  be  saved  through  faith  in  Jesus  Christ,  and  he 
added,  "1  trust  the  dear  Saviour,  according  to  his 
great  mercy,  will  grant  me  grace  to  remain  faithful  to 
my  resolution  of  devoting  myseif  to  him." 

On  another  occasion,  whilst  conversing  with   the 


169 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


R 


brethren  respecting  the  difficulties  which  attended  the 
conversion  of  the  Calmucs,  he  endeavored  'o  encour- 
age them  by  saying,    "  When  the  sheep  are  to  be 
washed,  we  find  every  one  afraid  to  enter  the  water ; 
but  this  is  no  longer  the  case,  after  the  first  has  been 
washed," — A  few  days  afterwards,  he  slated  with  evi- 
dent delight,  that  he  had  at  length  met  with  a  friend, 
in  one  of  iiis  countrymen,  with  whom  he  could  con- 
verse  frriely  upon    spiritual    subjects.     This    person 
had  once  observed  to  him,  "  I  am  in  the  service  of  the 
prince,  and  entirely  dependent  upon  him  ;  but  I  should 
not  wish,  on  this  account,  to  risk  the  salvation  of  my 
soul."     Sodnoni  had  also  i he  pleasure  to  perceive  that 
bis  daily  practice  of  reading  a  portion  of  the  gospel  in 
bis  family,  though  formerly  op|U)sed  and  derided,  was 
at   length    productive  of  the  happiest  consocjuences. 
One  of  his  brethren,  who,  in  time  past,  exhibited  tiio 
utmost  aversion  to  hearing  liie  word  of  God,  now  be- 
gan to  listen  to  it  with  seriousness  and  interest ;  nor 
was  it  long  before  n  similar  ciumgo  became  appiirent 
in    his    wife.     In  the  conunencement  of  the  wiiUtr, 
when  Sodnom  bad  sometimes  continued  reading  (ill  a 
late  hour,  she  used  to  express  her  impatience,  and  to 
remonstrate  against   a  practice  which    she   observed 
could  be  of  no  utility,  though  il  occasioned  an  unneces- 
sary consumption  of  fire-wood      Now,  however,  she 
apjiearcd  to  give  the  most  devout  attention  to  what 
was  read,  and,  if  the  slightest  interruption  were  made 
by  the  children,  she  iuuuediately  suppressed  it. 

Sodnom,  like  many  other  converts,  ;.;  the  ardor  of 
Jieir  first  love  to  Christ,  had,  for  some  time,  seemed 
anxious  to  preach  to  his  countrymen  ;  but  bavins;,  on 
one  occasion,  received   from  the  brelhren   a  correct 
and  judicious  exposition  of  that  passage,  "  Whosoever 
shall   confess  me  before  men,  him  will  1  also  confess 
before  my  Father  which  is  in  hciuen  ;"  he  observed, 
"  I  nui  now  convinced  that  it  is  better  for  me  at  pre- 
sent, to  be  silent  than  to  speak.     Our  people  are  well 
versed  in  asking  questions,  hut  if  they  are  int<Mrognlcd 
in   lurn.  iheir  answer  is  coii'monly  an  empty   va|)()r. 
I'erhiips  ir   might  Ik-   advisaiile  for  us  to  live  at  some 
distance  from  the  rest  of  liie  horde  ;  for  how   can  the 
spark  of  irulh  which  is  enkindled   in  llie  liciirl,  burst 
forth  into  a  (lame,  if  water  he  incessantly  poured  upon 
it  ?"  Hut.  notwithstanding  his  conviction  on  this  sub- 
ject, and  the  resolution  which  he  formed,  he  was  never 
backward   to  speak   "a  word   in  season"  on  behalf  of 
the   gospel,  or  with  a  view  to  the  edification  of  the 
heathen  with  whom  he  happened  lo  fall  into  conver- 
sation.    Henre  the  brelhren  observe  th:it  n  ('aliniic 
having    one    day    asked    him,   in  a   jeering    manner, 
whether  it  were  really  true  tiiat  he  was  desirous  in  his 
old  age  of  becoming  acipuiinted   with  a  new  religion,   | 
Sodiiom  fcpiica  hy  asking  wiiuihcr  obi  u^v  would  ex- 


empt him  from  dying.  And,  on  another  occasion, 
when  a  man  of  the  Kirghese  nation  objected  to  the 
Christian  religion,  on  the  ground,  that  none  of  the 
nobles  or  the  learned  men  had  embraced  it,  be  said, 
"  If  a  friend  were  ic  offer  you  a  costly  present,  would 
you  ask  why  he  did  not  bestow  it  upon  a  more  wealthy 
or  distinguished  person  ?  or  if  a  quantity  of  gold  were 
lying  on  the  summit  of  a  lofty  precipice,  and  our 
teachers  were  to  place  a  ladder,  and  invite  you  to 
ascend  and  take  away  so  much  of  the  treasure  as  you 
might  think  proper,  would  you  wait  till  some  one 
greater  and  wiser  than  yourself  came  and  swept  it  all 
away  ?" 

The  appearance  of  a  comet,  in  the  month  of  July, 
was  considered  as  indicative  of  some  disaster  to  the 
Calmuc  nation,  and  the  Gellongs  were  busily  em|)loyed 
in  prayers  and  religious  ceremonies,  with  a  view  to  avert 
the  evil  threatened  by  the  celestial  stranger.     This  led 
to  a  conversation  between  the  prince  and  the  missiona- 
ries, in  which  ilie  latter  slated  explicitly  that  such  a 
phenomenon  portended  nothing  relative  lo  the  con- 
cerns of  mankind,  but  merely  displayed,  like  the  other 
heavenl)^   bodies,  the  glory  of  the  invisible  Creator. 
The  subject  was  then  dropped,  as  Serbedshab  never 
appeared   inclined   to  speak  of  any  thing  connected 
with   the  (;iirisliau  religion.      On   several  occasions, 
however,  he  (leTnonstrale(lasu|)eriority  to  the  prejudices 
of  his  own  nation,  which   rendered  it  truly  desirable 
that  he  might  he  led  to  examine  for  himself  the  truths 
of  divine    revelation.       He   even  deposed   the   lama 
from  his  hisrh  dignity,  and  sent  him  biick  lo  iht^  jdaco 
from  ivhich  he  had  originally  come,  in  consetpicnce  ot 
his  having  spoken   with   unbecoming  freedom  of  the 
government ;    and   on   another   occasion    he   reduced 
the  numlicr  of  (iclloiigs  from  upwards  of  six  hundred 
to  two  hundred  and  filly,  and  informed  those  that  were 
dismissed,  that  ihcy  must,  in  fiiture,  pay  tribute  lo  him. 
like  the  rest  of  his  subjects.      l\o  acl  of  a  similar  na- 
ture had  ever  lucviously  been  heard  of  among  the  ('al- 
mucs  ;  but  tliounh  the  greatest  astonisliiiient  was  excit- 
ed, not  the  slightest  opposition   was  made  to  the  will 
of  a  [iriuce,  of  uhosc   wisdom  and   power  the  whole 
horde  had  the  higju'si  opinion. 

Some  time  after  the  pmmulijation  of  these  decrees, 
Serbedshab  hciraii  lo  exhibit  a  decided  liosiiliiy  against 
the  disscniination  of  the  gospel,  and  would  no  longer 
|>criuit  the  missiimaries  to  reside  among  his  people. 
Hy  this  lime,  however,  the  light  of  divine  iruth  had 
dawned  upon  twi'uly-fwo  of  the  Culmncs,  who  ac- 
cordingly removed  with  Mr.  S-hill  to  a  spot  belonging 
to  the  brethren  at  Sarepta,  and  within  about  an  hou.'s 
walk  from  that  settlement. 

The  Rev.  Itcnjamin  Heichel,  in  allusion  to  this 
circumsiance,  observes,  "  1  gliull  never  forget  tiie  iin- 


ASIATIC  RUSSIA. 


pression  made  upon  my  mind,  when  I  beheld  these 
dear  firstlings  from  a  heathen  nation   thrust  out  from 
their  own  people  and  connections,  arrive  on  our  land, 
after  a  wearisome  journey,  accompanied  by  their  faith- 
ful missionary,   brother  Schill.      The   weather   was 
rather  unfavorable,  but  I  and  some  other  brethren  rode 
to  meet  them,  and  after  the  first  cordial  welcome,  we 
stopped  to  see  them  pass.     Brother  Schill  proceeded 
on    horseback,    accoinpaiiied    by   a   division   of  the 
men  ;  another  division  went  up  the  Wolga  in  a  boat ; 
and  tho  main  body  of  the  people  proceeded  along  the 
high   banks  of  tho  river.     Then  followed,  at  a  short 
distance,  tho  camels,  loudod,  after  the  oriental  manner, 
with  the  various  parts  of  the  kibitkcs,  or  skin-tents, 
upon  which  the  women  were   seated.     These   werJ 
followed  by  two  Calinuc  carts,  drawn  by  horses,  and 
one  by  a  bullock,  loaded,  likewise,  with  tents  and  their 
finnit.ire,  on  which  the   young  chi!dr(>n  were  placed. 
After  the  carts  followed  two  loaded  bullock.?,   as  they 
had  only  three  camels  ;    the  herd  of  horned  cattle ; 
and,  lastly,  the  sheep  and  goats,  driven  by  the  bigger 
children.     There  might  be  altogether  about  seventy 
head  of  cattle  belonging  to  them. 

"  In  the  countenances  of  the  people,  who  are  mostly, 
as  it  were,  babes  in  faith,  and  have  but  just  begun  to 
believe  in  the  power  and  j)iotection  of  Jesus,  we  ob- 
served marks  of  mildness,  th.uightfulnes.'!,  and  deep 
reflection,  rather  than  indirations  of  joy  and  gladness 
of  heart.     The  countenance  of  Sodnom,  whose  fea- 
tures are  those  of  a  genuine  Culniuc,  but   manly  and 
expressive,   seems    to   show    a  gentle    and    contem- 
plative mind.     Tho  Lord  has  granted  him  true  grace 
and  a  living  faith.     Ho  is  truly  humble  in  heart ;  and 
with  his  humility  he  combines  n  truly  apostolical  zeal, 
fearing  neither  reproach  nor  danger,  but  ever  desirous 
to  promote  the  ileliveraiice  of  his  countrymen   from 
the  chains  of  darkness,  and  to  show  them  the  same 
way  to  the  Saviour  wliii'h  he  himself  has  found.     As 
the  next  to  him  in  cx|)crienco  and  grace,  I  may  inen- 
.  tion  his  wife.     She  is  of  a  very  mild  and  quiet  dispo- 
sition, and  does  not  speak  much  ;  but  her  expressions 
remind  us  of  what  is  recorded  of  Mary,   '  She  kept  all 
these  things,  and   pondered  iliem  in  her  heart.'     In- 
deed, there   are  several  among  them  who,  when  tiiey 
walk  with  their  teacher  along  the  coast  of  ilieir  island, 
might  say  to  him,  as  the  eunuch  said  to  Philip,  '  Here 
is  water,  what  doth  hinder  us  to  he  baptized  >' 

"  During  the  first  days  after  their  arrival,  almost  the 
whole  eonKi'ceatioii  of  Snrepla  ueni  to  see  these  dear 
emigrants,  and  to  bid  iheni  welcome.  As  the  weather 
proved  remarkHbly  fine,  nged  brethren  and  sisters, 
widows  and  hoary-headed  men,  wen-  seen  grasping 
once  more  their  j.iigiim'^  stait,  and  creeping  uiong 
tho  road,  towards  the  kibitkes,  which  stood  about  three 


163 

English  miles  from  hence,  that  they  might,  with  their 
own  eyes,  behold  this  work  of  God.     We  were  partic- 
ularly affected  with  what  happened  to  a  venerable 
brother  named  Steinman,  eighty-three  years  of  age 
and  one  of  tho  first   settlers  at  Sarepta.     He,  like 
others  of  the  aged  fathers  of  this  place,  never  forgot 
Its  pristine  destination  to  be  the  means  of  introducing 
the  gospel   to  the  Calmucs.     For  this  he  had  offered 
up  Ins  daily  prayers,  and  he  now  desired  to  see  the  first- 
lings of  that  heathen  nation.     He,   therefore,  seized 
his  staff,  which  he  had  long  ago  laid  aside,  and,  by  the 
help  of  a  friendly   conductor,   reached    their   camp. 
After  beholding  :hem,  and  hearing  them,  in  their  own 
language,  sing  verses  relative  to  the  sufferings,  death 
and  redemption  of  Jesus  their  Saviour,  he   returned 
home,  thanking  and  praising  God  ;  and  two  days  after- 
ward  he  closed  his  eyes  and  departed  in  peace." 

The  kibitkes  of  the  Calmucs  were,  at  first,  erected 
on  the  bank  of  the  Wolga,  hut  they  were  subsequent- 
ly removed  to  an  island  in  that  river,  in  order  to 
obtain  better  pasturage  for  their  cattle,  and  to  avoid 
the  troublesome  visits  of  their  pagan  countrymen,  of 
whom  there  are  many  in  the  vicinity  cf  Sarepta. 

"  It  has  been  but  seldom,"  adds  Mr.  Reichel,  "  that 
tho  ice  in  the  Wolga  was  sufficiently  strong  to  allow 
us  to  walk  across  it,  the  winter  being  unusually  mild. 
I  have  attemjited  it  only  twice,  in  company  with  some 
other  brethren,  before  the  hlockrhouse;  which  the  mis- 
sionaries are  to  inhabit,  was  put  np.     Sodnoin   enter- 
tained us  very  hospitably  in  his  1. ibitke,  with  Calmuc  tea. 
This,  however,  is  not  to  be  compared  with  that  in  use 
among  us.     Ii  is  brought  from  China,  and  is  of  a  very 
coarse  kind,  being  pressed  into  hard  cukes,  something 
hke  oil-eake,  and  thus  sold.     A  piece  being  cut  off,  is 
thrown  into  an  iron  pot,  and  boiled.     The  tea  by  it- 
self yields  an   unpleasant  decoction,  like  soap-lees  ; 
hut    by    an   admixture  of  fat  and  salt,  it  becomes  a 
sliengiliening  and  nourishing  kind  of  broth,  tho  color 
of  uhich  resembles  that  of  chocolate  made  with  milk. 
The  Calmucs  can  bear  hunger  and  fatigue  mony  days, 
if  they  can  only  get  a  cup  or  two  of  this  sort  of  tea.' 
If  the  cooking  of  it  be  cleanly,  and  the  fat,  which  ig 
commonly  mutton,  be  fresh,  the  taste  is  not  disagreea- 
ble.    Though  I  had  never  tasted  it  before,  I  was  able 
to    drink  a  wlioie    cup    of  it    without    disgust.     The 
wooden  bowls,  out  of  which  tho  Calmucs  drink  this  tea, 
hold  about  three  or  four  cups  of  the  eoinmon  si/.e. 

"  We  liad  not  been  long  with  Sodnom  before  the 
other  inhaliiiimtM  came  out  of  their  kibitkes  to  welcome 
us.  I  had  brought  a  large  wheaten  loaf  with  me,  and 
distributed  it  among  them,  us  they,  accoiding  i,,  ihoir 
custom,  sat  on  the  ground.  >'othing  like  q  elmir  or 
stool  IS  found  in  their  tents  ;  but  they  provided  us  with 
saddle-cloths  and  skins  to  sit  on.     During  our  friendly 


164 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


meal,  men,  women  and  children  were  engaged  in 
smoking  tobacco,  and  much  conversation  took  place ; 
but  when  the  repast  was  finished,  they  all  laid  down 
their  pipes,  folded  their  hands  with  great  devotion, 
and  sang  several  hymns  in  the  Calmuc  language.  We 
were  deeply  affected  by  the  simplicity  and  earnestness 
with  which  the  whole  was  conducted,  and  took  an 
affectionate  leave  of  the  dear  people. 

"  O  !  what  a  contrast  was  this  to  a  meal  at  which 
I  was  once  present,  when  I  visited  a  heathen  Calmuc 
family  in  the  Steppe  !    Brandy  having  been  distilled 
in  a  sort  of  kettle,  plastered  all  over  with  clay  and 
cow-dung,  the  father  of  the  family  stepped  forward, 
and  began  to  draw  off  a  portion,  performing  many 
singular  ceremonies.     First,  he  threw  a  spoonful  out 
at  the  chimney,  then  some  drops  out  at  the  entrance, 
and  some  behind  his  back,  with  a  view  to  expel  all  evil 
spirits.     His  grimaces  filled  me  with  such  disgust,  that 
1  lost  almost  all  appetite,  and  the  little  that  remain- 
ed entirely  quitted  me,  when  the  filthy  mess  was  put 
to  my  lips,  the  smell  of  which  annoyed  me  all  the  day. 
"The  presence  of  the  Calrnucs  has  been  the  means 
of  much  blessing  and  refreshment  to  this  congregation. 
When,  on   the  second   Christmas  holyday,  a  report 
was  made  of  the  manner  in  which  these  firstlings  had 
celebrated   the  incarnation   of  our  Lord,   with  their 
teachers,  and  thus  for  the  first  time  the  Saviour  of  the 
world,  manifest  in  the  flesh,  as  an  infant  in  the  man- 
ger, had  been  adored  and  greeted  with  hymns  of  praise 
and  thanksgiving  by  a  portion  of  the  Calmuc  nation, 
all  present  were  deeply  affected.     In  all  the  solemni- 
ties of  this  blessed  season,  and  those  of  the  new  year, 
these  dear  people  were  renVenibered  before  the  Lord 
with  fervent  supplication,  that  he  would  complete  the 
work  begun  in  tlieir  souls." 

From  this  pleasing  and  truly  interesting  scene,  and 
from  the  contemplation  of  that  (hnvnini;;  of  heavenly 
light,  which  had  been  so  long  anticipated,  and  so 
anxiously  desired,  on  behalf  of  the  Calmuc  nation,  it 
is  now  our  painful  task  to  direct  the  render's  attention 
to  an  event  of  n  pcruliarly  calamitous  nature,  and  to 
a  disiippointincnt  wliirli  nuist  bo  poignantly  folt  and 
deeply  deplored  by  all  who  are  solicitous  that  the 
heathen  may  be  civen  to  our  adorable  Jesus  for  |iis 
inheritance,  and  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  earth  for 
his  possession. 

On  the  9tli  of  August,  Ifl-i.").  about  one  o'clock  in 
the  afternoon,  a  fire  broke  out  in  oneof  the  oiit-liouscs 
of  liic  tobacco  manufactory  at  Sarepta,  and  spread 
with  such  rapidity  that  no  human  efforts  could  nrrest 
its  progress.  Within  about  four  hours  and  n  iinlf,  the 
whole  of  the  buildin^s  b-longing  to  the  manufactory, 
the  apothecary's  shop,  the  warden's  house,  the  two 
large  houses  of  the  single  brethren,  v,\ih  al!  (iicir  shops  ii 


and  farming  premises,  and  twenty-four  dwelling-houses, 
were  laid  in  ashes.  About  three  fourths  of  the  settle- 
ment were  thus  destroyed ;  and  twenty-eight  families 
seventy  single  brethren,  and  about  twenty  families 
of  workmen  and  servants,  were  deprived  of  their  hab* 
itations.  It  is  worthy  of  remark,  however,  that  when 
the  fire  had  reached  the  most  dangerous  place,  and 
had  nearly  caught  the  out-buildings  of  the  minister's 
house,  the  progress  of  the  devouring  element  was 
providentially  arrested,  or  it  is  probable  that  in  half  an 
hour  more  the  whole  settlement  would  have  been 
converted  into  a  heap  of  ruins,  and  its  inhabitants  left 
without  a  homo.  "  But  our  gracious  God,"  says  the 
Rev.  B.  Reichel,  "  who  found  it  needful  to  treat  us 
with  paternal  severity,  would  yet,  according  to  the 
purposes  of  his  iove,  not  lay  a  heavier  burden  upon 
us  than  we  were  able  to  bear,  but  preserved  to  us  our 
beautiful  church,  and  so  many  dwelling-houses,  that, 
on  the  10th  of  August,  all  the  inhabitants,  both  mem- 
bers of  the  congregation  and  strangers,  could  be  pro- 
vided with  a  place  of  refuge." 

Though   it   is  impossible  either  to  narrate  or  to 
peruse  so  dreadful  a  catastrophe  without  feelings  of 
deep  regret  and  tender  sympathy,  the  rising  sigh  is 
checked  and  the  starting  tear  is  dried  up,  by  the  recol- 
lection,  that  in  cases  such  as  this,  appeals  can  never 
be  made  in  vain  to  the  benevolence  of  Christians, 
who,  however  differing  in  names  or  modes  of  worship, 
are  all  united  in  attachment  to  our  blessed  Redeemer, 
and  in  a  zealous  desire   for  the  eternal  salvation  of 
their    fellow   creatures.     The  disappointment,  how- 
ever, to  which  allusion  has  been  made,  is  unfortunately 
accompanied  by  no  immediate  consolation.     The  mis- 
sionaries nt  Sarepta,  whilst  rejoicing  that  the  power 
of  the  gospel  had,  at  length,  been   felt  and  acknowl- 
edged   by   some   individuals   of  the  Culnu.c   nation, 
among  whom  they  had  previously  labored  for  so  many 
years  in  vain,  naturally  conceived  that  a  government 
so  beneficent  and  paternal  as  that  of  tlie  present  em- 
peror of  F^issia,  would  readily  grant  them  permission 
to  baptize  their  converts  ;  and,  in  future,  to  instruct 
and  collect  congregiitions  of  such  of  the   heiithen  as 
miRlit  be  made  willing  to  enlist   beneath  tiie  standard 
of  the  cross.     Tliis,  however,  to  their  surprise  and 
bitter  disii|.pointment.  was  refused  ;    on   the   ground 
that   his   imperial  majesty,  notuithsianding  his   good 
will    toward   tin-    Tniied    Hicihren,  has  no  power  to 
alter  an  old  ecclesiaslica!  law,  which  ordains  that  none 
of  the  heathen  within  the  Russian  dominions  shall  bo 
permitted   to   receive   the   rite  of   baptism  from   any 
other  than  the  clergy  of  the  (ireek  church.     In   con- 
seipience  of  this  riocision,  the  few  Calrnucs  who  were 
brought  to  the  knowledge  of  the  truth,  have  sijbmittcd 
to  be  baptizot'  by  the  Greek  priests. 


LAPLAND. 


Concemmg  the  missionaries,  who  formerly  occupied 
this  field  of  labor,  the  following  may  yet  be  mentioned : 
Mr.  Schih  received  an  appointment  to  serve  the  mis- 
sion  m  Antigua.  Of  his  colleagues,  one,  Mr.  Loos, 
bemg  advanced  in  years,  has  retired  to  Sarepta :  the 

cl'  u  "■■  P^*""'  '"  '"'^'''^^y  *"S''6«*'  •"  the  service 
of  the  brethren's  church  in  Livonia.     Of  all,  it  may 


165 

be  said,  that  they  would  most  cheerfully  return  to  the 
work  to  which  they  were  formerly  appointed,  and  in 
which,  amidst  trials  and  hardships,  their  hearts  deliKht- 
ed,  ,f  the  door  of  usefulness,  which  is  for  the  present 
closed,  should  be  again  opened,  by  him  who  openeth 
and  no  man  shuUeth,  and  who  also  shutteth  and  no 
man  openeth. 


CHAPTER   VIII. 
UNSUCCESSFUL    MISSIONS. 


LAPLAND. 


In  the  year  1734,  three  of  the  United  Brethren, 
who  had,  for  some  time,  felt  anxious  to  convey  the 
glad  news  of  the  gospel  to  the  Laplanders,  set  out 
from  Herrnhut  with  that  design  ;  and,  after  spending 
a  few  months  m  thecityof  Stockholm,  they  proceeded 
to  rornea.and  travelled  through  the  whole  of  Swedish 
l.aplan(I ;  but,  on  discovering  that  arrangements  had 
already  been  made  for  the  instruction  of  the  natives 
m  the  Chr.stian  religion,  they  directed  their  route  to 
that  part  of  the  country  belonging  to  Russia 

On  their  arrival  at  Archangel  they  met  with  a  party 
of  Samoiedes,  and,  after  some  conversation,  it  was 
agreed  that  they  should  accompany  them  to  their 
residence  ;  but  no  sooner  had  they  iippjied  for  the 
necessary  passports,  than  they  were  nrrcste<l,  on  sus- 
pic.on  of  bemg  spies  in  the  pay  of  Sweden,  and 
were  confined  in  separate  apartments  i„  the  prison 
for  five  weeks  ;  at  the  expirulion  of  which  lime  they 
were  placed  un.lcr  a  military  escort,  in  order  to  be 
conveyed  to  St.  I'ctersluirg.  in  the  course  of  this 
journey  they  had  occasion  to  cross  a  lake  ;  hut  before 

•  hey  had   procu-.l ar,  the  i,.,,  p„ve  way,  au.l  two 

of  the  brethren,  with  their  soldiers  who  guarded  them 
were  sudd'mly  precipitated  into  the  water,  liy  the 
prompt  exertions  of  the  tl.ir.l  missionary,  however 
ihoy  were  nil  happily  rescued  from  dcstriK-tion,  an,l 
llie  esteem  of  the  soldiers  was  so  oirecimillv  cnncili- 
ated  by  an  act  to  which  they  were  indebted  for  the 
|.reservation  of  their  lives,  that  the  former  roughness 

mill    hriDiiliii.  s-f  •!...:_ " 

: -■  "   "«"'"crs  wore  now  exchamted 

for  comparative  kindness.     The  brethren  were  once 


more  thrown  into  confinement ;  but  at  the  end  of  five 
weeks  they  obtained  a  passport  to  return  to  their  own 
country. 

In  1741,  Messrs.  Behr  and  Ostergreen  resolved  to 
attempt  a  renewal  of  the  Lapland  mission  ;  but  this, 
like  the  former,  proved  to  be  of  no  avail.     On  reach- 
ing Tornea,  they  engaged  a  native  herdsman  to  con- 
duct them  across  the  mountains  to  Finmark  ;  and  he 
accordingly  brought  them  to  a  :  ay  in  the  Frozen  sea, 
where  they  were  received  with  great  hospitality  by 
an  aged  man,  who  appeared  to  possess  a  considerable 
share  of  piety.     Here   they   remained   nearly  three 
months,  and   then  set  out,  in  a  boat,  for  Norwegian 
Lapland.     The  distance  which  they  had  to  sail  was 
about  two  hundred  and  thirty  miles,  and  the  voyage 
was  extremely  dangerous ;  as,  in  the  open  sea,  they 
were   liable   to  bo   upset   by  whales,  and   the  rocky 
islands  along  the  coast,  to  which  they  were  compelled 
to  ictilo  when  iliowind  blew  high,  might  have  proved 
fatal    to  their   little   bark.     Towards  the   latter  end 
of  June,  niii,  however,  they  arrived  at  an  island, 
lying   in  the  71st  degree  of  r  .rtli  latitude,  and  ho- 
longing  to  Norwegian   F.apland,  where  they  had  the 
good  fortune  to  meet  with  a  pious  host  in  the  person 
of  a  justice  of  the  peace.     The  minister  also  treated 
th.Mii   very  kindly,  and  ofli-red    Mr.  Ostergreen  the 
situation  of  schoolmaster  ;    but   as  it  appeared  that 
divine  worship  was  regularly  performed  in  this  part 
of  the  country  every  sabbath,  and   that   instruction 
was  given  to  the  rising  generation,  the  brethren  con- 
sid-red  that  no  necessity  existed  for  the  establishment 


166 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


f^f 


of  a  mission,  and  with  this  impression  they  returned 
to  their  native  land,  after  an  absence  of  two  years. 


GUINEA. 

t 

A  converted  mulatto,  named  Christian  Protten,  who 
had  come  over  from  Guinea  to  Copenhagen,  and  there 
applied  himself  to  the  study  of  divinity,  having  be- 
come acquainted  with  count  Zinzendorf,  expressed  an 
inclination  to  return  to  his  native  country  in  tlie  char- 
acter of  a  missionary.  One  of  the  brethren  named 
HukufT  was  accordingly  appointed  to  accompany  him, 
and  they  soon  afterwards  set  sail  for  the  coast  of 
Guinea,  where  they  arrived  in  1737.  A  short  time, 
however,  after  their  lan«ling,  Mr.  IIukufT  was  sum- 
moned out  of  time  into  eternity  ;  and  though  his  col- 
league remained  there  a  considerable  time,  and  paid 
two  visits  to  Europe  previous  to  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred in  1769,  no  particular  success  appears  to  have 
attended  his  labors. 

Previous  to  his  demise,  however,  the  Guinea  Com- 
pany at  Copenhagen  requested  the  church  of  the 
United  Brethren  to  form  a  settlement  in  the  vicinity 
of  one  of  their  factories.  Accordingly,  on  obtaining 
the  royal  sanction,  the  Rev.  Jacob  IVIeder  and  four 
assistants  proceeded  to  Guinea  in  17(58;  but  before 
they  could  commence  a  regular  establislunent,  Mcder 
and  two  of  his  collounnes  were  conveyed  to  the  silent 
tomb.  The  news  of  thi/ mournful  event  was  no  soon- 
er received  in  Germany  than  several  other  persons 
volunteered  tlieir  services  to  fdl  up  the  chasm  wliicli 
had  been  thus  unexpectedly  made  by  death,  anrl  four  of 
tiiem  set  sail  for  (iuinea.  These,  however,  all  died 
before  the  end  of  the  year  1770,  and  as  the  two  sm- 
vivors  of  the  former  party  were  also  carried  oil",  it  was 
judged  expedient  to  abandon  this  truly  unfortunate 
mission. 


ALGIERS. 

Count  Zinzendorf  having  been  solicited,  by  the 
Dutch  admiral  Sehiyver,  to  seiul  a  minister  to  the 
Chri'itian  slaves  in  Algiers,  the  request  was  cuminuni- 
cated  to  the  congregation  at  Herrnhut,  and  A.  V. 
Hicliler  immediately  consented  to  undertake  a  mission 
which  seemed  to  unite  in  itself  the  great  and  trulv 
interesting  objects  of  Christianity  and  huiuanity.  On 
his  arrival  in  I7:J!>,  this  devoted  herald  of  the  cross 
received  tho  alarming  intelligence  that  the  plagut;  was 
rnging  in  tho  city.     Unrtpp«ili-d,  however,  by  this  cir- 


cumstance, and  solely  intent  on  the  glory  of  his  great 
Master  and  the  edification  and  consolation  of  his  suf- 
fering fellow  creatures,  he  visited  the  slaves  in  the  bar- 
racks ;  relieved,  according  to  his  ability,  their  tempo- 
ral wants  ;  preached  to  them  the  gospel  of  that  adora- 
ble Jesus  who  was  anointed  to  proclaim  liberty  to 
the  captives,  and  the  opening  of  the  prison  to  those 
that  are  bound  ;  and  in  the  season  of  sickness  and  the 
hour  of  death,  pointed  them  to  the  atonement  of  Cal- 
vary, as  an  unfailing  refuge  from  the  wrath  to  come. 
Thus  for  a  time  he  walked,  as  it  were,  in  the  midst  of 
the  pestilence  uninjured,  and  even  when  seized  by  the 
plague,  it  was  his  mercy  to  recover.  A  second  attack 
of  that  disorder,  however,  proved  the  messenger  to 
convey  him  to  those  bright  and  peaceful  abpdes,  where 
tho  inhabitants  are  pure  from  sin,  and  consequently 
exempt  from  sickness  and  death. 

In  1749,  this  invaluable  missionary  was  succeeded 
by  Mr.  Charles  Nottbok,  who  seems  to  have  made  it 
his  study  to  walk  in  the  footsteps  of  his  amiable  and 
philanthropic  predecessor.  Ho  remained  about  three 
years  in  the  city  ;  and  though,  after  his  departure,  the 
mission  was  suspended,  it  seems  that  he  was  not  per- 
mitted to  labor  in  vain  or  spend  his  strength  for  nought ; 
as  some  of  tho  slaves  to  whom  he  had  faithfully  preach- 
ed tho  gospel,  on  obtaining  their  liberty,  cast  in  their 
lot  with  the  brethren,  as  members  of  their  paternal 
union  ;  and,  after  a  life  of  consistent  profession,  died 
rejoicing  in  the  faith  of  our  once  crucified  but  now 
risen  and  exalted  Saviour. 


CEYLON. 

In  tho  year  1740,  Messrs.  Eller  and  Nitschmann, 
junior,  visited  the  island  of  (Ceylon,  with  an  ardent 
hope  that  tlieir  labors  might  be  rendered,  in  .some  de- 
gree, effectual  to  the  turning  of  the  natives  from  dark- 
ness to  light,  and  from  the  power  of  Satan  unto  God. 
On  their  arrival  at  Columbo,  every  thing  appeared 
auspicious  to  their  midertaking,  as  Mr.  Iinlioll",  the 
governor,  received  them  with  the  greatest  kindness, 
and  readily  agreed  to  facilitate  their  jcnuney  into  tho 
interior  of  the  country.  The  Cingalese  to  whom  they 
addressed  themselves  wore,  nt  first,  very  reserved,  in 
consequence  of  having  been  cautioned  agnin>-t  theiu, 
as  nuMi  whose  prinri|iles  were  completely  atheistical. 
The  absurdity  of  this  idea,  however,  became  suflicient- 
ly  obvious  when  they  began  to  speak  on  religious  sub- 
jects ;  and,  after  a  short  lime,  the  natives  appeared  to 
listen  to  their  discourse  both  with  attention  and  jjleas- 
ure.  It  unfortunately  happened,  however,  at  this 
juncture,  tiiat  Mr.  Imiioll   retired  from  his  situation  f 


PERSIA. 


and  as  some  persons  at  Colurabo  had  begun  to  hold 
devotional  meetings  in  thoir  houses,  the  new  govern- 
or was  persuaded  to  issue  an  order  for  the  removal  of 
the  missionaries  from  the  island.     Short,  however,  as 
was  their  stay  at  Ceylon,   they  had  a  pleasing  illus- 
tration of  Jehovah's  promise  that  "  his  word  shall  not 
return  unto  him  void,  but  shall  accomplish  his  pleas- 
ure, and  prosper  in  the  thing  whereunto  he  sent  it ;" 
as,   through  their  instrumentality,  a  surgeon  named 
Christmn  Dober  was  brought  to  a  saving  acquaintance 
with  divine  truth,  and   afterwards  removed  to  one  of 
the  brethren's  European  settlements,  accompanied  by 
a  Malabar,  who  was  also  instructed  in  the  things  per- 
taining to  his  everlasting  peace,    and  was    admitted 
mto  the  church  by  baptism  in  1746. 


167 


PERSIA. 

The  United  Brethren  at  Heimhut  had  for  some 
time  entertained  the  idea  of  sending  the  glad  tidings 
of  salvation  to  a  race  of  people  called  the  Gaures,  or 
Gebri,  rcsHling  in  that  part  of  Persia  which  borders  on 
Hindoostan,  and  supposed  by  some  to  be  the  descendants 

of  the  Magi  or  wise  nien.whopresentedlheirgiftsof  gold, 
frankincense,  and  myrrh,  to  the  divine  Infant  at  IJeth- 
lehem.     And  in   the  spring  of  1747,  Messrs.  Hocker 
and  Rueffer,  the  former  a  physician,  and  the  latter  a 
surgeon,  sailed   from  Europe  with   the  view  of  com- 
mencing the  intended  mission.     On  their  arrival   at 
Aleppo   they  waited   upon   the   British   consul,   who 
readily  took   then,  under   his  protection,  and   treated 
them   with  the   greatest   urbanity  and   kindness  ;  but 
both  he  and  several  other  European  genllemen  strong- 
ly dissuaded  them  from  pim-eeding  any  farther,  on  ac- 
count of  the  anarchy  and  misery  in  which  the  country 
had  been  recently  plunged  by  the  ravages  of  the  celc- 
brate.l  usurper  Nadir  Shah,  who,  among  other  acts  of 
barbarity,  had  eause.l  several  Jews  and   Armenians  to 
bo  burnt  ahvo,  for  no  other  crime   than   that  of  l.einK 
miable  to  satisfy  his  unparalleled  rapacity  for  money. 
The   missionaries,  however,  ajipeared  lirinly  resolved 
on  prosecuting  their  journey  ;  and  though  they    were 
subsequently  alarmed  by  intelligence  that  Nadir  had 
plundered   Ispahan,  the  capital  of  Persia,  and  Kerman, 
the  principal  seat  of  the  Gaures,  and  that  in  the  latter 
place  he  had  caused  three  jiyramids  to  be  erected 
consisting  entirely  of  human   heads,  they  finally  re^ 
solved  on  advancing  to  Bagdad,  in  order  to  ascertain  the 
practicability  of  travelling  from  thence  into  Persia. 
On  the  «4th  of  August  they  quitted  Aleppo  in  com- 

Uanv  with    n    piirnvn.i    ,1....: I    f—  .u .  , 

"  ■  '      /•/•    " — '""     '"'     '^  ^^*'  ""**  com- 
prising fifteen  hundred  camels.     In  crossing  the  desert 


they  usually  commenced  their  march  with  the  rising 
of  the  sun,   and  continued  their  progress  till  noon, 
when  they  halted  for  about  an  hour,  and  refreshed 
themselves  with  coffee.     They  afterwards  travelled 
till  sunset,  when  they  again  stopped  till  a  little  after 
midnight.     They  generally  supped  on  boiled  rice,  and 
their  beverage  was  muddy  water,  which  it  was  neces- 
sary  to  filter  through  a  cloth  before  it  could  be  drank. 
After  travelling  about  thirteen  days,  they  arrived  at 
a  place  called  Cowis,  where  the  caravans  usually  sep- 
arate mto  two  bodies,  one  proceeding  to  Bagdad,  and 
the  other  taking  the  road  to  Bassora  ;  but,  to  the  great 
surprise  and  disappointment  of  the  missionaries,  the 
whole  body,  on  this  occasion,  took  the  latter  direction. 
Messrs.  Hocker  and  Rueffer  were  consequently  under 
the  necessity  of  leaving  the  caravan.     They  were  en- 
abled  to  proceed  to  Bagdad,  however,  by  joining  a 
party  of  four  Jews,  who  were  travelling  thither ;  and 
after  remaining  a  couple  of  days  in  that  city,  they  pro- 
ceeded with   a  caravan  of  two  thousand  persons  to 
Shermachan,  a  frontier  town  of  Persia,  where  they 
halted  about  three  weeks,  in  consequence  of  having 
heard  that  the  road  to  Ispahan  was  infested  by  a  nu- 
merous gang  of  banditti.     During  their  stay  at  this 
place,  the  brethren  were  enabled  to  administer  mcdi- 
cal  assistance  to  many  invalids,  and  one  of  their  pa- 
tients presented  them  with  two  beautiful  asses  for  the 
prosecution  of  their  journey,  as  a  token  of  his  grati- 
tude for  the  recovery  of  his  health.     Such,  indeed, 
was  the  fame  resulting  from  their  cures,  that  the  gov- 
ernor, whose  eyes  had  been  put  out  by  command  of 
Nadir  Shah,  actually  applied  to  them  for  the  restora- 
tion of  his  sight ;    but  they  convinced  him   without 
difficulty    that  what    he  requested   was   beyond   the 
power  of  man,  and  could  only  bo  effected  by  the  iin- 
mediate  finger  of  God. 

On  the  a  1st  of  October,  our  travellers  resumed  their 
journey  in  company  with  a  caravan  of  about  six  hun- 
dred persons,  many  of  whom  were  well  mounted  and 
furnished  with  arms  and  ammunition  ;  but  before  the 
expiration   of  the  third   <lay,  they  were  suddenly  at- 
tacked by  a  tribe  of  robbers  called  Ciudes,  armed  with 
sabres,  clubs  and  ja\eliiis.     Tluir  road,  that  day,  was 
at  first  over  a  lofty  emiiicnee,  and  then  through  a  val- 
ley at  the  foot  of  the  hills.     A  party  of  the  banditti, 
to  the  number  of  fifty  or  sixty,  awaited  the  arrival  of 
the  caravan  in  the  .alloy,  and  as  soon  as  they  thought 
proper  to  show  themselves,  a  numerous  band  of  their 
comrades  came  running  from  an  adjacent  hill  towards 
the   travellers.     As  their   united    numbers,  however, 
did  not  exceed  two  hundred,  and  most  of  them  were 
on  foot,  they  iiiight  have  been  repulsed  by  the  armed 
hoisomen  ;  but,  after  firing  a  lew  shots,  they  retreated 
at  full  gallop,  leaving  their  unfortunate  companions  to 


168 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


shift  for  themselves.     These  were,  of  couYse,  an  easy- 
prey  to  the  robbers,  who  not  only  plundered  them  of 
their  property,  but  treated  them  with  the  greatest  cru- 
elty, fracturing   the  skulls,  cutting  off  the  ears,  and 
otherwise  severely  wounding  several  of  them.     Dr. 
Hooker  was  pierced  in  the  back  and  stabbed  in  his 
right  side  by  a  javelin  ;  he  was  also  wounded  in  the 
chin  and  on  the  hinder  part  of  his  neck  ;  and  for  some 
time  lay  senseless  on  the  ground,  whilst  the  marauders 
stripped  him  of  his  money,  watch,  clothes,  boots,  and 
stockings,  leaving  him  nothing  but   his  drawers  ;  and 
from  the  spot  where  this  occurred,  he  had  to  walk  fif- 
teen miles,  through  the  burning  heat  of  the  sun,  and 
over  a  stony  road  ;  so  that  his  body  was  almost  roast- 
ed, and  his  feet  were  completely  covered  with  blisters. 
On  his  arrival  at  the  next  town,  he  found  many  of  his 
fatigued  and  terrified  fellow  travellers,  and  among  the 
rest  his  friend  and  colleague  Rueffer,  who  had  been  left 
completely    naked   by    the    banditti.     Both    he    and 
Hocker  now  were   furnished  with   a  few  articles  of 
clothing  by   a   Persian,  who  conducted  them  to  his 
house,  and  gave  them  some  bread  and  grapes  for  their 
supper ;  but,  though  they  were  truly  thankful  for  this 
accommodation,  and  congratulated  themselves  on  be- 
ing once  more  under  a  friendly  shelter,  they  were  so 
severely  bruised  and  blistered,  that  they  could  scarce- 
ly close  their  eyes  during  the  night.    " 

On  the  1st  of  November,  after  travelling  for  some 
days  on  foot,  they  were  again  attacked  by  a  gang  of 
robbers,  who  stripped  them  of  the  few  articles  with 
which  they  had  been  recently  supplied,  leaving 
only  a  pair  of  drawers  to  Dr.  Hocker  and  an  old 
waistcoat  to  his  companion.  They  had  still  a  journey  of 
nine  days  to  accomplish,  and  the  hardships  which  they 
suffered  were  so  great,  that  nothing  but  the  power  of 
God  and  the  consolations  of  their  holy  religion  could 
have  supported  their  spirits  under  them.  Their  only 
sustenance  consisted  of  bread  and  water  ;  the  heat  of 
the  sun  by  day  and  the  coldness  of  the  night  air  af- 
fected their  health  ;  and,  In  respect  of  lodging,  they 
considered  themselves  fortunate  when  they  were  per- 
mitted to  repose  their  weary  bodies  in  a  stable.  At 
length,  however,  they  arrived  at  Ispahan,  where  the 
nrltish  resident  received  them  into  his  house,  and 
kindly  supplied  all  their  necessities. 

On  their  explaining  to  this  gentleman  the  oKyct  of 
their  journey,  he  stronsjly  dissuaded  thcnj  from  at- 
tempting to  visit  theGaures  at  that  time,  as  the  whoh- 
country  was  in  a  state  of  distress  and  confusion,  nnd 
all  the  roiuls  in  that  district  wore  infested  with  banditti. 
He  also  observed  that  though  the  Gaureswere  an  in- 
offensive and  industrious  race  of  peopi,.,  most  .,f  the.n 
had  been  cither  niassancd  or  driven  from  thi'ir  abodes  ; 
n-r.-.H!!.  — ,   j.nm  ipal  place  of  rosidemo,  i 


had  been  twice  ransacked  and  plundered,  first  by  Na- 
dir Shah,  and  afterwards  by  the  Afghans.  In  conse- 
quence of  these  representations,  the  brethren  remain- 
ed about  six  months  at  Ispahan,  anxiously  hoping  for 
the  restoration  of  tranquillity ;  but  on  hearing  from 
every  quarter  that  there  was  no  likelihood  of  the  ex- 
isting impediments  being  removed,  they  resolved  to 
return  to  Egypt. 

In  the  month  of  June,  1748,  the  brethren  left  Is- 
pahan ;  but  they  had  not  travelled  far  before  the  car- 
avan was  attacked  and  plundered  by  another  gang  of 
robbers.  They  were  now,  therefore,  stripped,  for  the 
third  time,  of  all  their  money  and  most  of  their  clothes, 
and  on  their  arrival  at  Bender  Busher  they  were  ragged 
and  involved  in  debt.  The  Dutch  agent  in  this  place, 
however,  received  them  in  the  most  hospitable  manner, 
discharged  their  debts,  and  kindly  forwarded  them  to 
Bassora.  From  hence  they  proceeded  to  Damietta, 
in  Egypt,  where  Mr.  Rueffer  died,  after  a  short  illness, 
on  the  2Gth  of  July,  1749,  and  was  interred  in  the 
cemetery  belonging  to  the  Greeks.  And  in  the  month 
of  February,  1750,  his  friend  and  companion,  Hocker, 
returned  to  Europe,  convinced  of  the  Impracticability, 
under  existing  circumstances,  of  establishing  a  mission 
among  the  Gaures. 


EGYPT. 

Notwithstanding  the  disappointment  which  he  had 
experienced  and  the  hardships  which  he  had  endured 
in  Persia,  Dr.  Hocker,  on  his  return  from  that  country, 
volunteered  his  services  to  accomplish  an  object  which 
had  bee.i  for  some   time  contemplated  by  the  United 
Brethren  ;  namely,  that  of  opening  a   friendly  rorre- 
spondence  with  the    Christian   church   in    Abyssinia. 
This  offer  being  accepted,  he  left  England  in  the  spring 
of  175'2,   and  proceeded  to  Grand  Cairo,  where  he 
practised  in  his   professional  capacity,  whilst  all   his 
leisure  hours  were  devoted   to   the  acquisition  of  the 
Arabic  language,  and  to   the   collecting   of  such   in- 
formatlon  as  might  eventually  subserve   the   ol.jeet  of 
his  mission.      Here  he  introduced  himself  to  the  patri- 
arch of  the  Copts,  by  whom  the  Almna  or  metropolitan 
of  Abyssinia  is  consecrated,  and  had  several  opportu- 
nities of  conversing  with  him,  relative   to  the  church 
of  the  I'liiied  Brethren,  nnd  the  stale  of  the  Cloptic 
and  Abyssinian  churches.     He  also  presented  a   let- 
ter wrillen   by  count    Zin/.endorf    to    the    patriarch, 
who  returned  an   answer,  of  which  the  following  is  an 
extract : — 

"  In  the  name  of  the  nu'rciful  and  gracious  God,  in 
whom  is  salvation.     From  Mark,  the  servant  of   the 


EGYPT. 


servants  of  the  Lord.  The  peace  of  our  Lord  God,  and 
the  Captain  of  our  salvation,  Jesus  Christ,  which  he, 
in  an  upper  room  at  Zion,  poured  forth  upon  the  as- 
sembly of  excellent  disciples  and  apostles.  May 
he  pour  out  this  peace  upon  the  beloved,  excellent, 
and  experienced  brother  the  venerable  bishop,  our 
father  Aloysius,  the  liturgist  of  the  Unity  of  the 
Brethren.  This  is  to  testify,  beloved  brother,  that 
the  blessed  son  and  venerable  deacon,  Ireneus  Hock- 
er,  has  delivered  unto  us  your  letter,  which  was  full 
of  affectionate  cordial  love.  We  have  read  it,  and  it 
became  unto  us  a  taste  of  your  love  to  all  Christians. 
We,  in  like  manner,  pray  God  for  you,  and  for  all 
his  people,  that  he  may  exalt  the  glory  of  all  the 
Christians  in  the  habitable  world,  through  the  nutri- 
tion of  his  life-giving  cross." 

In  order  to  explain  some  parts  of  this  letter,  it  may 
be  necessary  to  inform  the  reader,  that  the  patriarchs 
of  the  Copts,  who  are  also  styled  patriarchs  of  Alex- 
andria, Jerusalem,  Abyssinia,  and  Nubia,  are  all  called 
after  the  evangelist  Mark,  who  is  supposed  to  have 
founded  the  first  Christian  church  at  Alexandria,  and 
.the  writer  of  this  document  was  Mark  the  hundred 
and  sixth.  By  Aloysius  is  intended  Lewis,  count 
Zinzendorf ;  and  Ireneus  is  used  to  express  the  name 
Frederic,  or,  in  German,  Friederich,  which  implies 
rich  in  pence. 

Encouraged  by  the  kind  treatment  which  he  receiv- 
ed from  the  patriarch,  Dr.  Hocker  went,  in  the  spring 
of  1754,  to  Constantinople,  forthe  purpose  of  obtain- 
ing a  firman,  or  pass,  from  the   grand   signior ;  as  all 
the  ports  of  the   Red  sea,  by  wi)ich  it  was  necessary 
to  enter  Abyssinia,  were  in  the  possession  of  the  Turks, 
and  Europeans  were  not  permitted  to  sail  from  any  of 
them  wiiliout  orders  from  government.     The  plague 
was,  at  this  time,  raging  in  (he  Turkish  capital ;  yet 
our  traveller  succeeded  in  his  application,  and  in  addi- 
tion lo  the  firman,  he  procured  a  recommendatory  let- 
ter from  the  Britisli  ambassador  to  the  prime  minister 
of  Aftyssinia,  wiio  had  at  one  time  been  in  the  service 
of  the    English.     With  these   documents,  and  some 
letters  of  introduction  from  other  European  ambassa- 
dors to  the  consuls  of  ilieir  respective   nations,    Dr. 
Hocker  returned  to  Egypt,  witli  the  design  of  com- 
mencing his  voyage  as  soon  as  possible.     Tiie  death 
of  the   grand  signior,  however,  rendered   the  finnan 
which   had   been   obtained  entirely   useless,  and,  as 
Egypt  soon  afterwards  became  the  theatre  of  violent 
political  disturbances,  our  missionary  considered  it  ad- 
visable to  return  to  Europe. 

But,  though  tho  prosecution  of  his   favorite  object 
was  thus  retarded,  Hwker  was  by  no  means  disposed 
to  abandon  it.     On  tiio  contrary,  ho  persuaded  a  stu- 
dent of  divinity,  named  George  Pilder,  to  quit  the 
Vol.  I.— JNos.  15  k  16  jj4 


f«$ 


brethren  s  college  in  Saxony,  and  to  return  with  him 
in  1756,  to  Grand  Cairo.  Here  they  were  informed 
that  the  kmg  of  Abyssinia  was  dead  ;  that  the  crown 
had  devolved  on  a  child  of  only  seven  years  old ;  and  that 
all  the  Greeks  had  been  under  the  necessity  of  quitting 
the  country.  The  patriarch  of  the  Copts,  however, 
treated  them  with  the  most  distinguished  kindness,  and, 
on  one  occasion,  when  he  had  inviled  them  to  attend 
what  is  called  a  love-feast  of  the  clergy,  at  his  house, 
he  stated  explicitly,  that  he  considered  the  brethren 
as  an  ancient  apostolical  church,  which  had  adhered  to 
the  pure  doctrine  of  the  apostles,  without  engaging  in 
those  controversies  which  arose  in  later  times. 

After  remaining  at  Cairo  till  the  autumn  of  1758,  Dr. 
Hocker  and  his  companion,  having  procured  from'  the 
patriarch  a  letter  of  recommendation  to  the  Abuna  of 
Abyssinia,  crossed  the  country  to  Suez,  and  embark- 
ed on  board  a  Turkish  vessel  on  the  Red  sea.     After 
a  tedious  and  dangerous  voyage  of  eleven  days,  how- 
ever, the  ship  struck  on   a  rock  near  the  island  of 
Hassanee,  and   immediate  destruction  appeared  to  be 
inevitable.     The  sailors,  indeed,  effected  their  escape 
in  a  boat,  but  the  missionaries  were  left  on  the  wreck 
which    was  almost  entirely   submerged  beneath  the' 
water,  and  were  compelled  to  remain  in  this  alarming 
situation  till,  after  a  considerable  lapse  of  time,  they 
were  taken  on   shore.     And  though  they  were  now 
delivered    from  a  watery  grave,  their  condition  was 
truly  distressing  during  twenty  days  which  they  spent 
on  the  island  ;  as  they  were  not  only  tormented  with 
hunger  and  thirst,  and   severely  affected   by  the   ex- 
treme difference  in.  the  temperature  of  the  air  by  day 
and  by  night,  but  they  were  in  imminent  peril  of  then- 
lives,  from  the  rapacious  Arabs,  and  even  from  some 
of  their  fellow  travellers,  who  seemed  to  suspect  that 
they  had  very  considerable  property  with  them.     At 
length,  however,  they  had  the  good  fortune  to  reach 
the  port  of  Jidda,  on  the  coast  of  Arabia. 

At  this  place  they  were  introduced  to  two  Turkish 
merQhants,  who  informed  them  that  the  prime  minis- 
ter of  Abyssinia  was  dangerously  ill,  and  that  the  re-    ' 
gent  had  commissioned  them  lo  bring  a  physician  to 
his  assistance.     A  most  favorable  opportunity,  there- 
fore, appeared  to  present  itself  to  the  brethren  for  ob- 
taininn  the   accomplishment  of  their  wishes  ;    but  as 
they  had  unfortunately  lost  their  medicine-chest  when 
the  vessel  was  wrecked  near  Hassanee,  they  consider- 
ed it  advisable  to  return  to  Cairo,  in  order  to  obtain  a 
fresh    supply  of  drugs.      They   availed   themselves, 
however,  of  the  kindness  of  the  merchants  so  far  as  to 
transmit  by  them  a  letter  to  the  Abuna  of  Abyssinia, 
together  with  a  cony  of  the  enistlc  addressed  to  him 
by  count  Zinzendorf. 

On  arriving  at  Limbo,  in  their  return  to  Egypt,  the 


no 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


missionaries  found  some  of  the  articles  which  had 
been  lost   when   their   vessel  was  wrecked,  but   the 
redeeming  of  them  was  attended  with  a  heavy  expense. 
They  then  proceeded  to  Cosseir,  in  Upper  Egypt, 
where  they  were  informed  that  the  caravan  had  de- 
parted, and  had  been  attacked  and  plundered  by  a 
gang  of  banditti.     They,  of  course,  recognized   the 
hand  of  divine  Providence  in  the  delay  which  they 
had  experienced ;  and  they  had,  soon  afterwards,  an 
opportunity  of  travelling  with  a  smaller  caravan  to  a 
place  called  Guena,  whence  they  returned  in  safety  to 
Cairo.     Here  Mr.  Pilder  was  seized  with  a  dangerous 
illness,  which  induced  him  to  return  to  Europe  in  1759 ; 
and,  about  two  years  after,  he  was  followed  by  his 
friend  and  companion,   who  had  been  a  second  time 
disappointed  in  his  hope  of  penetrating  into  Abyssinia. 
Unshaken  in  his  views  and  resolutions  by  these  re- 
peated failures,  Dr.  Hooker  returned  once  more  to 
Egypt,  in  1769,  accompanied  by  another  of  the  breth- 
ren, named  John  Danke  ;   but  on  their  arrival  they 
found  that  Ali  Bey  had  thrown  the  country  into  a 
state   of  anarchy    and    distraction,   by   his   rebellion 
against  the  Porte,  and  his  attempt  to  place  himself  on 
the  tiirone  of  Egypt.     Hocker,  however,  was  received 
in  the  most  hospitable  manner  by  his  former  friends, 
and   in    particular  by  the  clergy  of  the  Greek   and 
Coptic  churches. 

In  the  autumn  of  1769,  John  Antes,  one  of  the 
United  Brethren,  sailed  from  London,  in  order  to  join 
the  missionaries  in  Egypt ;  and  after  a  voyage  of  be- 
tween six  and  seven  weeks,  he  arrived  at  Larnica,  on 
the  island  of  Cyprus.     Here  he  was  seized  with  a  vio- 
lent  ague  and  fever;    but  on   hearing  that  a  vessel 
bound  for  Alexandria  was  lying  at  the  port  of  Limasol, 
about  fifteen  leagues  distant,  he  resolved  to  proceed 
thitlier,  and  actually  rose  from  his  bed,  and  packed  up 
his  luggage,  during  a  paroxysm  of  the  disorder.     As 
his  guide  understood  no  language  but  Greek,  the  Brit- 
ish consul  procured  a  muleteer,  to  cirry   his  baggage 
and  provision,  who  could  speak  Italian.     This  gentle- 
man, however,  charged  him  to  be  en  !iis  guard,  as  nei- 
ther of  his  attendants   would  shrink   from    enibniing 
their   hands  in  the   blood  of  their  own    parents,  if, 
by  the  perpetration  of  such  an  act,  they  were  likely  to 
obtain  a  considerable  booty.     Mr.  Antes  accordingly 
loaded  a  pair  of  pocket-pistols  in  the  j)resence  of  tiie 
muleteer,  and  placed  them  in  his  belt,  before  lie  quit- 
ted Larnica.     It  was  already  the  dusk  of  the  evening, 
and  our  traveller  had  not  proceeded  more  than  a  mile, 
when  a  heavy  shower  of  rain  came  on,   accompanied 
with   vivid  flasiies  of  lightning  and   terrific  peals  of 
thunder.     As  he  happened  to  have  a  bed-quilt  in  his 
saddle,  he   threw  it  over  his  head,  to  shield  himself 
from  the  storm,  and  thus,  almost  blind-folded,  followed 


his  conductors  through  a  desert  tract  of  country,  for 
three  or  four  hours.     The  muleteer,  in  the  mean  time, 
having  unfortunately  discovered  a  bottle  of  spirituous 
liquor  among  the  provisions,  applied  it  so  frequently 
to  his  lips,  that  he  soon  became  incapable  of  guiding 
his  mule ;  and  the  animal,  finding  itself  no  longer  un- 
der restraint,  ran  back  with  its  burden  to  the  place 
whence  it  came.     The  other  guide  immediately  set  off 
in  pursuit  of  the  fugitive,  and  Mr.  Antes  was  conse- 
quently left  alone ;  though,  on  account  of  the  enve- 
lope around  his  head,  he  did  not  at  first  perceive  that 
he  was  thus  deserted.     At  length,  however,  he  dis- 
covered his  solitary  situation,  and,  dismounting,  tied  his 
mule  by  the  bridle  to  some  shrubs  which  grew  near  the 
road,  and  began  to  walk  back,  with  the  hope  of  finding 
one,  at  least,  of  his  conductors.     It  was  so  extremely 
dark,  however,  that,  except  at  the  intervals  when  the 
lightning  gleamed  around  him,  he  ^ould  see  nothing 
even  at  the  distance  of  a  few  feet :  he  flierefore  returned 
towardsNhe  spot  where  he  had  left  his  mule,  but,  just  as 
he  reached  it,  the  animal,  by  a  sudden  spring,  snapped 
her  bridle,  and  ran  off  in  the  direction  for  Limasol. 
Mr.  Antes  was  now  in  a  state  of  complete  perplexity, 
not  knowing  how  to  act.     After  some  time,  however, 
his  conductor  returned,  and  though,  in  consequence  of 
his  ignorance  of  our  traveller's  language,  he  could  give 
him  no  intelligence  as  to  the  muleteer  or  the  luggage, 
he  guided  him  safely  through  a  deep  and  miry  road, 
and  had  the  good  fortune  to  secure  the  runaway  mule, 
which  happened  to  be  quietly  feeding  by  the  side  of 
the  path.  ^ 

About  midnight  they  reached  a  mud-built  cottage, 
which,  though  merely  a  shed,  and  open  on  one  side, 
presented  a  welcome  shelter  from  the  rain,  which  still 
fell  heavily  and  without  intermission.  After  warming 
himself  at  the  fire,  and  partaking  of  some  refreshment, 
our  missionary  was  furnished  with  a  great  coat,  and 
conducted  into  a  place  where  a  clean  sheet  spread  upon 
a  large  chest  supplied  the  want  of  a  bed.  Truly 
liiankful  for  such  an  accommodation,  he  laid  himself 
down,  and,  being  completely  exhausted  with  fatigue  and 
anxiety,  he  fell  into  a  profound  sleep,  from  which  he 
was  only  awakened  by  his  guide,  about  eight  o'clock 
the  next  morning. 

On  resuming  their  journey  the  travellers  found  the 
weatiier  extremely  cold  and  uncomfortable,  and,  in 
consecpience  of  the  recent  storm,  the  sea  was  still  vio- 
lently agitated  ;  a  circumstance  which  for  them  was 
very  unfortunate,  as  part  of  their  road  ran  along 
tlie  sands,  and  tiic  billows  rolled  so  far  over  (he 
shore,  that,  notwithstanding  they  were  mounted 
on  their  mules,  their  legs  were  sometimes  literally 
drenched  with  the  sea  water.  Their  situation  now 
was  truly  pitiable,  and  Mr.  Antes  was  almost  overwhelm- 


BGYPT. 


ed  with  despair ;  particularly  when,  on  getting  clear 
of  the  waves,  he  alighted  with  the  design  of  wanning 
himself  by  walking,  but  was  unable,  from  exhaustion,  to 
proceed  more  than  two  or  three  hundred  yards.     With 
the  assistance  of  his  guide,  however,  he  remounted  his 
mule ;  and,  by  the  kind  providence  of  his  heavenly 
Father,  he  arrived,  about  nine  o'clock  at  night,  at  his 
place  of  destination ;  where  he  took  up  his  abode  with 
a  Greek,  who  performed  the  duties  of  an  English  con- 
sul at  Limasol.     He   had  also  the  satisfaction,   two 
days  afterwards,  of  receiving  his  luggage,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  a  few  trifling  articles  which  had  excited  the 
cupidity  of  the  muleteer. 

After  devoting  a  few  days  to  repose  and  refresh- 
ment, Mr.  Antes  set  sail  for  Egypt,  but  on  his  arri- 
val at  Alexandria,  he  found  that  the  plague  had  just 
broken   out  in  that   city.     He    therefore    proceeded 
without  loss  of  time  ta  Rosetta,  from  which  place  to 
Grand    Cairo   the    voyage  is  generally   performed  in 
about  four  days.     The  wind,  however,  proving  contra- 
ry, our  unfortunate  missionary  was  detained  on  board 
neariy  three  weeks  in  circumstances  of  the  most  trying 
and  painful  nature.     The  vessel  in  which  he  embark- 
ed was  so  old   and  crazy,   that  the  rain  penetrated 
through  the  deck  into  the  cabin,  and  even  fell  upon  his 
bed,  which  he  was  under  the  necessity  of  suspending 
by  a  cord,  in  order  to  drain  off  the  water;  the  provis- 
ions which  had  been  laid  in  for  the  voyage  were  near- 
ly consumed,  and  the  bread  had  become  mouldy  ;  the 
sailors,  convinced  that  all  their  calamities  were  indel- 
ibly written  in  the  book  of  fate,  refused  to  make  the 
slightest  exertion  with  a  view  to  expedite  their  progress ; 
and  on  their  arriving  before  the  harbor  of  Cairo,  the  ves- 
sel grounded  on  a  sand-bank  in  the  middle  of  the  river. 
Mr.  Antes,   however,   fortunately   obtained  a  boat  to 
take  him  on  shore,  and  had,  soon  afterwards,  the  grat- 
ification of  meeting   witli   his  brethren   Hocker  and 
Danke,  whose  kind  attentions  were  well  calculated  to 
obliterate  the  recollection  of  his  recent  sufferings. 

In  the  beginning  of  1773,  the  celebrated  traveller, 
Mr.  Bruce,  who  had  spent  some  time  in  Abyssinia,  re- 
turned safely  to  Cairo,  and  tiius  afforded  the  mission- 
aries an  opportunity  of  obtaining  correct  intelligence 
respecting  that  country  ;  and,  in  consequence  of  the 
information  which  they  now  obtained,  they  perceived 
cleariy,  that  their  long-cherished  hope"  of  establishing 
a  mission  in  that  part  of  the  worid  must  be  abandoned. 
Mr.  Bruce,  indeed,  assured  them  that  the  natives  were 
so  bigoted  to  the  faitli  of  their  own  church,  and  so 
inveterate  against  Europeans,  that  the  moment  a 
missionary  were  to  open  his  lips  on  the  subject  of  re- 
ligion, he  •%vould  fall  a  sacrifice  to  their  resentment. 

But  though  the  views  of  the  brethren  on  bfih.».!f  nf 
the  Abyssinians  were  thus  completely  frustrated,  they 


m 


resolved,  if  possible,  to  promote  the  interests  of  Chris- 
tianity  among  the  Copts  in  Egypt,  and  with  this  de- 
signJMr.  Danke  sailed  in  the  month  of  August.  1770 
for  Girge,  in  Upper  Egypt ;   but  he  was  precluded  aj 
this  time  from  commencing  his  evangelic  labors  bv 
the  arrival  of  a  party  of  Turkish  soldiers,  who  fixed 
their  quarters  in  the  same  inn  where  he  lodged      Bv 
these  inen,  however,  he  was  treated  with  every  mark 
of  civility    and  was  not  only  permitted  to  take  his 
meals  with  them,  but  even  hisexpenses  were  defrayed 
by  the  express  orders  of  their  captain,  whose  friend- 
ship, on  one  occasion,  proved  of  great  importance. 
Mr.  Danke,  bemg  in  the  habit  of  perusing  an  Arabic 
translation  of  the  book  of  Psalms  and  the  New  Tes- 
tament, was,  one  day,  accused  of  reading  works  in- 
imical to  the  faith  of  the  Koran.     The  captain,  on 
hearing  tins  charge,  sternly  demanded  to  see  the  books  • 
but  after  perusing  them  attentively  for  a  considerable 
time  he  returned  them  to  our  missionary  with  these 
words-"  I  find  nothing  here  but  the  pure  word  of 
iTod  ;  you  may  therefore  read  in  these  books  without 
fear,   either  by  day  or  night."     And,  turning  to  the 
persons  by  whom  the  accusation  had  been  preferred 
he  added,    "I  feel  a  regard  for  this  Christian  ;  and 
whatever  injury  he  may  receive,  I  shall  consider  as 
done  to  myself." 

In  the  latter  end  of  September,  Mr.  Danke  visited 
Behnesse,  an  ancient  town  on  the  western  bank  of  the 
Nile  ;  and  both  there  and  in  the  adjacent  villages  he 
endeavored  to  illuminate  the  minds  of  the  Copts,  by 
affectionately   pointing  out  the  insufficiency  of  their 
fasts,  alms,  and  superstitious  ceremonies,  as  means  of 
salvation  ;    and  by  assuring  them  that  the  sufferings 
and  death  of  the  Redeemer  must  be  conside^d  as  the 
only  foundation  of  hope  for  lost  and  ruined  sinners. 
Some  of  tiiem,  as  might  have  been  expected,  violently 
opposed  such  a  serious  attack  upon  their  preconceived 
opinions  ;  whilst  others  listened  with  attention  to  his 
arguments,  and,  in  some  instances,  appeared  pleas- 
ed with  the  doctrines  which  ho  inculcated.     The  faith- 
ful herald  of  tiie  cross  was  naturally  led  to  hope,  that 
the  good  seed  of  tiie  gospel  would  not  be  scattered 
here  in  vain ;  but,  after  some  time,  he  had  reason  to 
fear  that  those  who  professed  to  enter  into  his  views, 
were  in  reality  utter  strangers  to  the  truths  which  he 
delivered  ;    and  whilst  he  was  bewailing  the  hardness 
of  their  hearts  and  the  blindness  of  their  understand- 
ing, he  was  called  to  exchange  the  disappointments  of 
earth  for  the  joys  of  heaven,  on  thofilli  of  October,  1772. 
In  1774,  Messrs.  Roller  and  Wieniger,  two  of  the 
United   Brethren,   arrived  at  Alexandria,  and  were 
cordially  welcomed  by  Mr.  Antes,  who  had  proceeded 
thither  io  meet  them.     Here  ihey  were  unavoidably 
detained  for  several  weeks,  and,  during  that  time,  they 


172 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


lodged  in  the  same  house  with  some  English  travellers, 
one  of  whom,  a  medical  man,  embraced  every  oppor- 
tunity of  displaying  his  wit  and  humor  at  the  expense 
of  reli^on  and  revelation.     As  this  person  had  been  for- 
merly acquainted  with  Mr.  Antes,  he  frequently  visit- 
ed the  brethren,  and  appeared  to  watch  them  with  the 
most  anxious  attention,  though  he  never  attempted  to 
conceal  his  infidel  principles.    At  length,  as  he  was  sit- 
ting, one  evening,  with  Mr.  Antes,  he  addressed  him  in 
language  to  the  following  effect : — "  For  some  weeks 
past  I  have  narrowly  observed  your  conduct  and  that 
of  your  friends,  and  I  perceive  that,  though  you  vnll 
never  joiii  in  the  diversions  or  conversation  of  myself 
and  my  companions,  you  are  perfectly  free  from  that 
gloom  and  reserve  which  characterize  many  persons 
who  call  themselves  religious,  and  that,  on  the  contrary, 
you  always  appear  happy  and  clieerful.     It  seems,  in 
fact,  as  if  there  were  something  which  enables  you  to 
withstand  all  temptations,  and  I  must  now  request  that 
you  will  have  tlie  kindness  to  explain  what  the  secret 
is,  and  in  what  manner  you  became  possessed  of  it." — 
Mr.  Antes  immediately  replied,  "  Though  I  carefully 
abstained   from   intruding  my  sentiments  upon   you, 
whilst  I  had  reason  to  suppose  they  would  have  been 
unfavorably  received,  yet  as  you  have  now  proposed 
a  serious  question,  1  will  readily  answer  it  in  the  most 
frank  and   ingenuous  manner.     Permit  me,  then,  to 
state,  that  I  have,  for  some  time,  watched  you  with 
close  attention,  and  my  smcere  commiseration   has 
been  excited  by  a  conviction  that  you  are  laboring 
under  the  same  disease  with  which  I  was  afflicted  at 
a  fonner  period  of  my  life.     I  have  listened  to  your 
objections  against  the  Christian  religion,  and  have 
heard  your  reasons  for  refusing  to  give  credit  to  the 
Scriptures  ;  yet  you  have  told  me  nothing  but  what 
passed  through  my  own  mind  in  the  days  of  my  youth. 
I  must  add,  however,  that  with  all  my  specious  reason- 
ing, I  could,  at  that  time,  obtain  no  rest  for  my  soul ; 
and  1  am  fully  persuaded  this  is  the  case  with  you." 
As  he  did  not  attempt  to  deny  this  fact,  our  missiona- 
ry proceeded  to  state,  that  it  was  by  faith  in  the  Son 
of  God  that  he  had  obtained  tranqiii'lity  of  mind,  and 
that  by  strength  derived  from  him,  lie  was  enabled  to 
withstand   and  overcome  the   evil   propensities  of  a 
corrupt  nature.     "  I  still  feel,"  said  he,  "that  in  me 
dwelleth   no  good  thing,  yet  whenever  my  natural 
depravity  rises  and  struggles   for  an   ascendency,  I 
apply  to  the  same  source  where  I  first  obtained  succor, 
and  am  never  suffered  to  apply  in  vain.     This  is  the 
sole  cause  of  that  cheerfulness  which  you  have  re- 
marked in  me  and  my  brethren  ;  as  no  one  has  such 
abundant  cause  to  be  cheerful,  as  he  who  possesses 
the  peace  of  God  in  his  own  soul."     The  skeptic 
listened  attentively  to  this  candid  statem.ent,  and  ex- 


claimed with  a  heavy  sigh,  "  I  fear  there  is  some  truth 
in  what  you  have  said."  He  subsequently  behaved 
to  the  missionaries  with  great  respect  and  attention, 
and  assured  Mr.  Antes,  previously  to  their  leaving 
Alexandria,  that  he  would  write  to  him.  This  promise 
however,  was  never  fulfilled,  nor  did  Mr.  Antes  hear 
any  more  of  him  by  whom  it  was  made,  till  several 
years  afterward,  when  an  English  gentleman  Informed 
him  that  he  was  thrown  from  his  horse  and  killed  in 
the  vicinity  of  Naples. 

Whilst  the  brethren  remained  in  Egypt,  that  un- 
fortunate country  was  almost  constantly  involved  in 
anarchy  and  confusion,  and  the  beys,  who  alternately 
gained  an  ascendency  in  their  political  struggles,  ex- 
ercised the  most  cruel  oppressions  on  the  inhabitants 
at  large,  and  on  European  residents  in  particular.     A 
striking  illustration  of  this  disgraceful  fact  will  appear 
in  the  sufferings  inflicted  upon  Mr.  Antes,  with  the 
design  of  extorting  money  from  him.     As  this  faithful 
servant  of  God  resided  in  a  confined  part  of  the  town, 
and  his  employment  was  principally  of  a  sedentary 
nature,  he  was  under  the  necessity  of  taking  frequent 
exercise  in  the  open  air,  for  the  preservation  of  his 
health.     He  was,  accordingly,  in  the  habit  of  walking 
out  every  day  into  the  fields,  and   in  winter,  when 
there  was  generally  plenty  of  game,  he  sometimes 
took  a  fowling-piece  with  him,  as  the  inhabitants  of 
all  classes  are  at  perfect  liberty  to  shoot,  such  exertion 
being  toe  fatiguing  for  the  indolent  Turks.     On  these 
occasions,  indeed,   it  was   considered    dangc.ous    to 
meet   the  beys,  or  other  persons  in  power,  as  they 
were  known  to  be  always  ready,  from  their  insatiable 
avarice,  to  extort  money   under  some    pretence  or 
other ;  but  as  they  were  usually  attended  by  a  numer- 
ous retinue,  and  the  country  was  level  to  a  considerable 
distance,  they  were  in  general  easily  seen  and  avoided. 
In    this  manner  Mr.   Antes  had  fortunately  eluded 
them   for  some  years  ;    but  one  day,  in  the  month 
of  November,  1779,  whilst  he  was  out  shooting  with 
the  secretary  to  the  Venetian  consul,  he  and  his 
friend  were   perceived  by  some  mamelukes  in    the 
service  of  Osman  Bey,  wiio  happened  to  be  returning 
home  behind  some  hillocks  of  rubbish  which  concealed 
them  from  the  view  of  our  missionary.     Two  of  the 
mamelukes  imm^ediateiy  advanced  towards  the  Euro- 
peans, at  full  gallop,  with  drawn  sabres  ;  and,  after 
stripping  them  of  their  fur  coats,  shawls,  and  every 
thing  of  value  connected  with  their  dress,  they  demand- 
ed one  hundred   zechins,  equal   to  about  thirty-five 
pounds  sterling.     Mr.  Antes  replied   that  they   had 
not  so  much  money  about  them,  at  the  same  time 
offering  them  his  purse.     As  this,  however.  Contained 
no  more  than  about  twenty-five  shillings,  in  small  silver 
coins,  they  threw  it  from  them  disdainfully,  exclaim- 


EGYPT. 


ing,  at  the  same  time,  «  Give  us  gold  ;"  and  ten  of 
their  comrades  coming  up  at  this  juncture,  enforced 
the  demand,  swearing  that  unless  he  complied  imme- 
diately, he  should  be  carried   before  their  master. 
Mr.  Antes  assured  them  that  he  had  no  gold  with 
hum,  but  stated  his  willingness  to  give  them  some,  pro- 
vided they  would  accompany  him  to  his  lodgings. 
One  of  them,  who  appeared  the  leader  of  the  rest] 
told  him  to  go  home  and  fetch  it,  adding,  "  We  shall 
detain  your  companion,  and  if  you  do  not  return 
speedily,  his  head  shall  be  severed  from  his  body." 
As  the  Venetian  could  not  understand  a  single  sen- 
tence of  Arabic,  and  appeared  to  be  already  half  dead 
with  terror,  our  missionary  could  not  bear  the  thought 
of  leaving  him  at  the  mercy  of  such  unfeeling  barba- 
rians ;  he  therefore  generously  replied  that  he  would 
remain  with  them,  whilst  his  friend  went  for  the  money 
Scarcely,  however,  had  the  unfortunate  man  proceed- 
ed a  few  yards,  when  the  ruffians  rushed  upon  him, 
and  stripped  him  of  his  few  remaining  clothes,  so  that 
he  was  compelled  to  flee  into  the  city  almost  naked. 
The  sun  had  now  set,  and  as  the  mamelukes  durst 
not  remain  at  a  distance  from  their  master  any  longer, 
one  of  them  rode  up  to  the  bey,  and  stated  that  they 
had  seized  a  European  from  whom  a  considerable  sum 
might  be  easily  obtained.     Orders  were,  of  course, 
given  to  bring  the  prisoner  forward,  and  Mr.  Antes 
was  immediately  dragged  to  the  spot  where  Osman 
was  sitting,  surrounded  by  his  train  of  attendants.  Our 
missionary  addressed  the  tyrant  with  the  usual  saluta- 
tion, "  I  place  myself  under  your  protection  ;"  but, 
without  deigning  to  give  any  answer,  the  bey  darted 
a  furious  look  at  him,  and  demanded  who  he  was, 
and  what  he  was   doing  in   the   night?    observing'" 
at   the  same  time,  that  he  was  most  probably  the 
thief  who  had  committed  certain  depredations  a  few 
days  since.     Mr.,  Antes  explained  that  he  was  retum- 
mg  into  the  city  half  an  hour  before  sunset,  when  he 
was  seized  by  the  mamelukes  ;  and  added,  that,  not- 
withstanding they  had  detained  him  till  it  was  dark, 
it  was  not  yet  the  regular  time  for  closing  the  gates.' 
Notwithstanding  this  explanation,  our  missionary  was 
ordered  to  bo  conveyed,  as  a  prisoner,  to  a  castle, 
situate  in  a  Sandy  plain   at  some  distance  from  the 
town.     To  this  place   he  was  literally  dragged  by  a 
rope  niade  of  the  filaments  of  the  date  tree  ;  and,  on 
his  arrival,  he  was  thrown  into  a  dungeon  half  under 
ground,  where  he  remained  for  some  time,  with  a 
heavy  iron  chain  about  his  neck,  fastened  at  one  end 
to  a  piece  of  timber,  and  secured  at  the  other  by  a 
large  padlock.     On  his  being,  afterward,  introduced 
into  the  presence  of  the  bey,  that  tyrant  commanded 
his  attendants  to  throw  him.  down  and  inflict  the  "un- 
ishment  of  the  bastinado.    He  was  accordingly  "thrown 


ITS 


on  a  small  carpet,  by  the  servants ;  who,  with  a  «tron. 
staff  about  two  yards  long,  having  a  piece  of  an  iron 
Cham  at  each  end,  confined  his  legs  above  the  ankles, 
and  afterwards  twisted  the  staff  and  chain  together  in 
such  a  manner  as  to  turn  up  the  soles  of  his  feet.    At 
this  juncture,  whilst  the  servants  stood  ready  to  strike 
with  a  strap  of  about  three  feet  in  length,  formed 
ot  the  skin  of  the  hippopotamus,  and  about  the  thick- 
ness  of  a  man's  finger,  an  officer  approached  our 
missionary  and  whispered  in  his  ear,  "Give  the  bey 
a  thousand  dollars,  and  you  will  escape  this  punish- 
ment,  and  be  restored  to  liberty."    Mr.  Antes,  how- 
ever, naturally  concluded  that,  in  the  event  of  his 
offering  such  a  sum,  he  would  be  under  the  necessity 
of  openmg  his  strong  box  in  the  presence  of  an  officer 
and  not  only  his  own  property,  but  some  large  suras 
which  he  had  received  for  different  merchants,  would 
become  the  prey  of  insatiable  avarice.     He  therefor© 
replied,   « I  have  no  money  here,"  and  resolved  to 
subniit  to  the  most  cruel  treatme.it,  or  even  death 
Itself,  rather  than  involve  other  persons  in  his  misfor- 
tunes.    The  bastinado  was  then  applied,  by  command 
of  Osman ;  and,  after  a  second  intimation  from  the 
officer  had  proved  in  vain,  the  blows  were  so  severe, 
that  the  pain  which  they  inflicted  was  excruciating  in 
the  extreme,  every  stroke  being  like  the  application 
of  a  red-hot  poker.     At  length  when  the  bey  found 
that  no  money  could  be  obtained  by  this  cruelty,  he 
remanded  the  sufferer  to  his  dungeon,  where  the  pon- 
derous chain  was  again  passed  round  his  neck.     In 
about  half  an  hour,  however,  he  was  once  more  brought 
before  the  bey,  who,  on  perceiving  the  prisoner  enter 
his  apartment,  said  to  one  of  his  officers,  "  Is  this  the 
man  of  whom  you  have  been  speaking  ?"  The  fellow 
having  advanced  towards  our  missionary,  and  looked 
steadfastly  in  his  face,  as  if  to  recognize  his  features, 
suddenly  exclaimed,  with  uplifted  hands,  and  an  air 
of  the  greatest  astonishment,  "  By  Allah,  this  is  my 
friend,  and  one  of  the  best  men  in  Grand  Cairo.     O  ! 
how  sorry  I  am  that  I  was  not  here  sooner  to  tell  you 
so  !"  To  this  Osman  replied,  "  Then  I  liberate  him 
for  your  sake  ;  take  him  away,  and  if  he   have  lost 
anything,  exert  yourself  to  get  it  restored."      Mr. 
Antes  was  naturally  astonished  at  this  circumstance, 
as  the  man  who  called  himself  his  friend  was,  in  fact, 
a  total  stranger ;  however,  he  soon  discovered  that 
the  whole  was  a  manoeuvre  to  get  rid  of  him  decently, 
and  to  put  some  cash  into  the  pocket  of  the  officer! 
On  leaving  the  bey  he  was  carried  to  the  house  of  his 
pretended  deliverer,  and  the  next  day,  after  paying 
fees  to  the  amount  of  about  twenty  pounds  sterling,  he 
was  conveyed  to  his  own  chamber,  where  he  remained 
confined  to  his  bed  about  six  weeks,  before  he  could 
walk  even  with  the  aid  of  crutches.     He  felt  thankful 


174 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


to  God,  however,  that  he  had  escaped  with  his  life 
from  a  tyrant  to  whose  capricious  cniehy  many  others 
had  been  previously  sacrificed  ;  the  bastinado  having 
been  repeated  for  two  or  three  days  successively  to 
the  number  of  one  or  two  thousand  strokes.*  This 
dreadful  punishment  had  sometimes,  indeed,  been 
survived  by  persons  of  a  peculiarly  strong  constitu- 
tion ;  but,  in  most  instances,  blood  had  gushed  from 
the  mouth  and  nostrils  of  the  sufferer,  after  the  inflic- 
tion of  five  or  six  hundred  strokes,  and  death  ensued 
shortly  afterwards. 

The  missionaries  not  only  followed  the  example  of 
their  deceased  friend  and  brother  Danke,  in  repeated- 
ly visiting  the  Copts  in  the  neighborhood  of  Behnesse, 
but  they  even  erected  a  small  house  in  that  place,  for 
their  occasional  residence,  and  for  the  accommodation 
of  those  who  seemed  inclined  to  attend  to  their  in- 
structions. All  their  exertions,  however,  were  attend- 
ed with  so  little  success,  the  idea  of  penetrating  into 
Abyssinia  was  demonstrated  to  be  so  impracticable, 
and  the  political  state  of  Egypt  became  so  alarming, 
that  the  mission  in  this  distracted  country  was,  at 
length,  relinquished,  and  in  1782  and  1783  the  breth- 
ren returned  to  Europe. 


NICOBAR  ISLANDS. 


A  commercial  establishment  having  been  commenced 
by  the  Danes,  about  the  year  1756,  on  the  Nicobar 
islands,  in  the  bay  of  Bengal,  a  person  of  considerable 
rank  in  Copenhagen  intimated  to  some  of  the  United 
Brethren,  that  his   Danish  majesty  was  desirous   of 
their  sending  out  missionaries  to  that  part  of  the  world, 
in  order  to  instruct  the  natives  in  the  truths  of  Chris- 
tianity.    This  proposal  was  cheerfully  embraced  ;  and 
though  it  was  soon   afterwards   announced   that  the 
attempt  to  form  a  settlement  on  these  islands  had 
prove*  unfortunate,  and   that  most  of  the  colonists 
had  sunk  into  an  untimely  grave,  the  brethren  were 
by  no  means  inclined  to  abandon  a  project  so  closely 
connected  with  the  best  interests  of  their  fellow  men. 
It  was  considered  advisable,  however,  that  they  should 
have   a  Settlement   at  Tranquebar,  on  the  coast  of 
Coromandel,  in  order  to  support  the  mission  in  the 
islands.     Permission   was  accordingly  obtained  from 
the  court  of  Denmark  for  that  purpose,  and  a  royal 
edict  was  issued,  securing  to  the  missionaries  all  the 


•  Thii  excellent  nun  was  called  from  liia  ■tifferingi,  Doc.  17, 
1811.  He  died  at  Bristol,  England.  The  fruits  of  the  spirit  of 
Jesus  which  dwelt  in  him,  were  manifest  to  all  who  wore  inti- 
mataly  acquainted  with  him. 


civil  and  religious  privileges  which  had  been  solicited 
on  their  behalf. 

Several  of  the  brethren  now  volunteered  their  ser- 
vices in  this  new  undertaking,  and  in  the  month  of 
November,   1759,  Messrs.  Stahlman,   Voelker,  and 
Butler,  with  eleven  other  persons,  sailed  from  Copen- 
hagen.    On  their  arrival  at  Tranquebar,  they  pur- 
chased a  piece  of  ground  about  a  mile  distant  from 
the  town,  and  began  to  erect  a  large  dwelling-house, 
with    workshops,    out-houses,    &c.      At    this    place, 
which  they  called  the  Brethren's  Garden,  they  ap- 
plied themselves  diligently  to  the  prosecution  of  their 
respective  trades  and  to  the  cultivation  of  their  land, 
and  the  different  articles  which   they  manufactured 
found  a  ready  sale  in  Tranquebar  and  the  adjacent 
settlements.     No  opportunity  occurred,  however,  for 
the  introduction  of  the  gospel  into  the  Nicobar  islands 
till  the  year  1768,  when  the  Danish  Asiatic  Company 
formed  a  new  commercial  establishment  on  the  island 
of  Nancawery,  and  six  of  the  brethren  immediately 
removed  thither.      Several  officers  of  the  company 
subsequently  arrived  from  Tranquebar,  bringing  with 
them   a  large  quantity  of  merchandise,  a  retinue  of 
black  servants,  and   a  small  detachment  of  soldiers. 
To  most  of  these,  however,  the  chmate  soon  proved 
fatal,  and,  at  the  expiration  of  a  year  and  a  half,  only 
two  European  soldiers,  and  four  Malabar  servants, 
remained  out  of  the  whole  party.     These  were,  of 
course,  withdrawn   by  the  company,  and  the  project 
of  establishing  a  factory  on  such  an  insalubrious  spot 
was  finally  abandoned. 

As  the  missionaries  were  now  left  alone,  and  all 
eomumnication  between  them  and  their  brethren  at 
Tranquebar  was  suspended,  it  became  necessary  to 
charter  a  vessel  for  the  purpose  of  supplying  them 
witii  provisions  and  other  articles  from  the  coast  of 
Coromandel.  On  this  occasion  an  English  gentleman, 
named  Holford,  kindly  assisted  in  fitting  ouf  a  small 
ship,  which  sailed  for  Nancawery,  and  brought  back 
the  natural  productions  of  that  island.  The  sale 
of  them,  however,  proved  insufficient  to  cover  the 
expense  of  the  undertaking  ;  and  as  it  was  often  ex- 
tremely difficult  to  gain  the  entrance  to  the  Nicobar 
islands,  the  maintaining  of  an  intercourse  with  thein 
was  attended  with  considerable  trouble. 

In  the  month  of  September,  1778,  Messrs.  Wange- 
man  and  Haensel  sailed  for  Nancawery,  but  the  former 
was  summoned  into  eternity  shortly  after  his  arrival ; 
and  the  latter  was  attacked,  in  less  than  a  month, 
with  what  is  called  the  seasoning-fever,  and  was  so 
extremely  ill  that  no  hopes  were  entertained  of  his 
recovery.  One  day  he  arose  from  his  bed  in  a  state 
of  complete  delirium,  and  attempted  to  quit  the  house; 
and,  on  being  led  hack  to  his  apartment,  he  fell  into 


NICOBAR  ISLANDS. 


strong  convulsions,  and  appeared  to  be  dying.     The 
brethren,  therefore,  with  prayers  and  tears,  commend- 
ed his  soul  to  their  heavenly  Father ;  and,  after  some 
time,  judging  from  his  appearance  that  he  had  given 
up  the  ghost,  they  laid  him  out,  and  retired  to  dig  a 
grave  for  his  interment :   but,  on  their  return  from 
this  melancholy  task,  Mr.  Haensel  recovered  from 
his  state  of  insensibility,  and,  to  their  unspeakable 
astonishment,  inquired  the  cause  of  their  tears.    They 
then  informed  him  of  all  that  had  transpired,  and 
expressed  their  gratitude  that  the  preparations  for  his 
funeral  had  proved  to  be  premature.     A  considerable 
time  elapsed,  however,  before  he  recovered  from  this 
attack,  and,  in  fact,  his  health  was  so  seriously  affect- 
ed,  that  even  after  his  removal  to  a  more  wholesome 
climate,  he  was  the  subject  of  intermittent  fever,  in  a 
greater  or  less  degree,  at  regular  intervals,  till  the  day 
of  his  death. 

During  their  residence  on  the  Nicobar  islands,  the 
brethren   felt   extremely  anxious,   by   every   means 
in  their  power,  to  diminish  the  expenses  connected 
with  the  mission ;  and,  therefore,  in  addition  to  their 
agricultural  labors,  they  devoted  part  of  their  time  to 
the  collecting  of  serpents,  shells,  and  other  natural 
curiosities,  for  which,  at  that  time,  there  was  a  ready 
sale  in  different  parts  of  Europe.     Mr.  Haensel,  in 
particular,  employed    himself   in  this  business,   and 
acquired  such  skill  in  his   favorite  pursuit,  that  he 
could  catch  the  most  dangerous  rejtiles  without  any 
risk  of  personal  injury  ;  though  the  venomous  nature 
of  some  of  the  serpents  which  he  was  in  the  habit 
of  taking,  is  such,  that  a  wound  inflicted  by  their  fangs, 
even  after  they  are  dead,  is  sometimes  attended  with 
fatal  consequences.      It  appears,  also,  that  on  one 
occasion  he  was   himself  bitten  by  a  small  serpent 
called  the  split-snake,  which  is  extremely  slender, 
and  capable  of   insinuating    itself   into  the  smallest 
hole  or  crevice.     In  speaking  of  his  work-room  at 
the  Brethren's  Garden,  where  he  usually  stuffed,  or 
preserved  in  spirits,  these  and  other  remarkable  ani- 
mals, Mr.  Haensel  observes,  <<  There  was  a  door  in  a 
dark  part  of  my  room,  with  a  large  clumsy  lock  upon 
it.     One  evening  as  I  was  attempting  to  open  it,  I 
suddenly  felt  a  prick  in  my  finger,  and,  at  the  same 
instant,  a  violent  electrical  shock,  as'  if  I   had  been 
split  asunder.     Not  thinking  of  a  serpent,  I  at  first 
imagined  tliat  my  Malabar  boys  had,  in  play,  wound 
some  wire  about  the  handle,  and  that  it  was  by  this  I 
was  hurt.     I  therefore  asked  them  sharply  what  they 
had  done  to  the  door  ;  but  they  denied  that  they  had 
meddled  with  it ;  and  when  I  made  a  second  attempt 
to  open  it,  I  was  attacked  still  more  violently,  and 
perceived  the  blood  trickling  down  my  finger.    I  then 
returned  into  my  room,  and  sucked  the  wound  till 


178 


I  could  draw  no  more  blood  from  it ;  after  which  I 
applied  to  it  some  spirits  of  turpentine,  and  tied  it  up 
with  a  bandage  ;  but,  being  hurried  that  evening  with 
other  business,  I  took  no  further  notice  of  it.     In  the 
night,  however,  it  swelled  and  was  extremely  painful 
In  the  morning,  when  I  went  into  the  work-rooraj 
I  thought  I  perceived  an  unpleasant  musky  smell  • 
and  on  approaching  the  door  already  mentioned,  the 
stench  was  intolerable.     I  therefore  asked  the  boys 
what  nasty  stuff  they  had  brought  into  the  room  ;  but 
they  denied  that  they  knew  any  thing  of  the  matter. 
Having  procured  a  candle,  I  then  discovered  the  cause 
of  all  the  mischief.     About  six  inches  of  the  body  of 
a  young  split-snake  hung  out  of  the  key-hole,  perfectly 
dead;  and  on  taking  off  the  lock,  I  found  the  creature 
twisted  mto  it,  and  so  much  wounded  by  the  turn  of 
the  bolt,  from  my  attempt  to  open  the  door,  that  it  had 
died  in  consequence.     It  had  been  entering  the  room 
through  the  key-hole,  when  I  accidentally  stopped  its 
progress  and  was  bitten  by  it ;  and,  considering  the 
deadly  nature  of  this  serpent's  poison,  I  felt  thankful 
to  God,  that,  though  ignorant  of  the  cause  of  the 
wound,  I  applied  proper  remedies  to  it,  in  consequence 
of  which  my  life  was  not  endangered.     I  have  been 
told  that  the  bite  of  every  serpent  is  accompanied,  in 
a  greater  or  less  degree,  by  a  sensation  similar  to  an 
electrical  shock.     The  name  of  split-snake,  which  is 
given  to  this  animal,  we  considered  as  descriptive  not 
so  much  of  its  appearance,  as  of  the  singular  sensation 
occasioned  by  its  bite." 

It  sometimes  happened,  in  his  excursions  and  re- 
searches along  the  coast,  that  Mr.  Haensel  was  over- 
taken by  the  night,  when  at  a  considerablo  disfance 
from  the  abode  of  his  brethren.     In  this  ca;  o,  how- 
ever, he  seems  to  have  experienced  but  littfo  incon- 
venience from  the  want  of  a  bed,  as  he  was  in  the 
habit  of  forming  an  excavation  in  the  fine  white  5aud 
which  forms  the  greater  part  of  the  beach  above  high- 
water  mark,  and  then  lying  down  to  rest,  guarded  by 
his  faithful  dog.     And  as  the  open  part  of  the  coast 
was  never  infested  by  crocodiles,  kayraans,  or  wild 
beasts,  he  incurred  no  danger  by  his  exposed  situation, 
though  his  slumbers  were  sornetinltes  interrupted  by 
the  perambulations  of  large  quantities  of  crabs,  or  by 
the  barking  of  his  vigilant  guardian,  when  these  wan- 
derers did  not  keep  at  a  sufficient  distance. 

With  respect  to  religion,  though  the  natives  of  the 
Nicobar  islands  are  not  professed  idolaters,  they  are 
m  a  state  of  the  most  deplorable  blindness,  and  they 
have  so  little  notion  of  the  nature  or  attributes  of  a 
Supreme  Being,  that  they  have  no  word  in  their  lan- 
guage which  is  particulariy  designed  to  express  the 
name  of  God  :  the  term  Jcnallen,  which  they  use  in 
speaking  of  him,  merely  signifying  above,  or  oh  AtVA, 


176 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


I 


ft  if 

1l 


and  being  frequently  applied  to  other  objects.  They 
acknowledge,  indeed,  that  such  a  Being  does  exist, 
and  is  not  inclined  to  injure  them  ;  but  of  his  good- 
ness they  have  no  consistent  ideas,  and  they  seem  to 
think  it  perfectly  unnecessary  to  make  any  inquiries 
on  the  subject.  But  though  they  pay  so  little  regard 
to  the  Deity,  they  believe  that  they  are  surrounded 
by  a  variety  of  devils,  all  of  whom  are  extremely 
malignant,  and  disposed  to  injure  them,  though  happily 
restrained,  on  some  occasions,  by  the  superior  abilities 
of  the  sorcerers.  To  these  demons,  therefore,  they 
seem  to  direct  all  their  religious  ceremonies,  and  tJiey 
consider  even  the  creation  of  the  world  to  have  been 
effected  by  the  Eeivee  or  evil  spirit,  and  to  his 
influence  they  invariably  ascribe  whatever  thov  do 
amiss. 

In  attempting  to  communicate  the  glad  tidings  of 
salvation  to  these  poor,  benighted  creatures,  tiie  mis- 
sionaries had  to  contend  with  difficulties  of  tiie  most 
discouraging  nature  ;  as  they  were  not  only  destitute 
of  grammars,  dictionaries,  or  elementary  books  of  any 
description,  which  might  have  facilitated  the  attain- 
ment of  the  language,  but  tlie  natives  themselves  are, 
in  general,  so  extremely  indolent,  that  even  common 
conversation  seems  to  fatigue  tiicm,  and  they  are  but 
seldom  inclined  to  talk  whilst  they  can  contrive  to 
make  themselves  understood  by  signs.     And,  in  addi- 
tion to  this,  both  sexes  are  so  fond  of  chewing  betel, 
or  the  areca  nut,  that  they  ore  seldom  seen  without  a 
large   piece   in   ilieir  mouths,  and   this  renders  llieir 
speech  so  indistinct,  that  it  is  by  no  means  easy  to 
understand  tiiem.    Notwitlistanding  all  these  obstacles, 
however,  the  brethren  contrived  to  converse  witii  some 
of  the  inhabitanis.and  endeavored  to  explain  to  them, 
in  the  best  manner  they  were  able,  the  love  of  (iod 
to  helpless  sinners,  and  the  way  of  snlvation  through 
the  atonement  of  Ciirist.     To  these  imimrtimt  truths 
thoy  seemed  to  listen  attentively,  but  had  evidently 
no  conception  that  they  themselves  were  intircsicd  in 
them.      Wlion  the  missionaries  stated,  that  they  had 
come  from  a  distant  country  for  the  express  purpose 
of  making    them    acquainted  with  the  Creutor    and 
Redeemer  of  mm,   they   laughed   at   the   assertion, 
either  considering  it  incredible,  or  deeming  a  visit  for 
such  a  purpose  very  imneressary.     Sometimes,  when 
they  were  induced  to  hold  a  little  ronversotion  cm  the 
subject,  they  said  it  was  not  likely  that   the  sufferings 
of  one  individual  could  atone  for  the  transgressions  of 
others,  and  therefore  if  it  were  admitted  that  they 
were  sinners,  thoy  could  derive  no  benefit  from  all 
that  was  staled  relative  to  a  crucified  Redeemer ;  i)ut 
they  assorted,  at  the  same  time,  that  they  were  natu- 
rally good,  am!   never  committed   any  thing  wrong. 
Wh«n  ihu  bieiJiroii  ob»erve(i,  in  reply,  tiiat  it  was  but 


recently  they  had  murdered  certain  persons,  and 
abused  and  mutilated  their  dead  bodies  in  the  most 
wanton  manner  ;  and  asked  whether  this  were  to  be 
considered  as  a  proof  of  their  natural  goodness  •— 
they  very  coolly  answered,  "  You  speak  of  what  you 
do  not  understand  :  those  people  were  cannibals  and 
not  tit  to  live."  ' 

Notwithstanding  their  opposition  to  :he  truths  of 
the  gospel,  these  islanders  evinced  the  most  friendly 
disposition  towards  the  missionaries,  and  in  some  in- 
stances behaved  with   a  degree  of  generosity  which 
would  have  reflected  honor  upon  a  civilized  people. 
The  brethren  were  in  the  habit  of  purchasing  various 
necessary  articles   from   them,   and  paying  them  in 
tobacco  at  the  current  price.      In  some  instances, 
however,  the  natives  would  apply  for  their  usual  por- 
tion of  tobacco,  though  they  had  nothing  to  barter  for 
It,  and  the  missionaries  never  refused  to  supply  them, 
until,  in  consequence  of  an  unexpected  delay  of  their 
vessel,  their  stock  was  completely  exhausted.     They 
then   hiformed  the  chief,  or  captain  of  the   village, 
that  his  people  would  not  be  expected  to  bring  any 
more  provisions  for  the  present,  as  they  had  nothing 
to  give  in  return.     This  message  was  duly  communi- 
cated to  the  natives,  yet  they  not  only  brought  in  the 
usual  supplies  of  meat,  fruit.  Sic,  but  hung  them  up 
about  the  mission-house,  and  went  away  witliout  wait- 
ing to  hear  any  thing  about  payment ;  and  when  the 
breiliien  called  after  them,  and  began  to  explain  the 
circumstances  in  which  they  were  placed,  their  pur- 
veyors generously  answered,  "  Whilst  you  had  plenty 
of   tobacco,  you  were  always  willing  to  give  us  as 
much  as  you  could  spare;  and  now  that  you  have 
none  left,  wo  will  supply  you  with  luovisions  till  your 
stwk  is  recruited."     And  this  promise  they  faithfully 
performed. 

In  I7HI,  three  of  the  brethren,  Messrs.  Flockiier, 
Raiihs.and  lleiiirich  sailed  from  Traiiquebar  for  JVan- 
cawery  ;  hut  as  the  captain  could  not  succeed  in 
making  that  island,  he  proceeded  to  Junreylon,  where 
the  vess(.|  was  seized  by  a  French  privateer,  and  the 
missionaries  were  detained  about  five  months,  os  the 
Malay  prince  refused  his  permission  for  their  depart- 
ure.  At  the  expiration  of  this  time,  however,  they 
contrived  to  purchase  a  prow  for  seventy-five  dollars, 
and,  under  cover  of  the  night,  they  stole  away,  and 
pnxicedod  to  Nancaweiy  ;  where  they  were  cordially 
welcomed  by  their  l.reihien,  though  their  arrival,  at 
this  juncture,  caused  them  to  feel  more  severely  the 
want  of  those  supplies  of  which  they  had  unfortuiiulely 
been  hitherto  disappointed.  They  alsoclieerfully  gave 
up  the  whole  stock  of  their  linen  and  sail-cloth,  in 
order  to  supply  new  sails  for  the  nroWiOnd  thus  e.".nh!ss{ 
two  of  their  visitors  to  return  to  Tronqiiebar. 


In  the  month  of  September,  1783.  J.  Staal  set  out 
from  the  Brethren's  Garden,  in  order  to  visit  the  mis- 
sionaries on  the  Nicobar  islands,  and  to  supply  them 
w,th  various  necessaries.     Ho  accordingly  embarked 
m  a  ship  which  had  been  sent  to  Tranquebar  by  the 
king  of  Queda,  the  captain  engaging  to  set  him  on 
shore  at  Nancawery.     In  consequence  of  the  state  of 
the  wind  and  the  current,  however,  this  engagement 
could  not  be  fulfilled,  and  Staal  had  the  moftilation 
of  bemg  earned  to  Queda,  where  he  was  compelled, 
during  a  delay  of  three  months,  to  sell  part  of   the 
goods  intended  for  bis  brethren,  as  he  found  it  impossi- 
ble to  defend  them  from  the  rats.     And  though,  after 
many  fruitless  attempts,  he  prevailed  on  a  captain  to 
take  h.m  to  Nancawery,  they  could  not  succeed  in 
reaching  the  island,  and  he  was  under  the  painful  ne- 
cessity of   returning   to    the   coast   of  Coromandel, 
wuhom  having  accomplished  any  part  of  his  original 

The   missionaries  on  the   Mcobar  islands,  in  the 
mean  time   were  most  painfully  and  distressingly  cir- 
cumstanced. Completelyseparatedfromtheirbrethren,  I 
destitute  of  intelligence  from  their  friends,  surrounded  ' 
by  savages,  and  compelled,  by  the  exhaustion  of  their 
provisions,  to  eat  rice  which  was  hardly  fit  for  the  con- 
sumption of  animals,  they  were  literally  destitute  of 
all  the  comforts  of  life.     The  cH.nate,  as  has  been  al- 
ready hinted,  was  very  insalubrious  ;  the  house  occu- 
pied by  the  missionaries  was  so  extremely  damp,  that 
their  beds  and  mattresses  rotted  beneath  them  ;  their 
Clothes  were  old  and  ragged  ;  and  their  boots  and 
shoes  being  completely  worn  out,  they  were  under  the 
necessity  of  going  barefooted.     Under  all  these  cir 
cumstances,  it  is  not  surprising  that  they  were  so  ill 
and  emaciated,  as  to  resemble  skeletons  covered  with 
a  pale  skin  and  that  they  were  frequently  confined  to 
their  wretched  abode. 

In  compliance  with  the  wishes  of  his  Danish  majes- 
ty, the  governor  of  Tranquebar  despatched  a  vessel,  in 
the  month  of  August,  1784,  to  the  Nicobar  islan<ls,  to 
supply  the  necessities  of  the  missionaries,  and  to  on- 
able  them  to  maintain  the  post  which  they  had  hitherto 
occupied     And  notwithstanding  the  extreme  difficulty 
which  had  formerly  been  experienced  in  attempting  to 
and  Ht  Nancawery,  the  captain,  in  this  instance,  made 
1.0  island  with  the  greatest  fuciliiy.nnd  proved  equally 
fortunuio  in  two  ..thor  voyages  which  ho  made  to  the 
same  place  within  a  short  period  of  time.    Tin.  circum- 
stance nntnrnlly  enlivn„od  the  spirits  of  the  brethren 
who  resolve.l  to  apply  themselves  with  renewed  v\Jt 

othcirimporlant  labors;  and  having  removed  a  wooden 
house  of  twostories,  which  had    been   left  by  some 

ie.,  i„  ,„^  „ujaccnt  isian.i  ui  binpi)recio. 

they  began  to  hope  ih„,  ,|„.ir  health  would  be  mate- 
Vou.  I._NoH.  I5&  10.  gj. 


NICOBAR  ISLANDS. 


177 

rially  improved  by  their  residing  i„  ,he  upper  story 
and  thus  avoidmg  those  unwholesome  dampTby  S 
they  had  been  so  long  and  so  seriously  affected    Not 
withstanding  the  improvement  in  their  external  d. 
cumstances,  however,  there  seemed  no  probabil  of 
mducing  the  natives  to  attend  to  the  truths  of  the  Ls. 
pel.     It  was,  therefore,  deemed  advisable  to  abandon 
Jje  mission  ;  and  in  the  month   of  September,  1787^ 
Mr^Haensel,  who  had  now  returned  to  the  settlemen 
in  Tranquebar,  was  requested  to  fetch  away  the  only 
missionary  remaining  on  the  island,  and  to  deliver  up 
the  mission-house  and  premises  to  a  small  party  of  mil- 
"  ary  by  whom  he  was  accompanied.     His  feelings  on 
his  occasion  were  poignant  in  the  extreme,  particular- 
ly  when  visiting  the  burial.gro.md,  where'  deven"f 
his  beloved   brethren  had   found   an  untimely  grave 
whilst  thirteen  others  had  died,  after  their  return  ^ 
Tranquebar.  of  diseases  contracted  in  this  unfortunatt 
sland.     The  natives  were  also  deeply  affected  when 
he  came  to  pronounce  a  final  adieu,  'and  with  manj 
tears  they  begged  that  he  or  his  friends  would  once 
more  return  and  take  up  their  abode  among  them 

On  the  continent  of  India,  the  mission,  though  not 
attended  with  such  painful  circumstances  as  on  the 
Nicobar  islands  was  almost  equally  discouraging  ;  for, 
though  the  brethren  at  Tranquebar  preached  regularly 
both  ,n  the  Malabar  and  Portuguese  languages,  but  few 
persons  attended  „n  the  means  of  grace,  and  they  had 
no  satisfactory  evidence  that  their  labors  were  produc 
t.ve  of  any  permanent  benefit.     At  the  request  of 
the   Danish    Asiatic  Society,    some  of  the  brethren 
removed  to  Serampore  and   Calcutta,  and   took   up 
their  abode  m  those  places,  with  the  anxious  hope  of 
leading  some  of  the  Hindoos  from  their  wretched  su- 
pewtitions  to  the  knowledge  and  worship  of  the  true 
Ood.     Here,  however,  they  were  doomed  to  experi- 
ence   fresh   disappointments;    and    as    the    mainte- 
nance  of  the  settlement   on  the  coast  of  Coroman- 
del  was  attended  with  a  considerable  expense.  With- 
out   the    slightest    appearance   of  advantage  to  the 
neighboring  heathen,  the  brethren  were  gni.lually  re- 
called to  Europe;  and  in  180;)  the  last  two,  who  had 
been  loft  to  dispose   of  the  houses,  land,  he,  bade 
adieu    to  a  country  in  which  they  had   afforded  the 
most  nbi.ndant  proofs  of  piety,  zeal,  and  devotednes, 
to  the  Lord  of  missions,  though,  for  reasons  only  to  bo 
comprehended   by  his  unlimited   wisdom,   they  were 
not  |)ermitted  to  see  the  acromplishmen'  of  their  nr 
dent  desires  in  the   illumination    iind  conversion  of  a 
peoplojiterally  "  dead  in  trespasses  and  sins."* 

*  Th.  reader  who  wiihoi  tooblain  more  p.rticuUr  infornLtlon  ^ 
rirrrjmpnc  nicouii  n.i..i..ii,  1.  refcrrr.!  loan  iiitere.linB  work  en. 
t.tled,.r,eller.o„tl.e  Nicob.r  I,l.,.d,, ,.,  c.  J.  U.robo/  i"  which  'h^ 
nianiiem,  cu.tou«,  and  character  oflhe  ielandera  ire  Uotorilwd.  TlUi 


ITS 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


ISLAND  OF  TOBAGO. 

A  gentleman  of  considerable  property  and  influence 
in  Tobago  having  expressed  nn  earnest  wish  that  a 
mission  might  be  commenced  among  the  negroes  on 
that  island,  Mr.  Montgomery,*  one  of  the  brethren  in 
Barbadoes,  went   thitlier  in   ti<e  month   of  August, 

1789,  in  order  to  ascertain  whether  such  a  measure 
were  likely  to  be  attended  with  success.  On  his  ar- 
rival he  was  received  with  every  demonstration  of 
respect  and  hospitality,  and  several  of  the  planters 
avowed  their  intention  of  giving  him  their  decided 
patronage  and  support.  Ho  therefore  readily  acced- 
ed to  their  pressingsolicitatinns,  nnd  after  going  to  Bar- 
badoes, in  order  to  settle   his  affairs,  he   rRtnined,  in 

1790,  with  his  wife,  and  took  up  his  abode  among  them. 
For  some  time  the  slaves  flocked  in  considerable 

numbers  to  hear  his  sermons  ;  but  as  this  was  the  re- 
sult of  a  desire  to  please  their  masters,  rather  than 
of  any  anxiety  to  profit  from  the  truths  of  ilie  gospel, 
they  gradually  declined  in  their  attendance,  and  fnuil- 
ly  absented  themselves  from  the  preaching  altogether. 
In  addition  to  this  discouraging  circumstance,  Mrs. 
Montgomery  was,  in  a  short  time,  sununonod  into  the 
unseen  world,  and  her  mourning  husband  was,  soon 
afterwards,  attacked  with  a  disease  which  compelled 
him  to  return  to  Barbadoes,  where  he  closed  both  his 
labors  and  his  life. 

The  mission,  which  was  tlnis  unavoidably  suspended 
80  soon  after  its  connneiici'ment  by  liiis  estimable  ser- 
vant of  God,  was  renewed  by  one  of  the  brethren 
named  S'hirmer,  who,  together  with  his  wife,  arrived 
in  Tobago  on  the  '-I'M  January,  1799,  and  met  with  a 
most  encouraging  reception  from  several  of  the  pro- 
prietors of  the  estates.  The  slaves  also  now  appear- 
ed to  be  desirous  of  receiving  religious  instruction, 
and  the  general  aspect  of  affairs  sinm  became  so 
promising,  tliat  it  was  deemetl  expedient  to  strengthen 
the  mission  by  a  reinforcement  of  laborers,  Accord- 
ingly, the  Hev.  John  (^hurch,  of  Bath,  (juitted  his 
beloved  flock  in  that  city,  and  sailed  with  his  wife 
for  Tobago  in  IROt);  Mr.  Schirmer  having,  in  liie 
mean  time,  removed  from  bis  first  habiliition  toa  more 
eligible  spot,  where,  in  addition  to  a  comfortable  house 
for  the  missionaries,  a  building  was  fitted  up  for  a 
chapel. 

F.very  thing  now  appeared  favorable  to  the  great 
cause  in  which  the  brethren  bad  cheerfully  embarked. 


tin)*  work  WM  ciiinpilitil  rliirfly  fViim  tlio  MH8  nf  tlia  vrnerahla 
lUenMt.  il«  dvptrtetl  thli  life  ftbrutry  17, 11^13,  at  Nitiky,  in  8t, 
Thiimai. 


.  .r  I «.!„..• 


p..     tL.  Jl.*!.. 


..i.L.j  nu^.. 


ti«n  fori. 


Their  labors  vrere  patronized  by  the  colonial  govern- 
ment ;  most  of  the  planters  and  proprietors  were  de- 
sirous that  their  negroes  might  be  instructed  in  the 
Christian  religion  ;  and  the  missionaries  were  not  only 
numerously  attended  whenever  they  dispensed  the 
word  of  life,  but,  in  the  course  of  about  twelve  months, 
no  less  than  twenty  of  their  sable  auditors  were  admit- 
ted into  the  church  by  the  rite  of  baptism.  After  some 
time,  however,  the  slaves  became  more  remiss  in  their 
attendance,  and  even  among  those  who  had  been  bap- 
tized, there  were  several  who  appeared  to  have  con- 
tented themselves  with  the  adoption  of  a  new  religion 
in  form,  whilst  they  remained  utterly  unacquainted 
with  that  renewal  of  the  heart  which  our  blessed  Lord 
hath  declared  to  be  indispensable  to  the  attainment  of 
eternal  life. 

In  1801,  the  negroes  on  several  of  the  plantations 
concerted  a  plan  for  murdering  all  ihe  white  inhabit- 
ants of  Tobago,  together  with  all  the  mulattoes  and  free 
negroes,  who  might  not  be  inclined  to  make  common 
cause  with  them.  The  appointed  signal  for  the  com- 
mencement of  this  horrid  massacre  was  the  firing  of 
the  gun  on  Christmas  eve  ;  but,  by  the  kind  interven- 
tion of  Divine  Providence,  the  whole  conspiracy  was 
discovered,  and,  by  the  prompt  and  energetic  measures 
of  the  government,  it  was  happily  preveiiiid  from 
being  carried  into  execution.  It  was  peculiarly  gratify- 
ing to  the  brethren,  on  this  occasion,  to  find,  after  the 
strictest  investigation,  that  none  of  the  m^groes  under 
their  care  were  implicated  in  this  sanguinary  plot. 

A  serious  fit  of  illness  which  attacked  Mr.  Church, 
aiul  into  which  he  relapsed  after  a  jiartial  recovery, 
compelliMl  that  gentleman  to  return  to  Kngland  in  IHO;), 
and  the  subsecjuent  demise  of  several  of  the  planters 
who  had  been  the  warmest  friends  of  the  gospel  in 
Tobago,  together  with  other  unfavorable  circumstances, 
occasioned  the  suspension  of  the  mission,  after  the 
brethren  had  baptized  between  fifty  and  sixty  of  the 
negroes,  during  their  residence  on  the  island. 

In  conser|uonce  of  a  resolution  passed  by  the  mis- 
sionary directors  to  renew  their  labors  on  this  island, 
the  Rev.  Peter  Rickseckor,  of  Lancaster,  Pennsylva- 
nia, received  a  call  to  enter  upon  that  service,  and 
embarked  from  Bridgeport,  (^)nnecticut,  October  9, 
IHsid.  With  the  kind  assistance  of  Mr.  Hamilton 
and  other  friends,  a  now  missionary  establishment  bos 
bei'n  erected.  Early  in  !8'.i9,  Mr.  Rickscrker enter- 
tained the  hope  that  he  should  s<M)n  see  the  reward  of 
the  Saviour's  sufferings.  He  preached  the  gospel 
upon  six  plantations,  ind  had  the  satisfaction  to  cheer 
the  departiiii:  hours  of  those  who  died  in  the  full  con- 
fidence of  a  Saviour's  mercy.  The  congregation  con- 
sisted of  oiirhtocn  noirocs,  two  of  whom  bad  been 
recently  baptized. 


In  the  month  of  July,  the  mission  was  strengthened 
by  the  addition  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eberman  from  Bar- 
badoes,  and  the  operations  of  the  brethren  were  greatly 
facditated  in  the  extension  of  religious  instruction 
among  the  children.     One  hundred  children  from  five 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


179 

estates  were  visited  twice  a  week.  The  attention  to 
public  worship  now  became  so  great,  that  the  house 
would  not  receive  all  the  worshippers,  and  the  mis- 
sionary, on  some  occasions,  had  to  repeat  his  dis- 
courses. 


We  extract  an  article  from  the  Missionary  Intelli- 
gencer, which  gives  an  interesting  view  of  the  princi- 
ples upon  which  the  brethren  conduct  their  evangeli- 
cal labors ; — 

"  The  internal  regulations  of  the  missionary  settle- 
ments of  the  United  Brethren  are  the  saiiio  in  every 
country.      The  gospel  is  proaclied  to  all  lieatiien  to 
whom  the  missionaries  can  gain  access,  and  every  one 
is  invited  to  bo  reconciled  to  God,  tlirough  the  atone- 
ment made  by  Jesus  Christ.     Besides  the  public  tes- 
timony of  the  gospel,  the  missionaries  are  diliRcntly 
employed  in  visiting  and  conversing  withtlie  heathen  in 
their  dwellings.     If  any  are  awakened  to  a  sense  of 
their   spiritual    depravity,    and    of    their    want   of  a 
Saviour,  and  come  to  the  missionaries  for  further  in- 
struction, giving  in  their  names,  they  are  called  new 
appluanta,  and  special  attention  is  paid  to  them.     If 
thev  ccmtinue  in  their  earnest  desire  to  ho  saved  from 
tne  power  of  sin,  and  to  ho  introduced  into  the  Chris- 
tian church  by  holy  baptism,  they  are  considered  as 
camMate,  for  hnptum,  and,  after  previous  instruc- 
tion,  and   a    convenient  time  of  prolmtion,   are  hap. 
iizcd.     If  they  then  prove,  by  their  walk  and  conver- 
sation, that  they  have  not  received  the  grace  of  God 
in  vain,  they  are  nccived  as  approved  mimlnr.i  of  the 
congrrjs:alton ;  and  when  they  desire   to  be  admitted 
to  the  holy  communion,  they  are  first  permitted  to  be 
once  present,  as  spectators,  and   then  ronsidf^red   as 
camliilntvi  fir  the  rimmunion.    A  fter  some  time,  they 
are  confrmnl,  and  '•.dmiitcd  as  cowmLiiranis.     All  of 
these  classes  have  separate   meetings,  in  which   they 
are  exhorted  to  make  their  calling  and  election  sure, 
and  instructed  in  all  things   relating  to  a  godly  life. 
Separate  meetings  are  also  held  with  other  divisions 
of  the   congregolion,— with  the  children,  the  single 
men,  the  single  women,  the  married  people,  the  wid- 
owers, and  the  widows,— in  which  the  admonitions  and 
precej.is  given  in  the  Holy  Scriptures,  for  each  stale 
of  life,  me  inculcated.     The  bapli/.ed   and  communi- 
cants come  at  staled  seasons  to  converse  individually 
With  tii,"  niissionaiios — the  men  with  the  missionary 
hunscif,  and  the  women  with  his  wifo— by  which  tt 


more   perfect  knowledge  of  the  congregation   is  ob- 
tained, and  an  opportunity  given  for  special  advice. 

"  As  the  brethren  lay  a  great  stress  upon  knowing 
the  state  of  every  individual  belonging  to  their  congre- 
gallons,  it  would  be  impossible  for  the  missionaries  to 
do  their  duty  in  any  manner  satisfactory  to  themselves, 
in  large  missions,  unless  assistants  were  found  among 
the  converts,  whose  exemplary  walk  and  good  under- 
standing have  made  them  respected  by  the  whole  con- 
gregation.    These  are  chosen  from  among  both  sexes, 
and  have  particular  districts  assigned  them,  in  which 
they  visit  the  people,  in  their  houses  or  huts,  attend 
to  the  sick  and  infirm,  preserve  order,  endeavor  to  re- 
move dissensions,  and  promote  harmony  among  the 
flock.     These  assistants  meet  the  missionaries  in  con- 
ference at  stated  times,  at  least  once  a  month,  and  re- 
port on  the  state  of  the  congregation.     The  missiona- 
ries are  thereby  enabled  to  know  whether  their  peo- 
ple walk  in  conformity  to  the  rules  of  the  gospel,  and 
where  their  personal  aid  may  be  most  essential.     In 
some  missions,  the  assistants  are  also  employed  occa- 
sionally to  address  the  congregation  on  a  week-day, 
but  not  to  preach  in  i  iblic,  and  a  special  blessing  has 
attended  their  simple  testimony.     Other  persons,  of 
good  character,  and  exemplary  conversation,  are  used 
as  servants  in  the  chapel,  and  meet  also  in  conference, 
to  consult  on  subjects  belonging  to  outward  order  in 
the  congregation.     At  stated  times,  in  some  missions, 
a  counci/  is  held  with  a  number  of  the  most  respecta- 
ble inhohiiants,  chosen  by  the  congregation,  in  which 
all   things   relating   to  the   welfare  of  the  settlement 
come  under  consideration, 

"  As  to  external  regulations,  they  cannot,  in  all 
places,  be  exactly  uniform.  Among  free  heathen,  set- 
tlements, like  those  of  the  brethren  in  Europe  anil  the 
United  States,  are  more  easily  formed  ;  but  among 
slaves,  this  is  impracticable.  Yet  every  thing  that 
tends  to  promote  good  order,  and  prevent  injury,  is 
every  where  inculcated,  and  the  discipline  of  the 
church  uniformly  exerci.sod.  A  fron  mnn  or  »  -lavs, 
who  acts  contrary  to  the  moral  precepts  contained  iti 
the  Bible,  is  excluded  cither  from  the  Lord's  supper, 


MO 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


I 


or  the  meetings  of  the  baptized,  or  even,  in  certain 
cases,  from  all  fellowship  with  the  congregation  ;  for 
no  situation  or  prevalency  of  custom  can  sanction  a 
pretext  for  any  kind  of  disobedience  to  the  rule  of 
Christ.     Such  are  not  re-admitted,  until  they  have 
given  satisfactory  proofs  of  true  repentance.     Schools 
are  established  in  all  the  brethren's  settlements  among 
free  heathen,  as  in  Greenland,  Labrador,  among  the 
Indians  in  North  America,  and  among  the  Hottentots. 
Though  in  the  West  India  islands  this  is  not  generally 
practicable,  the  children  not  being  under  the  imme- 
diate control  of  the  parents,  yet,  by  persuasion   of 
some  planters,  attention  has  been  paid  to  their  instruc- 
tion in  reading,  and  Sunday  schools  have  been  insti- 
tuted in  the  island  of  Antigua.     For  the  use  of  the 
schools,  spelling-books,  a  catechism,  or  summary  of 
Christian  doctrine,  and  hymn-books,  are  printed  in  the 
Greenland,   Elsquimaux,  Delaware,    and    Creol   lan- 
guages;   and    by  the    liberality  of  the   British   and 
Foreign  Bible  Society,  the  four  Gospels,  the  Acts  of 
the  Apostles,  and  the  Epistles,  were  printed  for  the 
use  of  the  brethren's  missions  in  Labrador ;  a  Harmony 
of  the  four  Evangelists,  in  use  in  the  brethren's  church, 
is  also  printed  in  the  Greenland  and  Esquimaux  lan- 
guages ;  the  Epistles  of  St.  John  have  been  printed 
in  the  Delaware  language  by  the  American  Bible  So- 
ciety, and  a  Harmony  of  the   four   Gospels,  in  the 
same  language,  by  the  Female  Missionary  Society  at 
Bethlehem,  Pennsylvania.     Other  parts  of  the  Scrip- 
tures, translated  into  different  tongues,  but  yet  only 
in  manuscript,  are  in  constant  use.     In  all  the  breth- 
ren's settlements,  the  congregations  meet  daily,  either 
in  the  morning  or  evening,  for  social  worship  ;  and  on 
Sundays,  the  missionaries  are  employed,  from  break  of 
day  till  dark,  in  preaching,  meeting  the   different  di- 
visions of  the  congregations,  and   attending   to  their 
own  people,  or  to  heathen  visiters  under  concern  for 
their  salvation.     Nor  can  they  be  said  to  be  less  en- 
gaged in  spiritual  duties  on  the  week-days  ;  as  visiting 
the  sick,  or  such  as  cannot  attend  them  on  Sundays, 
employs  a  great  part  of  their  time. 

"  The  missions  of  the  brethren  are  supported  by 
the  voluntary  contributions  of  the  members  of  tlio 
church,  and  of  other  friends,  who  have  become  ac- 
quainted with  our  institutions.  It  would  bo  impossi- 
ble to  maintain  so  large  an  establishment,  were  it  not 
for  the  generous  support  of  friends  in  other  denomina- 
tions ;  the  congregations  of  the  brethren  being  hut 
few  in  number,  and  the  grcnter  part  of  the  ptHirer  class. 
Without  the  greatest  economy,  used  both  by  the 
brethren  at  home,  who  care  for  the  missions,  ami  by 
the  missiouaries  nl)r<)u(l,  the  sums  subscribed  or  con- 

trihllll'll  wmilil   full  All   aliort  nf  <l...  ... i:. rrn.. 

'- *" '  •*•    ' ■^|*'-!i»titmtr.       i  l.t: 

expense  of  the  brethren's  missions  has  greatly  increas- 


ed.     When   the   expenses    attending  journeys   and 
voyages,  building  and  repairs  of  churches  and  dwell- 
ings, unforeseen  occurrences,  &c.,  are  taken  into  con- 
sideration, the  sum  expended  is  comparatively  small  • 
though  large,  when  compared  with  the  number  and 
abilities  of  the  contributors.     The  brethren  are  there- 
fore the  more  thankful  to  God,  that  he  inclines  the 
hearts  of  many,  who  have  become  acquainted  with 
their  missions,  to  assist  in  their  support.     From  the 
beginning,  they  sought  to  put  all  their  missions  upon 
such  a  footing,  that  the  expenses  might  be  lessened,  and 
thus  the  practicability  of  extending  them  become  great- 
er. This,  by  the  blessing  of  God,  has,  in  some  instances, 
succeeded,  especially  in  the  Danish  West  India  islands, 
in  Surinam,  and  at  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  throuo-h  the 
zeal  and  diligence  of  some  brethren,  who  went  out  to 
serve  these  missions  by  the  work  of  their  hands  ;  and, 
in  their  various  occupations,  earned  so  much  as  to  be 
able  to  contribute  considerably  towards  their  support ; 
but  circumstances  will  not  admit  of  this  method  in 
every  place.     The  vessel  annually  sent  to  the  coast 
of  Labrador,  to  convey   provisions,  and  keep  up  a 
communication  wi'li    the    missionaries,    returns   with 
skins,  bones  and  oil,  the  sale  of  which,  of  late  years, 
has  nearly  covered  the  expenses  of  the  voyage.    The 
missionaries  receive  no  stated  salaries,  but  a  list  of 
necessaries  is  sent  from  each  place  annually  to   the 
brethren  appointed  to  take  care  for  the  missions,  and, 
after  revision  and  approbation,  the  articles  wanted  are 
procured  and  sent.    For  the  children  and  widows,  and 
for  missionaries  retired  from  service,  provision  ih  made 
in  the  best  way  the  committee  are  enabled  to  fulfd  this 
obligation. 

"  Of  late  years,  several  associations  have  been  formed 
in  the  brethren's  congregations,  in  aid  of  the  missions, 
chiefly  by  sisters,  in  conjunction  with  their  femaU 
friends  in  other  denominations.  They  have  been 
blessed  by  the  Ix)rd  in  their  benevolent  exertions,  and 
assisted  the  cause  by  considerable  contributions.  Par- 
ticular thanks  are  likewise  due  to  the  associations  form- 
ed at  Glasgow,  I.«ndon,  Edinburgh,  and  other  placei, 
by  friends  not  belonging  to  our  church,  whose  lil)erali- 
ty,  embracing  all  attem|)ts  to  spread  the  gospel  among 
tile  heathen,  made  them  consider  .'le  brethren's  mis- 
sions as  demanding  their  particular  assistance  in  their 
present  impoverished  state.  Tiiougii  actively  en- 
gaged in  every  good  work,  to  promote  the  cause  of 
God  in  their  own  connections,  they  iiaveof  late  years 
most  generously  stepped  in  for  our  relief  Without 
tills  assistance,  we  should  have  been  utterly  unable  to 
contimio  our  exertions. 

"The  brethren  have,  by  long  experience,  found  that 
"  tho  wokI  oi  iiie  c«)ss  is  the  power  oi"  («o(i  unio  sal- 
vation to  every  one  that  believeth.'     They  therefore 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


ISl 


immediately  preach  Christ,  and  him  crucified,  sowing 
the  word  in  tears,  with  patience  and  in  faith,  knowing 
that  they  shall  hereafter  reap  with  joy.  But  there  is  no 
part  of  the  doctrines  of  the  Saviour  and  his  apostles, 
which  the  missionaries  do  not'  gradually  endeavor  to 
inculcate,  both  before  and  after  baptism ;  and,  through 
the  mercy  and  power  of  God,  the  most  blessed  effects 
have  attended  their  labors,  and  have  become  conspicu- 
ous in  the  lives  and  conversation  of  most  of  their 
converts. 

"But  who  is  sufficient  for  these  things?  Truly 
not  man  ;  no,  not  the  wisest,  best,  and  most  zealous 
of  men.  Our  sufficiency  is  of  God,  to  whom  be  all 
the  glory  for  ever  and  ever  !" 


In  reluctantly  taking  his  leave  of  the  United  Breth- 
ren, whose  labors,  sufferings,  zeal,  and  successes  have 
immortalized  their  names,  and  merited  the  admiration 
of  "o/Z  who  love  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  in  sincerity," 
the  editor  gratefully  acknowledges  the  assistance  which 
he  has  received  from  the  Rev.  C.  I.  Latrobe,  the 
excellent  secretary  of  the  missions  of  the  Unitas  Fra- 
trum  in  England. 

The  following  tabular  statement  is  subjoined,  which 
will  present  the  reader  with  a  comprehensive  view  of 
the  various  stations  now  occupied  by  the  brethren 
among  the  heathen,  together  with  the  period  when 
each  mission  was  commenced,  and  the  number  of  labor- 
ers now  employed,  comprising  the  wives  of  the  mission- 
aries, wlio  take  an  important  share  in  the  spiritual  con- 
cerns of  the  female  converts. 


Enumeration  of  all  the  Minionary  Stations  of  the 
United  Brethren's  Church,  together  with  the 
Names  of  the  Missionaries  employed,  towards  the 
close  of  the  year  18.')0. 


I.  In  Greenland. — {Commenced  1733.) 

New  Herrnhut. — The  brethren  Lehman  and  Grillich, 

will)  tlieir  wives,  and   the  single  bretiiren  Tietzen 

and  Hcrbrich. 
Liohtonruls. — The  brcthron  El)crIo  and  Mehlhosc,  with 

their  wives,  and  tiio  single  brother  Caspar  Koegel. 
Lichtennu. — The  brethren  Mueller  and  John  Kocgel, 

with  their  wives,  and  the  single  brethren  Baus  and 

Ulbricht. 
Fredoricsthal. — Tliehnilhrcn  Kleinschinidt  and  Ihrcr, 

with  their  wives,  and  the  single  brother  De  Fries.— 

9S2  persons. 


11.  In  Labbadob. — (1770.) 

Nain.— The  brethren  Lundberg,  Morhardt  and  Henn, 

\vith  their  wives,  and  the  single  brother  Herzberg. 
Hopedale.— The  brethren  Meisner,  Kunath  and  Ko- 

erner,  with   their  wives,   and   the  single   brother 

Fritsche. 
Okkak.— The  brethren  Stock,  Kmoch,  and  Knaus, 

with  their  wives,  and  the  single  brother  Glitsch. 
Hebron. — The  single  brethren  Beck  and  Kruth. 
Brother  Stiirman  and  his  wife,  and  brother  Mentzel,  on 

a  visit  in  Europe. — 26  persons. 


in.  In  North  Amekica. — (1734.) 
New  Fairfield,  (U.  C.)— The  brethren  Luckenbach 

and  Miksch,  with  their  wives,  and  brother  Haman, 

a  widower. 
Spring-place,  (Cherokee.) — Brother  Byhan  and  his 

wife. 
Oochgelogy,  (Cherokee.)— Brother  Clauder  and  his 

wife,  and  the  widow  sister  Gambold. — 10  persons. 


-(1732.) 


IV.  In  the  Danish  West  India  Islands. 

St.  Thomas, 

New  Herrnhut  and  Niesky. — The  brethren  Sybrecht, 
Damns,  H.  Wied,  Boenhof,  Staude,  and  Schmidt, 
with  their  wives. 

St  Croix. 

Friedensthal,  Friedensberg,  and  Friedensfeld. — The 
brethren  Klingenberg,  Mueller,  Eder,  Sparmeyer, 
Keil,  Blitt,  and  Plaettner,  with  their  wives ;  the 
widowed  brother  Freytag,  and  the  widow  sisters 
Jung  and  Weber. 

St.  John's. 

Bethany  and  Emmaus. — The  brethren  Junghous, 
Kleint,  Schmitz,  and  Duelberg,  with  their  wives. 
On  their  way  thither,  the  brethren  Popp  and  H. 
Meyer,  with  their  wives,  and  the  single  sister  Got- 
tling.— 42  persons. 


V.  In  the  British  West  India  Islands. 
Jamaica. — (1754.) 

Fairfield,  New  Eden,  Irwlnhill,  New  Carmel,  New 
Fulnec,  and  Mesopotamia. — The  brethren  Ellis, 
Pemsel,  Pfeifer,  Light,  Scholefield,  Renkowitz, 
Zom,  and  Ricksecker,  with  their  wives. — 16  per- 
sons. 


189 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN. 


Antigua.— (1156.) 

St.  John's,  Newfield,  Grace-bay,  Cedar-hall,  Grace- 
hill. — ^The  brethren  Newby,  Kochte,  Coleman, 
Thraen,  Muenzer,  Zellner,  Brunner,  Simon,  Wright, 
and  Baine,  with  their  wives.  On  their  way  thither, 
the  brethren  Harvey  and  Coates,  with  their  wives.— ^ 
34  persons. 

St.  ««'».— (1775.) 
Basseterre  and  Bethesda.— The   brethren   Robbins, 
Schick,  Hoch,  and  Seitz,  with  their  wives. — 8  per- 
sons. 

Barbadoet.— (1165.) 
Sharon  and  Mount  Tabor.— The  brethren  Taylor  and 
Zippel,  with  their  wives.     In  Europe,  on  account 
of  illness,  brother  and  sister  Klose. — 6  persons. 

Thbago.—'(ll90,  resumed  1826.) 

Montgomery.— Brother  Eberman  and  his  wife.  Call- 
ed thither,  brother  and  sister  Zetzche.— 4  per- 
sons. 


VI.  In  Sorinax,  S.  America.— (1735.) 

Paramaribo  and  Voorzorg.— The  brethren  Passavant, 
Genth,  Graf,  Boehmer,  Hartman,  Schmidt,  and 
Voigt,  with  their  wives. — 14  persons. 


VII.  In  Sodth  Africa.— (1736,  resumed  1792.) 

Gnadenthal.— The  brethren  Hallbeck,  Thomsen,  Lut- 
tringshausen,  Stein,  Voigt,  Schulz,  and  Sonderman, 
with  their  wives,  and  the  widow  sister  Kohrhammer. 

Groenekloof.— The  brethren  Clemens,  Lehman,  and 
Meyer,  with  their  wives. 

Hemel-en-Aarde. — Brother  Tietze  and  his  wife. 

Elim. — The  brethren  Teutsch  and  Nauhaus,  with  their 
wives. 

Enon. — The  brethren  Fritsche,  Lemmerz,  and  Hor- 
nig,  with  their  wives. 

Shiloh.— The  brethren  HofBnan  and  Halter,  with  their 
wives. — 37  persons. 


According  to  the  above,  209  persons  labor  in  42 
different  stations;  being  an  increase  of  3  stations  and 
9  missionaries  in  the  course  of  the  last  year. 


mSTORY    OP    THE    ElfTGLISH    BAPTIST    MISSIOITARY    SOCIETY. 


CHAPTER  I. 

FORMATION   OF    THE    SOCIETY,    SENDING    OUT   OF    ITS  FIRST    MISSIONARIES, 
WITH   ITS   SUBSEQUENT    PROCEEDINGS   AT   HOME. 


It  is  worthy  of  remark,  that  whenever  the  great 
Head  of  the  church  has  been  about  to  accomplish 
some  peculiar  purpose  of  mercy  towards  mankind,  he 
has  invariably  poured  out  a  spirit  of  prayer  and  suppli- 
cation upon  his  faithful  people  ;  who,  like  the  disciples 
on  the  day  of  Pentecost,  have,  "  with  one  accord," 
presented  their  petitions  before  the  footstool  of  the 
throne  of  grace,  and  pleaded  the  promises  on  which 
their  divine  and  exalted  Master  had  previously  encour- 
aged them  to  trust.  This  was  literally  the  fact,  in 
respect  to  the  ministers  and  churches  of  that  denom- 
ination, whose  ardent  zeal  for  the  glory  of  a  crucified 
Saviour,  and  whose  patient  and  unremitting  attempts 
to  convert  the  slaves  of  sin  and  superstition  from  the 
error  of  their  ways,  are  to  be  narrated  in  the  follow- 
ing pages. 

In  the  year  1784,  at  a  Baptist  association  held  at 
Nottingham,  it  was  determined  that  one  hour  in  the 
first  Monday  evening  of  every  month  should  be  devoted 
to  solemn  and  special  intercession  for  the  revival  of  gen- 
uine religion  and  the  extension  of  the  Redeemer's  king- 
dom throughout  the  eartli ;  and,  about  three  years  after- 
wards, the  providence  of  God  brought  forward  an  indi- 
vidual to  assist  in  this  Iioly  cause,  who  was  destined, 
in  after-times,  to  render  the  mc  t  important  and  inval- 
uable services,  both  to  the  Christian  and  the  Pagan 
world.  This  was  the  Rev.  William  Carey,  of  Moul- 
ton,  in  Northainptonsliire,  and  afterwards  of  Leices- 
ter ;  whose  mind,  from  his  first  •  ntrance  on  the  work  of 
the  ministry,  appears  t(j  have  been  deeply  imbued 
with  conmiiseration  for  the  state  of  the  heathen,  and 
'vho,  from  the  geogrnpliiral  knowledge  which  he  iiad 
obtained,  mid  the  peculiar  facility  which  he  possessed 
in  fespect  to  the  attainment  of  languages,  seemed  de- 
signed by  the  all-wise  God  for  some  undertaking  of 
more  than  ordinary  interest. 

In  llie  spring  of  1791 ,  at  a  meeting  of  ministers  held 


at  Clipstone,  in  Northamptonshire,  the  Rev.  Messrs. 
Sutcliff  and  Fuller  delivered  two  discourses  which 
were  admirably  adapted  to  fan  even  the  latent  sparks 
of  missionary  zeal  into  a  holy  flame ;  and  Mr.  Carey, 
whose  soul  was  always  alive  to  this  important  object, 
earnestly  pressed  his  brethren,  after  the  conclusion  of 
the  services,  to  adopt  some  resolution  with  a  view  to 
the  formation  of  a  society  for  the  evangelization  of  the 
heathen.  In  this  attempt  he  did  not  succeed,  but  as 
he  was  known  to  have  a  manuscript  in  his  possession, 
entitled,  "  An  Inquiry  into  the  Obligations  of  Chris- 
tians to  use  Means  for  the  Conversion  of  the  Heathen," 
he  was  requested  to  revise  and  publish  it,  that  it 
might  be  laid  before  the  religious  public. 

Thenext  annual  association  was  held  at  Nottingham, 
and  as  Mr.  Carey  was,  on  that  occasion,  appointed  to 
preach  before  his  brethren,  it  was  natural  to  suppose 
that  he  would  bring  forward  the  subject  which  lay 
nearest  to  his  bean,  and  that  his  remarks  and  exhor- 
tations would  be  productive  of  the  happiest  effects. 
This  anticipation,  so  reasonable  in  itself,  was  abun- 
dantly verified.  The  preacher  selected  for  his  subject 
that  beauiifiil  passage  in  the  fifty-fourth  chapter  of 
Isaiah,  "  Enlarge  the  place  of  thy  tent,  and  let  them 
stretch  forth  the  curtains  of  thine  habitations  ;  spare 
not,  lengthen  thy  cords,  and  strengthen  thy  stakes  ; 
for  thou  slialt  break  fortli  on  the  right  hand  and  on 
the  left ;  and  thy  seed  shall  inherit  the  Gentiles,  and 
make  the  desolate  cities  to  be  inhabited."  And,  after 
stating  in  his  introduction,  that  the  church  was  here 
addressed  as  a  desolate  widow,  residing  in  a  small 
cottage  ;  that  the  connnand  to  enlarge  her  tent  clear- 
ly intimated  an  increase  of  her  family  ;  and  that,  to 
account  for  this  unexpected  change,  she  was  remind- 
ed that  "  her  Maker  was  her  husband,"  who  should 
be  "  called  the  God  of  the  whole  earth  :"— he  took  up 
the  passage  as  affording  legitimate  ground  for  two  im- 


184 


BAPTIST  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


portant  exhortations,  viz.  "  Expect  great  things  from 
God, — and  Attempt  great  things  for  God."  The 
truths  advanced  in  this  sermon  appear  to  have  been 
attended  with  a  peculiar  unction  of  the  Holy  Spirit ; 
and  in  the  course  of  the  day,  it  was  resolved  that  a 
plan  should  be  prepared  against  the  next  meeting  of 
ministers  at  Kettering,  for  forming  a  society  with  a 
view  to  the  propagation  of  the  gospel  among  the  hea- 
then. Mr.  Carey  also  kindly  promised  that  whatever 
profits  might  arise  from  his  new  publication  on  the 
subject,  should  be  applied  to  the  use  of  the  projected 
society. 

"  In  agreeing  upon  a  plan,"  says  the  writer  of  a 
Brief  Narrative  of  the  Baptist  Mission  in  India,  "  we 
had   no   difficu'ties   to   encounter   from   diversity   of 
opinion ;  for  in  every  thing  of  importance  there  was 
a  happy  unanimity.     We  conversed  on  all  subjects, 
without  debating  on  any.     Tlie  general  principles  on 
which  the  society  was  formed,  were,  in  respect  of  civil 
government,  to  yield  a  cordial  and  unreserved  obedi- 
ence in  every  thing  consistent  with  our  duty  to  God  ; 
and,  in  respect  of  Christians  of  other  denominations] 
to  cherish  a  catholic  spirit  towards  them,  and  engage 
in   a  ready   co-operation    with  them   in  every  thing 
which  did  not  require  a  sacrifice  of  religious  principle. 
Considering  the  present  divided  state  of  Christendom, 
however,  it  appeared  to  us,  that  each  denomination, 
by  exerting  itself  separately,  would  be  most  likely  to 
answei'  the  great  ends  of  a  mission.     Hence  the  name 
by  which  we  at  first  chose  to  designate  ourselves  was, 
'The  Particular  (or  Calvinistic)  Baptist  Society  for 
Propagating  the  Gospel  among  the  Heathen.'     But 
so  far  were  we  from  having  in  view  the  exclusive  pro- 
motion of  our  own  peculiar  principles  as  Baptists,  that 
we  were  determined,  from  the  beginning,  if  no  oppor- 
tunity appeared  for  sending  out  missionaries  of  our  own, 
that  we  would  assist  other  societies  already  in  being 
among  the  Presbyterians  and  tiio  Moravians. 

"  Some  of  the  greatest  difiiculties  which  we  had  to 
encounter  were  the  following.     We  were  inexperien- 
ced in  the  work  ;— we  know  of  no  opening  for  a  mission 
in  any  one  part  of  the  world  more  tlian  anotlior  ;— we 
had  no  funds  to  meet  the  expense  that  must  attend  an 
undertaking  of  the  kind  ;-our  situation  in  an  inland 
part  of  the  country  was  inconvenient  for  foreign  cor- 
respondence ;— tlie  persons  who  would  have  the  man- 
agement would  live  at  such  a  distance  from  each  other 
as  to  render  fre(picnt  consultation  impracticable  ;— and 
finally,  m  forming  a  society,  there  would  be  danger  of  its 
fa  ling  under  irrHigious  influence.     From  these   and 
other  considerations,    those    who   were    expected    to 
engage  m  the  work,  entered  upon  it  with  much  fear  and 
irenibling." 

On  th,.  o,i  of  October,  1792,  iii«  ministers  met  at  ' 


Kettering,  and,  after  the  public  services  of  the  day- 
were  ended,  retired  for  prayer.     They  then  solemnly 
pledged   themselves  to  God,   and  to  each  other,  to 
make  a  trial  for  introducing  the  gospel  amongst  the 
heathen.     «  And  though,"  as  the  writer  we  have  just 
quoted  observes, "  they  were  not  insensible  to  their  want 
of  experience,-  tbey  hoped  that  He  whose  cause  it  was 
would  endue  them  with  wisdom,  as  occasion  might  re- 
quire, and  vouchsafe  to  guide  them  with  his  eye." — As  to 
funds,  they  opened  a  subscription  at  the  time,  the  amount 
of  which,  though  only  £  13  2s.  6rf.,  was  considered  suffi- 
cient for  present  purposes :  and  they  had  no  intention  of 
appealing  to  the  public  till  a  more  specific  object  could 
be  proposed  to  their,  consideration.    In  respect  of  foreign 
correspondence,  they  hoped  to  find  friends  at  the  differ- 
ent seaports  who  would  be  willing  to  assist  them :  and, 
as  to  the  difficulty  of  a  number  of  persons  acting  in  con- 
cert, though  residing  in  different  parts  of  the  kingdom, 
they  felt  themselves  obliged  to  encounter  it  as  well  as 
they  could,  and  to  supply  the  want  of  personal  inter- 
course by  writing.     On  this  account,  however,  they 
found  it  would  be  impracticable  to  nominate  a  large 
acting  committee ;  or,  that  the  members  of  it  should 
go  out  at  certain  periods,  and  others  be  chosen  in  their 
stead. — Finally  ;  with  respect  to  preserving  the  socie- 
ty from  irreligious  influence,  though  every  person  who 
should  subscribe  ten  pounds  at  once,  or  half  a  guinea 
annually,  was  considered  a  member ;  yet,  as  the  com- 
mittee, to  whom  the  management  was  entrusted,  con- 
sisted either  of  ministers  or  respectable  characters  in 
the  different  churches,  who  would  act  without   any 
pecuniary  reward,  and  whose  places,  as  they  should 
die,  would  be  filled  up  at  a  general  meeting,  by  others 
of  like  character,  it  was  thought  as  great  a  preservative 
as  human  means  could  suggest.     The  Rev.  Messrs. 
Ryland,  Hogg,  Carey,  Sutcliff  and  Fuller  were  cho- 
sen   to  fonn  the  first  committee,  and  Messrs.  Hogg 
and  Fuller  were  requested  to  act  as  the  treasurer  and 
secretary  of  the  infant  society. 

In  the  month  of  November,  the  committee  were  in- 
formed that  Mr.  John  Thomas,  who  had  been  several 
years  in  Bengal,*  preaching  the  gospel  to  the  natives, 
was  then  in  the  metropolis,  endeavoring  to  establish  a 
fund    for  the  support  of  a  mission  in  that  benighted 


•  Tho  following  is  a  brief  view  of  the  principal  ngonU  employed 
antecedently  to  tho  Enplish  Baptist,  niiuion,  to  introduco  the  reli- 
gion of  the  Bible  into  Kastern  A«ia:— 

I.  The  Black  and  White  Jowa— In  tho  interior  of  Malabar 
are  multitudos  of  Black  Jowii,  who  removed  to  India  after  the  de- 
Btruction  of  the  first  temple.  They  have  received  «o  deep  a  com- 
plexion from  nn  Indian  aim,  aa  to  bo  hardly  dintinguiiiliable  from 
the  (lindooa.  Tlicy  posacfiB  aynagoguea,  and  have  obtained  from 
tho  White  Jews  nonie  copies  of  tho  Old  Tcstainent.  They  have 
one  nynngogiio  nt  .(ows'  Town,  near  Cochin.  At  tho  same  place  is  a 
~ ' --...."  :.-->r-,  w",  i»-t:'»miTtjj  itT  iiietr  tiivn  ac- 
count, are  thu  remains  of  a  large  body  that  removed  to  India  after 


BAPTIST  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


country,  and  that  he  was  desirous  of  procuring  some 
pious  and  zealous  person  as  a  coadjutor  m  his  impor- 
tant work.  This  wa^  considered  as  an  opening  in  Di- 
vine Providence,  and  it  was  resolved  that  inquiries 
should  be  set  on  foot,  in  respect  to  his  character,  prin- 
ciples,  abilities  and  success ;  in  order  that,  if  satisfacto- 


the  destruction  of  the  second  temple.  They  first  settled  at  Cran- 
eanore,  where  their  numbers  were  increased  by  gradual  accessions 
from  Judoa,  Spain  and  otlior  places.  Hero  they  continued  one 
thousand  years.  They  were  at  last  overcome  by  an  Indian  prince. 
Bome  exiles  fled  to  Cochin,  and  they  have  received  large  addiUons 
from  Lppt  and  other  parts.  They  have  the  Old  Testament  and 
m.any  Hebrew  MS3.  It  was  this  colony  which  excited  the  curios- 
ity of  the  learned  president  Stiles,  and  it  was  to  investigate  their 
copy  of  the  Pentateuch  that  ho  addressed  pir  William  Jones. 

2.  The  Syrian  Christians,  who  are  also  known  as  St.  Thomas's 
ChrisUans,  inhabit  the  interior  of  Malabar  and  Travancore,  in  the 
soutli-west  oflndia,  and  have  been  there  probably  from  the  apostolic 
ago.  Tradition  says  that  the  gospel  was  planted  there  by  the  apos- 
tle Thomas,  and  that  he  was  put  to  death  at  Thomas's  mount,  near 
Madras.  Ilis  tomb  for  ages  was  an  object  of  veneration.  At  Pa- 
roor,  near  Cranganore,  there  is  a  church,  supposed  to  be  the  oldest 
in  Malabar,  that  yet  bears  tlie  name  of  tiiis  apostle.  "  I  am  satis- 
fied," says  l)r.  Buchanan,  "  that  wo  have  as  good  authority  for 
believing  that  the  apostlo  Thomas  died  in  India,  as  that  Peter  died 
at  Home."  A  primate  oflndia  was  present  at  the  council  of  Nice  in 
the  year  Wi't.  When  Vasco  do  Gamn  arrived  at  Cochin,  in  1503,  he 
discovered  on  the  Malabar  coast  more  than  one  hundred  Christian 
churches.  Many  of  these  societies  were  compelled  by  the  Portu- 
guese, in  luo'.),  to  admit  the  supremacy  of  tlio  pope.  These 
churches  are  called  tlje  Syro-lloiiiaii  Christians.  The  churches  in 
tho  interior  preserved  their  books,  and  fled  to  the  mountains. 
These  are  called  tho  Syrian  Christians.  InlSt).""),  Dr.  Buchanan 
stated  that  there  wore  fifty-five  churches,  and  .ibout  fifty  thousand 
people.  From  the  long  inlliience  of  Christianity  on  tho  habits  of  the 
people,  they  are  more  polished  and  improved  than  tho  inhabitants  of 
tho  northern  parts  of  Ilindostan. 

3.  Tho  Christians  of  Western  Asia,  who,  from  time  immemorial, 

have  travelled  into  the  East  in  the  pursuits  of  commerce. Many  of 

those  have,  at  dillbrent  periods,  settled  in  the  country.  There  are 
now  in  Iiulla  seven  Arincni.in,  and  two  Greek  churches.  The 
Arnieniim  churches  are  at  Bombay,  Surat,  Madras,  Calcutta,  and 
three  other  places  in  Bengal.  The  Greek  churches  are  at  Calcutta 
and  Dacca  in  Bengal. 

4.  The  Roman  Catholics.— After  Vasco  do  Gama  had  discover- 
ed the  pussaRo  by  tho  capo  of  Good  FIopo,  the  Portuguese,  in  about 
halfa  century,  obtained  possession  of  a  large  number  of  tho  ports  in 
Persia  and  India,  and  establiBlied  a  line  of  factories  from  tho  cape  of 
Good  Hope  to  tho  river  of  CJanton.  To  these  conquests  they  added 
tho  nuiuonius  islands  in  the  Indian  Archipelago.  Wherever  they 
came,  they  brought  not  only  thcircommerce,  but  their  religion.  That 
vast  extent  of  sett-board,  reaching  more  than  four  thousand  leagues,  is 
peopled  by  their  descendants;  and  in  all  this  long  line  of  country, 
their  language  is  spoken  and  their  religion  is  known. — There  aro 
oisc)  inariy  Catholic  missions  established  in  Asia.  Muratori  re- 
marks wilh  triinnph,  "  thr'  amongst  all  the  marks  that  serve  to  dis- 
tinguish the  ('utholic  church  from  sects  delivered  over  to  error,  tho 
ardent  zeal  she  has  ever  shown  for  tho  propagation  of  tho  gospel 
is  one  tliul  strikes  us  most.  ' 

5.  The  Dutch,  who  established  themselves  in  Asia  about  a  cen- 
tury after  tho  Portuguese— -Many  of  tho  islands  fell  into  their 
possession.  They  labored  with  success  to  convert  the  natives  to 
tho  Christian  faith,  and  to  form  Protestant  churches.  They  trans- 
lated parls  of  the  Bible  into  the  M.ilay  and  Cingalese  languages, 
These  cliurclies  are  now  in  an  ignorant  and  formal  state ;  but 
EuL'lish  missionaries  aro  obtaining  access  to  tliom,  and  there  ii 
Vor,.  1. — INos.  1')  &,  Mi.  '26 


18S 

ry  answers  were  obtained,  he  might  be  solicited  to  go 
out  under  the  patronage  of  the  Baptist  Society 

From  a  statement  which  Mr.  Thomas  transmitted  to 
the  commtttee,  it  appeared  that  he  had  first  sailed  to 
Bengal  m  the  year  1783,  as  surgeon  of  the  Oxford 
ii^ast  Indiaman,  and  that,  shortly  after  his  arrival,  he 


reason  to  hope  that  tho  present  laborers  will  reap  a  rich  harrert 
where  Dutch  reformers  sowed  tho  precious  seed. 

6.  The  English  East  India  Company.-This  association  wa«  in- 
corpora  ed  by  queen  Elizabeth  in  tho  year  ICMO ;  and  in  1616,  the, 
bad  settlements  and  factories  at  Bantam,  Jacatra,  Surat.Agra,  Bram- 
Huo  ?>!         '       "'•  •"'«=''»«"'  Acl.cn,  and  many  other  places.     In 
im,  they  removed   their  factory  in  Bengal  from  Hdogly  to  tha 
spot  on  whicii  Calcutta,  the  present  capital  of  British  India,  has  since 
been  built.     Withimhe  last  forty  years,  the  dominions  of  this  compa- 
ny have  been  greatly  extended.     About  the  year  1795,  the  earl  of 
Mornington,  an  Irish  nobleman  of  an  ancient  family  of  the  name  of 
Wellesloy,  and  now  marquis  Wellesley,  went  out  to  India  in  the 
character  of  governor-general.     During   the  few  years  in  which 
he  administered  the  government  of  India,  the  territorial  posses- 
sions of  the  company  wore  almost  doubled.     His  war  with  Tippoo 
Saib,  king  of  Mysore,  issued  in  the  destruction  of  the  Mysorean 
empire,  and  tho  extinction  of  the  Mahometan  power  in  Ilindostan 
He  overwhelmed   the  hitherto  invincible  Mahrattas,  and  greatly 
reduced  Ihoir  empire.     In  this  war,  the  province  of  Orissa,  contaiii. 
ing  the  far-famed  temple  of  Juggernaut,  tho  Mecca  of  India,  fell 
under  the  dominion  of  the  British.    Besides  these  immense  terri- 
torial acquisitions,  ho  formed,  on  the  frontier  of  tho  empire,  a  league 
of  strength,  by  alliance  with  other  nations.     Tho   comprehensive 
mind  of  this   great  statesman,  in  connection   with  his  patron  at 
home,  tho  illustrious  Pitt,  formed  great  and  generous  designs  for 
India.     Among  other   plans   which  they  jointly  devised,  was  an 
ecclesiastical  estnblishment.     This  has  since  been  carried  into  effect, 
at  an  enormous  expense  ;  and  it  remains  to  bo  seen  how  far  this' 
experiment  will  confirm  the  experience  of  all  past  observation,  that 
religious  establishments  aro  a  dead  weight  upon  religion,  or  wheth- 
er it  will  subservo  tho  advancement  of  that  kingdom  which  is  "  ml 
of  this  leurhl."     AVhen  we  look  at  the  past,  we  see  onijugh  to  lead 
us  to  entortain  fears  for  tho  future      An  establishment  with  magnif- 
icent resources,  splendid  patronage,  and  mitred  pomp,  may  charm 
and  dazzlo  the  poor  Hindoo,  and  the  parade  and  pageantry  of  an 
episcopal  progress   through  the  Luid  may   please  multitudes ;  but 
there  is  no  converting  power,  no  soul-subduing  process  in  all  this ! 
Rather  do  those  appendages  conceal  tlie  simple  truth,  which  the 
preacher   carries,  and  divert  attention  from  the  solemn  concerns 
of  the  eternal  state.     But  tho  measure  which  reflects  the  highest 
honor  on  this  nobleman's  administration  was  tlie  erection  of  tho  col- 
lego  at  Fort  William,  and  the  collection  of  one  hundred  learned  men, 
from  different  parts  of  India,  Persia  and  Arabia,  to  assist  in  unlock- 
ing  tho  numerous  languages  of  Asia,  and  in   difi'using  the  light 
of  religion  and  science  throughout  tho  East.     To  tho  little  band  at 
Seramporo  tho  governor  was  a  Mniconas.    Neither  with  Mahrat- 
ta  nor  Mysore,  aro  his  honors  chiefly  inscribed,  but  with  tlie<r«M.»/a. 
tions  of  eternal  truth,  which  aro  one  day  to  cflect  the  civilization 
and  salvation  of  half  the  world.     By  this  entrance  of  the  English 
into  Asia,  a  wide  door  has  been  opened  for  tho  extension  of  Christian 
knowledge.     But  commerce  has  been  extended  without  a  propor- 
tionate  enlargement  to   the  Messiah's  kingdom.     The   chaplains 
employed  by  tho  company   have   not  always   been  such   men  as 
Brown,   Marlyn  and  Corrie.     We  would  rather  rocogniie   these 
worthies  as  true  missionaries. 

7.  In  enumerating  what  had  been  done  for  India,  previous  to  tho 
formation  of  tho  Baptist  mission,  it  should  be  slated,  that  a 
Danish  mission  was  also  founded,  about  a  century  after  the  Diitrb 
and  English  had  obtained  a  footing ;  for  tho  particulars  of  which  seo 
tho  Introduction, 


186 


BAPTIST  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


felt  anxious  to  devise  some  plan  for  the  promulgation 
of  the  gospel  in  that  part  of  the  world  ;  but  his  at- 
tempts proved  unsuccessful  at  that  time,  and,  having 
returned  with  the  vessel  to  England,  he  was  baptized 
in  London  in   1785.     He  now  began  to  exhort  in 
private  societies,  and  to  preach  occasionally  both  in 
town  and  country.     By  the  advice  of  a  friend,  how- 
ever, he  sailed  a  second  time  for  Bengal,  in  1786,  and 
on  reaching  Calcutta  he  had  the  happiness  of  meeting 
with  a  few  serious  persons,  with  whom  he  held  meet- 
ings for  prayer,  and,  after  some  time,  he  preached  to 
them  every  Lord's  day  in  the  evening.     One  of  these 
Christian  friends,  a  gentleman  who  has  since  filled 
one  of  the  most  honorable  offices  in  the  service  of  the 
East    India   Company,  expressed   a 'wish   that   Mr. 
Thomas  should  remain  in  the  country,  apply  himself 
to  the  study  of  the  language,  and  endeavor  to  com- 
municate the  glad  tidings  of  salvation  to  the  natives. 
This  proposal,  however,  was  by  no  means  agreeable  ; 
for,  notwithstanding  the  ardent  desire  which  the  sur- 
geon  felt  for  the  evangelization  of  the  Hindoos,  he 
had  no  idea  of  engaging  personally  in  that  work  :  he 
was  also  averse  to  the  climate,  and  dreaded  the  idea 
of  a  protracted  separation  from  his  family  ;  and  in 
addition  to  these  objections,  lie  considered,  as  he  had 
the  charge,  in  his  professional  character,  of  a  ship's 
company,  it  would  be  impossible  to  obtain  the  captain's 
permission  for  him  to  remain  in  India,  or  to  find  another 
surgeon  to  supply  his  place.     «  Yet,"  he  observes, 
"  though  I  could  not  accede  to  the  proposal,  it  would 
often  recur  to  my  mind,  and  after  a  few  weeks,  I  be- 
came greatly  concerned  about  the  condition  of  those 
multitudes  of   pagans  who  were  perishing   in  utter 
darkness,  and  was  inflamed  with  fervent  desires  to  go 
and  declare  the  glory  of  Christ  among  them.     After 
much  prayer  and  many  tears,  therefore,  I  gave  my- 
self up  to  this  work,  and  the  Lord  removed  dilTiculties 
out  of  the  way,  confirming  the  mission  and  comfort- 
ing me  by  adding   two  seals   (both    Europeans)   to 
my  first  labors,  who  continue  my  hope  and  joy,  and 
I  trust  will  be  my  crown  at  the  day  of  Christ's  ap- 
pearing. 

"  I  trust,  also,"  continues  Mr.  Thomas,  "  that  the 
door  of  faith  has  been  opened  to  the  natives,  by  the 
conversion  of  two  or  more  Hindoos,  and  by  other 
striking  effects,  which,  tiiough  short  of  real  conversion, 
may,  in  the  Lord's  own  time,  prove  a  great  blessing 
to  many.  One  of  these  converts,  named  Boshoo,  is 
about  thirty-five  years  of  age,  possessed  of  more  than 
an  ordinary  capacity,  and  well  educated  in  the  Persian 
language.  He  was  recommended  to  me  by  an  eminent 
Persian  scholar,  and  I  employed  him  in  the  oflice 
of  my  moomhcc,  or  teacher,  all  the  time  I  remained 
'"  """?-^-''     *'  '•■■'''^  '»'  -vlio  chiefly  labored  with  me  in 


translating  the  Gospels  of  Matthew  and  Mark,  the' 
Epistle  of  James,  &c.,  and  he  often  disputes  with  and 
confounds  the  Bramins,  both  learned  and  unlearned, 
though  he  is  not  a  Bramin  himself,  but  of  the  writer 
caste  or  tribe.  This  man  has  a  considerable  degree  of 
knowledge  and  gifts,  and  I  hope  they  will  one  day 
shine  forth  to  the  good  of  many. 

"  Of  Mohun  Chund,  a  Bramin  of  some  repute,  I 
once  hoped  well,  though  his  heart  failed  him  at  last ; 
and  even  now,  I  cannot  say  that  I  have  given  up  all 
hopes  of  him.     This  man  resides  at  Boolahant,  about 
six  miles  from  Malda,  and  has  a  vast  number  of  disci- 
ples, who  prostrate  themselves  at  his  feet  wherever 
they  meet  him.     When  he  came  to  hear  me,  he  was 
easily  to  be  distinguished  in  the  crowd,  by  his  fixed 
attention  ;  and,  one  day,  after  I  had  been  discoursing 
on  the  subject  of  prayer,  he  very  gravely  asked  me, 
'  When  a  man  prays  to  God,  how  many  days  must 
elapse  before  he  receives  an  answer  ?'  I  then  repeated 
the  account  of  the  woman  of  Canaan,  and  other  cases, 
and  he  continued  to  attend  and  converse  on  sacred 
subjects,  till,  at  length,  he  seemed  to  be  convinced 
that  he  was  a  great  sinner,  that  there  was  no  refuge 
for  him  in  the  Hindoo  shasters,  and  that  the  gospel 
alone  was  of  God,  discovering  the  way  of  salvation. 
He  now  came  frequently  to  see  me,  and  was  considered 
by  his  countrymen  as  a  convert  to  diristianity  ;  as  he 
laid  aside  his  former  religious  ceremonies,  and  abso- 
lutely forbade  that  superstitious  homage  which  had 
been  previously  paid  to  him  by  the  people.     He  also 
talked  publicly,  in  the  most  persuasive  manner,  to 
other  Bramins  in  favor  of  the  Scriptures. 

"  On  the  28th  of  June,  1790,  Mohun  Chund  had 
been  to  pay  me  a  visit,  and  on  returning  to  his  own 
house,  he  found  there  the  Bramin  Parbotce,  who  was  a 
man  of  title  and  elevated  rank.  He  was  also  a  very  strict 
observer  of  the  Hindoo  laws  and  customs,  and  was, 
in  fact,  a  devotee,  uncqualed  in  all  the  neighborhood 
for  zeal  and  accuracy.     This  man,  having  heard  of 
our  new  shaster,  the  Bible,  was  not  a  little  displeased ; 
and  when  he  understood  that  Mohun  Chund  had  been 
to  see  me,  he  desired  him  to  go  and  wash  his  clothes  ; 
as,  having  been  in  the  company  of  an  Englishman,  he 
must  be  necessarily  defiled,  and  liable  to  defile  others. 
He  also  observed,  in  order  to  enforce  <  ..edience  to  his 
request,  that  I  was  unclean,  if  not  Jilihy.     The  other 
Bramin  replied,  that  filthy  persons  committed  filthy 
actions  ;  but  he  could  never  say  so  of  the  Englishman 
whom  he  had  been  to  visit,  and  therefore  he  should 
not  wash  his  clothes.     Parbotee,  however,  continued 
to  insist  upon  it,  and,  finding  that  his  injunctions  were 
not  obeyed,  he  proceeded  to  do  a  thing  which  may 
appear  trivial  to  Europeans,  but  is  a  very  forniidablo 
action  in  the  estimation  of  the  Hindoos. 


BAPTIST  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


"  The  natives  of  India  are  much  addicted  to  smok- 
ing, and  their  tobacco  is  made  up  into  a  sort  of  paste, 
with  spices,  &c.     This  paste  they  place  on  one  side' 
of  a  copper-plate,  and  coals  of  fire  on  the  other  side. 
The  tobacco  being  lighted,  they  then  put  it  on  the 
upper  extremity  of  a  tube,  while  the  lower  end  runs 
down  into  a  shell  or  other  vessel,  containing  cold 
water,  and  sometimes  rose-water,  which  is  very  com- 
mon there.     The  smoke  is  agreeably  drawn  through 
the  cooling  water,  by  means  of  another  flexible  tube, 
which  is  the  pipe,  and  is  generally  about  twelve  feet 
long.     Now,  when  Bramins,  or  others  of  equal  caste, 
meet  together,  it  is  a  constant  mark  of  friendship  and 
good  understanding  for  the  master  of  the  house  to 
offer  this  hookah,  or  pipe,  to  his  visitor,  and  it  is  passed 
on  from  one  to  the  other.     But  when  the  Bramin  of 
whom  I  am  speaking  gave  the  hookah  to  Parbotee, 
he  emptied  the  water  out  of  it;— a.n  action  which  is  a 
kind  of  formal  disgrace  among  the  Hindoos,  and  proves 
a  forerunner  to  the  loss  of  caste,  which  is  considered 
worse  than  death. 

"  Such  a  proceeding,  before  witnesses,  could  not 
escape  particular  notice,  nor  fail  of  drawing  the  atten- 
tion of  many,  to  the  great  dishonor  of  Mohun  Chund. 
He  therefore  left  the  company,  and  went  and  poured 
out  his  complaint  to  God  in  prayer  ;  and,  as  the  day 
was  far  gone,  he  returned  no  more,  but  retired  with  his 
family  to  rest. 

"  About  two  o'clock  in  the  morning,  he  was  called 
up  by  Parbotee  witii  vehement  cries,  and,  on  opening 
the  door,  he  found  him  in  great  agitation,  earnestly 
desiring  to  hear  the  gospel ;  and  entreating  that  Mohun 
Chund  would  go  and  pray  for  him.  The  latter  replied 
as  well  as  he  could,  and  took  his  visitor  to  the  house 
of  Boshoo  the  moonshee,  where  they  spent  their  time 
till  day-liglit,  in  reading,  praying,  and  singing.  But 
matters  were  not  yet  explained.  Parbotee  did  not  go 
to  his  usual  ceremonies,  but  returned  to  the  moonshee's 
house  in  great  trouble  of  mind,  about  noon,  making  his 
former  requests  ;  and  in  answer  to  repeated  inquiries, 
he  related  a  very  remarkable  dream,  which  bore  a  near 
resemblance  to  the  history  of  Paul's  conversion,  and 
in  whicii  he  seemed  to  iiave  received  divine  admonition 
and  instruction. 

"  The  effects  of  this  dream  were  visible  on  the 
Ijody  and  mind  of  Parbotee  for  several  days  ;  and,  as 
I  found  it  very  dinicult  to  administer  any  consolation 
to  him,  I  was  afraid  tlie  consequences  migiit  soon 
prove  fatal.  He  continuerl  daily,  however,  to  hear 
the  gospel,  and  began  to  join  the  rest  in  singing  and 
praying  ;  confessing  to  all  his  former  folly,  and  pro- 
fessing to  believe  that  the  Bible  was  the  only  word 
of  Goii,  and  Jesus  Christ  the  only  Saviour  of  sinners. 
When  I  left  Bengal,  he  continued  to  walk  in  an  or- 


18* 

derly,  becoming  manner,  and  gave  me  and  others  ereat 
satisfaction." 

Encouraged  by  these  cheering  statements,  and  sat- 
isfactorily convinced  that  "  a  great  door  and  effectual" 
was  now  opened  for  introducing  the  gospel  of  salvation 
to  the  inhabitants  of  the  East  Indies,  the  committee 
mvited  Mr.  Thomas  to  return  to  Bengal  under  their 
patronage ;  and,  on  their  soliciting  the  Rev.  W.  Carey 
to  go  out  as  his  colleague,  that  devoted  servant  of  God 
acceded,  without  hesitation,  to  their  request.  The 
church  at  Leicester,  also,  though  sensibly  affected  by 
the  prospect  of  losing  so  faithful  and  beloved  a  pastor 
appeared  willing  to  sacrifice  their  own  feelings  and 
mterests  to  the  great  cause  of  evangelizing  the  heathen  • 
and  though  Mr.  Carey's  heart  was  deeply  wounded 
by  the  supposed  necessity  of  leaving  his  family  behind 
him  for  a  season,  the  Supreme  Disposer  of  all  events 
interposed  most  unexpectedly  to  remove  this  cause 
of  affliction,  and  the  objects  of  his  tender  solicitude 
consented  to  accompany  him  to  the  scene  of  his  in- 
tended labors. 

The  iKxt  object  was  to  calculate  the  probable  ex- 
pense of  sending  out  the  missionaries,  and  of  obtaining 
the  means  of  defraying  it.  The  expense  was  estimat- 
ed at  five  hundred  pounds,  and  it  was  necessary  that 
this  sum  should  be  raised  within  three  or  four  months. 
An  appeal  was,  therefore,  made  to  the  religious  public, 
and  letters  were  addressed  to  the  most  active  ministers 
9f  the  Baptist  denomination  throughout  the  kingdom, 
requesting  their  assistance  ;  and  the  following  extract 
from  an  "  Address  of  the  Ministers  and  Messengers 
of  the  Northampton  Association  to  the  associated 
Churches,"  will  convince  the  reader  that  these  meas- 
ures were  not  adopted  in  vain  : 

"  With  gratitude  to  the  God  of  all  grace,  and  to  our 
dear  brethren   in  various  parts  of  the  kingdom,  we 
acknowledge  that  he  has  stirred  up  their  hearts  to 
concur  with  our  design,  and  to  send  us  generous  aid 
from  the  distant  extremities  of  the  land.     You  know, 
already,  how  early  and  how  liberally  we  received  en- 
couragement from  Birmingham,  where  a  corresponding 
society  was  immediately  established  in  aid  of  the  mis- 
sion ;  and,  by  the  instrumentality  of  our  active  friends, 
we  soon  derived  further  assistance  from  several  churches' 
in  Warwickshire,  Shropshire,  and  other  adjacent  coun- 
ties.     From   Yorkshire  and   its  borders,  where  our 
brethren  had  chosen  the  subject  of  Christian  zeal  for 
their  last  year's  letter,  we  soon  received  a  noble  evi- 
dence  that  they  had  not  been  meditating  on  a  topic 
which  they  did  not  feel.     The  establishment  of  a  so- 
ciety there,  which  sent  us  £200  in  proof  of  their  fra- 
ternity,   canqpfi  our  hearts  to  rrjoico  in   that  union 
which  flows  from  the  love  of  Christ.     From  many  of 
our  sister  churches,  both  in  the  neighborhood  of  this 


188 


BAPTIST  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


association,  and  in  more  remote  parts  of  the  island,  we 
have  received  substantial  succor;  in  some  instances 
unsolicited,  and  in  many  beyond  our  expectations. 
From  Newcastle  and  Plymouth-Dock,  Cambridge  and 
Luton,  Devizes,  Bath,  and  Frome  ;  from  several  places 
in  Hampshire,  Suffolk,  Essex,  and  Kent,  have  kind 
and  considerable  donations  been  transmitted.  Bristol 
and  the  great  metropolis  of  our  land  have,  also,  lent 
assistance  in  this  good  work,  with  a  generosity  for 
which  the  inhabitants  of  those  cities  have  long  been 
renowned  ;  and  which  the  sad  shocks  given  to  com- 
merce and  public  credit,  before  their  benefactions 
were  solicited,  could  not  suppress. 

"  Nor    have   our   encouragements   been    received 
merely  from  own  denomination.     Though  this  society 
honestly  acknowledged  that  its  founders  were  of  tiie 
Particular  Baptist  persuasion,  we  are  sure  it  was  not 
the  interest  of  a  parti/  they  wished   to   promote,  but 
the  glory  of  our  divine   I^ord,  and   the  salvation  of 
immortal  souls.     Hence  it  was  proposed,  at  first,  if  no 
opening  were  soon  found  for  a  Baptist  mission,  to  have 
requested  the  Presbyterian  and  the  Moravian  brethren, 
who  had  been  already  employed   in  laboring  among 
the  heathen,  to  accept  some  assistance  from  our  sub- 
scriptions ;    as,  by  tiie   divine   permission,  we  were 
determined  to  do  something  toward  propagating  the 
gospel  in  pagan  lands.    The  providence  of  God  point- 
ing out  so  speedily  a  sphere  of  action  sufficient   to 
require  all  our  exertions,  prevented  this  testimony 
of    our   brotherly   love    for    the    present ;    but    He 
who  knew  our  iiearts  in  the  request,  has  inclined  our 
brethren  to  show  «.»  favor.    Our  pedobaptist  brethren 
have  not  looked  upon  us  with   a  jealous  eye  ;  evan- 
gelical Episcopalians,  as  well  as   different  classes  of 
dissenters,  notwithstanding  their  difference  of  judgment 
and  practice  respecting  one  of  the  institutions  of  the 
New  lestament,  have  befriended   our  design  ;    and 
some  friends  belonging  to  the  i)eople  called  (Quakers, 
who  suppose   the  ordinance  from  which  we  are  de- 
nominated has  ceased,  have  sent  in  unsolicited  aid. 
One  of  the   ministers  of  the  Uiiilas  Fratrutn  sent  us 
pecuniary  assistance  ;  and  another,  in  a  most  friendly 
letter,  expressed  his  earnest  wishes  for  our  success, 
and,  witii  great  candor  and  piety,  answered  some  of  our 
printed  inquiries  respecting  tlie  needful  qualifications  of 
missionaries,  and  the  advice  proper  to  be  given  them." 
On  tiie  20tii  of  March,  179:),  tiie  missionaries  were 
solemnly  designated  for  their  important  work,  in  a  meet- 
ing held  at  Leicester  ;  and  on  tiic  i;)th  of  June,  they 
set  sail,  on  board  the  Princcssa  Maria,  a  Danish  East 
Indiaman.    The  captain  treated  tliem  witii  tiie  utmost 
attention  and  politeness,  and  ordered  his  own  cabin  to 
be  divided  into  two  for  tiieir  accommodation.  The  wind 
and  wcatiicr  proving  favorable,  they  crossed  the  line 


on  the  21st  of  July,  and  on  the  20th  of  the  ensuing 
month  they  came  within  sight  of  the  cape  of  Good 
Hope  ;    but  on  the  night  of  the  25th,  an  accident 
occurred,  which  threatened  to  be  productive  of  the 
most    disastrous    consequences.       From    cape    des 
Aquilas,   the  southernmost    part  of  Africa,  a  bank 
extends  into  the  sea  for  about  eighty  leagues,  and 
when  the  current  which  runs  upon  this  bank  happens 
to  meet  the  wind,  the  waves  are  agitated  in  a  tremen- 
dous   manner.      "We  were   in   latitude  38  degrees 
south,"    says  Mr.   Carey,    "and    thought   ourselves 
secure  from  danger  ;  but  early  in  the  morning  I  was 
awakened  by  tiie  violent  motion  of  the  ship,  and  found 
tables,  stools,  and  every  thing  which  was  not  secured, 
rolling  about  the  cabin,  whilst  the  glass  and  earthen- 
ware articles  were  literally  crushed   to  pieces.     Mr. 
Tliomas  called  at  the  door,  to  inform  me,  that  we  had 
carried  away  our  fore  and  main-top-masts.     I  arose 
and  went  upon  the  deck,  where   the  gloom  of  the 
night ; — the  sea,  like  mountains,  beating  the  ship  in 
all  directions  ;— the  masts,  yards,  sails,  and  rigging, 
hanging  over  the  sides,  with  the  men  upon   them, 
endeavoring  to  unrig  them  and  let  them  loose,  formed 
a  tremendous  scene.    All  on  board  declared  that  they 
had  never  been  in  such  a  situation  before ;  and  at  one 
time  we  concluded  tliat  the  vessel  was   going  to  the 
bottom.     Our  ship  was  about  130  feet  long,  and  was 
mounted  on  an  immense  wave,  at  least  fifty  or  sixty 
yards  higii,  from  which  she  plunged  head  foremost, 
with  incredible  velocity.     I  saw  her  going, — I  knew 
her  weight  was  six   hundred   tons, — and  concluded, 
with  others,  that  she  could  never  recover  it.     I  had 
but  a  moment  to  reflect ;  yet  I  felt  composed  and  re- 
signed to  die.    That  I  might  not  be  tiirown  overboard, 
I  caught  hold  of  what  was  next  to  me.     The  plunge 
was  drcadfiil ;— the  bow-sprit  was  under  water,.and 
the  gib-boom  was  carried  away  ;    but   in  a  moment 
I  saw  the  vessel  rise  again,  mounted  on  another  wave, 
without  having  shipped  a  single  hogshead  of  water. 
At  last  we  cleared  the  wreck  ;  in  eleven  days  we  re- 
fitted ;  and,  except  one  squall,  which  carried  away  our 
new  main-top-mast,  we  had  nothing  to  alarm  us  since. 
The  carpenter,  however,  in  consequence  of  the  exer- 
tions which  ho  was  obliged  to  make,  on  account  of  our 
misfortune,  caught  a  cold,  which  was  succeeded  first  by 
a  pleurisy,  and  afterwards  by  the  scurvy,  of  which  he 
died,  when  we  were  within  six  days'  sail  of  Bengal." 
"  After  the  departure  of  our  brethren,"  says  the 
editor  of  the  '  Brief  Narrative  of  the  Haptist  ftlission,' 
"  we   had    time    for    reflection.      In    reviewing    the 
events  of  a  few  preceding  months,  we   were  much 
impressed.     We  could  scarcely  believe  that  such  a 
number  of  im[!(<(limo!ifs  hnd;  in  =o  short  a  time,  been 
removed.     The  fear  and  trembling  which  had  possess- 


BAPTIST  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


ed  us  at  the  outset,  had  insensibly  given  way  to  hope 
and  joy.     Upborne  by  the  magnitude  of  the  object, 
and  by  the  encouraging  promises  of  God,  we  had 
found  difficulties  subside  as  we  approached  them,  and 
ways   opened    beyond    all   our   expectations.      The 
thouglit  of  iiaving  done  something  towards  enlarging 
the  boundaries  of  our  Saviour's  kingdom,  and  of  res- 
cuing poor  heathens  and  Mahometans  from  under  Sa- 
tan's yoke,  rejoiced  our  hearts.     We  were  glad,  also, 
to  see  the  people  of  God  offering  so  willingly  :  some 
leaving  their  country,  others  pouring  in  their  property, 
and  all  uniting  in  prayers  to  Heaven  for  a  blessing.     A 
new  bond  of  union  was  furnished  between  distant  min- 
isters and  churches.    Some  who  had  backslidden  from 
God,  were  restored  ;  and  others,  who  had  long  been 
poring  over  their  unfruitfulness,  and  questioning  the 
reality  of  their  personal  religion,  having  their  attention 
directed  to  Christ  and  his  kingdom,  lost  their  fears, 
and  found  that  peace  which,  in  other  pursuits,  they 
had  sought  in  vain.     Christians  of  different  denomina- 
tions discovered  a  common  bond  of  affection  ;  and, 
instead  of  always  dwelling  on  things  wherein   they 
differed,  found  their  account  in  uniting  in  those  where- 
in they  were  agreed.     In   short,  our  hearts  were  en- 
larged ;  and,  if  no  other  good  had  arisen  from  the  un- 
dertaking than  the  effect  produced  upon  our  own  minds, 
and  the  minds  of  Christians  in  our  own  country,  it  was 
more  than  equal  to  the  expense." 

As  it  is  perfectly  natural  that  those  who  examine 
the  history  of  a  missionary  society  should,  when  they 
are  reading  the  proceedings  of  the  first  institution  of 
the  kind  of  later  ages,  inquire  as  to  the  constitution 
of  the  society,  tins  will  probably  be  the  most  suitable 
place  to  introduce  the  plan  by  which  this  society  reg- 
ulates its  proceedings.  It  has  undergone,  at  different 
times,  some  slight  modifications,  but  in  spirit  it  has 
always  been  the  same.  The  following  document  is  ex- 
tracted from  the  last  annual  publication  of  the  society : 

"PLAN  OF  THE  SOCIETY. 

"  I.  The  name  by  wiiich  the  society  has  been,  and 
still  is,  designated,  is,  <  The  Particular  Baptist  Society 
for  propagating  the  Gospel  among  the  Heathen  ;'  or, 
'  The  Haptist  Missionary  Society.' 

"  II.  The  great  object  of  this  society  is  the  diffusion 
of  the  knowledge  of  the  religion  of  Jesus  Christ  through 
the  heathen  world,  by  means  of  the  preaching  of  the 
gospel,  the  translation  and  publication  of  the  Holy 
Scriptures,  and  the  establishment  of  schools. 

"  III.  All  persons  subscribing  10s.  6d.  per  annum, 
donors  of  £10  or  upwards,  and  ministers  makins:  an- 
nual collections  on  behalf  of  the  sociCty,  are  considered 
as  members  thereof 


169 

"IV,  A  general  meeting  of  the  society  shall  be  an- 
nually held ;  at  which  the  committee  pnd  officers  shall 
be  chosen  for  the  year  ensuing,  the  auditors  of  ac- 
counts appointed,  and  any  other  business  pertaining 
to  the  society  transacted. 

"  ^-  A^  general  committee,  consisting  of  eighty  mem- 
bers, shall  be  appointed  for  the  purpose  of  circulating 
missionary  intelligence,  and  promoting  the  interests  of 
the  society  in  their  respective  neighborhoods  ;  nine 
tenths  of  whom  shall  be  eligible  for  re-election  for  the 
ensuing  year. 

"  VI.  A  central  committee  shall  be  formed  out  of 
the  general  committee,  more  immediately  to  conduct 
the  affairs  of  the  society  ;  which  committee  shall  meet 
monthly,  in  London,  on  a  fixed  day,  for  the  despatch 
of  business. 

"  VII.  Besides  the  treasurer  and  secretaries  of  the 
society,  who  shall  be  considered  members,  ex  officio, 
the  central  committee  shall  consist  of  twenty-five  per- 
sons ;  of  whom  sixteen  shall  be  resident  in  London, 
or  its  immediate  vicinity,  and  nine  in  the  country  ; 
five  members  to  be  deemed  a  quorum.  The  commit- 
tee to  be  empowered  to  fill  up,  pro  tempore,  any  vacan- 
cies from  death  or  resignation. 

"  VIII.  All  members  of  the  general  committee 
shall  be  entitled  to  attend  and  vote  at  the  meetings  of 
the  central  committee  ;  and,  whenever  the  attendance  of 
any  member  or  members  shall  be  particularly  desirable, 
the  central  committee  shall  be  empowered  to  request 
such  attendance  ;  in  which  case,  the  member  or  mem- 
bers so  invited  shall  be  considered  as  part  of  the  quorum. 
"  IX.  All  moneys  received  on  behalf  of  the  socie- 
ty shall  be  lodged  in  the  banns  of  the  treasurer ;  and, 
when  the  amount  shall  exceed  £300,  it  shall  be  in- 
vested in  the  public  funds,  in  the  names  of  four  trus- 
tees, to  be  chosen  by  the  society,  until  required  for  the 
use  of  the  mission." 

To  proceed  now  with  our  history.  A  more  distinct 
reference  than  can  here  be  made,  will  be  found  in  the 
history  of  the  Bengal  mission,  to  the  fire  which,  in 
1812,  consumed  tlie  missionary  premises  at  Seram- 
pore.  It  is  mentioned  here  principally  to  afford  us 
the  opportunity  of  remarking  the  firm  hold  which  the 
Baptist  mission  had  now  obtained  on  the  regard  of 
the  religious  public  in  every  part  of  the  British  empire. 
To  repair  the  loss  of  £10,000,  more  than  £12,000 
was  raised  in  the  course  of  about  two  months  ;  every 
class  of  Christians,  both  in  the  established  church  and 
out  of  it,  appeared  to  vie  with  eacti  other  in  the  promp- 
titude, the  efficiency,  and  the  kindness  of  Christian  zeal 
towards  their  brethren.  Little-  doubt  can  be  enter- 
tained that  tills  fire  attracted  the  public  ntteniinn,  and 
excited  a  large  degree  of  interest  in  the  proceedings  of 
this  mission,  both  in  England  and  India. 


190 


BAPnST  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


The  year   1815   was  one  which  must  ever  dis- 
tinguish the  annals  of  the  society,  on  account  of  the 
very  severe  loss  it  sustained  by  the  death  of  the  Rev. 
Andrew  Fuller,  its  estimable  secretary,  who,  on  the 
7th  of  May,  after  a  short  illness,  entered  into  his  rest. 
He  had  sustained  this  arduous  and  important  office  from 
the  commencement  of  the  society,  and  at  length  fell 
a  sacrifice  to  its  accumulated  labors  and  cares.     He 
was  admirably  qualified  for  the  office,  and  zealously 
and  faithfully  discharged  its  duties.    At  the  next  meet- 
ing of  the  committee.  Dr.  Ryland,  of  Bristol,  was  re- 
quested to  undertake  the  office,  j»ro  tempore;  and,  at 
the  annual  meeting  in  October,  this  appointment  was 
confirmed,  and  the  Rev.  James  Hinton,  of  Oxford,  as- 
sociated with  him  as  joint  secretary. 

In  the  year  1819,  the  business  of  the  society  having 
become  far  more  extensive  than  formerly,  some  alter- 
ations were  made  in  the  manner  of  conducting  it.     At 
the  annual  meeting,  held  at  Cambridge,  it  was  resolv- 
ed that  a  central  committee  should  meet  monthly,  in 
London,  for  the  transaction  of  business  ;  and  from  that 
time  the  annual  meeting  of  the  society  has  been  iield 
also  in  the  metropolis,  in  the  month  of  June.     Mr.  Hin- 
ton, in  consequence  of  his  other  numerous  and  important 
engagements,  had  resigned  his  office  as  joint  secretary, 
and  the  Rev.  John  Dyer,  then  of  Reading,  was  ciiosen 
assistant  secretary,  and,  in  the  following  year,  requested 
to   devote    himself  entirely   to    the  mission  as  joint 
secretary  with  Dr.  Ryland.     In  1820,  premises  were 
engaged  for  the  use  of  the  society  in  London,  and  at 
length  a  suitable  house  purchased,  at  No.  6  Fen  court, 
Fenchurch  street,  where  its  still  increasing  business  is 
now  carried  on.     In  the  year  1825,  Dr.  Ryland  was 
rcnioved  by  death,  since  which  period  Mr.  Dyer  has 
been  the  only  secretary. 

The  year  18s:'7  was  marked  by  an  event  which,  on 

several  accounts,  !ms  been  a  .source  of  pain    to  many 

of  the  friends  of  the  society.     This  was  nothing  less 

than  the  willidrawincnt  of  the  brethren  at  Seroinpore, 

and  the  stations  immediately  connected  with   it,  from 

the  society  at  home.     Some  misunderstanding  existed 

hptwoen  llu-  l)rctlircn  at  Seiampore  and  the  mniinittpe 

in  England,  in  reference  to  the  tenure  on  wliirh  the 

preinisesat  the  former  place  were  held,  the  college  w  liicli 

the  brethren  tliere  had  erected,   chiefly    for   literory 

objects,  and  the  support  required  for  the  out-stotions 

connected  with  .Seram|)ore.     A  long  coriespondenco 

look   place  at  diU'crent  times.      >Ir.    Ward  nnd  Mr. 

John  Marslunan  visited  Britain  to  compose  the  dilfer- 

ences  ;  but  sulisequent  changes  of  views  taking  piace 

on  the  part  of  tin-  Seroiui)ore  brethren,  Dr.  Marslunan 

at    length  visiteil    F.ngland,  partly  with  the  view  of 

proceeding  to  Deimiurk   in  oliinin  n  charter    for  the 

Soramporo  college,  and  partly  to  bring  the  afluir  wo 


have  referred  to,  to  a  close.  AAer  long  and  patient 
discussion,  at  the  end  of  which  it  was  fo>md  impracti- 
cable  to  harmonize  the  views  of  the  parties,  ii  was 
mutually  resolved  to  publish  the  following 

"NOTICE. 

"  FtH  Court,  March  83, 1827. 
"  Several  years  ago,*  it  was  officially  announced, 
that,  as  the  missionaries  at  Serampore  had  been  enabled 
so  far  to  exceed  the  expectations  of  their  first  support- 
ers, as  largely  to  promote  the  propagation  of  the  gos- 
pel, by  funds  which  they  had  themselves  originated,  a 
material  change  had  resulted  in  their  relation  to  the 
society  from  which  they  sprang;  in  consequence  of 
which,  the  brethren  at  that  station  acted  independent- 
ly in  the  management  of  all  their  concerns. 

"  Subsequent  experience  has  shown,  that  the  contin- 
ued operation  of  the  cause  alluded  to  in  the  preced- 
ing statement,  has  occasioned  considerable  embar- 
rassment in  the  practical  arrangements  of  the  society 
and  their  brethren  at  Serampore.  The  means  of  ob- 
viating this  difficulty  have  been  fully  and  seriously  con- 
sidered, in  a  special  meeting  of  the  committee  assem- 
bled to  confer  with  Dr.  Marshman  on  the  subject, 
which  has  terminated  in  the  full  conviction  that,  under 
present  circumstances,  it  is  most  expedient  that  hence- 
forward the  societj  at  home  and  the  missionaries  at 
Serampore  should  be  publicly  understood  to  constitute 
two  distinct  and  independent  missionary  bodlos. 

"Under  these  circumstances,  they  wish  their  mutu- 
al friends  to  understand  that  they  feel  united,  of  course, 
respecting  the  general  advancement  of  the  Redeemer's 
kingdom,  and  only  desire  that  their  respective  efforts 
may  be  so  conducted  as  that  the  blessing  of  God  may 
rest  upon  them. 

(Sij-ned) 

"  Or  Uuir^lJu  Smnycn  hyUrm, 

JOSHUA  MARSHMAN." 


"  On  M«(/'  0/  tkt  CimmillM  0/  Uu 
Bwfiigt  Mumonwrg  AMtcwIy, 

JOHN  UYER.' 


From  this  period,  two  societies  may  be  said  to  have 
existed  in  England,  as  the  friends  of  the  Serampore 
brethren  soon  after  formed  a  committee  to  collect  the 
support  of  British  C'hristians  ;  and  have,  in  connection 
with  the  niiMsionorics  themselves,  ap|)eaU'd  Dm  ihly  to 
the  public  on  their  behalf  The  following  table  exhib- 
its  the  contributions  of  the  British  public  to  the  Ser- 
ampore couso,  since  1827,  to  June,  IH.H,  and  the 
sucroeding  statement  will  show  the  present  list  of  their 
station.i : 


"  Prefkc*  to  p^riodicft!  Ac^nuny  of  lb?  B^rifn^of*  M!99to>iT    ffo. 
ii.  October,  ISSB, 


Contributions  made  in  Great  Britain  for  the 
Baptist  Missionaries  at  Serampore. 


BAPTIST  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


For  the  Mistionary  Stations, 


£ 

658 


6i 


From  March,  1827,toNovembor.  1828, 
From  December  1, 1828,  to  December 

^  31,  1829,  . 646  12 

From  January  to  December,  1830,  .  .1134     2 
From  December,  1830,  to  June,  1831,  2779  12 

For  the  Translations. 
FromMarch,  1827,  to  November,  1828,  1391     7  6 
From  December  1,  1828,  to  Decem- 
ber 31,  1829,  463     0  04 

From  January  to  December,  1830,  .  .     879     7  6 

From  December,  1830,  to  June,  1831,     416  13  8 

For  the  Native  iSchools. 

FromMarch,  1827,  to  November,  1828,     404     3     2 
From  December  1,  1828,  to  Decem- 
ber31,  1829, ,78     2    0 


£ 

135 

41 


From  January  to  December,  1830,  .  . 
From  December,  1830,  to  Juno,  1831, 

For  the  College  at  Serampore. 

From  March,  1827,  to  November,  1828,  743  13 
From  December  1,  1828,  to  Decem- 

ber31,1829, gg    3 

From   January    to  December,    1830,  10    8 

From  December,  1830,  to  June,  1831,  6  11 


191 

rf. 

11 

6 


7* 

0 
6 
6 

We  would  have  gladly  furnished  our  readers  with 
the  accounts  of  the  expenditure  of  these  sums,  but  that 
they  niust  necessarily  be  imperfect,  as  nothing  has  been 
published  m  England  of  the  disbursements,  of  a  later 
date  than  1829.  The  receipts,  however,  do  not  meet 
he  expenditure  ;  the  deficiency  is  made  up,  in  part  at 

4'u    ^/,r  ^''^"'*'"'  "'■''"^  missionaries  themselves. 

Ihe  following  table  can  need  no  explanation.  It 
was  drawn  up  and  dated  at  Serampore,  June  17, 
1830,  and  pubhshed  in  England  at  the  close  of  that 
year ; — • 


SERAMPORE  MISSIONARY  STATIONS. 


Stall's 


^tttriinatt  SUiliont, 


!)orainpore, 

Oum-Dum, 
Barripore,. 
JttMore,. ., 
RiiriMul,,. 
Oicoa, .. ,. 
Aamm,., ,, 
Chittagong, 

Armkan,. . 

Dinn);«pore, 
B<>nBr<"«,  . . 
Allahabad, 
Ualhi,  .... 


iHdo-Bnluk  BreUrin. 


AWm  Prttektrt. 


Two,. 


1:) 


(  Akyab,  i'ragu-aing  ' 

J  Kiinky-won  and  Ar- ' 

(  rakaii  Town,      ' 

Sadamahl, 


Dr.  Carey 

Dr.  Maralinian,.. . 
J.  C.  Marahman,. 

J.  Mack 

Joahua  How*,.... 

n.  Smylie, 

C.  C.  Rab»holm,.. 
W.  Muckinirham,.. 
J.  Smith, ......!. 

O.  Leonard 

Jainea  Rea, 

J.  Johannea, 


Pran-kriihna,.. 
Soobhroo 


Boftiud  ia  1839. 
Ali«tie..l  OUert, 


J.  C.  Fink, 
F 


lirnatiin  rernandet, 

VV.  8mitl 

\i.  Mnckintoali,.  .. 
J.  T.  Thonipaon,.. 


17 


Rnm-Boondur  and  Bhurun, 
Mut'hoor 


CKoepoo,    Kullaftae,   Mco-) 

<  arung,  Konenng,  ()ng-^<<ie-  J 

'  „jy'''».  «•>«  Kyo-jo-rhee,   S 

Niainul-Ulla,  and  Uhoodoo, 

Itani-daa 

BcRtul-dai W 


A 

11 

8 


Jheragt 
Mimthlf 


IB 


9(1 


U() 


4n 


lU.  Jit.  P, 

S5    0   0 


an  0  0 

1!M  0  0 

ita  0  0 

10  0  0 

154  (t  0 

U'i  0  0 

101  0  0 

344  0  0 


10.1   0   0 

(«   0    0 

l!»5    0   0 


Eipnut. 


Hi.      At.  P. 


300    0    0 


673 
1440 
1104 

130 
la-iS 
i:<44 
1313 


3t)38    0    0 


I3n  15    0 


In  returning  to  the  revinw  of  tlio  oporations  of  tlio 
society  wliich  nuist  hcnrpfoith  \w,  considurcd  the 
pnient  insiimtion,  ucrnnnot  hut  Imgrntiried  in  record- 
ing the  nitnchment  ninnifiistod  by  tho  religious  public 
towards  il.  The  extension  of  its  opcriuioiis,  e!,|)orinlly 
in  Jnmairn,  iind  largely  iiicronsod  its  cxpnmliturc ; 
while,  oNiing  probably,  i„  p„rf,  to  the  separation  we 
have  just  refijrrcd  to,  there  had  boon  a  slight  defalca- 
tion in  its  inromo.  When  tiiis  Imd  hoen  t!.,j  case  nn. 
foiiner  (Measions,  ihey  had  honestly  stated  the  fact, 
and  always  found  tho  British  public  ready  to  relievo 


13R0 

780 


834)1  13 


15,336    4    0 


them  ;  but  never  had  flii.s  disposition  been  so  remark- 
nbly  manifested  as  at  the  annual  meeting  of  the  society 
m  June,  1829.  No  sooner  had  a  sinteincnt  proceed- 
ed from  tho  committee  of  a  great  want  of  funds, 
and  an  ui^ont  appeal  been  made  for  help,  than  r 
spirit  of  ardent  lovo  to  tho  causo  at  once  mnnifesied 
Itself  to  a  degree  that  no  one  had  ventured  to  antici- 
pate. Each  appeared  emulous  to  excel  his  brethren 
!!•.  th.^  •-v-.-.rk  of  holy  bvc  ;  tho  reguiar  bii!<incg.s  of  the 
assembly  was  nearly  forgotten,  and  money  and  en- 
gagements  were  iianded  up  in  (juick  succession  to  the 


19S 


BAPTIST  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


;i!i 


platform,  till  about  £3,000  had  been  subscribed  by 
the  meeting,  which  then  separated  with  the  liveliest 
expressions  of  praise  to  God,  each  appearing  to  say  to 
the  Author  of  their  joys, "  Of  thine  own  have  wc  given 
thee."  This  sum  was  increased  by  the  kindness  of 
absent  friends,  chiefly  in  the  country,  to  about  £4,800, 
which  more  tlian  relieved  the  society  of  its  embar- 
rassments, and  enabled  the  committee,  the  following 
year,  to  report  an  increase  of  their  gross  receipts  to 
the  amount  of  nearly  £7,000,  about  £1,200  of  which 
had  been  raised  at  a  public  meeting  at  Manchester,  a 
few  months  after  the  noble  example  had  been  set  in 
the  metropolis. 

Interesting  as  many  other  facts,  in  reference  to  the 
domestic  proceedings  of  this  society  arc,  wo  must 
draw  this  part  of  its  history  to  a  close,  by  presenting 
tables,  first  of  its  income  and  expenditure  for  the  last 
fourteen  years,  the  only  part  of  its  history  during 
which  its  accounts  have  been  frnnMo//y  drawn  out.  It 
may  be  of  importance  to  observe,  that  the  society  lias 
never  possessed  funded  property,  but  is  entirely  de- 
pendent on  the  public  for  the  means  of  providing  for 
its  current  expenses. 

By  way  of  explaining  the  table  we  now  lay  before 
our  readers,  we  would  observe,  that,  under  the  head 
of  receipts,  we  have  included  whatever  sums  mav 
liave  been  given,  wiiether  subscriptions,  donations,  or 
legacies,  for  the  mission,  or  its  particularbranchcs,  the 
translations  and  schools.  The  erprnditure  for  mix- 
sions  comprehcniis  all  sums  laid  out  in  educating, 
equipping,  sending  out,  and  supporting  missionaries  ; 
all  remittances  to  them,  their  expenses  when  they 
have  returned,  and  all  payments  made  to  their  widows 
and  orpiians ;  in  short,  every  thing  relating  to  the 
missionaries  and  their  work,  whether  preaching,  trans- 


lation or  education :  and  under  the  general  head  of 
incidentals,  we  have  included  all  rents,  taxes,  salaries, 
printing,  stationery,  journeys,  advertising,  )k.c. ;  every 
thing,  indeed,  relating  to  the  home  management  of  the 
society.  A  part  of  the  money  expended  in  printing, 
&c.,  falls  again  into  the  funds  of  the  institution  by  the 
gale  of  its  publications. 


RECKIPTS. 

EXPENDITURE. 

rtar. 

JWuioM. 

lyantUuioM. 

Educaiim. 

Misaions,  ^c. 

fneidCHtals. 

I.      :    d. 

L.    >.    d. 

L.    ,.    i. 

i.      ..    d. 

L.     1.    d. 

ini8 

7123  i;»  a 

OTCiS  1 1    5J 

M 

8M1   I'J    fi 

1231    8  111 

I8HI 

WUIl    7    7J 

laio  10  10 

•«ni3  0 

fifiU     5    3i 
11280    3    4 

13111;    8  lOl 

IHJOt 

I'JOO  11*    7 

7(K)    S    7 

2'28  It    54 

1021    4    34 

i8.;i 

l(«l(i  t  1} 

111'.".)    6    3 

cm  13 10 

1S055  17    1 

I!«i8    1    yl 

llliJ 

lUISt   6    Ij 

I3;h;    2    0 

711    i   2i 

1072fi     1  KM 

IfilOn    G 

i(!'.;3 

lUK)  0  a 

mi  17  fi 

1122   0    (■> 

142113  17    0 

imifi    5    5 

lUH 

'.1737  I«    !) 

l.l'JI     U  11 

loiaia  0 

100-211  14    (1 

1808    2    !) 

iivri 

iaio7  (i  10 

J31.5    0    7 

1173    3    <J 

1I87C  !:>    11 

21  Ifi    8    7 

iiwi; 

IIMO  11!     I 

l.'itW    t    'i 

■ua  7  I 

11020    fi    7 

1  l.^l)    2  1 1 

11W7 

I(l,'il2    1    7 

l^i-.i  1(1  10 

Si'J  12    6 

I2IN)1   13  11 

IfilO  Ifi  11 

IIW! 

KlVil    »    3 

♦HI  11  n 

81U    fi    4 

10:).)4  14    ,'•) 

I8fi4  la    3 

iiij'j  1 

'.i(i:l3   7   H 

73    3    7 

fillfi  Ifi    3 

10614  Ifi    1 

I.Wl  17    7 

l;i;u)  1 

iiiir.'.'i    i  0 

a;  8  '.) 

.301    1   '0 

K'lllfi  17    11 

I4UI  13    G 

itiai  1 

nwx  3  J 

(i'J3    4.    fi 

68U    4  4 

llim  15    8 

lfi'24    7    4 

•  Tlio  Buiiii  given  f„r  ciluoolion  thii  year  cannot  lio  ncpiiralfil  rru::i  Ihoio 

giviMi  fur  tlio  Ironiluliiinii,  anil  oro,  llioroforo,  includoil  nndcr  llial  hoail. 

t  In  lliii  year,  il  wan  Jii.ljn,!  .luniralilo  to  allor  tlio  limo  for  milking  up  tlio 

annuiiUrciiunl.,  .,.  Ilmt  Ihii  lino  only  incluilo.  tlio  rMolpl.  „,„l  rx,»nilituro 

Irom  Oclolwr  1,  IMa,  to  Juno  1,  1890,  being  .  ,K„i«l  „f  oighl  iinMitlii. 

The  annexed  table  will  show  the  exertions  at  pres- 
ent making  by  the  Knglish  Bajitist  Missionary  Society, 
and  the  recent  slate  of  their  missionary  churches 
Ihroughout  the  worlil.  We  Jiave  extracted  it  from  the 
Missionary  Herald  of  March,  18;)1.  It  is  pleasing  to 
know  that,  in  four  years,  that  is,  from  18^7  to  18.'jl,  the 
stmions  of  the  society  were  more  than  doubled.  The 
expenses  of  each  station  were  calculated  from  those  of 
the  two  preceding  years. 


TAIM.i:  OF  ST.VTIONS  CONNKCTKO  WITH  Till:  II  VPTIST  MISSIONARY  SOCIKTY. 


¥,\tv  UiiiKH, 

(.'ak  1  lit,  Circular  KJ.. 


D".     ImI  Itatar,. 

l>iHir){ii|Hir(S 

Il'iwriili 

JloiiKtnllah. 

Cutwii 

Bewry, 

Monjiiyr, 

Diirnli 

AjlllHTf 

(-Vvlmi.  ('iitiiiiilin,. , 
L«3,      Uaiiaws!!.. 


Muthnary. 


A^(ir#  Tcatkeri, 
Cttttckialt,  tr. 


Willlnm  Vntra,., . 
W  H  I'tarcp,  ., 
Jiiim'<  I't'iiney,  . . 

W,  KolMtinnti 

(ifiirjji»  IVarcr,. . 
Jniufii  TliiiiiinH,, , 

W.  Ciircy,  jiitt.. . 
J.  VVilliiiiiiauii, ., . 

Amlrniv  I^nlit*,, . 
Williiiiii  MiiiirH,  , 

JiibM  Cnry. 

Hlii>iic«cr  Uniiiel, 

ll„«-l-!_l.  u: 


C  C.  Aratnon,.. 
CfurntOiiiiiil. 
Hniijlllilllllep,.  . . 
('jiiiilriiii, 

Iliilnram 

Hunntoii, 
Mutlmor. 
Nftrayaii, 
Two, 


8thiwtt< 


Ha 


Addtd 
liul 


43 


an 
•11 1) 


fnqMirfri. 


port  I'll 


Mtmher*. 


by 


.^MMUl 


I.. 


A'Xt  0 

34t>  II 

U.i|  II 

*HJ  0 

ni«i  Id 


;iiNi  10 
:i77  0 

[iivrrniii  t. 
7li7  10 


)ITURE. 

Incidtnlals. 

L. 

I.    d. 

1331 

3  111 

lam; 

8  10| 

i(«i 

I   .»} 

I'.Mifl 

1    !){ 

1(110  17    G'l 

nwi 

5    5 

1110(1 

2    i) 

JlKi 

8    7 

1 1.W 

i!ll 

Kill)  k;  11 

IlI'M.  15    .1 

l.WI 

17    7 

UK)  13    U   1 

Kin 

7    1. 

1  froiii 

tlioso 

load. 

Iliiig 

up  tlio 

f<x))on 

lituro 

III. 

*^li^ 


M 

s 

ti 
» 

37 

as 
as 
«> 

41 

4K 
M 

<r 

61 

« 

n 

64 
6S 


TABUB  CONTOnJEO. 


m 


tun, 

■<UMtl«,ri|dMC........ 

W«i»  IiDiai  (JMMiM).. 
KianloB,  B.  «omii  Sirwt. 

„n>.         HMMTWftlMt, 

itV'M.aaiiiM. 

x"*  SPHt  *■'***■  •■•••••• 

nBanMi  TowB, 


OH 


JHwtagaBtjr^....^ 

•Bvn>4lMM,ia«aM. 


2f***'tT:rw' 

SHSfi^fau;:::::: 


OrwiMnul,. 
ISirtMuk,..., 

16 
AnoMi  Kmt,.. 

•l.Alw%B*^, 


*  Mr.  IbwkMr  li  Mv  M  Smmpm, 
t  IV  Mwlaw  Hm«4  in  iMMw  ■• 


Vol.  I.-«J<ro«.  17  b  18. 


N.  M.  Wud. 


JUBM 

Joahaa 


.V.    ' 


Mm  Clatka,.. 
J.  M.  r^iiffv,. 


CtaMUMi  Ag. 


*«*««*^««*»«ktf« 


H,  O,  T«7l«r 


:./!l-. 


n«iioia  Ouiam.  ' 


W.  W.  CttOew,. 


}^' 


Andrews,. 


t 


WaSm  Koibb,, 


/  tIapplM  Ibr  Um 


It 


MM- 

it  Igr  Ml— ■■  Bar* 
JMU,  Cutlow  and 


hank, 


if 


U 
ft 


flood,, 


■uracl  Niolidlt.. 


JaM|*t«rtoa. 
loMph  Bo«ni,. 


I 
} 

t 
I 


1 

9 
f 


■rtMlilww. 


196 
07 


13 


MS 


m 


368 

as 


1014 


19M 

aM 

184 

1847 

780 

710 


Ut 


aieo 

780 


171 
1100 


310 


L.   t. 


74 


6M 
« 

00 

670 

00 

68 


Aim 


414S0 


ao«e 


lb*t>riMtait*f  thtJo' 
»Mcb  rHcwh  «Mi  i  On  fl(WM  dMMM  Un 


lolwr*. 


Attaaeo. 


87 


U-fH*-  I  ' 


1»4 


BAPTIST  MISSIONARY  90CIETT. 


CHAPTER    II. 


MISSION    IN   BENGAL. 


# 


Oh  their  arriral  in  Balasore  roads,  on  the  10th  of 
November,  the  missionaries  landed  at  a  baxaar  or  mar- 
ket, and  Mr.  Thomas  soon  began  to  enter  into  serious 
discourse  with  the  Hindoos.  The  people  immediate- 
ly left  their  merchandise,  and  assembled  under  a  large 
hoTel,  for  the  express  purpose  of  hearing  the  gospel, 
to  which  they  listened  with  fixed  attention  and  appar- 
ent pleasure  for  about  three  hours.  One  of  them  pre- 
pared a  dinner  for  the  preacher  and  his  colleague,  a 
plantain  leaf  serving  bstead  of  dishes  and  plates  ;  and, 
previous  to  their  departure,  the  Europeans  were 
earnestly  entreated  to  build  a  house  and  take  up  their 
abode  in  the  neighborhood. 

On  their  arrival  at  Calcutta,  they  had  an  interview 
with  Ram  Boshoo,  but  were  greatly  distressed  by  the 
mtelligence  which  he  gave  them.     Soon  after  Mr. 
Thomas  had  quilted  India,  he  went  from  place  to 
place,  deserted  by  Englishmen,  persecuted  by  his  own 
countrymen,  and  afflicted  by  a  disease  which  brought 
him  almost  to  the  borders  of  the  grave.     "  In  this 
state,"  said  he,  "  whilst  I  was  destitute  of  support  for 
myself  or  my  family,  one  of  my  relations  offered  to 
save  me  from  perishing,  on  condition  of  my  bowing 
down  to  an  idol.     I  knew  that  the  Roman  Catholic 
Christians  were  in  the  habit  of  worshipping  image*,  and 
I  supposed  there  might  be  a  command  for  that  practice 
in  some  part  of  the  Bible  which  I  had  nc»  "oen.  After 
some  hesitation,  therefore,  I  complied  ;  but  I  am  still 
attached  to  the  Christian  .-aligion."     As  a  proof  of 
the  alUcbment  which  he  professed,  he  remained  with 
the  miwiMiaries,  and  Mr.  Carey,  who  seems  to  have 
entertained    sanguine    hopes  as    to    his   conversion, 
notwithstanding  his  lamentable  fall,  resolved  to  em- 
ploy him  in  correcting  the  translation  of  the  book  of 
Genesis,  which  liad  been  completed  during  the  voyage 
from  England. 

As  it  had  been  settled,  before  the  brethren  Thomas 
and  Carey  embarked  for  India,  that  the  society  should 
grant  them  an  annual  stipend  till  they  were  able  to 
provide  for  themselves,  the  former  took  up  his  abode 
in  Calcutta,  with  the  view  of  maintaining  himself  by 
his  professional  practice,  while  his  colleague  hoped  to 


support  himself  and  his  famijy  by  the  cultivation  of  a 
few  acres  of  land  at  a  place  called  Httshnabad,  upon 
the  river  Jubana.     Both  of  the  missionaries,  however, 
had  a  variety  of  difficulties  to  contend  with  in  the 
cominencement  of  their  labors  ;    and  Mr.  Carey,  in 
addition  to  severe  domestic  affliction,  was,  for  the  fint 
three  or  four  months,  involved  in  a  state  of  complete 
embarrassment.    Owing  to  a  variety  of  unforeseen  and 
unavoidable  circumstances,  the  investment  of  money 
taken   out    for    his    immediate    support   was    sunk, 
and  both  he  and  his  family  were  consequently  left  m 
a  strange  land  without  the  means  of  subsistence.    Thia 
painful  circumstance,  together  with  personal  illness, 
the  sickness  of  his  wife  and  children,  the  irreligion 
of  the  Europeans  by  whom  he  was  surrounded,  and 
the  moral  degradation  nf  the  Hindoos,  for  whose  con- 
version  he  ardently  longed,  pressed  heavily  upon  his 
spirits,  and  sometimes  threatened  to  overwhelm  him 
in  despair.     The  blessed  power  of  religion,  however, 
supported  him  under  all  his  accumulated  sorrows ;  and 
early  in  1794,  the  providence  of  God  appearpd  con- 
spicuously on  behalf  of  him  and  his  coadjutor.     A 
gentleman,  who  afterwards  filled  some  of  the  most 
important  offices  in  the  government  of  India,  offered 
them    the    superintendence   of    two    indigo    manu- 
factories, which  he  was,  at  that  time,  establishing  in 
the  vicinity  of  Malda.     A  proposal  which  opened  the 
way  to  the  effectual  removal  of  all  pecuniary  difficul- 
ties, and  was  likely  to  be  productive  of  the  most 
beneficial  results,  by  affording  each  of  the  missionaries 
mfluence  over  more  than  a  thousand  persons,  was,  of 
course,  accepted  without  hesitation.    Accordingly,  Mr. 
Carey  fixed  his  residence  at  Muc^nabatty,  a  place 
about  thirty  miles  from  Malda,  and  Mr.  Thomas  settled 
at  Moypauldiggy,  sixteen  or  seventeen  miles  farther 
to  the  north. 

In  a  letter  addressed  to  the  directors  of  the  society, 
and  dated  January  6,  1795,  Mr.  Carey  observes, 
"  Tlie  wonderful  providence  of  Gwl,  which  placed  ui 
in  the  situation  where  we  now  are,  must,  I  conceive, 
afford  pleasure  to  all  who  love  the  cause  of  Christ ; 
as  we  may  now  bo  enabled  to  lend  pecuniary  aid  to 


■Tmt^Mm   i  tmEHQAhM  iWI"*!,*!! 


Um  work  of  Ood.    It  has  indeed  rataided  us  in  our 
priacipal  work,  aa  account  of  the  corrupt  language 
•poken  here  ;  but  this  is  not  unconquerable,  for,  with 
the  assblance  of  my  moonshee,  or  interpreter  (Ram 
Boshoo,)  I  am  enabled  to  go  oui,  especially  on  the 
Lord's  day,  and  preach  the  gospel  to  the  natives.    As 
the  villages  in  this  neighborhood  contain  but  few  in- 
babitanu,  my  congregations  are  consequently  small ; 
though,  in  general,  composed  of  all  the  villagers. 
I  have  preached  already  in  four  or  five  places,  and 
am  extending  my  sphere  of  action  almost  every  week. 
Of  success,  however,  I  can  as  yet  say  nothing ;   for 
often,  through  the  want  of  a  more  perfect  acquaintance 
with  the  language,  I  have  not  been  able  to  obtain  the 
attention  of  the  people.     Last  Lord's  day,  indeed, 
was  more  pleasing.     I  went  to  a  village  inhabited 
wholly  by  professed  Mussulmen,  but  who  intermix 
some  pagan  notions  with  Mahometanism.     After  dis- 
coursing with  them  upon  the  evil  and  universality 
of  sin,  together  with  the  holiness  of  God,  I  inquired, 
if  these  things  were  so,  how  they  could   possibly 
escape  the  wrath  to  come.     They  appeared  confound- 
ed, and  said  they  had  never  heard  such  things  before, 
as  their  teacher  had  merely  told  them  what  were  the 
duties  of  the  Mahometan  religion.     I  then  drew  a 
parallel  between  certain  parts  of  the  Bible  and  of  the 
Koran,  and  inquired  whether  the  injunction  to  pray 
for  our  enemies,  or  the  command  to  exterminate  all 
unbelievers,  were  most  consistent  with  the  true  char- 
acter of  God.    They  confessed  that  the  preference 
must  he  given  to  the  Bible,  and  then  promised  to 
abandon  their  practices  of  lying,  stealing,  offering  to 
departed  souls,  Sic. 

"  I  have  been  visited  wit;  severe  illness,  both  in 
my  own  person  and  my  family.  My  wife  and  eldest 
son  are  just  recovered  from  a  dysentery  of  twelve 
months'  continuance.  I  have  had  two  attacks  of  an 
intermittent  fever,  which  was  attended  with  a  dysen- 
tery also,  and  reduced  me  very  much  ;  and  one  little 
boy  of  five  years  old  has  been  removed  from  us  by 
death.  He  lay  ill  about  a  fortnight,  and  died  of  a 
mortification  in  his  bowels,  caused  by  a  flux  and  fever ; 
but  God  is  infinitely  wise,  and  I  feel  a  sacred  pleasure 
in  acquiescing  in  his  will." 

In  another  letter,  dated  the  same  month,  Mi*.  Carey 
•ays,  "  When  my  dear  boy  died,  I  could  not  prevail 
upon  any  one  to  make  him  a  coffin,  though  we  had 
carpenters  in  our  own  employ  ;  and  it  was  with  diffi- 
culty that  I  engaged  four  Mussulmen  to  dig  a  grave 
for  him.  No  one  would  undertake  it  alone,  and  there- 
fore so  many  of  them  went  together,  that  they  might 
all  participate  equally  in  the  shame.  We  sent  seven 
or  eight  miles  for  two  persons  to  carry  him  to  the 
pm&c  us  isicT^cBi,  B«i  m  tain  i   and  my  'nifc  and 


195 

1  had  agreed  to  do  it  ourselves,  when  a  lad  who 
had  lost  cattt,  and  our  mater  (a  servant  who  per- 
forms  the  most  servile  offices),  were  induced  to  re- 
lieve us  from  this  painful  service.  This  was  on 
Saturday,  and  on  Monday  the  four  Mussuhnen  came, 
and  told  us  that  they  had  lost  cute  for  digging  the 
grave,  and  that  the  head  man  in  their  village  had 
forbidden  any  of  the  people  to  eat,  drink,  or  smoke 
with  them. 

"  It  is  well  known  that  Mahometans  have  no  cvUe  5 
but  they  imagine  they  have,  and  the  loss  of  it  is  to 
them  as  serious  a  thmg  as  to  the  Hindoos.  I  there- 
fore sent  for  the  man,  and  told  him  that  he  must  eat, 
drink,  and  smoke  with  them,  or  wait  till  I  had  sent 
to  the  judge  at  Dinagepore.  After  some  prevarica- 
tion, he  agreed,  and  so  the  af&u:  ended.  By  this 
instance  you  may  judge  of  our  difficulties.  Divine 
power,  however,  can  subdue  all  things  ;  and  without 
the  Holy  Spirit,  nothing  effectual  can  be  done  any 
where,  or  under  any  circumstances." 

Shortly  after  his  arrival  in  India,  Mr.  Carey,  as  is 
usual  with  strangers,  began  to  form  a  very  favorable 
opinion  of  the  character  and  manners  of  the  natives. 
A  little  observation,  however,  convinced  him  that  his 
unpressions  were  deceptive,  and  that  the  persons 
whom  be  had  considered  as  characterized  by  a 
variety  of  moral  excellences  were,  in  point  of  fact, 
a  covetous,  cruel,  and  deceitfiil  race  of  men.  The 
following  particulars,  therefore,  have  been  collected 
for  the  information  of  the  reader,  who  will  thus 
be  enabled  to  form  a  pretty  accurate  idea  of  the 
people  among  whom  the  missionaries  had  under- 
taken, in  humble  dependence  on  the  aid  and  blessing 
of  their  adorable  Master,  to  preach  the  glad  tidings 
of  salvation  : 

The  natives  of  Bengal  are  about  the  size  of  Euro- 
peans ;  though,  generally  speaking,  they  are  rather 
shorter.  Their  complexions  are  various  ;  those  who 
are  exposed  to  the  sun,  and  employed  in  laborious 
avocations,  being  very  black  ;  whilst  others,  whose 
caste  exempts  them  from  servile  occupations,  are  as 
white  as  many  Europeans,  and,  if  dressed  in  a  differ- 
ent manner,  would  scarcely  be  distinguished  from 
natives  of  the  south  of  France. 

The  clothing  of  the  poor  consists  of  a  small  piece 
of  cloth,  tied  as  an  apron,  passed  under  the  body, 
and  fastened  by  a  piece  of  packthread,  which  sur> 
rounds  the  waist.  Some  of  them  have  a  small  turban ; 
and  in  cold  weather  they  wear  an  additional  piece 
of  cloth,  whinh  is  thiown  over  the  shoulders,  and 
wrapped  round  the  body.  Those  in  better  circum- 
stances have  a  longer  piece  of  cloth ;  and  the  Mahom- 
etans who  can  afford  it  have  Jawuu,  or  frocks,  which 
Qttr>5  ta  iuii  ^vuuu  iiK«  p«iiiOO«U,    'iliey  are  ail  fonii 


IM 


BAPTIST  MlfiSIORART  SOCIETY. 


of  m#4iiigi  md  other  oraanMnls,  ■nd  dM  Hiwiea* 
distingmsh  thmuelveB  from  Mnssiilmea  hy  WMfing  * 
fataodet  round  the  neek :  they  elm  leave  a  sand]  k»k 
of  hair  on  the  crown  of  the  head,  which  they  ferm 
iato  a  taii,whibt  the  diseiplea  of  Mahomet  ihave  their 
heads  entirely.  The  ladiea  wear  a  piece  of  cloth 
wrapped  round  them,  almoot  in  the  form  of  a  petticoat, 
and  another  piece  is  thrown  loosely  o««r  their  shoul. 
ders.  They  hare,  also,  a  number  of  omamenu  on 
the  neck,  wrists,  and  ankles,  and,  when  iiill  dressed, 
they  have  a  large  ring  in  the  nose. 

Their  marriages  are  contracted  in  very  early  life, 
sometimes  from  the  age  of  three  or  four  years,  but 
generally  about  the  age  often  or  twelve  ;_  and,  on 
these  occasions,  it  is  customary  for  the  father  of  the 
wife  to  make  considerable  gifts  to  the  father  of  the 
husband.  The  consent  of  the  parties  is  not  supposed 
necessary,  as  it  is  merely  a  bargain  between  the 
parents ;  and  the  principal  object  of  every  fkther  is 
to  get  his  children  married,  and  to  expend  a  large 
sum  on  that  Important  business.  In  poor  families, 
however,  the  young  people  are  obliged  to  wait  till 
they  can  save  money  enough  to  defray  the  expenses 
of  the  nuptial  ceremony. 

The  origin  of  the  Hindoos  is  concealed  by  a  veil 
of  impenetrable  darkness  ;  and  their  own  accounts 
are  too  fabulous  to  demand  notice.  Some  persons  of 
intelligence,  however,  have  supposed  that  the  Hilt 
Peopk,  as  they  are  called,  are  the  aborigines  of  the 
country,  who,  by  former  wars,  have  been  driven  into 
the  mountainous  district  of  Bahar.  They  are  said 
to  be  a  small  people,  and  utterly  distinct  m  their  Ian- 
guage,  manners,  and  way  of  thinking  ;  yet  they  are 
surrounded  by  Hindoos  on  every  side. 

A  striking  similarity  exists  between  many  of  the 
practices  of  the  Hindoos  and   the  institutions  of  the 
l^vitical  law.    Their  ideas  of  contracting  uncloanness 
by  touching  a  dead  person,  a  bone,  a  grave,  or  any 
unclean   animal,  are   very  analogous  to  the  Jewish 
precepts  respecting  those  things ;  and  it  is  partinilarly 
worthy  of  remark  that,  after  contracting  any  accidental 
defilement,  they  invariably  bathe,  and  change  their 
clothes.     Tlie  caste,  also,  seems  to  bear  some  resem- 
blance to  that  law  which  required  the  tribes  to  keep 
separate,  and  not  to  intermarry,  lest  they  should  mar 
their  inheritance  ;  and  the  distinctwn  of  the  I/evites 
from  the  rest  of  the  people  for  holy  purposes,  and 
their  division  into  different  orders,  seem  to  bear  some 
•fRnity  to  the  proper  em|Joyment  of  the  Bramins, 
*hd  to  the  dilR'rent  classes  of  that  tribe.    The  Bramins 
are  entirely  !ii>])iirated  to  the  maSntenance  of  literature 
and  the  performance  of  religiotis  ceremonies ;  but  they 
*re  divided  into  several   orders,    all  of  whom  are 
attached  to  the  different  tribes  of  Hindoos,  and  an 


iMked  acBowtogly.  No  om  of  an  iafarior  eaate  eaa 
pwoMlly  Mmk»  any  ofiring  to  their  gods  ;  but  th« 
common  people  bring  their  oflbringt  to  the  Bn» 
mio,  who  preaeou  it  to  the  Debta  or  demi-god; 
and  the  sacerdotal  offices,  particularly  those  cooaeot* 
ed  with  aacrifice,  are  not  performed  oven  by  every 
Bramin.  Neither  is  every  Bramm  qualified  to  be 
a  gtroa,  or  teacher ;  but  this  privilege  belonp  «%. 
oluaively  to  certain  persons,  and  is  hereditary  in  their 
iamilies. 

The  houses  of  the  Hindoos  are  erected  on  each 
side  a  square  court  which  occupies  the  centre.  All 
the  doors  of  ti.ese  four  buildings  open  into  the  court, 
and  the  houses  are  designed,  one  for  the  wife  and 
other  female  relations;  a  second  for  servants  and 
visitors ;  a  third  for  culinary  purposes;  and  the  fourth 
as  a  cow-house.  The  materials  with  which  they  are 
constructed  vary  according  to  the  circumstances  of  the 
ownera  ;  some  being  of  brick,  but  the  generality  of 
mud,  straw,  or  mat  walls.  Bamboos,  in  India,  servo 
for  almost  every  purpose,  and  of  these  the  posts  of 
many  houses,  the  roofe,  and  the  mats  which  compose 
the  walls,  consist.  The  floors  are  earthen,  raised 
two  or  three  feet  above  the  level,  and  smeared  over 
with  cow-dung,  as  are  also  the  mud  walls,  which 
makes  them  look  very  smooth  and  neat.  They  have 
only  a  ground-floor,  but  the  rooft  are,  in  general,  ten 
or  twelve  feet  high. 

With  respect  to  furniture,  the  common  people  have 
nothing  more  than  a  piece  of  sackcloth  for  a  bed,  and 
a  pillow  stuffed  with  cotton  ;  but  those  of  superior 
rank  have  a  bedstead  made  of  bamboo  and  hiced  with 
packthread.  Some  also  have  a  metal  dish  in  which 
their  food  k  served  up,  but  the  greatest  number  eat 
off  a  plantain-leaf,  or  a  leaf  of  the  water-lily  ;  and  the 
Bramins  have  copper  spoons,  witlwut  handks,  some- 
thing  like  an  English  butter-boat.  These,  however, 
are  only  used  to  take  up  water,  in  their  religious  cer- 
emonies. Thoir  lamps  are  small  earthen  vessels,  in 
the  form  of  oyster-sheJIs,  but  rather  deeper.  These 
are  filled  with  imistard-oil,  and  a  piece  of  cloth  rolled 
up  forms  the  wick. 

Their  cooking  is  performed  in  coarse,  unglazed 
earthen-ware,  and  the  principal  vessel  used  for  this 
purpose  is  called  a  Aurry.  This  is  nearly  of  the  form 
of  an  iron  pot,  and  is  sc-t  over  the  fire,  either  on 
bncks,  which  are  so  contrived  as  that  the  vessel  may 
rest  on  them  in  tiirce  places,  the  remainder  lieing  open 
to  admit  the  air,  or  over  a  hole  in  the  earth,  contrived 
m  the  same  form  ;  and  this  is  most  common,  as  it  is 
very  iKH>n  prepared.  A  large  jug,  of  iko  sauio  ware, 
called  a  kooiiee,  and  capable  of  containing  alKMit  four 
quarts,  serves  hr  a  bucket,  and  a  Vessel  in  which  water 
is  usually  kept.     The  wemeii  are  employed  to  fetch 


I  i, 


m^M4il^BE!fOAL.  ■    '  ■  ■^^^ 


witor,  tndg^nmtlky  in  the erening,  ai  in  tha  time  of 
the  patriavoii  AbniMin.  Titej  ^ea  csny  two  «f 
tbae  vmmU  full,  one  resting  on  eseh  hip.  AnMher 
VBBsel  faunil  in  most  houses  is  the  lota,  containing 
aboat  a  pint  and  a  half,  and  commonlf  made  of 
hrnsft,  bi  this  they  keep  milic,  water,  or  any  other 
liquid. 

A  hookah,  or  smolcing  tube,  is  corisidered  so  indis- 
pens^e,  that  no  house  is  without  it ;  but  its  form 
varies  according  to  the  circumstances  of  its  possessor. 
The  sort  used  by  the  highest  class  of  the  natives  has 
been  akeady  described  in  the  account  of  Parbotee's 
visit  to  Mohun  Chund  ;  but  the  hookah  in  common 
use  is  made  of  a  cocoa-nut  shell,  with  a  hole  in  the 
top,  and  another  small  one  in  the  side.  A  wooden 
tube,  about  twelve  inches  long,  is  fixed  into  the 
aperture  at  the  top,  and  a  small  earthen  vessel,  like 
the  bowl  of  a  tobacco-pipe,  is  fixed  in  that,  for  the 
purpose  of  containing  the  tobacco  and  fire.  The 
cocoa-nut  shell  is  then  half  filled  with  water,  the 
mouth  is  applied  to  the  hole  in  the  side,  and  the 
smoke  of  the  tobacco  is  drawn  through  the  water. 

With  respect  to  tiie  character  of  the  Hindoos,  Mr. 
Carey  observes,  "  The  stories  of  their  benevolence, 
humanity,  and  meekness  are  all  false,  and  exist  only 
in  the  doctrines  of  the   shosters,  which  have  been 
neither  seen  nor  heard  by  the  thousandth  part  of  the 
people.      The  very  reverse   is   the   case.       Lying, 
avarice,  perfidiousness,  cruelty  to  animals,  and  servility, 
are  the  most  prominent  features  in  their  character ; 
and  though  it  is  taught  in  their  shasters  that  it  is  the 
same  crime  to  kill  a  cow  or  a  Bramin,  great  numbers 
of  cows  arc  annually  starved  to  death  in  the  dry  season, 
merely  through  tlie  avarice  and  neglect  of  their  owners. 
Covetousness  and  servility  are  so  closely  united   m 
almost   every   individual,   that   cheating,    lying,  and 
juggling  are  esteemed  no  sins  with  them  ;  and  the  best 
among  them,  though  they  utter  ever  so  great  a  false- 
hood, do  not  consider  it  as  an  evil,  unless  you  first 
charge  them  to  speak  the  truth.     When  they  defraud 
you  ever  so  much,  and  you  charge  them  with  it,  they 
coolly  reply,  '  It  is  the  custom  of  the  country.'     Most 
of   the  Hindoos,  indeed,  believe   themselves   to  be 
merely  a  sort  of  automaton!<r,  upon  which  God  acts  in 
a  pliysical  manner,  and   that,  consequently,  they  are 
not  nccounlable  for  their  own  actions.    Henoe,  if  they 
bo  charged  with  murder,  or  detected  in  thieving,  they 
will  generally  answer  that  their  kopal  or  forehead  n 
bad.     By  this  they  mean,  that  they  were  destined  to 
commit   such   crimes  ;    for  it  is  a  common  opinion 
among  them,  that  the  fate  of  every  man  is  written  in 
his  forehead  ;  and  as  they  include  in  that  opinion  all 
moral  actions,  as  well  as  their  providential  situations, 

■^?y  €-055rsscf  ctsl  ittc  ^'UUiC  CJ   incir  COBQUCt  ii  (O  be 


tttrifaated  to  God,  mm)  not  to  themsdres.  Thk 
doetrine  is  tinott  oonttan^y  arowed  when  we  attempt 
to  presa  on  them  the  mriignity  of  sin  and  the  guik  of 
thett  aetioas.  In  «  eonver>ati<m  which  I  had,  one 
day,  with  a  man  on  this  subject,  he  roundly  asserted 
that  he  had  never  eoramitted  a  sin  in  his  life ;  for, 
though  many  of  his  actions  were  unjustifiable,  yet  it 
was  not  him  that  committed  them,  but  God.  This 
notion  prevails  among  them  almost  universally  ;  and 
to  clear  themselves  of  the  inconsistency  of  charging 
sin  upon  a  holy  Deity,  which  I  have  often  pressed 
them  with,  they  say  that  no  act  of  God  can  be  sinful, 
however  great  an  enormity  it  might  be,  if  committed 
by  a  man. 

"  Though  the  genius  of  the  people  in  India  is  as 
inventive  as  that  of  any  other  nation,  301  they  all 
travel  on  in  the  beaten  road  of  antiquity  ;  and  every 
thing  new  is   generally  condemned  without  a  trial. 
The  eatte  is  the  great  obstacle  to  improvement  and 
knowledge  ;    for  whatever  employment   the    fathers 
followed,  the  same  is  pursued  by  their  posterity  from 
generation  to  generation,  nor  can  they  possibly  ex- 
change it  for  any  other.     All  motives  to  exertion, 
inquiry,  or  mental  improvement,  are  thus,  of  necessity, 
cut  off;    for  the  most  honorable  actions,  the  most 
beneficial  discoveries,  or  the  most  virtuous  conduct, 
would   secure    neither    honor   nor  advantage    to    a 
person  of  a  low  caste  ;  and  those  of  a  higher  caste, 
being   universally   revered  as  a  sort  of  demi-gods, 
lose  none  of  their  reputation  through  their  vice  or 
ignorance.     The  consequence  is,  a  stupid  content- 
ment to  remain  as  they  are,  a  total  want  of  curios- 
ity, and  complete   inattention   to   the   improvement 
of  the  mind.     Vacant  and  indifferent,  they  plod  on 
in  the  path  of  their  forefathers ;  and  even  tmths  in 
philosophy,  geography,  astronomy,  or  any  other  sci- 
ence, if  out  of  their  beaten  track,  make  no  more 
imprcssi<m  on  their  minds,  than  the  sublimer  truths 
of  religion.      They  suppose  the  different  castes  to 
be  distinct  species  of  animals,  and  therefore  conclude 
that  it  is  as  possible  for  them  to  become  some  other 
kind  of  animal  as  to  became  Christians ;  and  that  the 
different  forms  of  worship  and  habits  of  life,  observed 
by  particular  castes,  are  as  necessary  to  that  caste,  as 
eating  grass  is  to  the  support  of  an  ox,  or  flesh  to  tha 
subsistence  of  a  tiger." 

The  superstition  of  these  people  appears  particularly 
in  their  profound  veneration  for  the  Bramins,  and  the 
implksit  obedience  which  they  yield  to  all  their  com- 
mands.  This  probably  arose,  in  the  first  instance,  from 
the  power  assumed  by  that  tribe,  to  whom  even  sove- 
reign princes  are  commanded  to  be  obedient.  They  also 
still  exercise  the  prerogative  of  imposing  fines  upon 
pviiiHis  01  evefy  Oilier  casie,  for  utfenccs  very  trivui 


BAPTIST  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


in  themselves,  and  arising,  b  point  of  (act,  out  of  their 
own  superstitions.  The  British  government,  indeed, 
prohibiU  the  imposition  of  these  fines;  but,  notwith- 
standing this,  they  are  constantly  exacted,  under  the 
name  of  atonements ;  and  as  no  complaint  is  ever 
made,  from  a  dread  of  incurring  the  curse  of  the 
Bramins,  the  offenders  escape  with  impunity. 

"Tlie  Bramins,"  says  Mr.   Carey,  "are  much 

feared,  because  the  shasters  affirm,  that  if  a  Bramin 

curse  any  one,  the  vengeance  imprecated  will  infallibly 

take  place.     They  even  record  that  the  sea  became 

salt,  and  the  sun  and  moon  spotted,  by  the  curse  of  a 

Bramin.     They  have  also  an  account,  which  I  have 

read,  of  a  king,  who  one  day  went  a  bunting  into  a 

thick  wood,  where   he  left  all  bis  attendants;   and, 

being  very, thirsty,  he  wandered   to  the  abode  of  • 

Bramin,  who  had  retired  into  the  forest  for  devotion. 

The  holy  man  was  at  bis  worship,  and  so  completely 

absorbed,  that  he  paid  no  attention  to  the  monarch, 

who  repeatedly  asked  him  for  some  water.     On  this, 

the  king,  seeing  a  dead  serpent  near,  put  it  round  the 

neck  of  the  devotee,  and  was  going  away.     At  this 

juncture,  however,  the  son  of  the  Bramin  coming  in, 

and  seeing  the  snake  on  his   father's  neck,  was  very 

angry,   and  pronounced    a  curse,   intimating   that  a 

fabled  serpent,  called  Ty$hak,  should  bite  and  kill  the 

aggressor.      The   old   Bramin,   though    desirous    of 

reversing  the  boy's  sentence,  was  unable  to  do  it ;  and, 

though  every   precaution    was   taken,    the  king  was 

bitten  and  killed  by  Tyshak." 

The  Hindoos  appear  to  acknowledge  only  one  God, 
whom  they  call  Eihar  ot  Bhogabon ;  and  from  whom, 
they  say,  proceeded  three  personal  virtues  or  powers ; 
namely,   BirmvJia,  the  creator ;   Veeshnoo,  the    pre- 
server ;   and  Seeb,  the  destroyer,  who  will,  at  last, 
destroy  all  things.     Birmmha  is  not  worshipped  at  all ; 
Veeshnooonly  by  a  few ;  but  Seeb  almost  universally. 
But   though   the    Hindoos   and    Mahometans    ssem 
perfectly  unanimous  in    the  acknowledgment  of  one 
Supreme    Deity,    yet,    in   all  parU  of  India,   divine 
honors  are  paid  by  these  different  people  todemi-gods, 
or  departed  saints  ;    so  that  under  every  great  tree 
and  in  every  high  place  may  be  seen  the  signs  of  a 
debta  or  peer ;   the  former   being   the  name  given  to 
the  idol  of  the  Hindoos,  and  the  latter  the  appellation 
bestowed  on  the  object  of  MahomeUn  devotion.     The 
residences  of  the  debta$  are  generally  marked  by  a 
stone   set  up  on   one   end,  and  daubed  with  a  little 
scarlet   coloring,   and   flowers  are  daily   offered  and 
j»trewed  about  the  place.     The  peer  is  distinguished 
by  a  little  pile  of  bricks  and  mortar,  two  or  three  feet 
high,  a  lamp,  that  is  occasionally  lighiod,  and  little 
images  o{  burnt  clay  somewhat  resembling  horses  and 
olophantt.      These   images   are  supposed  to  afford 


pleaaure  to  the  peer,  who  i.  the  spirit  of  some  devoat 
person  that  has  been  buried  near  the  spot,  and  where 
two  roads  mtersect  each  other.  The  devotees  brina 
offenngs  of  cakes,  fruits,  and  spices  to  the  peer;  and! 
havmg  got  some  person,  who,  perhaps,  can  neither 
read  nor  write,  to  repeat  some  sentence  of  the  Koran 
they  fall  to,  and  eat  them  up.  Sometimes  the  leri- 
dence  of  a  peer  b  formed  mto  a  little  temple,  whwh  is 
kept  very  clean,  and,  when  viewed  from  a  distance, 
has  a  picturesque  appearance. 

In  alluding  to  the  deplorable  sute  both  of  the 
Hmdoos  and  Mussuhnen,  Mr.  Carey  observes, 
"  Though  the  land  is  fiill  of  idols,  I  do  not  know 
that  the  bulk  of  the  people  ever  worship  them 
with  an  expectation  of  obtainmg  any  thing  for  the 
sou/.  They  universally  tell  me,  that  their  debtas, 
whose  images  they  worship,  have  a  power  to  afflict 
theu:  persons,  to  spoil  their  crops,  and  to  kill  their 
chUdren,  and  will  infallibly  do  this,  if  they  neglect  to 
make  offerings  to  them ;  so  that,  from  what  I  can 
learn,  bodily  or  carnal  fear  is  the  only  spring  of  all 
their  worship. 

"  The  sun,"  says  the  same  pious  and  intelligent 
missionary,  in  another  part  of  his  correspondence,  '<  is 
supposed  to  be  the  governor  of  all  bodily  diseases,  and 
IS  therefore  worshipped,  in  order  to  avert  his  anger,  and 
to  prevent  diseases.  Some  valetudinarians  worehip 
bun  every  Sunday  by  fasting  and  offerings  ;  but  he  is 
annually  worshipped  on  the  first  Sunday  in  the  month 
of  Mag,  which  was  last  Lord's  day,  January  14.  The 
name  of  this  worship  is  Dhormma  Bhau,  or  Soorjya 
Bhau.  The  manner,  it  seems,  va-ies  in  some  respects 
m  different  places ;  but  in  these  paru  the  women 
appear  to  be  the  principal  actors  in  the  worship ; 
though  none  are  excluded,  and  even  Mussulmen  have 
so  far  Hindooized  as  to  join  in  the  idolatry,  which  is 
thus  conducted : — 

"  At  the  dawn  of  the  morning,  a  great  number  of 
offerings,  consisting  of  fruits,  sweetmeats,  pigeons,  kids 
&c.  are  carried  into  the  open  field,  ai,d  placed  in  a 
row.  A  small  pot,  containing  about  a  pint  and  a  half 
of  water,  is  placed  by  each  person's  offering.  A  device 
made  of  a  certain  water  plant,  and  formed  so  as  to 
resemble  the  sun,  is  placed  on  the  edge  of  the  pot,  and 
a  small  twig  of  mango  .ree  with  a  few  leaves  on  it,  is 
put  into  it,  as  people  in  England  put  flowers'  in 
water.  The  pot,  with  its  appendages,  is  perhaps  in- 
tended  to  represent  the  sun,  as  the  vivifier  of  nature. 
By  each  offering  is  also  placed  a  dhoonachre,  a  sort  of 
incense  altar,  or  censer,  made  of  copper.  It  resembles 
a  chafling  dish,  and  stands  upon  a  pedestal  about 
twelve  inches  high.  This  ccmuins  coals  of  fire,  and 
has  a  kind  of  incense  from  time  to  time  thrown  into  it, 
principally  the  pilch  of  the  tree  here  called  dhoona] 


rtx-i'i 


BENGAl^-i*  y^jvn 


Bj  eioh  oAnrhg  KkewiM  stands  t  lamp  which  is  kept 
buniing  all  day;  and  the  women  who  ofer,  uke their 
natioa  by  the  oflerings.    At  sun-rise,  they  walk  fear 
times  round  the  whole  row  of  offerings,  with  the 
•moking  censers  on  their  heads,  and  then  ratum  to 
their  former  sution,  where  they  continue  in  an  erect 
posture,    fasting  the    whole  day,  and  occasionally 
throwing  a  little  incense  into  the  fire.      Towards 
evening,  the  Biamin  who  attends  the  ceremony  throws 
the  pigeons  up  into  the  air ;  but  these,  being  too  young 
to  fly  &r,  are  scrambled  for,  and  carried  away  by  any 
one  who  gets  them,  for  the  purpose  of  eating.     The 
Bramin  also  perforates  the  ears  of  the  kids  with  a 
packing-needle,  after  which  they  become  the  property 
of  the  first  person  who  touches  them.     About  sun-set, 
the   offerers  again   take    up   the    smoking    censers' 
and   make   three   more  circuits  round   the   row    of 
offerings,  thus  making  the  whole  number  seven  times 
m  the  day.     After  this,  each  person  takes  up  his  or 
her  offering  and  the  lighted  lamp,  when  the  lamps  are 
thrown  into  a  pond,  and  each  one  takes  his  offerine 
home,  and  eats  it." 

On  the  three  last  days  of  the  year,  and  on  new  year's 
day,  a  variety  of  ceremonies  are  performed  by  the 
Hindoos  in   honor  of  Seeb,  the   destroyer.      Some 
persons  consider  the  preparations,  which  commence 
seven  or  eight  days  eariier,  as  part  of  the  worship 
Itself.     This,  however,  is  incorrect,  as  the  time  is  then 
chiefly   occupied  by   beating   of   drums,   and   other 
mstruments,  and  by  the  dancing  and  grotesque  gestic- 
ulations of  a  number  of  people,  called  Bhoktears,  or 
believers,  who  go  about  begging  money  to  defray  the 
expenses  attendant  on  the  ceremonies  which  are  to 
follow,  and  which  have  been  thus  described  bv  the 
Rev.  W.Carey:— 

"  On  the  first  of  the  three  last  days  of  their  year,  or 
of  the  month  Chytre,  the  dead  bodies  of  men,  if  they 
can  be  procured,  or  if  they  are  not  to  be  had,  dead  men's 
skulls,  and  pieces  of  the  wood  which  was  employed 
in  burning  the  dead,  are  brought  near  to  a  house  of 
Seeb  and  Kalie  ;  where  they  are  placed  in  the  form  of 
an  offering.     After  a  little   time,  a  number  of  the 
Bhoktears  appear,  dressed  some  as  women;   others 
with  a  kind  of  horrid  vizors,  like  digitated  crowns  put 
over  their  faces ;   others  disfigured  with  paint ;   and 
some  with  artificial  hair,  or  hemp,  or  a  bunch  of  ropes 
like   a   mop   on  their   heads.     Some   have   artificial 
tongues,  made  of  sackcloth,    reaching  to  their  feet ; 
and   others  go  with  their   tongues   put  out  of  their 
mouths  as  far  as  possible.     Some  of  these  men  have 
swords  ;  others  *Aor^o«,  a  kind  of  crooked  weapon  of 
war;    some  take   up  a  piece   of  the   wood   before- 
mentioned;    others  a  skull ;    and  others  have  earthen 
. »n...Tn;j  vuiuaining  a  small  qiiajiiiiy 


199 
of  wood,  which  is  oiled  and  kindled.    TtAine  oU  mto 
then-  mouths,  they  spui  it,  at  intervals,  mto  these 
pots  of  fire,  which  makes  a  horrid  blare,  and  is 
thus  kept  up  for  some'  hours.     It  is  accounted  a 
wonderful  interpositkm  of  Seeb,  that  their  hands  are 
not  burnt,  nor  even  the  wood  in  the  pots;    but  I 
suppose  the  oil  preserves  both  the  one  and  the  other, 
as  they  are  well  oiled  all  the  tmie.     After  thus  paiad' 
mg  about,   the  dead  bodies,   bones   and  wood   are 
earned  to  a  river  or  other  water,  where  they  are 
thrown  m.     The  people  then  bathe  and  go  home ;  but 
toward  the  close  of  the  night,  they  meet  again,  make  a 
large  fire,  and  dance  upon  the  coals. 

"On  the  second  day,  they  fest  more  severely  than 
on  any  of  the  other  days ;  for  though  on  all  these 
days  they  eat  nothing  boiled,  on  this  they  eat  nothing 
but  meal  of  wheat  or  barley,  and  abstain  from  drinking 
entirely.  In  the  evening,  a  burnt  offering  is  presented 
to  Seeb,  of  sefamum  seed  and  ghee,  or  leaves  of  the 
beal  tree  mixed  with  ghee,  which  concludes  the 
worship  of  the  day. 

"The  third  day  is  employed  in  various  kinds  of 
torture,  as  falling  from  a  stage  on  iron  spikes,— dancing 
with  threads  or  bamboos  drawn  through  their  sides,  or 
with  spits  through  their  tongues.  But  as  none  of  these 
modes  are  practised  in  this  neighborhood  (Mudna- 
batty),  the  people  here  end  the  worship  by  swinging, 
which  is  not  performed  till  the  next  day,  in  the 
southern  parts. 

"  The  trees  are  first  erected  in  an  open  place,  and 
the   bamboo,   which  turns   horizontally,  is  fixed  on 
them  so  as  to  turn  freely,  and  a  rope  is  suspended  from 
each  end.     After  this,  an  offering  is  made  to  Seeb,  at 
the  bottom  of  the  tree,  by  a  man  who,  though  not  a 
Bramin,  acts  as  a  priest  on  this  occasion.     Ho  begins 
by  laying  the  different  articles  in  order  at  the  foot  of  the 
tree.     These  consist  of  rice,  beaten  from  the  husk,  but 
unboiled  ;  a  wild  edible  herb,  called  sanchee  ;  a  branch 
of  plantain  ;  some  water,  and  two  young  pigeons.     A 
coal  of  fire  is  then  procured,  and  a  small  quantity  of 
dhoona  or  Indian  pitch  thrown  upon  it.     On  this  they 
place  a  small  quantity  of  the  rice  and  herb ;  and  the 
man  who  officiates  as  priest,  after  appearing  to  be  for 
some  time  engaged  in  silent  prayer,  puts  a  sprig  of  the 
plant  upon  his  own  head,  where  he  lets  it  remain  about 
the  space  of  a  minute.     The  person  who  is  to  swing  is 
all  this  time  apparently  occupied  in  prayer,  with  tho 
hooks  under  his  feet.     The  heads  of  the  pigeons  are 
then  pulled  off,  one  after  the  other,  by  the  priest,  and 
the  blood  is  made  to  run  down  the  bottom  of  the  tree, 
which  concluded  the  consecrative  offering. 

"  The  man  who  is  to  swing  now  prostrates  himself 
before  the  tree,  aod  a  person  makes  a  mark,  with  his 
dusty  fingers,  where  the  liooks  are  to  be  put.     Another 


900 


BAPTIST  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


person  give.*  faim  a  saiwt  clap  on  one  sick  of  th»  back, 
and  piac'  f'i  up  the  skin  haid  with  bis  thumb  and 
fingers ;  whila  a  third  passes  the  hook  through,  taking 
hold  of  about  an  inch  of  the  skin.  The  other  hook  is, 
in  like  manner,  put  through  the  skin  of  the  other  side  of 
the  back,  and  the  man  gets  upon  his  feet.  As  he  is 
rising,  some  water  is  thrown  in  his  face.  He  then 
mounts  on  a  man's  back,  or  on  some  other  eminence, 
'  and  the  strings  which  are  attached  to  the  hooks  in  his 
back  are  tied  to  the  rope  at  one  end  of  the  horiaontal 
bamboo ;  and  the  rope  at  the  other  end  is  held  by  seve- 
ral men,  who,  drawing  it  down,  raise  up  the  end  on  which 
the  man  swings,  and  by  their  running  round  with  that 
rope,  the  machine  is  turned.  In  swinging,  the  man  de- 
scribes a  circle  of  about  thirty  feet  diameter,  and  he 
holds  a  basket  containing  the  herbs  previously  oiTered 
to  Secb,  which  are  thrown  down  by  handsful,  but  I 
saw  nobody  pick  them  up. 

"  Only  two  men  swung  this  year  at  this  place,  and 
one  of  them  only  five  minutes.     The  other  swimg  a 
quarter  of  an  hour,    and  smoked  his  hookah  as  he 
whirled  round.     In   less  than  two  days,  I  examined 
his  back,  which  was  quite  well,  and  scarcely  the  marks 
of  the  hooks  were  left.     When  he  descended,  I  saw  a 
man  chew  some  leaves  of  the  piper  betel,  the  juke  of 
which  he  injected  from  bis  mout'n  into  the  wounds ; 
he  then  applied  two  leaves  of  the  same  plant,  and  tied 
on  a  cloth  :  no  other  application  was  used,  except  a 
squeezing  up  of  the  wounds  with  the  hand,  and  setting 
the  knee  of  another  man  against  his  breast,  which  he 
pushed   hard,    holding  his   shoulders  by  his   hands. 
I  asked   the  man  who  swung,  if  the  pain  were  not 
severe.    He  said,No;itwasmuchliketlieblteofanant. 
"  I  have  endeavored  to  investigate  tlie  origin  and 
design  of  this   custom,   but    nearly    in    vain.     I  am 
informed  by  the  Bramins  that  it  is  not  commanded  by 
any  of  the  shastors,  and   the  end  it  is  designed  to 
answer  is  equally  unknown.     Some  say  it  is  done  for 
the  happiness  of  those  who  perform  it ;  and  others, 
that  it  is  for   the  happiness  of  the  rajahs,  or  other 
great  men,  who  have  given  certain  portions  of  land  for 
its  support.     It   is  not  considered  in  the  light  of  an 
atonement,  but  merely  as  a  custom  or  show  ;  yet  it  is 
generally   done  in  consequence  of  a  vow  made  in 
distress. 

"  The  most  common  account  of  its  origin,  and  that 
which  the  generality  of  the  natives  seem  to  credit,  is 
as  follows  : — A  rajah  named  Ban,  wliose  daughter  was 
married  to  the  son  of  Knstno,  was  the  occasion  of  it. 
It  is  said  that  he  was  a  giant,  with  a  terrible  form  and 
a  thousand  hands ;  bu!  in  consequence  of  his  having 
treated  his  son-m-law  very  unworthily,  Kristno  made 
war  ujwn  him,  conquered  him,  cut  off  his  hands, 
and  unposed  this  torture  upon  him.     The  last  fact, 


how«v«r,  ia  laid  to  b«  uncertain,  as  it  is  questionaUa 
whether  Kiistno  inflicted  this  as  a  punishment,  or 
whether  Ban  imposed  it  oa  himself  as  a  penance. 

«  The  ruins  of  Ban's  house  are  still  shown,  close  to 
the  river  Pumabobbha,  and  his  daughter's  house  is  said 
to  be  on  the  other  side  of  the  river.  Some  pillars  stili 
remaniing  on  the  spot,  and  the  large  roads  whwh  go 
near  it,  especially  a  high  road  by  his  house,  from  Gour 
to  Assam,  and  two  stone  bridges  over  the  Tanguan 
river,  the  ruias  of  which  are  in  the  vicinity,  are  all 
considered  as  indicative  of  the  greatness  of  Ban.  The 
numerous  quantity  of  large  stones  sculptured  with 
representatrons  of  Hindoo  debtas,  show  that  these 
bridges  were  very  magnificent ;  and  every  stone  must 
have  been  brought  either  from  Bootan  or  from  the 
mountains  in  Bahar  ;  an  astonishing  distance  !" 

The  Hindoos  usually  bum  their  dead  by  the  side 
of  a  river,  and  always  leave  a  vessel  filled  with  water 
by  the  spot.  The  poor  people,  however,  only  throw 
their  dead  into  the  river,  where  they  are  devoured  by 
kites,  crows,  and  various  animals.  If  an  opulent 
Hindoo  be  taken  ill,  and  his  disease  be  considered 
dangerous,  he  is  conveyed  to  the  banks  of  the  Gunga, 
or  holy  river :  for  Mr.  Carey  states,  that  the  whole 
of  tlie  Ganges  is  noi  accounted  sacred,  but  merely 
some  parts  of  it ;  and  the  holy  water,  after  leaving  the 
great  river,  runs  into  smaller  streams,  one  of  which  is 
called  the  Ho<^ly.  The  sick  and  dying,  therefore,  are 
carried  to  these  holy  places,  where  they  are  carefully 
watched  till  they  expire.  The  Mussulmen  in  India 
bury  their  dead,  and  regulariy  mourn  over  their  graves 
once  a  month. 

There  were  originally  four  castes  among  the 
Hindoos,  namely,  the  Bramin,  the  ketra,  the  bice,  and 
thesoodra.  Of  these,  the  first  were  worshippers  or  the- 
ologists;  the  second,  kings  and  soldiers;  the  third, 
merchants  and  husbandmen  ;  and  the  fourth,  servants 
and  mechanics.  Of  these  castes  or  tribes,  however, 
only  the  first  and  the  last  now  remain ;  the  ketra  and 
the  bice  having  been  extinct  ever  since  the  commence- 
ment of  the  present  age,  which  was  nearly  as  far  back  as 
the  time  of  the  creation,  according  to  the  Mosaic  account. 
There  are,  however,  many  inferior  branches  in  each  of 
the  divisions,  and  even  some  of  these  are  again 
subdivided.  Thus  the  lowest  order  of  the  soodras  is 
divided  into  several  classes,  as  mat-makers,  shoemakers 
(comprking  skinners,  tanners,  and  curriers),  bird  and 
snake  catchers,  and  many  others.  The  derivation  of 
the  term  caite  has  not  been  satisfactorily  explained. 
It  does  not  appear,  however,  to  have  any  thing  in  it  of  a 
religious  nature,  hut  merely  expressesadistinction  of  the 
tril)es,  as  connected  with  certain  avocations  and  trades. 
Nor  docs  it  extend  any  further  than  to  eating  and 
drinking,  intermeddling  with  each  other's  employmenta. 


llMMaCfeiHiM'fyig'tnMng  «fuih  oth«r;<'  WeHOMottHm 
OM^  wriMdi/Hwjr  eat'ths  fiiNMtef  ttiO^MTiif  nowKtM 
hwrvtooehetf  hv>  Thtfs  «  BniiJiii'  my  panhtM  like 
cfttiewdn^dr  «ven  of  a  Ahigsalmui,  butnone  «x6«pt 
OMof  Ms  own  tribe  ttuif'>0i)okit  fei'  him;  A  Hiiido« 
•Iso  may  smoke  the  same  tobacco  which  a  MshemetM 
has  jttst  been  iisipg;  but  be  mint  take  off"  part  of  the 
lHX*ah  wbiefi  comains  the  tobateo,  and  must  not 
snoke  thJNNfgb  thto  same  water. 

Hie  lorattf  caste,  though  sometimes  occasioned  by  the 
most  ttifling  incidents,  is  attended  with  tlie  most  serious 
consequences;  as  not  only  the  individual  himself  is 
viewed  with  contempt  and  abhorrence,  hvt  it  sometimes 
hap^iens  that  his  wife  and  children  lose  caste  themselves, 
in  consequence  of  his  misfortune,  and  are  thus  involved 
in  bis  disgrace  and  ruin.  Noris  it  possible  to  remedy 
the  evil  thus  sustained ;  for  though,  in  one  instance 
which  came  under  Mr.  Carey's  notice,  a  man  who 
had  forfeited  his  caste  througba  wcwnan  in  the  femily 
being  obliged  to  live  with  a  Mussulman,  offered  a  lack 
of  rupees,  or  about  ten  thousand  pounds,  to  have  it 
restored,  his  application  was  unavailing^       **»*>!,' », 

As  soon  as  the  missionaries  were  completely  Settled 
in  their  respective  ftctories,  they  established  schools 
for  the  education  of  the  children  belonging  to  the 
workmen  under  their  inspection,  and  to  other 
natives  in  the  vicinity ;  but  the  extreme  ignorance 
and  poverty  of  the  parents  induced  them  to  take 
away  their  offspring  on  the  slightest  occasion,  and  in 
some  Instances  it  became  necessary  to  remunerate  the 
pupils  for  their  attendance.  Regardless  of  these 
discouraging  circumstances,  however,  the  brethren 
persisted  in  their  benevolent  attempt  of  instructing  the 
rising  generation.  They  also  continued  to  preach  the 
gospel  etery  sabbath,  and  frequently  on  week-days, 
to  a  considerable  number  of  persons,  and  in  a  manner 
particulariy  adapted  to  their  circumstances  and  super- 
stitions ;  as  will  appear  from  the  following  description, 
communicated  by  the  Rev.  W.  Carey  to  the  committee 

of  the  Baptist  Missionary  Society  : 

"  I  wish  to  say  something  about  the  manner  of  my 
preaching,  but  scarcely  know  how.  As  a  specimen, 
however,  I  will  describe  one  season  at  a  large  village 
called  Ghinsurah,  about  four  miles  from  Mudnabatty. 
When  I  arrived,  I  *aw  an  idolatrous  temple  finely  built 
with  bricks ;  and,  in  order  to  excite  attention,  Tasked 
what  place  that  was.  They  said  it  was  a  thakoorme, 
or  female  debta.  I  asked  If  it  were  alive ;  and,  on 
their  replying  in  the  affirmative,  I  said, « Well,  I  wll  go 
and  see  her ;'  but  on  my  advancing  to\vards  the  place, 
they  all  cried  out, '  Pfo,  sir,  no ;  it  is  only  a  stone.'  I 
thefr  removed  to  a  little  distance  under  a  tamarind 
*r!°:  ?"'!  ^^  ^^^  singing  «  Rengnlee  hymn.  By 
TTiTS  ntSe  a  pretty  large  Concourse  of  people  had 
Vor,.  I.— Nos.  17  &  18.  88 


th«i  t»ii^  df  Otfte  It  i*  olivious  that  ^r  ouTi 
text,  and  regulariy  di««dMjg  if,  cftuW  nfet  beof  any  »»• 
t*  thttte  whe>Md  tii^  MMM  v  w«rd  of  Hie  Bible  in 
their  lives.  I*  tberefctw  (Kreli  UpWn  the  Worth  of  the 
soul.  Its  iaileti  state,  tfte  goat  of  all  iheh  who  had 
broken  God's  rightedusfci^;  ahd  t«e  IjJbjwMibiKtrtif 
obtaining  pardon  at  the  exjienseofthehdnorof  divine 
justice.  I  then  inquired  what  way  of  salvation,  con- 
sistent With  the  righteousness  of  God,  was  proposed  in 
any  of  their  shasters.  « They  speak,'  said  I, « of  nihe 
incarnations  of  Veeshnoo  past,  and  one  to  come ;  but 
not  one  of  them  is  pretended  to  be  for  the  salvation  of  a 
sinner.  They  were  only  to  preserve  a  family,  to  kill 
a  giant,  to  make  war  against  tyrants,  &c.,  all  of  which 
God  could  have  accomplished  without  tliese  incarna- 
tions" I  then  observed  how  miserable  they  must  be 
whose  whole  religion  only  respected  the  body,  and 
Whose  shasters  could  point  out  no  salvation  for  the 
soul ;  at  the  same  time  setting  before  them  the  way  of 
life  by  the  sufferings  and  death  of  Christ. 

"  At  another  place,  in  preaching  froAi- Christ  lieing 
sent'to  bless,  m  turning  every  one  from  their  iniquities, 
I  observed  the  su|^eriority  of  the  g6spel  to  all  other 
writings,  and  of  Chrikt  to  all  pretendfed  saviours,  in 
that  particular  point,  that  heUeving  in  ChHtt  wot 
universally  accompanied  with  turning  from  iniquity ; 
and  I  contended  that  their  worship  must  be  false ;  for 
they  made  images,  and  presented  offerings  to  them, 
and  were  abundant  in  their  religious  ceremonies,  but 
not  a  man  among  them  had  turned  from  his  iniquity. 
'  There  are,' said  I,  'among  you  liars,  thieves,  whore- 
mongers, and  men  filled  with  deceit,  and  as  you  were 
last  year,  so  are  you  this  ;  nor  can  you  be  more  holy  till 
you  renounce  your  wicked  worship  and  idolatrous 
practices,  and  embrace  the  gospel  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ.' 

"  This  is  the  method  of  preaching  that  I  use  among 
them ;  and  nothing  of  this  kind  appears  to  give  them 
offence.  Many,  indeed ,  wish  to  hear ;  bn  t  many  others 
abhor  the  thoughts  of  the  gospel.  The  Bramins  fear 
to  lose  their  gain,  the  higher  castes  dread  the  loss  of 
their  honor,  and  the  poor  tremble  at  the  vengeance 
of  their  debtas." 

Whilst  the  brethren  thus  faithfully  exposed  the  de- 
cettfulness  of  pagan  worship,  and  pointed  to  the  Lamb 
of  God  as  the  only  unfailing  refuge  fi-om  the  wrath  to 
come,  they  evinced  the  most  compassionate  and  be- 
nevolent disposition  towards  the  i^oor  by  whom  they 
were  surrounded.  Mr.  Thomas  was  particulariy  at- 
tentive to  such  as  were  afflicted  with  illness,  and  in. 
many  instances,  under  ifhe  divine  blessing,  effected  the 
most  sufnfisinff  cures.  Tc  hirs.  indesHi.  i)if!  — ~.r— . 
ance  of  an  act  of  mercy  was  evidently  the  highest 


9oa 


BAPTIST  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


gr»tificatioo,  and  the  loUoiring  circumstance,  related  by 
himself,  wiU  serve  to  depict,  in  glowing  colors,  the 
lympathetii}  teoderoess  of  liis  heart : — 
*  "  A  few  dsjrs  ago,  a  young  woman  came  to  my  door« 
complaining  of  being  very  ill ;  and  it  appeared  that  she 
had  come  twelve  or  fourteen  miles,  by  degrees,  from 
the  city  of  Dinagepore,  to  ask  relief  of  me.     I  saw 
her  bloated  in  the  face  and  hands,  as  though  she  had 
that  sort  of  dropsy  called  anatarca.     I  also  under^ 
stood  she  had  a  fever,  with  a  variety  of  other  pains 
and  diseases ;  and  she  told  me  that  she  had  neither 
food  to  eat  nor  a  home  to  go  to.     I  gave  her  what  she 
wanted,  and  in  a  few  days  she  appeared  much  better. 
About  three  days  ago,  however,  as  I  was  riding  out, 
she  called  to  me,  and  seemed  to  be  in  a  more  lan- 
guishing way  than  before.     I  found  her  hut  was  too 
cold,  and  rode  up  to  another,  where  a  crippled  Mus- 
sulman and  all  his  family  are  living  on  what  little  they 
get  from  me.     I  begged  them  to  let  this  poor  creature 
come  in  to  sleep,  as  the  nights  are  cold ;  but  they 
said,  no,  she  was  not  a  Mahometan,  and,  therefore,  if 
she  came  in,  they  must  turn  out.     I  rode  back  and 
^sked  her, '  Are  you  a  Mahometan  ?'  '  No.'    'A  Hin- 
doo ?•    '  No.'     '  What  are  you  then  ?'     With   mde- 
scribablo  anguish  she  replied, '  1  am  a  child  of  a  com- 
mon prostitute.'     I  now  pitied  her  more  than  ever, 
knowing  that  no  native  of  this  country  would  pity  or 
relieve  her  in  her  complicated  distress,  because  she 
was  of  no  catte.     I  then  told  the  family  that  her  dis- 
tress was  the  greatest,  and  they  must  remove  into  some 
of  the  more  distant  houses,  and  she  must  be  admitted 
immediately,  as  the  day  was  far  gone ;  so  they  parted 
off  one  end  of  the  house,  and  let  her  come  in ;  and, 
as  she  was  of  no  caste,  she  gladly  partook  of  food 
which  was  dressed  by  us ;  so  I  sent  her  some  fr^'vl  and 
chicken  broth,  and  she  was  visited  by  Mrs.  Thomas  and 
Mrs.  Carey,  who  acquainted  me  more  particularly  with 
her  diseased  situation.  The  evening  before  the  last,  she 
complained  of  cold,  and  I  sent  her  some  warm  broth,  and 
a  person  to  make  her  a  fire.    I  thought,  however,  she 
could  hardly  survive  the  night,  and  the  first  word  I  heard 
the  next  morning  was  that  the  poor  creature  was  dead. 
"  Yesterday  morning,  I  called  a  Mahometan  servant, 
and  told  bun  this  poor  woman  must  be  buried,  and  I 
committed  the  interment  to  him,  telling  him  that  I 
would  pay  whatever  charges  were  necessary.    He  said, 
'  Very  well,'  and  went  out ;  but  soon  returned,  saying 
that  no  Mussulman  would  bury  her,  because  she  was 
not  of  their  religion,     I  then  sent  him  out  among  the 
lowest  of  the  Hindoos,  but  they  also  refused.    At  last 
one  man  undertook  it,  on  condition  of  being  well  paid ; 
but  in  a  short  time  he  returned  and  stated  that  he 
could  not  dig  a  grave  for  her ;  as  by  so  doing  he 
should  lose  his  cas  e,  and  no  one,  afterw^,  would 


either  eat  or  drink  with  him.  He  imbed  the  body  «y 
be  thrown  mto  sn  adjacent  pond,  or  into  the  next  field, 
whore  the  jackals  might  devour  it  in  the  ttight.  How- 
ever, at  last  I  prevailed  j  a  grave  was  dug,  the  poor 
woman  was  buried,  and  I  find  I  have  securod  lh«  man 
his  caste." 

On  the  first  of  November,  1795,  the  roissionarie* 
formed  a  church  at  Mudnabatty,  consisting  of  them* 
selves,  and  two  Englishmen  named  Long  and  Powel^ 
who  had  come  over  with  the  design  of  settling  in 
Bengal,  and  had  submitted  to  the  rite  of  baptism. 
They  were  now,  therefore,  enabled  to  commemorate 
the  death  of  their  adorable  Redeemer  at  the  sacral 
mental  table  ;  and  whilst  mquiring  with  the  prophet, 
"  Who  hath  despised  the  day  of  small  things }"  they 
were  encouraged  to  look  forward,  with  the  cheering 
hope,  that,  in  the  time  of  God's  appointmwit,  "  the 
little  one  should  become  a  thousand." 

In  the  spring  of  1796,  Mr.  John  Fountain,  a  mem- 
ber  of  the  church  at  Eagle  street,  London,  wasrecom* 
mended  to  the  directors  of  the  society,  as  a  young 
man  whose  heart  was  engaged  in  the  work  of  missions ; 
and,  after  the  most  satisfactory  investigation  of  his 
character  and  abilities,  he  was  taken  under  the  patron* 
age  of  the  committee,  and  sent  out  to  the  assistance 
of  the  brethren  in  Bengal,  where  he  arrived  in  safety 
on  the  5th  of  September. 

About  this  time ,  some  encouraging  appearances  began 
to  cheer  the  spurits  of  the  missionaries,  who  previous. 
ly  seemed  to  have  labored  almost  in  vain.    "  The  first, 
sabbath  I  spent  at  Mudnabatty,"  says  Mr.  Fountain, 
"  was  a  very  affecting  one ;  a  relation  of  which  may 
not  be  unacceptable.     But  I  must  first  tell  you  that, 
on  the  day  after  my  arrival,  one  of  the  idolatrous 
feasts   of  the  Hindoos  was  celebrated.     They    had 
been  drumming  and  dancing  before  the  idol  three  days 
and  nights,  but  this  evening  it  was  to  be  thrown  into  the 
river.     Brother  Carey  went  among  them,  and  spoke, 
for  some  time,  respecting  the  folly  and  sinfulness  of 
their  practice ;  but  not  being  able  to  procure  their  at- 
tention, he  addressed  himself  to  the  officiating  Bramin 
and  some  of  the  wildest  devotees,  who  were  much 
ashamed  before  him,  and  went  away.     Just  as  he  had 
left  them,  a  letter  was  brought  from  brother  Thomas, 
statmg  that  he  hoped  a  good  work  was  begun  at  Moy- 
pauldiggy,  and  requesting  brother  Carey  to  come  over 
and  speak  to  the  people.     We  accordingly  went  on 
the  Saturday  ;  and  on  the  sabbath,  at  sun-rise,  worship 
began,  when  nearly  a  hundred  people  were  assembled. 
After  prayer,  brother  Thomas  preached  from  Ezekiel, 
xxxvl  27, '  I  will  put  my  Spirit  within  you;'  and 
brother  Carey  preached  from  Acts,  iv.  12, '  Neither 
i$  there  salvation  in  any  other.'    Great  attention  was 
paid  by  all  present,  and,  after  breakfast,  three  persons 


rrarx*     bengausim  T??rr*iA« 


oaiM  to  oonverM  widi  our  brethren,  coacercing  tbe 
state  of  their  souls.  They  seem  to  be  hopeful  ch«rto« 
ten,  and  are  daily  ia  the  habit  of  jHraying  together.  One 
<rf  them,  named  Yardte,  is  a  man  of  good  natural 
abibtie8,and  seems  to  possess  much  Christian  simplici- 
ty. They  appeared  deeply  affected  when  I  informed 
them,  through  the  medium  of  brother  Thomas,  that 
the  people  of  England  were  praying  earnestly  for 
their  salvation.  '  What !'  said  they,  '  do  they  pray 
for  tu  7'  '  r    / 

"At  half  past  three  o'clock,  the  natives  assembled 
more  numerously  than  in  the  morning.  The  brethren 
Thomas  and  Carey  preached,  the  former  from  Acts, 
xvu.  30,  and  the  latter  from  Psalm  Ixxxix.  15;  and 
they  both  declared  that  I  had  witnessed  more  atten- 
tion  and  seriousness,  my  first  sabbath,  than  they  had 
seen  all  the  three  years  they  had  spent  in  India." 

In  the  month  of  March,  1797,  the  missionaries  set 
out  on  an  expedition  to  the  Bootan  country,  snd  in 
about  four  days  arrived  at  that  part  of  it  which  is  be- 
low the  hills.     They  then  went  to  a  place  called  Go- 
palgunge,  and  waited  on  a  Bootea  officer  called  the 
Jtnkof,  who  received  them  very  kindly,  and  appeared 
much  pleased  with  the  different  articles  which  they 
had  brought  for  his  acceptance.     They  found  that  it 
would  be  necessary  to  see  some  other  officer,  and  to 
get  a  regular  permission  to  ascend  the  hills.     During 
the  greatest  part  of  the  day,  however,  they  remained 
m  the  jmkof 's  house,  which  consisted  of  two  stories, 
and  was  constructed  of  bamboos  and  mats,  with  pUlars' 
of  what  is  called  the  saul  tree.     He  presented  them 
with  some  pieces  of  bacon  about  twelve  inclies  long ;  but 
these  were  so  stale  as  to  be  offensive  at  a  considerable 
distance.     After  this,  he  treated  them  with  a  tea  called 
rtir^a,  which  seems  to  have  been  nearly  similar  to  the 
CrJmuo  tea,  already  noticed  in  our  account  of  the  mis- 
sions of  the  United  Brethren  ;  as  it  is  made  into  cakes 
with  some  composiUon,  and,  when  used,  is  mixed  with 
boiling  water,  salt,  and  ghee,  or  butter  melted  down, 
and  thus  preserved  for  use.     The  missionaries  found 
It  impossible  to  swallow  this  beverage,  though  the 
Bootea  drank  copiously  of  it ;  and  whilst  they  were 
sensible  of  the   kind  intentions   of  their  host,  they 
were  fearful  lest  he  should  injure  himself  by  his  re- 
peated applications  to  their  rum  bottle.     His  country- 
men, indeed,  profess  to  consider  drunkenness  as  highly 
disgraceful ;  yet  they  are  taught  to  drink  ardent  spirits 
almost  as  soon  as  they  can  talk,  and  in  all  their  houses 
It  IS  common  to  see  pitchers  of  Bengal  arrack,  of 
which  they  drink  as  freely  as  if  it  were  water. 

The  Booteaa  or  Botes,  as  they  call  themselves, 
are  a  short,  robust  people,  and,  in  respect  to  their 
complexion,  dress  and  appearance,  have  a  pretty  near 
rass^>,l8n6e  {oa:WcBihcr.bcaton  and  aihleiic  £nglish 


m 


wagoner.  The  higher  renk,,  however,  bat*  a  gow 
m«ni  someUimg  like  a  gentleman's  morning  go?n., 
made  of  red,  blue,  or  green  stuff,  wkh  large  figured 
wrought  m  It  hke  diaper.  The  dress  of  the  women 
consists  of  a  petticoat,  and  a  cloth  fastened  from  the 
shoulders  to  the  waist,  in  such  a  manner,  that,  over 
the  breast,  it  forms  a  large  pouch,  which  they  use  for 
the  purposes  of  a  pocket.  Their  complexion  is  tol- 
erahly  fair ;  their  hair  is  parted  on  the  top  of  the  head : 
and  they  invariably  go  whhout  caps ;  though  different 
coverings  for  the  head  are  worn  by  the  men,  at  least 
by  those  in  official  situations. 

From  Gopalgunge  the  missionaries  went  to  Bote- 
Haut  to  see  the  Soobah,  who  is  a  kind  of  viceroy, 
and  the  greatest  officer  in  these  parts.     A  letter  hav' 
mgbeen  forwarded  to  him  by  the  jinkof,  he  sent  two 
horses  for  them,  and  the  jinkof  himself  accompanied 
them.    "  The  procession,"  says  Mr.  Carey,  «  was  the 
most  cunous  that  could  well  be  imagined,  yet  it  strongly 
proved  their  great  attention  to  us.     A  band  of  Bengal 
music,  if  such  it  can  be  called,  preceded  us.    We  had 
six  horsemen,  and  servants,  and  a  number  of  specta- 
tors, besides  people  to  convey  our  tents  and  baggage 
which,  m  travelling  by  land  in  this  country,  must  be 
carried  on  men's  shoulders.     On  one  horse  was  the 
Jinkof,  led  by  two  men;  notwithstanding  which,  he 
was  sometimes  first,  sometimes  last,  and  sometimes 
turning   round;  his  horse  being  ungovernable;   and 
every  mile  or  two,  he  was  stopping  to  drink  spirits. 
A  Hindoo  on  another  horse  was  much  like  him,  except 
in  drinking;  and  we  had  enough  to  do  to  keep  our 
horses  out  of  the  way ;    to  effect   which,  we  were 
always  wheeling  either  to  the  right  or  the  left. 
,     On  our  approaching  the  town,  a  number  of  females 
met  us  and  made  their  ialaam,  by  putting  their  hands  to 
their  heads  and  gently  bowmg ;  after  which  they  ran 
before  the  horses ;  and  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  place, 
I  should  suppose  to  the  number  of  two  or  three  thou- 
sand,  joined  the  precession." 

In  this  manner  the  missionaries  went  to  the  house  of 
the  soobah,  who  received  them  with  great  politeness, 
and  presented  them  with  a  white  silk  scarf,  in  the 
name  of  the  grand  lama,  a  red  one  b  bis  own  name, 
and  another  red  one  in  the  name  of  a  friend.     After 
receiving  these  presents,  they  ascended,  by  a  ladder,  to 
his  house,  which  was  something  like  that  of  the  jinkof, 
but  larger  and  more  elegant ;  comprising  four  rooms  on 
the  upper  story,  which  were  entirely  covered  with  mats. 
At  the  farther  end  of  the  prinoipal  room  was  the  seat 
of  the  soobah,  elevated  about  two  feet  from  the  floor, 
covered  with  red  cloth,  and  hung  round  with  curtains 
of  thin  gauze.     Here  the  missioMrias'were  seated  by 
the  side  of  the  soobah.     On  two  udes  of  the  same 
apartment  were  4eats  foi  i^th*  strwnii,  jmatls.  jritji, 


BAPTIST  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


pUuiks  of  flttul  timber,  but  oomvd  with  aickclolh.  A 
window  of  about  twelve  inches  deep,  mtde  of  isttiee 
woric,  ran  throughout  the  sides  on  which  the  seats  of 
the  servants  were  placed  ;  and  just  above  the  window 
was  a  curtain  of  white  cotton,  on  which  were  hung  a 
variety  of  shields,  helni<!ts,  bows,  and  arrows.  The 
lower  part  of  the  building  appeared  to  be  occupied 
as  stabling,  itc. 

The  distirlguished  urbanity  of  the  soobah  is  said 
to  have  exceeded  every  thing  which  our  European 
visitors  could  have  imagined,  and  his  generosity  was 
equally  striking.  "  He  insisted,"  says  Mr.  Carey, 
"  on  supplying  all  our  people  with  every  thing  they 
wanted  ;  and  if  we  did  btu  cast  our  eyes  on  any  ob- 
ject in  the  room,  he  immediately  presented  us  with  one 
of  the  same  sort.  Irdoed,  he  soomed  to  interpret 
our  looks  before  wo  wore  aware,  and  in  this  manner 
he  presented  each  of  us,  that  night,  with  a  sword, 
shield,  and  helmet ;  also  with  a  cup  made  of  a  very 
light,  beautiful  wood,  used  by  all  the  Booteas  in 
drinking. 

"  In  eating,  the  soobah  imitated  our  manners  so 
quickly  and  exactly,  that  he  appeared  as  free  as  if  he 
had  spent  his  life  with  Europeans,  though  he  had  never 
seen  any  of  them  before.  We  partook  of  his  food ; 
though  I  confess  the  idea  of  the  jinkof's  bacon  made 
me  eat  ratlior  sparingly. 

"  We  then  talked  about  Bootan  and  respecting  the 
gospel  ;  and  the  appellation  of  lama  was  given  to  us, 
which  appears  to  mean  teacher,  and  which  title  is 
emphatically  given  to  the  grand  lama. 

"  We  found  that  the  soobah  had  determined  to  give 
the  people  a  testimany  of  his  friendship  for  us  in  a  pub- 
lic manner ;  and  the  next  day  was  fixed  for  the  ptit- 
formance  of  the  ceremony  in  our  tent  in  the  market 
place.  Accordingly,  we  got  instructed  in  the  neces- 
sary etiquette,  and  informed  him  that,  as  we  had 
only  come  a  short  journey,  to  see  the  country,  we 
were  not  provided  with  English  rioths,  *ic.,  for  pres- 
ents. The  time  being  come,  however,  we  were  waited 
on  by  the  sixtbah,  followed  by  all  his  servanta,  both 
Booioas  and  Hindoos.  Being  seated,  we  exchanged 
eaci)  (ivo  rupees,  and  five  pieces  of  betel,  in  sight 
of  the  %vhole  town  ;  and  having  chewed  betel  for  the 
first  time  in  our  lives,  we  embraced  three  times  in  the 
oriental  manner,  and  afterwards  shook  hands  in  the 
English  manner.  The  soolwh  then  made  each  of  us 
a  pn'Mcnt  of  a  piece  of  rich  thhang  wrought  wth  gold, 
a  Bootan  ItlankM,  and  the  tail  of  xn  miimal  called  the 
Choar  cow. 

"  Whi-n  the  ceremony  was  over,  we  were  conducted 
to  tlie  soobah'i  house,  where  we  found  another  officer ; 
I  believe  th»  itmk—l,  or  attorney  of  the  court  below 
the  hills.     This  idmi  wee  iuat  iIm  MvMWi  nt  all  ». 


had  seen.  He  sit  on  the  soobdi's  seat  like  a  statu*, 
not  rising  whelt  we  entered;  though  the  soobnh, 
a  much  greater  man,  always  dM.  When  we  sat 
down,  he  began  a  long  discourse  with  the  others 
in  the  Bootan  language ;  and,  as  we  could  not  un- 
derstand him,  we  also  conversed  with  each  other 
in  English.  All  this  time,  a  servant,  by  his  orders, 
held  a  lighted  torch  just  in  our  faces,  that  he  might 
stare  at  us.  He  then  asked  how  many  servants  we 
kept,  and  whether  we  had  a  tent ;  this  was  to  ascertain 
whether  we  were  great  men  or  not.  Our  answers, 
however,  were  very  brief,  and  did  not  p*»  lAm 
satisfaction.  *  f»r«  m.ioii^f 

"  After  exchanging  a  few  angry  words  with  the 
soobah,  he  took  his  leave  abruptly ;  and  when  he  was 
gone,  the  soobah  appeared  transported  with  rage,  and 
threatened  him  dreadfully.  He  tore  off  his  upper 
garment,  seized  a  kind  of  dagger,  called  a  rrecc,  stuck 
it  into  the  table,  beat  his  breast,  and  threatened  to  go 
after  him  and  kill  him.  We  endeavored  to  appease 
him,  however,  and  were  successful. 

"  Our  people  were  now  much  afraid ;  for  though 
the  Hindoos  had  hitherto  expressed  the  greatest  con- 
fidence in  the  gentleness  of  the  natives,  they  now  began 
to  propagate  a  number  of  sanguinary  tales,  and  noth- 
ing was  talked  of  hut  the  insincerity  of  the  Booteas. 
As  for  ourselves,  we  were  not  quite  so  timid,  thmigh 
we  were  not  without  our  cogitations.  We  told  them, 
however,  to  run  away  for  their  lives  if  any  danger 
appeared.  For  fear  of  wild  elephants,  we  had  taken 
a  gun  or  two ;  hut  we  ordered  that  no  piece  should  be 
loaded,  nor  any  additional  precaution  manifested, 
though  we  were  certain  the  people  could  not  sleep 
much  that  night.  We  then  commended  ourselves 
to  God  in  prayer,  and  retired  to  rest. 

"  The  next  morning,  the  soobah  came  with  hit  usual 
friendship,  and  brought  more  presents,  which  we  re- 
ceived, and  took  our  leave.  He  then  sent  us  away 
with  every  honor,  that  he  could  heap  upon  us  ;  as  a 
band  of  music,  guides  to  show  us  the  way,  ko.  In 
short,  the  whole  of  his  conduct  toward  us  was  invari- 
ably as  generous,  polite,  and  friendly  as  1  ever  witness- 
ed. I  suppose  the  conduct  of  the  vakeel  arose  from 
his  thinking  himself  to  be  a  great  man,  ami  somewhat 
slighted,  in  not  receiving  any  present  from  us  ;  but  in 
truth  we  had  nothing  to  present.  The  soobah  pro- 
posed paying  us  a  visiit  in  a  short  time.  Should  ho  do 
this,  I  hope  to  improve  the  interview,  for  the  great 
end  of  settling  a  mission  in  that  country. 

"  So  great  a  r^ontmat  I  have  never  before  seen 
between  two  neighboring  nations,  as  th«  lltndooa  and 
Booteas.  The  former  are  a  small,  puny,  timid  people ; 
the  latter,  atlilelic  and  fearless.     They  have  a  written 


1. 


,.-- ^  —J   I  .— 


rr>Ttcs3  «is 


*'  K-*  • 


'BEflTCm*/^  'm'£-H4^ 


rt.  Thd  nsmesof  the  lettera  ore  the  same  as  the 
BsB^kie,  with  a  few  exceptions,  and  aie  written  in 
the  same  order,  with  only  this  difference,  iJbat  the 
BOBgalees  have  five  letters  in  a  line  of  the  Alphabet, 
but  the  Booteas  liave  only  four. 
•'  •'  Bootan  isa  very  large  country,  subject  to  the  dibn> 
jdl.  The  iama-goroo,  as  they  call  him,  is,  I  think,  only 
oonsidered  as  a  representative  of  God ;  and  they  have 
his  image  in  their  houses,  about  the  size  of  a  large  roan's 
tlmnb.  The  soobah  said, '  there  was  a  greater  object 
of  worship,  who  could  only  be  seen  by  the  mind.'" 

Besides  preaching  sutedly  in  their  respective  vil- 
lages,  the  missionaries  made  frequent  excursions  into 
the  circumjacent  country,  for  the  purpose  of  instructing 
the  inhabitanu  in  the  way  of  salvation.  "  1  have  a 
district,"  says  Mr.  Carey,  "of  about  twenty  miles 
square,  where  I  am  continually  going  from  place  to 
place,  to  publish  tlie  gospel ;  and  this  space  comprises 
about  two  hundred  villages.  My  manner  of  travelling 
IS  with  two  small  boats,  one  of  which  serves  me  to 
lodge  in,  and  the  other  for  cooking  my  f  1.  All  my 
fiimiture  I  carry  with  me  from  place  to  place,  namely, 
a  chair,  a  table,  a  bed,  and  a  lamp,  but  I  repair  to  my 
boats  for  food  and  lodging.  There  are  several  rivers 
la  this  part  of  the  country,  which  renders  it  very  con- 
venient for  travelling." 

From  the  city  of  Dinagepore,  about  thirty  miles 
distant  from  Mudnabatty,  and  containing  a  population 
equal  to  that  of  Birmingham  or  Manchester,  a  letter 
was  received  signed  by  five  Hindoos,  intimating  that, 
about  three  y.-ars  before  that  time,  the  Bramin  Mohun 
Ghund  had  been  there,  and  had  told  them  a  little  about 
the  gospel  of  Christ ;  promising  also  to  send  them 
certain  parts  of  the  translation,  but  which  had  not  been 
received.  The  object  of  the  letter  was  to  request  a 
sight  of  the  translation,  and  to  solicit  that  some  person 
might  visit  them,  who  should  be  capable  of  giving 
them  further  instruction. 

About  the  same  time,  the  missionaries  were  given 
to  understand  that  a  Mr.  Ignatius  Fernandez,  a  gen- 
tleman of  Portuguese  extraction,  residing  in  Dinage- 
pore, was  extremely  desirous  of  hearing  the  gospel. 
Messrs.  Foimtain  and  Powell  accordingly  visited  him, 
and  road  and  explained  several  parts  of  Ccripture  at 
his  request ;  and  the  next  ssbbath  ho  spent  with  them 
at  Moypaul,  where,  for  the  first  time  ii  s  life,  Im  heard 
a  gospel  sermon.  He  appeared  to  ei.iaracp  the  truth 
whh  much  readiness  s,  d  affection  ;  and  shortly  after- 
wards, he  erected  a  place  of  wowliip,  at  his  own  ex- 
pense, m  Dinagepore  ;  nnd  ex»'rted  himself  ns  much 
as  possible,  by  conversing  with  the  Hindoos  in  that 
ohy,  to  prepossess  them  with  favorable  sentiments  of 
Chrisllnnity.  Here,  also,  the  missionnrics  were  iniro- 
tfucod  to  tevoral  gentlomen,  whow  treatment  toward 


^myu  pMMdiarly  kini  tted  tfcspcetful,  and  wbtm 
acq»aiMM,co  purortiiiwd  to  pwve  hHsWy  •d«M«eoas, 
on  account  of  their  emintot  fcdowledgeof  the  Sbniderit 

In  a  letter  dated  Mudnafeawy,  July  4, 1798,  Mr 

C^afey  says,  "  At  this  ibiie  «U  my  attebUonfe  cirfled  to 

do  what  I  can  to  repair  the  ravages  of  a  very  calamitoia 

•ood,  which  has  just  swept  away  all  the  prospects  of 

»hi8  year;  and  of  which  yon  can  scarcely  form  aocti- 

ceptwn.     About  ten  daya  ago,  I  went  all  over  this 

neighborhood,  when  the  prospecu  were  charming ;  the 

fieWs  being  covered  with  rice,  hemp,  indigo,  gourds, 

and  cucumbers;  but  on  Friday  last,  I  went  over  the 

same  parte  m  a  boat,  when  not  a  vestige  of  any  thing 

appeared  ;  all  being  a  level  plain  of  water  from  two 

to  twenty  feet  deep.     On  the  west  of  our  house  the 

rivers  Tanguan  and  Kankir  form  an  island,  of  about 

three  mdes  broad  and  ten  long  ;  whilst  a  similar  island 

IS  formed  on  the  east  by  the  Brohmanni  and  Purna- 

bobbha.  These  four  rivers  may  be  seen  from  our  house ; 

and  from  Octob«rtoMay,are  all  insignificant  streams, 

about  three  feet  and  a  half  deep.     Now,  however,  a 

boat  of  a  hundred  tons  will  not  only  go  down  the  rivers, 

but  over  ell  the  islands  formed  by  them,  and  to  ah 

extent  far  below  the  conflux  of  the  rivers ;  so  that  two 

large  lakes  of  three  miles  wide,  and  at  least  fifty  miles 

long,  are  formed  by  this  flood.     They  are  both  within 

sight  of  our  house,  and  will  dry  up  in  October.     The 

p^und  will  then  be  resown  and  produce  fine  crops. 

There  are  several  villages  in  which  the  waters  have 

nsen  to  the  eaves  of  the  houses." 

As  the  brethren  in  India  had  repeatedly  and  earnest- 
ly  requested  that  more  missionaries  might  be  sent  out  tb 
their  assistance,  the  directors  of  the  society  felt  pecu- 
hariy  anxious  to  engage  some  persons  of  piety,  pru- 
dence, and  intelligence,  for  that  purpose ;  and,  in  the 
autumn  of  1798,  they  fixed  their  attention  on  Mt. 
Wdham  Ward,  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church  in 
George  street,  Hull ;  who,  being  engaged  in  the  print- 
ing business,  was  thus  addressed,  on  on*,  occasion,  by 
the  Rev.  W.  Carey,  previous  to  his  ombarkstion  for 
Bengal :— "  If  the  Lord  bless  our  attempts,  we  shall 
want  a  person  in  your  line,  to  enable  us  to  print  the 
Scriptures  ;  and  I  hope  you  will  come  after  us,"  This 
hint  seems  to  have  made  an  indelible  impression  on 
the  mind  of  Mr.  Ward  ;  and  though,  after  his  intro- 
duction to  the  ministry,  he  had  various  invitations  lo 
settle  in  England,  his  mind  seems  to  have  lieen  inva- 
riably dh-ected  toward  India.  The  committee,  there- 
fore, apphed  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Fawcett,  of  Ewood  Hall, 
under  whoso  tuition  he  had  been  placed,  nnd,  after 
receiving  the  most  satisfactory  answers  to  the  querlts 

quarifioationi,  they  hvlltd  him  to  preach  at  Ketterhtg 


906 


BAPTIST  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


before  a  meeting  of  ministers  in  the  month  of  Octo- 
ber; and  suhsequently  determined  that  he  should  be 
sept  out  in  the  ensuing  spring. 
^  About  the  same  time,  another  suitable  person  for  the 
mission  was  brought  under  the  notice  of  the  committee. 
This  was  Mr.  Daniel  Brunsdon,  who  came  originally 
from  the  neighborhood  of  Pershore,  in  Worcestershire, 
but  afterwards  fixed  his  residence  in  Bristol,  and,  in 
1795,  became  a  member  of  the  church  at  Broadmead 
in  that  city.     Here  he  heard  a  discourse,  in  the  month 
of  July,  1798,  which  excited  a  strong  desire  in  his 
mind  to  devote  his  life  to  the  service  of  the  perishing 
heathen;    and  this  wbh  was  communicated  to  the 
committee ;  who,  ader  conversing  with  him  on  the 
subject,  placed  him  under  the  care  of  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Sutcliffe,  of  Olney,  that  his  qualifications  might  be 
more  fully  ascertained,  and  suitable  instructions  com- 
municated.    In  tiiat  situation  he  remained  about  seven 
months ;  during  which  period  he  not  only  made  con- 
siderable proficiency  in  various  branches  of  knowledge, 
but  occasionally  preached  in  the  neighborhood  with 
acceptance,  and  conducted  himself  with  such  piety, 
prudence  and  modesty,  that  his  approaching  departure 
was  anticipated  with  feelings  of  general  regret. 

A  third  candidate  for  the  office  of  a  missionary  to 
India,  was  Mr.  William  Grant,  who  also  was  a  member 
of  the  Baptist  church  at  Broadmead,  Bristol,  and 
whose  history  is  well  worthy  of  attention. 

At  the  early  age  of  sixteen  years,  he  had  the  mis- 
fortune to  become  acquainted  with  a  young  man  of 
deistical  principles,  who  succeeded  but  too  well  in  in- 
spiring him  with  a  contempt  for  the  truths  of  Christian- 
ity, and  with  an  attachment  to  the  opinions  and  writings 
of  that  abominable  infidel,  Vultaire.  And  though,after 
remaining  a  professed  deist  for  about  two  years,  hu  was 
tMurtially  reclaimed  by  the  perusal  of  a  work  which  an 
acquaintance  put  into  his  hands,  he  soon  relapsed  into 
his  former  principles,  and  even  proceeded  still  further  ; 
being  fully  prepared  for  the  adoption  of  atheism,  and 
solicitous  to  read  every  thing  he  could  meet  with  in  iu 
favor.  He  could  now,  of  course,  commit  the  gnissest 
sins  without  any  feeling  of  compunction,  and  it  was 
only  the  ill  state  of  his  health  which  prevented  him 
from  serving  the  prince  of  darkness  with  UHbounded 
devotedncss,  both  of  soul  and  body 

Nowiihstandiiig  the  lengths  whioh  he  went  in  in- 
iquity, however,  and  the  exertions  which  he  used  to 
bring  all  his  acquaintance  into  the  same  stale  of  iriiml, 
ho  was  frequently  convinced  of  the  inconsistency  of 
his  atheistical  principles,  ami,  by  looking  closely  into 
the  writings  from  whirh  ho  had  imbibed  them,  ho 
gradually  discovered  their  falsehood.  At  the  same 
time,  by  devoting  his  Rttcmiun  to  subjecU  of  anatomy 
»nd  natural   philosophy,  be  perceived  such  obvious 


vestiges  of  an  intelligent  first  cause  in  all  the  works  of 
creation,  that  he  was  irresistibly  compelled  once  more 
to  recognize  the  existence  of  a  Ood. 

Soon  after  this,  he  became  acquainted  with  Mr. 
Marshman,  a  member  of  the  church  at  Broadmead, 
and  by  him  iie  was  induced,  after  some  time,  to  attend 
on  the  public  means  of  grace.  The  conversations^ 
also,  which  his  new  friend  held  with  him,  at  different 
times,  on  the  spirituality  of  the  divine  law,  the  neces. 
sity  of  God's  discountenancing  transgression,  and  th» 
indispensahility  of  an  atonement  for  transgression,  wer» 
so  abundantly  blessed  to  his  soul,  that  he  was  gradu- 
ally  brought  to  acknowledge  the  inspiration  of  the  Holy 
Scriptures,  to  abhor  himself  as  a  sinner  before  God, 
and  to  cast  himself  unreservedly  on  the  Lord  Jesua 
Christ  for  life  and  salvation. 

After  he  had  been  baptized  and  received  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  church  at  Broadmead,  he  felt  an  ardent 
desire  to  devote  himself  to  the  service  of  the  Redeemer 
in  Bengal ;  and  his  views  and  feelings  on  this  occasion 

will  be  most  suitably  expressed  m  his  own  words : • 

"  I  have  earnestly  prayed,"  says  he,  "  that  God  would 
enable  both  me  and  my  wife  to  give  ourselves  wholly 
unto  him.     I  am  conscious  of  no  other  motive  than  a 
view  to  the  glory  of  God,  and  compassion  for  my 
fellow  creatures,  especially  for  the  poor  heathen,  who 
are  daily  perishing  by  thousands  for  the  lack  of  knowl- 
edge.    My  greatest  discouragement  arises  from  a  sense 
of  own  unfitness ;  but  I  beseech  the  Almighty  that  he 
would  enlighten  my  mind  by  his  Holy  Spirit,  and  give 
me  more  enlarged  views  of  his  character  and  govern- 
ment ;  but  more  especially  that  I  may  continually  be 
makiiig  fresh  discoveries  of  that  wisdom  and  provi- 
dence wherein  he  has  abounded  in  the  plan  of  redemp- 
tion toward  miserable  sinners :  so  that,  from  a  view  of 
the  riches  of  divine  grace,  in  having  rescued  my  soul 
from  destruction,  1  may  feel  increasing  compassion  lor 
those  who  are  strangers  to  tlie  glorious  truths  of  the 
gospel." 

Scarcely  had  Mr.  Grant  expressed  his  desire  to  un- 
furl tlie  standaid  of  tiie  cross  among  the  benighted 
and  superstitious  inhabitants  of  India,  when  his  friend, 
Mr.  Marshman,  was  actuated  by  a  sii  liiar  wish  ;  and 
though  his  wife  at  first  appeared  reluctant  to  quit  her 
native  land,  yet,  after  mature  deliberation  and  earnest 
prayer,  she  cordially  acquiesced.  Mr.  M.  received 
his  first  religious  impressions  in  the  vicinity  of  West- 
bury  I^igh ;  but  after  his  removal  to  Bristol,  he  wa* 
cho<«on  master  of  a  charity  schuui  supported  by  the 
congregation  at  Broadmead,  and  in  June,  1794,  he 
booame  a  member  of  the  church.  After  this,  lie 
evinced  a  peculiar  thirst  for  useful  knowledge,  and  an 
inclinatioo  to  the  work  of  the  ministry ;  and  in  ounse- 
quence  of  bis  attendinc  an  hour  evarv  dav  at  ilie 


"frmtrfp     BENGAutt  'rm^ijsfi 


Baptbl  academy,  he  obtained  a  toleraWe  acquaintance 
with  th«  LaUn,  Greek,  and  Hebrew  languages,  and,  af- 
ter he  entertained  the  idea  of  going  out  as  a  missionary, 
he  transcribed  the  substance  of  some  Asiatic  grammars. 
In  the  month  of  April,  1799,  the  Rev.  A.  Fuller, 
being  in  London,  engaged  with  the  supercargo  of  an 
American  ship,  the  Criterion,  for  the  passage  of  eight 
missionaries,  namely,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Marshman,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Grant,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brunsdon,  Mr.  Ward, 
and  Miss  Tidd ;  the  latter  of  whom  had  for  some  time 
corresponded  with  Mr.  Fountain  with  the  approbation  of 
her  friends,  and  now  designed  to  bestow  her  hand  upon 
that  faithful  and  zealous  servant  of  tiie  Redeemer.  The 
master  of  the  ship,  captain  Wickes,  was  not  present  at 
the  agreement  with  the  supercargo,  but,  on  hearipg  of  it, 

he  wrote  to  one  of  the  committee  as  follows  : "  When 

I  was  informed  that  the  passengers  we  are  to  take  out 
were  Christian  missionaries,  truly  my  heart  rejoiced. 
It  brought  strongly  to  my  mind  a  desire  which  I  had 
felt  some  years  past,  that  I  might  have  the  command 
of  a  ship  which  should  convey  some  of  these  messen- 
gers of  peace  to  the  heathen  ;  and  now  it  seems  that 
God  is  about  to  grant  me  my  desire.    I  am  the  master 
of  theCr«erion,and  am  not  ashamed  to  confess  myself 
a  lover  of  the  gospel,  and  of  them  that  preach  it; 
provided  they  preach  not  themselves,  but  Christ  Jesus 
the  Lord,  of  whatever  denomination  they  may  be.     I 
have  been  several  days  preparing  the  ship  for  the 
reception  of  these  passengers,  but  little  thought  who 
they  were.     Tell  them  I  will  have  every  thing  as 
comfortable  as  possible,  and  that  they  may  be  entirely 
separate  from  every  other  person  in  the  vessel,  if  they 
choose  it,  except  myself  and  two  mates,  who  will  be 
in  the  same  apartment." 

The  missionaries  had  now  but  a  short  time  to  take 
leave  of  their  friends,  and  to  prepare  for  the  voyage ; 
and  as  they  were  so  distantly  situated,  they  could  not 
all  meet  together  in  the  country  without  a  considerable 
and  unnecessary  expense.    Two  distinct  meetings  were 
held,  therefore,  one  at  Bristol,  and  the  other  atOlney, 
in  which  the  brethren  residing  in  those  places  were 
solemnly  designated  to  their   important   service,  by 
prayer  and  imposition  of  hands.     And  in  the  instruc- 
tions which  they  received  on  that  occasion,  they  were 
charged   to  "  beware,  both  from  a  principle  of  con- 
science,  and    from    a   regard    to   their   own  interest 
and   that  of  the   mission,  of  intermeddling  with  any 
political  concerns ;  to  be  obi'dient  to  the  laws  in  all 
civil  aflairs ;  to  respect  magistra'es,  both  suprwmo  and 
subordinate,   and    teach  tlip  same  things  to  others  ; 
and,  finally,  to  apply  themselves  wholly  to  the  all-im-^ 
portint  concerns  of  that  >  <"angelical  service  to  which 
they  had  professed  solemnly  to  devote   themselves." 
i  iiBjr  Were  iiiv  fttiiuiidvd  that,  however  gross  nuKht 


be  the  Idolatries  and  heathenish  superstitions  which 
might  faU  under  their  notice,  it  would  be  their  duty 
sedulously  to  avoid  aU  rudeness,  insult,  or  interruption, 
during  the  observance  of  such  superstitions ;  observinic 
no  other  methods  but  those  of  Christ  and  his  apostles 
namely,  the  persevering  use  of  Scripture,  reason! 
prayer,  meekness  and  lore. 

During  these  transactions  at  home,  the  Rev    W 
Carey  had  an  opportunity,  in  returning  one  day  from 
Calcutta,  of  witnessing,  for  the  first  time,  the  dreadful 
ceremony  of  a  woman  burning  herself  with  the  corpse 
of  her  husband.     He  observes,  "  We  were  near  ihe 
village  of  Noyai  Serai,  and.  as  it  was  evening,  we 
got  out  of  our  boat  to  walk  ;  when  we  saw  a  num- 
ber  of  people  assembled  on  tiie  river  side.     I  asked 
for  what  purpose  they  were  met ;  and  they  told  me 
to  burn  the  body  of  a  dead  man.    I  inquired  whether 
his  widow  would  bum  with  him ;  they  replied  in  the 
affirmative,   and  pointed  to  the  woman.      She  was 
standing  by  the  pile,  which  was  made  of  large  billets 
of  wood,  about  two  feet  and  a  half  high,  four  feet 
long,  and  two  wide  ;  on  the  top  of  which  lay  the  dead 
body  of  her  husband.     Her  nearest  relation  stood  by 
her,  and  near  her  was  a  small  basket  of  sweetmeats. 
I  asked  whether  this  were  the  woman's  choice,  or 
whether  she  were  brought  to  it  by  any  improper  influ- 
ence ;  they  answered  that  it  was  perfectiy  voluntary. 
I  talked  till  reasoning  was  of  no  use ;  and  then  began  to 
exclaim  with  all  my  might  against  what  they  were  doing, 
telling  them  that  it  was  a  shocking  murder.     They  told 
me  it  was  a  great  act  of  holiness,  and  added,  in  a  surly 
tone,  that  if  I  did  not  like  to  witness  it,  I  might  go 
farther  ofl:    I  told  them,  however,  that  I  was  resolved 
to  stay  and  see  the  -lurder,  and  that  I  should  certainly 
bear  witness  of  it  at  the  tribunal  of  God. 

"  I  next  addressed  myself  to  the  woman,  entreating 
her  not  to  throw  away  her  life,  and  assuring  her  that  no 
evil  would  result  from  her  refusing  to  burn.  But  she, 
in  the  calmest  manner,  ascended  the  pile,  and  danced 
on  it,  with  her  hands  extended,  as  ,.  in  the  utmost 
tranquillity  of  spirit.  Previous  to  hei  nounting  the 
pile,  the  relation  whose  offce  it  was  to  sot  fire  to  it,  led 
her  six  times  round  it,  at  two  intervals  ;  that  is,  thrice 
at  each  circumat..bulation.  As  she  went  round,  she 
scattered  the  sweetmeats  among  the  people,  who 
picked  them  up,  and  ate  them,  a^  very  holy  things. 
This  h^ing  ended,  and  she  having  mounted  the  pile 
and  danced  as  above-mentioned,  in  order  to  show  her 
contempt  of  death,  and  that  her  sacrifice  was  voluntary, 
she  lay  down  by  the  corpse,  putting  one  aim  under  it^ 
neck  and  the  other  over  it.  A  quantity  of  dry  cocoa 
leaves  and  other  substances  were  then  heaped  over 
the  bodies  to  a  considerable  lioiKht,  and  shee.  or  msltsd 
preserved  butter,  was  poured  on  the  top.     Two  bam 


BAPTIST  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


boos  wei*  n«zt  put  over  tbain  and  fadd-firmly  dowii^ 
«iMi  fire  wa»  put  to  the  pile,  which  inunediateljr 
bhied  very  fiercely,  owing  to  the  dry  aod  Gombustible 
awterials  of  which  it  wu  compoted. 
!,«  No  sooner  were  the  flames  kindlod,  than  all  the 
faople  set  up  a  loud  shout,  so  that  it  was  impmwiUe 
to  have  heard  the  woman,  had  she  groaned  or  even 
cried  aloud ;  and  she  could  not  move  or  struggle,  on 
account  of  the  bamboos,  which  are  held  down  like 
the  levers  of  a  press.  We  strongly  objected  to  their 
using  these  bamboos,  and  insisted  that  it  was  emph^-' 
iiig  force  to  prevent  the  woman  from  getting  up  when 
the  fire  reached  her.  But  they  declared  it  was  only 
done  to  keep  the  pile  from  falling  down.  We  could 
not  bear  to  see  any  more,^  and  lefl  the  dpot,  exclaim* 
ing  loudly  against  the  murder,  and  filled  with  horror 
at  what  we  had  witnessed," 

On  the  $25th  of  May,  the  missionaries  and  their  wives 
set  sail  from  liondon,  and  were  peculiarly  happy  in 
finding  that  the  captain  was  not  only  inclined  to  attend 
their  morning  and  evening  devotions,  but  even  consent- 
ed to  take  his  turn  with  them  in  addressing  the  Lord 
of  missions  on  their  behalf.  He  also  encouraged  them 
to  preach  on  the  sabbath  to  the  ship's  crew  ;  and,  with 
tears  in  his  eyes,  entreated  the  men  to  listen  with  seri- 
ousness and  attention  to  the  word    **  the  gospel. 

Off  Margate,  on  the  28th  May,  Mr.  Ward  composed 
the  following  verses  : — 

"  O  chwge  the  wave*  to  b«w  our  flienda 
la  safety  o'er  the  deep  ; 
Let  tlie  rough  tompeit  speed  their  way, 
Or  bid  its  ftirjr  deep. 


Whene'er  tiiy  loiui  {     ulsim  food  news, 

Beneath  the  baoiui.  »  shade, 
Let  the  poor  Hindoo  feel  its  power, 

And  grace  his  soul. pervade. 


*  I  >  «•  ■ 


O  let  the  heavenly  shaater  spread  ; 

Bid  Dramins  preach  tlie  word ; 
And  may  all  India's  tribes  become 

One  catU  to  serve  the  Lord !" 

After  some  time,  the  brethren  set  up  n  school,  for  the 
gratuitous  instnicilon  of  the  poor  sailors,  in  reading, 
writing  and  arithmetn  ;  and  every  man  and  boy  in  the 
vessel,  who  wished  to  avail  themselves  of  the  oppor- 
timity,  were  taken  under  tuition.  "  Among  these," 
says  Mr,  Marshman,  "  are  six  negro  mariners,*  all  of 
whom  arc  learning  to  read ;  and  it  is  truly  affecting  to 
see  their  assiduity  and  solicitude  to  learn  ;  particularly 
the  rook,  «  stout  black,  about  thirty,  who  comes 
nmntng  in  vith  his  spelling-book  all  over  dirt  and 
grease,  and  seems  never  tited  of  reading.  We  are 
in  hope  that   this  may  pave  the  way  to  something 

fesSls^r  :    sn--  ns  ?,;"    i~-r-!  '  rjSy  aitcfiiOOn,  SoiSn  of  iis    (j 


talk  and  read  to  as  many  of  the  sailors  between  dodts 
as  choose  to  attend.  Yesterday  I 'spoke '  fiimiUttly 
with  them  about  divine  things  for  more  tbanan  hour ; 
almost  all  of  them  being  present,  and  some  veiy 
attentive." 

In  passing  St.  Jago,  one  of  the  cape  d«  Verd 
islands,  a  singular  interposition  of  Divine  Providence 
was  manifested  on  the  behah'  of  our  missionaries,  wMeh 
is  thns  noticed  by  Mr.  Marshman,  in  his  journal : 
"  We  had  for  some  days  been  looking  out  for  land'; 
but  the  weather  being  hazy,  the  eaptain  had  not  been 
able  to  take  any  observations  for  the  two  preceding 
days,  so  that  we  were  obliged  to  steer  entirely  by 
guess,  though  it  was  necessary  to  pass  between  several 
small  islands.  Our  situation  was,  therefore,  extremely 
critical,  especially  as  we  were  in  the  middle  of  the 
night ;  yet  our  ship  was  providentially  guided  into  the 
widest  and  clearest  part  of  the  channel,  and  when  we 
came  within  sight  of  the  land,  we  found  ourselves  just 
where  we  should  have  been,  had  we  gone  by  the  most 
exact  observations.  We  saw  land,  too,  at  the  most 
seasonable  time  of  the  day,  about  one  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon.  Tlie  weather  being  hazy,  we  did  not  discover 
it  till  we  were  within  the  distance  of  about  two  leagues, 
and  we  were  steering,  as  it  were,  just  through  the 
midst  of  the  islarids.  Had  we  not,  therefore,  instantly 
altered ourc(nirse,wemiist  have  been  on  shore  quickly  ; 
but  had  it  been  in  the  night  instead  of  the  day,  we  should 
have  been  in  a  ver}'  perilous  situation.  Hence,  we  could 
not  but  consider  the  hand  of  our  God  as  immediately  dis- 
played on  our  behalf,  in  the  whole  of  this  circumstance." 

The  following  verses,  composed  by  the  Rev.  W. 
Ward,  soon  after  this  occurrence,  are  creditable  to  the 
pious  gratitude  of  that  invaluable  missionary,  and  will, 
no  doubt,  prove  acceptable  to  the  reader: — 

*■  Thus  far  our  Saviour's  tender  care 
Has  brought  us  safely  o'er  the  deep; 
And  charged  the  winds  and  waves  to  spare 
A  few,  the  meanest  of  his  sheep. 

O !  let  our  souls  with  praise  record 

The  thousand  morcirs  we  nnjoy, 
Beneath  the  salbgnard  nf  our  I<ord, 

Kept  aa  the  apple  of  hie  9ye, 

The  burning  heat,  th<'  threst'niDg  fee, 
The  teni|N)st's  ragt-,  th<i  lightning'*  power; 

Each  his  eternal  (J^dhoad  nhov. 
And  wait  on  him  ttirough  every  hour. 

Yes,  we  are  safo  beneath  thy  shade, 

And  so  atiall  bn  'midst  India's  boat : 
What  should  a  miMionery  dread, 


unite  QcTits  cnnxcn  ai  jcsus  iCli  r 


r ..»     e  ,■■#  w 


There,  eweeteM  Bmian  I  let  thf  oroM 
Wis  many  Hindoo  hearta  to  tiiee : 

Thia  ahall  make  up  for  every  Iom, 
Whilit  thou  art  oum  eternally.' 


BEWOAt*^^^ 


f|'f4» 


On  the  13th  of  October,  the  missionaries  amved  at 
Senimpore,  in  good  health  and  spirits;  and  after 
spending  a  few  days  at  an  inn,  they  took  a  house, 
where  they  awaited  a  communication  from  Mr.  Carey  • 
as  they  could  not,  at  present,  obtain  permission  to  «J 
into  the  mterior  of  the  country. 

As  the  weather  happened  to  be  extremely  pleasant, 
Mr.  Ward  occasionally  amused  himself  with  walking 
m  the  town  ;  and  one  evening  followed  his  India  con! 
ductor  to  the  hut  of  a  Portuguese,  where  he  found  an 
old  man  of  seventy-three  stretched  on  his  bed,  calling 
on  the  name  of  Jesus,  and  speaking  of  his  dolorous 
suflermgs  and  precious  blood.     «'  I  did  not  obtain  sat- 
isfaction,"   says    Mr.    Ward,    "respecting   his   real 
Christianity ;  but  the  name  of  Jesus  on  the  tongue  of 
a  copper-colored  man  here,  is   like  the  unexpected 
meeting  of  a  friend.     We  went  forward  in  our  walk 
and  came  to  a  place  in  the  open  air,  where  the  natives 
were  assembled   to  worship   their  god  Ram,  whose 
Instory  is  too  long  for  me  to  narrate.     In  this  worship, 
the  priest  stood  in  the  midst  of  a  number  of  natives 
who  sat  on  the  grass.     In  one  hand  he  held  a  kind  of 
brush  made  of  buffalo's  hair;  and  in  the  other,  two 
pieces   of  brass,  ,vhlcl.,  on   being   shaken    together, 
sounded  like  bells.     His  face  was  painted,  and  two  o^ 
three  chains,  made  of  shells,  he,  were  suspended 
rom  Ins  neck.     During  very  short  intervals  of  singing 
by  five  young  men  standing  at  his  back,  he  addressed 
two  or  three  sentences  to  his  hearers,  exhorting  them 
to  repeat  the  name  of  Ram,  and  to  avoid  that  which 
was  bad.     Some  of  the  natives,    however,  were  at 
work,  making  nets,  while  they  professed  to  be  worship- 
ping their  god." 

On  the  27th  of  October,  Mr.  Grant  appealed  to  be 
indisposed  with  a ,  old,  attended  with  a  kind  of  stupor ; 
and  four  days  afterward,  on  being  raised  from  his  bed, 
a  fit  seized  him,  "or   rather,"  as  it  has  been  well  ex- 
pressed, "  Death  struck  him  with  his  dart,  and  claimed 
nun  as  his  prisoner." 
"  When  the  physician  came,"  says  Mr.  Brtinsdon, 
ho  ordered  hot  water  in  bottles  to  be  applied  to  his 
hands  and  feet,  which  (he  warmth  of  life  had  in  a 
great  measure  forsaken.     He  said  he  was  in  no  pain 
an.  could  feel  the  heat  of  the  water.     He  spoke  but 
little,  however,  all  the  time  of  his   illness,    and  the 
interval  of  rea-ion,  from  Monday  to  Thursday,  was  very 
short,  ho  being  generally  in  a  kind  of  stupor.     I  sat  by 
hiin  whil.H.  the  rest  were  gone  to  dinner,  and  gavo  him 
some  roasted  fowl,  which  he  chewed  whilst  lalwring 
■'■•■'  ••«"!,?,  btu  Was  unable  lo  hwaiiuw  it.     I  then 


Vol..  I.— Nos.  17  k  18. 


h« -om«W«g  to  drtek  which  he  took  out  of  .he  .pobn' 
wy  eagerly.     I  feit  his  band  lying  on  a  botlSrf 
water,  but  it  vna  still  cold :  he  raised  it  slightly  npMMif 
my  hand,  and  laid  it  down  i^in,  lo<*mg'atL':^ 
placid  countenance  but  unable,  thwogh  weakness,  to 
speak  to  me.    I  left  the  room  for  .  few  minutes,  tr^ 
3n  returning  he  appeared  much  the  same  as  in  . 
former  fit.     The  doctor  then  amved,  and  told  us  he 
was  dymg;  and  a  few  minutes  afterward  he  breathed 
his  last,  without  a  sigh,  a  gi«an  or  a  struggle  excent  th* 
trembling  of  his  limbs  from  the  convulsive IS^'  ^ 
wife,  poor  woman,  was  greatly  distressed,  yet  she  was 
supported  far  beyond  what  could  have  be'en  expit^ 
It  was,  indeed,  a  mournful  stroke  to  us  all,  vet  we 
were  not  left  to  sorrow  as  those  without  hope. 

"  In  the  night,  our  captain  arrived,  and  in  the  mora- 
ing,  brother  Forsyth,  one  of  the  missionaries  employed 
by  the  tendon  Sociefy.  About  eleven  o'clock,  we 
proceeded  to  the  Danish  burial-ground.  Brother 
*  ors,  ci,  walked  before  the  corpse,  which  was  borne  br 
1  ortuguese  men  ;  my  wife  and  sister  Tidd  followed 

k".*J  w"  1^"  '""P*"'"  """^  ^""•'"  Marshman ;  and 
brother  Ward  and  myself  closed  the  short  and  simple 
train  of  mourners.  At  the  grave,  brother  FoiJth 
gave  out  an  appropriate  hymn,  read  the  fifteenth  chap- 
ter of  Paul  s  first  epistle  to  the  Corinthians,  and  closed 
in  prayer." 

The  next  sabbath,  Mr.  Ward  preached  in  the 
morning,  from  I  Cor.  xv.  54,  Death  i,  swalhtved  up 
in  victory ;  and  in  the  evening,  he  preached  from  Isaiah 
IV.  6,  7,  Jonah  wa,  exceeding  glad  of  the  gowd, 
but  Ood  prepared  a  worm,  when  the  morning  rose  the 
»'^tdat,  and  it  smote  the  gourd,  that  it  withered. 
At  the  former  of  these  services,  the  governor  and  two 
other  European  gentlemen  attended ;  and  both  the 
discourses  were  admirably  adapted  to  console  and 
animate  the  bereaved  friends  and  fellow  laborers  of 
the  deceased. 

On  the  ninth  of  November,  Mr.  Fountain  arrived  at 
berampore,  and  three  days  afterwards  was  married,  at 
Calcutta,  to  Miss  Tidd,  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Buchanan, 
who  treated  them  in  the  most  friendly  manner,  and 
declined  accepting  the  usual  fees. 

"  Circumstances  at  this  time,"  says  the  editor  of  the 
Brxtf  Narrative,  •'  were  difficult  and  delicate.  Mr 
Carey  had.made  all  the  interest  he  could,  that  the 
missionaries  and  their  wives  might  be  permitted  to 
proceed  and  settle  i.,  ;ho  neighborhood  of  Malda-  but 
without  effect.  .'  they  could  «f>t  rnme  to  'him 
therefore,  the  only  alternative  was,  whether  he  sho..J,J 
go  to  them,  or  whether  the  nould  labor  separai.Hy. 
The  decision  of  this  question  was  the  object  of  Mr. 
Ward's  visitinit  Mudnahattv.  in  mnmnanu  ~.:.i.  hm- > 

■  .• J ,-  "TT'i  iTiF.  ru-.i 


gave  II   Mrs.  Fountain. 
»9 


810 


BAPTIST  mSSlUNARY  SOCIETY. 


'*  In  mpect  of  Mudnabatty,"  continues  the  swne 
writer,  "  ^e  factmy  at  that  place  had,  owing  to  the 
failura  of  the  crops,  been  given  up;  and  Mr. 
Carey,  with  a  view  to  provide  for  the  mission,  had 
taken  a  small  place  at  Kidderpore,  about  twelve  miles 
distant ;  where  he  intended  to  carry  on  a  little  business, 
and  to  erect  some  dwellings  for  the  other  missionaries. 
The  relinquishing  of  this  undertaking  would  be  a  loss 
of  five  hundred  pounds.  They  had  also  formed  a 
church ;  God  had  given  them  some  Europeans  for 
their  hire ;  a  degree  of  light  had  been  difiused  among 
the  natives ;  a  school  was  estublished ;  the  state  of 
things  at  Dinagepore  was  promising ;  and,  in  the  event 
of  a  removal,  the  society  would  be  burdened  with  new 
expenses,  iic.  On  the  other  hand,  Mr.  Carey's 
engagements  at  Mudnabatty  were  within  a  few  weeks 
of  terminating  ;  at  Serampore  the  missionaries  would 
meet  with  protection  and  acc($mmodation ;  the  great 
ends  of  the  mission  were  likely  to  be  answered  in  that 
situation  rather  than  in  the  other  ;  and  the  country  was 
more  populous.  All  things  consiJ  .^d,  therefore, 
Mr.  Carey  determined  to  remove,  as  a  necessity  seemed 
to  be  laid  upon  hiin  ;  and  on  the  tenth  of  January, 
1800,  he  arrived  at  Serampore,  whore  he  v-m  intro- 
duced to  the  governor,  and  received  in  Zita  most 
friendly  manner." 

Having  purchased  a  house  with  a  tolerably  spacious 
piece  of  ground  by  the  river  side,  the  brethren  drew  up  a 
plan  of  family  government.  All  the  missionaries  were 
to  preach  and  pray  in  turn  ;  and  one  was  appointed  to 
superintend  the  domestic  concerns  for  a  month,  and 
then  another.  Mr.  Carey  was  appointed  treasurer, 
and  keeper  of  the  medicine  chest ;  and  Mr.  Fountain 
consented  to  accept  cho  Dffice  of  librarian.  Saturday 
evening  was  devoted  to  the  adjustment  of  any  differ- 
ences wiiich  might  arise  during  the  week  ;  and  it  was 
finally  resolved  that  nn  one  should  engage  in  any 
private  trade ;  but  that  whatever  was  done  by  any 
member  of  the  family,  should  be  considered  as  done 
for  the  general  benefit  of  the  mission. 

Mr.  Carey's  translation  of  the  Old  and  New  Testa- 
ment was  now  nearly  completed  ;  and  as  ho  had 
recently  purchased  a  press,  and  agreed  with  a  letter- 
founder  at  Calcutta  for  a  supply  of  types,  advertise- 
ments were  issued  for  subscribers  to  the  Bengalee 
Bible.  It  was  also  announced,  that  the  missionaries, 
with  a  view  to  their  support,  designed  to  attend 
to  printing  in  general  ;  and  that  they  also  Intended  to 
open  a  school,  under  the  superintendence  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Marshman.  This  plan  appeared  likely  to  be 
crowned  with  success  ;  and,  as  on  encoumgement  at 
the  commencomei.t  of  their  undertaking,  they  were 
promised  the  printing  of  tie  ofhcial  papers  1  r  the 
Danish  government,  and  th  j  teaching  of  the  govciaoc's 


children.  The  first  shoet  of  the  Bengalee  New  Tes- 
tament was  struck  off  about  the  middle  of  May ;  and  by 
the  20th  of  July,  forty  pupils  were  collected  in  the 
school,  the  children  of  natives  being  taught  gratuitously. 
On  the  20th  of  August,  the  mission  sustained  a 
severe  loss  in  the  removal  of  Mr.  Fountain,  who  was 
one  of  the  only  three  brethren  who  could  preach  to  the 
natives,  and  in  consequence  of  his  knowledge  of  music, 
he  usually  led  the  singing  in  ivorship.  "  He  died," 
says  Mr.  Powell,  "  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Fernandez,  at 
Dinagepore,  of  a  dysentery,  or  rather  a  complication  of 
disorders,  which  preyed  on  him  for  several  weeks,  and 
baffled  the  power  of  medicine.  Having  been  requested 
to  make  indigo  for  a  worthy  fKend  at  this  place 
(Moypauldiggy),  he  wrote  to  ma  in  July  last,  stating 
that  he  was  very  unwell,  and  that  if  the  Lord  did  not 
bless  the  voyage,  he  could  hardly  expect  to  return. 
On  his  arrival  here,  I  perceived  that  he  was  exceed- 
ingly ill,  and  I  feared  he  was  nigh  the  grave. 
After  staying  here  a  few  days,  I  accompanied  him  and 
Mrs.  Fountain  to  Dinagepore,  where  the  assistance 
of  one  of  the  company's  surgeons  was  procured  ;  but 
after  experiencing  a  few  favorable  symptoms,  his 
disorder  assumed  a  threatening  appearance.  Death, 
however,  presented  no  terrors  to  him,  but  Dr.  Young's 
description  of  a  dying  Christian  was  completely 
realized : — 

*  The  chamber  where  the  good  man  meet*  Iiu  fkte 
la  privileg'd  above  the  common  walk 
Of  virtuous  life ;  juat  on  the  verge  of  heav'n.' 

"  The  doctor  who  attended  him  said,  that  he 
never  saw  a  person  so  composed,  resigned,  and 
prepared  for  death  as  Mr.  Fountain  ;  and  expressed 
an  earnest  wish  that  he  might  die  like  him.  And  it  was 
indeed  evident,  as  our  dear  friend  one  day  expressed 
himself  with  peculiar  emphasis,  that  he  was  safe,  and 
happy,  and  going  to  his  heavenly  Father.  He  desired 
that  all  the  natives  who  knew  him  might  be  informed 
that  he  was  not  afraid  to  die  ; — that  there  was  no 
saviour  but  Christ ; — and  that  if  they  did  not  believe  in 
him,  they  must  perish  forever.  The  peaceful  state  of 
his  mind  appears  to  have  been  truly  profitable.  Two 
gentlemen  in  particulir,  who  are  in  the  habit  of  visiting 
him  three  or  four  times  every  day,  professed  to  have 
derived  great  benefit  from  witnessing  such  tranquillity 
in  a  dying  believer.  '  Surely,'  said  one  of  them,  '  this 
must  be  genuine  religion,  which  sticks  so  firmly  by  a 
man  in  his  dying  ni  iiients !'  Mr.  Fernandez,  also, 
who  behaved  towards  him  with  tl.<  <:reatest  kindness 
and  tendenifss,  is  much  establish  '  i^  faith  by  seeing 
his  happy  departure.  He  order. .1  a  coffin  to  be  made 
for  him,  and  the  corpse  uos  asrc^ited  to  the  grave  by  a 
guard  of  the  company's  so'^i  ;>■  v  ailed  sepoys,  and  the 


BENGAL. 


•fTlAH 


judge  and  chief  magistrate  of  the  place  attended  the 
funeral." 

When  the  reader  is  reminded  that  this  truly  valua- 
ble missionary  left  behind  him  a  widow,  to  whom  he 
had  been  married  little  more  than  nine  months,  and 
who  shortly  afterwards  gave  birth  to  a  fatherless  infant 
in  a  strange  land,  the  following  remarks  of  the  Rev. 
Joshua  Marshman  will,  no  doubt,  be  deemed  truly 
appropriate  :— "  O !  what  a  dispensation  is  this  !  To 
his  disconsolate  widow,— to  us,— and  to  our  dear 
friends  in  England  :— how  mysterious  !  A  man  in  the 
prime  of  life,  only  thirty-three  years  of  age,  who  had 
just  acquired  the  language,  and  of  whose  usefulness  we 
had  formed  considerable  expectations.  Yet  he  is 
taken  away  from  his  work,  his  brethren,  and  his 
spouse !  We  have  a  Saviour,  however,  who  still  lives ; 
and  we  desire  to  bow  in  silent  submission  to  his  wise 
and  righteous  will." 

Eariy  in  the  month  of  November,  an  afflicted  lady 
came  up  the  river  from  Calcutta.  She  intended  to 
have  gone  farther ;  but,  her  strength  being  exhausted, 
she  stopped  ot  Serampore,  and  engaged  apartments  at 
the  hotel.  Here  she  inquired  for  an  English  prayer- 
book  ;  but  nothing  of  that  description  was  in  the  house. 
Her  desire  was  then  communicated  to  the  missionaries ; 
but  they  had  not  the  means  of  furnishing  her  with 
what  she  wanted.  Mr.  Marshman,  however,  wrote 
her  a  friendly  note,  and  accompanied  it  with  two 
books,  illustrative  of  that  salvation  which  is  only  to 
be  found  in  Jesus.  The  next  morning,  she  came  in 
her  palanquin  to  the  mission-house,  apparently  in  great 
distress  of  mind.  She  said  that  she  had  been  a  great 
sinner,  and  had  long  resisted  conviction  ; — that,  in 
affliction,  she  had  often  resolved  to  amend  her  ways, 

but  had  as  often  relapsed  into  folly  again  ; and  that 

lately,  in  particular,  she  had  been  attempting  to  pray, 
but  was  much  discouraged,  having  no  one  to  converse 
with  on  such  subjects.  She  stated,  however,  that 
she  had  been  induced,  by  Mr.  Marshman's  note,  to 
make  her  case  known  to  the  missionaries ;  and  she 
now  begged  to  be  allowed  to  remain  during  family 
worship.  This  request  was,  of  course,  granted.  She 
was,  also,  affectionately  directed  to  Jesus,  as  the  only 
refuge  from  the  wrath  tocome,andoneof  the  brethren 
gave  out  that  beautiful  and  appropriate  hymn,  "  Come, 
ye  sinners,  poor  and  wretched,"  with  which  she 
appeared  to  be  deeply  aflbcted.  After  this,  she 
regulariy  repeated  her  visits  every  day,  and  seemed 
more  and  more  desirous  of  ascertaining  the  scriptural 
way  of  salvation  ;  and  she  appeared  to  drink  in  the 
words  which  fell  from  Mr.  Marshman's  lips,  as  he 
discoursed  on  the  sufferinRS  and  atonement  of  the 
Redeemer,  as  the  only  ground  of  a  sinner's  acceptance 

before  God.     In  a  nhnr*  linw*   -Ka  r-t !  •-  r'   t 


Alt 


where  she  died,  it  is  hoped,  in  the  faith  of  the  gospel  i 
and  her  decease  appears  to  have  been  blewed  to  h«r 
widowed  husband,  who  afterwards  joined  the  Baptist 
church  in  Bengal,  and  married,  for  his  second  wife, 
the  widow  of  one  of  the  missionaries. 

Mr.  Thomas,  who  had  for  some  time  been  preach- 
ing at  Bheerbhoom,  now  paid  «  visit  to  Serampore 
tuid  brought  with  him  a  Hindoo  named  Faklra,  of 
whom  he  entertained  the  most  sanguine  hopes.  Fakira 
of  his  own  accord  proposed  to  be  baptised  ;  and  on 
being  examined  before  the  church,  all  were  fully 
satisfied  with  the  profession  which  he  made ;  but 
before  the  time  appointed  for  the  ceremony,  he  left 
Serampore,  and  went  among  his  relations,  in  order 
as  he  said,  to  fetch  away  his  child.  There  it  is  proba' 
ble  his  resolution  failed  him,  or  his  friends  detuned 
him  by  force,  as  the  missionaries  neither  saw  nor 
heard  any  more  of  him. 

During  this  visit,  the  conversations  and  devotional 
exercises  of  Mr.  Thomas  were  observed  to  be  more 
than  usually  solemn  and  impressive.  He  himself 
observes  in  his  journal,  "  On  hearing  ofthe  out-pouruig 
of  the  Holy  Spirit  in  America,  it  became  very  desirable 
that  the  Lord  should  remember  tu ;  and  it  appeared 
most  exceedingly  necessary  to  me,  the  vilest  of  all. 
I  longed  for  the  unction  of  God's  Spirit,  and  did  ask 
for  it  believingly ;  especially  about  midnight,  when  I 
was  enabled  to  pour  out  strong  cries  and  supplications." 
At  his  desire,  a  weekly  prayer-meeting  was  established, 
for  the  success  of  the  mission  ;  and  about  this  time  it 
was  observed  that  not  only  Mr.  Carey,  but  all  the 
missionaries,  seemed  particulariy  led  to  discourse  on 
the  sufferings  and  death  of  Jesus ;  a  subject  which 
the  Moravian  brethren  found  to  be  so  abundantly 
blessed  to  the  conversion  of  the  heathen. 

On  the  25th  of  November,  Mr.  Thomas  was  called 
to  attend  a  Hindoo  named  Kristno,one  of  whose  arms 
was  dislocated.  After  the  operation  of  reducing  it, 
our  missionary  talked  very  seriously  to  the  sufferer, 
who  wept  and  even  sobbed  aloud,  whilst  listening  to 
the  glad  tidings  of  salvation  by  the  blood  of  the  cross. 
Gokool,  another  Hindoo,  who  resided  at  a  short  dis- 
tance, was  present  at  the  time,  and  appeared  to  pay 
great  attention  to  all  that  was  said.  Two  or  three 
days  afterward,  Kristno  was  anxious  to  go  to  the  mis- 
sion-house for  instruction,  for  he  said  Mr.  Tliomas 
had  not  only  cured  his  arm,  but  had  told  him  how  to 
escape  the  wrath  to  come.  He  and  Gokool,  accord- 
ingly,  went  together  and  hoard  the  word ;  and  though 
the  wife  and  family  of  Gokool  deserted  him,  in  con- 
sequence of  his  supposed  attachment  to  the  gospel, 
those  of  Kristno  appeared  to  be  like-minded  with 
himself,  and  on  being  subsequently  visited  and  in- 
biiucleil  by  the  missionaries,  thoy  avowed  their  in- 


tia 


BAPTIST  MISSIOIf ARY  SOCIETY. 


Mnttoo  of  OMtiag  m  ^kmit  lot  with  tlie  pooplo  of 
God. 

On  the  9M  of  Dooember,  KrutM  inii  Gokeol 
OMM  wid  «te  pubiioly  with  the  missionarios,  and  thus 
vduntarily  renouaood  thoir  caste ;  which  had  hitherto 
b^n  considered  as  an  almost  impregnable  fortress. 
"  AJl  our  servants,"  says  Mr.  Ward,  "  were  oompietelx 
astonished ;  so  many  persons  had  confidently  said  thai 
BO  Hindoo  would  erer  lose  his  caste  for  the  gospel. 
Our  brother  Thomas  has  waited  fifteen  years,  and 
duown  away  much  upon  deceitfol  characters ;  brother 
Carey  has,  also,  waited  till  hope  or  his  own  success 
has  nearly  expired ;  and  after  all,  God  has  done  it 
with  perfect  ease !  Thus  the  door  of  faith  is  opened 
to  the  Gentiles :  Who  shall  shut  it  ?  The  chain  of  the 
caste  is  bndcen  :  Who  shall  mend  it  ? 

"  This  evening,  Gokool,  Kristno,  Rasoo,  his  wife, 
and  his  wife's  sister,  came  to  make  profession  of  the 
name  of  Christ,  in  order  to  be  baptized.     Gokool 
said,  before  the  missionaries  came  to  India,  he  had 
spent  years  m  searching  for  a  way  of  happiness,  in 
poojahs,  holy   places   in   the   river,    &c.  but  all  in 
vain.      When   he   heard   the   gospel,  he  could   not 
rest,  but  conversed  with  Kristno  respecting  the  agita- 
tion of  his   mind;    and,  on  one  occasion,  he   and 
another  man  sat  up  a  whole  night  ulking  about  it. 
He  said  he  had  had  great  fears  about  his  sins,  but 
these  had  left  him  whilst  he  was  employed  in  musing 
upon  Christ.     He  now  renounced  all  dependence  on 
his  former  worship  and  all  connection  with  it ;  stating 
that  he  considered  himself  as  the  servant  of  Jesus 
and  only  felt  anxious  to  obey  his  commands.     When 
asked  whether  he  thought  the  Hindoo  shasters  were 
true  or  false,  he  said  he  could  not  tell  decidedly  what 
part  of  them  might  be  founded  in  truth  or  otherwise  ; 
but  he  was  well  convinced  that  they  did  not  point  out 
the  way  of  salvation. 

"  Kristno's  wife's  sister  first  heard  of  the  Redeemer 
from  Gokool.  Her  account  was  clear  and  simple, 
and,  considering  how  little  time  she  had  heard,  it 
astonished  us  all.  Her  sister,  whom  we  expected 
would  say  but  little,  pleased  us  much.  They  both 
acknowledged  that  the  words  of  Christ  had  softened 
their  hearts,  had  removed  their  sins,  and  had  become 
all  in  all  to  them.  Kristno  concluded.  He,  as  well 
as  Gokool,  had  heard  the  word  of  Ufe  from  the  lips 
of  brother  Fountain,  not  without  some  efl'ect ;  and 
when  his  ami  was  dislocated,  both  he  and  Gokool 
were  so  much  a&cted,  that,  as  the  latter  expressed 
It,  thoir  hearu  were  nailed  to  Christ,"  On  hearing 
these  testimonies  to  the  power  and  success  of  the 
gospel,  Mr.  Thomas  was  almost  overcome  with  joy  ; 
and  at  the  close  of  the  meeting,  the  whole  of  the 
musionaries.with  (heir  relatives  and  friends,  stood  un. 


and  smg  the  hymn  wUch  begins  wkh  •«  Salvation.  O. 
the  joyful  sound !" 

No  sooner  was  it  ncnaed  abroad  that  these  persons 
had  lost  caste,  than  the  whole  neighborhood  was  in  a 
complete  uproar.     About  two  thousand  people,  ani- 
mated with   indignation   against   the   new  converts, 
assembled  in  a  tumultuous  manner,  and  dragged  Kristno 
and  his  ftmily  before  the  Danish  magistrate.     He, 
however,  instead  of  censuring  their  conduct,  dismissed 
them  with  commendations  for  having  chosen  the  way 
of  truth.     Being  defeated  in  this  attempt,  the  mob 
preferred  a  fresh  charge  against  Kristno,  stating  that 
he  had  refused  to  deliver  up  his  daughter  to  a  young 
Hindoo,  to  whom  she  had  been  contracted  in  marriage 
about  four  years  before,  but  had  been  sent  back  to  her 
parents,  for  a  certain  time,  on  account  of  her  tender 
age.      The  parties  having  all  appeared  before  the 
governor,  the  giri  avowed  her  intention  of  embracing 
Christianity  along  with  her  father  ;  whilst  the  young 
man  who  claimed  her,  positively  refused  to  change 
bis  religion.     The  governor,  therefore,  told  him  ex- 
plicitly, that  he  could  not  think  of  delivering  up  a 
Christian  female  to  a  heathen  mm,  and  there  was, 
consequently,  no  way  for  him  to  obtain  his  wishes  but 
by  renouncing  his  idolatrous  worship  and   practices. 
He  also  sent  a  sepoy  to  watch  at  Kristno's  house 
during  the  night,  and  kindly  assured  the  missionaries 
that  no  one  should  be  permitted  to  molest  them  whilst 
they  were  administering  the  rite  of  baptism  to  their 
converts. 

Notwithstanding  the  tumult  which  had  been  thus 
excited,  Kristno  remained  firm  and  immovable  in  his 
resolution  ;  but  his  female  relatives  and  Gokool  were 
so  far  intimidated  by  the  violence  of  the  mob,  or  over- 
come by  the  representations  and  entreaties  of  their 
friends,  that  they  sent  to  the  mission-house,  requesting 
that  their  baptism  might  be  delayed  for  s   e>v  weeks. 
The  next  day,  which  happened  to  be  the  last  sabbath 
in  the  year,  was  appointed  for  the  baptismal  ceremony ; 
and  the  governor,  together  with  a  considerable  number 
of  Europeans,  Portuguese,  Hindoos,  and  Mussuhnen, 
attenJed  on  the  bank  of  the  Hoogly,  in  front  of  the 
mission-house.     The  service  having  commenced  with 
a  Bengalee  hymn,  Mr.  Carey  spoke,  for  a  short  time, 
in  the  same  language,  disclaiming  the  idea  of  any 
virtue  being  attached  to  the  river,  and  stating  that  the 
Hindoo  about  to  be  baptised  professed,  by  this  act, 
to  renounce  all  his  debtas  and  sinful  practices,  and  to 
put  on  the  Lord  Jesus.     He  then  went  down  into  the 
water,  with  his  son  Felix,  a  youth  of  about  fifteen, 
whom  he  immersed  with  the  usual  English  form  ;  and 
the   same  ceremony  was   afterwards   repeated   with 
Kristno,  in  Bengalee.     The  spectators,  on  this  occa- 
sion. hAhflVAH  with  thft  vmntAct  Atu^mm^v  mnA  Atu*nrttwn  * 


BENOikL. 


duny,  isdeed,  Mcmed  to  be  impressed  with  peculiar 
soiemnity ;  and  the  governor  was  so  much  a&eted 
that  be  could  not  restrain  his  tears.  "  When  Kristno 
came  from  dressing,"  says  Mr.  Ward,  ««a  German 
lady,  who  had  witnessed  the  ceremony,  took  him  by 
the  hand,  and  held  him  for  some  moments ;  and, 
tlMugh  unable  to  make  him  understand  a  single  word, 
I  could   see  that   she   thanked  him  from  her  heart 

for  having  renounced  the  worship  of  devils. It  was, 

indeed,  an  interesting  spectacle  to  see  brother  Carey 
leading  down  into  the  water  hia  eldest  son,  a  missionary 
in  early  youth,  and  the  first  native  who  had  fortitude 
Buflkient  to  renounce  his  caste.  In  the  afternoon, 
the  Lord's  supper  was  celebrated  in  Bengalee  for 
the  first  time,  and,  at  the  termination  of  sol- 

emn ordinance,  Kristno  stated  that  his  heart  was  full 
of  joy." 

The  subsequent  conversations  which  this  convert 
held  with  his  family,  and  the  fervent  prayers  which 
he  offered  on  their  behalf,  appear  to  have  been  pro- 
ductive of  the  happiest  results ;  and  on  the  18th 
of  January,  1801,  his  wife's  sister,  named  Joymooni, 
was  baptized,  together  with  Mr.  Fernandes,  and 
joined  the  church.  On  this  occasion,  the  converted 
female  remarked  that  she  had  discovered  a  treasure 
in  Christ  incomparably  greater  than  every  thing 
else  in  the  world;  whilst  Kristno  observed,  that, 
having  found  mercy  himself,  his  thoughts  and  de- 
sires were  now  principally  directed  to  the  salvation 
of  others. 

About  this  time,  Mr.  Ward  called  on  a  Scottish 
gentleman  who  had  met  with  some  severe  tem- 
poral losses.  He  had  received  a  religious  edwation, 
and  this  had  operated  to  a  considerable  degree  as  a 
restraint,  till  he  arrived  in  India,  when  he  unfortunate- 
ly became  like  too  many  other  Europeans.  "  Ten 
years  ago,"  says  Mr.  Ward,  "  his  troubles  caine  ou  ; 
but  they  failed  of  producing  any  good  effect  upon  him. 
Five  years  since,  he  came  to  Serampore,  but  he  still 
continued  without  God,  till  he  attended  our  worship  ; 
when  he  felt  a  new  species  of  joy,  and  a  union  of 
affisction  to  us.  Since  that  time,  he  has  read  the  most 
valuable  books  in  our  library,  and  has  been  a  constant 
attendant  on  our  ministry.  Now  be  states  that  his 
Bible  is  a  new  book,  the  law  being  new,  and  the  plan 
of  salvation  precious ; — that  his  afflictions  appear  in 
a  different  and  interesting  light ; — and  that  his  happiest 
hours  are  those  which  are  spent  before  the  throne  of 
grace." 

One  day,  whilst  Mr.  Ward  was  speaking  about  the 
things  of  God  in  Kristno's  house,  a  widow  named 
Unna,  who  resided  in  the  family,  was  observed  to 
Uflten  with  the  most  profound  attentioB,  and  tears  were  | 


Sif 

seen  to  roll  down  her  clweks ;  the,  aoon  afterward, 
visited  the  mission-house,  in  company  with  the  other 
females,  and  said  to  Mr.  Carey,  "I  was  formeriy 
totally  unmindful  of  myiin«,but  I  now  perceive  that  I 
am  a  sea  of  sin."  On  the  Idth  of  February,  ahe  made 
an  open  profession  of  the  Redeemer's  name  ;  and  a> 
Kristno's  wife,  Rasoo,  appeared  to  be  decidedly  of  the 
same  mind,  they  were  both  baptised  on  the  ensuing 
sabbath. 

In  consequence  of  these  repeated  baptizings,  the 
parents  of  those  children  who  had  been  placed  in  the 
Bengalee  school,  removed  them  as  soon  as  possible, 
lest  they  also  should  be  mdnced  to  adopt  the  Christian 
religion.  The  only  native  children  left  for  instruction, 
therefore,  were  those  of  Kristno,  to  whom  the  mis- 
sionaries paid  the  greatest  possible  attention,  with  the 
pleasing  anticipation  that  they  might,  at  a  future 
period,  be  induced  to  enlist  beneath  the  same  banner 
which  was  now  the  joy  and  rejoicing  of  their  father's 
heart. 

The  piety,  prudence,  and  circumspection  of  the 
Hindoo  converts  afibrded  great  consolation  to  the  mis- 
sionaries ;    one  of  whom  observes  respecting  them, 
"  Though  they  are  plain,  simple  people,  and  the  greater 
part  of  them  women,  yet  they  have  been  enabled  to 
despise  caste;  to  withstand  the  reproaches,  ridicule, 
and  persecution  of  their  neighbors  and  countrymen  ; 
and  to  speak  boldly  the  word  of  our  Lord  Jesus  to 
them  that  know  not  the  truth."     Their  manner  of 
speaking  also  on  spiritual  subjects  appears  to  have 
been  equally  singular   and  impressive.      "Christ," 
said  one  of  them,  "is  my  joy,  my  hope,  my  all  I    If 
worldly  concerns  draw  my  nund  from  him,  I  say, 
'  Mind,  why  dost  thou  leave  Christ  ?    There  is  no 
other  Saviour,  and  if  thou  leave  him,  thou  must  fall 
into  hell.     I  charge  thee,  therefore.  Mind,  that  thou 
adhere  closely  to  Christ.'  "—Another  of  these  con- 
verts observed,  one  day,  "  I  was  formerly  in  prison  ; 
but   the   light  of   the    gospel   came   to   the    prison 
door,  and  I  obtained  my  liberty.     My  prayer  now  is, 
that  Satan  may  never  be  permitted  to  imprison  me 
again." 

About  this  time,  the  missionaries  had  the  high 
gratification  of  publishing  the  Bengalee  New  Testa- 
ment, an  object  which  had  long  been  near  their  hearts ; 
as  they  were  perfectly  aware  of  the  vast  importance 
of  presenting  the  Holy  Scriptures  to  the  Hindoos  in 
their  nativn  language.  Copies  were  presented  to  the 
governor,  and  die  governor-general,  which  wore  re- 
ceived in  the  most  friendly  and  condescending  manne' ; 
and  the  missbnaries  had  now  abundant  encourage- 
ment to  sing  the  following  verses,  composed  by  tlw 
Rev.  J.  Murahnian  ;— . 


S14 


%.... 


BAPTIST  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


"  Hail,  proeioo*  book  divine ! 

niomined  by  thy  nys, 
We  nee  ftom  deatli  and  ain, 
And  tune  a  Sariour**  praise ! 
The  shades  of  error,  dark  as  night, 
Vanish  before  thy  radiant  light 

We  bless  the  God  of  grace 

Who  hath  his  word  revealed 
To  this  bewildered  race. 
So  long  in  darkness  held ; 
His  loye  designs ;  his  people  pray ; 
His  providence  prepares  the  way ! 

Now  shall  the  Hindoos  learn 
The  glories  of  our  Bang ; 
Nor  to  blind  goroot  turn, 
Nor  idol  praises  sing  : 
DifiUsing  heavenly  light  around. 
This  book  their  tkattert  shall  confound. 

Deign,  gracious  Saviour,  tieign, 

To  smile  upon  thy  word  ; 

Let  millions  now  obtain 

Salvation  from  the  Lord : 

Nor  let  its  growing  coi^questa  stay, 

Till  earth  exult  to  own  its  sway  !** 

Soon  after  the  publication  of  the  Testament,  Mr. 
Carey  was  appointed,  by  marquis  Wellesley,  as  teacher 
of  the  Bengalee  and  Sanscrit  languages  in  the  college 
of  Fort  William.  This  appointment  was  altogether 
unexpected  ;  and  when  the  application  was  made  to 
him,  Mr.  Carey  had  some  hesitation  in  acceding  to  it, 
under  the  idea  that  it  might  interfere  with  his  proper 
work  as  a  missionary  ;  nor  did  he  accept  of  it  till  he 
had  consulted  with  his  brethren ;  who  were  unani- 
mously of  opinion  that  it  was  more  likely  to  promote 
than  to  obstnict  the  great  design  of  the  mission.  He 
was  subsequently  raised  to  the  rank  of  a  professor  in 
the  college,  with  a  salary  of  a  thousand  rupees  a 
month,  or  about  fifteen  hundred  pounds  per  annum  ; 
and  the  whole  of  this  sum,  in  conformity  with  the 
rules  laid  down  by  himself  and  his  coadjutors,  he  gen- 
erously added  to  the  missionary  stock. 

On  the  lOtli  of  April,  Kristno's  eldest  daughter, 
Golok,  was  seized,  at  a  short  distance  from  her  father's 
house,  and  carried  off  by  two  men,  one  of  whom  was 
the  Hindoo  to  whom  she  had  been  contracted  in  mar- 
riage. On  an  alarm  being  given,  Kristno  pursued,  and 
overtook  the  men  ;  but  they  beat  him  unmercifully,  and 
crossed  the  river  on  their  way  to  Calcutta.  In  passing 
■  police  station,  Golok  cried  out  for  justice,  and  the 
persons  who  were  carrying  her  off  were,  of  course, 
deuined.  On  being  brought  before  a  magistrate,  she 
said, "  I  have  heard  ol  the  love  and  sufferings  of 
Christ,  and  these  things  have  fastened  upon  my  mind. 
I  am.  therefore,  a  rihrisiian  frnm  «>»>:..«   - i . 


willing  to  go  with  this  man."  The  magistrate  replied, 
that  he  could  not  separate  her  from  her  husband,  but 
he  would  take  care  that  she  should  be  at  liberty  to 
profess  what  religion  she  thought  proper.  This  promise, 
however,  he  either  could  not  or  did  not  perform ;  and 
thr  young  woman  was  left,  sorely  against  her  own 
r<i(  f .  il  much  to  the  regret  of  Kristno  and  his  family, 
\a  •ne  hands  of  an  idolater. 

On  the  8th  of  May,  whilst  the  inhabitants  were 
wrapped  in  profound  slumber,  a  party  of  miliury  en- 
tered Serampore,  and  hoisted  the  British  flag,  without 
a  gun  firing,  or  a  drum  beating.  "  At  ten  o'clock,"  says 
Mr.  Ward,  "  we  and  others  were  desired  to  appear  at 
the  governmen' »>- •  v  In  the  governor's  hall  we 
found  se . .  ;al  British  officers,  ar.l  in  an  adjoining  room, 
the  new  English  governor,  with  colonel  Bie  standing 
by  his  side.  When  we  presented  ourselves,  the  colonel 
assured  us  we  might  go  on  with  our  school  and  our 
preaching  in  the  same  peaceful  way  as  when  under  his 
government.  The  English  commissioner  also  politely 
assured  us  that  we  were  at  liberty  to  follow  our  avoca- 
tions as  usual.  We  then  withdrew,  contrasting  our 
situation  with  what  it  might  have  been,  and  acknowl- 
edging how  exceedingly  divine  mercies  were  multiplied 
toward  us." 

On  the  29th,  Gokool,  who  had  given  in  bis  expe- 
rience before  the  church  with  Kristno,  but  who  had 
drawn  back,  in  consequence  of  the  severe  opposition 
which  he  had  met  with  from  his  wife  and  iiis  other 
relatives,  now  resolved  to  join  the  gospel  standard,  let 
the  consequences  be  what  they  might.  Accordingly, 
after  the  missionaries  had  repeatedly  conversed  with 
him,  and  felt  convinced  of  his  sincerity,  he  was  admitted 
to  the  rite  of  baptism  ;  and  his  wife,  who  had  formerly 
evinced  a  most  determined  spirit  of  persecution,  came, 
of  ber  own  accord,  to  witness  the  ceremony,  and,  to 
the  surprise  and  joy  of  the  brethren,  seemed  to  express 
some  approbation  of  the  gospel. 

The  following  day,  Mr.  Carey  accompanied  Kristno 
to  Calcutta,  to  see  his  daughter ;  and  after  conversing 
affectionately  with  the  family,  he  proceeded  to  speak 
of  the  way  of  salvation  to  a  crowd  of  people  who  had 
assembled  on  the  outside  of  the  house.  In  a  short 
time,  however,  he  heard  one  of  them,  who  had  learned 
a  little  English,  exclaim,  "A  rascal !  a  rascal !"  and 
clearly  perceived  that  something  mischievous  was  in 
agitation.  He,  therefore,  closed  his  discourse,  stepped 
into  his  palanquin,  and  desired  the  bearers  to  carry 
him  away.  This,  however,  was  opposed  by  the  mob; 
and  had  not  our  missionary  acted  on  the  occasion  with 
great  decision  and  intrepidity,  it  is  highly  probable 
that  he  would  have  been  assassinated. 

The   apostolic   injunction   to  be  "not  slothful  in 
business,  but  fervent  in  spirit,   serving  the   Lord," 


BENGAL. 


seems  to  h«ve  been  engraren  on  the  heart  and  illus- 
trated in  the  conductor  Kristno ;  who,  whilst  diligently 
applying  himself  to  his  occupation  as  a  carpenter, 
embraced  every  opportunity  of  addressing  some  seri- 
ous and  profitable  observations  to  such  of  the  natives 
as  happened  to  come  within  hearing,  whilst  he  was  at 
work  ;  and  the  following  remarks  may  be  considered 
as  a  specimen  of  his  colloquial    divinity :    "  In  all 
your  worship  there  is  no  fruit.     None  of  the  debtas 
died  for  sinners ;  but  I  have  heard  from  English  peo- 
ple, in  my  own  language,  that  the  Son  of  God  became 
incarnate,  to  die  for  guilty  men,  and  suffered  inde- 
scribable agonies  in  their  stead.     This  is  the  greatest 
love  of  which  I  ever  heard ;  and  at  the  house  of  the 
missionaries  I  have  seen  such  love  as  I  never  saw  be- 
fore.   When  a  man  believes  in  Christ,  he  receives  a 
new  mind  ;  for  this  is  the  fruit  of  becoming  a  Chris- 
tian."    Nor  did  he  confine  his  religious  conversations 
to  his  own  countrymen,  for  when  attacked  by  Euro- 
peans or  Americans,  he  always  proved  himself"  valiant 
for  the  truth."     "  Being  at  work  lately,"  says  Mr. 
Ward,  «  at  the  house  of  a  Danish  gentleman,  the  lady 
asked  him  whether  he  had  not  become  a  Christian  ; 
on  his  replying  in  the  affirmative,  she  laughed  in  his 
face,  and  asked  him  how  many  rupees  he  had  got ;  he 
replied  that  he  had  weightier  reasons  than  rupees,  and 
then  spoke  of  the  love  and  salvation  of  Christ.     His 
answers  have  always  put  to  silence  the  ignorance  of 
these  foolish  people."     Another  day,  whilst  he  was 
doing  some  work  at  the  hotel,  two  Englishmen  derided 
him  on  his  having  embraced  Christianity ;  but  when 
he  began  to  speak  to  them  of  the  unparalleled  love  of 
Christ,  of  salvation  by  him,  and  of  the  wickedness  of 
Europeans  in  India,  they  were  confounded  and  speech- 
less before  this  newly-converted  Hindoo  !     He  one 
day  addressed  an  aged  Portuguese,  whose  conduct  was 
inconsistent,  telling  him  that  he  had  laid  hold  of  noth- 
ing but  the  name  of  Christ ;  and  at  another  time, 
seeing  one  of  the  same  nation  in  a  violent  passion,  he 
gently  reminded  him,  that  if  he  had  laid  hold  of  the 
Redeemer's  love  instead  of  his  name  only,  he  could  not 
have  acted  in  so  intemperate  a  manner. 

In  the  beginning  of  July,  the  mission  sustained  a 
severe  loss  in  the  death  of  Mr.  Brunsdon,  of  whom 
the  following  interesting  account  has  been  given  by  the 
Rev.  W.  Ward,  in  a  letter  dated  July  22,  1801  :— 

"  About  the  7th  of  December,  our  brother  began 
to  feel  very  poorly,  with  what  we  thought  to  be  a  cold, 
contracted  by  standing  on  the  damp  floor  of  the  print- 
ing office,  where  we  were  employed  in  composing  the 
Bengalee  Testament.  He  seemed  to  have  a  great 
deal  of  bile  on  his  stomach,  and,  shortly  afterwards, 
had  a  bad  cough,  attended  with  a  considerable  degree 
of  fever.     We  called  in  naadical  assistance  :  but  !:e 


915 


contmued  growing  worse,  so  that  we  anticipated  fatal 
consequences.  On  the  arrival  of  brother  Thomas, 
however,  the  prescribed  use  of  the  warm  bath  produced 
a  surprising  alteration  for  the  better,  and  from  this 
period  the  patient  began  gradually  to  amend,  though 
he  still  labored  under  a  slow  fever. 

"  Whilst  his  health  seemed  gradually  improving,  he 
sometimes  appeared  apprehensive  of  losing  that  happy 
frame  of  mind,  and  those  pecHhar  enjoyments,  which 
he  had  possessed  when  more  severely  afflicted-  As 
soon  as  he  was  able,  he  went  almost  daily  to  the  house 
of  Knstno,  to  read  the  Scriptures  and  converse  a  little ; 
and  this  he  evidently  enjoyed  very  much.  Kristno's 
wife,  who  at  that  time  was  led  aside  to  idolatry,  and 
felt  averse  to  the  gospel,  told  me,  the  other  day,  that 
she  should  always  remember  Mr.  Brunsdon,  who  used 
to  read  the  word  of  God,  and  speak  to  her,  when  her 
mind  was  hardened  ;  as  by  these  means  she  was  con- 
vinced of  her  error,  and  constrained  to  unite  with  the 
church  of  the  Redeemer. 

"  Towards  the  end  of  February,  our  brother  became 
worse  again  ;  and  on  the  1st  of  March,  he  went  with 
his  wife  to  Calcutta,  to  consult  an  eminent  physician, 
whose  benevolent  attention  to  our  departed  colleague 
has  left  an  indelible  sense  of  obligation  on  our  minds. 
He  now  learned  that  his  principal  complamt  was  aii 
enlargement  of  the  spleen,  which  had  been  coming  on 
for  some  time  ;  and  on  this  being  stated  to  him,  he  recol 
lected  that  he  had  been  long  troubled  with  a  pain  in 
his  side,  for  which  he  could  not  account. 

"  On  the  8th  of  Marchj  I  went  to  Calcutta,  when 
he  was  so  much  reduced,  that  I  was  alarmed  and 
shocked  to  see  him.  From  the  14th,  he  appeared  to 
be  getting  worse,  and  on  the  28th,  some  shivering  fits 
excited  very  painful  apprehensions  concerning  him. 
Through  the  greater  part  of  the  next  month,  however, 
he  appeared  to  be  recovering;  and  towards  the  end  of 
it,  he  returned  home  with  his  wife,  who  was  near  the 
time  of  her  confinement.  At  thb  time  he  supposed  that 
he  caught  cold,  as  his  throat  became  sore ;  and  on  his 
return  to  Calcutta,  about  the  16th  of  June,  it  was  so 
severely  ulcerated  that  he  could  with  difficulty  swallow 
either  food  or  liquid.  This  impediment  increased,  till 
one  day,  on  going  to  see  him,  I  procured  a  pipe  to 
convey  liquid  down  his  throat ;  and  with  this  instru- 
ment he  made  incessant  efforts  to  swallow,  but  all 
proved  ineffectual.  The  ulcer  in  his  throat  was  now 
inaccessible  to  medicine,  and  injections  of  bark  became 
necessary  to  keep  him  alive.  I  continued  with  him 
till  midnight ;  and,  after  taking  a  little  rest,  returned 
to  Serampore  in  the  morning,  not  expecting  any 
sudden  change  for  the  better  or  the  worse. 

"  Two  days  after,  we  received  a  letter  informing  u» 
of  his  departure.     Kc  died  between  twelve  aad  one 


«)« 


BAPTIST  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


o'di^k  io  th*  BMning  of  July  3,  in  the  twenty-fiHuth 
jFMr  of  hi*  age.  For  sottie  hours  before  bia  death,  he 
•ppaured  to  suffer  severely,  and  bis  cries  were  truly  dia- 
tiessing.  His  last  moments,  however,  were  tranquil, 
though  be  was  quite  insensible.  Indeed,  such  a  degree 
of  derangement  existed  during  the  greater  part  of  bis 
last  affliction,  that  he  was  unable  either  to  think  upon 
or  feel  his  situation.  The  day  before  bis  death,  be  was 
imwilliog  that  his  wife  should  leave  hira  at  all ;  saying, 
'  I  shall  go— I  shall  go !'  He  also  called  the  servants 
to  his  bed-side,  and  bade  them  adieu,  but  seemed  much 
discomposed. 

"  As  soon  as  we  received  intelligence  of  his  death, 
brother  Carey  and  I  went  to  Calcutta ;  and,  in  the 
evening,  the  brethren  Carey,  Marshman,  and  myself, 
the  friend  at  whose  house  our  coadjutor  had  breathed 
his  last,  and  sisters  Brunsdon  and  Grant,  followed  his 
remains  to  the  grave.  Brother  Carey  went  through 
the  religious  exercises  of  the  interment,  in  Bengalee 
and  in  English ;  which  consisted  of  singing,  exhortation, 
and  prayer.  And  a  number  of  natives  were  present, 
who  seemed  somewhat  affected  with  the  word,  and 
with  the  solemnity  of  the  scene."  ^ 

Komal,  the  wife  of  Qokool,  had  now  become  an 
attentive  hearer  of  the  gospel,  and  appeared  snxious 
to  make  an  open  profession  of  her  attachment  to  the 
cause  of  the  Redeemer ;    and  the  substance  of  her 
experience,  as  communicated  to  the  church,  was  to 
the  following  effect : — She  had  eloped  from  her  hus- 
band on  account  of  his  inclination  to  embrace  Christi- 
anity ;  and  when  her  adopted  son  went  after  her,  and 
earnestly  besought  her  to  return,  she  rejected  all  his 
entreaties  with  anger,  though,  at  the  same  time,  her 
conscience  intimated  that  she  was  acting  wrong.  When 
she  came  back,  and  heard  her  husband  talk  more  about 
the  gospel,  she  seemed  struck  with  the  surprising  love 
of  Christ  in  giving  himself  a  ransom  for  guilty  and 
perishing  creatures,  and  began  to  feel,  for  the  first  time, 
that  $he  was  a  sinner.     When  Gokool  was  baptized, 
she  felt'a  secret  pleasure  in  contemplating  the  cere- 
mony, which  she  was  incapable  of  explaining.     At 
length,  after  experiencing  much  distress  about  the  state 
of  her  soul,  she  resolved  to  cast  herself  unreservedly 
upon  the  Lord  Jesus  for  eternal  salvation,  and  deter- 
mined to  be  publicly  baptized  in  his  name,  let  her 
countrymen  say  what  they  would.    As  she  was  always 
considered  of  a  frank  and  open  temper,  and  the  mis- 
sionaries had  no  reason  to  apprehend  being  imposed 
upon  by  her  statement,  they  gladly  admitted  her  into 
their  community,  and  on  the  4th  of  October,  she  made 
a  formal  renunciation,  in  baptism,  of  all  her  idolatrous 
tenets  and   practices.     «'  We   have   now,"  says  Mr. 
Marshman,  "  six  baptized  Hindoos,  whom  we  consider 
more  precious  thait  the  most  beautiful  gems  in  the 


uBiveme.  Wo  need  great  prudence,  howover,  in  oar 
conduct  towards  them  ;  as  w«  are  obHged  to  encour- 
age, to  strengthen,  to  counteract,  to  advise,  to  disap> 
prove,  and  to  instruct ;  and  yet  to  do  all  in  such  t 
manner  as  to  endear  the  Saviour  to  them«and  to  retain 
our  own  place  in  their  affections." 

About  the  same  time,  the  house  and  garden  adjoin- 
ing the  mission-house,  and  occupying  about  four  acre* 
of  land,  were  ofiered  for  sale,  and  purchased  by  the 
brethren ;  who,  by  this  addition  to  their  premises,  had 
sufficient  room,  not  only  for  their  schools  and  th« 
business  which  they  carried  on  in  printing  and  book- 
binding, but  they  had  also  sufficient  accommodation 
for  any  new  missionaries  that  might  be  sent  out  from 
Europe. 

In  the  same  month,  the  number  of  the  missionaries 
was  once  more  reduced  by  the  removal  of  the  Rev. 
John  Thomas  ;  and  as  he  is  distinguished  by  his  hav- 
ing been  the  first  person,  who,  in  modern  ages,  intro- 
duced the  gospel  to  the  Hindoos,  a  brief  sketch  of  his 
peculiar,  yet  interesting  character,  may  probably  be 
acceptable  to  the  reader. 

"  From  the  first  interview  that  took  place  between 
him  and  the  society,"  says  the  writer  of  a  memdr 
published  in  the  Periodical  Account*,  "  we  perceived 
in  him  a  great  degree  of  sensibility,  mixed  with  seri- 
ousness and  deep  devotion ;  and  every  letter  that  has 
been  received  from  him  has  breathed,  in  a  greater  ox 
less  degree,  the  same  spirit.  His  afflictions  and  disap- 
pointments (than  whom  'ew  men  had  more  in  so  short 
a  life)  appear  to  have  led  hirn  much  to  God,  and  to  a 
realizing  application  of  the  strong  consolations  of  the 
gospel.  He  seldom  walked  in  an  even  path;  but 
either  appeared  full  of  cheerful  and  active  love,  or  as 
if  destitute  of  hope.  His  joys  bordered  on  ecstacy, 
his  sorrows  on  despondency.  These  extremes  of  feel- 
ing rendered  him  capable  of  speaking  and  writing  in 
a  manner  peculiar  to  himself;  and  it  was  evident  that 
almost  every  thing  which  dropped  from  his  lips  came 
directly  from  his  heart. 

"  His  talents  were  exactly  adapted  to  that  kind  of 
preaching  to  which  he  was  called,  namely,  a  lively, 
metaphorical,  and  pointed  address,  dictated  by  the 
circumstances  of  the  moment,  and  maintained  amidst 
the  interruptions  and  contradictions  of  a  pagan  audi- 
ence." In  order  to  illustrate  this  fact,  the  author  of 
the  memoir  observes,  "A  large  company  of  Bramins, 
pundits,  and  others,  having  one  day  assembled  to  hear 
him,  one  of  the  most  learned,  named  Mahashoi,  offer- 
ed to  dispute  with  him,  and  began  by  saying,  '  God  is 
in  every  thing,  and  therefore  every  thing  is  God. 
You  are  God,  and  I  am  God  !'  '  Fie !  Mahashoi,' 
exclaimed  Mr.  Thomas, '  why  do  you  utter  such  words  ? 
Sahaib  (meaning  himself )%  in  his  clothes :  therefore 


BCMGAL. 


SIT 


(pulling  off  hk  hitt,  Md  tlirowing  it  on  the  ground) 
this  hat  is  Ssbaiii  i  Mo,  Mvhasboi,  you  md  I  ue  dying 
men,  hit  God  liveih  for  ever.'  This  short  answer 
eompletely  silenced  his  opponent,  and  fixed  the  MVen- 
tion  or  the  people ;  while,  as  he  expressed  it,  he  went 
on  to  proclaim  one  Ood,  <me  Saviour,  one  way,  and 
one  tatte;  without,  and  beside  which,  all  the  inven- 
tions of  men  were  to  be  esteemed  as  nothing. 

"  Another  time,  when  he  was  warning  the  natives 
of  their  sin  and  danger,  a  subtle  Bramin  interrupted 
him  by  inquiring, '  Who  created  good  and  evil  ?'  '  I 
know  your  question  of  old, 'said  the  preacher;  <and  I 
understand  your  meaning  too.  If  a  roan  revile  his 
fiither  or  mother,  you  consider  him  a  wicked  wretch ; 
and  if  he  revile  his  goroo,  or  teacher,  you  reckon  him 
still  mora  profligate.  But  what  is  this,'  continued  he, 
turning  and  appealing  to  the  people,  <  what  is  this  in 
comparison  with  the  words  of  this  Bramin,  who  reviles 
God  ?  That  adorable  Being  is  not  only  holy  himself, 
but  all  his  works  ure  holy  also.  Both  men  and  devils 
were  created  in  a  state  of  holiness,  though  they  have 
rendered  themselves  vile.  He,  therefore,  who  imputes 
their  sin  to  God  is  a  wretch,  who  reproaches  his 
Maker. 

"  On  another  occasion,  whilst  travelling  through  the 
country,  he  saw  a  concourse  of  people  assembling  for 
the  worship  of  one  of  their  gods,  and,  passing  through 
the  crowd,  placed  himself  on  an  elevated  spot,  by  the 
side  of  the  idol.  The  attention  of  all  the  worship- 
pers was  immediately  fixed  on  him,  wondering  what 
he,  being  a  European,  intended  to  do.  After  beckon- 
ing for  silence,  he  gravely  pointed  with  his  finger  to 
the  image,  and  then  turning  his  face  to  the  people,  as 
if  by  way  of  appeal,  he  exclaimed,  '  It  has  eyes  .... 
but  it  cannot  see  !' — And,  proceeding  to  point  out  the 
different  parts  which  he  named,  he  added,  <  It  has 
ears  ....  but  it  cannot  hear ! — It  has  hands  ....  but 
it  cannot  handle  ! — It  has  a  mouth  ....  but  it  cannot 
speak ;  neither  is  there  any  breath  in  it !'  At  this 
juncture,  an  old  man  in  the  crowd,  stung  by  these 
self-evident  truths,  exclaimed, '  It  has  feet,  but  it  can- 
not run  away  !'  This  unexpected  exclamation  was 
received  with  a  general  shout ;  the  officiating  Bramins 
were  covered  with  shame  ;  and  the  worship  for  that 
time  was  given  up. 

"  He  had  a  mode  of  speaking  and  writing  to  persons 
in  genteel  life  that  generally  succeeded  in  reaching 
their  consciences  without  giving  them  offence.  One 
day,  as  he  was  fitting  in  a  gentleman's  house  at  Cal- 
cutta, the  captain  of  an  Indiaman  came  in,  and  began 
to  curse  and  swear  in  the  most  dreadful  manner.  Mr. 
Thomas,  turning  himself  to  his  friend,  related  an 
anecdote  of  a  person  greatly  addicted  to  swearins, 
but  wiio,  on  going  into  a  sober  family,  entirely  left 


Vol.  I.— Nos.  19  &  20. 


30 


off  <  Now,'  said  Mr.  Thonu, '  ke  did  this  jowaly 
for  hi*  wwn  sake,  a^  Srom  tba  iiMr  of  maa :  ho» 
much  more  easy,'  continued  he, « would  it  be  to  nfoun 
from  such  a  practice,  if  weieand  God  I'— The  captain 
swore  no  more  while  Jnliis  company ;  and  on  meeting 
him  the  next  day  by  hifoself,  he  introduced  the  sub. 
ject,  confessing  that  he  was  the  moot  wicked  of  roea, 
though  he  had  been  taught  better ;  but  attempting  to 
excuse  himself  by  aaying  it  was  a  habit,  and  he  could 
not  help  it.  '  That,  sir,'  replied  Mr.  Thomas, '  mokes 
your  cose  worse.  If  a  man  get  intoxicated  once,  that 
is  tad  ;  but  if,  by  a  succession  of  acts,  he  have  contract- 
ed a  habit  of  drunkenness,  and  cannot  avoid  it,  his  cose 
is  bad  indeed  !  You  should  confess  your  sin  to  God, 
rather  than  to  man  :  this  he  has  directed  you  to  do, 
and  this  is  the  way  to  forsake  it  and  to  find  piercy.' 

"  Mr.  Thomos  was  a  man  to  whom  no  one  who  knew 
him  could  feel  indifferent.  He  must  he  either  esteemed 
or  disliked.  In  most  cases,  his  social  and  affectionate 
deportment  excited  attachment ;  and  even  in  instances 
where  he  has  given  offence  to  his  friends,  a  single 
interview  was  generally  suflicient  to  dissipate  resent- 
ment, and  to  rekindle  former  affection. 

"  His  sympathy  and  generosity,  as  a  medical  man, 
toward  the  afflicted  Hindoos,  though  a  luxury  to  his 
mind,  often  affected  his  health;  and,  unless  gratitude 
be  unknown  among  them  (as  it  is  said  they  have  no 
word  in  their  language  which  expresses  the  ideo),  his 
name  will,  for  some  time  at  least,  be  gratefully  re- 
membered." 

Respecting  the  death  of  this  warm-hearted  and  ex- 
cellent missionary,,  Mr.  Powell  writes  as  follows : — 
"  You  have  been  accustomed,  of  late,  to  receive 
gloomy  tidings  from  India ;  that  the  plains  of  Hindoos- 
tan  have  been  the  graves  of  the  missionaries.  So<m 
after  one  messenger  had  announced  the  death  of  Mr. 
Grant,  another  claimed  the  attention  of  your  listening 
ear,  and  declared  the  departure  of  Mr.  Fountain.  A 
third  followed  his  steps,  and  repeated  the  mourqiul  tale, 
that  Mr.  Brunsdon  was  taken  away ;  and  now  I  have  to 
tell  you,  that  Mr.  Thomas  has  put  off  his  armor,  and 
quitted  the  field  of  ^tion !  In  October,  1799,  we 
exulted  that  the  missionary  cause  was  so  well  supported 
and  strengthened ;  that  there  were  seven  brethren 
engaged  in  this  glorious  undertaking.  Little  did  we 
then  suppose  that  the  period  was  so  near  when  their 
number  would  be  reduced  to  three ! 

"  You  knew  enough  of  Mr.  Thomas  to  feel  his  loss, 
and  shed  a  tear  over  his  memory.  Wearied  with  the 
storms  and  tempests  of  life,  and  agitated  on  the  sea  of 
adversity,  he  longed  for  his  dismissal,  that  he  might 
be  with  Christ,  and  enjoy  that '  rest  which  remaineth 
for  the  neonle  of  God.'  Anoallinc  as  the  kinr  nf 
terrors   is   to   the   wicked,  his   frowns  were  seldom 


118 


BAPTIST  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


exhibited  to  our  departed  friend.  He  saw  this  awful 
messenger  with  an  angel's  face,  anxiously  waited  for 
his  summons,  and  anticipated  those  sublime  pleasures 
which  he  was  soon  permitted  to  enjoy. 

"  Toward  the  close  of  his  illness,  his  pains  were 
exceedingly  great.  He  had  periodical  returns  of  cold 
fits,  then  a  raging  fever,  then  violent  vomitings,  and 
afterwards  a  dreadful  oppression  in  the  stomach,  which 
threatened  speedy  suffocation ;  so  that  it  occasioned 
the  most  painful  sensations  to  the  friends  about  him. 
His  mind,  however,  was  divinely  supported  ;  as  all  his 
hopes  centred  in  Christ,  and  he  kne.trno  rock  but  the 
Rock  of  ages.  When  unable  .o  read,  his  mind  being  well 
oioi'ed  with  scripture,  he  would  frequently  repeat  pas- 
sages appropriate  to  his  condition  ;  and  once,  when  in 
extreme  pain,  he  cried  out,  '  O  death !  \vhere  is  thy 
sting  ?'  At  length,  after  languishing  about  a  forinight, 
he  breathed  his  last  on  the  13th  of  October,  and  was 
buried  by  the  side  of  Mr.  Fountain."  The  Rev.  W. 
Carey  preached  a  sermon  on  the  occasion  of  his  re- 
moval, from  John  xxi.  19,  "This  spake  he,  signify- 
ing by  what  death  he  should  fiorify  God." 

Whilst  death  was  thus  (hinning  the  ranks  of  tlic 
missionaries,  the  survivors  continued  to  labor  in  their 
holy  and    iniporlant    vocation    with   inextinguishable 
real  and  unremitting  diligence.      In  the  evening,  they 
usually  went   into   the   streets  of  Soramporo,  wliore 
they  conversed  and  disputed  on  religious  subjects  with 
the  natives,  and  occasionally  distributed  papers  among 
thcui,  consisting  of  plain  and  forrihic  addresses  to  the 
consciences  of  sinners  ;  and  tiiough  many  of  the  peo- 
ple treated  them  with  derision  and  insult,  yet  others 
were  inclined  to  listen  to  their  argunu>nts  and  to  peruse 
their  tracts.     In  fact,  the  very  opposition  which  they 
experienced  proved  suh  irvicnt  lo  the  cause  of  the 
gospel,  as  leading  to  a  public  controversy,  fmni  which 
the  Braminswere  compelit:!  to  retreat,  or  to  hear  thoni- 
selvcs  and   their  religion  exposod  to  contempt  before 
the  popidace,  who   had   hitherto   regarded  tlu-rn  as  a 
sort  of  demi-gods.     Some  of  the   brethren,  also,  itin- 
erated through  the  country,  preaching  the  glad  news 
of  salvalion  to  nudiitude.s  wluvhud  never  before  heard 
U, — distributing    thousands   of   printed   papers, — and 
leaving  several  copies  of  the  New  Testament  in  such 
places  as  appeared  most  eligible.     During  one  of  these 
excursions,  Mr.  WunI    wnt   one    day    detained   by  a 
police  oflicer  on  tiio  ground  that  he  wus  aciiiig  in  op- 
position to  the  views  and  wishes  of  the  Kasl  India  Com- 
pany, in  causing  ilie  natives  to  losn  caste.     Our  mis- 
••ohHry  assured  him,  however,  that  the  papers  which 
ho    distributed   were    entirely   religious;  and   on   his 
ofToring  to  nign  them  with  his  own  name,  ho  was  int- 
niedistoly   liberated.     The   tracts   thus  signed    were 
aoiu    for    oiuminaiion    to   Ciicutla ;    whftre 


persons  alleged  that  it  was  improper  to  attack  the 
religion  of  the  natives ;  whilst  others  contended  that 
there  was  nothing  more  in  the  papers  than  had  been 
invariably  tolerated  in  the  Roman  Catholics,  residing 
in  the  company's  territories.  The  subject  was  there- 
fore, dropped,  and,  during  the  administration  of  mar- 
quis Wellesley,  nothing  more  was  heard  respecting  it. 
The  year  1802  was  introduced  by  a  solemn  thanks- 
giving to  God  for  his  past  mercies,  and  with  the  bap- 
tizing of  a  Hindoo  of  the  writer  caste,  named  Petumber 
Shingo.  This  man  was  so  forcibly  impressed  by  the 
contents  of  a  religious  tract  which  had  been  put  into 
his  hands,  that  he  walked  from  his  residence  at  Foote- 
pore  to  the  mission-house,  a  distance  of  forty  miles, 
in  order  to  find  out  the  author  and  to  hear  the  gospel. 
He  stated  that  he  had  read  many  liooks,  and  had  been 
long  inquiring  the  way  of  salvation  with  great  anxietv, 
but  could  not  find  it  among  tiie  Bramins,  or  in  the 
Hindoo  system  ;  he  had,  therefore,  long  since  aban- 
doned his  idolatrous  worship ;  and  in  the  truths  con- 
tained in  this  paper,  he  had  found  the  way  of  life.  A 
few  days  after  this  explanation,  he  threw  away  his  caste 
by  eating  with  the  missionaries,  and  subse(piently  to 
his  baptisut  ho  maintained  such  a  consistent  and  re- 
spectable ciiarnctnr,  that  the  brethren  vere  induced  to 
appoint  him  their  Bengalee  schoolmaster. 

During  the  first  three  months  of  this  year,  there 
was  much  to  animate  the  zeal  of  the  missionaries,  and 
much,  at  the  .same  time,  to  exercise  '.heir  faith  and 
patience.     In  consequence  of  the  distribution  of  tracts 
at  Jessore,  in  the  preceding  October,  several  persons 
nrrived  from  that  district,  expressing  a  uish  to  obtain 
copies  of  the  NewTestPuient ;  many  others,  both  Hin- 
doos and  Mussuhuen,  come  to  the   brethren,  incjuiring 
the  way  of  salvation  ;  avsd   several    F.uropeans,  who 
hud  heard  the  gospel   from  their  lips,  appeared  to  be 
Tuade  truly  sensible  of  the  things  of  God,  as  co.incct- 
ed  with  th/'ir  etcrntil  welfare.     Pleasing  anticipations 
were  also  formed,  in  consecpience  of  llu!  dissemination  of 
some  excellent  "  Letters  on  the  Evidences  of  Chris- 
tianity," wliieh  had  tyeen  previ'msly  published  in  the 
Calcutta  Ga/.elte,  and  wre  now  rei>rinted  nt   Seram- 
pore.     On  the  other  hand,soiiic  difllcidlies  arose  witii 
respect  to  finding  employment  for  the  new  converts  ; 
and,  in  .some  instances,  the  wives  ol  those  who  had 
renouijccd  their  pagan  religion,  refused  to  live  with 
them  any  longer,  nnd  some  unpleasnnt  circumstances 
in  the  conduct  of  the  baptized  called  imperatively  for 
iiu>   exercise  of  fnithfid    nnd    wholesome    di'ciplinc. 
Well  itiiglit  Mr.  Carey  say,  in  a  comnumication  ad- 
dressed to  the  Rev.  Andrew  Ftdler,  "  With  regard  to 
the  native  converts,  you  must  not   suppose  they  are 
without  fault!!,  or  that  their  kncirle'liru  s!>.d  st!-:>.!!!!!e<K! 
•re  equal  to  those  of  Christiana  in  £n|lRud.     Vv^e  have 


BENGAL. 


to  contend  with  the  versatility  of  their  minds,  to  bear 
with  their  precipitancy,  to  nurse  them  like  children  in 
the  ways  of  knowledge  ;  somet:mes  to  rebuke  sharp- 
ly, sometimes  to  refrain  for  the  present ;  sometimes  to 
expostulate,  sometimes  to  entreat;  and  often  to  carry 
all  to  the  throne  of  grace,  and  there  pour  out  our 
complainis  before  God.  1  sometimes  compare  our 
situation  to  that  of  a  parent  who  has  a  numerous 
family.  He  must  work  hard  to  maintain  them  ;  is 
often  full  of  anxious  care  about  them ;  and  lias  much 
to  endure  from  their  dulness,  indolence,  or  perverse- 
ness ;  yet  still  he  loves  them,  because  they  are  his 
children,  and  his  affection  and  anxiety  for  their  future 
welfare,  mingle  pleasure  and  enjoyment  with  all  his 
labors  and  with  all  his  cares." 

On  the  4tli  of  April,  the  brethren  had  the  satisfac- 
tion of  baptizing  a  native  who  had   previously   lost 
caste,  of  the  name  of  Syam  Doss.     Ho  liad  occasion- 
ally heard  the  gospel  in  the  streets  and  lanes  of  Se- 
rampore,  and  was,  at  length,  induced  to  come  to  the 
mission-house,   where    he  confessed  himself  to  be  a 
great  sinner,  and  stated  his  conviction  that  salvation 
was  not  to  be  found  in  the  religion  of  the  Hindoos. 
On    his   appearing    before  the  church,  ho    said  that 
he   was  1,  rn    a  cacsto.  but  Irst  his  caste  in   conse- 
quence of  having  become  acquainted  with  a  feringa 
woman,    with   whom   he  had  lived    about   thirty-five 
years  in  an  im|)ropcr  intercourse;  but  sirue  his  arrival 
at  Seramporo,  ho  had  bee.i   publicly  married.     After 
hearing  preaching  !n  the  streets  two  or  three  times,  he 
was  led  to  muso  continually  upon  the  death  of  Christ 
as  suffered  for  sinners,  and  this  sacrifice  he  now  nvowed 
as  his  only  1io|K!  and  ()k'u  for  salvation.    Subsequently 
to  liis  baptism,  he  proved  to  bo  a  siinplo-lioarted  and 
truly    pious    tiiaracter,    and    was  iiiade   iiistruinoiital 
to  the  conversion  of  one   of  his  coiinlryineii.     It   is, 
therefore,  with  painful  emotion,  the  historian  is  com- 
pelled to  add,  that,  in  the  autumn  of  the  same  year 
in  whi(  h  ho  solomiily  dedicated  hinisolf  ,o  the  service 
of  the  true  God,  ho  wan  cruelly  murdered,  in  return- 
ing fi.im  a  part  of  iho  country  where  it  was  hoped 
that    the    Sun  of  Hishtcousnoss   had   liogun    to    rise 
upon  the  benighted  po|Mdalion,  with  healing  under  his 
'viiigs. 

Alwut  the  satne  ,:ic  tlini  thisconveit  was  admitted 
into  the  church,  a  llramin  cume  to  Seiampore,  stating 
that  ho  livod  with  D.ilol.  the  famous  leader  of  a  now 
Himloo  seel,  of  the  origin  of  which  the  following  par- 
ticulars liavjbeonconimunieaietl  by  Mr,  Marshman  :— 

"  About  forty  years  ago,  a  man.  by  l.irtli  n  cow- 
keoper,  gradually  attained  lo  considemhle  reputation 
by  pretending  to  cure  diseases  The  natives  are  sur- 
prismgly  credulous  on  this  submct  t  chansis.  isicsr-fs- 
Uou»,  holy  w«t«r,  &c.   being  in  the  hiplicsl  repute 


319 


among  them.     This  man,  pretending  to  much  sanctity, 
drew  a  great  number  of  people  to  him,  who  wero 
afflicted  with  various  disorders.     To  these  he  gave  his 
choron  amreeta,   or  amreeta  of  his  foot,  taken,  no 
doubt,  from  some  neighboring  ditch;  and  with 'this 
potion  he  added  his  blessing,  telling  his  patients  to 
disregard  all  debtas,  to  believe  in  one  God,  and  to 
obey  their  goroo,  as  he  took  it  for  granted  that  they 
would  henceforth  resrard  him  in  that  character.    Among 
the  great  number  of  those  who  drank  the  water  of 
immortality  from  his  foot,  some  individuals,  of  course, 
recovered.     This  appearing  to  them  as  the  evident 
effect  of  the  man's  benediction,  attached  them  com- 
pletely to  his  interest;  hence  they  chose  him  for  their 
goroo  or  teacher,  and  were  liberal  in  their  presents  to 
him.     His   fame,  gradually  increasing,  drew  people 
from  all  parts  of  the  country,  and  laid  the  foundation 
of  a  sect  which  now  includes  some  thousands.     The 
leader  died  ;  but  his  widow,  desirous  of  preserving  so 
lucrative  a  concern  for  her  son,  dispensed  the  choron 
amreeta  herself,  till  he  attained  to  years  of  maturity. 
This  son,  named  Ram  Dulol,  has  settled  at  the  village  of 
Ghospara,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  about  eight 
miles  beyond  Chinsurah,  and  twenty  above  us.    Here  he 
lives  almost  in  the  style  and  splendor  of  a  rajah,  liberally 
supported  by  his  devotees,  who  assemble  there  from 
nil  parts  of  the  country,  several  times  in  the  year,  and 
seldom  come  empty-huiided.     I  have  heard  that  some 
of  tlicin  present  him  wit";  a  hundred  rupees  at  onee. 

"  His  disciples  seem  io  have  hut  few  distinguishing 
tenets :  the  principal  are,  that  caste  is  nothing,  that 
the  debtas  are  nothing,  and  that  the  Bramins  are 
nothing.  To  the  power  and  influence  of  the  latter, 
Dulol  has  succeeded  ;  but  in  the  first  two  points  they 
are  by  no  means  consistent ;  for  though  they  asseinblo 
and  eat  together  every  year,  yet  they  dissemble  the 
fact,  and  retain  their  rank  in  their  respective  castes 
and  families  ;  and,  while  they  profess  lo  despise  the 
debtas,  they  continue  their  worship,  to  which  they 
give  the  name  of  outward  xeork.  They  retain  the 
horrid  idea,  that  (iod,  being  in  us,  is  the  author  of 
every  motion,  and  consequently  of  all  sin.  This  sect, 
however,  may  ho  considered,  in  some  degree,  as  a 
furtherance  to  the  gospel  ;  as  the  chains  of  superstition 
are,  to  a  certain  extent,  loosened  by  them." 

The  Brainin,  who  had  lieen  sent  to  Serainpore  by 
Dulol,  informed  the  missionaries  that  hb  master  had 
desired  him  to  get  hapti/ed  first,  and  tiien  to  inform 
thorn  that  he  himself  would  follow,  and  bring  with  him 
several  thousands  of  his  disciples.  The  bii>tliren, 
tlierefore,  iliough  disregarding  this  idle  tab.,  resolved 
lo  pay  him  a  visit  ;   parlieularly  as  Krisino,  (iokool, 

Stfi  St-'ii:e  iiti:-rr,,  'triio  Trrrc  i>>rnii>iiy  Oi  iiiii  !ifi;i,  EttVtt 

it  ai  their  o|tinion  that  if  the  gospel  were;  only  proarhed 


BAPTIST  MISBICWAHY  SOCIETY. 


at  Ohoipat«,  it  wowM  be  embraoed  #ith  cheeriulneas. 
Accordingly,  <M  the  16;h  of  April,  Messrs.  Carey  and 
MaurshmaB,  aeoOni]^ied  by  Krbino,  set  6ff  in  a  boat 
CD  this  tepcditioa,  <irtd  the  following  day,  about  noon, 
arrived  at  the  creAk  ieadihg  to  (he  house  of  this  br- 
famed  personage. 

Going  on  shore  whilst  their  dinner  was  preparmg  in 
the  boat,  the  missionaries  met  with  a  Bramin  accom- 
panied by  a  few  husbandmen  ;  and  one  of  the  latter 
availed  himself  of  this  opportunity  of  asking  Mr.  Carey 
whether  it  w^re  reasonable  that,  in  consequence  of  a 
cow  dying,  he  should  be  obliged  to  give  a  rupee  to 
his  own  Bramin,  and  to  be  put  to  the  additional 
expense  of  feasting  four  others.  Mr.  Carey  of  course 
replied  in  the  negative,  and  proceeded  not  only  to 
invalidate  the  assumed  authority  of  the  Bramin?,  but 
also  to  demonstrate  the  insufficiency  and  absurdity 
of  the  Hindoo  religion,  and  to  point  out  the  revealed 
will  of  God,  in  the  Scriptures  of  truth,  as  the  only 
way  of  eternal  salvation.  Ho  also  distributed  pa- 
pers to  such  of  the  party  as  were  capable  of  read- 
ing them,  and  Kristno  undertook  to  explain  their 
contents. 

About  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  they  came 
within  sight  of  Dulol's  house,  which  proved  to  be 
a  stately  edifice,  exceeding  that  of  many  rajahs,  and 
surrounded  by  garners  filled  with  grain,  which,  having 
been  presented  by  his  deluded  followers,  evinced  the 
profitableness  of  his  tradu.  At  a  short  distance  was  a 
large  post  erected  for  swinging ;  and  a  little  farther 
was  a  raiU,  or  carriage  with  several  wheels,  made  in 
imitation  of  that  of  Juggernaut,  and  designed  for  the 
same  purposes.  Dulol  had  been  on  a  visit  to  Calcut- 
ta ;  but  whilst  our  missionaries  were  conversing  with  a 
considerable  number  of  his  followers,  it  was  announced 
that  he  had  just  returned,  and  would  grant  them  an 
audience. 

"  In  a  few  moments,"  says  Mr.  Marshman,  "  we 
were  'ishcrod  into  his  garden,  where  chairs  were  set 
for  us,  and  a  pink  sntin  cushion  for  him.  The  great 
man  appeared  a  figure  no  loss  plump  than  Harchus, 
about  twenty  years  of  age.  Kristno  stood  behind  us, 
facing  his  former  master,  with  the  New  Testament  in 
his  hand.  A  few  of  Dulol's  select  followers  were  ad- 
mitted, and  the  rest  disappeared  at  a  nod.  The  con- 
versation was  opened  by  brother  Carey,  who  stated 
our  visit  to  l>e  for  the  purpose  of  having  some  discourse 
iin  the  i.nportant  subject  of  salvaticm.  Dulol,  in  the 
most  insinuating  manner,  asked  what  we  meant  by  sin 
and  hell,  denying  their  existence,  and  inquiring,  as 
(ind  was  in  us,  how  sin  could  be  there,  since  none 
were  eapable  of  resisting  him ;  much  time  was  thus 
^pent,  in  interrogations  on  one  side,  and  in  explanations 
on    the  vtho'.      Tnc    mamsai   wss   intporiant ;  kh", 


though  aware  tkat  we  coold  not  be  eonfoted,  we  were 
fearful  of  bia  evading  ns;  which  would  have  been 
ooBstnied,  by  him  and  ha  disciples  throughout  tfae 
country,  into  a  triumph  over  the  gospel. 

"  After  8<mie  time,  we  said.  You  are  a  master. 
'  Yes.'  If  your  servants  disobey  you,  bow  do  you  act  ? 
'  I  punish  them.'  Then  God  is  our  master,  and  will 
punish  our  disobedience.  '  Ood  is  not  like  man  ;  he 
lives  in  us.'  It  is  true,  in  a  certain  sense,  that  he 
lives  in  us ;  as  the  life,  reason,  and  understanding 
which  we  possess  are  his  gifts ;  but  these  have  been 
bestowed  upon  us  that  we  may  serve,  and  not  disobey 
him.  Suppose  you  send  a  servant  to  Calcutta,  with  a 
largo  sum,  to  purchase  a  variety  of  articles  for  your 
use,  and  he  go  to  a  house  of  ill  fame  and  live  there  on 
your  money.  Any  person  seeing  him,  and  recognising 
him  as  your  servant,  might  say,  What  a  profligate 
man  is  Dulol !  he  actually  keeps  one  of  his  servants  at 
a  house  of  infamy !  But  if  I'lis  were  said  in  your  hear- 
ing, you  would  naturally  reply.  It  is  true  he  lives  there 
on  my  money  ;  but  I  gave  it  to  him  for  a  very  differ- 
ent purpose,  and  will  punish  him  when  he  returns 
home.  '  God  is  not  like  us  ;  he  can  sway  the  mind  ; 
and,  therefore,  it  is  impossible  to  draw  a  parallel.' 
We  grant  it ;  but  for  the  sake  of  argument,  we  will 
suppose  you  equally  capable  of  influencing  the  mind 
of  your  servant.  If,  then,  you,  after  solemnly  warning 
him  of  the  consequences  of  disobedience,  turn  his 
mind,  which  was  not  previously  disobedient,  and  incline 
him,who  would  otherwise  have  been  unwilling,  to  spend 
your  money  in  lewdness  and  intemperance,  will  not 
people  naturally  exclaim.  What  a  villain  is  his  masterl 
Now,  it  is  in  this  way  that  you  represent  the  Deity, 
when  you  assert,  that  he,  being  within  us,  causes  us  to 
I'ommit  those  very  crimes  which  he  has  forbiddsn  un- 
der the  severest  penalties. 

"  This  statement  quite  disconcerted  Dulol ;  who, 
indeed,  attempted  several  evasions,  but  altogether  in 
vain.  Brother  Carey  then  told  him,  that  God  had 
sent  his  word  hither  to  reveal  the  true  way  of  salva- 
tion, and  that  wc  had  brought  a  copy  for  his  nrreptance. 
At  this,  he  was  evidently  disconcerted  ;  as  if  convinced 
that  the  mere  taking  of  the  lM>ok  would  be  a  virtual 
abandonment  of  all  his  pretensions.  He,  therciure,  said, 
'  This  is  tho  flrst  time  I  have  seen  you  ;  and  though  your 
words  are  very  good,  we  must  be  better  acquainted 
before  I  can  receive  your  book.*  Seeing  it  wjudd  be 
in  vain  to  press  him,  we  withdraw  ;  lolling  him  that 
we  should  be  happy  to  see  him  at  Serampore  ;  that 
our  wish  was  only  to  examine,  in  a  free  and  candid 
manner,  for  the  snko  of  discovering  divine  tnith  ;  and 
that,  as  we  had  found  the  w<ird  of  God  a  sovereign 
remedy  when  wc  ourselves  were  sick  unto  death,  we 
w«rr«  lisiuntiiy  ioiiviiinii  to  snuudsvC  !« ts  otnsrS|  wnsm 


w«  knew  tobe^«bori^  under  the  same  disease, 
thus,  in  mutusl  good  humor,  we  parted." 

On  the  10th  of  May,  Mr.  Ward  was  married  to 
Mrs.  Fountain ;  and  for  the  first  time  the  nuptial  cere- 
mony was  performed  by  the  missionaries ;  all  their 
previous  marriages  having  been  solemnized  by  an  Eng- 
lish clergyman.  Mr.  Carey  introduced  the  business 
by  a  few  words,  and  read  a  form  of  marriage  agree- 
ment, which  had  been  drawn  up  with  the  concurrence 
of  the  civil  authorities.  Mr.  Ward  then  took  the 
bride  by  her  hand,  and  walked  up  to  the  table,  saying, 
"  We  sign  this  our  solemn  covenant  to  each  other." 
They  then  signed  it,  and  about  a  dozen  friends,  Euro- 
pean and  Bengalee,  added  their  signatures.  After  this, 
Mr.  Carey  delivered  a  very  appropriate  address  on  the 
relative  duties  of  husband  and  wife,  and  made  an 
interesting  allusion  to  ti.s  situation  of  the  missionary 
family,  in  which  all  personal  and  individual  interests 
were  swallowed  up  in  the  general .  interest  of  the 
whole.  A  short  prayer  concluded  the  service,  and 
some  fruit  and  other  articles  were  distributed  among 
the  native  friends  by  the  bridegroom. 

About  a  fortnight  after  this,  three  Mussulmen  came 
from  a  distance  of  nearly  sixty  miles  to  inquire  after 
the  neta  way.  They  consented  to  stay  a  few  days 
with  the  missionaries  :  and,  though  they  ajjpeared  to 
find  much  difficulty  in  the  doctrine  of  the  Trinity,  the 
sonship  of  Christ,  8ic.,  they  listened  with  grjat  atten- 
tion to  all  that  was  told  them  concerning  the  plan  of  sal- 
vation, and  stated  their  objections  with  great  candor  and 
ingenuousness.  In  fact,  they  appeared  nuich  pleased 
with  their  visit,  and  earnestly  invitt-d  the  brethren  to 
their  villages,  promising  to  accompany  them  through 
that  part  of  the  country. 

The  evening  preceding  their  departure,  Kristno's 
eldest  daughter,  Golok,  having  previously  returned  to 
her  father's  house,  and  expressed  an  earnest  desire  for 
baptism,  gave  in  her  experience  before  the  church. 
The  substance  of  it  was,  that  she  had  first  heard  the 
gospel  from  her  father,  soon  after  the  missionaries  had 
removed  to  Sorampore,  and  was  then  convinced  that 
she  needed  sudi  a  Saviour  as  was  revealed  therein. 
When  carried  off  by  hor  husband,  she  still  remained 
attached  tnChristianity.and  was,  on  one  occasion, over- 
heard whilst  pouring  out  her  soul  in  prayer  before 
Jesus.  This  procured  her  a  severe  beating  from  her 
husband  ;  and  she  was  aQorwards  under  the  necessity 
of  praying  silently.  Whan  repeatedly  urged  to  eat 
things  offered  to  the  Hindoo  gods,  she  constantly  or.d 
peremptorily  refused,  saying  that  dumb  idols  could  do 
nothing  towards  the  salvation  of  the  soul.  She  appear- 
ed suitably  affected  by  the  idea  of  being  in'niittod  into 
fellowship  with  the  people  of  God;  and  on  the  first  sab- 


BEN6AL. 

And 


8»l 


of  the  samo  month,  Miss  Rumohr,  a  German  Udf 
residing  at  Serampor*,  went  Ibrowgh  the  same  religious 
ceremony;  and  on  the  4th  of  July,  four  more  natives 
were  baptised  ;  namely,  Peroo,  a  Mussulman ;  Bbanit, 
a  Hindoo ;  Petumber  Mittre,  a  kaist  firom  Jessie,  and 
Dropodee,  his  wife. 

Towards  the  latter  end  of  July,  on^  of  the  Mussul- 
nien,  who  had  solicited  the  missionaries  to  visit  their 
villages,  came  again,  for  the  purpose  of  conducting 
any  of  them  who  were  inclined  to  go  thither.  The 
only  person  capable  of  undertaking  so  1  ig  a  journey 
was  Mr.  Marshman.  He,  however,  readily  consented, 
and  took  with  him  the  new  converts,  Petumber  Mittre 
and  Bharut. 

On  their  areival  at  the  place  of  their  destination, 
situated  in  the  district  of  Jessore,  near  the  river  Isa- 
muty,  they  found  about  two  hundred  persons,  com- 
prisuig  Mussulmen  and  Hindoos  ;  the  latter  of  whom 
were  formerly  of  various  orders,  but  had  for  several 
years  renounced  the  gradations  of  caste  altogether. 
Many  of  them,  indeed,  appeared  to  be  convinced  of 
the  absurdity  and  wickedness  both  of  the  Hindoo  and 
Mahometan  faith,  and  expressed  a  strong  desire  to 
hear  the  gospel,  confessing  thai  they  were  totally  ig- 
norant of  the  right  way.  Mr.  Marshman's  reception, 
therefore,  exceeded  his  most  sanguine  expectations  ; 
and  on  his  arriving  at  the  place  appointed  for  preach- 
ing, the  people  came  flocking  together,  and,  sitting 
down  on  the  grass,  desired  iiim  to  enter  immediately 
on  the  subject.  After  having  listened  with  profound 
attention  for  about  half  an  hour,  they  requested  the 
preacher  to  rest,  and  take  some  refreshment.  He  did 
so,  and  then  resumed  his  discourse.  They  heard  most 
attentively,  occasionally  proposing  questions,  and  re- 
quiring proof  for  every  thing  that  was  advanced,  hut 
in  the  most  candid  and  friendly  manner.  Some  of 
the  ideas  brought  forward  made  an  evident  impression 
on  them  ;  particularly  that  of  God's  hatred  of  sin  being 
more  strikingly  manifested  m  the  death  of  his  Son, 
than  it  would  have  been  in  the  everiasting  puni^^hment 
of  the  whole  posterity  of  Adam. 

After  discoursing  for  three  or  four  hours,  Mr.  Marsh- 
man  observed,  that  they  must  bo  weary,  and  proposed 
retiring  to  his  boat  To  this  they  readily  acceded ; 
but  they  followed  him  to  the  water  side,  and,  whilst 
he  lay  down  to  sleep,  they  entered  into  close  conver- 
sation with  Petumber  Mittre.  In  nlwut  two  hourc,  our 
missionary  arose,  and  renewed  his  pleasing  and  truly 
inipoi  tunt  w  ork.  Taking  as  the  basis  of  his  disoourte 
those  beautiful  words  of  the  apostle,  "  Wo  pray  you, 
in  Christ's  stead,  be  yo  reconciled  to  God,"  he  de- 
scribed tiieawfuldistance  which  sin  had  placed  l>ctwoen 
(lod  and  man,  and  showed  the  utter  insuflicioncy  of 
baihin  June,  was  baptised  by  Mr.  Carey.    On  the  i;iih  il  all  other  ways  of  reconciliation  than  that  pointed  out 


^^p 


BAPTIST  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


in  the  gospel.  After  this,  the  hearers  retired  to  a 
viranda,  where  they  spent  the  evening,  sitting  around 
their  visitors,  and  asking  questions  relative  to  Ciirist, 
the  resurrection,  and  a  future  state.  At  nine  o'clock, 
Mr.  Marshraan  retired,  full  of  astonishment  and  thank- 
fulness at  what  had  transpired  in  the  day. 

"  These  people,  amounting  to  some  hundreds," 
says  the  editor  of  the  Brief  Narrative,  "  had,  for  the 
last  fourteen  years,  begun  to  dislike  the  idolatry  of  the 
country  ;  and,  attaching  themselves  to  a  grave,  elderly 
man,  named  Neelo,  as  their  goroo  or  teacher,  had, 
from  that  time,  been  inquiring  after  the  right  way. 
The  old  man  had  taught  them  that  there  was 
one  God,  who  alone  was  to  be  worshipped ;  that  sin 
was  to  be  forsaken  ;  and  that  a  further  revelation  was 
to  be  expected ;  and  it  was  in  consequence  of  his 
having  heard  of  the  missionaries,  that  a  person  was 
sent  to  Serampore,  to  request  them  to  visit  their  part 
of  the  country.  After  Mr.  Marshman  had  spent  the 
Lord's  day  among  them,  the  old  man  look  him  aside, 
for  private  conversation,  and  appeared  to  be  very 
averse  from  the  system  of  the  Bramins,  and  very 
friendly  to  the  gospel,  as  opposed  to  it ;  reconimend- 
ing  tlio  latter,  also,  to  his  people,  as  the  revelation 
which  he  had  encouraged  them  to  expect. 

After  our  missionary  had  set  out  on  his  return,  Pe- 
tumber  Mittre  told  him  of  another  famous  goroo, 
named  Sceb  Ram  Dass,  who  had  rejerted  idolatry, 
and  had  drawn  to  liimself  nearly  twenty  tiiousand  disci- 
ples, Hindoos  and  Mussuhnen.  Petuniher  added  that 
he  had  once  been  among  the  number  of  his  followers, 
and  seemed  to  think  it  probable  tiiat  botii  the  goroo 
and  his  adherents  might  be  nov-  inclined  to  hear  the 
gospel.  He,  therefore,  despatched  a  note  to  his  former 
teacher,  accompanied  with  a  written  intimation  from 
Mr.  Murshmnn,  tliat  he  was  coming  to  prcarh  the 
word  of  the  living  God  to  all  who  might  feel  inclined 
to  r.ssemble  and  hear  it. 

"Being  now  witliin  ton  miles  of  Juggordundiikatly, 
the  residence  of  this  man,"  says  Mr.  Marslmi<m,  "  I 
thoiight  it  would  not  bo  liino  thrown  away  to  call  there. 
But  the  road  was  cxreediiig  difficult.  By  land,  the 
kolls  of  water  rendered  it  almost  imi)ussable  ;  and  by 
water,  it  wao  a  long  and  ivdious  way.  However,  on 
the  !8th  of  Augu.st,  we  set  olT,  about  three  o'chxk  in 
the  morning,  with  our  Imats,  and  wandered  in  the  rire 
fiehN.  Hero  it  was  truly  curious  to  see  the  boats 
makini^  their  way,  with  comparnlivo  ouso,  though  the 
corn  was  so  high,  that  it  was  scarcely  possible  to  per- 
ceive any  water.  As  we  were  prweoding,  wo  s-w 
two  Bramins  at  a  distance,  and  one  of  them  came  up 
10  us.  We  l<.ld  him,  in  a  few  words,  that  his  shaslor-i 
were  false,  and  his  deblas  wick.id,  and,  consequently, 
'.hat  he  could  nevor  be  saved  by  consultinjs  or  wor- 


shipping them.  We  also  told  him  of  the  death  of 
Christ,  as  the  only  atonement  for  siu,  and  gave  him 
some  papers  to  take  home  with  him. 

"  About  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  there  being 
not  more  than  twelve  inches  of  water  in  the  field  we 
were  obliged  to  stop,  near  something  like  a  bazaar 
where  Petumber  met  with  some  of  Ram  Daas's  peo> 
pie.  They  appeared  pleased  with  our  errand  ;  led  us 
by  a  passable  way;  and  sent  one  of  their  ni-mber 
bfcfore,  to  provide  a  boat,  that  we  might  go  up  a  small 
river  called  the  Byetna,  to  the  habitation  of  Ram  Dass. 
We  arrived  aboet  six  o'clock ;  but  the  aspect  of  Jug- 
gerdundakatty  was  widely  different  from  that  of  Ghos- 
para.  Here,  indeed,  were  storehouses  well  filled,  and 
heaps  of  grain  in  the  yard,  which  I  suppose  they  had 
been  cleaning  ;  but,  though  every  thing  wore  the  ap- 
pearance of  plenty,  here  was  no  magnificence ;  noth- 
ing but  mud  walls. 

"  The  old  man  wi  sitting  in  the  shade,  on  a  blanket, 
surrounded  by  a  ,  of  his  followers.  He  ordered 
a  mat  for  me,  and  in  a  few  moments  nearly  a  hundred 
of  his  disciples  seated  themselves  on  the  ground  around 
us.  We  now  entered  on  the  subject  of  the  gospel, 
and  the  goroo,  who  listened  with  apparent  approbation, 
said  that  my  words  were  true,  and  frequently  con- 
versed with  his  attendants.  After  a  conversation  of 
more  than  two  hours,  in  which  1  described  the  neces- 
sity of  Christ's  death,  and  the  impossibility  of  being 
reconciled  to  God  without  such  an  atonement,  1  pre- 
sented him  with  a  Testament,  which  he  received  kindly ; 
and,  in  return,  treated  me  with  milk,  plantains,  and 
sweetmeats  ;  requesting  me  to  remain  with  him  a  few 
days.  His  .son,  named  Sonutoii,  a  fine  youth  about 
twenty  yenis  of  age,  mo\^  took  mq  into  a  room  re- 
sembling an  out-house  in  a  farm-yard  in  England,  only 
the  floor  and  mud  walls  »erc  rall><T  smoother.  Hero 
he  spread  a  mat  foi  me  to  sleep  on  ;  whilst  the  old 
man  eoiitimicd  conversing  with  Bharut  and  Petumber 
lill  nearly  midnight. 

"  The  next  morning,  at  sun-rising,  the  old  gentle- 
man had  a  place  swept  in  his  orejiaid,  where  u  blanket 
"as  .spread  for  him.self,  mats  were  brought  for  the  poo- 
pie,  and  a  chuir  was  phiceil  for  mo.  Two  Bramins, 
who  reside  in  the  vicinity,  and  who,  1  afterwards  found, 
hud  imbibed  something  of  the  old  man's  sentiments, 
joined  our  parly,  uiuj  proved  to  be  very  pleasant  and 
sensible  men.  As  the  goroo  was  busily  employed  in 
smokiii)!;,  I  directed  my  discourse  |)rincipally  to  them, 
and  went  over  nearly  the  same  ground  as  on  the  pre- 
toding  evening.  They  seemed  to  hear  with  approbu- 
iion,  and  made  some  pertinent  ob.servatioiis  ;  hut  when 
I  asked  whother  they  rejected  idolatry,  they  appeared 
unwilling  to  answer.  When  ihey  unilerstood  that  I 
had  papers  with  me,  tlicy  wished  to  ho  made  a- quaiiilud 


BENGAL. 


with  their  contents;  and  on  my  reading  one  of  them, 
containing  a  summary  of  the  gospel,  they  seemed 
much  pleased,  and  spoke  highly  of  it,  as  containing 
'good  words.' 

"  We  now  retired  to  the  house,  and  they  gave  me 
railk  and  plantains  for  breakfast ;  whilst  Sonaton,  the 
goroo's  son,  sat  down  in  the  yprd,  with  a  circle  around 
him,  and  read  one  of  the  tracts  of  twenty  pages  quite 
through.  I  afterwards  committed  about  three  hundred 
of  these  tracts,  and  three  Testaments,  to  the  care  of 
Sonaton,  to  be  distributed  as  he  thought  proper  among 
his  father's  followers.  After  1  had  dined  on  rice,  fish, 
butter,  and  plantains,  the  old  gentleman  took  me 
aside,  and  desired  that  what  God  had  given  us  to  do 
might  be  done  quickly  ;  and  Sonaton,  with  six  or 
seven  otiier  persons,  accompanied  me  down  the  Byetna 
in  my  way  home." 

On  the  a7tli  of  September,  three  of  Neelo's  friends 
arrived  at  Serampore,  with  the  intelligence  that  the 
Bramms  of  Luckphool  (the  place  of  their  residence) 
had  raised  a  violent  persecution  against  them,  subse- 
quently to  Mr.  Marshuian's  visit.  That  faithful  servant 
of  God  had  been  hung  in  effigy  soon  after  his  depart- 
ure ;  the  papers  which  had  been  distributed  by  him 
were  torn  in  pieces,  and  hung  up  near  the  houses  of 
those  who  had  received  them  ;  other  papers  of  a 
scurrilous  tendency  had  been  exhibited  ;  and  the  mes- 
sengers, on  sotting  out  for  Serampore,  were  hissed 
away  by  a  deluded  mob.  Notwithstanding  these  dis- 
couraging circumstances,  however,  Me  is.  Wnrd  and 
Carey  visited  ilio  scone  of  persecution  in  the  follow- 
ing months,  and  had  much  conversation  with  Neelo 
and  lis  friends,  who  agreed  to  set  up  a  srhool,  and 
even  jiroposod  building  a  place  for  the  celebration  of 
Christian  worship. 

The  year  180;)  was  introduced  with  some  unpleas- 
ant occurrences  nmoiig  the  native  converts,  and  Kristno, 
though    an   upright   character,  by   giving    way  to   an 
irrilabihty  of  tempor,  produced  a  schism  in  the  church, 
which,  without  the  most  prudent  management,  might 
have  led  to  very  serious  conso(|uonres.     The  particu- 
lars are  thus  related  by  Mr.  Ward .— •<  When  Felix 
Carey,  !'etuinl)cr,l{«m  bass  and  I  went.on  r.ord'»-day 
morning,  January  «,  to  worship  at  Kristno's  house,  we 
found   that   he   had   already  commonred   the  service 
himself    After  singing,  I  expected  he  would  have  left 
Uio  maPf^rs.ient  to  me  or  Felix  ;  but  he  engaged  in 
prayer,  yiid  «(!arwards  began  a  kind  of  sermon,  ob- 
•orvin^  l!i»f,  as  this  was  the  beginning  of  the  year, ho 
inte-ried   n  iiegin  to  preach.     Aitoi  the  sermon,  they 
joineo  II,  singing,  and    Kristno  prayed  again.     I  was 
grieved  at  mis  irregularity,  and  withdrew   in  silence. 
In  tha  afternoon,  Krisino  proceeded  still  further:  he 
a4fr.in?5t5fei{  the  Ixird'i  iupper,  •iiU  ilm  native  mem- 


383 

hers  attended.  His  zeal  appears  to  have  been  excited 
by  a  feeling  of  jealousy,  in  consequence  of  our  having 
sent  Petumber  to  preach  at  a  place  called  Sooksau- 
gur.''  It  is  pleasing  to  add  that,  by  the  forbearance 
and  friendly  expostulations  of  the  missionaries,  Kristno 
was  soon  convinced  of  his  error,  and  all  was  happilv 
rectified.  ^^  •' 

About  the  same  time,  symptoms  of  repentance  were 
discovered  in  Gokool,  who  had  been  previously  ex- 
eluded  from  the  church  for  intemperate  conduct ;  and 
two  new  visitors,  Boodhessa  and  Kristno  Presaud 
arrived  at  Serampore,  anxiously  inquiring  after  the  way 
of  salvation.  The  former  was  a  Mussulman,  who 
having  seen  one  of  the  printed  tracts,  and  conferred 
with  his  acquaintance  respecting  its  contents,  had  come 
an  eight  days'  journey,  in  quest  of  further  intelligence. 
The  latter  was  a  young  Bramin  from  Dahatta.  On 
the  22d  of  January,  they  were  both  baptized ;  and  as 
Boodhessa  was  extremely  anxious  that  some  person 
might  go  with  him  to  his  part  of  the  country,  where 
he  stated  that  there  were  some  thousands  who  had 
totally  renounced  the  Koran,  and  the  Hindoo  shasters, 
Kristno  was  appointed  for  that  purpose. 

A  few  days  afterward,  Mr.  Chamberiain,  who  had 
been  solemnly  designated  as  a  missionary  to  India,  in 
the  preceding  year,  arrived  with  his  wife  at  Seram- 
pore.  Here  he  and  his  beloved  partner  received  a 
truly  cordial  welcome  from  the  missionaries,  and  the 
.lativc  converts  (who  anxiously  inquired  whether  their 
new  brother  and  sister  had  left  father,  mother, 
brothers,  or  sisters)  evinced  a  peculiar  degree  of  in- 
terest and  attachment  on  this  occasion.  "  They  can- 
not speak  our  language,"  said  one  of  them,  "  but  we 
perceive  that  all  ojr  hearts  are  one,  and  that  we  are 
completely  united  in  T  .■  death  of  Christ." 

On  the  (5th  of  March,  Petumber  Shingo  began 
preaching  in  Bengalee  to  a  mixed  congregation  ol 
Hindoos,  Mahometans,  Armenians,  and  Europeans. 
After  praying  for  a  short  time  with  feivornnd  consist- 
ency, ho  sat  down,  and,  with  his  hands  joined  together 
and  stretched  out,  solicited  the  attention  of  his  auditors. 
Ho  then  spoke  for  an  hour,  with  great  faithfulness  and 
propriety,  and  closed  the  service  with  prayer.  The 
missionaries  felt  completely  satisfied  with  the  manner 
in  which  ho  acquitted  himscli  j  and  as  this  was  the 
first  sermon  delivered  by  a  native,  they  considered 
it  as  an  important  era  in  the  history  of  the  mission. 

On  the  4th  of  Ajiril,  Kristno  Presaud  was  married 
to  Oiiundu,  Kristno's  second  daughter,  and  the  nuptial 
ceremony  was  performed  mucli  in  the  same  way  as 
Mr.  Ward's  had  been.  The  dpy  following,  (he  new 
married  -ouplo  and  the  missionaries  had  a  supper  at 
Kristno's  house,  consisting  of  curry,  fried  fish,  vezett- 
bies,  fee. ;  and  whilst  they  all  sat  down  together. 


BAPTIST  MISSION ARV  SOCIETY. 


>nthout  distinction  of  c<dor  Or  country,  som*  of  the 
migfabon  looked  on  with  the  greatest  astonbhment. 
It  was,  indeed,  a  new  and  singular  sight  in  a  land 
where  the  diffisrence  between  clean  and  unclean  is  so 
scrupulously  regarded,  and  might  be  justly  considered 
as  a  glorious  triumph  over  the  caste. 

On  the  fourth  sabbath  in  April,  Kristno  Presaud, 
Ram  Roiun,  and  some  other  converts,  attempted  to 
communicate  the  glad  tidings  of  salvation  to  the  in- 
habitants of  Budabatty ;  but,  though  some  persons 
listened  to  them  with  sciousness  and  attention,  they 
met  with  the  most  violent  opposition  from  the  mob, 
who  abused  and  threatened  them,  as  feringas,  as  de- 
stroyers of  caste,  and  as  having  eaten  fowb,  eggs,  and 
other  prohibited  articles  of  food.  On  their  attempting 
to  return,  some  of  the  populace  began  to  beat  them, 
putting  their  hands  on  the  back  of  their  necks,  and 
ferociously  pushing  them  forward ;  and  a  man  who  was 
a  civil  officer  grazed  the  point  of  a  spear  against  the 
body  of  one  of  them.  Finding  that  all  these  Insults 
were  endured  with  patience  and  meekness,  the  deluded 
idolaters  threw  cow-dung  mixed  with  gunga  water  at 
them  ;  talked  of  making  them  a  necklace  of  old  shoes  ; 
and  threatened  that  if  ever  they  appeared  there  again, 
their  lives  should  be  sacrificed.  As  they  were  prepar- 
ing to  depart,  the  converted  natives  attempted  to  pray; 
but  the  infuriated  multitude  began,  with  one  consent, 
to  boot  and  clap  their  hands,  in  order  to  drown  their 
voices ;  so  that  they  were  compelled  to  desist. 

The  native  convert  Gokool  had,  for  some  time, 
appeared  to  be  drawing  near  his  end,  and,  on  the  7th 
of  October,  he  entered  into  that  "  rest  which  remaineth 
for  the  people  of  God."  About  two  hours  before,  he 
called  his  professing  countrymen  around  him  to  sing 
and  pray,  and  appeared  to  be  perfectly  resigned  and 
tranquil.  "  Some  of  the  neighbors,"  says  Mr.  Marsh- 
nan,  "  had  been  persuading  him,  the  day  before,  to 
employ  a  native  doctor  ;  but  he  peremptorily  refused, 
saying,  he  would  have  no  physician  but  Jesus  Christ. 
On  their  asking, '  How  is  it  that  you,  who  have  turned 
to  Christ,  should  be  thus  afflicted  ?'  he  replied,  '  My 
affliction  is  on  account  of  my  sins  :  my  Lord  docs  all 
things  well  !'  Observing  Koniul  (who  was  a  most 
affectionate  wifi;)  in  tears,  ho  said,  '  Why  do  you 
weep  for  me  ?'  From  the  beginning  of  his  illness  he 
had  little  hope  of  recovery  ;  yet  he  never  murmured, 
nor  appeared  at  all  anxious  for  medicine.  His  patience, 
indeed,  was  astonishing,  and  his  tranquil  and  happy 
end  has  made  a  deep  impression  on  our  friends,  who 
fVequonlly  say  to  each  other,  '  May  my  mind  bt  n$ 
Ookool't  wa$ !'  " 

As  this  was  Uh<  first  convert»ul  native  who  had  died, 
th*  missionaries  felt  anvioun  to  sot  such  an  example 
of  (^hriftian  burial  as  might  be  favorable  to  the  Kosoel. 


Accordingly,  they  ordered  some  carpenters  in  tbeiir 
employ  to  make  a  decent  coffin,  and  this  was  covered, 
both  within  and  on  the  outside,  by>  Kristno,  at  his  own 
expense,  with  white  muslin.  A  great  number  of  people 
having  assembled  to  witness  the  interment,  two  of  the 
brethren  and  two  of  the  professing  natives  took  up 
the  corpse,  and,  with  the  assistance  of  two  others, 
carried  it  to  the  grave.  "  Here,"  says  Mr.  Marshman, 
"  we  sang  two  appropriate  hymns  ;  and,  as  the  crowd 
was  still  accumulating,  I  endeavored  to  show  the 
grounds  of  our  joyfiil  hope,  even  in  death,  referring 
to  the  deceased  for  a  proof  of  its  efficacy.  I  told  the 
spectators  that  he  had  been  a  great  sinner,  as  they  all 
knew,  and  therefore  could  find  no  way  of  salvation  in 
the  Hindoo  system;  but  when  he  heard  of  Jesus 
Christ,  he  received  him  as  a  suitable  and  all-sufficient 
Saviour,  and,  putting  his  trust  in  him,  died  full  of  a 
tranquil  hope.  After  entreating  them  to  consider  their 
own  state,  i  offered  up  a  prayer,  sang  a  Bengalee 
hymn,  and  distributed  some  papers  among  the  people, 
who  probably  amounted  to  about  five  hundred.  They 
seemed  much  struck  with  the  novelty  of  the  scene, 
and  with  the  love  which  Christians  manifest  toward 
each  other,  even  in  death  ;  so  widely  different  from 
their  practice  of  throwing  their  relations  half  dead  into 
the  river,  or  burning  their  bodies,  with,  perhaps,  a 
solitary  attendant." 

In  the  course  of  this  year  (1803),  the  directors 
presented  a  copy  of  the  Bengalee  New  Testament 
and  of  the  Pentateuch  to  his  late  majesty,  by  whom 
they  were  graciously  accepted  ;  and  about  the  same 
time,  measures  were  adopted  for  translating  the  Holy 
Scriptures  into  various  other  oriental  languages. 

In  the  niontli  of  January,  1804,  Mr.  Chamberlain 
and  Felix  Carey,  accompanied  by  two  of  the  native 
converts,  went  to  Saugur  island,  for  the  purpose  of 
distributing  Testaments  and  religious  tracts  among  the 
Hindoos,  who  assemble  there  in  immense  crowds,  at 
that  season  of  the  year,  to  bathe  in  the  Gunga  Saugor, 
or  the  confluence  of  the  river  Hoogley  and  the  sea. 
As  they  approached  the  island,  they  were  overwhelmed 
with  astonishment  at  the  prodigious  number  of  boats, 
which  seemed  jammed  together  for  a  vast  extent, 
whilst  multitudes  upon  multitudes  of  |)eople  had  pitch- 
ed theii  tents  on  shore,  partly  on  a  large  sand-bank, 
and  partly  in  the  jungle.  Here  an  immensely  populcus 
town  had  beeri  raised  in  a  very  few  days,  full  of  streets, 
lanes,  and  bazaars  ;  in  which  many  sorts  of  trade  w..u 
going  on,  with  all  the  hurry  and  bustle  of  the  most 
flourishing  city.  On  our  visitors  leaving  the  hohts 
and  goi.ig  among  the  pnopie,  th^y  witnessed  tlic  works 
of  idolatry  and  blind  superstition.  Crowds  of  infatuat- 
ed men,  women,  and  children,  high  and  low,  rich 
and  Door.  were  bathine  in  the 


river  and  worshinninE 


BENGAL. 


SS5 


Gunga,  by  making  salaams,  and  spreading  offerings 
of  rice,  flowers,  and  cowries,  for  the  goddess  to  take 
on  the  return  of  the  tide.  Formerly  it  was  customary 
for  manj  of  the  devotees  to  sacrifice  themselves  or 
their  children  to  the  sharks  and  alligators,  which  abound 
in  this  part  of  the  river ;  but  the  East  India  Company 
have  now  prohibited  this  horrid  practice,  and  have 
stationed  sepoys  along  the  side  of  the  water,  effectually 
to  prevent  it.  The  mud  and  water  of  this  place  are 
accounted  so  sacred,  that  they  are  carried,  in  large 
quantities,  on  men's  shoulders,  to  a  distance  of  some 
hundreds  of  miles ;  and  the  worshipperr>  who  resort 
hither  cai;efully  daub  themselves  with  the  former,  and 
sprinkle  their  bodies  with  the  latter,  under  the  idea 
that  they  are  thus  cleansed  from  all  moral  defilement. 
Many  of  the  boats  were  filled  with  people,  some  of 
whom  presented  the  most  disgusting  sight  that  can  be 
easily  imagined.  Their  hair  and  beards  had  been 
suffered  to  grow  to  an  enormous  length ;  their  clothing 
was  scarcely  sufficient  for  the  purpose  of  decency ; 
and  their  bodies  were  covered  with  figures  of  the  most 
odious  and  abominable  description.  Some  of  these 
wretched  creatures  i  ,d  performed  a  journey  of  four 
or  five  months,  with  no  other  view  than  that  of  bathing 
in  the  Gunga  Saugor  ! 

"  As  we  passed  along,"  says  Mr.  Chamberlain,  "  I 
began  our  work  by  asking  a  man  why  he  was  come 
hither,  and  then  desiring  Felix  to  carry  on  the  con- 
versation ;  and,  though  the  people  were,  at  first,  greatly 
surprised  to  see  Sakatbs  or  Europeans  among  them, 
they  made  their  salaams  to  us,  and  were  very  attentive, 
wliilst  Felix  and  Kristno  addressed  some  of  them, 
and  I  endeavored  to  speak  to  many  more.  Never, 
indeed,  had  I  greater  satisfaction  than  whilst  engaged 
in  conversing  seriously  with  them,  and  distributing 
tracts  and  Testaments.  The  seriousness  with  which 
tlio  people  listened  to  that  which  was  spoken,  their 
eagerness  for  the  books,  and  the  peculiarity  of  their 
circumstances,  never  having  heard  of  tlie  Saviour  be- 
fore, gave  me  such  pleasure  as  I  am  unable  to  express. 
Two  respectable  persons,  to  wliom  I  spoke  with  some 
liberty  respecting  the  death  of  our  blessed  Lord, 
heard  with  great  attention,  and  the  oldest  man  was  so 
much  affected,  that  tears  gushed  into  his  eyes  and 
rolled  down  his  cheeks."  The  multitude  assembled 
on  this  occasion  was  computed  at  upwards  of  a  hun- 
dred thousand  persons  ;  and  most  of  those  to  whom 
books  or  tmcts  were  c<ven,  had  come  from  distant 
parts  of  the  country,  where  the  way  of  salvation  had 
never  Iwen  explained,  and  the  blessings  of  the  frnspel 
were  utterly  unknown. 

A   few  days  afterward,  Mr.  Fernandci,  who  had 


fliatrir 


a  t  ri  }\i  1 1 1  n  dr      or^m  a 


»n<l      T, 


octntvtAsn  ta      «# 


place  called  Culna,  had  an  opportunity, on  his  return. 
Vol..  I.— Nos.  l!)«i  .H).  31 


of  witnessing  some  of  the  melancholy  effects  of  supers 
stition  and  the  Hindoo  shasters.  About  ten  o'clock 
at  night,  hearing  the  groans  of  some  person  on  shore, 
apparently  in  great  distress,  this  gentleman  sent  some 
of  his  rowers  to  ascertain  what  was  the  matter ;  and 
they  returned  with  the  intelligence  that  a  poor  sick 
man,  afflicted  with  the  bloody  flux,  and  considered 
incurable,  had  been  brought  to  the  side  of  the  river, 
and  there  left  to  expire  by  himself.  "  On  being  in- 
formed of  this,"  says  Mr.  Fernandez,  "I  wished  to 
give  him  some  castor  oil ;  but  while  I  was  preparing 
the  medicine,  we  saw  a  pack  of  dogs  and  jackals 
dragging  and  voraciously  devouring  something  near 
the  little  hut  where  this  poor  creature  lay.  1  imme* 
diately  despatched  some  of  my  people,  with  a  Ught,  to 
see  what  li  wbs  ;  uiiJ  on  ilieir  return  they  brought  the 
melancholy  news  that  the  man  was  actually  killed, 
and  partly  devoured  by  these  ferocious  animals  ;  and 
in  about  two  hours  more,  the  whole  body  was  com- 
pletely consumed !  My  heart  ached  exceedingly 
whilst  musing  on  this  shocking  occurrence,  and  I  felt 
acutely  for  the  poor,  unenlightened  Hindoos  !"• 

Early  in  February,  Kristno  and  Petumber  Shingo 
were  solemnly  set  apart  for  the  work  of  the  ministry, 
with  prayer  and  imposition  of  hands,  and  on  the  same 
day,  a  prayer-meeting  was  held  for  imploring  a  blessing 
on  the  undertaking  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Chamberlain, 
who  were  about  to  remove  to  Cutwa,  where  they 
afterwards  took  a  piece  of  ground  for  a  new  missionary 
station.  Two  more  schools  were  also  opened,  in  the 
month  of  May,  under  the  superintendence  of  native 
teachers,  one  at  Bishoohurry,  and  the  other  at  Arenda ; 
where  adults,  as  well  as  children,  were  encouraged  to 
attend  for  instruction. 

On  the  7th  of  July,  one  of  the  converted  natives, 
named  Totaram,  was  called  to  exchange  w  jrlds,  after 
a  short  illness ;  and  all  who  knew  him,  both  Europeans 
and  heathen,  were  constrained  to  bear  testimony  to 
the  correctness  of  his  walk  and  conversation.  He 
was  buried  in  the  cemetery  belonging  to  the  mission- 
aries, and  those  who  had  been  made  the  happy  instru- 
ments of  instructing  him  in  the  things  of  God,  cheer- 
fully assisted  in  conveying  his  mortal  remains  to  their 
long  home.  "  Carrying  the  corpse  of  a  brother  on 
our  shoulders,"  soys  Mr.  Ward,  "  would  probably 
shock  any  European  who  should  hear  of  it ;  but  the 
natives  said  it  was  great  love,  and  proved  that  wo  did 
not  forsake  those  who  joined  themselves  unto  us, 
oven  to  the  last.  We  sang  at  the  orsivo  ;  bn-iher 
Marshman  addressed  the  spectators ;  and  \  clossd 
with  prayer." 

Towanis  the  latter  end  of  August,  a  most  tender 
..„.)   «av. : i^^ _.u;_i.    i i,- :_._!.. 

styled  *■  a  missionary  conflict,"  was  exhibited  at  Seram- 


926 


BAPTIST  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


mnn 


1^!  I 


pore,  and  has  been  thus  described  in  the  journal  of 
the  Rev.  W.  Ward  :— 

"  I  was,  one  day,  sitting  among  our  native  brethren 
at  the  Bengalee  school,  hearing  them  read  and  explain 
a  portion  of  the  Scriptures  m  turn,  when  a  venerable, 
gray-headed,  and  well-dressed  Bramin  came  in  ;  and, 
standing  before  me,  said,  with  joined  hands,  and  in  a 
supplicating  tone  of  voice,  <  Sahib  !  I  am  come  to  ask 
an  alms.     Yes !'   said  he  hastily,  and  beginning  to 
weep,  '  I  am  come  to  solicit  an  . . .  alms.'     As  he 
continued  standing,  with  his  hands  in  a  supplicating 
posture,  and  tears  falling  from  his  eyes,  I  requested 
him  to  explain  his  meaning,  observing  that  his  appear- 
ance did  not  convey  the  idea  of  his  wanting  any 
pecuniary  assistance.     Being  pressed  on  this  subject, 
he  at  length  entreated  me  lu  give  hhu  his  ouu,  puint- 
ing,  at  the  same  time,  into  the  midst  of  our  native 
brethren.    On  asking  to  which  of  the  pupils  he  alluded, 
he  pointed  out  a  young  Bramin  named  Soroop,  and, 
setting  up  a  plaintive  cry,  said,  '  Thai  is  my  son  !' 
We  now  endeavored  to  console  the  old  man,  and  at 
length  persuaded  him  to  sit  down  upon  the  viranda. 
Here,  however,  he  began  to  weep  again,  and  said,  that 
the  youth's  mother  was  dying  with  grief,  and  that 
if  he  would  only  go  home  and  see  her,  he  should  be 
M  liberty  either  to  remain  there,  or  to  return  again, 
according  to  his  own  inclination.     I  asked  his  name 
and  place  of  abode ;  and  he  said  he  lived  about  twenty- 
eight  miles  off,  mentioning  the  name  of  the  village. 
I  told  him,  that  since  his  son  had  come  among  us, 
no  control  had  been  exercised  over  him,  and  that  he 
was  now  at  full  liberty  to  act  according  to  the  dictates 
of  his  own  mind.     On  my  saying  this,  he  appeared 
completely  overcome,  and  threw  himself  at  my  feet, 
thanking  me  with  a  flood  of  tears.     I  prevailed  upon 
him  to  rise,  and  endeavored  to  assuage  his  grief ;  but, 
at  the  same  time,  asked  him  how  he  could  bear  the 
thought  of  taking  his  son  back  into  Hindooism,  and 
leading  him  to  hell,  now  he  had  begun  to  think  about 
Christ,  and  was  learning  the  way  to  heaven.      At  all 
events,  1    told    him,   Soroop  must    remain   with    us 
during  the  night,  that  his  mind  might  become  perfectly 
calm,  and  that   he  might  pray  for  divine  direction ; 
and  then,  in  the  morning,  if  he  would  come,  and  his 
son  chose  to  go  with  him,  no  obstacle  should  be  thrown 
in  his  way.     The  o'd  Bramin,  however,  seemed  very 
reluctant  to  agree  to  this  proposal;    observing   that 
Soroop's  jKwr  old  mother  was  really  dying  with  grief, 

....  and  if  he  would  but  go, and,  if  he  did  not 

like  to  stay,  ho  iniKht  write  a  deed  of  separation  for 
tlie  preservation  of  their  caste,  and  that  then  he  might 
do  as  he  thought  proper.  I  told  him,  if  his  son  were 
a  child,  he  might  lay  his  commands  upon  him  ;  but 
that,  imving  atiained  to  tlie  age  of  nearly  twenty  years, 


he  ought  to  be  allowed  to  choose  a  religion  for  him- 
self. To  this  the  old  man  assented,  observing  that  it 
was  certainly,  not  m  his  power  now  to  effect  any  thing 
by  force. 

"  After  some  time,  the  Bramin  called  his  son  aside, 
and  set  up  a  lamentable  cry,  weeping  over  him,  and 
earnestly  entreating  him  to  comply  with  his  request ; 
so  that  I  was  much  afraid  lest  the  tenderness  and 
excessive  grief  of  the  old  man  should  overcome  our 
pupil.  He,  however,  appeared  firmly  resolved  not 
to  go,  and  when  his  father  was  going  out,  after  con- 
senting that  he  should  remain  with  us  during  the  night, 
he  went  lip  to  one  of  our  aged  brethren,  and  fell  at 
his  feet,  assuring  him  'that  he  would  not  return  home ; 
for  that,  if  he  did,  he  should  inevitably  go  to  hell. 
Going  out  at  the  door  of  the  school-house,  I  found  that 
the  old  man  had  fallen  down  in  an  agony  of  grief,  and 
that  some  of  his  disciples  were  raising  him  up,  and 
endeavoring  to  persuade  him  to  go  with  them.  I  also 
tried  to  moderate  his  grief,  and  at  length  he  got  up 
and  walked  away  with  his  disciples. 

"  The  next  morning  a  number  of  people  assembled 
at  the  school  with  Soroop's  father :  the  son,  however, 
persisted  that  he  would  not  return  home  now,  but 
said  he  would  gq  soon,  meaning  after  he  should  have 
been  baptized.  At  length  a  person,  who  seemed  to 
be  a  particular  friend  of  the  old  Bramin,  inquired 
whether  Soroop  had  eaten  among  our  brethren,  and 
was  answered  in  the  affirmative.  Finding,  therefore, 
that  he  would  not  go,  and  that  ho  had  already  lost 
caste,  they  were  under  the  necessity  of  departing 
without  him  ;  though  the  old  man  declared  that  he 
would  never  return  to  his  habitation  without  his  son, 
but  would  rather  lie  down  and  die  in  Serampore." — 
Soroop  was  admitted  into  the  church,  by  the  rite  of 
baptism,  in  the  month  of  September,  with  two  other 
young  natives  of  the  writer  caste.  And  there  is 
reason  to  suppose  that  the  illness  of  his  mother,  so 
affectingly  described  by  the  old  Bramin,  was  a  mere 
pretence  to  inveigle  the  son  once  more  into  the  snares 
of  idolatry. 

In  the  month  of  October,  Ram  Mohun,  a  converted 
native,  who  had  been  baptized  in  the  spring,  preached 
to  about  forty  of  his  countrymen  at  Calcutta,  with 
great  freedom  and  consistency,  declaring  unto  them 
the  atonement  of  Christ  as  the  only  mean  of  salvation. 
The  husband  of  Golok,  Kristno's  eldest  daughter,  also 
came  to  reside  with  her  in  her  father's  house,  and 
consented  to  come  under  the  sound  of  the  gospel ;  and 
Mr.  Felix  Carsy  was  married  to  a  young  woman  at 
Calcutta,  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Buchanan. 

The  14th  of  November  was  marked  by  llie  death  of 
Mrs.  Chamberlain,  whose  amiable  spirit  and  character 
had  endeared  her  to  all  with  whom  she  was  arquniiited. 


BENGAL. 


227 


It  seems  to  have  been  the  mutual  wish  of  herself  and 
the  sisters  at  Serampore,  that  she  should  have  returned 
from  Cutwa,  previously  to  her  confinement.  This, 
however,  was  rendered  impracticable ;  and,  notwith- 
standing the  merciful  deliverance  which  she  experi- 
enced in  the  hour  of  nature's  sorrow,  it  appeared  that 
Death  had  been  permitted  to  mark  her  out  as  one  of 
his  victims ;  and  in  a  few  days  she  expired,  with 
unshaken  confidence  in  that  blessed  Redeemer,  on 
whom  she  had  been  previously  enabled  to  cast  all  her 
concerns  and  to  centre  all  her  hopes. 

In  alluding  to  this  melancholy  subject,  Mr.  Marsh- 
man,  who  had  been  deputed  by  the  female  friends  at 
Seramp'  -e  to  conduct  Mrs.  Chamberlain  thither, 
remarks,  "  The  agony  of  her  dear,  bereaved  partner  I 
must  leave  you  to  figure  to  yourself;  it  is  too  much 
for  me  to  write.  Indeed  it  pierces  me  to  the  soul, 
even  now,  to  think  of  his  hanging  over  the  lifeless 
clay,  and  exclaiming,  '  O !  my  dear  Hannah !  Speak  to 
me  once  more,  my  beloved  Hannah !'  By  the  promise 
of  a  handsome  reward,  I  got  some  carpenters  to  make  a 
coffin,  and  by  the  same  motive  induced  the  gardener 
and  another  man  to  assist  me  in  digging  a  grave  ;  but 
though  this  was  just  at  the  top  of  the  garden,  and  only 
about  thirty  yards  distant  from  the  house,  I  could  not 
prevail  on  any  of  the  servants  to  assist  me  in  conveying 
the  corpse  thither.  My  dear  afflicted  brother  and 
myself,  therefore,  by  slow  degrees,  conveyed  the 
precious  remains  of  the  deceased  to  the  spot  destined 
for  their  repose  till  the  resurre.ction  of  the  just ;  and 
a  short  prayer  in  the  Bengalee  concluded  the  mourn- 
ful scene." 

At  the  close  of  1804,  the  missionaries  speak  of 
having  baptized  seventeen  persons  in  the  course  of 
the  year ;  and  though  some  irregularities  and  defections 
had  occurred  among  their  members,  they  were  by  no 
means  disheartened ;  on  the  contrary,  Mr.  Carey,  in 
a  letter  dated  December  12,  says  that,  notwithstanding 
their  disappointments  from  individuals,  he  conceives 
the  church  to  be,  upon  the  whole,  in  a  more  promising 
state  than  it  had  been  at  any  former  period  since  the 
commencement  of  the  mission. 

The  year  1805  was  introduced  with  a  plan  for 
erecting  a  new  place  of  worship  at  Calcutta,  where  the 
gospel  had  been  hitherto  preached  in  a  private  house  ; 
and  at  a  meeting  held  on  the  subject,  on  the  first  of 
January,  four  thousand  eight  hundred  rupees  were 
advanced,  a:  the  commencement  of  a  subscription 
toward  carrying  so  desirable  an  object  into  effect. 

Towards  t>ie  latter  end  of  February,  four  new 
missionaries,  Bfessrs.  Blss,  Mardon,  Moore,  and  Rowe, 
who  had  been  designated  for  this  important  work  in 


tiic  3uiu:iir:  ui 


„i*    ■  n^.rk 


ctj.3,  3nti  naa  set  ssii  lur  luiiid,  by  way 
of  America,  early  in  the  ensuing  year,  arrived  in  safety 


at  Serampore,  after  a  tedious  and  perilous  voyage ; 
and  were  taken  into  the  church  in  a  very  solemn  and 
affectionate  manner.  Mr.  Moore,  in  communicating 
this  intelligence  to  a  friend  in  England,  gives  a  concise 
description  of  the  mission-house,  to  which  he  and  his 
brethren  were  now  introduced,  and  which  will,  no 
doubt,  be  acceptable  to  the  reader : — 

"  The  mission-house  is  pleasantly  situated  on  the 
banks  of  a  river,  about  half  a  mile  wide.  As  soon  as 
we  ascend  the  bank,  which  is  rather  steep,  we  pass 
through  a  gate  into  a  lawn,  one  hundred  and  twenty 
feet  by  ninety.  The  first  apartment  we  enter  by  a 
flight  of  steps  from  the  green  is  the  museum,  which 
is  about  sixty  feet  by  twenty-four ;  and  at  each  end 
there  is  a  room  of  the  same  dimensions.  The 
apartment  used  for  preaching  is  of  the  same  size  as 
the  museum,  with  a  room  at  each  end,  twenty-four 
feet  square.  The  next  is  the  hall,  or  dining-room, 
ninety-five  feet  by  twenty-one.  The  houses  belong- 
ing to  the  brethren  Carey  and  Ward,  form  the  two 
wings  in  front  adjoining  the  hall.  We  occupy  one  of 
the  rooms  at  the  end  of  the  museum,  and  have  a-full  view 
of  lord  Wellesley's  park.  Brother  Marshman's  habi- 
tation is  not  quite  so  large  as  the  mission-house,  and  is 
about  a  hundred  yards  farther  up  the  river.  The  girls' 
school  is  kept  in  it ;  but  the  boys'  school  is  situated 
between  the  two  houses,  as  are  also  the  printing  and 
binding  office,  and  the  foundery  for  the  types.  There 
are  several  other  buildings  on  the  premises,  which 
consist  of  about  eight  acres  of  land." 

On  the  28th  of  March,  an  extensive  piece  of 
ground,  with  several  buildings  upon  it,  adjoining  the 
mission  premises,  being  put  up  to  auction,  it  was 
deemed  advisable  to  secure  it ;  and  accordingly  it 
was  purchased  by  the  brethren,  for  the  sum  of 
fourteen  thousand  rupees,  or  about  eighteen  hundred 
pounds  sterling.  The  missionaries  state,  that  they 
were  under  the  necessity  of  borrowing  money  to 
effect  this  purchase  ;  but  one  warehouse  belonging  to 
the  estate  was  let  for  nearly  sufficient  to  pay  the 
interest. 

On  the  18th  of  May,  colonel  Die  died,  in  the 
seventy-fifth  yearorhis  age,  universally  respected  and 
lamented  as  a  governor.  His  mind  had  been  culti- 
vated by  a  liberal  education  ;  his  sentiments  were  noble 
and  enlarged  ;  and  he  revered  good  men  of  all  denom- 
inations ;  whilst  modem  infidelity  was  the  object  of 
his  contempt  and  detestation.  A  ray  of  divine  light 
appears  to  have  cheered  his  dying  hours,  and  for  a 
great  part  of  the  night  preceding  his  dissolution,  he 
seemed  fully  engaged  in  pouring  out  his  supplications 
before  the  blessed  Redeemer.  The  next  morning,  he 
was  suieumiy  interred  by  tiie  Rev.  W.  Carey ;  and 
his  funeral  was  attended  by  all  the  missionaries,  and 


938 


BAPTIST  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


by  most  of  the  Europeans  resident  in  the  settlement. 
"The  natives  seemed  to  be  overwhehned  with  grief  on 
this  solemn  occasion,  and  afiectingly  observed  to  each 
Other,   "  Never  shall  we  see  another  such  a  master  !" 
The  venerable  native  convert,  Petumber  Shingo, 
had,  for  some  time,  been  extremely  ill,  and  on  the  Slst  of 
August,  he  was  permitted  to  enter  into  those  peaceful 
mansions,  "where  the  wicked  cease  from  troubling, 
and  where  the  weary  are  at  rest. "     On  being  vinted  by 
Mr.  Ward,  the  good  old  man  observed,  "I  do  not 
attribute  it  to  my  own  wisdom,  or  to  my  own  goodness, 
that  I  became  a  Chr  stian.     O !  no ;  it  is  all  of  grace ! 
I  have  used  means  for  my  recovery,  but  in  vain.     God 
is  my  only  hope.      Life  is  good,  but  to  be  wholly 
emancipated  is  much  better."     On  Mr.  Ward  remind- 
ing him  that  one  grand  design  of  affliction  is  that  of 
weaning  the  heart  from  the  world,  he  replied,  "  I  have 
a  wife,   a   daughter,   and  a  son-in-law ;   and  I  have 
endeavored,  by  the  most  earnest  persuasions,  to  imluce 
them  to  embrace  the  gospel ;  but,  as  they  have  refused, 
I  am  weaned  from  them  all,  and  the  only  way  in  which 
I  can  no<v  demonstrate  my  affection  towards  them  is  by 
praying  for  their  salvation."     By  his  lingering  illness 
his  body  was  reduced  almost  to  a  skeleton,  but  his 
soul  was  filled  with  the  hope  of  a  glorious  immortality, 
and  his  reason  was  in  full  exercise  to  the  last.     A 
little    before    his   departure,   he   called    the   native 
brethren  who  were  at  hand,  and  requested  them  to 
sing  a  Bengalee    hymn   composed    by  Kristno,   and 
entitled,  "  Salvation  by  the  blood  and  righteousness  of 
Christ."     Whilst  they  were  thus   engaged,  tears  of 
joy  bedewed  his  placid  countenance,  and  in  this  happy 
frame  of  mind  he  breathed  out  his  soul  into  the  hands 
of  that  dear  Redeemer,  in  whom,  as  he  expressed 
himself,  he   had   found   that  peace   which    Paul   so 
devoutly  wished  on  behalf  of  the  churches  to  whom 
he  addressed  his  epistles. 

The  next  morning,  the  remains  of  this  excellent  man 
were  conveyed  to  the  grave,  by  three  native  and  three 
European  brethren,  whilst  the  rest  walked  in  procession, 
singing  his  favorite  hymn.  A  considerable  number  of 
spectators  attended  the  funeral  solemnity  ;  and  in  the 
course  of  the  day,  two  persons  called  upon  the  mission- 
aries, and  stated  that  their  minds  had  been  so  deep- 
ly impressed  with  what  they  hadi  seen  and  heard 
on  the  occasion,  that  they  had  resolved  to  abjure  the 
Hindoo  system,  and  to  embrace  the  doctrines  of  the 
gospel.  It  is  pleasing  to  add,  that  the  widow  of 
Petumber  was  afterwards  inclined  to  profess  the  faith 
of  Christ,  and  to  cast  in  her  lot  among  his  disciples. 
She  stated  that,  for  a  considerable  time,  her  mind  had 
been    hardened    against   the   gospel ;    but   that    her 


1....1 i> 


unucf  ni3  amiction,  ana 
his  happy  death,  had  convinced  her  of  the  excellence 


of  the  religion  which  he  had  professed,  and  had  finally 
determined  her  to  embrace  the  same  gospel  which  he 
had  found  so  unspeakably  precious. 

In  the  month  of  September,  Messrs.  Moore,  W. 
Carey,  jun.,  and  three  of  the  native  brethren,  set  out 
on  a  missionary  tour  through  the  country  to  Dhacca 
stopping  occasionally  in  their  voyage,  at  different 
villages,  where  they  conversed  with  the  natives,  and 
distributed  religious  tracts.  In  the  first  sixty  or 
seventy  miles,  it  appeared  that  many  of  the  people  had 
either  received  printed  papers  or  heard  something  about 
"  the  new  way"  before  ;  and  this,  in  some  instances, 
rendered  them  averse  to  reading  or  hearing  any  thing 
more  on  the  subject ;  but  others  evinced  a  spirit  of 
inquiry.  On  their  arrival  at  Dhacca,  their  boat  was 
surrounded  by  such  a  concourse'of  natives,  that  they 
were  under  the  necessity  of  putting  off  seven  or  eight 
yards  from  the  shore,  and  even  then  the  people 
followed  them  into  the  water.  Here  they  remained 
about  an  hour  and  a  half,  and  distributed  neariy  four 
thousand  pamphlets ;  but  on  removing  their  station 
toward  the  centre  of  the  city,  they  were  interrupted, 
first  by  a  collector,  and  afterwards  by  a  magistrate, 
who  alleged  that  the  tracts  had  excited  uneasiness 
amongtheBramins,  and,  therefore,  insisted  on  their  pro- 
ceeding no  further  in  distributing  them.  On  their  return, 
thsy  called  upon  a  congregation  of  Hindoo  Catholics, 
and  went  into  their  chapel,  which  exhibited  many 
vestiges  of  gross  idolatry.  As  the  priest  was  absent, 
the  people  would  not  venture  to  receive  a  New  Tes- 
tament which  was  offered  to  them.  Some  individuals, 
however,  were  willing  to  take  the  tracts,  and  they  all 
appeared  pleased  with  the  visit  of  the  missionaries, 
with  whom  they  entered  into  familiar  conversation. 
On  hearing  that  some  of  their  countrymen,  whom  they 
saw  with  the  brethren,  not  only  believed  in  Christ,  but 
were  in  the  habit  of  preaching  his  gospel,  they  were 
evidently  astonished,  and  one  of  them  emphatically 
exclaimed,  "They  have  the  tr«e  shaster."  Though 
there  did  not  appear  to  be  any  thing  like  true  religion 
among  these  people,  the  missionaries  were  struck  with 
the  difference  observable  in  their  manners  when  com- 
pared with  those  of  the  pagan  natives. 

In  the  beginning  of  October,  the  Rev.  Messrs. 
Marshman  and  Ward  were  ciiosen  co-pastors  with  the 
Rev.  W.  Carey,  over  the  church  at  Serampore,  and 
Messrs.  Mardon,  Moore,  Biss,  and  Rowe,  with  Kristno 
and  Kristno  Presaud,  were  set  apart  to  the  office  of 
deacons.  During  this  and  the  two  following  months, 
twenty-one  persons  were  baptized,  seven  of  whom 
came  from  Kreeshnopore,  and  appear  to  have  been 
first  led  to  inquire  after  the  way  of  salvation,  in  con- 
sequence of  some  iiacis  unci  a  New  Tesimnent  having 
been  left  at  that       lagc.     One  of  them,  referring  to 


BENGAL. 


229 


Mr.  Ward's  having  declared  concerning  the  Testament, 
that  it  was  designed  for  the  use  of  the  inhabitants  at 
large,  but  that  he  who  could  read  the  best  should  keep 
it,  and  communicate  its  contents  to  all  who  wished  to 
hear  them,  said  he  had  got  it ;  and  that  the  perusal  of 
it  had  so  completely  changed  his  ideas,  that  he  was 
compelled  to  abandon  idolatry,  and  to  place  all  his 
confidence  in  a  crucified  Redeemer.  Ten  out  of  the 
twenty-one  converts  were  baptized  on  the  third  of 
November,  on  which  occasion  Mr.  Biss  observes,  "  A 
solemn  seriousness  pervaded  the  company  ;  and  some 
who  seemed  to  know  nothing  of  the  power  of  religion 
shed  tears  at  the  sight.  When  Onunda,  the  wife  of 
Kristno  Presaud,  went  into  the  water,  her  husband 
was  so  much  affected,  that  he  had  scarcely  sufficient 
strength  to  sustain  it.  Unable  to  stand  any  longer,  he 
sat  down  in  the  midst  of  his  brethren,  and  burst  into 
a  flood  of  tears ;  whilst  he  seemed  to  be  pouring 
out  his  soul  before  God,  in  thankfulness  for  his 
mercy,  and  in  prayer  for  his  wife's  future  preserva- 
tion." 

Captain  Wickes  having  visited  London  in  the 
autumn  of  this  year,  the  committee  requested  him  to 
convey  to  their  missionaries  m  India  the  sum  of  one 
thousand  guineas,  which  had  been  collected  in  England, 
Scotland,  and  Ireland,  towards  the  translation  of  the 
Scriptures  into  various  oriental  languages.  On  the 
captain's  arrival  in,  America,  he  expressed  a  wish, 
through  the  medium  of  the  public  papers,  that  the 
friends  of  religion  in  his  country  would  lend  their 
assistance  to  this  important  work  ;  and,  in  consequence 
of  this  intimation,  the  ministers  and  congregations 
of  different  denominations  came  forward  with  such 
cheerfulness,  that  the  original  sum  was  more  than 
doubled,  and  transmitted  in  dollars  to  Serampore. 

In  January,  1806,  a  new  church  of  eight  members 
was  constituted  for  Dinagepore,  and  Mr.  Fernandez 
was  chosen  and  ordained  tlieir  pastor.  "  Two  of  the 
members,"  says  Mr.  Carey,  "  are  the  first-fruits  of 
that  part  of  the  country  where  brother  Thomas  and 
I  labored  so  long  and  without  success.  Their  names 
are  Heduran  and  Nundakeshur,  and  they  were  bap- 
tized by  brother  Ward  on  the  Lord's  day  previous  to 
the  ordination.  This  is  the  second  Baptist  church 
formed  in  Bengal,  and  one  in  which  we  greatly  de- 
light." 

A  piece  of  ground  having  been  purchased  for  the 
erection  of  a  new  chapel  in  what  is  called  the  Loll 
Bazaar,  at  Calcutta,  it  was  deemed  advisable  to  con- 
struct a  shed  or  temporary  mat-house,  previous  to  the 
commencement  of  the  intended  edifice.     A  place  of 

f]iis  ilnQnrintinn  nrao    af\rn\rAinrA%r    /\nAnAr1  ^m  *1«.^    lot  ^r 

J, . a-;-"i " -'  '" 

June,  when  a  crowd  of  natives  attended,  and  large 
quantities  of  tracts  were  distributed  among  them.    But 


though  many  appeared  to  listen  with  seriousness  to 
the  word  of  salvation,  a  spirit  of  decided  hostility- 
was  excited  in  the  breasts  of  others  ;  and,  before  the 
end  of  the  month,  the  brethren,  in  walking  through 
the  streets,  were  followed  by  multitudes  of  people, 
clapping  their  hands,  and  assailing  them  with  the 
coarsest  invectives.  "  Some,"  says  Mr.  Ward, 
"  abuse  them  as  foreigners,  others  for  losing  caste ; 
some  call  them  Yesoo  Khriest,  alluding  to  the  name 
of  our  Redeemer,  and,  bowing  to  them,  say,  '  Salaam, 
Yesoo  Khriest !'  whilst  others  point  at  them  as  they 
pass  along,  and  exclaim,  *  There  goes  Salla,  Yesoo 
Khriest !'  When  they  see  me  walking  by,  they 
cry  out,  '  That  is  him — that  is  the  Hindoo  padree  !* 
And  others  ask  the  native  brethren  why  they  did 
not  go  a  begging  to  their  houses,  rather  than  become 
feringas." 

The  greatest  possible  anxiety  was  also  evinced  by 
some  idolatrous  parents  to  withdraw  their  children 
from  the  tuition  and  protection  of  the  missionaries  at " 
Serampore,  and,  in  some  instances,  where  persuasion 
proved  inefiectual,  coercive  measures  were  employed 
for  the  accomplishment  of  this  purpose,  as  will  appear 
from  the  following  anecdote  :— 

The  mother  of  a  youth  named  Ghorachund  came, 
one  day,  to  the  school,  bathed  in  tears,  and  apparently 
in  a  state  of  distraction,  claiming  her  son.  He  was 
desired  to  go  aside  and  comfort  his  mother  ;  and  one 
of  the  native  brethren  explained  to  her  that  he  was 
perfectly  happy,  and  employed  in  learning  the  way  to 
heaven.  The  lad  also  assured  her  that  he  had  fully 
made  up  his  mind  to  embrace  Christianity,  and,  there- 
fore, would  not  return  home  till  he  had  been  baptized. 
The  Woman  still  appeared  quite  irreconcilable,  and, 
after  threatening  to  drown  herself  in  the  Gunga,  she 
laid  a  formal  complaint  before  the  Danish  magis- 
trate. Ghorachund  was  accordingly  sent  for,  and 
strictly  questioned  ;  but  as  he  stated  explicitly  that  it 
was  his  own  desire  to  become  a  Christian,  and  as  the 
fact  was  elicited,  during  the  examination,  that  if  the 
boy  were  given  up  to  his  relatives,  they  intended  to 
put  him  in  irons,  and  confine  him  to  the  house,  the 
magistrate  decided  that  he  should  be  left  to  act  accord- 
ing to  his  own  inclinations. 

Though  foiled  in  this  attempt,  the  mother  and  her 
friends  were  still  resolutely  bent  on  accomplishing 
their  design  ;  and  the  next  morning,  whilst  Mr.  Ward 
was  sitting  in  the  printing-office,  he  received  the  in- 
telligence that  some  persons  were  carrying  off  Ghora- 
chund by  force.  "I  went  out,"  says  he,  "and  saw 
the  boat  passing  by  our  house,  with  this  lad  in  it,  held 


—  1 — «., 


,..„!   «... 


Ti j.,„.,,„„g 


1" > 

him  by  the  neck.     The  boy  was  crying  out  bitterly. 
I  roused  brother  Marshman  from  his  Chinese  reverie, 


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(716)  iri-ooa 


980 


BAPTIST  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


and  in  a  minute  the  whole  family,  school  and  servants 
were  on  the  oanks  of  the  river.  William  Carey 
jumped  into  our  boat,  which  was  floating  by  the  side 
opposite  our  house ;  and  the  boatmen  and  other 
servants  put  it  off,  and  began  to  pursue  the  other,  in 
which  they  were  carrying  off  Ghorachund ;  whilst 
we  all  followed  by  the  side,  anxiously  watching  the 
chase.  William  and  his  companions  rowed  as  if  life 
and  death  were  depending,  and  the  fugitives  were  not 
less  active.  Our  boat  being  much  heavier  than  the 
other,  the  chaso  seemed  very  doubtful.  We  followed 
the  boau  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach ;  but  our 
friends  gained  very  little  distance  on  the  objects  of 
their  pursuit.  I  then  obtamed  a  telescope,  and,  aAer 
looking  some  tii.ie,  perceived  William  come  up  with 
the  enemy,  and  rescue  tiie  young  man.  A  scuffle 
ensued ;  but  the  idolaters  wete  very  much  frightened, 
particularly  a  Bramin,  under  whose  directions  they  had 
probably  actnd.  The  mother  also  appeared  in  a  dis- 
tracted state,  and  struck  her  head  against  the  bottom 
of  the  boat,  when  she  found  that  further  resistance 
was  in  vain.  Ghorachuud,  however,  was  full  of  joy 
at  his  happy  deliverance,  and  was  brought  back,  in 
our  boat,  in  triumph." 

After  their  return  to  Serampore,  the  missionaries 
discovered  that  two  of  the  native  brethren  had  been 
ill-treated  and  thrown  into  prison,  on  a  charge  of  hav- 
ing beaten  a  Bramin  in  the  struggle,  when  Ghorachund 
was  carried  off.     It  seems  that  this  youth  was  going 
from  the  mission  house  to  the  Bengalee  school,  in 
company  with  a  baptised  native,  called  Kassenaut, 
and  an  inquirer  named  Bhyrub.    As  they  were  passing 
a  flight  of  steps  adjoining  the  guard-house,  some  per- 
sons from  a  boat  came  up,  and  seized  on  Ghorachund  ; 
when  a  scuffle  ensued,  and  a  numerous  mob  collected. 
The  soldiers  on  guard  and  the  populace  assisted  the 
idolaters,  and  the  youth  was  finally  conveyed  into  the 
boat.     A  man  then  preferred  a  charge  against  Bhyrub 
and  Kassenaut,  for  beating  a  Bramin ;  and,  in  con- 
sequence of  this,  they  were  not  only  committed  to 
prison,  but  were  very  roughly  handled  by  the  mob, 
m  their  way  thither.     Mr.  Ward,  however,  on  being 
apprized  of  the  circumstance,  addressed  a  letter  to 
Mr.  Otttt  Bie,  the  nephew  of  the  Imo  governor ;  and, 
in  the  course  of  the  evening,  the  native  brethren  were 
set  at  liberty. 

About  this  time,  an  event  occurred,  which  threatened 
the  serious  interruption,  if  not  the  complete  subversion, 
of  the  Baptut  mission  in  India.  On  the  arrival  of  two 
new  missionaries,  Messrs.  Chater  and  Robinson,  with 
their  wives,  at  Calcutta,  some  demur  was  made,  at 
the  police  office,  u  to  being  permitted  to  proceed  to 
Serampore  :  and  on  Mr,  Csfoy''  isauiriss  ints  ths  !!  cs 
business,  the  next  day^  he  was  informed,  by  one  of 


the  magistrates,  that,  "  as  the  East  India  Company  did 
not  think  proper  to  mterfere  with  the  prejudices  of 
the  natives,  it  was  the  express  desire  of  the  governor- 
general  that  Mr.  Carey  and  his  colleagues  would  not." 
The  request  thus  communicated,  as  explaiood  by  the 
magistrates,  amounted  to  this  :— «'  The  riissionaries 
were  neither  to  preach  to  the  Hindoos,  nor  to  suffer 
the  native  converts  to  preach  ;  they  were  i.ot  -to  dis- 
tribute religious  tracts,  nor  to  employ  other  persons 
with  a  view  to  their  distribution;  in  short,  they 
were  not  to  adopt  any  measures,  by  conversation 
or  otherwise,  for  persuading  the  natives  to  embrace 
Christianity."  Some  of  these  restrictions,  however, 
were  subsequently  softened,  in  a  conversation  between 
a  friend  of  the  missionaries  and  the  magistrates.  "  It 
was  not  meant,"  they  said,  "to  prohibit  Mr.  Carey  or 
his  brethren  from  preaching  at  Serampore,  or  in  their 
own  house  at  Calcutta,  only  they  must  not  preach  in 
the  Loll  Bazaar.  It  was  not  intended  to  prevent 
their  circulating  the  Scriptures,  but  merely  the  tracts 
abusing  the  Hindoo  religion.  And,  finally,  it  was  not 
designed  to  prohibit  the  native  converts  from  convers- 
ing with  their  countrymen  on  the  subject  of  Chris- 
tianity ;  only  they  must  not  go  out  under  the  sanction 
of  the  missionaries." 

This  interference,  on  the  part  of  the  British  govern- 
ment, seems  to  iiave  been  occasioned  by  a  feeling  of 
alarm  which  had  been  recently  excited  in  the  country, 
by  an  account  of  a  disastrous  mutiny  which  had  broken 
out  among  the  native  troops  at  Vellore.  It  was  not 
insinuated,  however,  that  the  preaching  or  writing 
of  the  Baptist  brethren  had,  in  any  way,  contributed 
to  that  tragical  event.  On  the  contrary,  the  magis- 
trates frankly  acknowledged,  that  they  were  perfectly 
satisfied  both  with  the  character  and  conduct  of  the 
missionaries,  and  that  no  complaint  had  ever  been 
preferred  agaikist  them. 

The  missionaries  now  went  on  much  as  usual,  though 
devoting  less  of  their  time  to  itinerant  excursions,  and 
precluded,  by  the  prohibition  of  government,  from 
preaching  in  the  Loll  Basaar.  Several  Americans 
and  Portuguese,  however,  then  residing  in  Calcutta, 
were  no  soo.ier  apprized  of  this  circumstance,  than 
they  cheerfully  came  forward,  and  fitted  up  places  for 
their  accommodation  on  their  own  premises.  Messrs. 
Mardoii  and  Chamberlain  were,  also,  diligently  engaged 
in  promulgaJing  the  truths  of  Christianity  in  the  in- 
terior of  the  country  ;  but,  in  the  month  of  Spptomber, 
the  latter  smtajned  a  most  heavy  affliction  in  the  dv  .t^i 
of  his  second  wife.  Tlie  melancholy  tale  is  thus 
nanated  by  himself:  "  As  my  dear  wife  began  to  look 
forward  to  the  period  of  her  confinement,  she  wu 

sud 


to  this  she  felt  partly  inclined :  but  in  consideratitm 


BENGAL. 


of  the  dktanee,  the  state  of  the  river  at  that  time  rf 
the  year,  and  her  own  timidity  on  the  water,  she  fear> 
ed  it  might  be  a  kiaiardous  attempt,  and  for  a  time 
had  composed  her  mind  to  wait  the  event  at  Cutwa. 
At  length,  however,  the  bud^erow  arrived  from  Semm- 
P««,  accompanied  with  a  pressing  request  that  she 
would  return  with  it  to  the  mission  family ;  and  she 
therefore  resolved  to  go  down. 

"  On  the  17th,  we  went  on  board,  with  two  of  our 
children,  and  sailed  for  Serampore  ;  and,  though  the 
river  was  very  rough,  she  did  not  appear  so  timonius 
as  I  had  expected.     We  went  on  till  evening,  when, 
alas !  she  found  the  trying  hour  was  at  hand  !     We 
were  now  so  far  from  home,  that  it  was  in  vain  to  think 
of  returning,  especially  as   the  stream  was  against 
us  ;  and  Serampore  was  still  at  a  great  distance.     To 
afford  her  as  much  composure  as  possible,  I  stopped  the 
budgerow,  and  put  the  ohildren  on  board  the  cooking 
boat ;  and  about  three  hours  afterwards,  the  birth  of  a 
fine  infant  filled  our  hearu  with  thankfulness.     Dan- 
gerous symptoms,  however,  subsequently  ensued,  and 
about  six  o'clock  the  next  morning,  I  perceived  a  sud- 
den alteration  in  her  countenance.     I  spoke  to  her  .  .  . 
but  received  no  answer.     She  breathed  gently  a  few 
raomenu  ....  then  closed   her  eyes  ....  and   fell 
asleep  in  Jesus  I  O !  what  a  night,  and  what  a  disnial 
day !  We  were  now  between  Culna  and  Santipore, 
and  had  yei  a  long  distance  to  go.     Foreseeing  the 
event,  I  had  previously  ordered  the  boat  to  go  out 
mto  the  stream,  and  to  make  all  speed,  so  that  in  the 
evening  we  arrived  at  Serampore ;  and,  the  next  morn- 
ing, the  remains  of  my  dear  departed  were  conveyed, 
by  the  brethren,  to  the  mission  burial  ground,  and 
committed  to  their  kindred  dustl" 

Towards  the  close  of  the  year,  an  event  occurnd 
more  than  ordinarily  solemn  and  impressive.     Three 
persons  from  Luckphool,  who  had  long  professed  to 
believe  the  doctrines  of   Christianity,  but  who  had 
hitherto  declined  an  open  profession  of  them,  came  on 
a  visit  to  Serampore.    In  conversing  with  one  of  them, 
named  Sookur  Bishess,  the  brethren  solemnly  warned 
him  of  the  danger  of  temporizing  in  a  matter  of  such 
vast  importance,  and  assured  him  that  if  he  were 
ashamed  of  the  gospel  Itefore  men,  Christ  would  be 
ashamed  of  him  before  his  Father  and  the  holy  angels. 
He  said  he  was  fully  convinced  that  tliere  was  no  other 
way  to  heaven,  but  by  the  rtonement  of  Jesus,  and 
that  if  he  thought  himself  near  death,  he  would  im- 
mediately and  openly  avow  himself  as  his  disciple. 
He  was  then  reminded  of  the  uncertainly  of  Kfe,  and 
earnestly  entreated  to  consider  whether  his  unwilling- 
ness to  make  a  public  profession  of  the  truth  did  not 
proceed  from  a  secret  attachment  to  his  sins,  or  to  hb. 
fearing  the  ridicule  of  men  more  than  the  wrath  of 


S8I 


God.    Little,  however,  did  those  who  expostulated 
with  him  so  faithfully,  imagine  that  he  would  so  soon 
and  so  awfully  realize  the  truth  of  their  observations. 
Only  six  days  after  his  return,  he  was  murdered  m  bis 
own  village,  with  circumstances  of  peculiar  barbarity. 
It  seems  he  had  for  some  tinie  been  carrying  on  a 
criminal  intercourse  with  a  woman,  some  of  whose  re- 
lations belonged  to  a  gang  of  robbers  who  infested  that 
part  of  the  country,  and  seemed  to  bid  defiance  to  the 
constituted  authorities.     Such,  indeed,  was  their  con- 
summate  audacity,  that  when  one  of  thorn,  who  had 
been  taken  and  brought  to  trial,  was  asked  by  a  magis- 
trate,how  many  men  he  had  killed  in  his  Kfe-time,  the 
ruffian  impudenUy  replied,  "  Ask  a  fisherman  how 
many  fish  he  has  caught  in  his  life-time !"    These 
men  bad  been  long  determined  to  take  an  ample  re- 
venge on  Sookur  Bishess,  and  on  hearing  that  he  had 
just  come  back  from  Serampore,  where  they  conceived 
he  had  obtained  a  sum  6f  money  froih  the  missiona- 
ries, they,  one  night,  beset  the  house  where  he  and 
the  woman  were,  and,  after  bringing  them  out  bound, 
set  fire  to  the  premises,  and  threatened  to  throw  him 
into  the  flames,  unless,  he  would  instantly  show  thein 
where  his  treasure  was  concealed.  Hoping,  probably,  to 
mak»his  escape,  he  led  them  to  a  tree  at  some  distance, 
and  told  them  to  dig  beneath  it.     After  hboring  for 
some  time,  they  discovered  that  he  had  deceived  them, 
and  inunediately  resolved  to  sacrifice  his  life  to  their 
resentment.     Accordingly,  one  of  them  piereed  him 
through  with  a  spear,  and  shed  out  his  bowels ;  a  sec- 
ond wounded  him  severely  across  his  breast ;  and  a 
third  completed  this  tragical  catastrophe>  by  severing 
his  head  from  his  body  I 

On  the  9th  of  January,  1807,  the  missionaries  re- 
ceived the  painful  intelligence  that  a  woman  was  to  be 
burnt  with  the  corpse  of  her  husband,  at  a  short  dis- 
t«nee  from  their  premises.    Several  of  them,  therefore, 
hastened  to  the  spot ;  but,  before  their  arrival,  the 
funeral  pile  was  in  flames,  and  exhibited  a  horrible 
spectacle.     The   spectators   also  evinced   the   most 
brutal  indifl^erence  and  levity,  whilst  the  poor  creature 
was  burning  alive  before  their  eyes  ;  sp  that  it  appear- 
ed as  if  every  spark  of  humanity  had  been  completely 
extinguished  in  their  breasts  by  this  horrid  and  revolt- 
ing superstition.  "  That,"  says  Mr.  Marshman,"  which 
added  to  the  cruelty  was  the  smallness  of  the  fire,  which 
did  not  consist  of  so  much  wood  as  we  consume  in  dress- 
ing a  dinner !  I  saw  the  legs  of  the  unfortunste  victim 
hanging  out  of  the  fire  whilst  her  body  was  in  flames. 
After  some  time,  they  took  a  bamboo,  ten  or  twelve 
feet  long,  with  which  they  pushed  and  beat  the  un- 

-      —         ~  '2-  ~  r         —  *    «    "■  "  ■""  *-"   5-*.-.* 

wood,  by  throwing  thn  unconsumed  pieces  into  the 
middle.     Perceiving  the  legi  hanging  out,  they  struck 


/ 


ads 


BAPTIST  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


them  repeatedif  with  the  bamboo,  in  order  to  bruk 
the  ligatures  which  listened  them  at  the  knees.  At 
length  they  succeeded  b  bendhig  them  upwards  into 
the  fire ;  the  skb  and  muscles  giving  Ivay,  and  discov- 
ering the  knee  sockets  bare,  with  the  balls  of  the  leg 
bones ! — ^A  sight  wtuch  I  need  not  say  made  me  thrill 
with  horror. 

"  Timing  to  a  young  Bramin,  who  was  the  princi- 
pal actor  in  this  horrid  tragedy,  I  told  him  that  the 
system  which  allowed  of  tlM«e  cruelties  could  no  more 
proceed  from  Go4  than  darkness  from  the  sun ;  and 
solemnly  warned  him  that  he  must  hereafter  appear  at 
the  bar  of  Ood,  to  answer  for  this  inhuman  murder. 
With  a  savage  and  contemptuous  grin,  he  replied,  that 
<  he  gloried  in  it^  and  felt  the  highest  pleasure  in  per- 
forming such  a  ceremony.'  I  tiien  turned  to  the  peo- 
ple, and  on  my  beginning  to  expostulate  with  them, 
one  person  remarked,  that  the  woman  had  sacrificed 
herself  of  her  own  accord,  and  had  ascended  the  pile 
as  a  matter  of  pleasure.  '  Why,  then,  did  you  confine 
her  down  with  that  large  bamboo  ?'  It  was  replied,  that 
this  was  necessary,  to  prevent  her  from  running  away. 
*  What !'  said  I,  '  would  she  have  run  away  from  that 
which  she  craisidered  n  pleasure  ?'  I  next  addressed 
a  youth  of  about  nineteen,  who  had  been  induced  to 
let  fire  to  the  funeral  pile  that  was  to  consume  both 
his  parents.  '  You  have  murdered  your  mother,'  said 
I ;  'your  sin  is,  therefore,  very  great,  though  the  guilt 
of  the  Bramin  who  urged  you  to  'he  perpetration  of 
such  a  deed  b  still  greater.  How  will  you  bear  the 
reflection  that  you  have  destroysd  your  only  -jurviving 
par?n»  ?'  He  seemed  to  feel  the  force  of  what  was 
said  to  him,  as, his  eyes  were  suilused  withteus  ;  but 
just  at  this  instant  that  hardened  wretch,  the  Bramin, 
rushed  in  and  drew  him  away. 

"  You  expect,  perhaps,  to  hear  that  the  unhappy 
woman  thus  immolated  was  the  widow  of  some  Bra- 
min of  high  rank.  She  was,  however,  merely  the 
wife  of  a  barber  at  Serampore,  who  had  died  that 
ilioming,  leaving  the  son  I  have  mentioned,  and  a 
daughter  of  about  eleven  years  of  age.  Thus  hu  this 
vile  superstition  aggravated  the  common  miseries  of  life, 
and  left  those  children  stripped  of  both  their  patents 
in  one  day !  Nor  is  this  an  uncommon  case.  It  often 
happens  to  children  far  more  helpless  than  these,  and 
in  some  instances  to  children  possessed  of  property, 
which  is  then  left,  as  well  as  themselves,  iothe  mercy 
of  those  who  have  decoyed  their  mother  to  their 
father's  funeral  pile !" 

About  the  same  time,  a  Hindoo,  named  Seeboo 
Roy,  was  summoned  out  of  time  irtto  eternity,  and 
appears  to  have  died  with  unshaken  reliance  on  the 


nf    »luk 


■viaI        Ui«  attMnttnn   tA  fliwin*  ikaiiflM 


was  excited,  in  the  first  instance,  by  some  tracts,  which 


he  had  obtained  at  one  of  d-a  great  assemblies  of  bis 
countrymen,  and  he  afterwards  went  for  fiirther  in- 
struction to  the  missiosary  autia^  at  Cutwa.  Han 
be  seems  to  have  been  aatisfiicunily  convinced  of  the 
iruth  of  the  Christian  ralif^ ;  and,  as-he  possessed 
eonsideraUe  influence  m  his  own  village,  on  his 
return  thither  he  opened  his  house  for  Uie  wor- 
ship of  Christ,  and  afiectibnately  recommended  the 
word  of  6ud  to  his  neighbors,  as  containing  the  only 
consistent  scheme  of  salvation.  Being  suddenly 
takeh  ill  with  a  violent  cold  and  vomiting,  his 
friends  came  to  see  him,  and  earnestly  exhorted 
him  to  call  upon  Doorgha,  and  other  heathen  gods ; 
but  he  gave  them  to  understand  that  he  neither 
could  nor  would  do  any  such  thing.  He  earnestly 
entreated  that  they  would  take  him  to  Cutwa,  saying, 
"  If  1  do  not  go  thither,  I  shall  never  be  well."  He 
also  begged  of  his  wife  that  his  remains  might  be 
buried ;  and,  in  discoursing  with  those  who  had  been 
in  the  habit  of  meeting  with  him  on  the  Lord's  day, 
he  solemnly  charged  them  not  to  forsake  the  assembling 
of  themselves  together,  nor  to  cease  from  proclaiming 
the  glories  of  the  Redeemer.  "  I  am  going,"  said  he, 
"  but  we  shall  so<ui  see  each  other  again."  He  also 
spoke  to  his  wife  concerning  the  satisfactory  nature  of 
his  hope  in  Christ,  and  the  vanity  of  all  other  ways  of 
salvation  ;  and  in  consequence  of  listening  attentively 
to  his  observations,  she  was  enabled  to  bear  the  mo- 
ment of  separation  with  a  degree  of  calmness  and  for- 
titude, instead  of  beating  her  forehead  and  uttering  the 
most  piercing  cries,  according  to  the  custom  of  her 
countrywomen.  After  the  death  of  Seebo,  however, 
his  relations  insisted  on  burning  the  body,  threatening 
that,  if  the  widow  refused,  they  '  ould  have  nothing 
mora  to  do  with  her  ;  and,  as  she  hud  no  where  to  go, 
and  no  resource,  she  was  compelled  to  submit,  not- 
withstanding her  husband's  solemn  injunction  to  the 
contrary. 

Towards  the  end  of  January,  the  missionaries  re- 
ceived some  cheering  accounts  from  Malda,  where  the 
native  preachers,  who  had  for  some  time  been  hilrar- 
ing  in  tliat  district,  ware  heard  with  considerable  in- 
terest, and  treated  with  the  greatest  kindness  by  their 
countrymen,  who  sometimes  attended  their  religious 
services  in  bodies  of  five  or  six  hundred,  when  no 
Europeans  were  present.  At  Jesaore,  the  converts 
were  formed  into  a  regular  church,  of  which  two  na- 
tives, named  Ram  Mohun  and  Kawnee,  wore  chosen 
deacons.  At  Cutwa,  Mr.  Chamberiain,  and  several 
of  the  Christian  natives,  labored  with  unremitting  dili- 
gence and  considerable  success,  and  the  brethren  were 
formed  into  a  church.  The  aspect  of  aflfairs  at  Dinage- 

MMMk «»«»«  «la«*  MMUMMuuf     A  till  t ^/ui vK  ■  t  RiiniffnnnpA.  iKtf* 


Riissbnariea  lamented  that  they  were  placed  under  some 


,// 


•J^ 


y'^VKm     BEMOiitfc;!/ Tiiirq/n 


rettrictioMt  jrMfhoy-jiraMeikdt.  vithumkatodwdor,  in 
tnii»i*tia«  m&  pnintiBg thaHaij Scv^tufoi,  ud«  upon 
tlM  wbtola*  tiMir  effoita  to  proaa'dgnte  the  gladi  tidiogB 
of  calration  wen  but  Utile  diiaiouhed. 
-.:  In  the  month  of  Me/,i  a.  petition. to  gomniaiBnt  isr 
leave  to  erect  a  ne\r  chapel  in  Calcutta  was  lignedby 
one  hundred  and  fifteen  of  the  inhabitanU  of  that  city, 
and  was  favorably  received.  The  utmost  exertions 
were,  therefore,  used  to  complete  this  edifice,  which 
(including  the  veranda  or  portico,  designed  for  the  ac- 
oonunodation  of  the  natives,  whose  religious  scruples 
would  not  permit  them  to  enter  the  building  itself) 
was  designed  to  be  seventy  feet  square,  and  to  have 
galleries  on  three  sides.  In  April  and  May,  ten  per- 
sons were  baptized ;  among  whom  were  a  highly  respect- 
able  Portuguese  family  of  Calcutta ;  via.  Mr.  and  M«. 
Deroaio,  and  two  of  their  daughters. 

In  the  months  of  June  and  July,  several  Europeans 
corresponded  with  the  missionaries,  and  afforded  pleas- 
ing hope,  t))at  a  work  cf  divine  grace  had  been  com- 
menced among  them.  One  of  these  had  been  reproved 
for  his  profane  language  by  a  converted  Hindoo  in 
Calcutta,  and  from  that  time  he  became  seriously 
anxious  concerning  his  salvation.  Another,  on  visiting 
Serampore,  and  going  with  Mr.  Chater  t--  see  some  of  the 
baptised  natives,  was  overwhelmed  iv  i  ^  shame,  whilst 
contrasting  their  attainments  in  divine  knowledge  with 
his  own  ignorance.  And  a  third  was  led  to  see  and  con- 
fess the  necessity  of  a  change  of  heart,  in  consequence 
of  his  conversation  with  a  serious  young  lady,  whom  he 
afterwards  marr.dd.  "  We  are  acquainted,"  says  Mr. 
Moore, "  with  other  persons  in  Calcutta,  most  of  whom 
we  knew  not  four  months  ago,  but  who  now  afford  us 
sanguine  hope." 

"  Soon  aAer  this,"  says  the  editor  of  the  Brief 
Narrative,  "  an  event  occurred  which  filled  the  friends 
of  the  mission  with  deep  concern,  and  furnished  its 
adversaries  with  a  momentary  triumph.  A  tract, 
which  had  been  printed  in  Bengalee,  and  which,  in 
that  language,  contained  nothing  offensive,  was  put 
into  the  hands  of  a  native  to  be  translated  into  Persic. 
Tlie  translation  beina;  finished,  it  was,  through  the 
pressure  of  business,  inadvertently  printed,  without 
being  first  inspected  by  the  missionaries.  It  proved, 
unhappily,  that  the  translator  had  introduced  several 
strong  epithets,  calling  Mahomet  n  tyrant,  fcc,  which, 
it  was  alleged,  would  iiritate  hisrollowors  ;  and,  though 
no  such  effects  had  been  produced,  yet,  a  copy  of  it 
being  conveyed  to  a  person  in  office  under  government, 
it  was  taken  up  in  a  serious  manner.  Mr.  Carey  was  sent 
for ;  hut,  being  unacquainted  with  the  circumstances  of 
the  case,  he  could  only  acknowledge  the  impropriety  of 
the  epithets,  and  promise  to  inquire  into  the  inuse  of  their 
appearance  in  the  tract  in  question.  Had  the  object 
Vol..  I.— Nos.  19  L  20.  ,3sj 


908 


of  tht  puty  ba«a  natrely  topwwut.ihe  diMarb«ie« 
of  the  public  tranquUlity,  thing*  wooM  have  tennis 
Brted  here:  Mr.  Carey,  on  learaiag  partieulars. 
would  faa.Ta  arndf  an  apology,  and  oomcud  whatever 
was  mipioper.  But,  bdbre  he  had  time  to  do  thiij 
proceecfiiigs  wen.  commenced,  wbieb,  had  they  been 
earned  into  execution,  nuist  have  been  not  only  mia- 
ous to  the  miasbn,  hut  greatly  injurious  to  the  cause  of 
Christianity  in  India.  In  oonsequenoe,  however,  of 
an  explanation,  and  the  presenutioa  of  a  respectful 
memorial  to  the  govemor-geneml,  the  most  serious  part 
of  the  proceedmgs  was  formally  revoked.  On  this  oc- 
caaion,  two  of  the  misswnaries  waited  on  hb  lordship, 
to  thank  him  for  the  candor  with  whwh  he  had  attended 
to  their  memorial ;  to  which  he  replied,  that  nothing 
more  was  necessary  than  a  mere  examihation  of  the 
subject ;  on  which,  every  thing  appeared  in  a  clear 
and  fiivorable  light." 

As  two  other  tracts,  however,  beaides  that  in  Persic, 
had  been  considered  olgeotionable,  it  was  requested 
that  the  missionaries  should  print  nothing  of  the  sort 
in  future,  without  previously  submitting  the  copy  to 
the  inspection  of  government.  Cotuiderable  iif. 
ficulties  were  ako  experienced,  during  the  whole 
month  of  September,  by  the  missionaries,  who  were 
prohibited  from  preaohiiig  to  the  Armenians  and  Portu- 
guese  m  Calcutu,  and  were  no  longer  permitted,  even 
«)ccasionally,  to  officiate  among  the  soldien  in  Fort  Wil- 
liam. The  enemies  of  rehgion,  of  oouiae,  began  to 
triumph;  its  friends  were  discouraged ;  and  it  was  cur- 
rently reported  that  the  Baptist  biethran  would  ba 
driven  out  of  India.  By  the  good  providence  of 
God,  howev»ir  these  heavy  clouds  were  gradually 
dispersed,  snd  i:he  concerns  of  th9  oisaran  went  on 
much  as  before.  , ,  »,  . 

Towards  the  latter  end  of  the  year,  several  of  the 
native  brethren  were  diligently  employed  in  preaching 
the  gospel  in  the  neighb<»hood  of  Goaroalty  ;  and 
from  the  journal  of  two  of  the  laborers,  named  Deep 
Chund  and  Ram  Prcsaud,  it  app«an  that,  travelling 
through  a  considerable  number  of  villages,  they  daily 
addressed  their  countrymen  on  the  great  concerns  oif 
salvation.  At  a  place  called  Pumeab,  they  preached 
two  days  successively,  in  the  market-place,  to  great 
multitudes,  some  of  whom  listened  with  the  mmt  se- 
rious attention,  whilst  others  slighted  and  derided  the 
word  of  life.  "  In  the  latter  part  jf  our  journey," 
they  observe,  "  the  gospel  was  a  new  sound,  and  vast 
numbers  lipard  it  who  never  heaid  before,  and  may 
never  hear  again,  or  know  its  intrinsh:  value,  till  they 
see  the  Son  of  man  coming  in  the  clouds  of  heaven. 
We  suffered  much  affliction  ;  but  Qod  mipported  us, 
and  f^n^hlod  us  to  DFodsiin  i\is  S£?tfHif's  isvs  tn  n^-n'* 
thousands.     May  ho  give  it  success,  no  that  we  may 


984 


BAPTIST  MISMONARr  SOCIETY. 


mMt  mae  with  jojr  iMraafter,  to  wbom  it  amy  have 
prored  good  news  indeed  1" 

About  thia  time,  the  IHends  of  the  mission  sustained 
a  serero  loss  m  the  death  of  Mr.  Creighton  of  Goamal- 
ty,  and  Mr.  Grant  of  Miniary,  whose  indefiuigable 
lahota  in  establishing  schools,  circulating  the  Scrip- 
tures, and  otherwise  prooMMing  the  cause  of  Chris- 
tianity, were  of  great  importance.  The  former  had 
drawn  up  some  Taluahle  thoughts  ou  the  establishment 
of  schooltt,  and  the  latter  bequeathed  twenty  thousand 
rupees  (about  £8500)  to  the  Baptist  mission;  ten 
thousand  to  the  translations,  and  ten  thousand  for  the 
support  of  an  evangelical  ministry  in  what  is  called 
the  mission  church  in  Calcutta.  In  consequence  of 
the  removal  of  these  excellent  men,  Mr.  Mardon  was 
subsequently  sUtioced  at  Goamalty,  and  Mr.  Moore  at 


Toward  the  latter  end  of  January,  1808,  Serampore 
was  Uken  by  the  English,  on  the  ground  of  a  rupture 
between  Great  Britain  and  Denmark  ;  but  this  event 
made  no  difference  in  the  situation  of  the  missionaries, 
who  observe,  "  During  the  course  of  this  month,  we 
have  had  a  considerable  addition  to  our  audience,  not 
only  on  the  sabbath,  but  at  our  family  worship.  This 
has  induced  us  several  times  to  add  a  serious  exhorta- 
tion to  our  daily  regular  exercises  ;  and  it  has  been 
truly  pleasing  to  observe  the  attention  of  those  who 
have  been  present." 

On  the  25th  of  April,  an  eminent  Hindoo  Christian, 
whose  name  was  Futick,  and  who  had  been  instru- 
mental in  the  conversion  of  his  mother,  his  sister,  and 
three  of  his  neighbors,  died  at  Serampore,  with  a  hope 
fill!  of  immortality,  and  afforded  another  blessed  proof 
that  the  missionaries  in  Bengal  had  not  been  permitted 
to  labor  in  vain,  or  to  spend  their  strength  for  nought. 
"  Futick  came  down  from  Dinagepore,"  says  Mr. 
Ward,  "  with  a  disorder  upon  him,  which  was  never 
wholly  removed,  though  he  was  better  at  some  times 
than  at  others.     For  many  months  before  his  denth, 
he  was  much  afflicted  ;  yet,  in  all  his  afflictions,  he 
never  appeared  to  think  worse  of  the  gospel,  nor  was 
his  faith  in  the  saving  power  of  Christ  diminished  by 
any  of  them.     We  have  recently  witnessed  a  case, 
however,  the  very  reverse  of  this.     A  female  who 
had  professed  to  believe  in  Christ,  but  who  had,  for 
some  time,  appeared  to  be  a  suspicious  character,  at- 
tributed the  severity  of  her  sufferings,  in  a  protnlcted 
illness,  to  the  anger  of  the  gods  whom  she  had  aban- 
doned, and  at  last  put  a  period  to  her  own  existence  ! 
\  '« A  little  hefora  the  last  heavy  renim  of  his  afflic- 
tion, he  seemed  considerably  better,  and  did  some 
business  in  the  printing-office.     During  this  state  of 
convalescence,  for  two  or  three  days  together,  he  was 

Verv  iMrnaat  •■•  kU  »AA..^m^—  •-  .1.-  t> : i  ..l 


ert^employed  in  the  oiBoo,  warning  them  against  peiw 
wsting  u  their  rejectioa  of  the  gospel.  Some  who 
heard  hwi  supposed  that  he  might  be  bearing  his  lait 
testimony  for  God  to  these  hardened  men ;  and  this 
proved  to  he  the  fact,  as  in  a  day  or  two  afterward,  he 
was  taken  ill,  and  every  one  who  saw  bun  perceived 
the  most  unequivocal  symptoms  of  his  approaching 
dissolution. 

"On  the  evening  before  his  death,  I  called  upon 
him,  and  found  him  conversing  with  his  mother  on  the 
subject  of  worldly-mindedness ;  warning  her  against 
it,  and  urging  the  necessity  of  her  being  prep'wed  to 
die.  Not  being  able  to  stay  long,  I  went  home,  but, 
according  to  promise,  returned  between  nine  and  ten 
o'clock  the  same  evening.  Futick  was  then  worse, 
and  the  rattling  in  his  throat  might  be  heard  to  a  con- 
siderable distance ;  yet  he  was  sitting  up,  and  on  see- 
ing me,  he  briefly  recapitulated  the  incidents  of  his 
life,  subsequent  to  his  conversion. 

"  After  a  short  pause,  I  asked  him  respecting  his 
present  prospects  and  his  hope  of  sal  vaiion.  The  dear 
man,  collecting  all  the  breath  he  could,  said,  with  pe- 
culiar force  and  emphasis, '  I  have  not  a  doubt .  of 
obtaining  salvation  by  the  death  of  Christ.'  On  my 
inquiring  if  he  had  any  uneasiness  about  leaving  the 
worid,  he  replied  by  quoting  that  beautiful  passage, 
'  Blessed  are  the  pure  in  heart,  for  they  shall  see  God !' 
and  added  some  very  appropriate  reflections  on  the 
vanity  of  all  creature  enjoyments. 

"  Some  of  the  native  brethren  sat  up  with  him  dur- 
ing the  night,  and  about  one  o'clock  in  the  morning,  he 
was  asked  whether  they  should  sing ;  he  answered  m 
the  affirmative,  and  they  continued  singing  for  some 
time.  About  half  past  five,  Kristno  engaged  in  prayer, 
and,  almost  immediately  afterward,  Futick's  happy 
spirit  was  wafted  to  tlie  realms  of  bliss." 

During  the  summer  of  this  year,  the  members  of 
the  infant  church  at  Goamalty  had  a  large  portion  of 
affliction.  Mr.  Mardon,  for  some  time,  was  deprived 
of  his  voice  :  and  both  he  and  Mrs.  Mardon  were 
very  ill  for  a  long  time,  and  obliged  to  leave  the  sta- 
tion, in  order  to  obtain  medical  assistance.  The  na- 
tives wept  on  their  departure.  There  was  also  much 
affliction  among  them  ;  so  that,  for  the  greater  part  of 
the  season,  they  were  unable  to  engage  in  any  active 
labors.  "  But  to  show,"  as  Mr.  Mardon  says,  "  that 
success  does  not  depend  on  the  strength  and  exertions 
of  poor  mortals,  the  Lord  continued  to  work  among 
the  heathen  for  his  great  name's  sake."  They  had  be- 
gun with  only  seven  members ;  but  Mr.  Ephraim  Bur- 
ford,  who  had  engaged  in  the  indigo  business,  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Goamalty,  joined  them  by  dismission 
from  the  church  at  Serampore ;  and,  on  Ixird's  day, 
Jjiufi  iy,  louf  oiiiei^  were  bt>|*tiB«iJ,  via.  Mr,  Johniuu 


■WT%J--^-\S> 


BElfOA'l;: 


::jifr-*>  *  n 


iss 


(m  iMiiMuit  in  the  indigo  werb)  tnd  tiwM  nntivM ; 
whieh  nttde  Uieir  number  twelve.  Mr.  Merdon  tiao 
■peak*  of  seTemI  more,  of  whose  oonvermoo  he 
entertained  great  hopes,  and  of  two  persons  in  particu- 
lar, who  had  died,  and  whose  death  was  attended  with 
some  circumstances  peculiarly  affecting. 

One  of  these  was  a  bjrraggee,  of  the  name  of  Sub- 
hasingha,  of  the  rqpoot  caste,  who  was  gdng  on  a 
pilgrimage  to  the  temple  of  Juggernaut.     Mr.  Mardon, 
observing  him  to  stop  under  a  tree  at  Goamalty,  and 
being  unable,  at  that  time,  to  speak  much  himself, 
requested  Kristno  Dass  to  go  and  converse  with  him. 
He  accordingly  went,  and  told  him  of  the  sufferings 
and  death  of  Christ  for  the  salvation  of  sinners.     The 
poor  man  seemed  to  feel  the  subject  as  suited  to  his 
case.     He  said,  he  would  take  Christ  for  his  refiige, 
and,  instead  of  prosecuting  his  journey  to  Juggernaut, 
would  stop  and   hear  more   of  the   word  of  God ; 
believing  that  by  this  his  soul  would  be  purified.    "  On 
hearing  this,"  says  Mr.  Mardon,"  Kristno  came  to  me, 
almost  in  raptures,  to  know  what  he  should  do.     I 
requested  him   to   take  the  man   to  his  house,  and 
instruct  him  in  the  way  of  salvation.     I  went  over 
shortly  after,  and  spoke  to  him  a  little  my:elf.     He 
was    very   attentive.      In    the    course   of  the   day, 
the   native   brethren,   especially   Kristno,  conversed 
with  him  freely,  and  in  the  evening,  directed  their 
prayers  particularly  on  his  behalf     He  ate  with  them 
without    hesitation,     seemingly     regardless    of     his 
caste  ;  and  even  threw  off  his  poita  and  necklace,  as 
useless  things.     His  body  was  in  a  very  weak  state. 
The  next  morning,  he  appeared  as  usual,  but  in  a  few 
hours    lost  his  speech,  nnd  seemed   to  be   in    pain. 
About  three  in  the  afternoon,  suirounded  by  us  all,  he 
died.     May  we  not  hope  that  this  was  a  brand  plucked 
out  of  the  burning  ?" 

Anothe-  was  a  Hindoo,  an  inquirer  after  the  way  of 
salvation,  whose  name  was  Heeradee.  "  Nearly  two 
months  ago, "  says  Mr.  Mardon,  in  a  letter  dated 
September  6,  "  he  was  bitten  by  a  mad  jackal  in  the 
comer  of  his  mouth.  It  is  only  a  week  yesterday 
since  I  heard  of  it  j  when  the  natives  brought  him 
hither,  to  get  some  medicines  for  him.  On  Monday 
last,  he  began  to  feel  the  effects  of  the  bite,  and 
concluded  he  should  die.  Mrs.  Mardon  went  over 
twice  to  see  him.  He  was  very  earnest  in  prayer, 
not  only  for  himself,  but  also  for  the  church,  that  the 
Ix>rd  would  pour  out  his  blessing  upon  it.  He  was 
much  engaged  in  prayer  the  following  night.  Yester- 
day he  began  to  exhibit  such  strong  symptoms  of 
madness,  that  the  native  brethren  were  afraid  to 
approach  him,  and,  in  the  evening,  it  became  necos- 
cary  to  fasten  him  down  to  the  boHstBgd.  Towards 
morning,  the  fit<i  of  frenay  orca-iionally  subsided,  and 


he  aediiioasly  improved  every  hi«id  iitiirval  by  en- 
gapng  in  prayer,  or  talking  about  the  Redeemer.  He 
was,  also,  manifestly  favored  with  th«  exereise  of 
reason  in  hb  departing  moments,  and  expired  with  th« 
language  of  supplication  on  his  lips.  He  has  left« 
widow  and  two  children  to  lament  his  loss." 

During  three  of  the  summer  months,  twelve  mem- 
bers were  added  to  the  church  at  Serampcov;  and 
Deep  Chund,  who,  for  a  season,  had  been  inveigled 
by  his  countrymen  into  idolatrous  practices,  came  back 
with  every  symptom  of  contrition,  and  was  again  received 
into  communion,  after  an  appropriate  and  affectionate 
address,  in  which  he  was  warned  to  walk  more  warily 
for  the  future.  The  account  which  he  gave  of  his 
temporary  apostasy,  the  state  of  his  mind  under  it, 
and  the  effects  which  had  been  produced  by  several 
visits  from  bis  brethren,  and  by  a  letter  from  the 
church,  were  extremely  affecting,  and  proved  to 
demonstration  that  conscience  had  not  been  altogether 
silent,  whilst  he  was  engaging  m  the  abominations  of 
the  heathen.  y 

On  the  demise  of  the  Danish  clergyman  at  Seram- 
pore,  the  majority  of  the  inhabitants  expressed  a  strong 
desire   that  the   missionaries   might  be  permitted  to 
succeed  him.    A  petition  to  that  eflect  was,  accordingly, 
presented  to  the  governor-general,  and,  by  his  lord- 
ship's permission,  the  parish  church  was,  from  that 
time,  occupied  by  some  of  the  Baptist  brethren  ;  who, 
however,  declined  accepting  any  pecuniary  compensa- 
tion for  their  services.     In  a  letter  dated  November 
29,  the  missionaries  state,  that  Kristno,  the  first  Chris- 
tian  convert,  was   stationed  at  Calcutta,  'vhere   he 
found  constant  employment,  in  preaching  and  convers- 
ing about  the  things  ofOnd,  sometimes  to  the  natives, 
and  sometimes  to  Europeans.     They  also  mention 
their  having  obtained  access  to  the  prison  and   the 
dispensary,  where  they  had  the  most  favorable  oppor- 
tunities  of  explaining  the   way  of  salvation  to  the 
afflicted  and  wretched  inmates. 

On  the  1st  of  January,  1809,  the  new  chapel  was 
opened  at  Calcutta ;  and  though,  including  the  pur- 
chase of  the  ground,  the  erection  of  this  spacious  edi- 
fice amounted  to  upwards  of  thirty  thousand  rupees,  or 
nearly  four  thousand  pounds,  the  greater  part  of  that 
sum  had  been  raised  by  private  contributions.  Indeed, 
Calcutta  had  now  become  to  the  missionaries  one  of 
their  most  important  spheres  of  labor,  and  the  princi- 
pal scene  of  their  success ;  and  the  improvement  of  a 
religious  nature,  tvhich  had  thci.'e  taken  place  within  a 
few  years,  was  highly  gratifying  to  the  friends  of  the 
Redeemer.  When  the  brethren  first  attempted  to 
erect  the  standard  of  the  cross  in  this  large  and  popu- 

Iraia    Altar       aft     «>*mm     KsmmaIIh      •!««     aahm*     mX    IbwaI!..! «      ■>_ J 

;" yj'  ■'  — -V   ' -■  •"  — 'S""  """ 

infidelity  ;  and  when  they  preached  their  first  sermons, 


BAPTIST  BnSNOIfAltT  SOCIETY. 


tbuy  nrcM  4t44oi»;«Mewi«d  ky  mora  diu.fiB..or#; 
down  ji—B WW,  :  V0W,  .bammw,  partly  through  ,Uw 
watniwaulity  »f  lh<.B«ptMti»  aad  partly  in  ooiuwt 
fueDM  oCdn  fiutUul  labma  of  some  eFangeiioal^Jw- 
firmeo  who  were  Mitlad  in  this  part,  the  light  of  di  vine 
truth  had  been  happily  diffiised,  and  there  were  now 
several  hindnda  of-serious  Cbruiiana  in  Calcutta. 

During  the  month  of  January,  Mr.  Chamberlain 
took  a  joucaey,  on  honebaok,  into  Bbeerboom 
and  Burdwaa,  preaching  the  gospel  to  considerable 
numbers  of  peaceable  and  attentive  hearers,  and  sleep- 
ing frequently  on  a  mat,  spread  beneath  the  branches 
of  some  umbrageous  tree.  He  first  went  to  a  fair  at  a 
place  called  Kendula,  where  he  was  engaged  in 
preaching  nearly  a  whob  day,  and  found  such  peculiar 
pleasure  ia  the  work,  tliat  be  observes,  "  he  never 
spent  a  happier  day  in  his  V'-y."  Having  distributed 
several  thousands  of  religious  tracts,  and  a  considera- 
ble number  of  TestamenU,  he  felt  inclined  to  spend 
the  sabbath  at  Lakorakoonda,  where  it  seems  there 
were  several  persons  favorably  disposed  to  the  gospel, 
and  with  whom  he  had  formed  a  previous  acquaintance. 
Here  be  spent  four  days,  and  was  constantly  employed, 
during  that  time,  in  explaining  to  the  people  the  way 
of  salvation  through  Jesus  Christ. 

Soon  after  the  return  of  this  faithful  and  laborious 
missionary,  Messrs.  Robinson  and  W.  Carey,   jun., 
accompanied  by  two  of  the  native  converts,  Scbuk-rain 
and  Ghorachund,  made  a  second  attempt  at  forming  a 
settlement  at  or   near   Botehaut,   near  the   Bootan 
country,  on  the  borders  of  Thibet.     On  the  25th  of 
March,  they  arrived,  after  a  fatiguing  journey  on  horse- 
back, at  Barbaree,  where  they  passed  the  sabbath ; 
and  on  Monday  evening  they  arrived  within  two  miles 
of  Botehaut.     Here  they  were  desirous  of  procuring 
an  eligible  spot  of  ground  for  the  erection  of  a  house, 
but  could  find  none  that  was  secure  from  inundation  in 
the  rainy  season.     On  the  28th,  a  large  market  being 
held  at  Botehaut,  they  sent  their  two  native  compan- 
ions thither,  in  quest  of  intelligence.     These  were 
treated  with  the  utmost  civility  both  by  the  Booteas 
and  Bengalees  ;  and  the  katma,  or  chief  magistrate  of 
the  place,  said  that  if  the  missionaries  chose  to  write 
liiui  a  letter,  expressing  their  wish  to  visit  Botehaut, 
lie  would  send  them  an  inviution.     This  hint  was  of 
course  aUended  to  by  the  brethren,  who  addressed  a 
note  to  the  katma  the  following  day  ;  and  in  the  course 
of  a  few  hours  they  received  a  reply,  in  which  the 
itwgistrate  invited  them  to  "  come  and  stay  with  him  a 
few  days,  and  tell  him  all  their  joys  and  sorrows," 
adding,  that   '*  the  next  morning  he  would  send  his 
musicians  and  dancing  giris  to  meet  them." 

"  On  the  30th,  after  breakfast,"  says  Mr.  Robinson, 
"  we  set  off.  end  arrivnd  m  nr>>»i>n.i>  u^f„^ 


mat •i»hei,bjrih«  ««i«i«B, « rt. a„oing gW,, wA 
whoee  <)o»i«Df  we  M«U  ^^  ^iUiagly  dispewe. 
Going  wtoth»  naartot-pUce,  •  seal  w«s  prepared  &r 
us  under  a  tfee,  with  aaoiher  fi>r  the  katma,  whose 
bouse  w«a  at  a  short  distance.  After  we  had  wwted 
a  few  minutes,  the  Utma  came  to  reoeive  us,  and  on 
his  approach  we  advaoemi  a  tew  steps  tsward  him, 
respeotAilly  taking  off  our  hats.  He  alao  took  off  hk 
hat,  which  was  made  ofhamboo  or  eane,  and  appeared 
large  enough  to  serve  as  an  umbrella.  He  then 
presented  us  with  two  dirty  Bootan  handkerchiefs,  and 
we,  in  return,  gave  him  a  spy-glass.  After  shaking 
hands  with  both  of  us  at  once,  and  requesting  us  to 
be  seated,  he  asked  us  to  take  a  cup  of  his  tea,  which 
we  accepted.  A  few  wahiuts,  which  the  Booteas  had 
brouglH  from  the  mountains,  were  after^vards  presented 
to  us,  and  the  katma  conducted  us  to  a  Bengalee 
house,  which  he  had  prepared  for  our  reception,  and 
gave  orders,  before  he  left  us,  that  we,  our  attendanU, 
and  our  hwses,  should  be  supplied  with  provisions. 

"  After  he  was  gone,  the  Booteas  came  to  see  us,  and 
expressed  much  admiration  at  perceiving  that  we  were 
clothed  from  head  to  foot,  which,  however,  they 
acknowledged  was  a  good  preservative  from.being  bitten 
by  flies.  But  the  grand  object  of  their  inquiry  was, 
whether  we  had  any  liquor.  We,  therefore,  gave  them 
a  little  rum,  well  diluted  with  water,  of  which  they 
drank  eagerly. 

"  After  dinner,  we  received  another  visit  from  the 
katma,  to  whom  we  presented  a  watch.  He  liked  it 
very  well,  but  hid  evidently  no  idea  of  its  value;  and 
on  n  1)1)1}  ing  it  to  liis  ear,  he  asked  if  it  were  not  a 
chaiin.  We  embraced  this  opportunity  of  intimating 
our  wish  to  live  in  the  vicinity  of  Botehaut,  and  asked 
if  we  might  come  to  the  market  when  we  pleased.  To 
this  he  readily  agreed,  but  gave  no  hint  that  we  might 
reside  there  ;  and  on  our  inquiring  whether  we  might 
go  up  the  mountains,  he  said, '  Not  till  we  had  o'  ained 
a  pass  from  the  king.'  After  tea,  we  discoursed  with 
him  about  learning  the  Bootan  language,  that  we  might 
ascertain  whether  lie  had  any  feeling  of  jealousy  on 
that  subject ;  but  he  appeared  perfectly  free,  telling  us 
the  names  of  several  things  in  that  language,  and  observ- 
ing that  we  should  be  able  to  learn  it  by  a  few  months'  ap- 
plication. Before  he  left  us,  he  gave  strict  orders  that 
guards  should  be  placed  round  the  house,  and  told  the 
people  that  if  they  stole  the  least  article  belonging  to  U8,he 
would  send  them  to  the  king,  and  have  them  beheaded." 

The  next  day ,  <he  missionaries  were  formally  received 
into  the  friendship  of  «bo  katma,  by  a  ceremony  like 
that  which  look  place  between  the  jinkof  and  Messrs. 
Thomas  and  Carey  in  1797 ;  and,  after  taking 
leave,  they  returned  to  Barbaree,  whore  a  spot  of 
gfOiutd  Was  promised  for  tho  croction  of  a  hibiittiivu. 


.r*m.i:yr^''.  iBXXCMiE^  T»rr=i>pi 


Iin«,'hmrrr«r^  th»tw<MwtiTe  eoAverts  trate  Mk«a  W) 
itt»<tiMtMr.  Wi  CMe]r<iruuiid«rthefi«e«witf«rm«to> 
ing  whb  tham  to  DuMgepore ;  and  Mr.  RhMiMoii  Mn- 
■dtf,  in  eomequMce  oT  fttif^e,  «nd  an  knprudem 
CTpwuiv  to  the  ran,  wu  •fterwards  ssiMd  «HA  « 
fever,  which  endangered  hit  life ;  'thMgh.hy  Ibe  divine 
Uesting  oo  the  means  presoribcd,  he  was  mersifolly 
nstored  to  health. 

In  the  month  of  July,  tDr.  Carey  complet«d  bts 
teaasktion  of  the  whole  Bible  into  the  Bengriee 
language.  Oh  the  day  he  finished  it,  he  felt  unwell, 
but  to  finish  his  prescribed  task,  he  exerted  hims«lf 
more  than  ordinary.  Whilst  sitting  with  his  col- 
leagues at  dbiner,  they  were  specking  of  what  he  had 
been  enabled  to  accomplish  since  his  arrival  in  India, 
aod  ene  of  ihem  inquired  how  much  more  he  thought 
of  <k>ing.  He  replied,  that  the  work  which  he  had 
already  allotted  himself  in  the  difibrent  translations 
would  take  him  upwards  of  twenty  years,  at  the  rate 
he  now  went  on.  The  same  evening,  he  was  seised 
with  a  fever,  which  rose  to  such  an  alarming  height, 
that,  for  several  days,  his  iiriends  entertained  scarcely 
any  hopes  of  his  recovery.  At  length,  however,  the 
united  prayers  of  the  church  on  bis  behalf  were 
graciously  heard  and  answered,  and  he  was  once  more 
enabled  to  resume  his  important  avocations. 

Towards  the  close  of  the  year,  the  receipt  of  some 
interesting  intelligence  from  Binninghnm,  reUUive  to 
the  schools  established  in  .-.^t  to.vn,  induced  the 
missionaries  to  make  a  similar  attempt  at  Calcutta, 
where  thousands  of  poor  children,  belonging  to  the 
Portuguese  Catholics,  were  wandering  about  the 
streets,  exposed  to  nvery  species  of  vice,  and  in  a  state 
of  complete  wretchedness.  Accordingly,  Mr.  Marsh- 
man  preached  a  sermon  on  the  occasion,  and  made  a 
collection  for  the  purpose  of  immediately  commencing 
a  school,  to  be  supported  by  voluntary  conttibutions, 
and  to  be  called  the  "  Benevolent  Institution  for 
instructing  the  children  of  indigent  Christians." 

On  the  21st  of  March,  1810,  Mr.  Robinson  returned 
to  Barbarce,  from  which  he  had,  for  some  time,  been 
absent,  on  account  of  severe  indisposition  ;  and,  in  a 
letter  addressed  to  Mr.  Marishman,he  soys,  "Our  situ- 
ation here  is  pleasant  and  healthy  ;  we  have  a  fine 
circulation  of  air;  and,  on  the  whole,  a  good  prospect, 
which  is  improved  by  a  view  of  the  mountains.  The 
weatiier,  also,  is  much  cooler  than  at  Serampore,  in 
consequence  of  the  frequent  breezes  from  the  north- 
east. The  surrounding  country  is  not  thinly  peopled  ; 
on  the  contrary,  I  suppose  there  may  be  two  thousand 
persons  who  attend  our  market  twice  a  week,  and 
there  are  several  other  large  markets  at  no  great 
distance.  I  have  now  nad  preaching  at  my  house 
tliree  sabbaths.     On  the  first,  niy  heaters  were  few 


m 


awi  i«MRrt«ive ;  en  ihe  t^jtt,iwppbst  mtitt  xntB 
fo«y"m«n  prwew,  b«sides'ti'nuHAer  of  Wo««i,  «i« 
tome  heard  tHtfa  «tt«Mkw.  'l«».'IiehF»  ««(• .  w^ 
h*d  mot«^  bbthMMdes  w§{mia»ti',  m  that  the  h^ 
WW  fiHed»  w(i  'fceftirB  1  'h«d  donci  mutohon  hrt 
ctAeoted 'abetM  th6\dd6ri^  - .  i.  , ,, 

In  a  snb9equem'connm»fcatJrti,^lfte»  Jane  I*,  th« 
«Bae  writer  obserres :   "  Some  of  my  heaters  Ksten 
vrtth  attention,  «id  tm  «(f  the  di9cours<^  ftfterwards ; 
but  others  are  more  indHferent.  Ilteinost  that  any  ^ 
them  have  tmdewobd  Is,  that  It  ia- wrong  t»  worship 
their  gods.    One  day,  just-as  I  had  done  preachmg, 
four  meDj'ftom  a  distant  phce,  came  to  inqnne  what 
this  new  doctrine  was.    I  talked  with  them  a  consiB* 
erable  thne,  and  they  seemed  mterested;    I  also  g»ve 
them  a  few  tracts ;  but  the  number  of  people  capable 
of -reading,  hi  this  part  of  the  country,  is  extremely 
small,"     The  following  month,  Mrs.  Robinson  was 
summoned  into^he  worW  of  spirits,  and  her  childreir 
were  tiken,  under  the  protection  of  MrS.  Marshman, 
to  Serampore.    On  this  occasion ,  her  widowed  husband 
observes  to  one  of  the  missionaries,  "I  am  Kke  a  man 
amazed,  and  can  scarcely  credit  the  reality  of  my-  own 
situation.     Never  could  any  passage  of  Scripture  be 
more  applicable  than  that  of  Isaiah  is  to  my  case, '  He 
that  walketh  in  darkness  and  hath  no  light,  let  him  trust 
in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  and  stay  himself  upon  his  God.* 
I  am,  indeed,  without  any  light,  except  tliat  whiih  fsith 
afibrds ;    and  my  faith  is  so  weak  that,  like  a  glim- 
mering taper,  it  only  serves  to  prevent  total  darkness. 
I  must  now  come  to  Serampore ;  and  I  hope  yon  wlU 
look  out  for  somebody  to  return  with  me,  as  I  do  not 
think  I  can  live  by  myself  at  a  place  where,  but  a  few 
days  ago,  I  had  a  wife  and  two  children  !"  '' 

In  other  stations,  the  aspect  of  afikirs,  during  this 
year,  was  very  encouraging.  At  Dinagepore  'and 
Goamahy,  things  went  on  happily ;  b  Jessore,  the 
church  had  increased  to  nearly  sixty  members  •  at 
Lakra  Kroonda,  an  opulent  Hindoo  merchant,  who 
had  formeriy  kept  a  house  of  gods,  cast  them  »;» 
away  ;  and,  with  others  like-minded,  met  on  thr 
sabbath  day,  for  the  purposes  of  reading  the  Scriptures, 
and  worshipping,  as  well  as  they  know  how,  the  living 
and  true  God.  At  Calcutta,  also,  the  word  of  the 
gospel  appeared  to  have  free  course,  and  to  be  attended 
with  considerable  success.  "  Kristno,"  says  a  pious 
member  of  the  church  in  that  city,  "  appears  to  gather 
strength  of  body  from  his  unremitting  exertions.  He 
spares  no  labor,  exhibits  no  symptoms  of  fiitigue,  but 
flies  wherever  duty  calls,  and  actually  preaches  at 
fourteen  difl^rent  places  in  the  course  of  the  week 
besides  regularly  visiting  several  private  families.     He 

Seemii.  inrtnml.  tn  havA  all  tha  saaal  «<*  •  .,....— . 

^ _  _..„.,,_  ...„jypj.j^ 

With  ail  the  experience  of  a  father.    When  I  think  of 


BAPTIST  MISSKHVART  SOCIETY. 


fmu  labon,  and  thoaB  of  the  other  missionarie*, 
ftMching  the  gospel  hera  seven  times  in  a  wedi, 
the  monthly  prayer  and  weekly  experience  meetings, 
the  eatechiiing  ot  children  after  morning  worriiip,  the 
meeting  on  sabbath  erenmgs  for  imparting  rel^ious 
intelligence,  seven  estaUished  prayer-meetings  in  dif- 
ferent parts  of  the  city,  and  the  many  iainily  altars 
recently  erected ;  I  cannot  but  conclude  that  these 
are  earnests  of  what  we  hope  for, — the  conversion  of 
multitudes  of  our  feUow  sinners." 

In  January,  181 1,  Mr.  Robinsra  returned  to  Barba- 
ree,  accompanied  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cornish,  two 
members  of  the  Baptist  church  at  Calcutta.  They 
•nrived  oo  Saturday  the  19th,  and  during  the  foUow- 
ing  Monday  and  Tuesday,  they  were  employed  in 
arranging  various  articles,  and  in  writing  to  the  Soobah 
of  Chemerchee,  requesting  permission  to  pay  him  a 
vint.  The  letter  was  to  have  been  sent  off  the  next 
morning,  and  they  hoped,  in  about  a  fortnight,  to  have 
obtained  an  introduction  into  Bootan.  "But,"  as 
llr.  Robinson  justly  remarks,  "  we  know  not  what  a 
day  may  bring  forth  i" 

On  Tuesday  night,  about  twelve  o'clock,  the  watch- 
man awoke  Mr.  Cornish,  and  told  him  that  he  had 
seen  a  man  of  suspicious  appearance  about  the  premises. 
On  receiving  this  intelligence,  Mr.  Cornish  arose,  and, 
supposing  that  there  was  only  a  single  thief,  fired  his 
gun,  and  again  lay  down  to  rest.     Just  as  he  was  fall- 
ing asleep,  however,  he  was  roused  by  a  band  of  fifty 
or  sixty  robbers,  armed  with  spears,  attacking  the 
house.     His  windows  were  instantly  forced  open,  and 
his  poruble  desk  pulled  out ;   and  on  his  aiming  a 
blow  at  one  of  the  ruffians  with  the  butt-end  of  his 
gun,  two  spears  were  immediately  aimed  at  him  from 
the  windows,  and  be  received  a  slight  wound  in  the 
side.*   Meanwhile,  Mr.    Robinson,  whose   apartment 
had  not  yet  been  attacked,  put  on  a  few  of  his  clothes, 
and,  not  knowing  the  number  of  the  robbers,  nor  how 
they  were  armed,  formed  the  intention  of  resisting 
them.     He,  accordingly,  passed  them  in  the  dark, 
and  went  into  the  pantry,  for  the  purpose  of  arming 
himself  with  a  knife.     At  that  instant,  the  robbers  set 
fire  to  some  straw,  for  the  sake  of  light,  and,  on  seeing 
the  knife  in  his  hand,  two  of  them  struck  at  him  with 
their  spears,  but,  happily,  without  effect.     Perceiving, 
by  this  time,  that  resistance  would  be  in  vain,  he 
opened  the  back  door,  and  went  to  the  room  of  Mr, 
and  Mrs.  Cornish,  hoping  to  get  them  out  of  the 
windows,  and  entreating  them  to  come  away,  lest  they 
should  be  murdered.    "  O !  Mr.  Robinson !"  exclaim- 
ed Mrs.  Cornish,  "  do  uke  my  poor  child  !"    He  did 
so ;  and  the  others  immediately  followed.     Mrs.  Cor- 
nish ran  towards  the  stable ;  and,  in  following  her, 
they  found  the  cook  lying  on  the  ground.     Thinking 


he  might  be  asleep^  they  shook  him ;  but  he  answmd 
with  a  deep,  hollow  groan.  They  now  made  the  best 
of  their  way  over  a  ditch  which  surrmmded  the  prem- 
ises ;  and,  having  wandered  to  a  place  about  a  mile 
distant,  where  there  was  no  foot-path,  they  sat  down 
on  the  cold  ground  till  the  morning. 

Shortly  after  day,-break,  they  ventured  to  return  to 
their  habitation,  where  they  beheld  a  tragical  scene 
indeed.  A  few  yards  from  the  front  door  lay  the 
mangled  corpse  of  the  man  who  had  the  care  of  the 
horses^  and  at  a  short  distance  from  the  back  door  lay 
the  murdered  cook.  The  washer-man,  also,  had  re- 
ceived  several  severe  wounds,  of  which  he  afterwards 
died.  On  the  outside  of  the  bouse  a  variety  of  books, 
papers,  boxes,  and  other  articles,  were  scattered  about, 
and  stained  with  blood  ;  and  within,  all  was  ccmfusion 
and  destruction.  Things  capable  of  being  broken 
were  literally  dashed  to  atoms ;  the  books  were  thrown 
in  heaps,  or  scattered  about  the  apartments  ;  and  th« 
clothes,  excepting  a  few  articles  which  the  robbers 
had  probably  dropped  in  their  haste,  were  all  carried 
away.  The  total  loss  in  property  of  different  kinds 
was  supposed  to  amount  to  two  thousand  rupees,  or 
about  two  hundred  and  fifty  pounds* 

Dreadfiil  and  appalling,  however,  as  was  this  disas- 
ter, the  providence  of  God  was  cleariy  manifested  on 
behalf  of  his  servants ;   as,  in  making  their  escape 
from  the  house,  they  were  mercifully  directed  into  the 
only  way  by  which  it  was  possible  to  elude  destruction. 
"  In  that  corner  of  the  garden  where  the  stable  was," 
says  Mr.  Cornish,  "  there  was  no  gateway,  which  at 
every  other  corner  there  was,  and  at  each  of  these 
three  gateways  ruffians  were   placed,   to  guard    the 
entrance ;  so  that,  if  we  had  attempted  to  pass  through 
any  of  them,  we  must,  in  all  probability,  have  been 
murdered."     Mr.  Cornish  adds,  "  After  getting  over 
the  ditch,  we  first  made  our  way  to  a  few  adjoining 
houses,  where  wo  knelt  down,  and  returned  thanks  to 
God  for  our  marvellous  escape ;  and  in  a  short  but 
earnest  prayer,  implored  his  protection  for  the  re- 
maindcr  of  the  night.     W9  then  wandered  into  tho 
fields,  and  sat  down  under  a  bush,  with  scarcely  any 
clothing.     Even  here  our  fears  were  not  at  an  end. 
The  shaking  of  a  leaf  made  us  tremble  ;  and,  to  ren- 
der it  still  worse,  my  little  boy  was  so  cold  that  it  waa 
with  much  difficulty  we  could  keep  him  from  crying, 
which  might  have  discovered  the  place  of  our  retreat 
to  the  robbers,  had  they  passed  in  that  direction. 

"My  little  apprentice  girl,  Jannetta,  on  the  first 
alarm,  ran  out  of  our  bed-room  into  the  pantry  ;  so 
that  she  knew  nothing  of  our  escaping  through  the 
window.  She  says,  the  murderers,  coming  into  the 
pantry,  and  seeing  her,  exclaimed,  '  Here  is  one  of  the 


Sahib's  ngcsle.'     One  of  *h 


'•S!   S?5tvi!cu   iicr   vivsvta 


.  ''immmm   ■  BENGAL.. 


ih.% 


989 


for  money,  but,  finding  n<»e,  he  was  going  to  put  her 
to  death ;  when,  hohiing  up  her  bands  to  another 
of  the  ruffians,  she  said,  <  I  am  but  a  poor  little  girl : 
do  not  kill  me.*  The  fellow  replied,  *  Show  us  where 
the  money  is,  and  you  shall  not  be  hurt.'  She  accord- 
ingly directed  them  to  the  two  bed-rooms,  into  which 
they  all  rushed ;  whilst  she  embraced  the  opportunity 
of  escaping  out  at  the  back  door,  and  concealed  her- 
self in  the  store  room." 

In  addition  to  the  loss  of  bis  property,  Mr.  Robinson 
had,  on  this  melancholy  occasion,  received  no  fewer 
than  five  wounds ;  one  on  his  right  knee,  one  on  his 
left  arm,  one  on  the  abdomen,  and  another  on  the 
breast ;  and  had  not  the  spear  struck  against  the  bone, 
the  last  of  these  would  probably  have  proved  mortal. 
The  wound  in  Mr.  Cornish's  side  might,  also,  have 
been  fatal,  had  it  not  been  for  a  similar  circumstance. 
In  this  disUressed  state,  and  with  scarcely  sufficient 
clothes  to  cover  them,  they  set  out,  on  Wednesday 
morning,  for  Dinagepore,  and  were  three  days  on  their 
journey.  "  During  the  first  two  days,"  says  Mr. 
Cornish,  "  my  poor  wife  walked  thirty-two  miles,  as 
we  could  procure  no  conveyance  for  her  ;  and  being 
lame,  in  consequsnce  of  having  wounded  her  foot  on 
Tuesday  night,  she  sat  down  and  wept,  toward  the 
last,  almost  every  quarter  of  a  mile.  I  tied  my  little 
child  to  the  back  of  a  native  man  who  accompanied 
us  ;  and  thus  we  proceeded  till  we  came  to  a  canvass 
manufactory,  where  we  procured  a  palanquin  and 
bearers."  On  their  arrival  at  Dinagepore,  they  were 
received  in  the  most  affectionate  manner  by  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Fernandez  and  other  friends,  who  supplied  their 
wants  with  the  utmost  promptitude,  and  exerted  them- 
selves unremittingly  to  soothe  their  distresses.  The 
reader  will,  no  doubt,  be  gratified  to  find  that,  though 
the  robbers  for  some  time  eluded  the  arm  of  justice, 
they  were  at  length  taken  and  brought  to  punishment. 
Three  of  them  were  hanged  ;  several  were  condemned 
to  perpetual  imprisonment,  and  thirty-nine  lashes  with 
the  kora  ;  the  others  were  imprisoned  for  a  stipulated 
time,  and  scourged  in  the  same  manner ;  and  all  of 
them  were  to  be  employed  in  hard  labor. 

In  the  month  of  April,  the  plan  suggested  by  Dr. 
Bell,  and  aflerwards  improved  by  Mr.  Lancaster,  was 
introduced  into  the  school  at  Calcutta ;  by  which  it 
became  practicable  at  once  to  increase  the  number 
of  pupils  and  to  diminish  the  expense.  A  piece 
of  ground  was,  also,  purchased,  and  a  new  school- 
house  erected,  capable  of  accommodating  eight  hun- 
dred children  ;  and  among  the  pupils  subsequently 
admitted  was  a  poor  Malay  boy,  who  had  been  stolen 
from  a  neighboring  island,  for  the  purpose  of  being 
sold  for  food  to  the  Battas,  a  nation  of  cannibals  ; 
and  who  was  actually  fattening  for  sale,  when  he  was 


piovidentially  rescued  hom  his  nrtal  situktion  by 
captain  Williams,  one  of  the  subscribeis  to  the  in- 
stitution. 

In  Fort  William  an  opposition  was  raised  against 
the  gospel  by  one  of  the  officers,  and  the  religious 
meetings'  which  had  been  formerly  held  there,  in  the 
house  of  an  EInglish  sergeant,  were  mterdicted.  The 
native  preachers,  however,  continued  to  visit  the  Fort, 
without  interruption ;  and  in  Calcutta  and  the  vic'mity, 
many  were  consuntly  coming  forward,  awakened  by 
the  instrumentaUty  of  these  faithful  servants  of  God. 
"Not  having  time  to  visit  the  people,"  says  Dr. 
Carey,  "I  appropriate  every  Thursday  evening  to 
receiving  the  visiu  of  inquirers.  Seldom  fewer  than 
twenty  come  ;  and  the  simple  confession  of  their  sin- 
ful state,— the  unvarnished  declaration  of  their  former 
ignorance, — their  expressions  of  trust  in  Christ,  and 
gratitude  towards  him, — together  with  the  accounts 
of  their  spiritual  conflicts,  often  attended  with  tean, 
which  almost  choke  their  utterance, — presents  a  scene 
of  which  you  can  scarcely  form  an  adequate  idea."  '■■* 

In  March,  1812,  a  calamitous  event  occurred  at 
Serampore,  which,  for  a  short  season,  retarded  the 
progress  of  the  missionaries  in  their  great  and  truly 
important  work  of  publishing  the  Holy  Scriptures  in 
the  difiierent  languages  of  the  East ;  and  which  excited 
the  most  lively  feelings  of  regret  and  commiseration 
in  the  bosoms  of  all  good  men,  without  regard  to  sect 
or  denomination.  One  evening,  about  six  o'clock, 
a  fire  was  discovered  in  the  printing-office,  in  a  large 
range  of  shelves,  filled  with  paper  of  various  descrip- 
tions. At  this  time  there  were  only  one  or  two  ser- 
vants remaining  in  the  office.  Mr.  Ward,  who  was 
writing  in  an  adjoining  room,  was  no  sooner  apprized 
of  the  accident,  than  he  hastened  to  the  spot  where 
the  fire  had  broken  out,  and  called  for  water  to  quench 
it :  the  flames,  however,  had  now  reached  the  middle 
of  the  shelves,  and  resisted  all  the  efibrts  that  could 
be  made  by  the  few  persons  on  the  spot.  In  a  few 
minutes,  the  office  was  so  completely  filled  with  smoke, 
that  Mr.  Ward  was  almost  suffi>cated  in  endeavoring 
to  get  out,  and  one  of  the  servants  who  was  with  him 
actually  fell  down  senSeless  before  he  could  reach  the 
door,  and  was  saved  from  death  only  by  being  dragged 
into  the  open  air.  The  whole  of  the  window-shutters, 
twenty-four  in  number,  were  fastened  with  iron  bars, 
placed  across,  and  pinned  within  ;  so  that  it  was 
extremely  difficult  to  force  them  open.  It  seemed 
advisable,  indeed,  to  keep  all  the  doors  and  windovra 
shut,  in  order  to  exclude  the  air,  and  thus  to  smother 
the  flames  as  much  as  possible.  Mr.  Ward  now 
ascended  the  roof,  pierced  it  above  the  part  where 
the  fire  was  burning,  and  poured  in  an  abundance 
of  water.     This  plan  so  far  succeeded,  that  four  hours 


BAPTIST  MISfilOlfARY  SOCIETY. 


after  tktt  first'  ibim  iras  giTen,  Uw  flames  ww«  coa« 
fiBe4  to  the  abalvea  irtienoe  they  had  originaUy  kaoed, 
and  even  there  they  were  materially  diminished.   The 
quiatky  of  water  whksh  waa  thrown  in  where  it  was 
jnraMioable  was  so  great,  that  in  the  adj«anin§  press- 
Ntom  it  was  an  high  u  the  ankles,  and  the  steaaa  and 
moke  which  filled  the  office  wen  so  thick,  that  a 
candle  would  not  bunt  there  even  for  a  few  seconds' 
The  heat,  also,  was  so  intense,  that  it  was  impossible 
for  any  one  to  stand  a  moment  witbm  the  walb.     At 
tins  juncture,  some  persons  violently  urged  the  opening 
of  all  the  windows,  in  order  to  get  out  the  tables, 
ficames  fi>r  the  cases,  and  other  articles ;  but  as  hours 
would  have  been  occupied  in  doing  this,  and  as  the 
opening  of  one  or  two  oniy,  would  have  given  fresh 
vigor  to  the  flame:^,  which  were  now  languid  and  con- 
fined to  the  lower  part  of  the  office,  the  missionaries 
objected  to  it.     This,  however,  did  not  prevent  some 
well-meaning  but  injudicious  friends  from  breaking 
open  one  of  the  windows  opposite  the  fire,  whilst 
Messrs.  Mu-shtuan  and  Ward  were  busily  employed 
in  other  places.     In  a  few  muiutes,  Mr.  Marshman 
perceived,  through  the  cloud  of  steam  and  smoke, 
a  flake  of  fire  blown  into  the  middle  of  the  office ; 
and  he  mstantly  conveyed  the  alarming  intelligence 
to  his  colleague,  who  was  superintending  the  pouring 
of  water  through  the  roof  on  the  shelves.     Mr.  Ward 
now  ran  to  the  room  at  the  entrance  of  the  office, 
and  the  most  remote  from  the  fire ;  and,  by  the  active 
assistance  of  several  European  friends,  succeeded  in 
cutting  open  the  windows,  and  dragging  out  his  writing- 
table,  which  conuined  the  deeds  of  the  premises, 
together  with  many  other  valuable  writings.     Then 
gping  to  the  opposite  room,  he  cut  open  the  windows 
there,  and  dragged  out  the  enclosed  shelves,  contain- 
ing a  complete  series  of  accounts,  from  the  com- 
mencement of  the  mission.     This  last  attempt  was 
made  in  the  very  face  of  the  fire  ;  and  before  it  was 
fully  accomplished,  the  whole  building,  two  hundred 
feet  in  length,  exhibited  one  mass  of  conflagration. 
About  midnight,  the  roof  fell  in ;  and  as  the  wind, 
which  had  previously  blown  pretty  hard,  was  now 
calm,  the  fire  ascended  in  a  straight  line,  like  the. 
flame  of  a  candle  on  a  table,  and  happily  terminated 
without  injuring  any  of  the  contiguous  buildings,  though 
some  of  them  were  not  more  than  twelve  feet  distant. 
When  it  was  evident  that  the  fire  would  extend  no 
farther,  all  the  members  of  the  mission  family,  old  and 
young,  sat  down  in  front  of  the  office,  and  continued 
till  near  two  o'clock  in  the  morning,  condoling  with 
each  other  on  their  dreadful  misfortune,  yet  acknowl- 
edging the  goodness  of  their  hea  anly  Father,  in  pre- 
venting the  conflagration  from  spreading  farther. 
Though  the  door  which  separated  the  press-room 


from  the  otbw  part  of  the  office  was  burnt,  and  though 
die  beams  in  that  room  were  soorched,  such  was  th« 
activity  of  the  people  in  pulling  out  the  presses,  tntt> 
they  were  aU  preserved.     The  paper-mill,  also^  with 
the  matrices,  moulds  and  apparatus  for  letter-founding,, 
were  in  a  place  adjoining  the  oflice,  which  the  fira 
did  not  enter,  and  wen  all  happily  saved.     In  the 
printing-office,  the  frames,  cases,  tables  for  stones, 
and  consumable  articles  of  all  descriptions,  were  de- 
stroyed ;  various  brass  and  copper  utensiki  were  melted ; 
the  thick  Chunar  imposing  stones  were  split  asunder 
by  the  intense  heat ;  and  the  melted  types  ran  lik« 
a  stream  of  water  along  the  plaster  floor.    On  clearing 
away  some  of  the  ruins,  however,  Mr.  Ward  had  the 
satisfaction  to  find  that  the  steel  punches  for  the  differ- 
ent founts  in  all  the  Indian  languages,  which  had 
occupied  naore  than  ten  yeart  in  fabricating,  were 
neither  destroyed  nor  injured.     About  eight  thousand 
pounds  of  type  metal  were  also  recovered  from  the 
general  wreck ;  so  that  on  the  third  day  after  the  fire,, 
the  letter  founders  and  pundits  were  set  to  work  in  a 
large  builduig,  which,  for  several  years  past,  had  been 
let  as  a  warehouse,  and  of  which  the  keys  had  been, 
given  up  only  a  few  days  before.     In  about  a  fortnight 
afterwards,  the  casting  of  types  was  regularly  resumed  | 
and  such  were  the  energy  and  zeal  of  the  missionaries, 
that,  in  the  course  of  a  few  months,  no  less  than  eight 
diflerent  versions  of  the  Scriptures  were  again  in  the 
press.     The  loss  sustained,  including  the  building, 
amounted  to  nearly  ten  thousand  pounds ;  but  this 
was  more  than  supplied  by  the  contributions  of  the 
friends  of  religion,  at  home  and  abroad,  as  soon  as  the 
disaster  was  publicly  known. 

In  the  course  of  this  year  (1812),  several  of  the 
children  of  the  missionaries  were  removed  by  death  ; 
and  Mr.  Mardon,  after  losing  his  wife  and  his  youngest 
son  and  daughter,  within  the  space  of  a  few  months, 
was  himself  summoned,  very  unexpectedly,  into  the 
worid  of  spirits,  on  the  23d  of  May.  In  the  evening 
of  that  day,  he  was  walking,  by  moonlight,  in  the 
garden,  from  nine  to  ten  o'clock ;  after  which  he  took  a 
little  bread  and  milk  for  his  supper,  and  retired  to  bed 
about  eleven.  He  had  previously  fastened  all  the 
doors ;  but,  after  a  few  minutes,  he  called  for  his 
young  servant  Roopa,  who,  with  the  watchman,  came 
to  the  window,  and  told  him  they  could  not  get  in,  as 
he  had  secured  the  gate.  M'.  Mardon  desired  them 
to  break  it  open,  and,  after  explaining  to  them  that 
he  felt  extremely  ill,  he  despatched  the  watchman  in 
quest  of  his  friend  Mr.  Ellerton.  "  On  my  arrival," 
says  that  gentleman,  in  a  letter  to  Mr.  Ward,  "  I  found 
our  brother  sweating  profusely,  and  his  hands  some- 
what cold.  He  told  me  that  he  felt  very  strangely, 
or  rather  as  if  he  had  lost  his  feelings,  but  had  no  pain. 


t¥'*i>im  >  BEnatm^  "^'^r*^. 


MHtie,  to  tAmm  b»  Mgcaocb  ;  but  he  Bxprmed  ■  £>• 
HiwtothatneKWK  NoHoiowing  what  eh«  to  gw« 
kiim  I  mHls.faint  s  buin  of  wum  Im,  whidk  he  dnmk; 
•■d.  w»  bbtb  began  to  hofm  that  the  disorder  was 
mtnty  seme  accidental  attaek,  wbieb  wtiold  pas*  off 
in  a  few  hours.  Abmit  two  in  the  raoniing,  I  left  n^ 
people  with  bia»y  and  retumed  home  to"  get  a  little 
sleep}  but  I  had  scarcely  dosed  my  eyes  when  a 
miMenger  cnne  to  infenn  me  that  Mr.  Mardoa  had 
g(Ow»  worse.  I  aecordingly  hastened  to  dress  myself 
•nd  go  to  him ;  but  before  I  could  reach  the  honse, 
he  had  breathed  bis  last." 

" Th«s,"  observes  another  correspondent,  "it  has 
pleased  God,  m  the  midst  of  a  useAil  course,  to  arrest 
our  fellow-laborer.  His  disease  was  so  rapid,  that  on 
his  death-bed  he  could  say  but  little :  yet  what  he  did 
utter,  indieated  a  temper  most  submissire  to  the  divine 
will ;  and  to  those  who  performed  the  affecting  offices 
of  friendship  toward  him,  in  his  last  moments,  it  was 
evident,  that,  in  the  midst  of  his  suflerings,  he  was 
occupied  in  thinking  of  Him  who  bad  redeemed  his 
sonl  with  inconceivable  agonies  on  the  cross.  To  the 
society  his  loss  is  great :  he  was  cordially  attached  to 
the  doctrines  of  divine  grace,  and  may  with  justice  be 
reckoned  amongst  the  most  upright  of  men." 

An  opening  for  the  gospel  had,  in  the  mean  time, 
presented  itself  in  the  eastern  part  of  Bengal.     Mr. 
Cornish,  who,  with  his  friend  Robinson,  so  narrowly 
escaped  assassination  on  the  borders  of  Bootan,  had 
the  offer  of  a  situation  in  an  indigo  manufactory  in  the 
vicinity  of  Dacca ;  and  the  brethren  at  Serampore, 
conceiving  it  might  be  subservient  to  the  diffusion 
of  divine  truth,  advised   him  to  accept  of  it.      He 
did  so,  and  took  with  him  a  converted  young  Bramin, 
named  Bhagvat,  whom  he  engaged  to  support  out 
of  his  own  salary.      "  The  first  Lord's  day,"  says 
Mr  Cornish,  "  was  a  pleasant  one,  and  such  as  many 
of  the  good  people  in  England  would  have  enjoyed. 
It  was  spent  mostly  in  the  open  air,  under  the  shade 
of  a  large  tree,  where  we  had  chairs  for  the  accommo' 
dation  of  our  guests,  who  amounted  to  about  sixty. 
Bhagvat  preached  an  excellent  sermon  from  John  i.  1. 
'  In  the  beginning  was  the  Word,  and  the  Word  was 
with  God,  and  the  Word  was  God.'     The  audience 
appeared  to  bo  well  pleased  ;  and  since  that  time, 
Bhagvat  has  made  several  excursions  round  the  coun- 
try, with  considerable  effect." 

"In  Calcutta,"  say  the  missionaries,  at  the  close 
of  181  a-,  "the  word  of  life  appears  to  grow  exceed- 
ingly ;  and  a  desire  to  make  known  the  gospel,  in  a 
greater  or  less  degree,  seems  to  prevail  there  through- 
out the  church.  Many,  in  consequence,  have  been 
por,  in  the  course  of  the  yeaf.  A  great 
Vol.  I.— Nos.  21  &  22.  33 


^fiv^ia/vlii; 


wwk  appoMs  to  bt  silently  going  forwud  h  Oi 
ttranty-feoitb  ragimeM,  ttow  hi  the  fert ;  tad  e^ 
■wive  bretbfen eoatime  steadily  tolibor  in  the  gttapri, 
RMking  it  known  both  to  sauiB  wwMbKeti  «■«  ft«il 
boose  to  house.  Cricntta,  hmtiMd,  k  beeoiw  oil 
of  the  most  favored  spots  to  be  foand  in  India ;  at  ^ 
is  either  stately  or  occasionally  the  scene  of  tkl 
labors  of  no  less  than  ten  European  evaagelied  m!^ 
isters,  besides  the  native  preachers,  whose  eserdooa 
are,  perhaps,  ecpud  to  those  of  all  the  others" 

The  year  1813  commeneed  with  an  oecuiteno* 
which,  for  a  season,  assumed  a  very  menacing  aspcd(« 
and  occasioned  moeh  anxiety  to  the  Baptist  bretlnea 
in  Inttta.     In  the  month  of  January,  inquiries  wet* 
made  by  the  Bengal  government,  why  Messrs.  LmncM^ 
Johns,  and  Robinson  (the  first  two  of  wlwia  Md 
recently  arrived  at  Serampore)    bad  prooemfed  by 
way  of  America,  instead  of  coming  direct  from  Ei^ 
land,  with  the  permission  of  the  court  of  cKreofortL 
Several  letters  were  exchanged  on  this  subject ;  b«t 
at  length,  on  the  12th  of  Mateh,  the  missionarieB 
received  a  communication,  in  the  name  of  the  govemofi- 
general  in  counci ,    tating  that  these  new  raissionalltti 
must  return  to  Europe  by  the  fleet  (hen  under  de^tcM, 
Mr.  RoWnson  had  previously  sailed  for  Java ;  and  ia 
Mr.  Lawson  had  begun  to  prepare  a  fount  of  Chinese 
types  at  the  mission-house,  the  governw-genertt  was 
induced,  by  this  circumstance,  to  relax  the  severity 
of  the  mandate,  in  his  favor.     No  attention,  however, 
was  paid  to  the  applications  on  behalf  of  Mr.  Johns; 
on  the  contrary,  the  order  for  his  return  w«w  peremp- 
torily confirmed,  and  he  was  given  tb  under8«»nd  that, 
in  case  of  non-compliance,  he  WOuM  be  apprehended 
and  carried  forcibly  on  board.     He  was,  of  course, 
obliged  to  submit,  and  retumed   to  Ikigland,  aftet 
spending  only  a  few  months  in  Bengal. 

The  state  of  the  mission,  however,  was,  at  this 
time,  extremely  prosperous.     In  various  parts  of  th« 
country,  the  gospel  had  attracted  increasing  attention, 
and  in  some  instances  it  appeared   to  impress  the 
minds  of  natives  of  the  highest  rank.     Early  in  the 
spring,  several  Hindoos  of  respectability,  from  Gun^ 
dulpara  and  Vans-variya,  visited  the  missioifaries,  and 
attended  the  Bengalee  worship  on  the  sabbath,  lodging 
at  the  house  of  Kristno.      That  zealous  preacher, 
also,  who  had  for  some  time  expressed  a  wish  to  plank 
the  standard  of  the  cross  m  the  north-eastern  e:x- 
tremity  of  Bengal,  was  sent,  with  the  native  brother 
Ghorachund,  to  a  place  called  Silhet,  in  that  part 
of  the  country  ;  and  both  there  and  at  Pandooa,  still 
farther  distant,  he  was  favorably  received,  and  pufc 
lished  the  glad  tidings  of  salvation  with  considerable 
success.  f 

In  the  month  of  May,  the  superstition  caHed  tire 


848 


BAPTIST  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


churuk,  or  swinging  festival,  was  duly  observed,  tc- 
cording  to  annual  custom,  ai  Serampore  and  Calcutta. 
At  the  former  place,  there  were  fewer  posts  erected 
than  usual,  but  amongst  the  swingers  was  one  female. 
A  mun  fell  from  a  stage  thirty  cubits  high,  and  broke 
his  back  ;  and  another  fell  from  one  of  the  swinging 
posts,  but  was  i.ot  severely  injured.  Some  days  after 
the  first  swinging,  certain  natives  revive  the  ceremo- 
nies ;  and  as  Mr.  Ward  was,  at  this  last  period,  pass- 
ing through  Calcutta,  he  saw  several,  Hindoos  hanging 
by  the  heels  over  a  slov/  fire,  as  an  act  of  devotion. 
To  prove,  however,  that  these  poor  creatures  do  not 
expose  themselves  to  such  torments  by  their  own 
choice,  it  is  only  necessary  to  state,  that,  in  the  year 
to  which  we  are  now  alluding,  several  of  the  natives 
employed  in  the  missionary  printing-office  entreated 
Mr.  Ward  to  protr:t  them  from  being  dragged  into 
these  pretended  voluntary  practices.  "  This  applica- 
tion," says  Mr.  Ward,  "  brought  L^fore  us  facts  which 
we  were  by  no  means  aware  of  It  seems  that  the 
Hindoo  landlords,  and  other  persons  of  property,  insist 
upon  certain  of  their  tenants  and  dependants  perform- 
ing these  ceremonies,  and  that  they  expect,  and  even 
forcibly  compel,  multitudes,  every  year,  to  join  the 
processions  of  the  tunyasea,  as  they  are  called,  who 
parade  the  streets,  piercing  their  sides,  tongues,  &ic. 
To  avoid  this  compulsion,  many  indigent  young  men 
leave  their  houses  and  conceal  themselves  ;  but  they 
are  sure  of  being  beaten  when  they  are  caught,  or 
of  having  their  huts  pulled  down.  When  the  lands 
and  riches  of  the  country  were  in  few  hands,  this 
influence  of  the  grett  carried  all  before  it ;  and  it  is 
still  widely  felt  in  compelling  dependants  to  assist  in 
public  shows,  and  to  contribute  toward  the  expense 
of  splendid  ceremonies.  Through  divine  goodness, 
however,  the  influence  of  commerce,  the  more  general 
difiusion  of  wealth,  and  the  intercourse  of  Europear.i), 
are  gradually  raising  the  Hindoos  from  this  state  of 
abject  dependence  on  their  spiritual  tyrants ;  and  thus 
providential  events  are  operating,  together  with  the 
gospel,  to  produce  a  happy  change  in  the  great  mass 
of  the  population,  particularly  in  the  more  enlightened 
parts  of  Bengal." 

.In  the  mouth  of  September,  a  public  disputation 
of  the  students  in  the  college  of  Fort  Willinni,  at 
Calcutta,  was  held  before  the  right  honoruble  lord 
Minto,  as  visitor  of  the  college  ;  and  on  that  occasion 
his  lordship  was  pleased  to  observe,  "  I  profess  a  very 
•incero  pleasure  in  bringing  the  literary  merits  of  Mr. 
Marshman,  and  the  other  reverend  members  of  the 
Serampore  mission,  to  the  notice  of  the  public,  and  in 
bearing  my  testimony  to  the  great  and  extraordinary 
labors,  which  constancy  and  energy  in  their  numerous 
and  various  occupations,  tmve  enabled  this  modest  i' 


and  raflpectable  eommuaity  to  aoeompliBh.  I  am  akd 
equally  gratified  by  the  opportunity  wbioh  their  lite- 
rary achievements  aC.rd,  of  expressing  ray  regard  i.:« 
the  exemplary  worth  of  their  lives,  and  the  beneficent 
principle  which  distinguishes  and  presides  in  the  various 
useful  establishments  which  they  have  formed,  and 
which  are  conducted  by  themselves." 

About  this  time,  the  missionaries  were  deprived,  by 
the  stroke  of  death,  of  one  of  their  itinerant  natives, 
Deep  Chund,who  has  been  already  introduced  to  the 
notice  of  our  readers.  As  a  specimen  of  his  deter- 
mined perseverance  in  his  sacred  labors  and  bis  patience 
under  persecution,  the  following  anecdote  was  relatiid 
to  Mr.  Ward,  by  another  native,  after  his  exertions 
on  earth  were  terminated,  and  he  had  reached  the 
hnven  of  eternal  rest.  Having  gone,  on  a  certain 
occasion,  with  two  of  his  converted  countrymen.  Deep 
Chund  found  a  Poktuguese  man  sitting  at  his  door  on 
a  chair,  and,  entering  into  conversation  with  him,  pro 
posed  that  he  and  his  friends  should  be  allowed  to 
smoke  out  of  his  hookah.  The  man,  greatly  astonished, 
turned  around  and  inquired  what  they  meant  -,  and 
asked  whether  they,  as  being  Bengalees,  would  really 
smoke  with  him.  They  replied  that  they  were  Chris- 
tians, and  despised  no  man,  coi.^idering  all  to  be  chil- 
dren of  one  father.  Pleased  with  this  frankness,  ind 
agreeably  surprised  to  hear  that  Hindoos  were  the 
p  ofessors  of  Christianity,  the  Portuguese  gave  them 
his  hookah,  and  ordered  three  chairs  to  be  brought  for 
them  :  this,  however,  they  declined,  and  sat  down  on 
the  ground.  Several  of  the  villagers  had,  by  thia 
time,  arrived  on  the  spot,  and  great  numbers  more 
were  speedily  collected,  when  they  began  to  sing  a 
hymn  in  Bengalee.  At  the  close  of  the  hymn,  a 
prayer  was  offered  up,  and  Deep  Chund,  with  the 
Testament  in  his  hand,  proceeded  lo  address  the 
listening  strangers,  in  a  manner  which  evidently  rivet- 
ed their  attention,  and  excited  the  admiration  of  the 
two  native  brethren.  After  some  time,  however,  a 
Bramin  interrupted  the  speaker  with  some  opprobrious 
language,  and,  being  mortifled  at  the  reply  which  he 
received,  he  began  beating  Deep  Chund,  who  received 
this  ill  usage  without  any  resistance.  One  of  his 
companior  s,  being  of  a  more  irascible  temper,  was 
provoked  to  utter  some  threats  ;  but  Deep  Chund 
immediately  restrained  him  by  saying,  "  My  brother, 
let  us  remember  that  wc  are  the  disciples  of  Him 
who  was  <  led  as  a  lamb  to  the  slaughter  ;'  t  nd  who, 
in  the  midst  of  his  cruel  murderers,  looked  steadfastly 
toward  heaven,  prayiu)^  that  they  might  bo  forgiven, 
when  il  wos  only  necessary  for  him  to  have  looked 
upon  them  in  anger,  in  order  to  have  reduced  them  to 
irshcs."  The  Portuguese  man  was  so  delighted  with 
this  observation,  Itiat  ho  appeared  ready  to  clasp  the 


.tT3VHf*'    BENGAL^ M  rmm^n 


948 


htnerant  in  hb  armi,  and  most  of  the  auditors  wera 

eridestly  struck  with  this  new  thing  in  the  land 

men  praying  for  their  persecutors  I 

During  his  last  and  long-protracted  illness,  Deep 
Chund  invariably  avowed  his  rejection  of  every  refuge, 
but  thb«  which  God  hath  set  forth  in  the  gospel ;  and 
in  his  last  moments,  when  visited  by  Messrs.  Ward 
and  Marshman,  be  appeared  to  be  sweetly  supported 
by  his  hope  in  Christ.  Many  pleasing  expressions 
had  also  dropped  from  his  lips,  during  several  pre- 
ceding days,  all  tending  to  demonstrate  his  allegiance 
and  attachment  to  that  adorable  Redeemer  who  was 
"  delivered  for  his  ofTencGS,  and  raised  again  for  his 
justification." 

Towards  the  close  of  the  year,  one  of  the  clerks  in 
the  mission  printing-office  stated,  one  day,  that  he  had 
seen  three  females  burnt  to  death  in  a  pit  at  a  place 
called  Vidya-vatee,  about  three  miles  to  the  northward 
of  Serampore.  When  the  flames  had  ascended  to  a 
considerable  height,  the  women  leaped  into  the  pit, 
amidst  the  clangor  of  Hindoo  music,  and  the  shouts 
of  the  surrounding  multitude,  and  were  immediately 
covered  by  the  burning  combustibles.  They  were 
the  wives  of  a  Telinga  rajah,  who  had  left  his  family 
at  this  place,  whilst  he  went  on  a  pilgrimage  to 
Benares,  where  he  died.  At  the  time  they  plunged 
into  the  burning  pit,  they  wore  all  adorned  with  a 
profusion  of  gold  ornaments,  and  each  of  the  widows 
held  in  her  hand  some  trifling  article  which  had  be- 
longed to  the  deceased  rajah. 

The  progress  of  the  translations  during  this  year  is 
thus  described  in  a  letter  by  Dr.  Carey,  dated  Decem- 
ber 14  :— "  Wo  are,  at  this  time,  engaged  in  translating 
the  Bible  into  twenty-one  languages,  including  the 
Bengalee,  which  is  finished.  This  week  we  obtained 
a  person  to  assist  in  the  translation  of  the  Scriptures 
into  the  Kassas'  language.  This  is  an  independent 
nation  of  mountaineers,  lying  between  the  eastern 
border  of  Ber.gol  and  the  northern  frontier  of  the 
Burmnn  empire.  About  a  fortnight  ago,  we  obtained 
help  for  the  Sindli  and  Wuch  languages.  The  country 
of  Sindh  lies  on  the  east  hunk  of  tlio  Indus,  nhout 
five  hundred  miles  from  the  sea  ;  uiul  that  of  Wuch 
continues  along  the  same  shore  till  it  joins  (ho  Punjab. 
I  believe  we  have  now  all  tlie  languages  in  that  part, 
except  that  of  Kutch,  which  I  hope  will  soon  be 
brought  within  our  reach.  We  have  not  yet  been 
able  to  secure  the  languoges  of  Nepnla,  Bootan,  Muni- 
poora,  Sinm,  and  abo<it  five  or  six  tribes  of  raountain- 
cnrs  ;  but,  besides  these,  I  nm  not  acquainted  with 
any  language  on  the  continent  of  India,  into  which 
tlie  word  of  God  la  not  under  translatioo." 

■""  "■'  ■•■'  i"!"'*.",  i~i'j,  9utiiC  oi  ins  misSiuMMiieit 

had  an  opportunity  of  witnessing  the  bathing  of  Jug- 


gernaut, at  the  village  cf  Muhesha,  adjoining  Seram- 
pore, where  is  a  celebrated  image  of  that  idol.  On 
this  occasion,  all  the  landing  places  were  crowded 
with  Hindoo  bathers,  anticipating  the  most  important 
benefits  from  the  ablutions  performed  on  such  an 
interesting  occasion.  At  the  appointed  hour,  the  god 
was  brought  out  of  his 'temple,  in  the  arms  of  five  or 
six  stout  Bramins,  and  carried  to  a  brick  elevation  at 
a  short  distance,  where  he  was  drawn  up  by  cords, 
and  placed  on  a  seat.  The  Bramins  then  waited  the 
arrival  of  the  land  owner ;  and,  on  his  coming  forward, 
they  commenced  the  ceremony  of  ablution,  pounng 
water  on  the  head  of  their  god,  from  the  sacred  conch, 
through  a  cylinder  having  a  thousand  perforations. 
This  was  attended  with  the  repetition  of  certain  for- 
mulas  ;  and  during  the  act  of  bathing,  thousands  of 
spectators  were  seen  testifying  their  homage  and  adora- 
tion ;  some  with  their  hands  raised  to  the  head,  others 
stretching  out  their  arms  toward  heaven,  and  others 
prostrating  themselves  on  the  ground.  After  a  short 
time,  however,  they  all  retired,  and  the  idol  was  carried 
back  to  his  temple. 

On  the  19th,  the  same  god  was  placed  in  his 
monstrous  car,  and  dragged,  by  the  crowd,  about  a 
quarter  of  a  mile.  There  tl  e  car  remains  eight  days, 
for  the  mob  to  gaze  at,  whilst  the  deity  is  carried,  in 
the  arms  of  the  Bramins,  to  the  temple  of  his  nephew 
Radha-Bullubha.  "This  year,"  says  one  of  the 
brethren,  "  on  account  of  the  heavy  rains,  the  people 
were  comparatively  few,  and  the  car  stuck  fast  in  the 
mud  ; — a  disaster  which  was  attributed  by  some  of  the 
devotees  to  the  prayers  of  »he  native  Christians.  At 
length,  the  Bramins  hit  upon  a  most  fortunate  expedi- 
ent. They  brought  out  Radha-Bullubha,  and  as  soon 
as  Juggernaut  saw  his  nephew,  the  car  rolled  on  with- 
out further  obstruction,  assisted  by  the  enthusiasm 
of  the  mob,  who  were  loo  much  delighted  with  tliis 
new  miracle  to  attribute  it  to  their  own  increased  eflforti. 
On  the  28th,  the  god  returned  in  the  same  order  as 
he  came  out,  and  this  was  the  termination  of  the 
festival  ;  by  tiie  annual  observance  of  which,  the  pro- 
prietors of  the  two  temples  realize  the  sum  of  about 
two  thousand  rupees." 

At  the  total  wane  of  the  moon,  in  the  same  month, 
the  idol  is  exhibited  to  the  populace,  after  having  been 
newly  painted  ;  and,  on  this  occasion,  great  numbers 
of  Hindoos  visit  his  temple  with  a  variety  of  offerings. 
It  is  a  fact,  however,  equally  singular  and  ludicrous, 
that  fur  fourteen  days  preceding,  in  consequence  of 
having  been  touched  by  a  aoodra  painter,  the  god 
is  considered  to  be  in  a  state  of  uncUanneii,  and 
during  that  time  is  neither  fed  nor  worshipped. 

About  tiie  same  time,  a  nativu  of  ahiraui,  in  Persia, 
named  Muhummud  Bakur,  was  baptised  at  Seranipore, 


944 


BAPTIST  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


aAw  •zperienoiog  the  most  sev«re  treatment  in  ooo* 
stqueooe  of  his  fxhuei  conviction  of  tbe  truth  of 
the  Christian  religion.     Happening   to  be  at  Daooa, 
about  fourteen  months  previous  to  his  baptism,  he  met 
with  a  gentleman  who  talked  seriously  with  him  re- 
specting Christianity,  and  the  false  pretenaions  of  the 
Arabian  impostor.     Bakur,  who  wai  at  this  time  about 
twenty  years  of  age,  was  at  first  strongly  prejudiced 
against  the  truth ;  but,  on  perusing  part  of  the  New 
Testament,  his  opinions  were  shaken,  and  the  light  of 
conviction  began  to  dawn  upon  his  mind.     He  shortly 
afterwards  removed  from  Dacca,  and  came  to  Seram- 
pore,  where  he  remained  nearly  three  months  under 
instruction.     At  the  expiration  of  this  time,  he  had 
occasion  to  go  to  Calcutta,  to  recover  a  trifling  sum  of 
money,  and  was  under  the  necessity  of  calling  at  the 
house  of  an  opulent  Mussulman.     Here  he  was  treat- 
ed with  every  mark  of  external  respect,  but  in  the 
tobacco  which  he  smoked  was  mixed  some  intoxicat- 
"•S  '•™g.  which  rendered  him  completely  insensible. 
Whilst  in  this  state,  his  clothes  were  cut  to  pieces,  and 
he  was  conveyed  on  board  a  ship  lying  off  Calcutta, 
and  just  on  the  point  of  sailing  for  Muscat.     After 
•ome  time,  he  recovered  his  senses,  and  found  himself 
in  the  hold  of  the  vessel.     He  Uien  attempted  to  go 
upon  deck,  and  complain  to  the  pilot  that  the  captain 
was  carrying  him  away  without  his  consent ;  but  he 
was  beaten  on  the  head,  and  in  various  parts  of  his 
body,  in  the  WHWt  violent  manner.     His  hands  and  feet 
were  also  tied,  and  in  this  state  he  was  kept  till  the 
pilot  left  the  vessel  and  they  were  out  at  sea.     He  was 
then  brought  on  deck,  and  compelled  to  assist  in  work- 
ing the  ship,  with   no  other   allowance    than  three 
biscuits  and  some   water  every  day.     He  was  also 
three  times  tied  up  by  the  arms  in  the  burning  sun, 
and  ordered,  under  pain  of  more  severe  tortures,  to 
renounce  Christ.    His  resolution,  however,  was  invinci- 
ble, and  he  boldly  defied  their  menaces,  telling  ihem 
that  he  was  no  longer  a  Mahometan,  but  a  Christian. 
After  sailing  sixteen   doys,  a  violent  storm  obliged 
them  to  put  in  at  Ooa.     Here,  during  the  darkness  of 
the  night,  Bakur  let  himself  Hown  into  a  small  boat, 
and  got  safely  to  land ;  where  he  prevailed  on  a  Por- 
tuguese man  to  afford  him  an  asylum  till  the  departure 
of  the  ship.     He  then  had  a   passage  given  him  to 
Bombay,  by  a  European  who  was  desirous  of  obtain- 
ing some  instruction  in  the  P».r8ic  language.     From 
thence  he  worked  his  passage  to  Madras ;  and  on  his 
arrival  in  that  city,  ho  was  introilucod  to  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Loveless,  by  whom  ho  was  treated  with  the  greatest 
poesible  kindness,  and  at  whose  recommendation  the 
"  Friend  ia  Need  Society,"  at  that  place,  paid  his 
passage  to  Calcutta ;  whence  he  hastened  to  Senm- 
pore,  to  mform  the  brethren  of  his  joyful  deliverance. 


and  to  mdce  a  pnl^  profeaaion  of  that  gospel  whieh 
had  supported  and  comforted  hia  mind  under  all  bis 
afflictions. 

Various  demands  for  assistance  in  other  quarters 
having  left  tbe  station  at  Serampore  very  destitute  of 
itinerant  preachers,  the  missionaries  procured  the  dis- 
charge from  the  army  of  Mr.  William  Smith,  a  young 
man  of  remarkably  promising  gifts,  whose  distinguished 
piety  and  blameless  conduct  had  invariably  rendered 
him  beloved  and  respected  wherever  his  lot  had  been 
cast.  The  church  were  also  much  gratified  by  the 
restoration  of  three  of  the  native  members,  who  bad 
been  for  some  time  excluded  on  account  of  some  gross 
improprieties  ;  but  who,  having  evinced  unequivocal 
symptoms  of  repentance,  were  now,  with  the  consent 
of  the  whole  body,  restored  to  a  participation  in  those 
important  privileges  which  they  had  unhappily  forfeit* 
ed  by  their  own  imprudence. 

In  Calcutta,  the  most  beneficial  effects  continued  to 
attend  the  preaching  of  the  gospel,  and  a  considerabh 
number  both  of  natives  and  Europeans  were  added  to 
the  church.  Here,  also,  a  circumstance  altogether 
unprecedented  occurred,  which  was  well  calculated  to 
excite  the  attention  of  the  natives,  and  to  place  the 
Christian  religion  in  an  interesting  light.  "Certain 
Hindoos,"  say  the  brethren,  "  had  committed  a  rob- 
bery to  a  very  considerable  amount,  and  the  evidence 
against  them  was  so  clear,  that  their  condemnation 
and  execution  were  inevitable.  During  their  confine- 
ment in  the  prison,  however,one  of  the  native  converts, 
named  Kanta,  visited  them  repeatedly,  read  to  them 
the  news  of  pardoning  mercy  through  a  crucified  Re- 
deemer, and  occasionally  prayed  with  them.  By  one 
or  two  of  them  those  attentions  were  received  with 
pleasure;  and,  as  they  became  seriously  attentive,  it  is 
possible  that  divine  mercy  may  have  reached  their 
hearts,  as  it  did  that  of  the  thief  on  the  cross.  At  all 
events,  two  of  them  requested  Kanta  to  attend  thera 
to  the  place  of  execution,  and  with  this  request  he 
cheerfully  complied.  This  was,  indeed,  a  novel 
spectacle  to  the  crowds  of  Hindoos  who  were  present ; 
and  the  conduct  of  one  of  their  converted  country- 
men thus  attending  dying  criminals,  with  the  anxious 
wish  of  proving  instrumental  to  their  salvation,  con- 
trasted with  that  of  a  Bramin  conducting  a  hapless 
mother  to  the  funeral  pile,  for  the  sake  of  securing  her 
death, — we  have  reason  to  hope  was  not  wholly  lost 
on  those  Hindoos  in  Calcutta  who  begin  to  reflect  on 
the  nature  of  the  gospel,  and  whoso  number  appears 
to  ho  gradually  increasing." 

Eariy  in  1815,  Mr.  Smith  was  fully  employed  in 
preaching  daily  in  Serampore  or  the  adjacent  villages, 

printing-office.     In  many  instances,  he  found  attentivt 


frarxfe    bengal.     vm'PiM\ 


crowds,  who  appeared  much  gratified  with  what  they 
beard.  Certain  peru  of  the  TesUment  were  dis* 
tributed  among  the  hearers ;  and,  on  some  days,  Mr. 
Smith  and  his  colleague  held  ccmrersations  in  different 
places,  and  had  separate  groups  of  auditors. 

About  the  same  time,  the   native  convert   Neelo 
visited  several  places  in  the  vicinity  of  Serampoie. 
At  a  place  called  Chatra,  he,  one  day,  found  some 
mendicants,  to  whom  he  communicated  the  doctrines 
of  the  gospel.     Expressing  their  admiration  at  that 
stupendous  love  which  induced  Go-J  to  give  his  only 
begotten  Son  to  die  as  a  substitute  for  sinners,  they 
asked,  "  Are  all  our  works  and  sacrifices  unavailing  to 
our  salvation  ?    Are  they  all  done  away  by  this  great 
sacrifice  ?"     The  preacher,  in  reply,  stated  the  all- 
sufficiency  of  the  Redeemer's  atonement,  and  the  way 
in  which  it  was  accepted  by  bis  Father ;  and  they  re- 
tired apparently  thankful  for  the  intelligence  which 
they  had  received.     At  Bhudrcshwura,  be  met  with 
two  men  who  had  obuined  some  rice  which  had  been 
rendered  sacred  by  having  been  offered  to  the  great 
idol  in  Orissa ;  and,  as  a  considerable  number  of  per- 
sons assembled  about  them,  this  afforded  him  a  favor- 
able opportunity  of  directing  their  attention  towards 
"the  true  bread  that  cometh  down  from  heaven,  and 
giveth  life  unto  the  world."     And  he  had  the  satisfac- 
tion to  perceive  that  several  females  were  bathed  in 
tears  whilst  he  was  describing  the  salvation  of  sinners 
as  having  been  effected  by  the  dolorous  agonies  and 
death  of  the  Son  of  God.     At  another  place,  called 
Chundra-Nugura,  an  oilman  listened  to  his  conversa- 
tion till  a  crowd  collected,  when  Neelo  drew  their  at- 
tention to  the  oilman's  bullock,  which,  with  a  bandage 
over  its  eyes,  patiently  went  its  daily  rounds.    "  This," 
said  he,  "  is  an  exact  representation  of  your  state  un- 
der the  Bramins:  they  first  blind  you,  and  then  make 
you  perform  your  rounds  of  service,  hke  this  poor  an- 
imal."    On  his  way  back  to  Serampore,  he  mot  some 
people  carrying  loads  to  the  market,  and  thus  accosted 
them :  "  These  loads  you   will  soon  lay  down ;  but 
there  is  another  load  which  you  know  not  how  to  got 
rid  of."     On  their  asking  to  what  load  he  alluded,  he 
replied,  "  The  burden  of  your  sins  ;"  and  then,  in  the 
most  pathetic  and  affectionate  manner,  directed  them 
to  that  compassionate  Saviour  who  hath  said,  "  Come 
unto  me,  all   ye    that  are  weary  and  heavy  laden, 
and  I  will  give  you  rest."     The  word  spoken,  on  this 
occasion,  seemed  to  make  a  deep  impression  on  the 
persons  to  whom  it  was  addressed,  and  some  of  them 
oven  promised  to  call  at  Serampore,  for  the  purpose  of 
receiving  further  instruction. 

On  the  a7th  of  November,  the  mission  premises  at 
Serampore  were  visitml  by  the  right  honorable  earl 
Moira,  lady  lx>udoun.  the  bishop  of  Calcutta,  captain 


FitEclflreiiee,  and  sereral  ladies  and  gendemen  belo^g£ 
ing  to  lord  Moira's  suite.  These  distinguished  persoa- 
ages  went  over  the  different  parts  of  the  establishment, 
o«aminmg  every  thing  with  attention,  and  remarktflg 
that,  though  they  had  heard  very  favorable  accounts 
of  the  institution,  yet  it  greatly  exceeded  their  ezpeetS' 
tions.  The  most  pleasing  sensations,  however,  were 
evidently  enjoyed  by  the  visitors  when  they  entered 
the  room  appropriated  to  those  learned  natives  who 
are  employed  in  the  ira„,Utk>n  of  the  Holy  Scriptures. 
The  sight  of  Hindoos  of  profound  erudition,  from 
almost  every  province  in  India,  engaged  in  the  great 
work  of  preparing  translations  of  this  blessed  book  for  all 
thesecountries,  appeared  greatly  to  interest  his  loidship, 
lady  Loudoun,  and  the  learned  prelate.  When  th« 
Afghan  pundit  was  recognised,  he  was  immediately 
pronounced  to  be  a  Jew,  and  his  own  declaration  that 
he  was  Beni  Israel,  proved  that  the  opinion  formed  by 
the  company  was  well  founded.  Another  of  the  pun- 
dits, called  the  Mit'hilee,  afforded  a  striking  example 
of  the  powers  of  memory  ;  as  it  appeared  that  he  was 
capable  of  repeating  the  whole  of  Panini's  grammar, 
and  some  of  the  works  of  his  commenutors,  amount- 
ing in  the  whole  to  eighty-six  thousand  lines !  After 
spending  about  two  hours  at  the  mission-house,  the  no- 
ble party  retired,  evidently  gratified  with  their  visit ; 
and  on  his  return  to  Barrack  pore,  earl  Moira  wrote  to 
Dr.  Carey,  enclosing  an  order  for  two  hundred  rupees, 
as  a  present  to  the  workmen. 

The  following  month,  a  public  examination  of  the 
children  educated  in  the  Benevolent  Institution  in 
Calcutta,  was  held  before  a  considerable  number  of 
the  friends  of  that  excellent  charity.  "  It  was  truly 
interesting,"  says  an  eye-witness, "  to  see  the  progress 
of  these  poor  children,  of  six,  seven,  and  ten  years  of 
age,  who  went  through  various  exeicises  in  reading, 
spelling,  writing  from  dictation,  and  accounu,  in  a 
manner  that  would  have  done  credit  to  any  school  in 
India :  but  when  between  two  and  three  hundred  boys 
and  girls,  taken  from  the  poor  hovels  of  Calcutta,  stood 
up  to  sing  one  of  Watts's  inimitable  hymns,  and  espe- 
cially when  these  lines  occurred, — 

'  WMIo  others  oarly  learn  to  iwtsr, 

And  curiv,  and  lie,  and  steal. 
Lord,  I  am  taught  tby  name  to  fear, 

And  do  thy  holy  will,—' 

every  heart  seemed  melted  with  those  charming  emotioos 
which  benevolent  minds  alone  are  privileged  to  feel." 
After  a  concise  address  from  the  Rev.  W.  Ward, 
thanking  the  masters  and  monitors  for  their  care  aai 
auention,  and  exhorting  the  children  to  behave  with 
propriety,  and  to  attend  on  the  means  of  grace  durini 

•  l.«     k-I..J !■«_        #-1     j^  ^ .         _      __      _  .       * 

* ""j"~j-,  i-T.    \^s^^j-    Guuixu    Up    ttii    ai'piupriaM 

prayer,  and  the  school  was  dismissed  for  the  vaoatioo. 


BAPTIST  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


On  the  11th  of  January,  IP^B,  Messn.  Lawson 
and  Eustace  Carey  were  inslaiied  as  co-paalors  over 
the  Baptist  church  at  Calcutta.  After  an  appropriate 
hymn  and  an  introductory  prayer,  Mr.  Ward  explain- 
ed the  dififerent  forms  of  church  government,  and  par- 
ticularly of  that  under  which  the  members  present 
were  then  acting.  This  was  followed  by  questions 
respecting  the  choice  of  the  pastors,  and  by  a  confes- 
sion of  faith  from  each  of  them.  After  the  imposition 
-  of  hands  by  the  three  senior  ministers,  Dr.  Carey  of- 
fered up  the  installation  prayer,  and  gave  an  excellent 
charge  to  the  brethren  from  Col.  iv.  17.  Dr.  Marsh- 
man  then  addressed  the  church  from  Philippians  ii.  16  ; 
and  Mr.  Ward,  in  fervent  pjrayer,  closed  the  solemn 
service,  which  was  equally  interesting  and  impressive. 

Early  in  the  spring  of  this  year,  Kristno  took  a 
journey  from  Goamalty  to  Mandaroo,  where  it  appears 
the  gospel  had  never  previously  been  heard,  nor  liad 
any  portion  of  the  Scriptures  been  seen  by  the  inhab- 
itants. At  the  fair  held  at  this  place,  where  about 
twenty  thousand  persons  were  assembled,  multitudes 
listened  to  his  discourses  with  deep  attention,  and  he 
had  a  favorable  opportunity  of  giving  away  religious 
tracts.  He  also  entered  into  conversation  with  two 
men  of  influence,  one  of  whom  accepted  some  of  the 
books,  and  promised  that  he  would  not  only  peruse 
them  attentively  himself,  but  that  he  would  also  read 
them  to  his  followers.  Another  man,  a  vir  oe, 
placed  himself  under  the  instruction  of  Kristno,  and 
even  expressed  a  desire  to  be  baptized  ;  but,  for  the 
present,  he  seemed  intimidated,  lest,  on  publicly 
avowing  his  profession  of  the  Christian  religion,  he 
should  be  deprived  of  the  means  of  obtaining  a  sub- 
sistence. 

At  Dinagepore,  Mr.  Fernandez  had,  about  the  same 
time,  no  less' than  seven  inquirers  from  Purncah  ;  who 
appeared  much  gratified  with  the  information  they 
received  relat  ^  to  the  way  of  salvation,  and  express- 
ed the  greatest  thankfulness  when  he  presented  each 
of  them  with  a  copy  of  St.  Luke's  Gospel,  together 
with  seven  other  copies  in  the  Nagaree  character,  and 
two  in  Persic,  for  their  friends  at  home.  Some  time 
after,  a  man,  two  women,  and  a  girl  about  ten  years 
old,  having  renounced  their  castes,  came  over  to  Di- 
nagepore. The  man,  having  left  behind  him  a  wife 
and  three  cliildren,  was  questioned  as  to  the  motive 
which  had  induced  him  to  leave  both  his  family  and 
his  caste  ;  and  he  ingenuously  replied  that  ho  had  no 
other  object  in  view  than  the  salvation  of  his  soul. 
He  afterwards  cndoavore<l,  fhough  in  vain,  to  persuade 
his  wife  to  rnme  over  and  join  him.  Mr.  Fehiandei, 
also,  sent  for  her,  and  used  every  argument  to  induce 
her  to  comply  with  her  husband's  request ;  but  all 
^fuVeti  unavaiiiug,  and  ih«  iuH  the   place  in  evident 


displeasure,  taking  the  children  with  her.  As  the  sit- 
uation of  this  district  was  found  to  be  very  insalubrious, 
the  missionary  station  was  subsequently  removed,  by 
government,  to  a  more  healthy  spot,  called  English 
Bazaar.  .^^ 

In  Cutwa  and  its  vicinity,  the  aspect  of  afiairs  was 
increasingly  encouraging,  and  both  Mr.  W.  Carey 
and  the  native  preachers  appear  to  have  labored  with 
unremitting  ardor,  m  carrying  the  news  of  salvation  to 
n  considerable  distance  around  this  station.  At  Jes- 
sore,  also,  several  members  were  added  to  the  church, 
and  others,  who,  for  a  season,  had  deviated  from  the 
paths  of  truth  or  rectitude,  were  happily  restored. 
Mr.  Smith,  in  addition  to  his  arduous  labors  in  the  dif> 
ferent  villages  near  Serampore,  carried  the  glad  tidings 
of  the  gospel  to  Berhampore,  where  he  preached  and 
distributed  tracts  to  a  considerable  number  of  persons; 
and  tlien  proceeded  to  Moorshedabad,  the  ancient 
capital  of  Bengal.  Here  he  collected  a  great  crowd 
of  Mussulmen,  many  of  whom  appeared  greatly  as- 
tonished at  what  they  heard,  and  gladly  received  cer- 
tain portions  of  the  Scriptures  in  the  Persic  and  Ben- 
galee languages,  together  with  a  considerable  number 
of  tracts.  Some  of  the  most  respectable  Mahometans 
reasoned  with  the  preacher  for  a  considerable  time, 
and  said  they  could  prove,  from  the  Koran,  that 
both  the  Old  and  the  New  Testaments  were  abolished. 
Mr.  Smith  then  repeated  that  declaration  of  our  bless- 
ed IjotA,  "  Heaven  and  ear'h  shall  pass  away,  but 
one  jot  or  one  tittle  shall  in  no  wise  pass  from  the  law, 
till  all  be  fulfilled."  This  put  them  to  silence,  and 
they  willingly  received  the  books  which  were  offered 
for  their  acceptance. 

Toward  the  close  of  the  year,  Mr.  W.  Carey  un- 
dertook a  long  journey,  for  the  purpose  of  visiting  the 
distant  settlement  of  Chittagong.  "  1  found,"  snys  he, 
"  the  brethren  Dc  Bruyn  and  Baudry  in  good  health, 
and  warm  in  the  cause  of  our  divine  Master.  They 
go  out  almost  every  day,  when  it  is  not  too  hot,  to  the 
circumjacent  markets,  and  there  testify  of  Christ: 
they  have,  also,  frequent  visits  from  their  neighbors, 
and,  in  various  ways,  appear  to  be  spreading  the  light 
of  the  gospel  around.  On  my  way  to  Chittagong,  I 
heard,  from  the  natives,  that  they  are  in  the  habit  of 
giving  away  hooks  and  instructing  the  people  ;  and  I 
have  no  doubt  but  they  are  truly  active  and  diligent  in 
their  work.  One  of  De  Bruyn's  members  is  a  drum- 
mer, natnod  Domingo  Rcvt-iro,  who  received  a  tract 
and  the  Psalms  of  David,  at  Dacca,  some  years  ago. 
This  poor  man  used  to  go  from  place  to  place,  and 
from  house  to  house,  with  the  Psalms,  to  obtain 
.some  instruction,  but  could  find  no  one  capable  of 
giving  him  the  information  which  he  required.  About 
eight  years  ago,  ho  removed  from  Dnrrn  to  Cliittngnng  ; 


#T.,ii' 


BENGAL. 


but  wandered  about  as  before,  thirsting  for  instruction, 
till  at  last  he  met  with  De  Bruyn,  who  gave  him  the 
satisfaction  which  he  had  so  long  and  earnestly  desir- 
ed. He  has  since  joined  the  church,  and  is  now  a 
warm-hearted  Christian. 

In  the  month  of  January,  1817,  the  native  preach- 
er Bhagvat  ceased  from  his  labors,  and  entered  into  rest, 
after  having  uniformly  maintained  the  utmost  consisten- 
cy in  his  Christian  character.  He  had,  for  some  time 
past,  been  stationed  at  Silhet,  among  a  number  of  poor, 
destitute  Portuguese,  who  were  formerly  so  deeply 
sunk  in  ignorance,  that  they  were  in  the  habit  of  wor- 
shipping an  old  tattered  copy  of  a  Popish  catechism, 
which  is  now  deposited  in  the  museum  of  the  Baptist 
academy  at  Bristol.  Upon  some  of  these  poor  crea- 
tures, however,  the  light  of  divine  truth  appears  to 
have  dawned  ;  and  on  the  decease  of  Bhagvat,  a  Mr. 
De  Silvas  took  upon  himself  the  charge  of  their  in- 
struction. 

Some  native  brethren  who  visited  Dacca  in  the 
course  of  the  spring,  were  cordially  received  in  that 
city ;  and  had  frequent  opportunities  of  conversing 
with  the  natives  in  the  school-house,  and  distributing 
among  them  copies  of  the  sacred  Scriptures,  both  in 
the  Persic  and  Bengalee  languages.  On  the  first  sab- 
bath which  they  spent  here, one  of  them,  named  Rama- 
Prusad,  preached,  in  Hindee,  to  a  congregation  of  about 
forty  people,  mostly  respectable  Greeks  and  Armeni- 
ans, with  a  few  persons  of  caste.  Few,  if  any,  of 
these  had  ever  heard  a  sermon  before :  however,  as 
they  perfectly  understood  the  language,  they  all  listen- 
ed with  the  most  profound  attention  ;  some  of  them, 
indeed,  appeared  to  be  deeply  affected,  as  tears  were 
seen  to  roll  down  their  cheeks  during  the  discourse, 
and,  on  their  departure,  they  shook  the  preacher 
heartily  by  the  hand,  using  a  term  which  i-nplies  "  ex- 
cellent, excellent !"  A  Greek  priest,  also,  expressed 
the  most  lively  joy  at  hearing,  for  the  first  time,  a 
converted  Hindoo  preach  Jesus  Cjirist,  according  to 
the  Scriptures.  On  his  leaving  the  school,  he  observed, 
"  Solomon  says, '  There  is  nothing  new  under  the  sun  ;' 
but  I  have  seen  a  new  thing  to-day ; — an  idolater 
preachingChrfst,  in  a  manner  which  has  not  only  excit- 
ed my  astonishment,  but  charmed  my  heart.  I  have, 
therefore,  be?n  blessed  on  this  occasion." 

During  their  residence  at  this  place,  the  native 
brethren  received  some  information  relative  to  a  Inidy 
of  Hindoos,  a  few  miles  from  Dacca,  who  have  en- 
tirely 'ejected  the  laws  of  the  Bramins,  and,  in  a  great 
measure,  the  practice  of  idolatry  ;  but  they  still  retain 
many  of  their  prejudices  respecting  caste,  and  still 
more  of  those  which  connect  sin  with  the  use  of  cer- 
tam  kinds  of  food.  On  receiving  this  intelligence,  the 
brethren  hastened  to  convey  to  them  the  glad  tidings 


S47 


of  the.gospel,  and  in  several  instances,  they  appeared 
to  lend  a  favorable  ear  to  the  great  truths  which,  tot 
the  first  time,  were  submitted  to  their  attention.  ir 
At  Chittagong,  affairs  appeared  to  be  peculiarly 
prosperous,  this  year,  till  an  event  occurred,  which 
rendered  that  station  the  scene  of  mourning,  and  de- 
prived the  missionaries  of  a  faithful  brother  and  an  in- 
valuable assistant.  Upon  the  borders  of  this  place  u  an 
extensive  tract  of  country,  inhabited  by  an  intelligent 
and  ingenuous  race  of  people  called  Mugs ;  in  reality, 
natives  of  Arakan,  whose  language,  manners  and 
habits  are  neariy  similar  to  those  of  the  Burmans, 
under  whose  government  they  formerly  were;  but, 
about  thirty  years  ago,  they  placed  themselves  beneath 
the  protection  of  the  British  government.  Some  of 
these  people  having  visited  Chittagong  about  the  year 
1815,  in  the  way  of  business,  heard  of  De  Bruyn, 
who  was  zealously  laboring  among  the  inhabitante, 
and  highly  esteemed  by  them  for  the  mildness  and  in- 
tegrity of  his  conduct.  This  led  them  to  seek  an  in- 
terview with  him,  in  order  to  ascertain  the  nature  of 
the  doctrine  which  he  was  teaching.  What  they  heard 
from  his  lips  excited  their  attention  ;  and  the  commu- 
nications which  they  made,  on  their  return,  to  their 
countrymen,  induced  others  to  visit  Chittagong,  for 
the  purpose  of  receiving  instruction.  The  word  of 
God  was  now  attended  with  a  divine  unction,  so  that  two 
or  three  of  the  Mugs  made  an  open  confession  of  their 
faith  in  Christ,  and,  notwithstanding  the  opposition  of 
their  own  priests,  the  sacred  work  proceeded  till  be- 
tween sixty  and  seventy  of  these  foreigners  had  sub- 
mitted to  the  rite  of  baptism,  and  there  were  satis- 
factory grounds  for  anticipating  a  still  wider  diffusion 
of  heavenly  knowledge  among  their  nation. 

"  The  great  enemy  of  souls,  however,"  say  the 
missionaries,  "beheld,  with  an  evil  eye,  these  attempts 
to  rescue  from  his  grasp  those  over  whom  he  had  so 
long  tyrannized  without  opposition,  and  meditated  a 
blow  in  a  way  little  expected.  Among  those  who 
came  to  De  Bruyn  for  instruction,  was  a  young  man, 
born  at  Rangoon,  the  son  of  a  native  of  France  and  a 
Burman  woman.  This  individual  our  brother  had 
taken  into  his  house,  and  treated  as  his  own  son  ;  la- 
boring to  instruct  him  in  the  knowledge  of  Christian- 
ity, with  the  pleasing  hope  of  his  being  herealler  a 
useful  instrument  in  promulgating  the  gospel.  Latter- 
ly, however,  this  young  man  had  given  much  concern 
to  his  preceptor,  by  the  impropriety  of  his  conduct ; 
and, .in  the  month  of  September,  a  circumstance  oc- 
curred, which  seems  to  have  induced  brother  De  Bruyn 
to  reprove  him  with  more  severity  than  usual.  Satan, 
watching  his  opportunity,  immediately  inflamed  the 
passion  of  this  headstrong  youth  to  such  a  degree, 
I  that  he  seized  a  knife,  and  plunged  it  into  the  side  of 


BAPTIST  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


has  pkMM  beaefiwlor ;  wImv  after  languishing  a  day  an4 
aBight,expii«d ;  not,  however,  before  he  had  written  to 
the  judge  of  the  district,  excusing  the  rash  deed  of  his 
nurderar,  and  entreating  that  he  might  not  be  punisb- 
«4L  His  remains  were  accompanied  to  the  grave,  the 
next  day,  by  nearly  all  the  European  inhabitants,  by 
whom  be  was  held  in  high  estimation,  and  who  ex- 
pressed the  most  feeling  re^et  at  his  untimely  end. 
Thus,  in  about  the  fiftieth  year  of  his  age,  were  we  sud- 
denly deprived  of  a  most  useful  and  esteemed  l»other, 
who  had  patiently  persevered  in  his  work,  through 
•ml  report  and  good  report,  till,  at  length,  it  pleased 
God  to  crown  his  labors,  beyond  those  of  almost  any 
ether  brother  yet  engaged  in  the  mission." 

In  allusion  to  the  state  of  affiiirs  in  this  part  of  the 
vineyard,  and  to  those  converte,  who,  by  the  barba- 
KHis  assa^ination  of  De  Bruyn,  were  left  as  sheep 
without  a  shepherd,  one  of  the  missionaries  writes 
tlHis,  in  a  letter  addressed  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Ryland, 
•nd  dated  July  28,  1818 :— "  There  are  now,  in  the 
province  of  Chittagong,  not  less  than  ninety-one 
persons  who  have  made  a  public  profession  of  their 
attachment  to  Christ ;  and  amongst  these  individuals, 
who  constitu'e  the  church,  there  are  five  who  act  as 
iostructers  of  their  brethren.  These,  however,  hav- 
ing so  recently  been  converted  from  heathenism,  and  not 
yet  possessing  the  Scriptures  in  their  own  language, 
must  be  exceedingly  ignorant,  and  their  ideas  very  con- 
fused. The  people,  therefore,  cannot  at  present  be  ad- 
equately supplied  with  the  waters  of  life  ;  and  as  the 
members  reside  at  three  distinct  places,  I  conceive  the 
station  will  be  an  arduous  one,  from  the  difficulty  there 
will  be  in  keeping  up  a  communication  between  them. 
I  do  not  think,  however,  that  the  circumstances  attend- 
ing De  Bruyn's  death  should  at  all  discourage  any 
missionary  from  going  thitiier." 

At  the  annual  drawing  fortii  of  Juggernaut's  car,  at 
Muhesha,  an  obstruction  occurred  this  year  similar  to 
that  which  has  been  already  narrated ;  but  on  this 
occasion,  the  proprietor  of  the  sacred  vehicle  lament- 
ed, in  the  most  bitter  terms,  the  ruin  which  this  un- 
fortunate event  was  supposed  to  have  entailed  on  one 
af  his  ancestors,  by  whom  the  car  had  been  built. 
The  Hindoos  imagine  that  a  man  continues  immortal 
so  long  as  any  important  work  which  he  maj  have 
executed  continues  to  flourish  ;  but  as  the  stopping  of 
the  car  defeated  the  purpose  for  which  it  was  made, 
it  was  taken  for  granted  tliut  the  workman  by  whom 
it  had  been  built  had  now  fallen  from  his  immortality. 
After  Juggernaut  had  remained  stationary  during  tlie 
wliole  of  the  night,  and  the  renewed  etibrts  of  the 
populace,  in  the  morning,  proved  ineffectual  to  ad- 
vance his  progress  even  a  single  step,  some  persons 
•lluded  to  the  success  which  had  attended  the  bringing 


fwth  of  Radba.B«ikibba»  «■  a  fanner  occasion^  and 
suggested  the  propriety  of  again  resorting  to  the  saaw 
expedient.  This  advice  was  adopted ;  but  when  the 
idol  had  come  to  a  certain  disUnce,  the  priests  who 
supported  him  on  their  shoulders  declared  that  he 
would  proceed  no  farther ;  as  he  had  never  gone  to  a 
greater  distance  from  his  own  temple,  and  be  was  not 
inclined  to  deviate  firom  his  usual  course.  'nin,howw 
ever,  as  the  reader  may  easily  suppose,  was  a  mere  ar> 
tifice  to  obtain  money ;  and,  after  a  long  and  waim 
debate  between  the  owner  of  the  car  and  the  proprietors 
of  Radlia-BuUubha's  temple,  the  priests  consented, 
for  fifty  rupees  counted  down  upon  the  spot,  that  their 
god  should  pass  the  limits  prescribed  by  their  avaric& 
On  the  advance  of  the  idol,  the  populace,  who  had 
the  honor  of  drawing  Juggernaut,  made  such  a  violent 
efibrt,  that  the  car  began  to  move,  and  the  air  resound- 
ed with  acclamations.  This  enthusiasm  of  joy,  how- 
eve :,  soon  subsided,  as  the  ponderous  vehicle,  after 
advancing  a  few  yards,  again  became  immovable,  and 
Radha-Bullubha  was  obliged  to  return  home  without 
his  relative. 

In  consequence  of  Juggernaut's  absence,  the  visits 
to  the  temple  of  Radha-Bullubha  were  very  few,  and 
the  offerings  extremely  trifling.     After  various  con- 
sultations, therefore,  between  the  priests  of  both  tem- 
ples, Juggernaut  was  silently  conveyed  to  his  nephew's 
temple  on  the  evening  of  the  third  day.     The  devo. 
tees,  however,  were  filled  with  anxiety  at  the  misfor* 
tune  wliich  had  taken  place,  and  a  variety  of  opinions 
were  expressed  respecting  the  cause  of  so  great  a 
calamity.     Some  said  that  the  proprietor  of  the  car, 
contrary  to  his  usual  custom,  had  partaken  of  food 
before  the  car  was  drawn  forth  ;  others  affirmed  that 
their  deity  was  incensed  at  the  temerity  of  one  of  the 
proprietors,  who  had  touched  it,  whilst  in  a  sute  of 
defilement  from  a  dead  body ;  and  a  third  class  insisted 
that  the  wrath  of  the  god  had  been  excited  by  his 
hands  having  been  made  of  silver  instead  of  gold. 
One  of  the  Bramins,  in  the  mean  time,  pretended  to 
have  dreamed  that  Juggernaut  had  appeared  to  him, 
and  told   him  that  his  car  must  not  be  expected  to 
move,  unless  a  number  of  human  victirtis  were  immo- 
lated by  being  thrown  under  the  wheels.     Alarmed 
at  the  rumor  of  this  protended  dream,  and  knowing 
the  dreadful  consequences  to  which  it  might  lead,  if 
insisted  on  by  the  Bramins,  the  missionaries  at  Seram* 
pore  inunediately  drew  up  and  printed  a  tract  of  eight 
pages,  in  which  they  explained  that  the  car  had  been 
merely  impeded  by  the  state  of  the  ground,  and  en- 
treated the  natives  to  consider  what  ihey  could  gain 
by  worshipping,  as  the  "  Lord  of  the  Worid,"  a  sense- 
less log  of  woo<l ;  pointing  tJiom,  at  the  same  time,  to 
the  living  and  true  God,  as  waitina  to  be  aracious  to 


mVMV*    t  .JOSUiMAf  -[VfT'J^fl 


yill  in  everjr  MdiMti  wkoi  t«n»  to  bimt:  thr«Hgh  b»<4ear 
.160s-     Tbi»  bwt  ymm  quietly  ciftsuktad  among  the 
hpffopi*;  mi  nothmg  mora  ww  heufd  of  the  Mcrifioe 
<«(!  ;bunuB  viatkns. 

In  th«  month  of  Auguat^a  plot  of  gnrand  adjoining 
<he  miinian  premises  atiSerampore  was  pumbtaed  for 
the  erection  of  a  college,  the  plan  of  which  had  already 
been  published  in  diffisrent  parts  of  India,  and  had  re- 
cei¥ed  the  sanetioD  and  patron^e  of  the  most  noble 
the  raan]uis  of  Hastings  and  other  distinguished  per- 
■onages.  In  order,  however,  that  the  designs  of  this 
new  and  important  institution  may  be  clearly  under- 
•tood,  we  shall  uke  the  liberty  of  laying  before  the 
reader  an  extract  of  a  letter  published  by  the  Rev. 
W.  Ward  on  this  interesting  subject : — 

"Besides  the  improvement  of  converted  natives 
who  may  be  selected  for  the  work  of  the  mmistry.or 
ft)r  missionary  employment.  Dr.  Carey  and  his  breth- 
ren hope  that  some  pious  Hindoos  may  be  capable  of 
acquiring  a  higher  education  ;  and  that,  after  becom- 
mg  good  Sungskrit,  as  well  as  Hebrew  and  Greek 
scholars,  they  may  be  successfully  employed  as  trans- 
lators of  the  divine  Word  into  languages,  with  the 
structure  of  which  they  will  be  perfectly  familiar. 
The  dialects  of  India  are  so  numerous,  that  it  can 
hardly  be  expected  that  the  Holy  Scriptures  will  be 
very  soon  rendered  into  all  of  them ;  and  when  that 
shall  have  been  accomplished,  tlieir  improvement  and 
perfection  can  only  be  hoped  for  through  the  revision 
of  learned  Christian  natives.  The  children  of  Eng- 
lish misrionaries,  who  may  be  the  subject  of  saving 
influences,  and  may  be  called  to  the  work  of  the  mis- 
sion, will  find  in  this  college  that  education  which  may 
prepare  them  to  become  the  most  ef&cient  agents  in 
the  gathering  in  of  the  heathen. 

"  It  is  further  intended,  that  a  respectable  but  infe- 
rior education  should  be  given  at  this  college,  to  a 
number  of  the  children  of  converted  Hindoos  and 
Mussulmen,  go  as  to  qualify  tlieiu  for  situations  in  life 
by  which  they  may  procure  a  decent  livelihood,  and 
roar  and  educate  their  families.  Hereby  some  amends 
may  be  made  to  tlieir  parents  and  themselves,  for  the 
deprivations  to  which  they  have  been  subjected  by 
the  loss  of  caste ;  and  thus  will  be  wiped  away  the 
dreadful  reproach  common  throughout  every  part  of 
India,  that  the  feringas  (the  Christians)  are  sunk  the 
lowest  of  all  castes  in  vice  and  ignorance. 

"  Finally,  this  college  is  proposed  to  bo  open  and 
gratuitous  to  all  denominations  of  Christians,  and  to  as 
many  heathen  scholars  as  choose  to  avail  themselves 
of  its  exercises  and  lectures,  provided  they  maintain 
themselves." 

In  the  same  spirit  of  candor  and  liberality,  Dr. 
Mnrshraan   observes,  hi  allusion  to  tliis   Institution, 


Vol.  1      yor.  21  &  22. 


34 


«Qar  college  will'  lw«pea  to  «» ;  wM  n»  FMobi^ 
tilt,  or  EpiscoiMlkny  or  OtHvkmsti  or  Annimaai  «t 
ovett  Roman  Catholic,  w^l  ever  hb  conMreimd  tO'M» 
tend  a  lecture  which! would  oftnd  his  ooMbiMM. 
We  humbly  trust  thkt  it  will  b*i made  a  blessing  to  the 
cause;  every  {Hoas> youth,  wh<r can  make  known  th« 
truth  in  English,  may  heM  receive  what  instruction 
he  needs ;  every  pious  native  youth,  whole  heart  is 
toward  the  service  <rf  the  sanctuary,  will,  we  trusty  be 
thoroughly  furnished;  every  native  youth,  of  talent*, 
Christian  by  mere  profession,  may  here  teoeive  th«t 
Indian  classical  education,  which  will  raise  him  in  HtH 
erature  above  the  generality  of  the  Bramins,  while  he 
is  also  instructed  m  the  Scriptures  ;  and  enable  him  to 
defend  and  do  honor  to  Christianity,  whether  he  serve 
society  in  a  legal,  medical,  or  literary  capacity,  or  be 
engaged  in  commerce:  and  from  all  these. we  may 
reasonably  hope,  that  a  body  of  native  translators 
will  be  formed,  which  will  improve  the  translations  in 
their  own  languages,  for  beyond  What  any  foreigner  will 
soon  be  able  to  do;  and,  finally,  every  ingenuous 
heathen  youth,  who  loves  knowledge,  and  is  able  to 
support  himself,  may  attend  the  lectures  in  the  college 
and  live  out  of  it,  according  to  his  own  ideas  of  caste, 
as  long  as  he  complies  with  its  rules  in  pouit  of  mo- 
rality and  diligent  attendance." 

Towards  the  close  of  this  year  (1818),  the  mission- 
aries opened  three  new  places  of  worship,  built  in  the 
simple  Hindoo  style,  in  difiiirent  parts  of  the  ciiy,  call- 
ed Entally,  Molungah,  and  Kalmgah.  At  the  former, 
the  attendance  was  generally  small,  the  population  in 
this  part  being  scattered,  and  of  a  low  description ;  in 
the  second,  the  congregation,  which  almost  exclusively 
consisted  of  Hindoos,  sometimes  exceeded  a  hundred 
persons ;  and  in  the  last,  the  attendance  was  sometimes 
very  numerous.  "  We  meet  with  little  or  no  inter- 
ruptitm,"  say  the  missionaries,  "  either  in  our  regular 
places  of  worship  or  in  the  open  aur.  But  what  we 
have  most  to  lament  is  that  universal  levity  of  charac- 
ter, and  that  total  deficiency  of  principles  and  ideas, 
upon  all  moral  and  divine  subjects,  which  render  the 
natives  fatally  indisposed  to  think  or  speak  with  the 
least  solemnity  upon  the  most  awful  and  momentous 
concerns.  Sometimes,  out  of  fifty  or  a  hundred  peo- 
ple, there  are  many  who,  judging  from  appearances, 
might  be  considered  as  engaged  in  serious  reflection : 
but  all  in  an  instant,  some  of  them  will  toss  up  their 
heads,  turn  it  off  with  a  sneer  or  jest,  start  from  the 
place,  and  take  with  them  ten  or  fifteen  others. 

"  A  Bengalee  of  some  respectability,  hearing  the 
gospel  at  this  place,  expressed  an  earnest  desire,  one 
day,  to  obtain  a  New  Testament,  which  we  readily 
cava  him.  A  few  dav!<i  nrtRrtvnrrj^  h*  carne  in  nttr 
house,  and  begged  another  for  one  of  his   friends. 


9Sft 


BAPTIST  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


He,  likewise,  took  trnj  an  asswtment  of  tracts,  and 
expressed  his  conviction  of  the  truth  of  all  he  had 
read.  In  about  a  fortnight,  he  came  again,  and  inlbrm- 
ed  us  that  five  or  six  more  Bengalees,  residing  in  a 
village  a  few  miles  from  Cakutu,  were  thoroughly 
satisfied  as  to  the  truth  of  ChrisUsQitjr,  and  were  will- 
ing to  come  among  us.  We  requested  him  to  return 
home,  and  bring  them  to  us,  and  he  departed  with  Uie 
fairest  prfessions;  but  we  have  heard  no  more  of  him 
or  hu  fir'snds.  This  circumstance  is  but  a  solitary  in- 
stance vf  the  trials  to  which  we,  as  missionaries,  are 
exposed,  and  which  demand  the  affectionate  sympa- 
thy and  unremitting  prayers  of  ourChristian  brethren." 

In  the  spring  of  1 8 1 9,  a  piece  of  ground  was  taken  by 
the  missionaries,  at  a  place  called  Doorgapoor,  between 
three  and  four  miles  from  their  residence  in  Calcutta, 
for  the  purpose  of  forming  a  station  as  completely  na- 
tive as  possible.  A  bungalow  and  a  chapel  for  Ben- 
galee worship  were  accordingly  erected,  and  it  was 
determined  that  the  brethren  should  reside  there  al- 
ternately for  the  period  of  six  months.  "  The  situa- 
tion," says  one  of  the  missionaries,  "  is  highly  advan- 
tageous ;  as  it  is  so  far  out  of  the  city  as  to  possess 
all  the  quiet  of  the  country,  and  yet  so  contiguous, 
that  in  about  ten  minutes  we  can  get  into  the  thickest 
of  the  population.  The  front  of  the  chapel  is  on  the 
edge  of  a  road  which  serves  as  a  great  thoroughfare 
between  Calcutta  and  a  number  of  very  populous 
vdlages ;  here,  therefore,  numerous  congregations  are 
collected  ewery  day,  and  tracts  are  distributed  to  con- 
siderable numbers." 

Mr.  Adam,  who  first  engaged  to  spend  a  portion  of 
his  time  at  this  new  station,  informs  us,  that,  one  day, 
throe  respectable  natives  came,  according  to  appoint- 
ment, to  converse  with  him  on  the  subject  of  religion ; 
and,  after  some  time,  they  professed  to  feel  interested 
in  the  propagation  of  Christianity  in  India,  and  ear- 
nestfy  recommended  the  establishment  of  schools  for 
the  instruction  of  youth  in  the  English  language.  But 
on  Mr.  Adam  remarking  that  the  instruction  of  Hin- 
doo femahi  in  their  own  language  appeared  peculiarly 
desirable,  the  oldest  and  most  intelligent  of  the  visitors 
carelessly  replied, "  What  have  wo  to  do  with  themJ  let 
them  remain  as  they  arc."  "  I  reminded  him,"  says  our 
missionary,  "  that  they,  as  well  as  we,  had  souls,  which 
must  be  saved  or  lost  for  ever ;  but  that  they  were, 
with  scarcely  a  single  exception,  passing  on  to  eternity, 
ignorant  of  the  only  way  of  salvation, — shut  out  from 
the  society  of  Europeans,  by  whom  they  might  bo 
instructed, — and  entirely  neglected  by  their  own  coun- 
trymen, who  did  not  allow  them  even  to  learn  to  read. 
'  They  do  not  know  how  to  go  to  heaven,'  said  ho, 
'  but  they  know  how  to  go  to  hell,  and  kt  them  go.' " 
Suraly.  whiUt  (Hir  readers  ezclsiR;  with  M* 


A  J 


How  hu4  k  the  heart  of  man  untU  it  is  aoAenedby 
the  grace  of  Ood !"  they  wiU  rejoice  to  recoUect  thttt, 
by  the  unremitting  exertions  of  the  misaionuies,  and 
the  cheerful  contributions  of  the  religious  publk, 
schools  for  the  instruction  of  native  females  *av«  been 
aabsequently  established  in  India,  and  have  been  at- 
tended with  the  most  beneficial  consequences. 

Among  the  inquirers  at  Calcutta,  m  the  commenee- 
ment  of  1820,  was  a  very  singular  character,  who  had 
resided  at  Kalec  Ghaut  for  four  years,  having  engaged 
m  a  vow  of  perpetual  silence,  whksh  he  had  scrupu- 
lously observed  during  the  whole  of  that  time.  At 
length,  however,  a  religious  tract  was  introduced  to 
his  notice,  which  so  far  convinced  his  judgment  as  to 
put  an  end  to  this  ridiculous  penance.  "  When  I  first 
saw  him,"  says  Dr.  Carey,  *'  he  had  as  many  super- 
stitious ideas  as  ever  I  knew  a  man  to  possess  ;  but 
now  he  appears  to  have  parted  with  his  nostrums,  and 
to  trust  wholly  on  Christ.  When  he  first  walked  m 
the  streets  of  Calcutta,  with  our  friend  John  Peter, 
several  of  the  principal  persons  came  down  from  their 
houses,  and  prostrated  themselves  at  his  feet;  but 
they  soon  discovered  their  mistake.  He  formeriy 
wore  a  number  of  necklaces  made  of  snakes'  bones ; 
but  all  of  these,  with  other  external  appearances  of 
superstition,  he  has  now  cast  off,  and  is,  in  my  opin- 
ion, truly  a  partaker  of  the  grace  of  God." 

Having  already  noticed  that  ground  had  been  pur- 
chased at  Serampore,  for  the  erection  of  a  college,  it 
would  be  almost  inexcusable  to  omit  the  following  in- 
teresting particulars  relative  to  the  progress  of  the 
edifice,  as  communicated,  in  1820,  by  Dr.  Marshman 
to  a  gentleman  at  Liverpool : — 

"  The  college  is  in  an  advancing  state,  and  we  have 
strong  reason  to  hope  it  will  prove  an  extensive  bless- 
ing to  the  cause  of  God  in  India.  The  buildings 
appear  to  us  a  most  important  part,  as  without  them  a 
single  step  cannot  be  taken  in  a  place  where  there  arc 
none  to  be  hired  for  the  purpose,  as  in  England ;  and 
when  these  are  completed,  I  have  little  doubt  that  the 
institution  will  be  fiilly  supported.  We  have  been 
hitherto  exceedingly  favored  of  Providence  in  the 
steps  we  have  taken.  We  have  been  enabled,  by 
purchasing  five  or  six  parcels  of  ground,  to  obtain 
confessedly  the  best  situation  for  the  college  in  the 
presidency  of  Fort  William,  and  perhaps  in  India, 
when  the  retired  situation  of  Serampore,  and  yet  its 
vicinity  to  the  capital,  are  considered.  It  is  a  fine 
open  spot,  on  the  banks  of  the  river,  and  precisely 
opposite  the  country  residence  of  the  governor-gene- 
ral of  India,  from  which  the  river  parts  it,  which  is 
there  about  six  hundred  yards  wide.  But  what  ren- 
ders it  of  the  greatest  value  to  us  is,  that  it  is  contig- 
uous (o  the  premises  on  which  We  live,  so  iiiai  the 


'  'f^mmp-  ijimmm*.^:  -  THr^t.>i i 


tboraagfa  ud  perpMuttmperinteiKtonM  of  ttie  edllt^e 
» tberabf  saoored ;  it  being  improbable  that  m  insti* 
tudoi,  ia  whieh  we  so  much  delight,  sbooM  not  be 
wMchfolljr  superintended  when  it  is  next  dow  to  us. 
Ob  this  spot  it  Appeared  desirable  to  erect  a  building 
"uflSdenily  spacious  to  contain  the  natives,  who  will 
naturally  assemble  there  from  all  parts  of  the  country, 
when  th«  examinations  and  disputations  are  held  in 
their  own  language ;  a  measure  which  will  carry  the 
sa»o»  of  the  tn-ths  discussed  there  from  year  to  year 
throughout  the  country.     We  have,  therefore,  nearly 
completed  a  building  which  contains  a  library  and 
museum  below,  a  hall  for  examination  above,  and 
a  suite  of  rooms  above  and  below  on  ea<A  side,  amount- 
ing to  twelve,  six  on  each  side.     The  hall,  above 
which  is  the  chief  room,  will  be  sixty-six  feet  wide, 
and  ninety-five  long,  terminating  in  a  bow  of  a  semicir- 
cular form,  thirty-one  feet  in  diameter,  and  having 
seven  windows  to  throw  light  through  the  hall.  These 
windows  termmate  in  a  semicircle,  and  are  fifteen  feet 
in  height.     The  hall  will  be  supported  by  two  rows  of 
pillars  of  the  Ionic  order.     The  extent  of  the  front  is 
one  hundred  and  thirty-one  feet,  the  plinth  is  four  feet, 
the  library  twenty  in  height,  and  the  hall  will  be 
twenty.four.     The  whole  height  will  be  nearly  sixty 
feet.     The  entrance  will  contain  a  viranda,  supported 
by  six  pillars  of  the  Doric  order,  five  feet  at  the  base. 
The  number  of  doors  and  windows  in  the  whole  build- 
ing will  be  one  hundred  and  thirty-two.   The  expense 
of  this  building,  and  suites  of  rooms  separate  from  it 
for  four  professors,  we  intend  to  meet  ourselves,  unless 
prevented  by  the  liberality  of  the  public.     We  at  first 
intended  to  devote  thereto  twenty  thousand  rupees, 
but  on  carefully  weighing  the  vast  importaiice  of  the 
object,  we  determined,  if  it  appeared  necessary,  to 
meet  the  whole,  though  it  should  be  eighty  thousand 
rupees,  or  ten  thousand  pounds,  which  we  expect  will 
cover  the  whole  of  the  buildings.     After  this,  we  trust 
the  Lord  will  stir  up  the  public  to  support  it,  and  if 
pot,  that  he  will  enable  us  to  meet  all  deficiencies. 
The  unoccupied  rooms  can  be  occupied  by  students 
till  we  can  obtain  four  able  professors.     The  whole  of 
the  college  premises  will,  I  think,  include  eight  acres, 
which  leaves  abundant  room  for  the  erection  of  apart- 
ments for  the  students,  numerous  as  they  may  be,  and, 
the  principal  buildings  being  finished,  the  cost  of  these 
will  be  a  trifle." 

In  the  month  of  March,  1821,  a  new  chapel  for 
English  worship  was  opened  at  Calcutta,  the  expense 
of  the  building,  amounting  to  about  £3000,  having 
been  nearly  defrayed  by  voluntary  contributions  in  the 
vicinity.     A  chapel  for  Bengalee  worship,  which  had 


tuKkn 


js*  'lie  e .-.pciiac  uf  a  pious  female  servant, 


having  been  found  too  distant  from  the  road,  was  taken 


Ml 

down,  about  tho  Mme  time,  and  grotmd  pneured  fbr 
lebuildrag  it  in  a  more  populous  neighboriiood.     A 
itew  Station  was  also  occupied  in  the  suburb  called 
Howrah,  inhabited  by  a  cOnsiderabl<>  number  of  Eog- 
lishmen,  and  by  thousands  of  nations  who  were  all 
previously  destitute  of  the  means  of  grace ;  and  a  sub- 
scription was  set  on  foot  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  a 
new  place  of  worship  at  Dum-dum,  a  military  statira 
some  miles  distant  from  Calcutta,  where  pleasing  evi- 
dences were  aflTorded  of  the  blessed  eflfects  of  divine 
truth.     In  allusion  to  this  circumstance,  the  brethren 
observe, "  That  a  number  of  poor  soldiers,  who  rejected 
all  the  calls  of  the  gospel  in  their  youth,  and  left  their 
native  country,  generally  speaking,  destitute  of  any 
religious  attachment,  should  be  arrested  by  the  vmco 
of  the  Good  Shepherd,  and  thus  induced  to  relinquuh 
revelings  and  dissipation,  and  to  attach  themselves  to 
the  self-denying  duties  of  piety  in  this  heathen  coun- 
try, must  be  contemplated  with  deep  and  pleasing  in- 
terest by  all  who  wait  and  pray  for  the  progress  of 
divine  truth  m  these  re^ons.     For,  as  the  example 
of  thousands  of  our  countrymen  has  hitherto  proved 
one  of  the  principal  stumbling-blocks  in  the  way  of 
disseminating  the  gospel,  so  we  may  hope  that  the 
conduct,  the  prayers,  and  probably  the  personal  ex- 
ertions of  these  people,  may,  in  some  measure,  help 
to  repair  the  injury  done  to  the  cause  of  God  in  for- 
mer years,  and  finally  entail  a  blessing  upon  many 
who  are  ready  to  perish." 

On  the  30th  of  May,  the  pious  and  amiable  wife  of 
Dr.  Carey  was  removed  into  the  "  house  not  made 
with  hands,  eternal  in  the  heavens,"  after  an  illness  of 
five  days,  in  which  her  mind  was  so  graciously  sup- 
ported, that  death  appeared  to  be  completely  disarmed 
of  all  its  terrors. 

In  a  brief  memoir  of  this  excellent  woman,  publish- 
ed by  the  Baptist  brethren,  it  is  said,  "  She  in  general 
enjoyed  much  of  the  consolations  of  religion,  and, 
though  greatly  afflicted,  a  pleasing  cheerfijlness  gene- 
rally pervaded  her  conversation.    She,  indeed,  possess- 
ed great  activity  of  mind.     She  was  constantly  out 
with  the  dawn  of  the  morning  when  the  weather  per- 
mitted, in  her  little  carriage,  drawn  by  one  bearer ; 
and  again  in  the  evening,  as  soon  as  the  sun  was  suf- 
ficiently low.    She  thus  spent  nearly  three  hours  daily 
in  the  open  air.    It  was  probably  this  vigorous  and  reg- 
ular course  which,  as  the  means,  carried  her  beyond  the 
age  of  threescore  years  (twenty-one  of  them  spent  in 
Indiq),  notwithstanding  the  weakness  of  her  constitution. ' 
"  About  three  weeks  before  her  death,  her  sight, 
which  had  enabled  her  hitherto  to  read  the  smallest 
print  without  glasses,  failed  at  once,  without  any  pre- 
vious indispusition,  and  was  afterwards  restored  oni*'^ 
in  a  partial  degree.      This  seemed  to  indicate  the 


SM 


BAPTIST  MISSiOKABY  SOCIETY. 


«p|>l«M0bi*g  diMoliiti«B  of  her  oKwtal  fraaaM*  ami  *» 
SBch  the  appeared  to  regard  it.  Sbet  hotrevwp,  irtili 
eootinued  bar  momiog  aod  eveoing  airings ;  but  on  tha 
tweMf-fifth  of  May,  aa  «be  wa«  rctumiag  Id  th« 
evening,  within  a  few  hundred  yards  of  ber  own  bouse, 
she  was  seised  with  a  kind  of  fit  which  deprived  her 
ot  perception.  From  this  spasm  she  recovered  in 
about  an  boar ;  but  her  perception  aod  memory  were 
evidently  impaired,  of  which,  however,  she  seemed 
scarcely  conscious.  About  five  in  the  afternoon  of 
the  next  day,  as  she  was  sitting  and  conversing  cheer- 
fiiUy  with  her  husband,  she  experienced  another  con- 
volsive  attack,  but  recovered  in  about  the  same  time 
as  before.  On  Lord's  day,  the  27th,  she  seemed 
so  wen  as  to  give  hopes  of  her  recovery.  But  on 
Monday,  she  bad  five  attacks  in  about  fifteen  hours. 
Of  these,  however,  while  she  suffered  little  pain  in 
them,  she  retained  no  subsequent  recollection ;  but 
they  evidently  left  her  memory  and  perception  more 
and  more  impaired.  During  Monday  night,  she  had 
two  more  attacks,  and  one  on  Tuesday  morning. 
This  was  followed  by  an  ardent  fever,  which  con- 
tinued till  her  decease,  between  twelve  and  one  on 
Wednesday  morning. 

"  On  the  Lord's  day  and  Monday,  she  appeared 
quite  sensible  that  this  was  the  breaking  up  of  her 
earthly  tabernacle ;  but  to  her  husband,  who  conversed 
with  her  on  the  probable  issue,  she  strongly  expressed 
her  willingness  to  depart  and  be  with  Christ.  In 
this  serene  and  happy  state  she  continued,  sensation 
gradually  lessening,  without  apparent  pain,  till  it 
Appeared  wholly  to  depart,  which  it  did  some  hours 
before  her  release  from  the  body.  She  was  interred 
on  Wednesday  evening,  in  the  mission  burying-ground 
at  Serampore.  At  the  grave,  Dr.  Marshman  gave  out 
that  h^mn  of  Watts,  'Why  do  we  mourn  departed 
friends  ?'  and  addressed  the  spectators  ;  and  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Hough  concluded  in  prayer.  Dr.  Marshman 
afterwards  preached  a  funeral  sermon  for  her  from 
2  Cor.  V.  I  :  •  For  we  know  that  if  our  earthly  house 
of  this  tabernacle  be  dissolved,  we  have  a  building 
of  God,  a  house  not  made  with  hands,  eternal  in  the 
heavens,'  selected  by  Dr.  Carey  for  the  occasion. 
Most  of  the  members  of  the  Danish  government  at- 
tended, with  other  gentlemen  of  Serampore,  to  testify 
their  respect  for  her  memory." 

The  aspect  of  affairs,  during  the  remainder  of  this 
year,  seems  to  have  been  very  encouraging  at  the 
different  stations  in  Bengal. 

At  Dinaqepore,  such  considerable  additions  had 
been  made  to  the  church,  that  its  members  now 
amounted  to  seventy-two  persons,  and  others  were 
expected  shortly  to  join  it.  Idolatry,  also,  appeared  to 
be  f apidiy  declining  aincng  itic  natives  of  that  district ; 


in  fTOofof^hiohrMff.  FnmwMki  idUa  ui,  that  ene^i 
them,  tome  time  Kgo,  raid  •  whole  cluster  of  Seeb'«. 
tempiea,  nbout  ten  or  twelve  b  number,  with  thtui 
idols,  to  a  persod  who  baa  oonverled  pait  of  the  gad»< 
into  stones  for  grinding  paint!    ""There  are,  idsa^> 
some  large  temples,"  says  he,  "  built  by  former  rajah%' 
and  dedicated  to  their  favorite  idols,  wlw^  wre  new  i 
in  a  dilapidated  state,  and  some  ^tbem  already  fallen 
to  the  ground  ;  but  the  present  rajah  neither  troublea , 
himself  to  repair  these  or  to  erect  new  ones.     Th« 
establishroeBt  allowed  by  the  late  and  former  rajah 
amounted  annually  to  about   twenty-five   thousand 
runees  ;  but  it  is  now  reduced  to  a  few  hundreda,  ana . 
even  this  is  rapidly  diminishing.     Thus, as  Dagon  fell, 
before  the  ark  of  the  Lord,  shall  idolatry  fijl  before , 
the  gospel."  , 

In  the  district  of  Jesaore,  four  Hindoos  had  been 
recently  baptized ;  and  Mr.  Thomas  and  five  native 
assistants  seem  to  have  been  constantly  engaged  in 
itinerating  among  the  numerous  villages,  and  commuiii> ,. 
eating  the  glad  tidings  of  salvation  to  all  who  were  in> 
clined  to  hsten  to  the  joyful  sound.    At  Moonhtdabad, , 
Mr.  Sutton  had  assembled  about  two  hundred  children  , 
in  the  schools  under  his  direction  ;  and  embraced  every 
opportunity  of  distributing  tracts,  and  of  preaching  the 
gospel  in  the  streets  and  markets  of  that  populous  city. ; 
And  at  Dacca,  Mr.  Leonard,  who  had  been  mercifully 
restored  from  severe  indisposition,  continued  to  lahw 
with  unremitting  zeal  and  energy  in  the  cause  of  God 
and  truth.    A  public  examination  of  the  Bengalee  and 
Persian  schools  under  the  superintendence  of  thii , 
missionary,  afforded  a  most  gratifying  proof  of  the 
improvement  of  the  pupils,  and  evinced  that  a  degree 
of  interest  had  been  excited  in  their  minds  which  was  , 
likely  to  be  productive  of  the  most  beneficial  effects. 
"  Many  of  the  boys,"  says  Mr.  Leonard,  "  had  to 
come  nearly  three  miles  fasting  :  they  were  collected 
before  eight  o'clock,  and  were  detained  till  three  in 
the  afternoon ;  yet  the  only  regret  that  appeared  upon 
any  of  their  countenances,  arose  from  not  being  favor- 
ed with  an  opportunity  of  reading  before  the  com- 
mittee, whilst  those  who  were  so  happy  as  to  obtain  a 
hearing  could  scarcely  be  persuaded  to  leave  off,  and 
in  the  end  went  away  in  triumph." 

Another  incident  may  be  mentioned,  to  show  that 
the  desire  for  information  was  not  confined  to  the 
youth  training  in  the  schools.  At  the  celebration  of 
one  of  the  Hindoo  idolatrous  festivals,  when  it  was 
computed  that  nearly  two  hundred  thousand  persons 
were  assembled,  some  members  of  Mr.  Leonard's 
family  (he  being  absent  at  the  time)  ventured  to 
commence  the  distribution  of  tracts,  which,  it  would 
appear,  had  not  been  attempted  on  such  an  occasion 
before.     No  sooner  was  this  known,  than  thousands 


TTSry^iPi   s  :.>BENGAI*^  ■7v»T«?*n 


fl/r#aUveB  «saenibl«4  about  t)n»  g»te,  filled  ibe  gwdan 
jud  the,  house,  sod  would  not  depart  till  eaob  had 
Received  a   book.      The   distribution  occupied   five 
JIHCceiaive  days,  on  the  first  of  which  alone,  more 
than  three  thousand  individuals  were  supplied  I 
}    la  the  month  of  March,  1832,  a  kuid  of  tuttee  or  vol- 
untary sacrifice  of  a  widow  took  place  iu  Bengal,  which 
corroborates  the  account  given  by  the  Rev.  W.  Ward  ui 
bis  "  Farewell  Leuers,"  of  tlve  horrid  custom  of  females 
being,  in  some   instances,  buried  alive    with    their 
deceased  husbands.     The  facts  are  thus  deuiled  in  a 
Bengalee  newspaper :— "  On  the  morning  of  the  27th 
of  March,  the  widow,  an  interesting  young  girl  of  sixteen 
years  of  age,  came  out  of  the  town,  attended    by 
musicians  and  crowds  of  people,  to  select  the  spot  on 
wliich  her  existence  was  to  terminate.     She  held  m 
her  hand  a  naked  dagger,  with  which  she  drew  a  drcle 
on  the  spot  she  fixed  upon,  and,  turning  round,  she 
atruck  the  dagger  three  times  in  the  ground,  and  return- 
ed to  the  town  in  tlie  same  manner  she  had  come  out. 
As  soon  as  she  retired,  some  men  commenced  digging 
the  pit.     At  about  half  past  four  o'clock  in  the  evening, 
ahe  came  out  to  complete  the  dreadful  sacrifice.     The 
procession  stopped  at  intervals,  and  men,  with  their 
bodies  painted  in  the  most  hideous  manner,  danced 
before  her,  during  which  time  she  distributed  betle, 
fiic.  to  those  about  her.     When  she  arrived  at  the  fatal 
spot,  she  took  the  hand  of  her  father  for  a  second  or 
two,  and  after  taking  off  her  jewels  and  ornaments,  she 
descended  into  the  pit  by  a  foot-path,  which  had  been 
cut  slanting  into  it  for  this  purpose,  and  seated  herself 
at  the  bottom  of  it ;  in  this  posture  her  head  and  neck 
were  the   only   parts   visible.      The   corpse  of  her 
husband  was  then  placed  in  the  hole,  with  his  head 
upon  her  lap,  and  the  pit  was  filled  up  with  mud  and 
earth,  so  as  to  cover  her  shoulders.     A  man  then 
came  forward  and  placed  a  cocoa-nut  under  her  chin,  on 
which  her  head  rested,  inclining  a  little  forward.     A 
large  basket  full  of  fine  river  sand  was  placed,  so  that, 
on  removing  the  props,  the  sand  might  fall  at  once 
upon  her  and  suffocate  her ;  but  owing  to  the  rottenness 
of  the  basket,  the  props  were  not  so  speedily  removed 
as  they  ought  to  have  been,  and  the  sand,  therefore, 
fell  gradually  upon  her.     At  this  moment,  there  was  a 
general  shout  and  clapping  of  hands,  set  up  by  the 
assembled  multitudes,  in  whose  faces  joy  and  mirth 
alone  were  visible.     Thus  terminated  the  existence  of 
lliis  poor  creature,  whom  no  entreaties  could  induce  to 
forego  the  resolution  she  had  formed.     She  appeared 
during  the  ceremony  in  all  the  merriment  imaginable, 
jU)d  quite  indifferent  to  the  fate  that  awaited  her!" 

.About  two  months  after  this  painful  occurrence,  the 
tnissionaries  at  Doorgapore  had  an  opportunity  of 
w^^BvSSJBg  soijic  Oi  tlie  iriisertcs  c-ndurcu  by  the  deluded 


Hiadooa  io  tlKpflrfimivic*  of  dieir  re)igj»in  ]h19«» 
Hfia;  whiob  *'•  «ooiwe«»liag,|oU  BM«d,,«wi» 

gne  poor  maotf  say  ifa|»  brathira,  "mho  Mtiowl 
last  year  to  viail  Juggernaut,  Ihs  made  his  way  to.wi 
la  very  great  distress,  after  losing  his  wife  upon  the  waj, 
and  spendmg  all  his  money.  .  He  has  scarcely  aUt  of 
cloth  to  cover  him  ;  and  has  two  infant  children,  oae 
of  which  was  born  upon  the  road,  and  for  want  of  suit- 
able acfiommodatjon,  and  through  the  fatigue  of  the 
journey,  caused  the  mother's  death.  The  poor  man 
is  grievously  emaciated,  and  the  babes  are  almost  lost 
for  want  of  care  and  tood.  The  younger  child, 
however^has  beeai  getting  milk  every  day  since  its 
arrival,  and  is  now  somewhat  revived,  but  the  mm^^ 
still  very  weak.  '      ' 

Another  person,  m  ihnost  a  dying  condition,  came 
as  far  as  our  place,  having  started  for  Gunga  Saugor  a 
few  months  since,  but,  being  taken  ill  by  the  way,  was, 
as  is  usual  b  these  cases,  entirely  abandoned  by  bis 
feUow  travellers,  and  left  to  perish  without  succor. 
When  he  reached  this  station,  he  was  quite  unable  to 
sund  or  walk,  totally  destitute  of  all  money  and 
olothmg.  He  lived  for  a  few  days  in  our  chapel  by 
the  road  side,  hut  having  removed  him  to  a  small  room 
nearer  our  own  house,  he  died  about  the  middle  of 
the  next  day.  So  miserable  is  the  service  of  Satao, 
and  so  hopeless  is  the  case  of  poor  wretched  idolaters 
— deluded  and  enslaved,  and  rendered  as  sheep 
destined  to  the  slaughter  1  The  above  instances  are 
related  not  because  they  are  rare,  but  because  they 
chanced  to  fall  under  our  notice.  Multitudes,  if 
sought  after,  might  be  found  in  similar  circumstances 
every  day,  and  in  almost  every  direction.  The  thou- 
sands who  die  from  these  wearisome  journeys  every 
year,  unheeded  and  unpitied  by  all,  but  by  Him  who 
watches  the  falling  of  sparrows,  and  who  numbers  the 
hairs  of  our  heads,  none  can  estimate.  Lord !  hasten 
Aw  blessed  dominion,  who  '  delivereth  the  needy  when 
he  crieth ;  the  poor,  also,  and  him  that  hath  no  helper.' " 
On  the  12th  of  August,  the  brethren  at  Calcutta 
sustained  a  severe  loss  in  tlie  death  of  Mr.  Harle,  a 
young  missionary  of  great  promise,  who  appears  to  have 
been  esteemed  and  beloved  by  all  who  knew  him. 
During  his  illness,  he  manifested  much  resignation  and 
heavenly-mindcduess ;  and  the  last  words  he  was  heard 
to  utter  were,  "  All  is  well !  All  is  well !" 

This  bereavement  was  followed,  soon  after,  by  the 
death  of  Anunda,  a  most  interesting  young  Bramin, 
who  had  evidently  received  the  truth  in  the  love  thereof. 
He  died  of  the  cholera  morbus,  and  his  case  affords  a 
striking  proof  of  the  rapidity  with  which  that  terrible 
disease  hurries  away  its  victims.  The  preceding  even- 
ing itc  preaciieU  at  a  place  about  a  mile  from  his  rest- 


BAPTIST  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


dme*  with  bit  oMiil  vigor  aad  •nimation,  uid, after  rap' 
paTtratiredtorMt  apparently  in  porfeothodth.  About 
duree  o'clock  in  the  morning,  however,  he  was  attacked 
by  tbia  awful  malady,  and  in  six  hours  was  a  lifeless 
•orpse.  '*  It  is  angular,"  say  the  brethren,  "  that 
about  the  same  time,  poor  old  Kristnodied  ;  and  thus 
the  irst  and  last  of  the  native  converts  in  this  country, 
finished  theircourse  nearly  tt^^ether,  rejoicing  in  a  well- 
grounded  hope  of  eternal  life." 

In  the  month  erf'  January,  18S3,  Dr.  Carey  remarks, 
that  the  reports  from  the  difibrent  stations  in  Bengal 
were  as  gratifying  as  they  ever  had  been  at  any  former 
period  of  the  mission.  "  In  Jessore,"  says  he,  "  all 
the  inhabitants  of  one  village,  except  five  houses,  have 
either  made  an  open  profession  of  the  gospel,  or  are 
in  a  pleasing  train  toward  it.  Several  villages  near 
Dacca  are  full  of  inquirers.  Many  persons  have  been 
added  to  the  churches  at  Dinagepore,  Chittagong, 
Calcutta,  Serampore,  and  other  places.  Schools  are 
also  much  encouraged,  and  generally  well  attended ; 
and  female  education,  especially  in  Calcutta,  is  carried 
on  with  great  success." 

Scarcely  was  this  pleasing  intelligence  transmit- 
ted to  England,  when  a  circumstance  occurred, 
which  inflicted  a  poignant  wound  on  the  mission 
Amily  at  Serampore,  and  excited  a  feeling  of  deep 
and  mournful  regret  in  the  bosoms  of  all  the  Redeem- 
er's friends  who  were  made  acquainted  with  the 
"  heavy  tidings."  This  was  the  sudden  and  most 
unexpected  death  of  the  Rev.  W.  Ward,  who  had 
recently  visited  the  shores  of  Great  Britain  and 
America,  as  an  angel  of  mercy,  pleading  on  behalf  of 
the  perishing  heathen;  and  who  was  engaged  in 
writing  an  appeal  to  European  Christians  in  favor  of 
missionary  exertions,  when  his  pen  was  laid  aside 
for  ever! 

On  the  Monday  preceding  his  demise,  he  was 
at  the  monthly  prayer-meeting  held  at  the  IjoM  Bazaar 
chapel  in  Calcutta  ;  and  on  that  occasion  he  used  the 
following  expression,  strongly  indicative  of  unfeigned 
humility,  and  an  ardent  desire  for  the  success  of  the 
gospel :  "  O  Lord,  if  thou  seest  me  unfit  for  the 
carrying  on  of  thy  cause,  and  that  it  is  injured  by  my 
coldness  and  want  of  spirituality,  O  remove  me,  and 
put  others  more  worthy  in  my  room ;  but  let  thy 
kingdom  come,  and  thy  will  be  done  on  earth,  whoever 
be  the  instruments."  The  following  Wednesday,  he 
preached  a  very  impressive  sermon ;  and  the  next  day, 
was  busily  occupied  in  the  printing-office  till  one  o'clock, 
when  he  went  in  to  his  dinner,  and  complained  of 
drowsiness.  About  two  hours  aOersvatd,  Dr.  Carey 
was  sent  for,  and  found  him  eytrcT;v  _•  si,  with  an 
attack  of  that  dreadful  disease,  th«  '{>.:.  vlie  ''hmen. 
Two  medicd  gentlemen  were  insiaeiL '..■  y  sTitied  is, 


and  throughout  the  night  hopes  were  entertained  that 
thepatient  would  recover.  The  all-wise  God ,  however, 
had  determined  otherwise;  and  about  a  quarter  before 
five  o'clock  on  Friday  evening,  this  invaluable  mission- 
ary  was  called  to  exchange  the  toils  and  sorrows  of 
time  for  the  repose  and  joys  of  eternity.  His  fiineral 
wu  attended  by  a  large  concourse  of  people,  and  the 
address  delivered  at  the  grave '  by  the  venerable 
founder  of  the  mission,  who  had  been  recently 
deprived,  by  death,  of  his  son  Felix,  was  more  than 
ordinarily  affecting.  A  funeral  sermon  was  also 
preached  by  Mr.  Sutton,  from  Numbers  xxiii.  10, 
"  Let  me  die  the  death  of  the  righteous,  and  let  my 
last  end  be  like  his." 

In  the  month  of  April,  a  very  neat  and  commodious 
chapel  was  opened  at  Howrah,  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Calcutta ;  and  though  the  expense  amounted  to  about 
ten   thousand   rupees,  nearly  the   whole   had   been 
already  defrayed  by  private  subscriptions.     A  great 
spirit  of  hearing,  also,  appeared  to  have   been  ex- 
cited among  the  inhabitants,  of  whom  it  is  remarked 
that  the  major  part  were  in  the  habit  of  assembling  on 
the  Lord's  day,  to  visit  his  holy  sanctuary ;  though 
only  three  years  previous,  this  place  was  without  a 
gleam  of  gospel  light,  except  when  any  of  the  brethren 
came  to  the  house  of  a  friend,  and  spoke  to  a  few 
individuals  that  could  be  collected  together.     Pleasing, 
however,  as  was  the  present  aspect  of  affairs,  in  respect 
to  attendance  on  the  means  of  grace,  the  state  of  the 
unconverted  Hindoos,  at  this  place,  excited  emotions 
of  the  mo!i«  painful  description  in  the  breasts  of  those 
who  longed   for  their  eternal    salvation ;    and   one 
instance  of  their  extreme  apathy  to  the  misfortunes  of 
their  fellow  creatures,  as  related  by  an  eye-witness, 
will  prove  to  demonstration  how  much  the  influences  of 
the  gospel  are  needed  to  introduce  a  spirit  of  affection 
and  sympathy   among   this  idolatrous   and  unfeeling 
nation.     A  small  native  hut  had  accidentally  taken 
fire ;  and  as  it  was  situated  to  windward  of  the  vil- 
lage, comprising  about  twenty  thatched  huts,  these 
were   in   imminent  danger  of  being  all   destroyed. 
"The  fire,"  says  Mr.  Statham,  the  resident  mission- 
ary at  this  station,  "  was  very  brillian  ,  '^■om  the  nature 
of  the  materials, — bamboos,  mats  and  stfaw.     \  per- 
ceived it  from  the  viranda  where  T     ^  and 
imiDediately  mounted  my  horse  t               tov.  j.dsit. 
Before  I  got  there,  about  five  dwellings  were  totally 
consumed,   and   two   others  were   on  fire.      It   was 
astonishing  to  see  the  apparent  and  total  want  of  sympa- 
thy in  tho  minds  of  the  natives  present.     Though  above 
a  thou        ofthem  were  assembled  from  the  neighboring 
large  vi     :;e  of  Sulkea,  not  one  would  assist  in  extinguish- 
ing the  flames,  but  seemed  to  enjoy  the  bonfire.     No 


means  were  adopted  to  arrest  the 


r>l'  tk< 


eco»= 


BEiiQAh.r  •^•^rm^ift 


iagration,  except  by  thow  wretched  creatures  wboee 
hots  were  on  fire.  Qa  my  remonatrating  witb  the 
ipaotatort,  and  entreating  them  to  lend  a  helping 
band   to  their  neighbors,  these   were  the   answers: 

*Mjf  bouse  is  not  on  fire — Who  will  give  me  pay  1 

What  power  have  /over  fire  ?— To  be  frunU  will  be 
worse  than  to  «ee  Jire.'  Thus  they  suffered  the 
flames  to  spread,  until  they  had  now  consumed  nearly 
half  the  pUoe,  and  from  one  of  the  huts,  which  had 
just  taken  fire,  a  dreadful  screaming  and  lamentation 
issued.  On  inquiry,  I  found  it  was  from  a  poor, 
decrepit  old  woman  :  I  urged  them  to  fly  to  her 
rescue,  Oh  the  horrid  feelings  they  evinced  !    '  She  is 

not  my  mother — She  is  too  old  to  gain  salt Her 

time  is  come—We  shall  see  a  suttee.'  I  offered  them 
gifts  if  they  would  go  into  the  house  with  me  and  bring 
her  out.  The  name  of  rupees  has  something  of  an 
electric  charm  upon  them  ;  for  no  sooner  was  this 
heard  than  so  many  ran  to  her  relief,  that  they  could 
not  all  touch  even  the  cot  on  which  she  lay.  However, 
the  poor  creature  was  saved  for  that  time  ;  but  none' 
but  those  of  the  lowest  caste  dared,  even  for  luere't 
sake,  to  carry  a  sick  person.  The  lofty  Bramina  stood 
unconcerned  spectators,  and  reprobated  the  conduct 
of  some  lascars  from  the  ships,  whom  I  had  prevailed 
on  to  endeavor  to  extingubh  the  flames,  whicli  was 
soon  effected  by  pulling  down  a  small  hut  tliat  was  in 
the  line  of  communication  with  the  others.  With  regard 
to  the  poor  woman  thus  saved,  she  had  been  so  terri- 
fied,  that  her  illness  was  increased,  and  her  merciless 
sons  conveyed  her  to  the  river-side  to  die.  There  I 
found  her,  three  days  after,  just  able  to  speak  once, 

but  no  more :   she  died  in  about  half  an  hour : it 

via$  evidcttt  that  mud  had  been  put  into  her  mouth. 
Oh,  when,  when  shall  we  behold  the  glorious  day  of 
deliverance  approach  ?  Nothing  but  the  rays  of 
heavenly  light  can  dispel  such  horrid  clouds  of 
superstition !" 

In  the  month  of  October,  a  most  alarming  inunda- 
tion occurred  at  Howrah,  in  consequence  of  the  em- 
bankments of  a  large  river,  about  twenty  mjles  to  the 
westward  of  that  station,  giving  way;  so  that  the 
waters,  suddenly  rushing  into  the  circumjacent  country, 
swept  all  before  them.  In  the  compound,  or  yard, 
belonging  to  Mr.  Statham's  house,  the  water  rose  three 
feet  in  six  hours,  and  the  inmates  were  obliged  to 
procure  boats  and  flee  for  their  lives.  The  roads 
were  crowded  with  poor  natives,  wading  through  the 
flood,  breast  high,  carrying  their  few  movables  upon 
their  heads,  and  uttering  the  most  piteous  lamentations. 
On  being  questioned  as  to  the  probable  cause  of  this 
afllictive  visitation,  some  of  them  said  that  Kreeshna 
had  again  assumed  the  shape  of  a  fish,  and  occasioned 
too  inundatioa  by  iasiiiug  the  waters  with  bis  tail ; 


others  laid  the  tmimity  ti«l  been  pneimd  b*  the 
T'u*^/."*'*'*"*^  fckeer.or  religioiu  mendicw,!, 
who  bad  been  recently  Ul  treated  by  sonie  eooliea  ia 
the  neighborhood ;   but  the  greater  part  oontented 
themselves  with  observing  that  it  waa  the  result  of 
fate.     The  missionary  was  under  the  necessity  of 
removing  to  a  house  about  two  miles  distant ;  but,  u 
a  few  days,  the  waters  subsided,  and  owing  to  the 
exertions  of  the  magistrates  in  causing  drains  to  be 
dug  m  various  directions,  the  country  became  dry 
sooner  than  bad  been  anticipated.     Much  and  severe 
calamity,  however,  had  been  endured,  in  the  mean 
time,  by  some  of  the  natives.     «'  I,  one  day,  took  a 
boat,"  says  Mr.  Statham,  «  and  went  into  the  jungles, 
fearing  that  some  poor  creatures  might  have  been  left 
behind,  and  it  soon  appeared  that  my  fears  were  too 
well  founded.     As  we  approached  a  thick  clump  of 
bamboos,  we  heard  a  feeble  voice  calling  for  help. 
It  was  that  of  au  old  man,  who,  with  his  wife,  was  up 
to  the  chin  in  water,  and,  as  neither  of  the*m  could 
swim,  they  were  afraid  to  stir  from  the  top  of  their 
thatched  roof,  the  mud  walls  of  their  house  having 
fidlen.     We  took  them  into  our  boat ;  but  ihtsy  were 
so  completely  exhausted,  that  it  was  with  great  diffi- 
culty they  were  restored  to  any  thing  like  animation. 
We  found  a  young  man,  in  a  similar  manner,  upon  his 
fallen  roof,  but  no  entreaties  could  induce  him  to  get 
into  the  boat ;  as  he  said  all  his  property,  consisting 
of  two  skins  of  oil  and  a  box  with  a  few  clothes,  lay 
beneath  the  ruins,  and  he  would  lose  his  life  rather 
than  abandon  them.     Opposite  my  dwelling,  the  Mus- 
sulmen  have  a  small  mosque,  and  about  fifty  of  them 
surrounded  it,  up  to  their  waists  in  water,  crying  out 
incessantly,  for  about  six  hours,  Allah !  Allah  1  I  was 
naturally  reminded  of  these  words  of  Christ,  '  Use 
not  vain  repetitions,  as  the  heathen  do ;  for  they  think 
they  shall  be  heard  for  their  much  speaking.'     On 
their  quitting  the  mosque,  I  sent  a  number  of  tracts 
to  them  ;  but  though  some  received  them,  they  were 
rejected   by   others,   whose  countenances    indicated 
their  disappointment  and  displeasure  that  the  water* 
had  not  retired.     When,  at  length,  the  Inundatioa 
subsided,  a  mournful  sight  presented  itself;  hundreds 
of  habitations  having  been  completely  swept  away, 
and  the  country  deserted.     The  inhabitants,  however, 
are  now  returning,  and  have  nearly  rebuilt  all  their 
houses." 

The  following  extract  of  a  letter,  written  by  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Carey,  towards  the  close  of  December, 
1823,  contains  much  interesting  intelligence  : — 

"  I  once  more  address  you  from  the  land  of  the 
living  ;  a  mercy  which,  about  two  months  ago,  I  had 
no  expectation  of,  nor  did  any  one  else  expect  it.  On 
the  tith  of  October,  1  went  to  Calcutta  to  preach,  and 


vu 


BAPTIST  MISSIOflAJtir  SOCIETY. 


labiiaed  wuh  •  Aiwid  iboMrt  BoidBq^ht.  Wiwn  I>got 
OHi  of  tlw  boat,  close  to  our  owa  prerains,  my  foot 
ifipped  ua.:'  '.  InU.  My  friend  also  fell  ir  ho  mom 
plaM>  I  paneived,  however,  that  I  could  not  get 
up,  Bor  make  the  smallest  efibrt  to  rise.  The  boat'' 
men,  therefore,  carried  me  into  the  house,  and  ray 
fijend,  who  was  a  medical  man,  examined  my  hurt. 
Ib  the  mean  time,  the  Danish  surgeon  was  called  in, 
ud  it  was  feared  that  the  hip  joint  had  received  a 
violent  contusion,  if  it  were  not  luxated.  This,  how- 
ever,  proved  not  to  be  the  ease. 

"  The  day  after  the  hurt,  and  the  two  suoceediog 
days,  one  hundred  and  ten  leeches  were  applied  to  the 
thigh,  and,  except  excruciating  agony,  all  appeared  fa- 
rorable.  I  had  no  fever,  or  other  bad  symptom,  till 
rix>ut  the  tenth  day,  when  I  was  seized  with  a  most 
alarming  fever,  attended  with  a  violent  cough  and  ex- 
pectoration. Lord  Amherst  very  kindly  sent  bis  own 
uirgeon,  to  report  my  state  of  health  to  him.  During 
this,  unexpectedly,  and  unperceived  by  all,  an  abscess 
was  formed,  1  believe,  on  fhe  liver ;  and  the  subsequent 
discharge  of  pus,  which  was  very  copious,  continued  for 
at  least  a  month,  with  such  violence,  as  often  to  threaten 
nte  with  sufiboation.  From  all  these  afflictions  I  am, 
through  nnercy,  restored  ;  but  I  am  stiM  very  weak, 
and  the  injured  limb  is  very  painAil,  so  that  I  am 
unable  to  walk  two  steps  v.'ithout  cnAches.  My 
strength,  however,  is  sensibly  increasing,  and  the 
physician,  who  attended  mo  during  the  illness,  says 
he  has  no  doubt  of  my  perlect  recovery. 

"  During  my  confinement  in  October,  such  a  quan- 
tity of  water  came  down  from  tlie  western  hillt:  that 
it  completely  inundated  the  whole  country,  for  about 
one  hundred  miles  in  length,  and  the  same  in  breadth. 
Tlie  Ganges  was  filled  by  the  flood,  so  as  to  spread 
far  on  cvsry  side.  Serampore  was  under  water.  We 
had  three  feet  water  in  our  garden  for  seven  or  eight 
days.  Almost  all  the  houses  of  the  nativas,  in  all  timt 
vast  extent  of  country,  fell.  Their  cattle  were  swept 
away,  and  the  people — men,  women,  and  children. 
Some  gained  elevated  spots,  .vhere  the  water  still  rose 
so  high  as  to  threaten  them  with  death.  Others 
climbed  trees,  and  some  floated  on  the  roofs  of  their 
ruined  houses.  One  of  the  church  missionaries,  Mr. 
Jetter,  who  had  accompanied  Mr.  Thoniason  and  some 
other  gentlemen  to  Rurdnun,  to  examine  the  schools 
there,  called  on  mo  on  his  r(!turn,nnd  (rove  me  a  most 
distressing  .iccount  of  the  fall  of  houses,  the  loss  of 
property,  and  the  violent  rushing  of  wafer,  so  that 
none,  not  even  the  best  swimmers,  durst  leave  the 
places  where  they  were.     He  fasted  for  three  days. 

"  This  inundation  was  very  dostnictivo  to  tho  mis- 
Minn  nfcinls^s^  A  ^lip  of  the  ^arth  took  nia;^^  on  the 
bank  of  the  river,  near  my  house,  and  gradually  ap- 


piottehed  it,  till  oalft  iboW  ten  feet  were  left,  and  tkift 
ceackcd.  At  last,  two  fissures  i^tpeaied  in  the  foumbt* 
tion  and  wall  of  the  bouse  itseUL  Tfaia  was  a  sigMd 
for  me  to  remove,  and  a  house  built  for  a  professor  in 
the  coUege  being  empty,  I  removed  to  it,  and,  thraugh 
mercy,  am  now  comfortably  settled  there,  Durnx 
this  illness,  I  received  the  constant  news  of  the  eon- 
cem  of  all  our  religious  friends  for  me.  Our  younger 
brethren  visited  me,  as  did  some  of  th«)  iAdependeat 
uid  church  brethren,  and  many  who  make  no  profes- 
sion of  religmn  at  all.  f.i 
"  Now,  through  the  gracious  providence  of  60^ 
t  am  again  restored  to  my  work,  and  daily  do  a  little, 
as  my  strength  will  admit.  The  printing  of  the  transla- 
tions is  now  going  forward,  almost  as  usual :  but  I 
have  not  yet  been  able  to  attend  to  my  duties  in 
college,  and  only  one  day  to  those  of  translator  of  the 
laws  and  regulations  of  the  governor-general  in  council ; 
an  office  to  which  I  was  this  year  appointed. 

"  The  affairs  of  the  mission  are  more  extended, 
and,  I  trust,  in  as  prosperous  a  state  as  at  any  former 
time.  There  are  now  many  of  other  denominations 
employed  in  missions,  and  I  rejoice  to  say  that  we  are  all 
workers  tc'gether  therein.  There  is  no  ill-will  towards 
each  other :  but  on  every  hand  a  spirit  of  love  and 
mutual  co-operation  prevails.  The  various  reports 
published  will  give  you  a  tolerably  correct  idea  of  the 
progress  of  the  gospel.  Female  schools  have  been 
set  iri,  and  much  encouraged.  I  think  we  have  six- 
teen, containing  two  hundred  and  twenty  children, 
at  Serampore  and  its  neighborhood,  all  regularly  visited 
by  brother  Ward's  two  daughters,  brother  Marshman's 
daup;liter,  Felix's  widow  and  eldest  daughter,  and 
another  young  lady,  a  member  of  the  church.  The 
native  churches  were  never  in  a  better  state,  and 
the  aspect  of  the  mission  is,  in  every  respect,  en- 
coiirnging." 

In  tliu  letter  just  presented  to  the  reader  from  the 
pen  of  Dr.  Carey,  it  is  very  properly  remarked  that 
the  missions  in  Bengal  had  become  extended.  On 
this  account,  and  that  our  readers  may  be  able  more 
readily  »o  refer  to  the  history  of  sny  important  station 
in  which  they  may  feel  interested,  it  appears  desirablo 
that  we  should  somewhat  minutely  state  the  facts 
connected  with  each  of  the  more  important  places, 
and  then  generally  glance  ot  the  others.  ' 


SERAMPORE. 

The  station  at  Serampore,  then,  both  becntisc>  of  Its 
long  standing,  and  of  its  being  the  jwnripnl  seat  of 

•  I. A  *iM*M«lM«ln9ui     AM»%An»«    *A  filiiim    thfl    tirlAritv.        It   \m 
,     ,  — ...  .    .      ^-  J  .  .       -- 

probably  known  to  the  majority  of  our  readers,  that 


SERAMPORt.    ^^"^^^ 


Serampore  is  a  Danish  settlement,  by  the  Danes  fre- 
quently called  Fredericksnagore ;  and  is  situated  on 
the  western  banks  of  the  Hoogly,  a  branch  of  the 
Ganges,  fifteen  miles  north  of  Calcutta.    Amidst  many 
discouraging  circumstances  which  occurred  about  the 
time  of  Mr.  Ward's  death,  there  were  some  of  a  very 
different  kind.     "  A  valuable  addition,"  says  the  Re- 
port of  1824,   "  has  been  made  to  the  number  of 
laborers  there,  in  the  person  of  a  Mr.  Williamson, 
a  native  of  Scotland,  who,  after  receiving  a  liberal 
education  in  his  own  country,  went  out  to  India  in  the 
medical  profession  ;  but  having  there  experienced  the 
power  of  the  gospel  for  himself,  he  has  relinquished  all 
other  pursuits  to  engage  in  making  it  known  toothers. 
Several  additions  have  been  made  to  tiie  church,  and 
the  efforts  used  hy  the  various  native  preachers  con- 
nected with  the  station,  are  said  to  be  far  more  regular 
and   extensive   than  formerly.     Besides  visiting   the 
villages  around,  three  little  chapels  have  lately  been 
erected  in  the  town  of  Serampore.     Tracts  have  also 
been  distributed  to  a  great  extent,  no  less  than  eight 
thousand  having  been  given  away  at  a  single  festival. 
Various  means  are  employed  to  promote  tlie  edifica- 
tion and  usefulness  of  the  native  converts  at  large. 
Once  a  week,  they  assemble  for  improvement  in  scrip- 
tural knowledge,  when  they  are  encouraged  to  express 
their  own  sentiments  on  chosen  passages  of  the  sacred 
volume,  and  the  Commentary  of  the  lato  excellent 
Mr.  Scott  is  read  to  them  in  Benguiev.'.     They  have 
even  instituted  a  Native  Missionary  Society,  managed 
almost  entirely  by  tiiemsolves  ;  one  result  of  which  is, 
the  publication  of  a  small  montiily  work  in  Bengalee, 
entitled,  "  Tlie  Increase  of  Christ's  Kingdom  ;"  and 
such  is  already  the  extent  of  the  native  Christian  pub- 
lic in  Bengal,  that  the  sale  of  this  publication,  though 
at  a  very  low  price,  nearly  covers  the  expenses. 

"  The  sui^cess  of  the  experiments  in  female  educa- 
tion, first  niiule  by  our  junior  missionaries  at  Calcutta, 
and  afterwards,  on  a  more  extended  scale,  by  Miss 
Cooke,  (now  Mrs.  Wilson,)  having  atiracted  the  atten- 
tion of  our  senior  brethren,  they  have  entcrtd,  with 
liieir  ciiaract(!iisiic  zeal,  on  tiiis  dopartinenf  also,  and 
at  the  date  of  our  last  communications  on  this  subject, 
they  had  established,  in  and  around  Serampore,  seven- 
teen schools,  in  which  nearly  three  hundred  female 
cliildri'ii  were  receiving  instruction." 

Ahout  the  close  of  the  year  18-24,  the  brethren  at 
this  station,  among  other  intorosiing  comnumications, 
forwaidud  to  the  committco   at    home   the   following 

pleasing  accomii  of  the  death  of  a  native  Christian  : 

"  It  is  with  unfeigned  grief  wo  record   the  death 
of  our  beloved  young  friend  K(nnul,  the  senior  Chris- 
tian student  in  the  college.      Hii  «im  a  youth  of  supe- 
rior iil.iliiies,  of  exenipliiry  diiigenoo   in   his  studies, 
Vol..  1.— Nos.  ai  84  iiii.  36 


an 

and,  what  was  of  infinitely  greater  importanti^,  of 
fervent  piety.  We  believe  there  was  no  individuU 
in  our  church,  who  secured  to  himself  more  general 
and  warm  attachment.  Long  laboring  under  bodily 
affliction,  he  seemed  ever  to  have  in  view  his  departure 
to  another  world.  By  the  blessing  of  God,  it  made 
him  heavenly-minded,  not  morose  or  melancholy. 
He  died  suddenly  on  the  17tb  of  July,  and  was  buried 
the  next  evening.  While  the  funeral  procession 
moved  slowly  along,  the  corpse  of  our  deceased  brother 
being  borne  by  his  native  fellow  Christians,  and  accom- 
panied by  the  brethren  of  the  mission  then  at  home, 
as  well  as  by  his  fellow  students,  many  a  weeping  eye 
bore  testimony  to  his  worth,  and  at  his  grave  more 
than  two  hundred  natives  stood  with  fixed  attention, 
while  brother  M.  pointed  them  to  the  source  of  his 
deceased  Christian  brother's  excellence  of  character, 
and  of  his  joyful  hope  in  death,  and  contrasted  it  with 
the  vain  hope  their  delusions  give.  There  wera 
sorrowing  hearts,  and  no  liptless  indifference  there. 
There  was  humble  adoration  of  the  gracious  Dispose* 
of  all  events,  and  not  the  horrible  insult  of  living 
sacrifices.  Even  heathens  could  not  fail  to  mark 
the  difference  between  the  Christian  and  the  heathen 
funeral :  the  one  decent  and  solemn,  full  of  joyful 
hope  and  tender  sympathy  ;  the  other  without  hope 
and  without  sympathy,  the  most  unfeeling  indifference 
marking  the  countenances  of  the  few  individuals  who 
witness  the  scene." 

About  three  months  after  the  death  of  Komul,  the 
brethren  were  called  to  commit  to  the  grave  Mr. 
Albrecht,  a  valuable  missionary,  who  had  accompanied 
Mr.  John  Marshman  to  India.  He  was  educated  at 
the  missionary  seminary  at  Basle,  under  the  pious  Dr. 
Blumhardt,  and  from  his  more  recent  connections  in 
India,  as  well  as  from  the  continent  of  Europe,  the 
society  had  many  high  testimonies  to  his  learning  and 
piety. 

The  Report  of  1885  furnishes  a  pleasing  account  of 
two  examinations,  one  of  the  students  in  the  college, 
and  the  other  of  the  pupils  in  the  female  schools  ; 
both  of  which  presented  an  interesting  prospect  in 
reference  to  the  rising  generation. 

"  The  formerof  these  examinations  was  conducted  by 
Dr.  Carey ,  in  January,  in  the  presence  of  his  excellency 
the  governor  of  Serampore,  and  many  other  respectable 
persons,  both  European  and  native.  The  proficiency 
made  by  the  students  in  the  Sungskrit  and  English  lan- 
guagns,  astronomy,  geography,  and  other  branches  of 
knowledge,  was  highly  satisfactory.  Nor  was  the  ex- 
amination of  the  female  schools  less  encouraging.  Two 
hundred  and  thirty  little  girls  were  present,  many  of 

■i>l.....%    .«««:. .„.J    _-_-J.  r .!._;_    : -    A 

l>  the  cheerfulness  and  animation  visible  in  their  counts- 


869 


BAPnST  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


nances,  seemed  almost  insensibly  to  fill  the  company 
with  pleasure  and  deligiit.  From  a  statement  of  the 
female  schools  established  in  India,  by  benevolent 
individuals  of  different  denominations,  drawn  up  and 
published  by  our  brethren  in  June  last,  it  appears  that 
the  whole  number  was  seventy-five,  containing  one 
thousand  three  hundred  ninety-four  pupils ;  a  number 
which,  tiiough  sumll  compared  with  the  vast  population 
of  the  country,  sulHciently  proves  that  the  system  is 
making  sure  and  steady  progress." 

At  the  beginning  of  this  year,  the  stations  more 
immediately  in  connection  with  Serampore  were 
placed  under  the  direction  of  the  council  of  the  college, 
but  continued  to  receive,  for  some  time  longer,  direct 
aid  from  the  society  at  home  ;  in  each  of  the  years 
1824  and  1 825,  £  1 000  being  remitted  towards  their 
support. 

From  an  account  drawn  up  by  the  bretliren  at 
Serampore,  and  dated  January  1st,  1827,  we  present 
the  following  extract :— "  Tiie  church  that  bus  been, 
through  tiio  mercy  of  God,  planted  at  this  station, 
consists  at  present  of  sixty-seven  members  in  full 
communion.  Mnetecn  of  these  are  Europeans,  or 
descendants  of  such,  and  include  a  few  friends  resident 
iti  the  settlement,  in  addition  to  the  members  of  tiie 
different  families  connected  witii  the  mission.  Four 
more  reside  at  IJarrackporc,  on  the  opposite  side  of 
the  river  ;  and  the  remainder  are  natives  of  the  country, 
turned  from  idols  to  serve  the  living  and  true  God. 
The  accessions  to  the  church  during  the  |)iist  year, 
have  been  such  as  to  fdl  our  hearts  with  the  liveliest  grati 
tude.  Of  thirteen  who  have  beenbapti/.ed  and  received 
into  the  cimrch,  one  is  an  elderly  gentleman  residing 
in  the  town ;  two  others,  the  daughters  of  Mr.  Ward 
and  Mr.  F.  Carey  ;  three  more,  English  students  in 
Serampore  college,  viz.  John  Smith,  son  of  brother 
Smith  of  IJenares,  Josliua  Uowe,  eldest  son  of  our  late 
brother  Howe  of  Digali,  and  James  Domingo  ;  five 
othetl  are  native  students  hi  the  college,  of  Christian 
parentage  ;  another  was  for  years  a  student  also,  but 
has  recently  been  taken  into  employment  in  the 
printing-ofKre  ;  and  tiie  last  was  long  a  servant  in 
the  college,  and  has  since  been  engaged  as  a  domestic 
in  the  mission  family.  It  is  highly  gratifying  that  all 
the  senior  students  in  the  college  are  now  members  of 
the  church,  and  that  tiieir  general  deportment  is  such 
as  becomes  their  profession." 

In  the  year  1828,  the  ntissionarios  at  Serampore 
were  called  to  mourn  over  the  death  of  the  honorable 
Jacob  Krcfting,  U(o  venerable  governor  of  the  settle. 
ment.  Not  merely  hod  he  always  manifested  the  most 
kind  and  obliging  conduct  towards  all  the  members  of 
the  miisiun,  from  its  very  communcemont  j  but,  under 


God,  it  might  be  said  that  it  owed  its  continued  exut- 
ence  to  him.  On  one  occasion,  when  it  was  consid- 
ered necessary  to  the  security  of  the  British  govern- 
ment in  India,  to  expel  the  missionaries  from  the 
country,  colonel  KreAing  was  desired  to  withdraw  his 
protection  from  the  members  of  the  mission,  and  send 
them  to  Calcutta,  that  they  might  be  at  the  dispo- 
sal of  their  own  government ;  but  he  generously 
and  finnly  refused,  on  the  solid  plea  that  the  mission- 
aries had  received  protection  directly  from  the  Danish 
court,  who  alone  could  revoke  it.  By  his  influence 
the  mission  always  stood  in  high  favor  with  the  court 
of  Denmark,  and  in  every  thing  he  proved  himself  a 
kind  and  efficient  friend. 

From  this  period  up  to  the  end  of  1830,  no  very 
striking  events  appear  to  have  occurred  at  Serampore. 
The  services  of  religion  have  been  continued,  and  the 
blessing  of  Utaven  has  rested  upon  them ;  the 
Scriptures  and  leligious  tracts  continued  to  be  exten- 
sively circulated  ;  the  college  was  increasing  in  the 
number  of  its  students,  and  the  inferior  schools  appear 
to  have  been  prosperous.  Tlie  college  at  Fort 
VVillium,  however,  having  been  closed  by  the  govern- 
ment. Dr.  Carey's  income  had  been  very  considerably 
lessened,  and  a  strong  appeal  has  been  successfully 
addressed  to  the  British  public  for  additional  aid. 

Translations. 

This  appears  to  be  the  most  suitable  place  to  intro- 
duce a  brief  reference  to  the  translations  of  the  sacred 
volume,  which  have  proceeded  from  the  missionaries 
at  Serampore,  and  those  inuiiediately  connected  with 
thein.  Wo  furnish  lhi.s  account  from  the  "  Minth 
Memoir  of  tiie  Translations  ant^  Editions  of  the  Sacred 
Scriptures,  conducted  by  the  Serampore  Missionaries," 
dated  Senimpore,  December  31,  1822,  and  published 
ill  England  the  following  year.  We  believe  thi? 
is  the  last  |mblisiied  document  on  the  subject,  and  are 
given  to  understand  that  the  period  since  its  publica- 
tion has  been  principally  devoted  to  the  improvement 
of  the  versions  therein  referred  to.  We  are  sure  that 
this  part  of  our  work  will  he  perused  with  interest,  as 
the  Irnnslalions  carried  on  at  Serampore  formed,  for 
many  years,  the  prominent  feature  of  the  English 
Baptist  .Missionary  So<!iety. 

This  Report  states  that,  exclusive  of  the  Chintn, 
the  Ni.:w  Tkstamknt  is  published  in  liecniy  of  the 
languages  of  India.     They  are, 

FiilislMit 
Cofflmcneed.    •tPron. 

I .  The  Bengalee  ;    Cth  edition  in  the 

press 1794        1801 

ThcHindee;  Sd  edition  in  the  press  1608       1611 


.'itm:Mm  GALCUTTA. 


36l» 


Commaaced. 
5j,,JJ'he  Sungskrtt ;  2d  edition  in  the 

press 1803 

The  Orissa ;  2d  edition  in  the  press  1803 
5.     The  Mahratta;  2d  edition  in  the 

press     .  . 1804 

The  Telinga 1805 

The  Sikh 1807 

The  Gujuratee 1807 

The  Kunkuna 1808 

10.  The  Kurnata 1808 

The  Pushtoo  or  Affghan 1811 

The  Assamee 1811 

Tiie  Wutch  or  Multanee 1812 

The  Bikaneer     1813 

15.  The  Kashineer 1810 

The  Biiugulkhund 1814 

Tlie  Maruwar 1814 

The  Nepalee 1812 

Tlie  Flarotce 1815 

20.  The  Kanojfl I8I4 

The  Chinese ;  2d  edition  of  the 

gospels  printed  .....'...  4^1806 


Fioiriwd 
MPnM. 

1810 
1811 

1811 
1818 
1815 
1820 
1819 
1822 
1819 
1819 
1819 
1820 
1820 
1821 
1021 
1821 
1822 
1822 

1817 


1801 
1811 


Of  the  accuracy  of  these  translations  abundant  evi- 
dence is  afforded  !n  the  document  from  which  these 
tables  are  given,  in  a  variety  of  testimonials  from  learn- 
ed natives  in  different  parts  of  India. 

The  f(»llo\ving  list  exhibits  the  ten  versions  now  in 
the  press,  with  the  period  of  their  commencement, 
and  the  state  of  their  progress  at  press : 

The  Jumbno, 1814 

The  Munipoor 1814 

The  Miigudh, 1814 

The  Khnspo 1814 

The  Oojjuyunee, 1815 

The  Bruj 1815 

The  Kiimnoun, 1815 

Tlu!  Bhi/tnoor 1HI6 

The  Sree-nugur,orGurwal,  IHIfl 
The  Palpa, 1817 

To  these  may  be  added  the  Kythcr  edition,  which 
is  the  Hiiidee  in  the  current  Nngiiree  cl)aracter,  ciiief- 
ly  used  by  the  mercantile  and  trading  classes,  and 
■/hich  had  advanced  at  press  as  far  as  the  Acts  of  the 
Ajiostles 

The  Second  Part  of  this  Momoir  in^hidos  the  four 
transhilinns  of  the  Old  Testament  now  pro<'.oedinR ; 
two  second  editions  of  the  Olil  Testament,  and  four  of 
the  New.  It  may  not  bo  improper  if  we  here  submit 
to  tba  rnadnr  n  brief  view  isf  w!:::!  \'.^-i  itp^n  :!.-.n"  r'-'~- 
live  to  the  Old  Testambnt,  as  well  as  the  Now. 


printed  to 

Phd. 

ni. 

9 

2  Cor 

xiii 

4 

Rom. 

xiii. 

4 

Acts 

xix. 

29 

Phil. 

i. 

10 

2  Cor 

ii. 

9 

Luke 

X. 

23 

Rom. 

xiv. 

13 

Luke 

xi. 

21 

Matt. 

xxvi 

.8 

Statt  of  the  Vernotu  of  the  Old  Te$tament.    ^ 
The  Bengalee  ;  second  edition  advanced  to  1  Sam.  xx. 
The  Sungskrtt ;  second  edition  advanced  to  Exod.  xxxi. 
The  Orissa ;  first  edition  finished  at  press  in  1819.     ** 
The  Mahratta;  first  edition  printed  ofT  in  1820. 
The  Chinese  ;  finished  at  press  April,  1822. 
The  Sikh  ;  Pentateuch  and  Historical  Books  printed  }' 

Prophetic  printed  to  Jer.  xiii.  i 

The  Assamee ;  Pentateuch  finished,  Historical  Books 

begun.  j 

The  Pushtoo  or  Affghan  ;•  Pentateuch  advanced  to 

Deut.  XXX.  * 

The  Kashmeer  ;  Pentateuch  advanced  to  Gen.  xxxvi. 
TheTeltnga;  Pentateuch  printed;  and  the  version 

resigned  to  the  Madras  Bible  Society. 

The  missionaries  add,  "The  Old  Testament,  now 
printed  off  in  Chinese,  forms  the  Sixth  version  com- 
pleted here  of  the  whole  Scriptures  in  the  difl«rent  In- 
dian languages.  This  was  finished  at  press  in  April  this 
year  ;  and  thus,  after  sixteen  years  of  unremitting  labor, 
we  have  been  enabled,  through  the  good  hand  of  our 
God  upon  us,  to  redeem  our  pledge  to  the  Christian  pub- 
lic by  presenting  them  witho  CAjne»ejBt6/e  complete." 

The  other  translations  of  the  sacred  volume,  in 
which  our  English  Baptist  brethren  have  been  en- 
gaged, will  be  found  referred  to  under  the  places  in 
which  they  have  been  carried  on. 


CALCUTTA. 

We  are  not  aware  that  we  r-n  proceed  better  in  our 
continuation  of  the  history  of  this  most  important 
station,  than  by  introducing  the  following  important 
document,  drawn  up  by  Mr.  Yates  of  Calcutta,  at  tha 
request  of  the  committee,  when  on  a  visit  to  England, 
for  the  benefit  of  his  health ;  and  published  in  the 
Missionary  Herald  for  February,  1828. 

"  I.  Rkvikw  or  THE  Baptist  Mission  in  Calcutta. 

"  The  missionaries  now  resident  in  Calcutta  com- 
menced their  united  operations  there  in  the  year 
1817  ;  a  course  wiiich  they  felt  themselves  constrain- 
ed to  adopt,  in  consequence  of  their  conscientious 
disapproval  of  the  steps  then  iiken  by  the  missiona- 
ries at  Serani|M>re,  in  asserting  I  heir  independence  of 
the  society  in  England,  as  exprensed  in  their  letter  of 
that  year.  There  was  then  no  place  in  the  metropo- 
lis of  the  East,  nr  indued  in  all  India,  devoted  to  na- 
tive worship.     They,  therefore,  like  their  predeces- 

highways  to  preach  to  the  natives.     Having  perso- 


960 


BAPTIST  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


vered  io  this  way  for  tome  time,  with  great  inconve- 
nience, they  thought  it  would  be  desirable  to  raise  sheds 
in  different  parts  of  the  city,  to  which  they  could  con- 
stantly resort ;  which  led  to  the  building  of  the  native 
chapels.  At  first,  however,  they  had  no  means  of 
building  a  place,  nor  were  they  certain,  if  one  were 
built,  that  the  natives  would  enter  it  to  hear  the  gos- 
pel. The  first  consideration  led  them  to  form  an 
Auxiliary  Missionary  Society,  by  whose  assistance 
they  were  enabled  to  raise  one  chapel ;  and  this,  upon 
trial,  succeeded  far  beyopd  expectation,  as  crowds 
flocked  to  hear  the  word  wlicnever  it  was  opened. 
The  plan,  proving  successful,  was  extended,  and  has 
since  been  adopted  by  all  denominations  of  Christians 
inCalcutta;  so  that  there  are  now  many  places  raised 
by  the  liberality  of  Christians  on  the  spot,  where  the 
gospel  is  faithfully  preached,  and  where  a  number 
have  been  brought  to  the  knowledge  of  the  truth. 
Five  such  places  are  now  connected  with  the  Baptist 
Society,  in  one  or  other  of  which  there  is  preaching 
every  day.  Besides  the  assistance  which  the  Euro- 
pean brethren  are  able  to  render,  Carapeit,  Kirkpntrick, 
and  Panchoo,  are  constantly  employed  in  preaching  in 
them  to  numerous  congregations. 

"  After  some  time,  the  missionaries  commenced 
worship  in  their  own  private  house  on  a  sabbath  even- 
ing, the  day  being  employed  in  preaching  to  the 
heathen.  Having  formed  themselves  into  a  small 
church,  they  continued  gradually  to  receive  additions, 
till  it  was  thought  necessary  to  build  another  English 
place  of  worship.  A  spot  of  ground  having  been  ob- 
tained about  two  miles  from  the  Bow  (or  I^al)  Bazar 
chapel,  the  building  was  commenced,  which,  including 
the  ground,  cost  '2(5,000  rupees.  By  the  strenuous 
exertions  of  the  church,  and  the  generosity  of  the 
public,  this  sum  was  raised  in  Calcutta,  and  the  place 
is  now  out  of  debt.  The  church  consists  of  about 
ninety  members;  and,  though  the  majority  of  tlieni  lire 
poor,  they  willingly  contribute,  according  to  titeir  ability, 
to  the  spread  of  the  gospel.  Hent  in  Calcutta  being 
exceedingly  high,  they  had  no  prospect  of  supporting 
a  minister,  unless  they  couhl  surmount  this  obstacle  ; 
they  have,  therefore,  lately  purchased  a  piece  of 
ground  adjoining  the  chapel,  for  which,  and  building  a 
wall  round  it,  they  have  already  paid,  and  their  next 
effort  will  be  to  raise  the  dwelling-house.  In  addition 
to  these  exertjons,  thoy  defray  the  current  expenses 
of  their  own  chapel,  and  of  the  native  places  of  wor- 
ship in  the  city.  Thoy  have,  also,  lately  formed  a 
Ladies'  Association,  which  it  is  expected  will  be  able 
to  maintain  the  station  at  Doorgapore. 

"  When  the  missionaries  had  entered  on  their  lalwrs 
among  the  native.^,  they  found  the  great  need  of  a 
press,  to  print  tracts  and  various  |M>rtionf  of  the  Scrip- 


tures for  distribution.  They  bad,  however,  then  no 
means  of  getting  one,  and  still  less  prospect  of  obtain- 
ing a  printer ;  but  it  was  not  long  before  Mr.  Pearce, 
having  found  it  impracticable  to  remain  at  Serampore, 
came  down  to  Calcutta  and  joined  them.  This  enabled 
them  to  commence  their  operations  in  the  printing  de- 
partment. Their  beginning  was,  indeed,  a  small  one, 
their  whole  establishment  consisting  of  only  one  press, 
and  one  fount  of  Bengalee  types,  with  three  or  four 
natives  to  work  them.  Having  no  prospect  of  assist- 
ance, either  in  India  or  England,  they  were  left  en- 
tirely to  their  own  resources,  which,  under  the  blessing 
of  God,  were  gradually  enlarged,  so  that  there  are  in 
the  office  now  as  many  presses  as  employ  seventy-four 
men,  and  as  many  types  as  are  sufficient  to  print  in 
forty*  languages  or  dialects.  In  addition  to  these,  a 
foundery  is  connected  with  the  office,  capable  of  sup- 
plying its  increasing  demands.  The  Harmony  of  the 
Gospels  has  been  printed  and  widely  circulated  in  the 
Bengalee  and  Hindoostanee  languages.  A  new  version 
of  the  Psalms  has  been  prepared  and  printed  for  the 
Calcutta  Bible  Society,  and  the  secretary  of  that  in- 
stitution at  th^time  expressed  his  hopes  that  these 
labors  might  Be  extended  to  the  other  parts  of  the 
sacred  volume,  the  society  being  desirous  of  procuring 
improved  versions  of  the  Scriptures  in  those  languages 
in  which  their  circulation  is  extensive. 

"  The  following  is  a  complete  list  of  the  works  hith- 
erto published  at  this  press : — 

Satucrit. 

"I.  A  prammar  of  the  Sanscrh  Language  on  a 
new  plan. 

"  2.  Vocabulary,  with  Interpretations  in  Bengalee 
and  English. 

"  3.  Sanscrit  Reader. 

"  4.   Elements  of  Natural  History. 

"  5.  Harmony  of  the  Four  Gospels. 

Bengalee. 

"  1.  Epitome  of  Natural  Philosophy  and  Natural 
History,  in  Bengalee,  niid  also  in  Bengalee  and  English. 

"  ii.  Elements  of  Ancient  History,  including  Egypt, 
Assyria,  Persia,  Greece,  and  Rome. 

"  3.   A  new  Translation  of  the  Psalms  of  David. 

Arabic. 

"].  The  Arabic  Reader;  being  n  Selection  of 
Pieces  from  different  Arabian  Authors,  designed  as  an 
Introduction  to  the  Ijonguage. 

•"  In  oxplMtation  of  m  IntgH  a  niiinlK«r,  it  may  tw  iitiwiMry  to 
•Utr,  UiKt  oiM<  Jimiitiif  lyiH'H  will,  in  winir  iiulancpi,  wrvf  fur  wveral 
nflhc  dinli'clii.  In  a  fow  in«lnnofii,  nijain,  liowrvrr,  acrrral  foiinta 
of  dilTorrnt  aiipi  an-  nrcUrd  for  one  language.  • 


CALCUTTA.     '  -'.i-^-'^^^' 


<iEi>  fo*?ia-#;  :»-#■      Hindoottanee. 

"I.  Introduction  to  the  Hindooatonee  Language, 
IB  three  parts. 

"  a.  Idiomatic  Exercises,  or  Student's  Assistant. 
«i('3.  Harmony  of  the  Gospels. 
i'."4.  Pleasing  Instructer. 

Engl%$h. 

"  1.  Life  of  Chamberlain. 

"  2.  Essays  on  Important  Subjects. 

"  3.  Lawson's  Funeral  Sermon  and  Memoir. 

"  4.  Three  Essays  on  the  Burning  of  Widows, 

"The  above  were  prepared  by  Mr.  Yates,  and 
to  them  may  be  added  the  following  works  in  Ben- 
galee: 

"  I.  A  Geography,  and  Geographical  Copy  Books, 
by  Mr.  Pearce. 

"  8.  Natural  History  of  remarkable  Animals,  by 
Messrs.  Lawson  and  Pearce. 

"  3.  A  Commentary  on  the  Epistle  to  the  Romans, 
by  Mr.  Carey. 

"4.  Harmony  of  the  Gospels,  chiefly  by  Mr. 
Carey. 

"  5.  A  number  of  Tracts,  in  which  all  the  mission- 
aries have  taken  a  part. 

"  Besides  preparing  the  preceding,  the  missionaries 
have  also  edited  a  considerable  number  of  other  works. 

"  Being  furnished  with  the  means  requisite  for  car- 
rying on  their  work  amongst  the  natives,  the  mission- 
aries now  began  to  think  of  extending  their  labors  from 
the  city  to  the  suburbs  of  Calcutta.  Their  first  at- 
tempts were  made  by  going  out  a  week  at  a  time  in 
rotation.  Finding,  by  this  experiment,  that  the  plan 
afforded  great  opportunities  of  usefulness,  they  became 
anxious  to  find  out  a  spot  where  they  could  reside  and 
continue  their  exertions  for  a  longer  period.  Through 
the  influence  of  one  of  their  pundits,  they  succeeded 
in  renting  of  a  native  a  large  piece  of  ground  at  Door- 
gaporu,  for  two  hundred  rupees  a  year,  on  which  they 
immediately  commenced  building  a  bungalow  for  the 
residence  of  the  European  missionary,  a  house  for  the 
native  preacher,  and  a  chupel  near  the  road.  Besides 
its  local  advantages,  'Sis  place  ia  contiguous  to  several 
others  of  importance,  particularly  Burehnugur  and 
Chitpore.  In  the  former  place,  a  chapel  has  been 
built,  and  in  the  latter,  a  congregation  can  almost  at  any 
time  l)e  obtained  under  a  tree.  The  method  of  sup- 
plying Duurgapore,  at  first,  was  by  each  brother  going 
thither  in  turn  for  six  months  ;  but  this  afte-.vards  be- 
ing found  inconvenient,  brother  Carey  occupied  it  alto- 
gether, having  Panchoo  for  his  assistant,  and  it  is  now 
occupied  b/  Mr.  G.  Pearce.     That  interesting  young 


Bramin,  Anunda,  who,  it  is  confidently,  hoped  !A'ndwt^ 
glory,  was  one  of  the  first  fruits  of  the  gospel  at  this 
station  ;  and  while  it  can  supply  some  pleasing  instances 
of  conversion,  it  has  also  for  some  time  past  exhib- 
ited an  appearance  of  general  improvement.  The 
neighbors  were  heretofore  much  addicted  to  intoxica- 
tion and  quarreling,  but  they  have  latterly  been  much 
reformed,  and  many  of  them  have,  at  their  own  re- 
quest, had  preaching  in  the  chapel  once  a  week,  in  the 
evening,  after  they  had  finished  the  labprs  of  the  day, 
and  have  paid  the  expense  of  lighting  the  place  them- 
selves. At  Burehnugur,  too,  the  word  is  heard  with 
great  attention. 

"  Not  long  after  the  missionaries  had  established  the 
station  at  Doorgapore,  a  new  scene  of  labor  presented 
itself  to  their  view  at  Howrah  ;  which,  being  the  great 
thoroughfare  between  Calcutta  and  the  upper  provinces, 
afforded  the  best  opportunities  for  diffusing  religious 
knowledge,  and  for  the .  xercise  of  talent,  both  native  and 
European.  Messrs.  Townley  and  Keith  used  to  go  over 
and  preach  there  on  the  sabbath  to  the  English,  while 
they  themselves  frequently  went  over  in  the  week  to 
address  the  natives.  But  neither  the  Independent 
missionaries  nor  themselves  were  able  to  continue  these 
labors.  About  this  period,  Mr.  Statham  came  down 
to  Calcutta,  and  the  Independent  brethren  havin"  stated 
that  they  did  not  intend  further  to  occupy  the  station, 
it  was  agreed,  at  the  particular  request  of  a  number 
of  friends  at  Howrah,  that  he  should  reside  there.  By 
his  exertions,  an  English  chapel  was  raised :  a  large 
burying-ground  was  also  procured,  which  has  since 
been  walled  in,  at  considerable  expense,  by  the  govern- 
ment. A  church  was  formed,  of  which  he  became 
the  pastor,  and  which  is  now  supplied  by  Mr.  G.  Pearce 
and  Mr.  Kirkpatrick,  though  both  of  them  are  more 
particularly  devoted  to  the  natives,  for  whose  use  two 
places  of  worship  have  been  raised. 

"  While  their  prospects  of  usefulness  were  thus  ex- 
tending, it  appeared  to  the  missionaries  desirable  that 
the  society  should  have  some  fixed  establishment  in 
Calcutta,  particularly  as  great  inconvenience  was  ex- 
perienced in  the  printing  department  for  want  of  room. 
This  subject,  therefore,  was  pressed  upon  the  attention 
of  the  committee,  by  whom  it  was  projwsed  that  the  mis 
sionarios  should  devote  the  2<»,(M)0  rupees  which  they 
had  acquired  to  this  object,  ond  that  to  this  sum  they 
would  add  10,000  more.  These  instructions  being  re- 
ceived, the  brethren  proceeded  immediately  to  look  out 
for  a  convenient  ..ite  ;  and,  through  the  kind  offices  of 
Mr.  Jonathan  Carey,  they  were  enabled  to  obtain  of  a 
native  four  beegahs  of  ground  adjoining  the  English 
chapel  to  the  south,  which  cost  between  19  ond  20,000 
rupees ;  a  sum  which,  considering  the  extent  and  sit- 
uation of  the  ground,  was  reckoned  very  reasonable. 


BAPTIST  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


"After  employing  an  architect,  and  receiving  an  esti- 
mate of  the  expense  of  the  proposed  buildings,  they 
found  that,  including  the  ground,  they  would  come  to 
between  50  and  60,000  rupees.  They  proposed, 
therefore,  to  the  committee,  that  instead  of  10,000 
rupees,  one  half  of  the  aggregate  expense  should  be 
furnished  by  the  society,  leaving  the  missionaries  to 
pay  the  other.  Not  doubting  that  this  proposal  would 
be  acceded  to,  the  building  was  commenced,  and  a 
large  house  and  printing-office  have  been  erected. 
The  deeds  of  Biis  property  are  now  in  the  hands  of 
the  committ  ;e,  who  will,  of  course,  adopt  such  meas- 
ures as  they  may  deem  necessary  to  secure  it  to  the 
use  of  the  society  in  perpetuity. 

"  Another  object  of  importance,  which   occupied 
the  attention  of  the  Calcutta  raissionaiies,  was  the  ed- 
ucation of  young  men  for  the  work  of  the  mission  in 
India.    They  deemed  it  unadvisable  to  send  out  young 
men  as  missionaries,  who  had  received  no  previous  in- 
struction for  the  work  ;  or  to  educate  youths  for  this 
important  office,  who  were  not  members  of  a  Chris- 
tian church.    They  chose,  therefore,  for  several  years, 
rather  to  attempt  nothing  than  to  act  on  either  of  these 
plans.     For  the  last  three  years,  however,  they  liave 
had  opportunities  of  engaging  in  this  work,  upon  a 
system  altogether  compatible  with  their  own  views, 
and  have  now  a  prospect,  with  the  assistance  of  the 
society,  of  carrying  it  to  a  much  greater  extent.     It  is 
true,  that,  had  they  possessed  more  time  and  strength, 
they  might  have  extended  their  labors  in  this  depart- 
ment ;  because  the  committee  engaged,   that   if  the 
20,000  rupees,  the  interest  of  which  the  missionaries 
had  appropriated  to  this  object,  should  be  expended 
on  missionary  premises,  they  would  support  any  young 
men  as  students,  that  were  members  of  a  Christian 
church,  and  appeared  to  possess  abilities  for  tlic  work  of 
the  ministry.     One  such  young  man  (Mr.  Kirkpntrick) 
has  been  educated,  and   is   now  settled  at  Ilownih ; 
another  is  under  a  course  of  instruction,  and  several 
more  have  offered  tlicmselves  as  candidates  :  indeed, 
there  are  so  many  pious  youth  now  in  Calcutta,  cajjuble 
of  being  employed  in  the  society's  service,  that  it  is 
only  necessary  for  the  committee  to  determine  what 
number  they  shall  bo  able  to  support. 

"  With  regard  to  the  instruction  of  the  rising  gen- 
eration in  India,  a  plan  has  been  discovered,  which 
will  save  the  Christian  public  an  immense  expenditure. 
At  first,  all  the  schools  to  which  missionaries  Inul  ac- 
cess were  supiu.rted  by  them  ;  but  when  it  was  found 
that  the  Hindoos  had  no  objection  to  pay  the  masters 
for  instruciinp  their  sons,  it  was  immediately  perceived 
that  every  objert  would  be  accomplished,  if  they  could 
get  proper  books  introduced  into  the  Hindoo  schools, 
instead  of  the  trash  used  by  the  natives.     This  im- 


pression being  general,  two  societies  were  formed  for 
this  specific  purpose— the  <  School '  and  the  *  School- 
Book    Society.'     The  one  is  engaged  in  preparing 
books ;  and   the  other,  purchasing  them  at  half  the 
cost  price,  distributes  them  in  such  schools  as  they  can 
bring  under  their  superintendence.     The  inducement 
held  out  to  the  natives  to  place  their  schools  under  the 
care  of  the  School  Society  is,  that  they  shall  be  sup- 
plied with  books  gratis.     The  masters  also  receive  a 
trifling   sum,  according    to   the    proficiency   of   their 
scholars,  at  the  quarterly  examinations  held  at  some 
one  of  the  Baboos'  houses.     There  are  now  in  Cal- 
cutta more  than  three  thousand  youths  under  the  influ- 
ence of  this  society.     The  books  which  they  read  be- 
ing printed  by  the  School-Book  Society,  all  come  un- 
der the  revision  of  the  missionaries,  and  are  printed 
at  the  mission  press.     Still,  however,  as  these  socie- 
ties provide  only  for  the  moral  instruction  of  the  na- 
tives, it  belongs  to  the  friends  of  the  gospel  to  make 
moie  decided  efforts  for  their  religious  improvement. 
Under  this  conviction,  the  missionaries   in   Calcutta 
formed  another  society,  denominated  the  '  Christian 
School  Society ;'  but  it  is  to  be  lamented   that  they 
have  not  obtained  that  support  which  the  importance 
of  their  object  led   them  to  anticipate.     There  are, 
however,  two  schools  of  a  Christian  character  con- 
nected with  the  Baptist  mission  in  Calcutta.     In  these 
the  boys  learn  the  Scriptures,  catechisms,  and  hymns, 
by  heart,  and  receive  religious  instruction.     These  are 
like  Sunday  schools  in  England,  only  that  the  natives, 
having  no  sabbath,  are  taught  every  day,  instead  of 
once  a  week.     M'hatever  may  be  the  result  of  these 
attempts,  as  to  the  conversion  of  individuals,  there  can 
be  no  doubt  they  will  exert  a  beneficial  influence  upon 
general   society  ;  nor  can   any   one  justly  despair  of 
their  being  useful  to  individuals,  when  he  is  informed 
of  the  case  of  the  Bramin  Sceboo,  at  Cutwa,  who,  af- 
ter having  been  educated  in  a  school  of  this  desciip- 
tion,  becumo   a  decided    Christian,  and   an   eloquent 
preacher  of  the  gospel. 

"  In  the  native  female  schools,  the  missionaries  have 
succeeded  beyond  their  most  sanguine  expectations. 
They  had  the  honor  of  first  entering  into  this  field  of 
labor,  and  that  too  at  a  lime  when  almost  every  one 
believed  the  attempt  would  prove  abortive.  They 
commenced  with  one  school,  and  have  now  fifteen ; 
with  the  expectation  of  raising  several  more.  Nor  is  it 
merely  in  what  they  have  been  enabled  to  do  that  they 
rejoice,  but  also  in  what  others  have  been  led  (o  at- 
tempt and  necoinplish.  Many  of  tlio  highest  rniik  in 
India  now  patronize  these  efforis,  and  ladies  of  the 
first  respectability  arc  on  the  managing  committees ; 
even  the  natives  tliemselves  begin  to  feel  llio  iiiipor- 
tuncc  of  these  exerliuns.  uiid   one  uC  thfusi  lius  ju*"**" 


•f. 


CALCUTTA^   tvrfT  /  n 


fids 


forward  with  20,000  rupees  to  erect  a  central  female 
school  for  the  Church  Missionary  Society.  From  a 
review  of  the  whole,  therefore,.your  missionaries  bless 
God,  that,  though  it  has  pleased  Him  to  exercise  them 
with  many  trials,  yet  it  hath  pleased  Him  also  to 
crown  their  feeble  efforts  with  his  blessing. 

"  n.  Plan  for  the  future  Operations  of  the 
Mission  in  Calcutta. 

"  It  is  proposed  that  the  missionaries  should  be  en- 
gaged, upon  a  more  comprehensive  and  enlarged  plan, 
in  carrying  forward  the  following  branches  of  labor ; 
viz.  the  Preaching  of  the  Gospel  ;  the  Translating 
and  Printing  of  the  Scriptures,  Tracts,  &;c. ;  the  In- 
struction of  young  men  for  ihe  work  of  the  Mission  ; 
and  the  Superintendence  of  Schools. 

Preaching. 

"  Under  this  head  there  are  three  departments  of 
labor : — 

"1.  Native  Preaching. — To  supply  the  native 
chapels,  and  the  wants  of  from  six  to  eight  hundred 
thousand  people,  our  society  ought  not  to  have  less 
than  two  preachers;  one  for  the  Bengalee,  and  another 
for  the  Hindoostanee  ;  and  each  to  be  supplied  with  a 
native  assistant.  In  like  manner  a  preacher  and  assist- 
ant are  nofossary  at  Doorgapore. 

"2.  Enjijiish  Preaching. — An  experienced  and  zeal- 
ous minister,  of  superior  education,  ought  to  be  en- 
gaged for  the  congregation  in  the  Circular  road  ;  be- 
cause the  church  is  increasing  in  numbers,  and  in  the 
possession  of  those  means  by  which  it  can  serve  the 
mission. 

"3.  Itineracies. — The  preceding  departments  being 
supplied,  arrangements  can  be  made,  without  any  addi- 
tional strength,  for  devoting  about  three  months  in  every 
year  to  itineracies  among  the  natives,  in  parts  distant 
from  Calcutta  ;  as  this  could  be  accomplished  by  a 
European  brother,  accompanied  by  one  or  two  native 
assistants. 

Trantlatton$. 

"  Under  this  head  are  included  Versions  of  the 
Scriptures,  Tracts,  and  School-books.  Of  these,  the 
two  latter  being  provided  for  by  tiio  Tract  and  School- 
book  Societies,  it  is  necessary  to  notice  only  tiie  for- 
mer ;  and  in  doing  so,  there  are  two  things  which  merit 
consideration — the  work  to  bo  done,  and  the  means  to 
be  used  for  its  execution. 

"  I.  The  work  to  he  done  consists  of  two  parts — 
the  improvement  of  versions  which  require  now  edi- 
tions, and  the  completion  of  those  which  have  not 
yei  gone  through  the  first  edition.     The  latter  belong 


properly  to  Dr.  Carey,  who  has  commenced  them ; 
and  the  former  must  devolve  upon  those  who  succeed 

him  in  this  work.     On  this  it  may  be  remarked  : 

"  1.  The  improvement  of  the  versions  already  ex- 
ecuted, is  a  work  which  must  appear  obviously  neces- 
sary and  important  in  the  view  of  all  who  pay 
the  slightest  attention  to  the  subject.  Every 
one  knows  that  this  has  been  requisite  for  the 
translations  of  the  sacre'd  Scriptures  made  into  the 
European  languages ;  and  the  Serampore  missionaries 
have  recorded  their  conviction  of  the  same  truth,  in 
the  seventh  report  of  their  Translations,  in  the  follow- 
ing terms  : 

'"Respecting  the  leading  languages  of  India,  and 
those  which  are  spoken  through  the  largest  extent  of 
country,  they  apprehend  that  there  can  be  but  one 
opinion  on  the  subject,  among  all  those  who  feel  inter- 
ested in  the  planting  of  the  gospel  in  India.  In  these, 
not  only  should  the  whole  of  the  Scriptures  be  given, 
but  successive  and  improved  editions  of  them  be  pub- 
lished, as  they  may  be  required,  till  the  version  be  ren- 
dered complete,  and  the  country  evangelized.' 

"  2.  Acting  under  this  conviction,  the  former  trans- 
lators have  already  encouraged  others  to  engage  in  this 
work,  when  they  have  found  persons  competent  for  it, 
as  may  be  learned  from  the  seventh  memoir,  already 
quoted,  in  which  it  is  stated — '  The  edition  of  the 
Hindee  New  Testament  being  nearly  exhausted,  and 
the  Rev.  J.  Chamberlain  having  prepared  another 
version  in  this  language,  for  which  his  long  residence 
in  the  western  provinces  of  India,  and  his  intimate  ac- 
quaintance with  their  popular  dialects,  eminently  fit 
him,  the  brethren  at  Serampore  have  resolved  in  this 
edition  to  print  his  version  of  the  New  Testament 
instead  of  their  otvn ;  as  a  comparison  of  independent 
versions,  made  by  persons  long  and  intimately  acquaint- 
ed with  the  language,  will  be  of  the  utmost  value  in 
ultimately  forming  a  correct,  chaste,  and  perspicuous 
version.' 

"  3.  The  Bible  Society  in  Calcutta  expressed,  in 
their  last  report,  their  willingness  to  encourage  new 
translations  undertaken  by  competent  persons,  as  the 
only  means  of  obtaining  complete  versions  of  the 
Scriptures  in  the  Eastern  languages. 

"  II.  The  means  for  its  exeattion. — Here  it  h 
necessary  to  inquire,  how  far  present  means  are  ineffi- 
cient, and  what  additional  means  are  requisite.  The 
following  considerations  may  serve  to  explain  both 
these  points : — 

"  1.  The  advanced  age  of  Dr.  Carey,  and  the  num- 
ber of  new  versions  which  he  has  yet  to  complete, 
render  it  impossible  for  him  to  pay  much  attention  to 
the  improvement  of  old  ones  :  especially  as  death  has 
long  since  deprived  him  of  the  assistance  of  his  son 


>i.i 


964 


BAPTIST  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


Felix,  who  was  a  very  good  Oriental  scholar,  and  ren> 
dered  his  father  material  aid  in  preparing  the  last  edi- 
tion of  the  Bengalee  Bible. 

"  9.  This  work  cannot  be  intrusted  to  the  natives. 
It  has  been  suggested  that  the  college  students  might 
be  ultimately  fitted  for  it,  but  this  can  never  be,  for 
..  two  obvious  reasons :  first,  because  they  will  never  be 
sufficiently  acquainted  with  the  original  languages; 
and  secondly,  if  they  were,"  sUch  is  the  character  of  the 
natives,  that  the  most  learned  among  them  are  not  to 
be  depended  upon,  without  strict  European  superin- 
tendence. 

"  3.  No  person  can  be  fitted  for  this  work  without 
going  through  several  years  of  previous  study  and  prep- 
aration for  it.  It  may  be  set  down  as  a  general  rule, 
that  no  person  ought  to  engage  alone  in  a  translation 
of  the  Scriptures  into  any  language,  until  he  has  studied 
that  language  with  close  attention  for  at  least  seven  years. 

"  4.  The  plan,  therefore,  which  seems  most  desira- 
ble for  the  society  to  adopt,  is  to  encourage  all  their 
missionaries  in  this  work.  Let  any  one  who  is  pos- 
sessed of  suitable  qualifications,  and  who  has  studied 
a  language  for  a  sufficient  time  on  the  spot  where  it  is 
spoken,  be  encouraged  to  give  in  it  an  improved  ver- 
sion of  the  Scriptures,  if  he  thinks  it  absolutely  neces- 
sary. Tills  has  been  done  partially,  and  why  should 
it  not  be  adopted  as  a  general  principle  ? 

"  5.  All  the  expense  required  of  the  society,  till 
any  version  was  finished,  would  be  the  support  of  a 
learned  native  In  connection  with  the  missionary  ;  and 
after  it  was  completed,  if  the  Bible  Society  should 
not  print  it,  it  could  be  printed  at  the  lowest  rate  pos- 
sible at  their  own  press  in  Calcutta,  and  the  expense 
might  be  further  lessened  by  their  sending  out  a  quan- 
tity of  paper  for  the  purpose. 

Itntruclio7*-for  the  Mini$try. 

"  The  great  expense  attending  European  missiona- 
ries, and  the  unfriendliness  of  the  climate  to  their  con- 
stitutions, renders  it  highly  desirable  that  diligent  atten- 
tion should  be  paid  to  the  cultivation  of  all  such  talent 
as  may  be  found  on  the  spot,  adapted  to  the  purposes 
of  the  Christian  ministry  among  the  heathen. 

"  1.  All  individuals  of  this  description,  who  have 
been  received  Into  church  fellowship,  should  be  con- 
sidered eligible  for  instruction,  whether  natives,  Indians, 
Of  Europeans. 

"  2.  In  some  cases,  the  students  may  be  able, 
wholly  or  partially,  to  support  themselves,  and  then 
nothing  would  be  required  gralii  but  education  ;  but 
more  generally  they  must  be  entirely  supported,  either 
on  the  mission  premises,  or  by  allowing  them  a  sum  suf- 
ficient to  live  upon  among  their  friends,  and  requiring 
their  attendance  at  slated  hours. 


"3.  The  expense  must  devolve  entirely  on  the 
society,  but  perhaps  benevolent  individuals  may  be 
found  in  England  and-  in  India,  who  would  be  disposed 
each  to  support  an  individual  student  at  their  own  ex- 
pense ;  in  which  case,  the  student  so  supported  might 
correspond  with  his  patron. 

"  4.  The  plan  of  studies  should  include,  besides 
the  ordinary  branches  of  scientific  information,  a  reg- 
ular and  diligent  attention  to  theology  ;  the  English, 
Sanscrit,  Bengalee,  Arabic,  Hlndoostanee,  Latin, 
Greek,  and  Hebrew  languages  ;  and  an  examination 
of  the  Hindoo  sacred  literature.  By  the  last,  the 
students  will  acquire  a  knowledge  of  all  the  ideas  of 
the  natives  on  the  most  important  subjects  of  religion, 
and  on  the  best  modes  of  combating  the  popular  ar- 
guments in  favor  of  the  shastras  and  against  Chris- 
tianity. 

"  5.  A  select  library  will  be  required  for  the  use  of 
the  students,  and  they  may  be  engaged  in  useful  pre- 
paratory labors  among  the  natives,  and  otherwise 
during  the  period  in  which  they  are  receiving  in- 
struction. 

Schools. 

"These  necessarily  divide  themselves  into  two 
branches,  boys  and  girls. 

"  I.  Boys'  Schoob. — ^These  may  be  classed  under 
three  distinct  heads  : — 

"  1.  Common  schools. — These  are  supported  by 
the  natives,  and  partially  by  the  government  and  the 
Indian  public.     They  need  no  more  support. 

"  2.  Christian  schools. — Of  these  there  are  at  pres- 
ent too  few  ;  but  they  may  be  increased,  provided  the 
religious  public  will  encourage  them. 

"  3.  Private  instruction. — Some  children  have  been 
given  up  by  their  idolatrous  parents  entirely,  and  educat- 
ed privately  under  the  Immediate  superintendence  of 
missionaries.  This  plan  has  been  adopted  with  suc- 
cess by  the  American  missionaries  in  Ceylon  ;  but  has 
not  yet  been  tried  in  Calcutta. 

"  II.  Girls'  Schools. — Those  in  Calcutta  will  in  fu- 
ture come  under  two  heads  : — 

"  1.  General  schools. — In  these,  religious  instruction 
is  Introduced.  Their  numbers  may  be  increased  ac- 
cording to  the  contributions  raised  for  them.  They 
arc,  most  of  them,  supported  by  small  associations 
formed  for  the  purpose  in  England  and  elsewhere. 
The  sum  furnished  for  each  school  has  been  sufficient 
for  its  support,  but  something  further  is  needed  to  meet 
the  expense  of  ground  rent  and  building,  which,  in 
Calcutta,  Is  very  great. 

"  2.  Central  schools. — A  central  school  is  to  be 
formed  on  the  mission  premises,  In  which  a  mmiber 
nf  ivirls   tnlf on  ffQtn  •hfiiT  idolatrous  Gonnsctions   arc  to 


CALCUTTA. 


bt*  tau^t  ttitun  *Xt»ns!v6!y>  and  fitted  to  become 
ieacheM  df  the  getteral  schools. 


"  The  pWcedihg  plan  has  been  cattied  intb  tetite 
dperatbn  in  most  of  its  pfarts.  To  complete  it,  the 
following  additional  aid  will  be  needed : — 

"  1.  A  pefson  who  tan  officiate  as  minister  of  the 
Cihmlar  Road  Chapel,  and  as  divinity  tutor  to  the 
youWg  niien. 

"  2.  An  allowance  for  yeatiy  itineracies  among  the 
natives. 

"  9.  A  sum  for  translation  sufficient  to  enaMe  the 
tnlssionaries  to  print  some  important  parts  of  the  Scrip- 
tures, tvhich  might  be  turned  into  mimediate  use,  and 
serve  as  specimens  of  what  a  complete  e*tion  would 
be,  and  what  it  would  cost.  After  this,  it  is  pnAabk 
that  the  BiWe  Society  might  print  the  complete 
edition. 

"  4.  Suppart  for  a  certain  number  df  students. 
Supposmg  the  expense  for  each,  taken  one  with 
another,  to  be  the  same  as  in  England,  what  shall  the 
mimber  be,  and  what  period  of  tnne  shall  they  continue 
then-  studies  ? 

•'  5.  A  small  annual  contribution  of  books  to  the 
library. 

"  6.  Something  under  the  head  of  Female  Educa- 
tion, to  support  the  Central  school,  and  to  assist  in 
the  erection  of  that  and  others." 


If  we  may  now  be  allowed,  for  a  moment  or  two, 
to  go  back  for  the  three  or  four  past  years,  to  glean 
up  a  few  fragments  of  information,  we  may  remark, 
that  many  pleasing  circumstances  occurred  to  comfort 
the  hearts  and  hands  of  our  brethren  in  this  city. 
Much  of  the  noisy  and  unbecoming  clamor,  which 
formerly  prevailed  in  their  religious  assemblies,  sub- 
sided ;  Bramins,  Hindoos  and  Catholics  were  con- 
verted ;  and  genuine  piety  was  observed  among  the 
young.  At  Howrah,  Mr.  Statham  mentions  a  pleas- 
ing instance  illustrative  of  the  value  of  the  Bengalee 
Bible  :— 

"  One  poor  old  woman  was  sick  a  few  days  ago, 
and  sent  for  me  ;  she  appeared  to  be  very  ill  indeed, 
yet  calm  and  resigned.  On  my  asking  her  how  she 
felt  with  regard  to  entering  on  an  eternal  world,  she 
said,  '  It  will  be  a  happy  change  for  me.'  I  asked 
the  grounds  of  such  a  hope.  She  clasped  her  Ben- 
galee Bible,  which  lay  by  her  cot,  and  said,  'I  find 
Christ  here,  Christ  in  my  heart,  and  Christ  is  in 
heaven.  He  died  for  poor  sinners  like  me.  I  know 
he  is  able  to  save  me.  I  believe  he  ivill.'  And 
then  she  prayed  so  sweetly,  that  I  could  not  forbear 
crying  out.  «Oh.  that  my  latter  end  may  be  like 
hers.'  " 

Vol..  I.— Nos.  23  8i  24.  36 


985 

la  addition  to  these  facts,  it  was  evident  that,  «a 
the  whole,  the  spirit  of  opposition  to  missions  wis 
dying  away,  female  instruction  was  becoming  popular, 
and  additional  missionaries  were  atrivhig  from  England. 
All  these  things  inspired  the  hopes  of  the  Caleott* 
brethren,  and  enabled  them  with  new  zeal  to  perseTVre 
in  their  labors.  In  addition  to  the  assistance  derived 
from  England,  Mr.  Robinson  had  been  compelled  by 
affliction  to  remove  from  Sumatra,  and  had  settled  as 
pastor  with  the  brethren  already  sustaining  that  office ; 
Dr.  Carey,  in  consequence  of  his  multiplied  engage- 
ments, especially  in  connection  with  i!he  tranrfations, 
having  resigned. 

Bat,  while  favored  with  all  these  enconragements, 
and  many  more,  and  amidst  their  increasing  labors, 
and  manifold  calls  for  the  extension  of  the  great  woik, 
our  brethren  were  visited  by  death.  Several  native;, 
wfco  promised  fair  for  great  usefulness,  were  remov«d, 
and  one  of  the  European  missionaries,  Mr.  John 
Lawson,  a  man  of  emraent  piety,  talent,  and  usetfrd* 
ness,  was  cut  off  in  the  prime  of  fife,  and  in  the  mtidst 
of  his  usefril  labors.  Men  of  piety,  of  every  denom- 
ination, feh  that  in  him  they  had  lost  a  brother  and  u 
friend ;  while  an  affectionate  widow  and  numerous 
family  had  still  greater  reason  to  mourn  over  the  pain- 
ftil  stroke.  Nor  was  even  this  all.  Mr.  Eustace 
Carey,  who,  for  many  years,  had  successfully  labored 
in  Bengal,  was  compelled  to  revisit  his  native  land, 
from  which  his  health  has  not  even  yet  allbwed  bim 
to  return.  These  were  events  eminently  adapted  to 
impress  the  minds  of  good  men  with  the  sovereignty 
of  Jehovah  in  the  progress  of  his  own  work,  and  we 
doubt  not  that  they  accomplished  this  object. 

We  now  feel  ourselves  at  liberty  to  pursue  the 
history  of  the  station  at  Calcutta  from  the  period  to 
which  Mr.  Yates's  account  relates ;  and  proceed  there- 
fore to  remark,  that  the  report  of  the  society,  for  the 
year  ending  with  June,  1828,  states  that  the  removal 
of  Mr.  Board  I  nan,  "  a  valuable  missionary  from  our 
American  brethren,  to  Burmah,  the  sphere  for  which 
he  was  originuily  destined,"  with  the  temporary  illness 
of  several  other  brethren,  had  lessened  the  work  which 
would  otherwise  have  been  done,  but  that  yet,  both 
in  the  church  in  the  Circular  Road,  and  among  the 
soldiers  in  the  Fort,  much  good  had  been  effected.  In 
the  six  chapf  Is  erected  for  the  use  of  the  natives, 
it  was  calculated  that  more  than  a  thousand  persons, 
every  month,  heard  the  word  of  life.  An  auxiliary 
society  was  tliis  year  formed  among  the  ladies  of  the 
Circular  Ro -^  Chapel,  and  liberal  contributions  made 
to  the  obje<  I ;  and  female  education  continued  to 
extend  itself     The  Report  adds  : — 

"Before  "  s  c]cac.  ntsr  Rornjint  ftf  this  stst?«r.,  it 
may  be  remi  ked,  that  a  patient  perseverance  in  mis- 


866 


BAPTIST  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


sionarjr  «ffi>rta  discloses  new  obstacles  to  the  progress 
of  divine  truth.  One  of  a  very  serious  description 
exists  in  the  present  state  of  the  Hindoo  law  of  in- 
heritance. This  code,  established  in  remote  times, 
ratified  by  the  Mussulmans,  and  still  in  force,  enacts, 
that  all  who  forfeit  their  caste,  lose,  at  the  same  time, 
all  patrimonial  rights  ;  so  that  no  man  of  respectable 
station  in  society  can  profess  himself  a  Christian,  with- 
out being  plunged  at  once  into  utter  desttiution.  There 
is  reason  to  suppose,  that  several  Bengalees  of  prop- 
erty and  influence  are  convinced  of  tlie  truth  and 
excellence  of  the  Christian  faith,  but  fear  to  avow 
their  sentiments,  because  of  the  inevitable  conse- 
quence. While  we  know  that  he  who  cordially  re- 
ceives the  gospel,  and  lives  under  the  vital  influence 
of  its  power,  will  count  all  things  but  loss,  for  the 
excellence  of  the  knowledge  of  Christ,  it  is  most 
earnestly  to  be  desired  that  the  day  may  speedily 
arrive,  when  such  obstacles  as  these  to  its  fair  and 
unprejudiced  examination  shall  for  ever  disappear." 

In  passing  on  to  the  report  of  1829,  we  are  gratified 
to  learn  that  the  church  at  Lai  Bazaar  chapel,  under 
the  care  of  Mr.  Robinson,  contained  102  members, 
and  that  many  circumstances  were  encouraging  his 
labors.  The  native  church,  the  care  of  which  devolved 
on  Mr.  C.  C  Aratoon,  during  Mr.  Yates's  return  to 
England,  was  not  without  evidence  of  the  divine  re- 
gard. Arrangements  were  then  making  for  the  erec- 
tion of  a  new  chapel  for  these  native  Christians  ;  and 
though  less  had  been  done  in  direct  preaching  to  the 
heathen  than  could  have  been  desired,  yet  all  had 
labored  in  proportion  to  their  strength,  and  the  smiles 
of  Heaven  had  rested  upon  them. 

The  Report  of  1830  states  that,  during  the  pre- 
ceding year,  no  less  than  forty-three  persons  had  been 
added  to  Mr.  Robinson's  church,  twenty-seven  of 
whom  had  been  idolaters  ;  by  the  help  of  two  native 
preachers,  who  were  employed  under  the  direction 
of  Mr.  Robinson,  considerable  attention  was  paid  to 
several  villages ;  Mr.  Yates,  who  returned  to  Calcutta 
the  beginning  of  tiiis  year,  had  become  pastor  of  tiie 
church  in  the  Circular  Road ;  while  Aratoon  and  others 
were  preaching  to  the  natives.  This  report  further 
states,  that  types  were  prepared  for  a  new  and  greatly 
improved  edition  of  the  Bengalee  New  Testament ; 
and  that  the  Mission  Boarding  School,  intended  as  an 
asylum  for  the  children  of  native  Christians,  and  others 
whose  destitute  condition  seems  to  require  it,  appears 
to  go  on  well,  though  as  yet  on  a  contracted  scale. 

"With  reference  to  the  character  of  the  native 
converts  generally,  the  following  remarks  deserve 
attention  :— '  Amongst  all  their  imperfections,'  say  our 
brethren,  '  we,  who  see  every  part  of  their  character, 

the  liveliest  emotions 


V«teR  iiRm  iR  %u6nt  GCCaSiOil 


of  gratitude  and  praise  ;  so  as  to  exclaim,  '  What  has 
God  wrought !'  especially  when  they  are  seen  collect- 
ed together  on  the  Lord's  day,  in  the  house  of  God, 
listening  to  the  glad  tidings  of  mercy,  bending  pros- 
trate in  the  presence  of  the  invisible  Jehovah,  and  in 
harmonious  strains  hymning  his  sacred  praises.  At 
such  times,  the  mind  is  involuntarily  led  to  call  to 
remembrance  the  comparative  difference  of  their  former 
vile,  disgusting,  and  soul-destructive  worship  before 
hideous  idols.  The  native  Christians,  like  ourselves, 
are  far  from  being  perfect.  If  the  gospel  has  not 
wrought  in  them  perfect  purity,  however,  it  has  proved 
the  power  of  God  in  delivering  them  from  Hindooism. 
In  their  houses,  not  a  vestige  of  idolatry  is  to  be  seen. 
They  are  not  to  be  found  mixing  with  the  idolatrous 
processions,  nor  are  the  great  bolydays  of  the  heathen 
regarded  by  them.  Resort  to  the  conjurer  in  sickness, 
the  observance  of  lucky  and  unlucky  days,  the  making 
vows  for  the  obtaining  of  favors,  the  pretended  ex- 
travagant and  noisy  grief  of  those  who  have  lost  their 
relatives,  witli  many  other  superstitious,  heathenish 
customs  and  vices,  do  not  pollute  their  characters. 
In  observing  this  difference  between  their  present  and 
their  former  condition,  it  cannot  fail  to  afford  us  the 
purest  joy  ;  and  enable  us  to  hear  with  their  deficien- 
cies with  mure  putieiice,  hoping  that  increased  knowl- 
edge of  the  Word  of  God  will  eventually  redeem 
them  from  all  their  remaining  imperfections.'  " 

The  Ictest  Report  of  the  society,  read  in  June  last, 
informs  us,  that  both  the  churches  in  Calcutta  had, 
during  the  past  year,  received  pleasing  additions  ;  that 
four  native  assistants  had  been  added  to  those  pre- 
viously employed  ;  that  Mr.  W.  H.  Pearce  had  be- 
come pastor  of  the  native  church,  and  that  the  Ben- 
galee New  Testament  was  by  that  time,  probably, 
published  ; — the  female  schools  and  benevolent  institu- 
tions continued  to  prosper,  and  the  missionaries  at 
Calcutta  had  been  enabled,  from  the  profits  of  the 
printing-office,  to  present  10,000  rupees  or  £1000  to 
the  committee  of  the  society,  who  directed  it  to  be 
spent  in  missionary  operations. 

Our  space  will  not  allow  us  to  enter  into  the  details 
of  all  these  facts,  nor  to  notice  the  many  deaths  con- 
stantly occurring  in  the  missionary  field  ;  but  the 
following  account  of  the  decease  of  a  member  of  one 
of  these  churches  appears  too  interesting  to  be  omitted. 
It  is  furnished  by  Mr.  W.  H.  Pearce,  and  with  its 
relation  we  shall  close  our  account  of  the  churches  in 
the  city  of  Calcutta. 

"  The  native  brother  referred  to  was  ill  for  several 
weeks,  during  which  I  observed,  in  my  visits,  a  very 
perceptible  meetening  for  the  change,  which,  as  after- 
wards appeared,  it  was  the  will  of  God  that  he  should 
undergo.     His  conscience  was  tender,  so  that  he  wept 


CUTWA.  le    *5f,it 


46? 


over  hU  linfulaess  and  hardness  of  heart ;  he  became 
more  indifferent  to  the  world,  and  more  anxious  about 
eternal  realities ;  manifested  much  desire  for  prayer 
and  religious  conversation,  and  exhibited  more  grati- 
tude to  God   for  his  mercy  in  calling  him  to  the 
knowledge  of  bis  gospel,  and  a  more  entire  reliance 
on  Christ  as  the  Saviour  of  his  soul.     For  some  days 
before  his  death,  he  lay  in  a  kind  of  stupor ;   and 
seemed  conscious  only  for  a  short  time,  when  roused. 
But,  on  the  night  of  his  departure,  he  appeared  to 
awake  as  from  sleep,  and  very  wonderfully  to  revive. 
He  sat  up  and  conversed  with  the  greatest  self-posses- 
sion with  his  wife  and  child,  and  a  native  preacher, 
who  were  attending  him  ;  by  the  latter  of  whom  the 
following  relation  of  the  conversation  was  given.    The 
wife  of  the  dying  man   (who  is  herself  a   member 
of  the  church,  and  was  the  means  of  his  conversion) 
said  to  him,  '  Well,  do  you  put  faith  in  Christ  as  the 
Saviour  ?'     He  replied  very  emphatically,  '  Undoubt- 
edly, undoubtedly,  yes,  undoubtedly,  I  believe  in  him 
entirely  for  salvation.'    At  one  time  he  said  repeatedly, 
'  Come,  Lord  Jesus ;   why  dost  thou  delay  ?   I  am 
ready  ;    open   unto  me  the  door  of  life.'     His  wife 
said  to  him,  '  Alas  !  you  are  dying ;  what  will  become 
of  me  ?'    He  replied, '  I  have  committed  you  into  the 
hands  of  God  our  Father.'     She  said, '  But  what  will 
become  of  the  boy  V    (an  interesting  youth  of  nine 
years  of  age.)     He  said,  '  Christ  our  Saviour  will 
take  care  of  him.'     He  then  called  the  little  boy  to 
him,  and  embraced  him  ;  when  his  wife  said,  '  Ah  ! 
what  right  have  we  to  treasures  that  are  only  lent  ?' 
Soon  after  this,  he  called  her  to  him,  laid  hold  of  her 
hand  affectionately,  and  said,  'We  are  yet  united  in 
affection.'     She  replied,   '  Yes,  not  in  life  only,  but 
for  ever.'     Then,  taking  her  hand,  he  prayed  for  her 
and  the  child,  and  said  to  his  wife,  '  Then  can  you 
let  me  depart  to-day  V    She  replied,  '  Yes,  I  can  ; 
why  should  I  prevent  you  from  going  to  the  Saviour  ? 
I  will  not  hinder  your  entering  the  gate  of  life  ever- 
lasting.'    At  his  desire,   his  attendants  then    began 
singing  the  Evening  Hymn,  in  Bengalee  ;  and,  when 
tiiat  was  concluded,  they  commenced,  at  his  request, 
another  on  death,  of  which  the  chorus  is,  *  Every 
tiling  on  earth  is  but  vanity,  O  brother  ;  but  the  love 
of  Christ,  that  alone  is  substance.'     While  they  were 
singing  this  hymn,  he  fell  back  on  his  bed,  breathed 
a  gentle  sigh,  and  expired." 


DINAGEPORE. 

In  this  town,  situated  nearly  two  hundred  and  thirty 
miles  north  of  Serampore.and  containing  a  population 
of  about  forty  thousand  persons,  the  second  Baptist 


church  in  Bengal  was  formed,  of  eight  members,  in 
January,  1806,  and  Mr.  Ignatius  Fernandez,  one  of 
the  earliest  native  converu  to  the  mission,  was  at  the 
same  time  ordained  as  its  pastor.  This  worthy  man 
established  a  manufactory  here  of  coarse  paper,  by 
which  means  the  families  of  many  of  the  members  of 
the  church  have  been  supported.  In  addition  to  the 
information  already  communicated  in  reference  to  this 
station,  we  are  gratified  to  add,  that  the  schools  have 
continued  to  prosper ;  that  several  of  the  natives  have, 
at  different  times,  been  raised  up  to  assist  their  aged 
pastor  in  his  beloved  work  ;  a  Bungalow  chapel  has 
been  built  in  the  western  part  of  the  town,  which 
is  well  attended  ;  and  the  church  consists  of  nearly 
one  hundred  members.  Mr.  Fernandez,  who  was  not 
only  the  pastor  of  this  church,  but  met  its  expenses, 
died  at  Serampore  on  December  26, 1830,  in  his  74th 
year,  and  is  succeeded  by  Mr.  Hugh  Smylie,  who  was 
raised  up  in  India. 

CUTWA. 

The  station  in  this  place,  situated  in  the  district  of 
Burdwan,  seventy-five  miles  N.  N.  W.  of  Calcutta, 
dates  its  origin,  in  1804,  from  the  labors  of  Mr.  Cham- 
berlain, as  an  itinerant.  For  many  years  past,  it  has 
been  under  the  care  of  Mr.  W.  Carey,  Jr.,  whose 
labors,  and  those  of  the  liative  assistants  under  his 
direction,  have  been  very  useful.  By  his  instrumen- 
tality, a  foundation  was  laid  for  the  present  church  at 
Beerbhoom,  of  which  Mr.  Williamson  is  the  valued 
and  useful  pastor.  After  many  discouragements,  for 
the  two  or  three  last  years,  Mr.  Carey  has  been  grat- 
ified to  see  an  increased  attention  to  the  gospel,  fre- 
quent additions  to  his  church,  and  an  interest  excited 
in  the  cause  of  female  education.  The  schools  under 
the  care  of  Mrs.  Carey  contained  in  1830  one  hundred 
and  twenty  girls. 

For  the  other  stations  in  this  province,  we  must  re- 
fer to  the  tabular  statements. 

Before,  however,  we  leave  this  part  of  the  world, 
we  feel  constrained  to  introduce  the  following  animated 
sketch  of  the  results  of  missionary  labors,  as  furnished 
by  Mr.  George  Pearce,  who  left  England  in  the  year 
1826, — written  soon  after  his  arrival  in  India  : — 

<<  It  has  struck  me,  from  what  I  have  observed  during 
the  short  time  I  have  been  in  this  country,  that  much 
more  is  doing  here  than  the  generality  of  people  in 
England  are  aware  of  I  have  heard  persons  there 
use  a  kind  of  desponding  language  in  reference  to 
India,  as  though  what  had  already  been  accomplished 
was  not  a  sufficient  return  for  the  money  and  labor 
bestowed,  or  afforded  encouragement  to  proceed.  But 
could  such  persons  see  what  is  now  visible  in  India — 


1 


BAPTIST  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


ia  the  nmeirtl  •(  EuropeaB  pngucBc»— 4be  number 
of  Emopsaa  duntiaii* — the  readioess  with  which  this 
put  of  loeietjr  aid  the  cause  of  Chriatiaa  benevolence 
in  ererj  finro ;— ^ouM  they  see  the  natires  emwding 
to  boar  the  vord  of  liie,  mriting  the  preachen  to 
visit  tkeaa  again— -pre^ice  fleeing  before  the  truth— 
■dhooki  filled  with  chitdrea,  male  and  female— the 
press  pouring  fitrth  the  Scriptures  and  r^ious  tracts 


in  maay  langaagcs,  and  to  aU  parts  of  this  extensive 
country  ^— and  finally,  were  they  privileged  to  sonoand 
the  table  of  the  Lord,  with  numbers  of  native  Chri*' 
tiavi,  of  whose  conversion,  if  they  knew  tbero,  they 
could  have  no  da»bt>^hey  would  then  see  in  all  tbia 
tbe  finger  of  Ood,  as  evidently  as  Belshamr  saw  tfa« 
hand'writiag'  upon  the  wall." 


CHAPTER    III. 


MISSION    IN    THE    BURMAN    EMPIRE. 


When  the  labors  of  the  Baptist  brethren  in  Bengal 
were  unexpectedly  placed  under  various  restrictions, 
those  zealous  and  devoted  servants  of  God  were  in- 
duced to.  direct  their  attention  to  other  parts  of  the 
East ;  and,  in  the  month  of  January,  I807,  Messrs. 
Chater  and  Mardon,  having  consented  to  undertake 
an  exploratory  visit  to  the  Biirman  empire,  with  a 
view  to  the  commencement  of  a  new  mission,  set 
■ail  for  Rangoon,  one  of  the  principal  cities  of  that 
country. 

I  After  a  voyage  of  about  eighteen  days,  diey  arrived 
in<  safety  at  the  placeof  destination,  and  were  received 
in  the  most  friendly  manner  by  some  English  gentle- 
naen,  to  whom  they  had  been  recommended  by  a  friend 
in  Calcutta.  They  were  also  treated  with  great  civility 
by  the  shawbundar  or  intendant  of  the  port ;  and  by 
one  of  the  Catholic  priests,  who  resided  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  town,  and  appeared  much  pleased  with  their 
conversation  ;  and  after  a  few  days,  they  had  an  oppor- 
tunity of  gratifying  their  curiosity  with  a  view  of  the 
pagodas  to  which  the  natives  pay  their  adorations. 
These  were  of  various  dimensions,  in  a  pyramidal 
form,  and  the  upper  part  covered  with  gold.  They 
had  likewise  an  opportunity  of  seeing  various  kinds 
of  images  ;  one  of  which,  placed  in  a  recumbent  pos- 
ture, appeared  to  be  neariy  thirty  feet  long,  riclily 
gijded,  and  having  eyes  of  glass. 

In  a  communication,  dated  February  20,  the  mis- 
sionaries observe,  "The  Burmans,  with  a  number 
of  Siamese,  who  traffic  in  the  country,  have,  for  several 
days  past,  held  a  great  festival,  in  what  is  called  the 
5-oWen  /enip/e,  nearly  three  miles  from  town  ;  bringing 


a  quantity  of  images  made  of  bamboo. 


.1.. 


mented  with  wax  and  flowers,  and  presenting  them 
to  the  pagoda.  One  of  the  largest  of  these  was  an 
octagonal  spire,  about  fifty  feet  high,  covered  with 
colored  paper,  borne  on  the  shoulders  of  twelve  men 
round  the  pagoda,  accompanied  by  a  train  of  people, 
and  several  telapoys  or  priests,  who  held  wax  candles 
and  small  pendants  in  their  hands.  These  were  dis- 
tributed among  the  populace  ;  and  afterwards  they  all 
bowed  down  towards  the  pagoda,  whilst  the  priests 
repeated  a  few  words.  On  rising  from  the  ground, 
they  stuck  the  pendants  about  the  figure,  and  the 
candles  round  the  pagoda,  which  they  immediately 
lighted.  This  was  all  that  had  any  appearance  of 
devotion  ;  as  the  rest  of  the  ceremony  consisted  of  a 
display  of  fire-works,  and  multitudes  of  people  running 
about  with  lamps  and  candles  in  their  hands." 

A  few  weeks  afterward,  the  missionaries  had  an 
opportunity  of  witnessing  the  ceremonies  of  a  Burman 
funeral.  The  corpse  was  deposited  in  a  coffin  of 
decent  appearance,  covered  with  a  white  cloth,  and 
carried,  by  means  of  a  large  bier,  on  the  shoulders 
of  about  a  dozen  men,  to  the  appointed  place,  pre- 
ceded by  a  band  of  music.  On  their  arrival  at  the 
scene  of  the  last  obsequies,  the  bearers  removed 
tlie  bier  from  their  shoulders,  and,  waving  it  to  and 
fro  several  times,  lowered  it  gradually  to  the  ground. 
The  coffin  was  then  placed  on  some  large  billets  of 
wood,  which  had  been  previously  laid  in  order,  and  a 
yellow  cloth  was  thrown  over  it.  Various  oflcrings 
of  fruit  were  next  presented,  and  a  priest  was  brought 
forward  in  a  palanquin,  in  which  he  performed  a  short 
ceremony.  Two  other  priests  followed,  and  apparently 
repeated  the  same  fonnuia  as  theit  predecessor  ;  the 


BUHMAN  EMPlRfe. 


969 


an 


diusie  hmring  prtviousljr  ceas«d,  tind!  all  (msent,  eji- 
cept  th«  officiating  priest,  preietnftg  the  most  solMnn 
SileMe.  The  tem^rary  corerirtg  was  thfen  iemoied 
front  the  coffirt  ;  a  pottton  of  wood  was  placed  oref 
«Ii6  body,  and  fire  was  applied  to  the  funeral  pile. 
It  appeared,  however,  that  h;  is  the  custom  in  this 
couhtry  to  inter  the  ashes  of  the  deceased  after  the 
flames  which  hav6  consilAnred  the  corpse  are  extin- 
guished. 

Oti  the  23t!  of  May,  the  two  brethren  returnee^  to 
Serampbre,  and  explfessed  the  rtiost  sanguine  hop<es  in 
Respect  to  the  establishment  of  a  mission  in  the  Bur- 
ftian  empire.  Mr.  Mardon,  however,  having  subse- 
cpently  declined  the  undertaking,  on  the  pica  of  ill 
health,  Mi'.  Felix  Carey  volunteered  his  services,  aiid! 
was  chosen  as  his  successor. 

In  the  month  of  November,  Messrs.  Chater  and 
Felix  Carey,  with  their  respective  families,  wert 
affectioilately  dismissed  by  the  brethren  at  Serampore, 
for  the  purpose  of  forming  themselves  into  a  church 
previously  to  their  embarkation  ;  and  on  Mr.  Chater 
being  chosen  as  the  pastor  of  the  new  interest,  a 
solemn  charge  was  delivered  to  him,  by  the  founder 
of  the  Bengal  mission,  from  those  words  of  the  apostle, 
« Take  heed  unto  thyself,  and  thy  doctrine."  The 
most  appropriate  and  affectionate  instructions  were 
also  delivered  to  him  and  to  his  colleague  ;  and,  be- 
fore they  went  on  board,  at  Calcutta,  a  special  meeting 
was  held  for  the  express  purpose  of  commending  them 
and  theirs  to  the  favor  and  protection  of  the  Almighty. 

Shortly  after  his  arrival  at  Rangoon,  Mr.  Carey, 
who  had  previously  studied  medicine,  and  walked  the 
hospital  at  Calcutta,  introduced  the  practice  of  vacci- 
nation into  Burmah  ;  and,  after  inoculating  several 
persons  in  the  city,  he  was  sent  for  by  the  maywoon, 
or  viceroy,  to  perform  the  operation  on  his  children. 
He,  accordingly,  proceeded  to  the  palace,  accompanied 
by  an  English  shawbundar  as  his  interpreter,  and,  in 
compliance  with  the  custom  of  the  country,  took  off 
his  shoes  at  the  upper  steps,  before  he  entered  the 
inner  apartment.  He  then  approached  the  maywoon, 
as  all  the  officers  of  government,  and  all  who  wait 
upon  him,  do,  upon  his  hands  and  knees,  and  sat  down 
on  a  carpet,  by  the  side  of  his  interpreter.  After  the 
governor  had  made  several  inquiries  concerning  the 
nature  of  the  cow-pox,  Mr.  Carey  vaccinated  three 
of  his  children,  and  six  other  persons  belonging  to  the 
family.  The  wife  of  the  maywoon,  at  first,  appeared 
extremely  averse  to  the  wish  of  her  husband  ;  but, 
after  a  short  time,  she  sat  quietly  down  by  Mr.  Carey, 
and  surveyed  attentively  the  whole  process,  with 
which  she  seemed  entirely  satisfied. 

The  missionaries  and  their  families  were,  for  some 
time,  involved  in  considerable  difficulty,  for  want  of  a 


Sriiiable  habitation,  and  Vk  eMis«(|uenc«  i^  (hei*  iH§. 
bility  to  proottre  b^ead^  aS  thai  article  of  fotod  could 
not,  at  this  juncture,  b*  obtained  iti  Rangobtj ;  aid 
though  a  supply  subsequently  arrived  frttn  Calcutti,- 
th*  health  of  Mrs.  Chater  and  Mii».  F.  Carey  i^as  Ho 
seriously  dfected,  that  thiy  were  urtde*  the  neAessity 
of  returning,  with  their  two  children,  to  Seramport,- 
about  the  middle  of  May,  1808.  f 

A  short  time  previbus  to  theh^  retiirii,  tbe  M]&iiin^ 
article,  ifelative  to  the  dreadful  punishments  ihflicted 
for  various  offences,  in  the  Burman  dokninions,  had 
been  inserted  in  one  of  the  Cafcutta  newspapers,  on 
the  authority  of  an  English  gentleman  recently  arrived 
from  that  country  : — 

"  A  man,  fb»'  chewmg  opium,  was  put  to  death  by 
crucifixion,  in  which  red-hot  nails  were  used  :  hi  thiS 
position  his  belly  was  ripped  open,  and  in  that  horrid 
situation  he'  was  left  tio  exph-e.  His  eritraib,  lying  at 
his  feet,  were  devoured  by  crows  and  vultures,  a  con- 
^derable  time  before  the  unfortunate  creature  ceas^ 
to  breathe  ;  and  of  thfa  circumstance  he  appeared  ttf 
be  sensible ! — Another  unhappy  wretch,  for  getting 
intoxicated,  had  hot  lead  poured  down  his  throat, 
in  small  quantities,  of  about  half  a  glass  fiill :  the  first 
two  caused  a  strong  smoke  to  issue  from  his  mouth, 
of  which  he  was  apparently  sensible  ;  but  the  third 
dose  put  an  immediate  termination  to  his  existence. 
Two  deserters  from  the  Burman  army,  after  having 
their  legs  cut  off  above  the  knees,  were  nailed  up  by 
their  hands  with  red-hot  nails,  and  the  hair  of  their 
heads  being  tied  firmly  to  a  pole,  they  were  left  to 
bleed  to  death.  These  miserable  wretches  remained 
alive  for  some  hours,  during  which  their  slnieks  and 
cries  were  so  distressing,  that  no  person  in  (i.e  utfjacent 
houses  could  obtain  any  repose  during  the  night.  It 
was  also  stated  that  the  wives  and  children  of  iiiese 
sufferers  were,  on  a  future  day,  to  be  b'own  up  with 
gunpowder. 

"  It  appears  that  the  viceroy  who  ordered  these  un- 
paralleled tortures,  had,  during  a  long  administration, 
executed  the  duties  of  his  office  with  the  greatest 
mildness  and  benevolence  ;  screening  many  offenders 
from  the  rigor  of  the  laws ;  but  in  consequence  of  his 
own  son  having  been  decapitated  at  the  court  of  Ava, 
for  having  chewed  opium,  he  solemnly  vowed,  in  a 
fit  of  desperation,  that  the  sanguinary  criminal  code 
of  his  country  should  henceforth  be  enforced  without 
mitigation." 

The  reader,  whose  feelings  have,  no  doubt,  been 
shocked  by  this  terrific  statement,  is  probably  inclined 
both  to  think  and  to  hope  that  the  facts  alluded  to 
must  have  been  greatly  exaggerated.  The  mission- 
aries, however,  in  writing  to  their  friends,  observe, 
"  What  you  have  heard  of  the  punishments  in  this 


S70 


BAPTIST  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


country  is  true  ;"  and  Mr.  F.  Carey,  alluding  to  the 
may woon,  says,  "  His  time  is  much  taken  up  in  giving 
orders  for  executions.  Five  or  six  persons  convicted 
of  murder  have  been  crucified,  and  their  bellies  ripped 
up  while  alive.  One  had  his  legs  cut  off,  for  running 
away  from  the  army ;  one  for  drinking  a  glass  of 
brandy  (which  is  considered  an  offence  against  their 
gods,  as  well  as  against  the  laws  of  the  empire,)  had 
boiling  lead  poured  down  his  throat ;  and  two  women, 
who  have  committed  murder,  are  doomed  to  be  dc- 
voured  by  a  tiger." 

''^he  niedica!  skill  of  Mr.  Carey  procured  him  such 
high  reputation  among  the  Bunnans,  and  his  introduc- 
tion of  vaccination  had  so  completely  conciliated  the 
esteem  of  the  m^vvoon,  that  he  was  one  day  encour- 
aged to  try  his  interest  with  that  personage  on  the 
score  of  humanity.  Accordingly,  having  seen  a  poor 
creature  suspended  on  a  cross,  for  an  offence  which 
appeared  to  have  been  comparatively  trivial,  he  hasten- 
ed to  the  palace,  and  though  the  viceroy  had  forbidden 
anyone  to  speak  on  the  behalf  of  this  criminal,  be  not 
only  ventured  to  implore  a  remission  of  his  sentence, 
but  actually  refused  to  quit  the  viceroy's  presence  till 
he  granted  his  petition.  After  much  reluctance,  the 
maywoon  granted  the  boon  of  mercy,  and  an  order 
was  given  for  the  culprit's  liberation.  This,  however, 
had  still  to  pass  through  various  forms  of  oflicc,  and 
when  Mr.  Carey,  at  length,  repaired  with  it  to  the 
cross,  not  one  of  the  officers  in  attendance  upon  the 
execution  would  read  it  witiiout  a  reward.  Our  mis- 
sionary, therefore,  was  under  tiie  necessity  of  promis- 
ing thcui  a  piece  of  cloth  to  induce  them  to  take  down 
the  poor  bleeding  sufferer,  who,  having  been  nailed 
to  the  cross  nearly  seven  hours,  seemed  to  have  merely 
slrengtli  enough  left  to  thank  his  humane  deliverer. 
Mr.  Carey  then  took  him  to  his  own  house,  care- 
fully dressed  his  wounds,  and  treated  him  with  the 
utmost  attention  until  his  health  was  completely  re- 
stored. The  fellow,  however,  proved  to  be  a  thorough- 
ly depraved  character  ;  as,  after  his  recovery,  he  was 
again  detected  in  '.hieving,  and  taken  into  custody. 
"  The  agonies  of  a  cross,"  says  Mr.  Carey,  "  were 
insuflicicnt  to  reclaim  him." 

A  divclllng-housc  for  the  missionaries,  and  a  place 
of  worsliip,  were  erected  at  Rangoon,  and  a  handsome 
sum  was  subscribed  by  the  mcrciianls  residing  in  the 
neighborhood  towards  tlie  expense.  Towards  the 
end  of  1809,  however,  Mr.  Clmter  observes,  that  so 
little  inclination  towards  the  things  of  God  was  evinced 
even  by  the  Euro|)can  inhabitunts,  that  though  the 
new  chapel  had  been  open  for  worship  on  three  suc- 
cessive subbaths,  not  an  individual  residing  in  the 
place  tame  near  it.  At  the  same  time  he  speaks  of 
iiiu  aspect  of  anairs  as  very  giooniy  and  di.snouraging, 


in  consequence  of  the  Bunnan  government  being  em* 
broiled  in  hostilities  with  the  Siamese,  and  the  coimtry 
being,  in  consequence,  involved  in  confusion.  Soon 
afterwards,  the  whole  town  of  Rangoon,  excepting  a 
few  huts  and  the  houses  of  the  two  principal  officers, 
was  completely  burnt  down ;  and  the  city  of  Munipoor, 
the  capital  of  the  empire,  shared  a  similar  fate.  It  i<; 
stated  by  a  British  captain,  who  happened  to  be  there 
at  the  time,  that  forty  thousand  houses  were  destroyed, 
and  before  he  came  away  it  was  ascertained  that  no 
fewer  than  two  hundred  and  fifty  persons  had  lost 
their  lives.  It  seems  to  have  been  the  work  of  an 
incendiary,  as  the  flames  burst  out  in  several  parts 
of  the  city  at  the  same  time.  The  fort,  the  .royal 
palace,  tiie  palaces  of  the  princes,  and  the  public 
buildings,  were  ail  iaid  in  ashes. 

The  general  appearance  of  things  now  became  worse 
and  worse  ;  and  in  the  summer  of  1811,  Mr.  Chater 
observes,  "  The  country  is  completely  torn  to  pieces, 
as  the  Mugs  and  Rachmurs  have  revolted  and  cut 
off  the  Burman  government ;  and  the  Burmans  them- 
selves are  forming  large  parties  under  the  different 
princes.  Rangoon  is  threatened,  and  will  most  likely 
be  attacked,  though  probably  not  till  after  the  rainy 
season."  Soon  after  tliis  communication,  Mr.  Chater 
relinquished  his  situation  at  Rangoon,  and  pitched 
upon  Columbo,  in  the  island  of  Ceylon,  as  the  scene 
of  his  future  labors. 

Mr.  Carey  was  now  left  alone  at  the  mission-house, 
busily  employed  in  translating  the  scriptures  into  the 
Burman  language,  till  the  autumn  of  1812,  when  he 
visited  his  friends  at  Serampore,  in  order  to  put  one 
or  two  of  the  gospels  to  press,  and  to  consult  his 
venerable  father  and  the  other  brethren  on  some  sub- 
jects connected  with  the  mission.  Hero  he  remained 
till  the  latter  end  of  November,  and  then  returned 
with  a  new  and  respectable  colleague,  named  Kerr, 
who  was  likely  to  prove  a  great  acquisition  as  an 
instrument  in  the  evangelizing  of  tiio  heathen  The 
state  of  his  he»lth,  however,  precluded  hiui  from  re^ 
maining  in  Uurmah,  and  in  less  than  twelve  months 
lie  was  under  the  necessity  of  returning  lo  Serampore. 

The  differi'Mces  with  the  Siamese  liaving  ben  ad- 
justed, and  the  Burman  government  re-eslublished, 
Mr.  Carey  was  ordered,  in  the  summer  of  1813,  to 
proceed  to  the  court  at  Ava,  for  the  purpose  of  inocu- 
latmg  some  of  the  royal  family  ;  and  though  lie  hap- 
pened to  have  none  of  the  vaccine  virus  in  his  pusses* 
siun,  he  was  received  with  the  greatest  kindne.Hs,  both 
by  his  Burman  majesty  and  the  prince,  and  was  assured 
that  all  the  expenses  of  his  journey  and  '  oyage  should 
be  defrayed,  lie  had  the  honor,  iinieud,  of  spending 
several  hours  with  llio  king  and  prince,  conversing  on 
various  subjects,  and  occasionally  venturing  to  suggest 


BUR  MAN  EMPIRE. 


871 


some  things  by  which  the  empire  might  be  improved. 
When  speaking  of  the  missionaries,  his  majesty  asked 
why  they,  and  the  Christians  in  connection  with  them, 
did  not  worship  images,  like  the  Portuguese  ?    Mr. 
Carey,  in  reply,  quoted  a  sentence  from  some  of  the 
Burman  writings,  and  hinted  that  it  was  impracticable 
to  form  an  image  of  an  invisible  spirit.     The  king 
immediately  turned  to  his  courtiers,  saying,  "  He  is 
right ;"  and,  as  a  token  of  his  royal  favor,  he  gave 
our  missionary  a  gold  medal,  with  an  honorary  title  ; 
at  the  sama  time  suggesting,  that  if  he  thought  proper 
to  adopt  the  Burman  dress,  he  would  present  him 
with  several  costly   suits  of  apparel.      This  honor, 
however,  Mr.  Carey  declined,  respectfully  stating  that 
he  was  ready  to  serve   his  majesty  on  all  occasions, 
but  that  he  could  not  change  his  dress  nor  his  religion. 
Mr.  Carey  was  sent  back  to  Rangoon  in  a  gilded 
boat,  and  a  ship  was  ordered  to  convey  him  to  Bengal, 
in  order  to  obtain  a  new  supply  of  virus  for  the  pur- 
pose of  vaccination.     This  was  accordingly  procured  ; 
and,  in  August,  1814,  he  embarked  with*  his  wife  and 
family,  on  board  the  viceroy's  plea.sure  boat,  to  join  a 
brig  which  was  waiting  in  the  Great  River  to  convey 
him  again  to  Ava.     After  some  doys,  he  reached  this 
vessel  in  safety  ;  but  scarcely  had  she  got  under  weigh, 
when  the  sky  began  to  assume  a  very  menacing  ap- 
pearance ;  a  severe  squall  came  on,  while  she  was 
stemming  a  rapid  current ;    and    in    a   few   minutes 
she  upset  and  soon  filled  with  water.     "  Perceiving 
our  condition,"  says  Mr.  Carey,  "  I  rushed  into  the 
cabin,   to  save,   if  possible,  my  wife    and   children, 
with  the  other  females.      The  cabin  windows,  how- 
ever, were  open,  and  the  moment  I  entered,  the  im- 
petus of  the  water  from  without  closed  the  door  upon 
me.     I  now  expected  nothing;  less  than  instant  death  ; 
as  the  water  was  gushing  in  from  all  sides,  and  I  knew 
not  by  what  means  to  extricate  myself      During  tiiis 
short  period,  (for   the   fiunl   .scene  was  closed   in   the 
space  of  five  minutes,)  I  could  hear  the  screams  of  my 
wife  and  children,  who  were  only  sc|)araied  from  me 
by  a  canvass  screen,  but  could  find  no  opening  till  the 
woter  made  one.     I  then  sprang  forward,  and  handed 
my  wife  and  children,  with  two  other  little  girls,  and 
the  nurse,  out  of  the  cabin  window,  upon  the  broad- 
side of  the  vessel.      In  the  confiision  of  the  moment, 
I  had  some  hope  that  tlie  vessel  would  flout ;   but  no 
sooner  had  I  got  through  the  window,  than  I  perceived 
she   was  already   going    down.     Now   nil   my   hopes 
failed  ;  my  wife  flinging  to  me  on  one  side, — a   lear 
child  on  the  other,— a  rapid  current  underneath, — and 
tho   rest  of  the  crow  shrieking  in   every  direction  I 
Had  the  jolly-boat  been  noar  us  at  this  instant,  not  a 

I    I I    L^--    1 -     1----    -I  ^^  rM.     _  .     .     _ 

r'Jtii  riau  i^wCi:  I'jzi ;  tj;:i  s.ic  ..33  not.      I  nit  VC'iliui  i>t?ftiitii 

to  sink  under  us,  and  we  were  all  out  of  our  depth, 


amidst  a  heavy  sea.  My  wife  still  clung  to  me  ;  but 
as  I  sunk,  she  quitted  her  hold,  and  I  saw  her  no  more. 
I  again  rose  to  the  surface  of  the  water,  and  thought 
I  saw  my  little  boy  floating  at  a  distance,  but  could 
not  get  to  him.  I  also  perceived  the  heads  of  some 
of  the  crew  in  various  directions,  but  no  appearance 
of  the  vessel.  In  this  state  of  perturbation,  I  gave 
myself  up  for  lost,  whilst  the  waves  were  rolling  over 
my  head.  By  some  means,  however,  I  contrived  to 
tear  off  my  shirt,  and  to  disentangle  myself  from  my 
pantaloons  ;  and  thus,  through  the  mercy  of  God,  I 
was  enabled  to  float  on  shore,  though  with  the  utmost 
difficulty.  When  I  reached  the  land,  I  was  too  much 
exhausted  to  get  upon  my  feet :  providentially,  how- 
ever, one  of  the  lascars,  who  had  floated  ashore  at 
the  same  place,  drew  me  up  into  a  grass  jungle, 
where  I  sat,  up  to  my  breast  in  water,  till  a  boat  came 
to  my  assistance.  I  was  then  taken  to  a  town  called 
Dhunoobhoo,  but  hardly  in  my  senses.  As  soon  as  1 
was  somewhat  recovered,  I  made  every  inquiry  about 
my  wife  and  children,  but  could  learn  nothing  concern- 
ing them,  except  that  one  of  my  servants,  with  the 
assistance  of  an  oflicer,  had  picked  up  the  body  of 
my  little  girl,  and  buried  it  in  the  jungles  opposite 
to  the  town.  I  afterwards  found  that  my  wife  and 
two  children,  with  the  two  little  girls,  the  nurse,  the 
cook,  the  gunner,  and  two  lascars,  had  all  lost  their 
lives  ;  and  though  boats  were  sent  out,  in  every  direc- 
tion, in  quest  of  liie  bodies  and  the  wreck,  not  a  single 
vestige  was  to  be  seen  or  heard  of ! 

"  I  have  lost  all  that  I  was  worth  in  this  vain  world 
and  can  say,  let  it  go  :  but  tho  loss  of  my  beloved 
wife  and  my  dear  infants  lies  near  my  heart.  Yet 
what  can  I  say  ?  It  is  the  hand  of  the  Lord,  and  none 
con  say  unto  him,  '  Why  doesi  thou  thus  ?'  Only  this 
one  thing  I  crave,  that  the  remainder  of  my  days  may 
be  devoted,  with  a  single  eye,  to  his  glory,  in  the 
establishment  of  his  cause  among  tho  heathen." 

The  pious  wish  expressed  by  this  unfortiiiiuto  young 
man,  who,  in  less  than  one  hour,  had  been  df|)iived 
of  the  partner  of  his  iilfection,  his  little  boy,  iiiid  his 
infant  daughter,  was  never  realized  ;  as  the  snares 
of  a  heathen  court  proved  more  injurious  to  the  spirit- 
imlity  of  his  mind  than  all  his  se»or(^  ufllictions.  On 
his  return  to  Ava,  Iwth  tlie  king  and  the  prince  ap- 
peared to  sympathize  deeply  with  his  misfortune,  and 
made  him  a  most  liberal  compensation  for  the  loss 
of  his  property.  His  majesty  also  appointed  him  his 
riinh(i.ssador  to  Calcutta,  fur  the  purpose  of  arrungina 
some  differences  which  existed  between  the  two 
governments  ;  and  conferred  on  him  the  equi|)ago  of 
a  prince,  consisting  of  a  rod  umbrella  with  an  ivory 
iup,  a  guid  beiui  box,  a  goid  cup,  and  a  sword  q* 
state. 


BAPTIST  MtSistof^Aftl*  SbciETY. 


Daszled  by  the  hohon  thus  lavishly  conferred  upon 
Him,  Mr.  Felix  Carey  now  relinquished  the  humble 
cHliracier  of  a  missionary,  and  proceeded  oh  hb  em- 
blssy  to  Calcutta,  tp  the  deep  regtet  of  his  pious  and 
venerible  father.  His  connection  with  the  Burman 
government,  however,  was  of  short  duration ;  and  aftier 
being  subsequently  employed  by  an  eastern  rajah,  he 
i^tumed  to  Serampore,  where  he  was  employed  in 
translating  and  compiling  various  literary  works  till 
the  time  of  his  death.  The  superintendence  of  the 
mission  in  the  Burman  empire  had,  in  the  mean  time, 
been  transferred  to  some  brethren  connected  with  a 


society  in  Ahiiericii ;  AM  thou'gh  hbthiiig  a^pSaTs  td 
have  been  effected,  ih  the  wdy  of  conversion,  by  the 
persons  sent  out  frbm  Scrank^ore,  thie  translations 
which  they  made  of  certtiin  p&rts  df  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures, aUd  the  compilation  of  a  grammar  of  the  Bur- 
man language,  by  Mr.  F.  C4rey,  ^ould,  ho  ioaVt, 
render  the  most  important  service  to  their  isuc'cessbrs, 
and,  it  is  hoped,  to  the  natives  themselves,  at  a  future 
period.  We  dare  not  say,  therefore,  that  either  their 
time  or  the  money  of  the  society  to  which  they  be- 
longed was  spent  in  vain. 


CHAPTER    IV 


MISSION    IN    oklSSA 


In  the  spring  of  1809,  the  Baptist  brethren  had  in 
contemplation  a  new  mission  to  the  province  of  Orissa, 
in  which  Mr.  John  Peter,  formerly  a  member  of  the 
Armenian  church,  was  to  be  engaged  as  a  principal ; 
and  early  in  January,  1810,  that  zealous  and  eloquent 
Bengalee  preacher,  accompanied  by  his  family,  set 
out  for  the  town  of  Balasore,  which  had  been  selected 
as  the  most  suitable  place  for  the  commencement 
of  his  labors. 

The  voyage  was  attended  with  considerable  diffi- 
culty and  danger,  and  one  day  the  vessel  stnick  upon 
the  sands,  where  it  remained  about  seven  hours.  By 
the  good  providence  of  God,  however,  our  missionary 
reached  his  place  of  destination  in  perfect  safety  ; 
and,  though  he  frankly  acknowledged  the  purport 
of  his  visit,  ho  met  with  no  opposition.  On  the 
contrary,  between  one  and  two  hundred  persons,  com- 
prising several  opulent  Bengalees  and  Orissa  banker 
and  merchants,  with  a  few  Portuguese,  attended  tlio 
celebration  of  divine  service  in  his  house,  on  the  ensu- 
ing sabbath,  and  nil  bclinved  with  the  utmost  decorum. 
A  spirit  of  inquiry,  indeed,  appeared  to  have  been 
excited,  in  consequence  of  some  of  them  having  pre- 
viously heard  and  embraced  the  gospel  at  Calcutta  ; 
and  several  individuals,  after  conversing  with  the 
preacher  till  ten  o'clock  at  night,  requested  to  \w 
furnished  with  some  of  the  tracts  or  Testaments,  of 
which  ho  had  br<niEht  an  ample  supply,  both  in  th<< 
Ucnpalee   and   Orissa   languages.      The    country  at 


large,  however,  in  a  religious  point  of  view,  was  found 
to  be  truly  deplorable  ;  and  Mr.  Peter  observes,  "  The 
bones  and  skulls  of  dead  men,  the  worshippers  of 
Juggernaut,  lie  about  the  streets,  especially  on  the 
river  side  ;  whilst  hundreds  of  survivors  are  going 
almost  every  day  to  perform  their  devotions  before 
this  great  idol.  1  endeavor,  however,  to  make  known 
to  them  the  incarnation,  life,  and  death  of  our  I^ord 
Jesus  Christ ;  showing  that  he  came  into  the  world 
for  the  express  purpose  of  saving  sinners  ;  pointing 
out  their  absolute  need  of  such  a  Saviour  ;  and  assur- 
ing tln;m  that  without  his  atonement  there  can  bo  no 
forgiveness." 

As  our  missionary  preached  occasionally  in  English, 
many  of  the  European  officers  and  ladies  at  Balasore 
were  sometimes  induced  to  attend  worship  in  his 
house  ;  and  the  word  spoktii  appears  to  have  been 
owned  and  blessed,  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  to  several 
soldiers  in  the  service  of  the  East  India  Company  ; 
six  of  whom,  in  the  course  of  a  few  months,  were 
publicly  baptized,  with  several  other  persons  resident 
in  the  neighborhood,  and  seemed  to  evince,  by  their 
conduct  and  conversation,  that  they  were  really  imder 
the  divine  influence  of  the  gospel  Mr,  Peer  also 
speaks  of  an  Orissa  lady,  who  had  "a  good  report 
through  the  whole  town  of  Balasore,"  and  who  died 
in  the  failh  of  the  gospel.     "  She  rontinuetl  her  at- 

able,  and  was,  at  the  fhn }  of  her  decease,  a  candidate 


ORISSA. 


878 


for  baptism.  We  used  W  go  and  pray  with  her  fre- 
quently, and  one  of  her  last  expressions  was,  '  Yes, 
I  am'  going  to  Jesus  1'  She  was  interred  in  a  coffin  in 
the  English  burial  ground,  and  all  the  country-bom 
native  infantry  of  the  eighth  regiment  respectfiilly 
attended  her  remains  to  the  grave." 

In  the  spring  of  1811,  the  worship  of  Juggernaut, 
in  Orissa,  seems  to  have  been  more  numerously 
attended  than  usual ;  as  Mr.  Peter  speaks  of  four  or 
five  thousand  devotees  from  Bengal  having  passed 
through  Balasore,  in  their  V7ay  to  the  idol's  temple  ; 
and  two  of  his  members,  Messrs.  Smith  and  Green, 
residing  at  Cuttack,  observe,  in  a  letter  to  Mr.  Ward, 
"  You  would  iiave  been  astonished  had  you  seen  the 
immense  number  of  pilgrims  crossing  the  river  at  this 
place.  As  far  as  the  eye  could  reach,  we  could  see 
no  end  of  the  ranks,  the  appearance  of  which  reminded 
us  of  an  army  going  to  battle.  If  they  could  not 
procure  boats,  they  would  cross  the  river  in  some 
other  way,  though  in  so  doing  they  incurred  the  risk 
of  losing  their  lives.  They  seemed,  in  fact,  to  be 
regardless  of  danger,  and  to  have  no  fear  of  being 
carried  away  by  the  rapidity  of  the  stream.  You 
may  easily  conceive  what  a  mtiltitude  of  men,  women, 
and  children,  must  have  assembled  at  the  temple, 
when  you  are  told  that  they  literally  trod  upon  each 
other  ii>  approaching  the  gate,  and  that  about  a  hun- 
dred and  fifty  persons  were  killed  in  the  crowd  !  Ten 
sepoys  from  each  company,  of  all  the  battalions  from 
Barackpore  to  this  station,  had  permission  to  visit  the 
temple.  A  temporary  famine  was  produced  in  the 
country,  and  great  numbers  of  the  pilgrims  perished 
with  hunger  and  thirst.  We  attempted  to  reason  with 
some  of  them,  but  it  was  all  in  vain,  and  they  cut 
short  the  conversation  by  exclaiming,  '  Whether  we 
survive  or  not,  we  are  resolved  to  see  the  temple 
of  Juggernaut  before  we  die.'  Many  individuals  also 
sacrificed  themselves  to  their  imaginary  deity,  in  the 
hope  of  obtaining  eternal  life,  by  laying  themselves 
flat  on  their  backs,  for  the  express  purpose  of  being 
crushed  to  death  beneath  the  wheels  of  the  idol's 
ponilerous  car." 

In  some  instances,  however,  the  exertions  of  the 
brethren  apjioar  to  hnvo  produced  a  considerable 
effect.  "  A  sepoy,"  says  Mr.  Smith,  "  took  me  to 
his  habitation,  that  I  might  explain  the  way  of  salva- 
tion to  some  men  who  were  then  on  their  way  to  the 
temple  ;  and,  after  they  had  listened  atlontivoly  to 
my  observations  respecting  the  dyine  love  of  our  Ijord 
Jesus,  one  of  the  prinripnl  men  anmng  them  observed, 
'  You  ipciik  the  word  of  truth,  and  all  that  you  have 
snid  Itiis  struck  into  my  heart.'    And  another  exclaimed. 


v::i  nt-:ti  ii*.: 


thai  they  worship  idols  of  wood  and  stone. 
Vol,.  I.— Nos.  «3  hi  ^«. 


In  the  month  of  Norcmber,  Mr.  Pater  undertook 
a  journey  to  Cuttack,  a  distance  of  more  than  a  huD* 
dred  milei ;  and  at  every  place  which  aiibrdftd  ta 
opportunity,  he  preached  the  absolute  necessity  of 
fleeing  to  Jesus,  as  the  only  Saviour  from  the  wrath 
to  come.  At  a  place  called  Soora  he  preached  twice^ 
in  the  public  market,  to  upwards  of  two  hundred 
Oriyas ;  and,  after  worship,  a  considerable  number 
of  them,  comprising  both  Bramins  and  Soodras,  came 
to  the  room  which  he  had  hired  for  the  night,  and 
gladly  received  some  religious  tracts,  together  with 
three  Testaments,  and  four  Psalters.  They  made 
many  inquiries  concerning  the  gospel,  and  some  of 
them  conceived  such  an  exalted  idea  of  the  wisdom 
and  sanctity  of  their  new  teacher,  that  they  actually 
fell  down  to  worship  him.  He,  however,  immediately 
raised  them,  and  directed  their  attention  to  that  God 
who  is  alone  entitled  to  receive  the  adoration  of  his 
creatures. 

In  an  adjacent  village,  occupied  by  a  large  popula- 
tion of  Bramins,  Soodras,  and  Mussulmen,  the  inhab- 
itants not  only  listened  with  seriousness  and  attention 
to  our  missionary,  but  earnestly  entreated  him  to  re- 
main with  them,  and  explain  more  fully  the  way  of 
salvation  by  Jesus  Christ.  "  I  was  so  fully  employed," 
says  he,  "  in  explaining  the  word,  and  answering 
questions,  that  I  could  scarcely  find  time  to  take  any 
refreshment ;  as  from  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning 
till  nine  in  the  evening,  I  had,  at  difl^rent  times,  more 
than  fifty  persons  in  my  apartment.  Some  sat  down 
with  me  for  two  hours  at  a  time,  reading  the  scrip- 
tures, or  hearing  them  explained  ;  whilst  others  earn- 
estly solicited  me  for  a  Testament  or  a  tract  ;  and 
when  they  had  succeeded  in  their  application,  appeared 
as  joyful  as  if  they  had  obtdined  some  prize  of  immense 
value.  Others,  after  listening  attentively  for  some 
time,  expressed  their  conviction,  by  exclaiming,  '  All 
this  is  true — it  is  certainly  true.  We  have  been  com- 
pletely blind  ;  our  religion  is  false,  our  debtas  are 
unclean,  and  this  is  the  only  way  of  salvation  !'  " 

Early  in  February,  1912,  this  faithful  laborer  in 
the  liord's  vineyard  had  an  opportunity  of  introducing 
the  New  Testament,  in  the  Orissa  language,  into  the 
very  temple  of  Juggernaut.  He  accordingly  distributed 
sovcrni  copies  among  the  principal  persons  belonging 
to  that  place,  and  gave  one  of  them  into  the  hands 
of  one  of  the  purichas,  or  principal  ministers  of  the 
idol  ;  accompanying  his  gift  with  an  ardent  prayer, 
that  the  intense  darkness  of  superstition  might  be 
speedily  dispersed  by  the  glorious  light  of  divine  rev- 
elation. In  the  autumn  of  the  same  year,  he  and  his 
friciul  Kristno  Dass,  who  had  recently  become  his 
cQad'utor.  went  to  a  place  called  Poorooha-pota,  and 
preached  from  Romans  i.  «1 ,  5J2,  83.     "  It  being  the 


87 


BAPTIST  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


last  day  of  the  festival  of  Juggernaut,"  says  Mr.  Pe- 
ter, "more  than  a  thousand  persons  were  assembled, 
and  three  cars  of  the  god  were  dragged  along.  In  the 
midst  of  this  crowd  I  stood  upon  a  chair,  and  preach- 
ed the  everlasting  gospel.  The  people,  almost  to  a 
man,  left  the  cars,  and,  surrounding  me,  heard  the 
word  with  attention.  We  sang  three  hymns ;  preach- 
ed and  prayed  twice ;  and  distributed  fifteen  Orissa 
New  Testaments  and  Psalters,  besides  many  tracts. 
One  Oriya  was  insulted  by  his  countrymen  for  accept- 
ing a  Testament :  their  derision,  however,  made  no 
impression  on  him  ;  he  received  the  book,  and  went 
his  way.  On  this  occasion,  several  military  officers, 
with  their  ladies,  were  present,  upon  elephants." 

In  January,  1813,  Mr.  Peter  visited  the  brethren 
at  Calcutta,  travelling  by  land,  and  preaching  tlie  gos- 
pel in  various  places  ;  at  first  in  the  Orissa  language, 
which  he  now  spoke  with  tolerable  fluency,  and,  as 
he  drew  near  to  Bengal,  in  the  Bengalee.   At  one  place 
he  found  a  great   number  of  persons  assembled  to 
bathe  in  the  river ;  and  the  sons  of  the  rajah  were 
present  in  palanquins,  surrounded  by  a  numerous  reti- 
nue.    "  In  the  midst  of  the  crowd,"  says  ho,  "  I  as- 
cended the  bridge  on  horseback,  and  asked  several  of 
the  natives  to  explain  the  object  of  their  batiiing. 
They  said  it  was  the  Maghee  festival,  or  the  first  of  the 
month,  and  therefore  they  were  going  to  bathe,  in  order 
to  obtain  the  remission  of  their  sins.    Perceiving  that  I 
was  about  to  address  the  people,  the  whole  crowd 
surrounded  me,  and  the  rajah's  sons  came  and  stood 
near  my  horse,  listening  with  great  attention.    A  pun- 
dit observing  that  I  preached  an   invuibU  God,  de- 
manded some  proof  of  his  existence.     I  immediately 
uked  him  whether  he  could  $ee  his  soul,  and  whether, 
because  of   its  invisibility,  he  doubted   whether  he 
possessed  one.    He  frankly  answered, '  Certainly  not.' 
'  Such,  then,'  rejoined  I,  '  is  the  living  and  true  God  : 
he  is  invisible  to  us,  though  every  where  present.'  " 
The  people  expressed  themselves  satisfied  with  this 
familiar  illustration,  and  readily  received  a  great  many 
Orissa  tracts  and  New  Testaments,  which  were  offer- 
ed for  their  acceptance.     In  (he  month  of  April,  Mr. 
Peter  returned  to  Balasore ;  and,  somj  time  aAer,  his 
valuable  assistant,  Krisino  Dass,  entered  into  the  "  rest 
which  remaineth  for  the  people  of  God." 

On  the  last  day  of  August,  a  tiger  made  its  appear- 
ance in  the  town,  about  half  a  milu  from  Mr.  Peter's 
house,  on  the  way  to  Old  Balasore.  The  European 
gentlemen,  the  troops,  and  a  body  of  natives,  amounting 
in  (he  whole  to  about  a  thousand  men.  ajuenibtod  for  the 
purpose  of  hunting  it,  and,  after  some  Ume,  (he  ferocious 
animal  was  killed  by  half  a  dogen  balls.  B«for«  this 
waa  effected,  however,  nine  persons  were  severely 
wounded,  and  one  of  tham.     >'        • 


..!_ Ji-j 


-jreu  OS  uic 


foliowmg  day.  A  tigress,  accompanied  by  one  of  her 
cubs,  afterwards  entered  the  town  from  a  neighboring 
jungle ;  but  though  she  was  heard  to  roar  during  the 
night,  she  appears  to  have  reUred  without  doing  any 
particular  mischief. 

The  following  month  great  numbers  of  people  as- 
sembled at  an  idolatrous  festival,  held  at  a  certain 
house  in  Balasore.     Mr.  Peter  considered  such  an  op- 
portunity too  precious  to   be   lost ;  and  accordingly 
stood  for  some  hours  at  the  door,  preaching  the  gospel, 
and  distributing  religious  tracts  to  about  two  hundred 
persons,  who  listened  to  his  observations  with  the  ut- 
most seriousness   and   attention.     On    the  company 
leaving  the  house,  and  proceeding  with  their  idols  to 
the  side  of  the  river,  our  missionary  went  with  them ; 
and,  in  the  midst  of  about  ten  thousand  people,  kept 
on  his  horse,  bearing  testimony  ap;<(inst  their  idolatry ; 
declaring  that  there  was  but  one  true  God ;  and  pro- 
claiming Jesus  as  the  only  and  precidus  Saviour  of  poor 
and  perishing  sinners.     He  succeeded  in  gaining  the 
attention  of  the  greater  part  of  the   multitude,  and 
might  have  distributed  thousands  of  tracts,  if  he  had 
had  them ;  as  the  populace  appeared  anxious  to  receive 
and  peruse  them.     At  length  he  retired,  with  the  as- 
sistance of  three  Europeans,  who  cleared  the  way ; 
and  when  the  shades  of  night  closed  around  him,  he 
had  the  satisfaction  of  reflecting  that  the  gospel  had 
obtained  a  hearing  among  so  great  a  multitude  of  the 
idolaters  of  Orissa,  and  that  many  had  been  constrain- 
ed to  acknowledge  the  only  true  God,  and  his  coequal 
Son,  Jesus  Christ,  whom  to  know  aright  is  life  eternal. 
In  the  month  of  January,  1814,  great  astonishment 
was  excited  in  Balasore,  by  the  conversion  of  a  Bra- 
min  of  high  rank,  named  Jugunat'ha  Mookhoojya,  to 
the  Christian  religion.     This  man,  who  was  of  a  rich 
family,  and  well  versed  both  in  the  Orissa  and  Ben- 
galee languages,  was  so  thoroughly  convinced  of  (he 

(ru(h  of  the  gospel,  that  he  renounced  his  caste, 

threw  away  his  poita,  or  sacred  thread, — and  ate  pub- 
licly with  Mr.  Peter,  to  whom  he  expressed  an  earnest 
desire  for  baptisnt.     One  evening,  whilst  our  mission- 
ary was  reading  and  explaining  to  him  part  of  the  Ben- 
galee Testament,  he  expressed  his  joy  that  Christ  was 
able  to  dispossess  Satan  even  of  his  strong  holds ;  and 
observed,  "  The  dcbtas  ara  evil  spi-ils  ;  and   the   fol- 
lowers of  Jesus  have  power  from  him  to  oveicome  the 
devil  and  all  his  temptations.     I  am  growing  fearless 
of  the  power  of  debtas,  and  all  persecutors.     I  know 
that  God  alone  has  the  power  to  kill  and  to  give  life, 
and  that  without  his  permission   neither  good  nor  evil 
can  befall  me.     If  he  be  my  Redeemer,  therefore,  I 
will  not  fear  what  man  can  do.     Should  the  people  of 
my  caste  kill  mo,  I  will  not  fear ;  since  I  hope  that 
ii«iV«u  is  seoured  to  me  by  Jesus,  the  Sod  of  God. 


f*»^4* '  .*' -!>• 


orissa: 


.j^4f    ""'Vl^fMf'S* 


«7i 


From  this  time  may  1  appear  before  all  men  a  decided 
follower  of  Christ.  I  hope  the  Lord  will  receive  me, 
and  keep  me  for  ever,  as  his  own  child :  for  though  I 
am  the  greatest  of  sinners,  I  bless  the  Almighty,  and 
will  thank  him  for  ever,  that  he  has  brought  me  out 
of  darkness  into  his  marvellous  light." 

Language  such  as  this  was  calculated  to  inflame  the 
resentment  of  his  idolatrous  countrymen,  and  he  soon 
became  an  object  of  their  persecution  ;  so  that,  on  his 
passing  by  the  bazaar,  the  populace  pelted  him  with 
dust  and  stones  ;  and  one  night  he  was  beaten  severe- 
ly in  the  street  by  a  gentleman's  servant.  It  was, 
also,  rumored  that  his  relatives  intended  to  kill  him. 
None  of  these  things,  however,  were  sufficient  to  shake 
his  faith  in  the  gospel ;  on  the  contrary,  he  afforded 
such  satisfactory  proofs  of  genuine  attachment  to  the 
Redeemer,  that  Mr.  Peter  considered  himself  fully 
justified  in  proposing  him  as  a  candidate  for  admission 
into  the  little  church  at  Balasore  ;  and  in  the  meeting 
held  on  that  occasion,  the  converted  Bramin  gave  the 
following  account  of  himself: — 

"  In  my  youth  I  learned  the  Bengalee  language 
well,  so  as  to  gain  the  esteem  of  my  father  and  friends ; 
and  at  twenty  years  of  age,  I  began  to  instruct  the 
children  of  Diaram-baboo,  giving  my  earnings  to  my 
father.  At  this  time  I  worshipped  Doorga,  and  was 
superstitiously  attached  to  my  goroo,  or  spiritual  teach- 
er ;  but  on  meeting  with  some  vishnuvas,  I  was  per- 
suaded to  abandon  the  former  object  of  my  adoration, 
and  to  take  refuge  in  the  power  of  Radha  Krishna. 
I  now  wandered  about  with  the  viragees  for  three 
years,  visiting  the  holy  places  ;  but  during  the  whole 
of  this  time  I  was  in  a  state  of  the  deepest  profligncy ; 
and  to  add  to  my  misery,  a  grievous  sickness  fell 
upon  me. 

"  I  had  returned  home  ;  but  again  left  my  father's 
house,  wandering  to  Guya  and  other  places.  My  re- 
lations prevailed  upon  me  to  return  to  the  worship  of 
the  goddess  Doorga,  and  I  again  entered  into  the  em- 
ployment of  Diaram-baboo.  I  had  previously  heard 
of  Mr.  Peter's  teaching  the  doctrine  of  one  God  and 
one  Saviour ;  but  I  found  that  the  person  embracing 
this  religion  must  lose  caste ;  and  for  some  time  I  in- 
quired no  further  respecting  the  gospel,  though  my 
mind  was  agitated  with  many  anxious  thoughts  about 
salvation,  and  the  great  First  Cause  of  all  things.  At 
length,  however,  after  conversing,  at  a  gentleman's 
house,  with  Kristno  Dnss,  I  was  induced  to  call  upon 
Mr.  Peter;  who  gave  moan  account  of  God,  the  cre- 
ation, tiie  fall  and  general  depravity  of  man,  and  the 
way  of  salvation  by  Christ.  I  went  home  and  thought 
much  of  this  new  way.  A  few  days  atlerward,  I  called 
again  on  Mr.  Peter,  who  was  explaining  to  another 
person  the  stupendous  love  of  Jesus,  as  dis|)layed  in 


his  incarnation,  miracles,  death,  resurreetibii,  tu!d  i^ 
cension ;  observing,  at  the  same  time,  that  salvatioit 
was  secured  for  all  who  should  believe  in  him  ;  but 
that  the  Hindoo  writings  were  false  and  deceptive.  I 
was  .nuch  affected  by  this  discourse,  but  was  afraid  of 
the  anger  of  the  gods  and  of  my  friends.  Mr.  Peter, 
however,  removed  some  of  my  fears,  and  at  length  1 
came  to  this  conclusion : — ^There  is  no  certainty  of 
salvation  in  the  Hindoo  shasters,  which  are  full  of 
contradictions.  I  must  answer  for  myself  before  God. 
If  my  friends  and  countryn^n  do  not  embrace  the 
gospel,  it  is  because  they  do  not  understand  it.  I  will 
lead  the  way,  and  possibly  they  may  follow.  After 
this,  I  remained  in  a  state  of  suspense  about  a  fortnight. 
But  at  last  I  called  again  upon  Mr.  Peter,  and  remain- 
ed in  conversation  with  him  till  the  dinner  was  served 
up.  I  then  sat  down  and  dined  with  him,  regarding 
no  longer  the  loss  of  caste,  nor  fearing  the  anger 
either  of  gods  or  friends.  I  soon  offered  myself  as  a 
candidate  for  baptism  ;  but  he  put  me  off,  and  from 
that  time  I  have  remained  with  him,  reading  and  hear- 
ing the  word  of  God,  and  going  with  my  instructer  from 
village  to  village." 

This  statement  being  considered  satisfactory,  Jugun- 
nat'ha  Mookhoojya  was  baptized,  on  the  6rst  sabbath 
in  March,  in  the  presence  of  all  Mr.  Peter's  congre- 
gation and  about  a  hundred  natives.  And  after  the 
conclusion  of  the  service,  an  Oriya,  named  Khosalee, 
told  his  countrymen,  both  near  the  tank  where  the 
baptismal  rite  was  administered,  and  on  his  way  home, 
that  their  shasters  were  all  false ;  but  that  the  shaster 
of  Jesus  was  certainly  true. 

A  few  weeks  al\er  the  baptism  of  this  native,  Mr. 
Peter  was  afflicted  with  a  disorder  which  brought  him 
almost  to  the  borders  of  the  grave.  Some  of  the 
Oriyas  immediately  asserted  that  he  had  fallen  under 
the  displeasure  of  their  gods  for  presuming  to  despise 
them,  and  to  take  away  the  caste  of  a  Bramin ;  at 
the  same  time  expressing  a  confident  expectation  that 
his  crimes  would  be  punished  with  death.  Others, 
however,  were  heard  to  .say,  "  None  of  our  deities  can 
punish  Kim :  he  belongs  to  the  great  invisible  God, 
who  will  protect  him  in  sickness,  and  afterwards  restore 
him  to  health." 

When  our  missionary  was  so  far  recovered  as  to 
walk  about  the  town,  he  called  two  or  three  times 
upon  a  respectable  Mussulman  in  the  company's  ser- 
vice, who  received  him  with  tiie  greatest  respect ;  enter- 
ed freely  into  conversation  on  the  subject  of  religion ; 
and  twice  sent  a  present  to  the  house  of  his  new  ac- 
quaintance. He  also  gave  him  permission  to  smoke 
in  his  silver  hookah ;  at  the  same  time  quoting  the 
authority  of  certain  writings,  to  convince  his  frienda 
that  Mahometans  might  eat  with  persons  of  a  different 


I 


919 


BAPTIST  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


religion,  provided  they  did  not  join  them  in  eating 
pork  or  drinking  wine.  Some  of  his  Aiends  objected 
that  Mr.  Peter  had  eaten  pork,  but  the  Mussulman 
got  rid  of  this  obstacle  by  saying,  "  He  has  utuhed  hit 
mouth  since  then."  Speaking  of  thb  man,  Mr.  Peter 
obserTcs,  "  He  opens  his  Arabic  Koran,  and  I  open 
to  him  the  treasures  of  the  gospel.  He  is  very  de- 
vout in  his  way,  praying,  and  reading  five  times  daily. 
He  has,  also,  a  Peer  Saheb,  a  native  of  Arabia,  with 
hhn,  and  his  two  followers.  He  has  a  New  Testament 
of  his  own  in  Persic,  but  in  manuscript ;  and  I  have 
placed  in  his  hands  the  Old  Testament,  which  he  is 
now  perusing.  He  says,  however,  that  according  to 
the  Koran,  he  cannot  believe  God  has  a  Son,  though 
he  considers  Jesus  to  have  been  a  holy  prophet,  mirac- 
ulously bom  of  a  virgin." 

As  his  bodily  health  increased,  Mr.  Peter  resumed 
his  puiilic  labors  among  the  heathen ;  and  early  in 
December  he  preached  in  four  different  places  on  the 
same  day.     Whilst  he  was  closing  the  last  of  these 
services  with  prayer,  some  of  the  hearers  appeared  to 
be  deeply  affected  ;  and  eleven  men,  with  the  same 
number   of  women,  and  four  children,  accompanied 
him  home  for  further  instruction.     He  gave  them  a 
place  in  the  grounds  belonging  to  his  house,  where  they 
might  cook  and  eat  their  provisions  j  and  generously 
supplied  them  with  some  rice,  split  peas,  milk,  spices, 
tobacco,  fire-pots  and  fuel ;  at  the  same  time  permit- 
ting them  to  sleep  beneath  the  shade  of  the  trees. 
They  appeared  truly  sensible  of  this  kindness,  and 
observed  to  each  other,  "  This  man  not  only  instructs 
us  in  the  way  of  salvation,  but  also  supplies  our  tem- 
poral wants !"     When  they  had  supped,  Mr.  Peter 
and  hii  wife  sang  a  hymn  with  them ;  and  the  former, 
after  engaging  in  prayer,  inquired  whether  they  believ- 
ed in  that  Jesus  whom  he  had  preached  to  them  as 
the  only  Redeemer  from  sin  and  hell.    They  replied, 
one  by  one,  in  the  affirmative,  and  repeated  his  sacred 
name.     The  next  rooming  they  set  out,  on  the  road 


leading  to  Juggernaut's  temple,  but  assured  their  faosi 
they  should  no  longer  worship  that  idol. 

In  a  letter  dated  January  6, 1816,  Mr.  Peter  writes, 
«'  I  have  distributed  a  number  of  Testamenu  and  tracts 
in  the  course  of  the  last  year ;  and  have  recently  vis- 
ited several  new  villages,  where  the  people  heard  with 
attention,  and  received  books.  There  are  some  Bra- 
mins  who  peruse  the  Scriptures  every  week  ;  and  two 
others  appear  to  be  anxiously  seeking  the  salvation  of 
their  souls,  as  they  are  in  the  habit  of  reading  the 
New  Testament,  and  Dr.  Guise's  Explanation,  every 
day ;  and  they  assure  me  that  they  pray  in  secret  to 
Jehovah,  through  Jesus  Christ,  to  open  their  under- 
standings. When  I  call  upon  them,  they  will  even 
forsake  their  dinner  to  listen  to  my  conversation,  or  to 
ask  me  something  connected  with  the  subject  of  eter- 
nal life.  Since  my  first  arrival  at  Balasore,  thirty-four 
persons,  natives  and  Europeans, have  been  baptized; 
some  of  whom  have  been  taken  to  heaven,  and  several 
others  are  now  residing  at  Allahabad,  Chunar,  Dum- 
dum, and  other  places.  I  am  informed  there  is  a 
dreadful  sickness  at  Ganjam,  like  the  plague,  of  which 
nearly  three  hundred  persons  die  every  day.  The 
magistrates  and  officers  have  all  left  the  district,  and 
only  a  few  of  the  natives  remain. 

In  the  comiMencement  of  1817,  the  province  of 
Orissa  was  thrown  into  a  state  of  great  alarm  by  the 
approach  of  the  Pindarees ;  which,  together  with  the 
very  indifferent  state  of  his  health,  compelled  Mr. 
Peter  to  remove  to  Calcutta ;  and  since  that  time  the 
mission  in  this  part  of  the  country  has  oeen  suspended. 
Sufficient  proof,  however,  has  been  afforded,  by  the 
facts  already  related,  that,  during  the  promulgation  of 
the  gospel  in  this  land  of  idolatry,  that  animating 
promise  was  literally  accomplished  which  declares, 
"  The  word  that  goeth  out  of  my  mouth  shall  not 
return  unto  me  void  ;  but  it  shall  accomplish  that 
which  I  please,  and  it  shall  prosper  in  the  thing  where- 
to I  sent  it." 


HINUOOSTAN. 


ant 


-M-:  if^Mftm^^' 


CHAPTER   V. 


MISSION    IN    HINDOOSTAN. 


The  Rev.  Mr.  Moore  and  his  wife  having  been  for 
some  time  at  Patna,  and  it  being  considered  expedient 
that  an  attempt  should  be  made  to  introduce  the  gos- 
pel into  Agra,  it  was  resolved,  in  the  commencement 
of  1811,  to  form  a  regular  mission  in  Hindoos'.an, 
which  should  comprise  each  of  these  important  places. 
Accordingly,  on  the  2l3t  of  January,  Messrs.  Cham- 
bvlain  and  Peacock,  with  their  families,  and  a  baptized 
Hindoo,  named  Vrundavun,  set  out  from  Serampore, 
to  occupy  the  new  station  ;  for  which  purpose  it  was 
necessary  to  perform  a  journey  up  the  Ganges  of  about 
a  thousand  miles. 

On  the  18th  of  March,  Mr.  Chamberlain  addressed 
a  letter  to  his  friends  from  Ghazepoor,  in  which  he 
says,  "  We  have  proceeded  upwards  of  six  hundred 
miles  in  two  months,  without  any  storm  to  incommode 
us ;  and,  till  within  these  few  days,  the  weather  has 
been  rather  too  cold  than  too  hot.  Indeed,  both  my 
hands  and  feet  have  ached  with  cold,  for  the  first  time 
since  I  lelV  Europe.  So  far  as  I  can  judge  of  Hindoos- 
tan,  the  climate  is  preferable  to  that  of  Bengal.  The 
air  seems  clearer ;  and,  though  the  heat  may  be 
more  intense  in  the  middle  of  the  day,  yet,  hitherto, 
the  mornings  and  evenings  have  been  very  pleasant. 
The  country  produces  very  little  rice,  but  wheat, 
barley  and  peas  are  in  great  abundance.  The  natives 
are  different  from  the  Bengalees  in  their  appearance. 
The  men,  though  equally  superstitious,  are  less  com- 
plaisant ;  and  the  women  differ  from  those  of  Bengal 
in  their  clothing,  which  seems  to  be  cumbersome. 
I  have  also  remarked,  what  L  not  much  to  the  honor 
of  the  men,  that  the  females  here  are  in  greater  sub- 
jection, and  the  lower  classes  work  much  harder  than 
in  Bengal." 

On  the  arrival  of  the  mi  sionaries  at  Allahabad, 
their  boatmen  refused  to  proceed  any  farther  without 
receiving  a  larger  sum  of  money  than  they  had  pre- 
viously demanded.  As  they  persisted  in  this  resolution 
for  the  whole  of  the  day,  they  were  given  into  custody, 
and  a  letter  was  despatched  to  the  nearest  magistrate ; 
but  before  an  answer  could  be  received,  the  men 
became  conscious  of  their  error,  and  cuuseuieU    iu 


abide  by  their  original  agreement.  This  unexpecte* 
delay  seems  to  have  been  the  occasion  of  the  intro- 
duction of  the  gospel  into  the  city,  which  the  brethren, 
in  their  anxiety  to  reach  the  place  of  their  destination, 
would  otherwise  have  passed  by.  "  Being  detained 
here  till  the  Lord's  day,"  says  Mr.  Chamberlain, 
"brother  Peacock,  myself,  and  Vrundavun,  went, 
after  breakfast,  into  the  more  populous  part  of  the  city, 
and  were  fully  employed  during  the  remainder  of  the 
morning.  The  news  of  our  going  to  Agra  appears  to 
have  preceded  our  progress  ;  as,  in  different  places, 
we  met  with  people  inquiring  for  the  sahibs  who 
gave  away  the  new  shatter.  Hence,  on  making  our 
appearance  in  this  city,  the  people  came  about  us  in 
great  numbers.  In  the  evening,  I  stood  by  tiie  river- 
side, and  preached  to  several  hundreds,  among  whom 
I  also  distributed  many  tracts  and  parts  of  the  New 
Testament.  In  general,  tliey  heard  with  attention,  and 
received  the  books  with  eagerness. 

"  On  Monday  morning,  Vrundavun  and  I  went  out 
early,  and  conversed  with  a  number  of  people,  and, 
before  we  had  returned  to  our  boat,  many  were  wait- 
ing for  us  by  the  river-side.  After  breakfast,  I  preached 
to  them  the  glad  tidings  of  the  kingdom  of  God  ;  and, 
when  the  sun  became  too  hot,  I  went  into  the  boat, 
where  I  was  engaged,  without  intermission,  till  the 
evening,  in  reading,  exhorting,  and  distributing  books 
to  those  who  were  anxious  to  obtain  them.  I  have 
been  in  many  places  where  the  word  of  God  has  ex- 
cited much  attention  ;  but  never  saw  a  greater  spirit 
of  inquiry  after  the  new  way  than  was  discovered  at 
Allahabad.  Hindoos  and  Mussulmen,  learned  and 
unlearned,  all  seemed  eager  to  hear  the  Word  of  salva- 
tion ;  and,  even  after  we  had  left  the  city,  several 
persons  followed  us,  in  quest  of  books,  to  a  distance 
of  eight  or  nine  miles." 

On  the  nth  of  May,  our  missionaries  arrived  at 
Agra,  which  they  describe  as  a  large  city,  with  an 
increasing  population  ;  though  exhibiting,  in  many 
parts,  a  mere  heap  of  ruins.  Here  they  were  kjndly 
received  by  the  person  to  whom  they  had  been  recora- 
lueutied  by  their  brethren  at  Scfainpofc  ]  53d,  aitsr  s 


BAPTIST  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


short  time,  a  sergeant-major  in  the  Fort,  accommoda- 
ted them  with  the  use  of  his  quarters  for  the  celebra- 
tion of  divine  service  on  the  Lord's  day,  and  on 
Thursday  evenings.  Severe  afflictions,  however,  were 
permitted  to  exercise  the  faith  and  patience  of  those 
who  had  undertaken  to  erect  the  banner  of  the  cross 
on  a  spot  where  Satan  had  so  long  held  undisturbed 
dominion.  Mr.  Chamberlain  was  attacked  with  a 
disorder  which  confined  him  to  the  house  nearly  six- 
teen weeks  ;  two  of  his  children  were  snatched  from 
him,  in  the  interim,  by  the  icy  hand  of  death  ;  and 
the  friend  who  had  so  kindly  furnished  a  temporary 
place  for  the  preaching  of  the  gospel,  and  with  whom 
the  brethren  had  taken  sweet  counsel,  whilst  convers- 
ing together  on  the  things  of  God,  fell  down,  one  day, 
and  almost  instt  itaneously  expired  ! 

Early  in  1812,  the  missionaries  were  prohibited,  by 
a  military  order,  from  preaching  in  the  Fort ;  and,  in 
consequence  of  Mr.  Chamberlain  addressing  a  note 
on  the  subject  to  the  commanding  officer,  a  communi- 
cation was  made  by  that  gentleman  to  government, 
and  an  order  arrived  for  Mr.  Chamberlain  to  be  sent 
down  to  the  presidency.  The  Agra  magistrate,  how- 
ever, who  was  intrusted  with  the  execution  of  this 
order,  behaved  with  the  utmost  kindness  and  urbanity, 
ordering  the  persons  who  should  have  had  the  charge 
of  him,  to  attend  him  to  Calcutta  as  his  servants.  It 
is  also  pleasing  to  add,  that  on  his  arrival  and  appear- 
ance at  the  office  of  the  police,  nothing  more  was  raid 
to  him  than  that  he  wa»  at  liberty. 

Notwithstanding  this  occurrence,  and  the  trying 
dispensations  by  which  it  was  preceded,  the  aspect 
of  affairs  at  Agra  began  to  brighten.  Mr.  Peacock 
remained  at  the  station,  regularly  keeping  up  family 
prayer,  and  performing  public  worship  in  the  mission- 
house  ;  a  pleasing  change  became  apparent  in  the 
conduct  and  deportment  of  several  of  the  neighbors, 
who  exchanged  their  former  amusements  of  cards, 
backgammon,  iic.  for  the  perusal  of  the  Scriptures, 
and  the  worship  of  God  ;  one  lady  set  up  a  school  on 
her  own  premises  and  at  her  own  expense,  besides 
contributing,  in  the  space  of  a  few  months,  the  sum 
of  five  hundred  and  fifty  rupees  towards  the  support 
of  tlie  mission  ;  and,  though  the  gospel  had  been  ex- 
cluded from  the  Fort,  one  of  the  soldiers  was  baptized, 
and  others  seemed  inclined  to  follow  his  example. 

Mr.  Moore  having,  in  the  mean  time,  removed  with 
Mr.  Rowe,  and  two  native  brethren,  to  a  new  station 
at  Digah,  about  fifteen  miles  from  his  former  residence, 
it  became  necessary  to  place  the  superintendence  of 
affairs  at  Patna  in  other  hands.  A  young  man  named 
Thompson,  of  promising  talents  and  character,  bom 
in  the  country,  and  united  to  the  church  at  Calcutta, 
was  selected  for  this  purpose,  and  on  the  85th  of 


April,  after  being  affectionately  commended  to  God, 
by  his  former  pastors  and  brethren,  he  set  out  for  the 
scene  of  his  intended  labors,  accompanied  by  his  wife, 
his  mother,  and  two  friends,  who,  previously  to  their 
quitting  the  presidency,  had  formed  themselves  into  m 
distinct  church. 

On  his  arrival  at  Patna,  he  took  a  house  in  a  popu- 
lous neighborhood,  and  in  the  vicinity  of  the  great 
bazaars  ;  and  before  the  expiration  of  three  days,  he 
commenced  his  evangelical  labors,  reasoning  and  ex- 
postulating with  all  who  chose  to  visit  him  at  his 
hours  of  family  worship  ;  and  in  the  other  parts  of 
the  day,  conversing  with  the  inhabitanu  in  their  shops, 
or  publicly  preaching  Christ  to  the  people,  many  of 
whom  listened  with  streaming  eyes  to  his  discourses, 
and  expressed  the  most  earnest  desire  to  hear  something 
more  of  the  way  of  salvation.  In  the  space  of  a  few 
weeks,  indeed,  such  attention  was  excited,  and  the 
labors  of  our  young  missionary  became  so  acceptable, 
that  he  was  invited  to  preach  at  the  houses  of  four 
different  persons  who  had  attended  his  ministry  ;  a 
plot  of  ground  was  generously  offered  for  erecting  a 
new  place  of  worship  ;  both  Bramins  and  Mussulmen 
began  to  read  the  New  Tes'ament  with  lively  interest ; 
even  some  of  his  Roman  Catholic  hearers  expressed 
a  wish  to  be  baptized  ;  and  a  Hindoostanee  school 
was  opened  with  sixteen  children  and  some  adults. 

Of  the  affairs  of  Digah  the  following  account  is 
given  by  Mr.  Moore,  in  a  communication  dated  Janu- 
ary 26,  1813,  and  addressed  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Ryland: 
"  Digah  is  a  central  situation  between  Calcutta  and 
the  upper  provinces,  and  begins  to  be  known  as  such 
by  the  religious  people  in  this  country  ;  as  English 
merchants  and  others,   travelling   to  and   fro,  often 
spend  their  sabbaths  with  us.     The  mission  premises 
are  well  situated,  having  the  public  road  as  a  boundary 
on  one  side,  and  the   Ganges  on  the  other.     The 
ground  on  which  the  bungalow  stands,  which  is  the 
property  of  the  mission,  measures  four  thousand  one 
hundred  and  ninety-seven  feet  by  six  hundred  and 
forty-four ;  and,  at  a  moderate  computation,  is  worth 
seven  thousand  rupees,  or  eight  hundred  and  seventy- 
five   pounds  sterling.     Tlie  original  cost  was  three 
thousand  rupees,  and  we  have  laid  out  much  of  the 
profits  of  our  school  (in  which  we  have  now  sixteen 
boarders  and   three  day  scholars)   in   repairing    and 
improving  the  buildings.     Our  native  free  school  has 
alKJUt  forty  boys,  and  I  hope  soon  to  increase  it  to  a 
hundred.     A  worthy  young  friend  in  the  army,  who 
has  B))ent  most  of  his  spare  time  with  us  for  several 
months  past,  has  given  fifty  rupees  towards  building  a 
new  school-room  for  the  native  children,  which  is  now 
erecting." 

The  same  writer  then  nlludes  to  n  rcljiriniis  ninrdnj- 


HINDOOSTAN. 


of  nrhicli.he  had  been  an  eye-witness  in  one  of  his 
itinerating  excursions,  and  which  he  relates  as  follows  : 
"  On  hearing  the  people  belonging  to  the  boat  observe 
that  a  leper  was  going  to  be  drowned,  I  looked  out, 
and  saw,  on  the  bank  of  the  river,  a  poor  creature 
without  fingers  or  toes,  but,  in  other  respects,  appar- 
ently healthy.  He  was  eating  very  heartily,  and  was 
surrounded  by  several  people,  who  appeared  to  have 
conducted  him  to  the  spot.  The  bank  being  high,  I 
could  not  get  out  of  the  boat  till  we  had  proceeded  to 
a  considerable  distance  from  the  place  where  he  was. 
I  then  landed,  and  began  running  towards  the  spot ; 
but,  at  this  juncture,  the  people  in  the  boat  called  out, 
'  He  is  drowned  !  he  is  drowned !'  His  attendants, 
who  seemed  to  be  his  relations,  had  assisted  him  down 
the  bank  of  the  river  ;  but  whether  they  pushed  him 
in,  or  whether  he  went  in  of  his  own  accord,  I  cannot 
tell.  The  bank,  however,  was  so  precipitous  that  he 
could  not  possibly  get  out  again.  He  made  great  ef- 
forts, at  first,  to  reach  the  opposite  side  ;  but  had  he 
been  a  good  swimmer,  he  could  not  have  got  out,  the 
stream  was  so  rapid.  I  saw  him  struggle  much  before 
he  sank  to  rise  no  more  a  living  inau.  I  endeavored 
to  impress  on  the  persons  who  attended  him  the  hei- 
nousness  of  the  crime  which  they  had  perpetrated ;  but 
they  only  smiled  at  the  concern  which  I  evinced,  and 
said  they  had  merely  complied  with  the  wishes  of  the 
deceased,  who,  they  added,  had  lost  both  his  hands 
and  his  feet." 

The  following  anecdote  was  related  to  Mr.  Moore 
by  a  military  officer,  who  had  had  the  gratification  of 
rescuing  a  fellow,  creature  from  a  watery  grave. 

"  Perceiving  a  man  in  the  Ganges,  in  the  dusk  of  the 
evening,  I  called  out  to  the  boatmen  to  render  him  some 
assistance ;  but  they  coolly  replied, '  Sir,  he  is  gone ; — he 
belongs  to  God.'—'  Well,'  said  I, '  get  him  out  of  the 
water,  and  God  may  have  him  hereafter.'  The  poor 
creature  was  then  taken  up,  almost  at  the  last  gasp,  and 
I  gave  him  some  brandy,  calling  it  physic.  As  soon 
as  he  could  speak,  he  piteously  exclaimed,  '  O  !  sir, 
my  caste  is  gone !'  <  No,  no,'  I  rejoined, '  it  is  medi- 
cine.'— '  Ah,  sir !  it  is  not  that  to  which  I  allude.  My 
family  will  never  receive  me  !  I  am  an  outcast !' 
*  What !'  said  I,  '  because  your  life  has  been  preserv- 
ed ?'  '  Yes.'  '  Then  such  a  family  is  not  worthy  your 
attention.' " 

Towards  the  close  of  the  same  year,  Mr.  Thomp- 
son was  an  eye-witness  of  the  drowning  of  a  leprous  Hin- 
doo woman,  in  the  deepest  part  of  the  river  at  Patna. 
On  the  12th  of  November,  about  one  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon,  a  person  came  nmning  to  the  mission-house 
with  the  intelligence  that  this  poor  creature  was  then 
going  by,  amidst  the  noise  of  drums  and  trumpets, 
and   accompanied  by  a  large  concourse  of  natives. 


279 

Mr.  Thompson  and  one  of  his  friends  immediately 
went  to  the  great  road,  where  they  saw  the  woman, 
seated  in  a  sort  of  palanquin,  made  of  slit  bamboos, 
ornamented  with  colored  paper,  and  supported  partly 
by  men  and  partly  by  women.  She  appeared  to  be 
in  great  pain  during  the  procession.  On  her  arriving 
at  the  ghaut,  or  landing-place,  where  a  boat  was  wait- 
ing to  receive  her,  our  missionary  approached  her  pal- 
anquin, and  inquired  whether  she  were  acting  in  com- 
pliance with  her  own  inclinations.  She  immediately 
answererf  in  the  affirmative.  "  How  long,"  said  he, 
"  have  you  been  afflicted  ?"  «  Three  years."  "  What 
time  haK  elapsed  since  you  formed  the  determina- 
tion to  act  thus  ?"  "About  three  months."  "  Have 
you  any  relatives  surviving?"  "  No,  none."  Mr. 
Thompson  then  observed,  that  if  he  had  been 
previous!/  acquainted  with  her  intention,  he  should 
certainly  )iave  endeavored  to  have  shown  her  the  folly 
and  impiety  of  it.  But  she  repeated  that  the  in- 
tended ricrifice  was  perfectly  voluntary  on  her  part, 
and  the  result  of  cool  deliberation ;  though  when  ques- 
tioned on  the  nature  of  her  expectations  in  thus  destroy- 
ing he  1  self,  she  was  unable  to  give  any  satisfactory 
reply,  and  evinced  the  most  awful  ignorance  of  a  fu- 
ture St  ite.  Mr.  Thompson  then  addressed  her  in  the 
most  solemn  and  pathetic  manner,  on  the  duty  of  sub- 
mitting to  the  will  of  God  in  all  things,  and  the  dreadful 
consequences  of  provoking  his  justice  by  an  act  of 
suicide.  This  seemed  to  produce  a  temporary  effect 
on  her  mind,  as  she  hung  down  her  head  and  appeared 
to  hesitate.  The  attendants,  however,  began  to  ex- 
claim, "  God  has  called  her ;  let  her  depart :"  and 
the  poor  creature  immediately  added,  "  Do  not  dis- 
suade me,  but  permit  me  to  execute  my  purpose." 
Scarcely  had  she  uttered  these  words,  when  she  was 
hurried  into  the  boat,  and,  on  reaching  the  deepest  part 
of  the  stream,  she  was  let  down  with  her  palanquin 
into  the  river.  "  I  distinctly  saw  her,"  says  Mr. 
Thompson,  "  before  she  was  drowned,  and  fixed  my 
eyes  on  her  about  half  a  minute,  when  she  disappear- 
ed ;  and,  in  less  than  a  minute  afterwards,  the  box  or 
palanquin  in  which  she  had  been  placed,  was  seen 
floating  down  the  stream." 

In  the  mean  time  a  door  seemed  to  bo  providential- 
ly opened  for  the  introduction  of  the  gospel  into  Sird- 
hana,  a  small  independent  state,  about  sixty  miles 
north  of  Delhi,  and  twelve  days'  journey  above  Agra. 
The  begum  or  native  princess  of  this  state,  who  had 
some  years  before  embraced  the  Roman  Catholic  re- 
ligion, without  imbibing  the  bigoted  and  intolerant 
sentiments  of  its  adherents,  invited  Mr.  Chamberlain 
to  visit  her  territories,  and  intrusted  him  with  the  edu- 
cation of  her  adnnted  scs^  s.  vcuth  of  between  fiv^ 
and  six  years  old.     "I  am,  most  of  the  morning," 


1' 


BAPTIST  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


Mys  Mr.  Chamberlain,  "engaged  with  this  charge ;  and 
during  the  rest  of  the  day  and  evening,  I  have  to  at- 
tend to  the  education  of  two  scholars  at  home,  and  to  the 
translation  of  the  Scriptures  into  the  Hindee  language, 
in  which  I  have  great  delight.  I  have,  also,  two  or  three 
native  schools,  for  the  instruction  of  children ;  and, 
though  most  of  the  Catholics  are  more  averse  to  read- 
ing the  Scriptures  tlian  the  Hindoos,  one  of  these  ap- 
pears to  be  effectually  convinced  of  his  errors,  and 
carefully  peruses  the  word  of  God  for  himself:  and 
one  of  my  servants,  a  Hindoo  of  the  writer  class,  has 
avowed  himself  a  Christian  ;  so  that  even  here  some 
{learnings  of  hope  appear  to  encourage  me."  After 
some  time,  however,  Mr.  Chamberlain  was  tinder  the 
necessity  of  relinquishing  this  station,  and  of  returning 
to  Serampore. 

In  the  month  of  January,  1814,  Norman  Kerr,  and 
a  native  brother  named  Kureera,  with  the  family  of 
the  latter,  left  Serampore,  with  the  design  of  forming 
a  missionary  station  in  the  city  of  Allahabad,  situate 
about  half  way  between  Patna  and  Agra.  On  the  21st 
of  March,  they  arrived  at  the  place  of  their  destina- 
tion, and  met  with  a  very  favorable  reception  ;  many 
of  the  inhabitants  expressing  themselves  gratified  by 
their  visit,  and  applying  with  evident  eagerness  for 
copies  of  the  Holy  Scriptures.  A  nabob  of  Luck- 
now,  and  several  other  persons  of  respectability,  resid- 
ing at  a  distance,  sent  to  them  for  the  same  purpose, 
and  several  Mussulmen  not  only  solicited  that  some 
portion  of  the  word  of  God  miglit  be  put  into  their  hands, 
but  that  the  nature  and  design  of  its  contents  might  be 
explained  to  them.  The  brethren  having  found  two 
or  three  friends  at  this  station  who  had  been  baptized  by 
Mr.  John  Peter,  formed  themselves  into  a  church,  and 
received  them  into  communion :  and  two  Hindoos,  con- 
vinced of  the  veracity  and  preciousness  of  the  gospel, 
were  subsequently  added  to  them  by  the  rite  of  baptism. 

In  a  communication  from  Patna,  dated  March  31, 
1815,  Mr.  Tliompson  writes: — "Having  heard  that 
multitudes  of  Hindoos  were  to  assemble  at  a  place 
called  Bikut-poora  for  the  purpose  of  bathing  and  of 
pouring  water  on  a  stone  contained  in  the  temple, — I 
went  thither ;  and  having  obtained  a  seat  on  part  of 
the  trunk  of  a  shady  tree  of  immense  thickness,  raised 
about  five  feet  from  ilic  ground,  vast  numbers  of  peo- 
ple soon  flocked  together  ;  and  encouraged  me  greatly 
by  their  attention,  their  ability  to  read,  and  their  read- 
iness in  accepting  my  books.  I  was  so  completely 
occupied  with  declaring  the  incarnation,  life,  death, 
resurrection,  and  ascension  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  that  I  was 
questioned  but  little  respecting  Hindooism.  A  poor 
viragee,  who  had  held  up  one  of  his  arms  for  several 
years,  as  an  act  of  merit,  appeared  very  desirous  of 


hn 


tirin<r  ttio 


..1.) 


account  of  the  crowd.  Observing  this,  I  desii«d  tb« 
people  to  make  way  for  him,  and  when  became  close, 
I  asked  whether  it  were  the  word  of  God  which 
he  wished  to  hear.  He  nodded  assent ;  and  af- 
ter I  had  spoken  to  him  on  the  subjects  of  the  atone- 
ment, unbelief,  and  self-righteousness,  be  request- 
ed me  to  give  him  a  book.  One  of  the  by-standers 
(on  being  asked  by  a  friend  what  benefit  was  to  be 
derived  from  reading  those  books)  said,  <  What  is  ob- 
tained by  a  thousand  years'  penance,  you  will  obtain 
by  reading  and  believing  the  words  of  wisdom  which 
these  books  contain.'  " 

On  the  4th  of  April,  a  native  of  Bootan,  named 
Kiaba,  whose  mind  had  been  gradually  enlightened,  in 
consequence  of  bis  attentive  perusal  of  the  Scripture 
and  the  kind  explanations  of  Mr.  Thompson,  was  pub- 
licly baptized ;  and  he  afterwards  proved  a  useful  aux- 
iliary to  his  instructer,  in  distributing  books  and  tracts 
to  those  who  were  anxious  to  receive  them. 

About  this  time,  Mr.  Kerr,  who  had  hitherto  labor- 
ed diligently,  with  the  native  convert  Kureem,  at  Alla- 
habad, was  engaged  by  a  son  of  the  emperor  of  Delhi 
to  instruct  him  in  the  English  language  ;  and,  a  short 
time  afterwards,  in  the  prospect  of  a  situation  in 
which  he  might  be  able  to  provide  for  himself,  he  re- 
signed the  sahiry  hitherto  allowed  him  by  the  society; 
though  designing  still  to  employ  himself  as  a  mission- 
ary, and,  also,  to  superintend  the  exertions  of  three 
or  four  converted  natives,  whose  conversations  with 
their  countrymen,  in  some  instances,  appear  to  have 
been  productive  of  much  benefit.  Some  pleasing  in- 
stances of  this  fact  occur  in  the  journal  of  one  of  them, 
named  At'hmarara,  which  was  transmitted  by  Mr. 
Kerr  to  the  brethren  at  Serampore.  On  one  occasion, 
a  viragee,  who  had  listened  attentively  to  his  discourse, 
exclaimed,  "  I  cordially  approve  of  your  words,"  and 
added  (casting  away  his  images),  "I  will  henceforth 
worship  God,  who  is  a  spirit."  On  another  occasion, 
a  Bramin  said,  "  It  is,  indeed,  in  vain  to  look  for  sal- 
vation, except  to  Christ."  Another  Bramin  observed, 
"  The  world  is  in  darkness,  but  your  words  are  cer- 
tainly true.  I  am  aware  that  Juggernaut  is  merely  a 
log  of  wood,  but  my  subsistence  is  obtained  by  mis- 
leading others."  And  two  natives,  after  attending  to 
a  simple  and  pathetic  account  of  the  Redeemer's  life 
and  deatii,  cried  out,  "  Blessed  incarnation  !  blessed 
death !  and  blessed  be  the  person  who  instructed  you 
in  these  great  truths  !" 

In  a  letter,  dated  Patna,  April  16, 1816,  Mr. Thomp- 
son informs  one  of  his  correspondents  at  Serampore, 
that  three  instances  had  recently  come  under  his  obser- 
vation,which  serve  to  demonstrate  that  the  translation  of 
the  Holy  Scriptures  into  the  Hijidoc  language  is  well 

..nJ«»>«».l  I,..  .1 m: I L^.i.  I I I  :ii:. »_ 


HINDOOSTAN. 


»81 


"  The  first  instance,"  says  he,  "  is  that  of  a  well- 
informed  and  aged  gosaee  ;  who,  after  having  travelled 
much,  has,  for  the  last  6ve  years,  taken  up  his  resi- 
dence in  Patna.  Some  things  I  heard  of  this  man, 
induced  me  to  visit  him  about  three  weeks  ago  ;  when, 
in  the  course  of  our  conversation,  he  made  such  fre- 
quent and  apt  allusions,  and  with  such  a  serious  spirit, 
to  the  words  of  Christ, — to  the  gospel  history, — to  the 
Acts  of  the  Apostles, — and  to  the  Epistles,  as  rejoiced 
my  heart,  and  convinced  me  that  this  man,  if  he  did 
not  really  believe  in  the  Redeemer,  had,  at  least,  a 
good  theoretical  knowledge  of  the  great  truths  of  rev- 
elation ;  and  which  he  certainly  obtained  from  the  sim- 
ple perusal  of  the  Hindee  New  Testament,  without 
ever  consulting  a  single  Christian  on  the  subject.  As 
he  is  very  grave  and  reserved,  I  did  not,  before  my 
third  or  fourth  visit,  obtain  a  sight  of  the  book  to  which 
he  owes  all  the  light  and  knowledge  he  enjoys,  and 
the  separation  from  idolatry,  which  he  is  proud  to  pro- 
fess It  appears,  that  one  of  his  disciples  having  ob- 
tained from  me  (about  four  years  ago)  a  copy  of  the 
New  Testament  in  Hindee,  carried  it  to  his  goroo  for 
approval :  the  old  man  had,  for  thirty  years,  entertain- 
ed doubts  relative  to  the  Hindoo  system  ;  and  this 
book  came  most  opportunely  to  his  help,  and  he  re- 
ceived it  as  an  invaluable  prize,  even  as  the  gift  of 
God,  and  was  not  satisfied  till  he  had  read  it  quite 
through :  then,  wishing  to  teach  his  disciples  a  more 
perfect  way,  he  regularly  read  and  discoursed  from 
the  word  of  God,  to  from  ten  to  seventy  of  them  ;  some 
of  whom,  after  a  time,  said  to  him, '  Father,  you  wish  to 
wean  our  minds  from  our  shasters :  we  cannot  regard 
what  you  say,  or  we  shall  be  turned  out  of  our  caste.' 
Unhappily,  this  hint  had  some  effect  on  the  mind  of 
the  old  man  ;  for,  on  my  first  visiting  him,  I  perceived 
he  was  '  loath  to  forego  the  world's  applause,'  by  re- 
signing his  gosaceship,  and  sitting  as  an  humble  disciple 
at  the  feet  of  Jesus.  This  made  me  apply  our  Lord's 
expression  to  him,  '  How  can  ye  believe,  which  re- 
ceive honor  one  of  another,  and  seek  not  the  honor 
which  Cometh  from  God  ?' 

"  The  second  instance  is  a  rajpoot  living  at  Ghutora, 
fourteen  miles  north  of  Patna.  This  man,  under  dis- 
tress of  mind,  occasioned  by  bodily  affliction,  read  the 
Hindee  New  Testament  through,  and  also  a  tract  and 
the  hymn-book  ;  all  of  which  he  met  with  at  the  house 
of  an  old  gosaee  in  his  village.  Being  desirous  of 
conversing  with  a  Christian,  and  of  opening  his  mind 
to  him,  he  often  put  himself  in  the  way  of  gentlemen, 
but  failed  to  attract  attention :  once,  he  sat  under  the 
shade  of  a  tamarind  tree,  and  sang  several  hymns,  and 
repeated  great  part  of  the  tract ;  but  the  tree  being 
near  a  gentleman's  bungalow,  his  servants  bade  hira 
be  quiet.     When  this  expedient  failed,  he  came  to 


Patna,  and  found  out  my  house,  but  I  was  then  up  the 
country ;  however,  after  he  had  called  two  or  three 
times,  he  saw  me,  and  would  have  fallen  at  my  feet, 
but  I  prevented  him.  He  staid  a  few  days,  and,  with- 
out hesitation,  ate  with  us.  He  seemed  much  to  en- 
joy the  seasons  of  worship,  but  in  prayer  he  delighted 
most.  Having  a  family,  he  returned  to  his  village  with 
his  friends,  but  they  have  promised  to  return. 

"The  last  instance  is  that  of  the  gosaee,  at  whose 
house  the  rajpoot  read  the  New  Testament.  He  ob- 
tained it  from  me  two  years  since ;  and  has  both  read 
it  himself,  and  caused  others  to  read  it.  I  saw  him  at 
Hajee-poora  about  a  fortnight  ago,  and  was  much  pleas- 
ed with  his  knowledge  of  the  word  of  God.  He  reprov- 
ed a  rich  Bramin  for  having  dances  at  the  bathing 
festival,  to  allure  people  into  sin.  He  has  requested 
me  to  go  over  to  Ghutora,  and  spend  a  few  days,  for 
the  purpose  of  satisfying  his  mind  in  certain  particu- 
lars about  the  religion  of  Christ. 

"  These  silent  and  stated  readings  of  the  New  Tes- 
tament are,  in  all  probability,  very  numerous,  and  may, 
in  the  end,  be  attended  with  a  greater  degree  of  suc- 
cess tlian  we  can  at  present  conceive." 

The  same  missionary  observes,  in  another  commu- 
nication, "  Some  time  since,  a  lady  desired  a  copy  of 
the  New  Testament,  in  Hindee,  for  the  Romish  priest 
then  at  Bettia ;  she  obtained  the  book,  and  lost  no 
time  in  sending  it  over,  with  three  servants  ;  but,  most 
unfortunately,  the  boat  was  overtaken  with  a  storm, 
and  every  soul  perished  in  the  midst  of  the  river.  I 
encouraged  her  to  make  another  attempt  to  put  the 
word  of  God  into  the  hands  of  the  priest ;  and, 
an  opportunity  soon  offering,  I  sent  her  the  large 
Hindee  New  Testament :  the  priest  is  now  removed 
to  Lucknow,  and  thither  the  book  is  sent.  At  this 
lady's,  I  lately  saw  a  Hindoo  Christian  from  Bettia, 
named  Philip  :  the  simplicity  of  manners,  and  love  of 
the  truth,  which  this  man  manifested,  induced  me  to 
spend  several  hours  with  him.  He,  with  others,  had 
asked  the  priest  for  a  copy  of  the  New  Testament ; 
but,  to  their  mortification  and  astonishment,  none  of 
their  priests  would  allow  them  to  read  the  book.  With 
the  most  lively  gratitude  did  this  hungry  toul  accept  the 
Pentateuch,  the  New  Testament,  and  the  Scripture- 
selection,  with  tracts,  catechisms,  and  hymn-books  :  he 
departed,with  promises  to  give  the  books  a  wide  circu- 
lation among  his  brethren,  some  of  whom,  he  is  certain, 
will  rejoice  to  search  the  Scriptures  for  themselves." 

In  the  spring  of  this  year  (1816),  Mr.  Mackintosh, 
who  had  previously  labored  with  much  zeal  and  dili- 
gence at  Agra,  removed  to  the  populous  city  of  Alla- 
habad ;  and  in  the  month  of  August  he  was  joined  by 
a  native  preacher  named  Nriputa  Sing,  who,  after  re- 
maininK  there  some  time,  proceeded  to  Lucknow, 


Vol.  L— Nos.  23  &  24. 


88 


BAPTIST  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


Early  in  1817,  Mr.  Thompson  undertook  some 
itinerating  journeys,  in  order  to  extend  the  knowledge 
of  the  crucified  Redeemer ;  and  at  one  place,  where 
he  preached,  on  his  return  from  the  city  of  Lucknow, 
a  land-owner  made  the  following  remark,  which  is  too 
important  in  itself,  and  too  replete  with  encouragement 
to  the  friends  of  missions,  to  be  passed  over  in  silence  : 
— "  It  may  be  very  true  that  the  East  India  Company, 
and  the  gentlemen  residing  here,  have  nothing  to  do 
with  your  work  ;  but  you  have  adopted  the  most  cer- 
tain method  of  making  the  people  of  this  country 
Christians.  For  instance,  I  accept  one  of  your  books, 
and  peruse  it  at  my  leisure,  and,  whether  I  adopt  the 
sentiments  which  it  contains  or  not,  I  leave  the  book 
in  my  family.  After  my  decease,  my  son,  conceiving 
that  I  would  have  nothing  useless  or  improper  in  my 
possession,  will  look  into  the  volume,  understand  its 
contents,  consider  it  as  his  father's  bequest,  and  event- 
ually embrace  the  Christian  religion." 

At  Allahabad,  in  the  month  of  January,  1818,  a 
cruel  and  revolting  scene  was  witnessed  by  the  native 
preacher  Nriputa.     Two  Mahratta  women  consigned 
themselves  to  the  Ganges,  after  worshipping  the  river, 
in   the  presence  of   an  immense  crowd  of  people. 
Nriputa  spoke  to  them,  and,  in  the  most  feeling  man- 
ner, pointed  out  the  absurdity  and  the  delusive  nature 
of  the  intended  sacrifice,  as  a  mean  of  obtaining  salva- 
tion.    He  faithfully  warned  the  spectators,  also,  of 
the  horrid  nature  of  this  self-murder,  and  assured  them 
that  all  who  should  be  concerned  in  it  %vouId  draw 
upon  themselves  the  just  vengeance  of  the  Almighty. 
Regardless  of.  all  his  arguments  and  warnings,  how- 
ever, the  two  females  got  into  a  boat,  with   three 
women  of  the  same  caste  ;  who,  without  evincing  the 
slightest  appearance  of  feeling,  deliberately  tied  two 
large  pots  filled  with  water  round  the  waist  of  each, 
and  thus  helped  them  to  sink  !     «'  It  is  astonishing," 
say  the  brethren,  "  that  though  a  man,  by  the  Hindoo 
law,  is  brought  to  account  for  killing  an  animal,  the 
property  of  another,  they  have  not  prohibited  this 
barbarous  practice  !" 

In  communicating  a  detail  of  his  missionary  labors, 
in  this  city,  to  the  Rev.  W.  Ward,  Mr.  Mackintosh 
observes,  in  a  letter  dated  April  15, — "  A  devotee 
called  an  Ughorpunt'hee,  of  a  strange  appearance, 
having  a  tortoise-shell  on  his  shoulder,  and  a  crook  in 
his  hand,  showed  great  attachment  to  us  for  two  or 
three  days,  and  attended  our  worship;  he  was  desirous 
of  becoming  an  inquirer,  and  promised  to  come  over 
to  us  when  an  opportunity  offered,  but  he  was  then 
with  his  goroo,  who  was  also  very  desirous  of  seeing 
me,  having  heard  of  us,  and  of  our  belief  in  Christ, 
many  miles  from  hence.  Accordingly  I  went  to  this 
man,  on  the  22d  of  March.     I  found  him  near  the 


Fort,  with  some  villagers  about  him  armed,  and  the 
above-mentioned  disciple  close  by  him  ;  he  is  his  chief 
waiter.     His  looks  were  grim  and  dreadful,  having  his 
face  blackened  ;  a  human  skull,  with  the  upper  jaw 
and  teeth  to  it,  hung  before  him,  suspended  by  an  iron 
chain  round  his  neck  ;  his  ankles  were  environed  with 
a  heavy  iron  chain  ;  he  was  stark  naked,  and  his  body 
appeared  to  be  much  emaciated.     I  asked  him  what 
was  the  object  of  his  worship.     He  said,  four  things, 
air,  water,  earth,  and  fire  ;  and  that  he  should  mingle 
in  these  four  elements  after  death.     « Then,'  I  said, 
'  it  appears  you  have  no  future  prospects.     But  why 
do  you  go  through  such  penances,  when  you  believe 
you  are  to  be  annihilated,  and  to  have  no  existence 
after  this  life  ?    Surely  you  are  taken  in  the  snares  of 
Satan,  deceiving  your  own  soul,  and  feeding  upon 
ambition,  that  men  may  fall  down  at  your  feet  and 
worship  you  as  a  god  ;  and  because  this  flatters  you, 
therefore  you  go  through  such  penances.'     He  told 
me,  that  he  had  been  in  this  state  for  twelve  years, 
and  meant  to  continue  in  it  till  death  delivered  him 
from  it.     When  I  came  up  to  him,  he  was  worshipping 
fire.     I  advised  him  to  throw  away  these  delusions." 
The  state  of  these  deluded  and  unhappy  creatures 
was,  at  this  time,  rendered  peculiarly  affecting  by  a 
calamitous  disease,  which  had,  for  some  months,  been 
raging  among  them,  and  which,  in  the  wide  range 
of  its  infection,  is  supposed  to  have  swept  away  not 
less  than  a  million  of  victims  to  an  untimely  grave. 
"  God  has  been  pleased,"  says  Mr.  Mackintosh,  "  to 
send  the  axe  into  this  part  of  the  country,  and  num- 
bers are  daily  hewn  down  by   the  stroke  of  death. 
The  Bramins  are  busily  employed  in  imposing  upon 
the  inhabitants,  by  exacyng  offerings  to  appease  the 
goddess  Kalee  ;  and  a  man  is  frequently  sent  through 
the  streets,  to  excite  attention  by  beating  a  drum,  and 
to  enjoin  the  populace  to  present  offerings  of  rice, 
cowries,  or  flour,  in  order  to  obtain  a  removal  of  the 
plague.    And  the  drowning  of  Hindoos  at  the  junction 
of  the  two  rivers  is  so  common,  that  no  one  seems 
inclined  to  prevent  these  shocking  instances  of  self- 
murder." 

Mr.  Thompson,  in  the  mean  time,  had  removed 
from  Patna  to  Delhi  ;  embracing  every  opportunity 
which  occurred,  during  his  journey,  of  communicating 
the  tidings  of  salvation  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  vil- 
lages through  which  he  passed.  Soon  after  his  arrival 
in  the  imperial  city,  the  disease  which  has  already 
been  noticed  broke  out  there,  and  almost  immediately 
selected  as  its  victims  five  members  of  the  royal 
family,  whilst  many  of  inferior  rank  were  also  num- 
bered with  the  dead.  "  O !  what  multitudes,"  exclaims 
Mr.  Tliompson,  "  are  dying  hourly  !  In  one  day, 
twenty-five  corpses  were  carried  past  our  house  :  and 


HINDOOSTAN. 


yet  only  a  fourth  or  fifth  part  of  the  deceased  are 
brought  this  way.  The  emperor,  affected  to  the  last 
degree  for  his  subjects,  has  visited  the  chief  musjid, 
or  place  pf  prayer,  with  the  hope  of  averting  the 
wrath  which  seems  to  have  gone  forth  among  all 
descriptions  of  people."  Here  this  faithful  missionary 
bad  an  opportunity  of  distributing  many  copies  of  the 
gospels  among  the  Afghans,  who,  though  now  profess- 
ing the  religion  of  Mahomet,  are  supposed  to  be  line- 
ally descended  from  the  ten  tribes  of  Israel.  Some 
of  them,  indeed,  admitted  this  fact,  and  strongly  so- 
licited Mr.  Thompson  to  accompany  them  to  the  place 
of  their  residence  ;  assuring  him  that  their  country- 
men would  gladly  receive  and  attentively  peruse  the 
word  of  divine  inspiration. 

In  the  year  1819,  some  persons  appear  to  have 
been  benefited  by  Mr.  Thompson's  ministry  at  Delhi ; 
and  several  gentlemen  residing  in  that  city  not  only 
expressed  an  earnest  desire  for  the  moral  improvement 
of  the  natives,  but  evinced  the  sincerity  of  that  expres- 
sion by  transmitting  a  handsome  donation  towards  the 
support  of  the  college  at  Serampore.  At  Digah,  in 
the  same  year,  the  preaching  of  the  gospel  was  more 
numerously  attended  than  formerly,  and  the  native 
schools  were  as  prosperous  as  might  be  expected  from 
the  limited  scale  on  which  they  were  conducted.  In 
Allahabad  and  its  vicinity,  the  light  of  divine  truth 
was  gradually  diffused  by  the  unwearied  exertions  of 
Mr.  Mackintosh  ;  and  at  Benares,  which,  for  many 
ages,  had  been  the  strong  hold  of  superstition,  a  Mr. 
Smith  labored  with  such  success,  that  several  of  the 
inhabitants  were  publicly  baptized  in  the  faith  of  the 
gospel ;  and,  among  others,  two  Bramins,  one  of  whom 
occasionally  attended  his  teacher  in  his  itinerating 
excursions,  and  confirmed  his  testimony  respecting  the 
way  of  salvation. 

In  1 820,  the  station  at  Digah  sustained  a  loss  in 
the  death  of  a  Mr.  Stewart,  who  had  been  studying 
the  Hindoostanee  language,  with  the  hope  of  being 
employed  in  promulgatiag  the  truths  of  the  everlasting 
gospel  among  the  benighted  heathen.  Some  other  cir- 
cumstances also  occurred  to  try  the  faith  and  patience 
of  the  brethren  at  this  place.  Still,  however,  they 
had  reason  to  hope  that  their  labor  would  not  be  in 
vain  in  the  Lord.  "  Some  time  since,"  say  they, 
"  a  man  named  Narion  came  to  us  from  Chandpore, 
a  village  about  sixty  miles  north  of  Digah.  He  then 
expressed  a  wish  to  be  baptized,  and  appeared  equally 
anxious  to  be  employed  as  an  itinerant.  Thinking 
the  latter  desire  rather  premature,  we  were  induced 
to  question  the  sincerity  of  his  profession  ;  and  there- 
fore advised  him  to  return  to  his  native  village,  to 
resume  his  occupation,  and  to  do  all  in  his  power  for 
the  spiritual  benefit  of  his  neighbors  ;  promising  that 


one  of  our  native  brethren  should  call  on  him  after 
the  expiration  of  a  few  months,  and  that  we  would 
subsequently  consider  the  propriety  of  his  baptism. 
With  this  advice  he  readily  complied,  and  we  have 
since  been  informed,  that,  notwithstanding  he  works 
hard  at  his  trade,  he  spends  a  part  of  every  day  in 
reading  and  explaining  the  Scriptures  to  his  relatives 
and  neighbors.  In  some  instances,  as  might  have 
been  expected,  Narion  has  become  an  object  of  per- 
secution among  those  of  his  own  caste.  It  seems, 
however,  that  he  is  fully  determined  to  persevere  ; 
and  in  this  resolution  he  has  been  encouraged  by 
the  pleasing  circumstance  that  no  less  than  ten  in- 
dividuals of  his  own  family  have  been  induced,  by 
his  instrumentality,  to  make  a  complete  renunciation 
of  their  idolatrous  practices,  and  to  avow  themselves 
of  one  mind  respecting  the  gospel." 

In  the  course  of  the  following  year,  considerable 
progress  appears  to  have  been  made  in  the  important 
work  of  native  education  at  this  place  ;  as  the  number 
of  schools  had  now  increased  to  seven,  and  contained, 
in  the  whole,  one  hundred  and  seventy-eight  boys  and 
forty-eight  girls.  Even  at  this  period,  however,  serious 
obstacles  continued  to  be  thrown  in  the  way  of  the 
order  and  improvement  of  these  seminaries,  in  con- 
sequence of  the  extreme  ignorance  and  mercenary 
character  of  the  parents  of  many  of  the  pupils.  In 
one  instance,  a  female  school  was  actually  deserted  in 
consequence  of  a  report  that  all  the  scholars  were  to 
be  shipped  off  for  England  ;  and  another  was  broken 
up,  because,  after  the  children  had  attended  for  some 
time,  it  was  discovered  that  they  were  to  receive  no 
pecuniary  compensation  for  their  trouble ! 

In  the  same  year,  the  nativ  e  preacher  Vrinda-vunda 
bade  adieu  to  the  changing  scenes  of  time,  and  enter- 
ed into  the  blissful  realities  of  the  unseen  world.  "  Our 
respected  brother,"  says  Mr.  Rowe,  "  has  finished  his 
course,  and  is  gone  to  receive  his  crown.  He  has, 
indeed,  died  in  a  good  old  age  ;  but  we,  notwithstand- 
ing, wished  and  hoped  that  his  valuable  life  might  have 
been  spared  to  a  more  distant  period.  I  could  never 
ascertain  his  age,  but  suppose  it  must  have  been  up- 
wards of  fourscore  years.  He  used  to  say  that  he 
was  more  than  a  hundred  ;  but  the  data  on  which  he 
made  his  calculations  were  uncertain.  Our  departed 
friend  was  a  precious  fruit  of  the  labors  of  brother 
Chamberlain  at  Cutwa,  and  I  trust  he  will  be  his  joy 
and  crown  in  the  day  of  the  Lord  Jesus.  He  was 
not  without  his  imperfections ;  but  a  love  to  God,  and 
an  ardent  concern  for  the  prosperity  of  the  cause 
of  Christ,  were  predominant  in  his  soul.  Few  men 
have  labored  so  diligently  among  the  heathen.  I  have 
often  been  surnrised.  charmed,  and  humbled,  when 
witnessing  his  labors  in  the  gospel.    He  was  hero 


BAPTIST  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


•  few  inonths  ago,  on  an  itinerant  excursion,  and  I 
thought  he  then  seemed  to  be  more  alive  than  ever. 
His  companionij  in  travel  told  me,  he  would  then  walk 
from  twenty  to  thirty  niiles  a  day  ;  and  after  taking 
some  refreshment,  would  converse,  with  much  life, 
about  divine  subjects,  till  midnight.  I  have  seldom 
heard  him  utter  a  sentence  which  had  not  some  refer- 
ence to  spiritual  things  ;  and,  indeed,  to  spiritualize 
on  every  thing  he  saw  and  heard,  was  habitual  to  him. 
Thus,  for  instance,  if  he  saw  a  bullock  go  by,  loaded 
with  bags  of  sugar,  he  would  draw  a  comparison  be- 
tween the  bullock,  and  those  who  have  the  word  of 
God  and  the  means  of  grace  at  hand,  but  know  nothing 
of  their  sweetness.  In  short,  his  whole  soul  seemed 
to  be  full  of  Christ  and  bis  salvation,  and  he  was  ready 
to  impart  that  soul  to  his  perishing  countrymen.  His 
tongue  is  now  silent  in  death  ;  but  in  the  great  day, 
he  will  appear  as  an  awful  witness  against  thousands 
who  have  heard  the  gospel  from  b\r  lips  in  vain." 

Mr.  Thompson  in  the  mean  tlm'j  had  been  diligently 
•ngaged  in  different  itinerati"g  excursions,  to  a  con- 
siderable distance  beyond  Delhi,  for  the  purpose  of 
more  widely  disseminating  the  blessed  truths  of  the 
•verlasting  gospel ;  and  the  following  incidents,  which 
occurred  in  one  of  his  journeys  to  the  northward,  are 
too  interesting  to  bo  passed  over  in  silence. 

An  aged  Bramin  who,  in  consequence  of  a  four 
years'  leprosy,  had  worms  literally  crawling  upon  him, 
was  brought  to  a  place  called  Gurmookteeshwur,  as 
he  had  expressed  a  wish  to  put  an  end  to  his  bo<lily 
fufTerings  by  drowning  himself.  His  relations,  who 
were  tired  of  him,  and  his  neighbors,  who  thought  it 
a  merit  to  persuade  him  to  such  an  act,  as  well  as  the 
H.-amins,  who  were  interested  in  the  poor  man's  im- 
molating himself,  all  seemed  anxious  that  he  should 
destroy  himself.  The  Bramins  and  pundits  even 
repeated  verses  in  Sungskrit,  to  encourage  liim  in  hit 
dreadful  resolution,  and  to  dotcr  him  from  changing 
his  purpose.  In  this  state  of  things,  the  poor  creature, 
hearing  of  Mr.  Thompson,  sent  a  message  requiring 
his  sanction  to  the  intended  suicide,  and  promising  to 
abide  by  his  counsel,  whether  it  were  to  desist  from, 
or  prosecute  his  purpose.  "  I  went,"  says  our  mis- 
sionary, "  and  found  the  pitiable  object  unable  to  move. 
I  placed  his  conduct  before  him  in  its  proper  light, 
and  warned  him  of  tlie  awful  consequences  of  pcr- 
■svering  in  his  murderous  resolution.  I  added,  that 
ts  suffering  was  inseparable  (  om  sinful  creatures,  it 
bframc  him  to  humble  himself  under  the  hand  of  (»o<i, 
who  took  this  method  to  convince  him  of  sin,  by 
making  him  both  see  and  feel  what  a  bitter  and  evil 
thing  it  is.  1  then  held  up  the  Saviour  to  him,  and 
SS^ifet:  him  he  haii  cvrfy  hlcssins  in  his  pnvvcr  to 
Iwstow.     At  first,  the  old  man  would  listen  to  nothing, 


but  desired  1  would  acquiesce  in  his  horrid  wish, 
which,  he  said,  would  be  the  completion  of  his  happi- 
ness. I  again  went  over  the  same  grounds  to  dissasf** 
him,  but  feared  I  should  not  prevail.  He  started 
another  objection,  by  asking  who  was  to  support  him  * 
his  relatives  being  heartily  tired  of  him,  and  having 
sent  him  thus  far  only  to  get  rid  of  him.  Having 
removed  this  objection,  he  paused,  then  seemed  vexed, 
and  began  to  weep.  After  this,  he  listened  with  great 
attention,  and  suddenly  exclaimed,  with  joy  in  his 
countenance,  '  Blessed,  blessed  be  your  instruction  ! 
Blessed  be  the  God  who  sent  you  !  Blessed  be  your 
father  and  mother  !  Blessed  be  you  and  the  instruc- 
tions you  have  given  me  !  I  will  not  drown  myself, 
but  return  to  my  village,  and  wait,  as  you  have  advised, 
till  my  time  comes  to  be  freed  from  this  suffering  by 
death.'  An  hour  or  two  after  this  interview,  he  returned 
to  his  village,  Bhyna,  near  Dholpore,  forty  miles  east 
of  Meenit.  On  my  return,  I  endeavored  to  interest 
the  Mahometan  tuhseeldar  of  the  district  in  the  preser- 
vation of  the  poor  man,  and  he  commanded  his  rela- 
tions to  see  tiiat  he  had  a  house,  and  every  necessary 
afforded  him." 

The  other  incident  relates  to  the  fate  of  a  Hindee 
gospel  of  St.  Luke,  and  a  religious  tract,  called  The 
Gospe'i  Messenger,  given  away  at  Hurdwar  fair.  "  A 
respectable  Hindoo  of  Ray-poora,"  .soys  Mr.  Thomp- 
son, "  brought  a  letter  of  introduction,  from  a  gentle- 
man, and  a  Hindee  gospel  of  Luke,  of  which,  on  my 
asking  him,  he  gave  the  following  account : — Two 
Hramins  coming  into  his  father's  village  with  two 
gospels,  the  old  man  was  anxious  to  know  what  they 
contained  :  he  was  answered  briefly,  that  they  were 
part  of  the  Sahib's  shastcrs,  which  iiad  been  freely 
given  them  at  the  fair.  The  old  man  expressed  a  wish 
to  possess  at  least  one  ropy,  hut  he  could  prevail  on 
neither  to  part  with  a  copy  for  him.  He  offered  holf 
a  rupee,  then  a  nipee,  hut  was  still  refused  ;  but  this 
did  not  abate  his  tlesire  for  the  book.  In  the  moan  time, 
a  viragoo,  who  had  perhaps  visited  some  of  our  mis- 
sionary stations,  and  been  disappointed  in  his  worldly 
expectations,  expressed  his  astonishment  at  Hindoos, 
who  retoinod  their  integrity,  being  so  desirous  of  read- 
ing the  lK)oks  of  the  ftringas.  'The  instant,'  said  he, 
'any  one  reads  the  book,  he  is  sure  to  lose  his  caste, 
and  become  a  feringa  ;  what  have  you  to  do  with  such 
a  wicked  book  ?  Throw  it  into  the  Ganges.'  Such  an 
account  of  tiu)  book  and  its  effects  stunned  .dl  present, 
and  had  its  rffert  with  iho  most  ignorant  of  the  two 
Hrnmins,  who  immediately  held  out  his  hand  to  the 
old  gentlenian,  and  offered  him  tho  book  ho  so  mtich 
desired,  saying,  '  Take  it,  sir;  I  have  no  occasion  for 
inin  ImmiK.'  i Ti«  iMiiur,  HH  Tttt  Whs  ti  |it-r»uii  >>!  miMie 
consideration,  perhaps  did  not  like  to  be  influenced 


HINDOOSTAN. 


entirely  hj  a  vrandering  stranger,  and  therefore  took 
the  book  without  hesitation ;  on  which  the  viragee  at- 
tacked the  old  man  in  very  angry  language.  The  ton, 
fearing  the  consequences,  interposed,  and  said  to  the 
viragee, '  What  is  it  to  you,  if  we  take  and  read  the 
book  ?'  '  Go,  go,'  replied  the  viragee, '  and  become  a 
Mussulman  and  aferinga,  and  lost  your  holiness.'  The 
son,  who  had  read  the  tract,  replied,  <  How  do  I  lose 
ray  holiness  ?  If  this  book  had  taught  me  to  lie,  steal, 
and  commit  every  iniquity,!  should  then  have  thought 
it  bad,  and  have  thrown  it  away ;  but  instead  of  this, 
it  teaches  the  way  to  heaven.'  Thus  the  struggle  be- 
tween these  two  men  ended  in  the  book  being  receiv- 
ed. Every  such  instance  makes  it  more  and  more 
evident  that  the  Lord  Jesus  has  a  people  in  Hindoos- 
tan  whom  he  will  one  day  call  forth  to  declare  his 
praise.  Surely  it  was  not  in  vain  that  he  said,  when 
he  died,  he  should  not  die  for  one  nation  only,  but  that 
he  should  gather  together  :n  one  the  children  of  God 
that  were  scattered  abroad." 

In  a  letter  dated  Digah,  July  4,  1822,  Mr.  Rowe 
observes, — "  A  native  rajah  is  now  living  in  one  of 
the  bungalows  belonging  to  the  society ;  and  there 
are  some  circumstances  connected  with  this  event,  that 
possess  an  interest  in  which  I  am  sure  you  will  partici- 
pate. The  rajah  lives  in  the  eastern  style,  and  of 
course  is  surrounded  with  Bramins,  and  a  great  num- 
ber of  servants  of  various  descriptions.  Since  he  fnsl 
came,  he  has  frequently  called  to  see  us,  and  manifests 
much  cordiality  in  reciprocating  any  little  attention 
that  we  pay  him  ;  but  appears  reserved  in  his  in- 
terviews with  regard  to  religion.  He  tells  me  that 
he  allows  himself  about  six  hours  out  of  the  twenty-four 
for  sleep  ;  a  few  for  eating  and  attending  to  the  neces- 
sary business  of  life ;  and  the  remainder  ho  occupies 
in  his  devotions.  Indeed,  ho  seems  to  labor,  in  his 
way,  with  all  his  might,  fur  the  salvation  of  his  soul. 
I  generally  see  iiim  once  or  twice  a  day  performing 
his  ablutions  in  llic  Ganges.  On  these  occasions,  the 
Bramins  in  attendance  usui.i'y  form  tiiomselves  into  a 
circle  outside  of  him.  I  know  not  wliy  tlioy  do  this, 
unless  it  he  that  the  rajah  thus  shows  his  respect  for 
them,  by  giving  tliem  tlie  first  chance  of  being  carried 
off  by  an  ailiealor.  At  first  the  rajah  and  liis  follow- 
ers were  very  inquisitive  ol)out  our  sacred  writings, 
and  made  frequent  applications  for  them.  Wo  fur- 
nished them  with  the  New  Tcstaineiit  in  Sujigskrit, 
Hind(Mislanpo,  and  i'crsian  ;  as  also  with  a  number 
of  tracts,  catochijins,  &ic.  Among  timse  who  have 
bntMi  poruHing  the  word  of  life,  is  the  rajah's  family 
lihysician  ;  ho  often  calls,  and  sometimes  brings  a  Bia- 
niin  or  two  with  him  ;  but  he  has  latterly  become  ex- 
ceedingly cautious,  lie  one  day  toUi  usttiut  lie  iiad  rom- 
iiiciiccd  reading  our  Scriptures,  but  on  (lerceivingtlmt 


what  he  read  tended  to  a  change  of  mind,  ha  loft  <i£ 
'  If  I  were  to  become  a  Christian,'  said  he, '  I  should 
lose  my  situation,  friends,  and  property  ;  and  I  should 
not  then  be  able  to  procure  horses,  and  other  things 
in  whksh  I  delight.'     Another  man,  who  is  one  of  tha 
rajah's  body-guard,  professes  to  have  his  naind  much 
affected  by  what  he  has  read ;  and  I  suppose,  from 
concomitant  circumstances,  there  is  some  reality  in  it. 
He  procured  the  Hindoostanee  New  Testament  soon 
after  his  arrival,  and  it  is  evident  from  the  questions 
he  has  asked  from  time  to  time,  relative  to  the  life 
and  miracles  of  our  Lord,  that  he  has  read  some  of 
the  gospels  very  carefully.     At  one  time    he  said, 
'  Every  line  carries  home  conviction  to  my  heart.'  At 
another,  '  I  have  reed  the  shasters  and  the  Koran  ; 
they  contain  a  great  deal  of  unreasonable  stuff:  but' 
(putting  his  hand  on  the  New  Testament),  he  em- 
phatically exclaimed,  '  this  is  truth  !'     'This  man 
openly  professes  to  have  undergone  a  change  of  mind, 
and,  in  consequence  of  his  profession,  is  exposed  to  a 
considerable    degree  of   persecution.     He  says,  the 
rajah  himself  possesses  much  liberality  of  mind,  and 
that  he  one  day  evinced  it  by  saying  to  his  opposers, 
'  All  religions  are  good  ;  let  him  alone.'     Some  of  the 
Bramins,  however,  and  particularly  a  Mussulman  in 
the  rajah's  service,  oppose  him   with  great  violence. 
They  watch  him  closely,  to  prevent  him  from  reading 
or  having  any  conversation  with  us.    His  opposers  fre- 
quently extinguish  his  lamp,  or  snatch  the  book  out  of 
his  hand,  to  prevent  him  from  reading.     They  show 
their  resentment  by  calling  him  a  Christian,  refusing 
to  eat  with  him,  and  not  allowing  him  to  touch  any  of 
their  things  ;  though  he  has  done  nothing  to  forfeit  his 
caste,  except  professing  his  change  of  mind  with  his 
lips.     He  appears  to  be  in  earnest,  watches  for  oppor- 
tunities to  read  in   private,  and   generally  contrives 
to  attend  our  Hindoostanee  worship  on   Lord's  day 
evening." 

Ill  1823,  on  Mr.  Thompson's  return  from  a  visit  to 
Scruinporc,  a  circuiiistuiico  occurre<l  ul  Delhi,  liighly 
gratifying  to  that  devoted  servant  of  Christ,  and  which 
excited  a  considerable  sensation  in  the  iiiipcriul  city. 
An  aged  Braiiiin,  held  in  the  highest  estimation  among 
his  neighbors  for  his  attainments  in  Sungskrit  litera- 
ture, after  hearing  the  gospel  for  some  time,  publicly 
renounced  idolatry;  and,  notwithstanding  all  the  efforts 
made,  both  to  allure  and  terrify  him  from  his  purpose, 
openly  professed  his  faith  in  Christ,  and  was  baptized 
in  iiie  proKciice  of  iiiuiiy  spoctHtois,  On  this  uCCur* 
rencc,  the  Serainpore  brethren  remark,  "This  renun- 
ciation of  Hindoolsm  by  an  aged  Brumin,  eminent  for 
his  knowledge  of  the  shasters,  and  the  siicred  language 
of  tiie  liindoo'4,  being  in  that  part  of  tiie  country  qyiie 
a  new  thing,  has  procured  much  attention  to  the  doc* 


BAPTIST  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


trine  of  the  gospel.  It  seems  to  show,  among  other 
things,  the  laftty  with  which  Christianity  may  be  pro- 
mulgated in  the  darkest  parts  of  India.  All  the  threat- 
ened opposition  to  this  man's  open  profession  of  Chris- 
tianity, ended  in  a  few  expressions  of  personal  dislike 
from  his  old  acquaintance,  on  account  of  the  course  he 
had  taken,  and  his  having  tacitly  condemned  them  and 
all  their  religious  observances,  by  nobly  daring  to  follow 
his  own  convictions  of  the  truth.'  For  all  this,  how- 
ever, he  wtB  prepared,  and  by  sustaining  the  whole  in 
the  spirit  of  genuine  Christianity,  he  in  a  great  meas- 
ure disarmed  the  resentment  of  his  neighbors  and  ac- 
quaintance. So  completely  quiet  were  they,  indeed, 
in  the  expression  of  their  dislike,  that,  at  the  time  of 
his  baptism,  the  attention  of  the  lowest  person  in  the 
native  police  was  not  ofEcially  called  to  the  trans- 
action." 

At  Benares,  the  church,  under  the  care  of  Mr. 
Smith,  consisted  at  tiiis  time  of  twelve  members,  among 
whom  several  Bramins  were  included.  Ram-dass,  a 
native  itinerant,  was  employed  as  a  coadjutor  with  tiie 
pastor ;  and  the  European  inhabitants  of  the  city  had 
lately  subscribed,  almost  without  solicitation,  a  thousand 
rupees  to  assist  in  erecting  a  small  place  of  worsiiip. 
At  Allahabad,  formerly  infamous  on  account  of  the 
dreadful  scenes  of  self-destruction  annually  perpetrat- 
ed there,  the  aspect  of  afiairs  was  unfavorable  ;  as 
Mr.  Mackintosh  and  his  native  companion,  Rughoo, 
seemed  unable  to  make  much  impression  upon  the  Hin- 
doo population  of  that  large  city.  An  English  friend, 
however,  in  token  of  gratitude  for  the  benefit  derived 
from  the  preaching  of  the  European  missionary, 
generously  presented  him  with  two  thousand  rupees, 
to  build  a  house  for  the  worship  of  the  living  God. 

Intelligence  connected  with  the  mission  to  Dignh, 
details  another  of  those    affecting  dispensations   by 
which  the  friends  of  the  gospel  are  taught  to  bow  in 
humble  submission  to  the  will  of  Him  who  hatii  said, 
"  What  I  do  thou  knowcst  not  now,  but  thou  shalt 
know  hereafter."     Mr.  Rowe,  who  had  lonp;  and  dili- 
gently labored  at  this  station,  was  removed  by  death, 
on  the  1 1th  of  October,  after  a  short  illness,  attribut- 
ed to  a  cold  taken  in  returning  at  night  froni  a  neigh 
boring  village,  where  ho  had  been  preaching.  "  Thus," 
the  brethren  observe,  "our  soriciy  has  been  suddenly 
deprived  of  an  able  and  diligent  roadjutor,  who  had 
for  twenty  years  been  actively  engaged  in  promoting 
its  object  in  India.    His  time  of  life  might  have  affordtul 
a  reasonable  hope  of  prolonged  activity  ;  as  ho  was  only 
forty-two  years  of  age ,  hut  '  God  sceth  not  as  man 
seeth.'     By  such  dispensations  as  these  he  exhorts  us, 
in  th«  most  impressive  manner,  to  fix  our  hopes  and 

expectations  on  Himself  alone." 

or_ .      ..  -        - 

TT  c  j.Toposc  aavpning  now,  lor  i  I«w  raOfiiuuU,  to  ii 


some  two  or  three  of  the  principal  stations  in  this  put  of 
the  eastern  world,  and  then  referring  our  readers,  for 
additional  particulars,  to  the  tabular  statements  in  p.  1 9S. 
Our  first  reference,  then,  will  be  to  Digah. 


DIQAH. 

For  a  while  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Rowe,  the  sta- 
tion was  maintained  by  the  vigorous  and  persevering 
exertions   of    his   widow ;    who   superintended    the 
schools,  and  directed  the  proceedings  of  the  native 
itinerants.     After  a  while,  Mr.  Burton,  who  had  been 
under  the  painful  necessity  of  leaving  Java,  removed 
here,  and  was  soon  after  called  to  mourn  over  the 
death  of  his  excellent  wife.     She  was,  in   the  true 
sense  of  the  word,  a  female  missionary ;  and  after 
having  been  useful  in  the  holy  cause,  she  expired  in 
the  full  possession  of  the  peace  and  hope  which  the 
gospel  alone  can  impart.     The  Report  of  1828  says, 
"  From  Digah  intelligence  has  been  received,  extend- 
ing totiie  close  of  1827,  which  is  of  a  very  gratifying 
nature.     Amidst   the   sorrows  of   bereavement,  Mr. 
Burton  has  been  cheered  by  evident  indications  of  a 
■livinc  blessing  on  his  labors.    Twenty-nine  individuals 
have  been  baptized  and  added  to  the  church,  among 
whom  was  one  whole  household,  nominally  professors  of 
tile  Roman  Catholic  faith.    Among  the  native  itinerants 
associiitcMl  with  Mr.  Burton  in  missionary  work,  one, 
called  Hurry  Das,  was  baptized  eleven  years  ago  by 
Mr.  Chnmberlain,  and  continues  to  this  day  to  adorn 
tlic  gospel  he  has  so  long  professed.     There  are  eight 
hoys'  schools  at  this  station,  containing  obout  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  children  ;  hut  those  for  native    females 
have,  since  the  death  of  Mrs.  Burton,  been  of  neces- 
sity discontinued.      Some  English  gentlemen  in  the 
noighhorhood  have  kindly  subscribed  towards  the  ex- 
pense of  till!  schools." 

But  tiiis  ha  ppy  prospect  of  the  prosperity  of  the  cause 
of  Christ  at  Olgah  was  destined  soon  to  bo  blighted.  In 
the  next  annual  Report  of  the  society,  its  committee  were 
called  on  to  say, "  We  have  been  recently  visited  with  t 
very  afflirtive  dispensolion,  in  the  unexpected  removal 
of  our  faithful  and  laborious  missionary  brother,  Mr. 
Burton,  who  expired,  after  a  few  days'  illness,  at 
Bankipore,  near  Dipah,  on  the  sixth  of  September 
last.  Of  his  diligent  application  to  the  duties  of  bis 
office,  we  have  had  to  make  honorable  mention  in  our  for- 
mer Reports  ;  aixt  those  ro|)resentaiions  are  ftdly  Imme 
out  by  those  who  had  the  opportunity  of  closer  obter- 
validn.  '  From  the  time  of  his  arrival  nt  the  station,' 
say  our  Calcutta  brethren,  '  he  h«<l  applied  himself 
with  much  ardor  to  the  acquisition  of  the  language, 
and  the  prosecution  of  missionary  objects ;  nor  was  hf 


MONGHYR. 


without  the  high  satis&ctioii  of  seeing  his  efforts  crown- 
ed with  success,  having  had  many  seals  to  his  ministry 
unong  the  European  soldiers  and  others.  Between 
caring  for  the  English  congregation,  laboring  among 
the  natives  himself,  and  directing  the  exertions  of 
others  in  the  same  department  of  service,  and  attending 
to  eight  schools,  his  hands  and  his  time  were  fully 
occupied.  His  heart,  however,  was  in  the  work,  and 
his  desire  for  the  salvation  of  the  heathen  led  him  to 
project  other  plans  of  usefulness,  and  he  was  waiting 
till  the  cold  season  to  carry  them  into  effect.  It  was 
well  that  it  was  in  his  heart  to  do  such  things,  though 
He  whom  he  served  thought  good  to  call  him  home 
before  he  could  accomplish  his  designs.'  " 

Such  was  the  respect  in  which  this  good  man  was 
held,  that  a  medical  gentleman  in  the  neighborhood 
accommodated  him  during  his  illness  in  his  own  house, 
and  rendered  him  every  assistance  which  professional 
skill,  combined  with  anxious  and  affectionate  solicitude, 
could  suggest.  The  soldiers,  also,  to  whom  he  had 
been  accustomed  to  preach,  evinced  the  high  estima- 
tion in  which  they  held  him,  by  coming  out  of  their 
cantonments,  and  requesting  permission  to  carry  his 
body  to  the  grave,  a  distance  of  not  less  than  four 
miles. 

After  this  affecting  removal  of  Mr.  Burton,  Mr. 
Leslie,  of  Monghyr,  though  residing  at  a  distance  of 
more  than  a  hundred  miles,  frequently  visited  Digah, 
and  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  the  work  of  the  Lord 
prospering  there,  notwithstanding  all  the  disadvantages 
under  which  it  labored  for  the  want  of  an  European 
missionary.  Twenty-nine  persons  were  in  one  year 
added  to  the  church,  some  of  whom  had  been  bigoted 
Catholics.  Mr.  Lawrence,  from  England,  embarked 
in  June  last  for  this  interestin    station. 


MONGIIVR. 

In  this  large  city,  which  has  long  been  a  place 
visited  by  invalids  of  the  British  army,  for  the  benefit 
of  their  healtli,  the  standard  of  the  gospel  was  first 
erected  by  the  Into  Rev.  John  Chaniborlain,  who, 
after  devoting  many  years  to  itinerant  labors,  settled 
here  in  the  year  1816,  and  renminod  pastor  of  the 
church  ho  formed  till  his  death.  In  preaching  and 
translating,  he  was  indefatigable  ;  ho  employed  two 
native  assistants,  and  with  them  his  days  wore  fre- 
quently given  to  prearliing,  rihI  his  evenings  to  the 
Hinduwoo  translation  ;  but  in  the  midst  of  his  useful- 
ness, t\w  Hi.port  of  |H«a,  ttftcr  referring  to  the  de- 
clining state  of  his  health  for  several  preceding  years, 
announces  his  (innili  <>n  <l>u  .:.ii.  ..r  i\ ■ . 

ceding,  on  his  voyage  homewards ;  and  adds,  "  By 


the  death  of  Mr.  Chamberlain,  the  society  has  lost  * 
lealous  and  disinterested  missionary,  who,  for  nearly 
twenty  years,  has  made  full  proof  of  his  ministry.  He 
was  eminent  for  decision  of  character ;  for  an  inflexible 
adherence  to  what  he  considered  to  be  truth  ;  and  for 
siich  a  warm  attachment  to  missionary  labors,  as  led 
him  often  to  exert  himself  beyond  what  his  frame  could 
well  sustain.  As  a  preioher  to  the  natives,  he  was 
probably  the  most  impressive  ever  heard  in  India ;  and 
his  translation  of  the  New  Testament  into  the  Brij 
Basha  dialect,  which  is  now  printing  at  Serampore,  is 
understood  to  exhibit  ample  proof  of  his  suierior 
proficiency  as  an  oriental  scholar."  Mrs.  Chamberiain 
continued  for  a  while  to  reside  at  Monghyr,  and  to 
regulate  the  movements  of  the  three  native  itinerants 
who  labored  on  the  station  ;  and  evidences  continued 
to  be  given  that  the  work  of  God  did  not  end  at  Mr. 
Chamberiain's  death. 

In  1824,  Mr.  Andrew  Leslie,  an  able  minister,  who 
had  been  educated  at  the  Bristol  college  under  the 
care  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Ryland,  arrived  at  Monghyr 
from  England,  and  found  things,  both  in  the  church 
and  the  schools,  in  a  very  encouraging  state  ;  and, 
having  applied  with  great  assiduity  to  the  study  of 
Hindoostanee  on  the  voyage,  he  was  able,  within  six 
months  after  his  arrival,  to  address  the  natives  in  their 
own  language.  In  1825,  he  could  report  that  nine 
persons  had  been  added  to  his  church,  and  that  thirteen 
schools  were  under  his  care.  In  the  following  year, 
however,  amidst  all  the  pleasing  scenes  which  cheered 
his  heart,  he  had  to  commit  to  the  grave,  after  but 
one  day's  illness,  his  beloved  and  amiable  wife,  of 
whom  an  interesting  memoir  has  since  been  published 
in  England. 

The  Report  of  1828  states  :— «'  Though  it  does  not 
appear  that  any  considerable  accession  has  been  made 
of  late   to  the  church  at  Monghyr,  and  not  a  few 
of  the  European  members  have  been  removed  by  the 
fluctuations  to  which  Indian  society  is  so  subject,  yet 
the  prospect  is  so  encouraging,  as  to  lead  Mr.  Lesho 
Rrntelilly  to  remark,  that  'things  never  looked  so 
well   as  at   present.'      The  steady  and   persevering 
exertions  of  our  missionary  brethren,  Leslie  and  Moore, 
and  of  the  native  assistants  under  their  direction,  seem 
to  have  produced  a  very  powerful  excitement  mong 
Hindoos  and  Mussulmen.in  various  classes  of  society, 
both  in  Monghyr  itself,  and  to  a  considerable  distance 
around   it.     One   incident,  which  may  be  quoted  in 
illustration  of  this  ^ituiuiiient,  will  prove  tliat  the  con- 
science may  sometimes  be  powerfully  affected  with 
alurm  and  disquietude,  even  after  a  long  life  has  been 
spent   under  the    hardening   and  debasing,   influence 
of  hoaihen   idoiuiiy.     ■  X    very   old   man,'  soys  Mr. 
Leslie,  '  seeing  one  of  our  native  Christians,  culled  to 


M8 


BAPTIST  MISSIONART  SOCIETY. 


him  to  oome  to  his  door  uid  spoak  with  him.  The 
Cbiwtian  went.  The  old  man  began  bjr  saying,  <  I 
am  very  poor,  and  have  no  money  in  my  house ;  I  am 
anxious  to  aslc  you  some  questions,  but  I  cannot  pay 
you.'  The  Christian  said,  <  I  wish  for  no  money ; 
please  propose  your  questions.'  The  old  man  then 
sud,  '  I  have  seen  with  my  own  eyes  my  son's  son's 
son's  sons,  and  they  are  all  dead.  Now  I  wish  to 
know  whether  I  shall  see  them  all  again  in  another  world.' 
The  Christian  having  answered  this  question,  the  old 
man  further  said — '  Now  I  wish  to  know  whether  they 
will  receive  as  much  punishment  for  their  sins  as 
I  shall,  who  have  lived  longer  than  they  all.'  This 
question  being  also  answered,  the  old  man  said,  '  I, 
from  my  great  t^e,  and  from  my  many  sins,  perceive 
that  I  am  carrying  to  the  grave  a  very  heavy  burden, 
and  I  know  not  how  to  be  delivered  from  it.'  Jesus 
then  being  made  known  to  him  as  the  bearer  of  his 
burden,  he  was  very  much  affected — if  I  mistake  not, 
even  to  weeping.  1  have  told  the  native  Christians 
to  be  sure  that  they  return  to  the  old  man.  Who 
can  tell  but  he  may  be  one  of  those  in  whom  God 
will  glorify  himself  by  calling  him  at  the  eleventh 
hour  ?'  " 

In  this  same  year,  Mr.  L.,  in  order  to  facilitate  the 
attendance  of  the  natives  on  the  gospel,  erected  a  neat 
and  substantial  place  of  worship,  in  tiie  fashion  of  the 
country,  in  the  very  centre  of  the  population,  on  ground 
given  for  the  purpose  by  the  authorities  of  the  station. 
The  result  far  exceeded  his  expectation;  he  was 
soon  compelled  to  enlarge  it ;  and  several  persons  de- 
clared their  attachment  to  Christ  and  his  gospel,  un- 
der circumstances  of  opposition  and  danger  which 
strongly  attested  the  depth  of  their  convictions,  and 
the  sincerity  of  their  professions.  The  following  year 
he  was  compelled  to  build  an  additional  chapel,  and 
erery  thing  has  since  contributed  to  encourage  him. 


The  last  Report  says,  "  Although  it  does  not  appear 
that  any  recent  additions  have  been  made  to  the  chmob 
at  Monghyr,  Mr.  LesUe  speaks  with  grateful  satisfte* 
tion  of  the  encouragement  he  derives  from  the  gene- 
ral appearances  around  him.  He  is  much  asnsted  in 
his  itinerant  exertions,  at  the  fairs  and  other  places  of 
large  resort,  by  the  native  Christians,  whom  he  em- 
ploys in  distributing  tracts  and  gospels,  and  in  convers- 
ing with  their  countrymen  about  the  gospel.  One  of 
those  whom  he  last  baptised  is  thus  engaged,  and  dis- 
covers indications  of  superior  talents  for  usefulness, 
combined  with  great  humihty.  Since  the  erection  of 
his  new  place  for  native  worship,  the  name  of  Christ 
has  become  very  widely  known.  The  inhabitants  of 
villages  distant  three  days'  journey  from  Monghyr  have 
heard  the  gospel,  and  its  contents  have  become  the 
theme  of  frequent  conversation  among  them.  The 
schools  at  this  station  prosper  much.  Seventy,  at  least, 
of  the  pupils  can  read  the  Scriptures  well,  and  more 
than  a  hundred  can  repeat  great  portions  of  Watts's 
Catechism.  Instances  frequently  occur  to  prove  that 
idolatry  is  losing  its  hold  on  the  minds  of  the  children ; 
while  a  spirit  of  prayer  seems  increasingly  to  prevail 
among  the  members  of  the  church." 


BENARES. 

In  addition  to  the  statements  we  have  already  given, 
in  reference  to  the  proceedings  of  the  missionaries  at 
this  ancient  seat  of  Braminical  learning,  four  hundred 
and  sixty  miles  west  of  Calcutta,  wilh  a  population  of 
200,000souls,  we  can  now  add  that,  in  1827,  Mr.  Smith 
opened  a  place  of  worship  at  Hunnooinan-gunj.  He 
has  been  active  in  his  itinerant  labors ;  has  promoted 
the  establishment  of  schools  with  pleasing  success ; 
but  notwithstanding  all  this,  his  church  is  very  small. 


CEYLON. 


989 


CHAPTER  VI. 


MISSIONS   IN    THE    ASIATIC    ISLANDS. 


CEYLON. 


In  the  month  of  Fehruary,  1812,  Mr.  Chater  was 
recommended  toattdmpt  the  estabhshment  of  a  mission- 
ary station  in  the  city  of  Columbo,  the  capital  of  this 
island ;  as  it  was  stated  that  there  were,  at  that  time, 
no  missionaries  in  that  part  of  the  country,  nor  any 
one  nearer  than  Point  de  Galle,  about  a  hundred  miles 
distant ;  though  Columbo  and  its  vicinity  were  repre- 
sented as  containing  a  population  of  nearly  fifty  thou- 
sand souls,  generally  bearing  the  Christian  name,  but 
literally  perishing  for  lack  of  spiritual  knowledge. 
One  circumstance  particularly  favorable  to  the  under- 
taking was,  that  a  fount  of  Cingalese  types,  for  print- 
ing an  edition  of  the  New  Testament  in  thatJanguage, 
was  then  casting,  under  the  patronage  of  the  Calcutta 
Auxiliary  Bible  Society  at  Seratnpore  ;  and  the  pres- 
ident and  secretary  of  that  society  expressed  their 
decided  approbation  of  the  projected  mission,  as  tend- 
ing to  bring  their  new  type  into  operation  and  effect. 

On  the  20th  of  March,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Chater  em- 
barked for  the  island  of  Ceylon,  and,  after  a  voyage 
of  about  twenty-six  days,  arrived  in  safety  at  Columbo, 
where  they  were  received  with  much  kindness  by  the 
governor,  and  some  other  gentlemen  of  the  colony ; 
and  though  no  immediate  opening  appeared  in  respect 
to  their  principal  object,  their  proposal  of  establishing 
a  school  was  cordially  approved.  The  periodical  ac- 
counts of  the  Baptist  Missionary  Society  were  also  intro- 
duced among  some  respectable  persons,  who  appear- 
ed rather  friendly  to  the  object ;  and  on  the  first  of 
August,  an  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  was  formed  in  the 
city  of  Columbo.  In  addition  to  these  pleasing  cir- 
cumstances, our  missionary  soon  afterwards  obtained 
permission  to  preach  in  English,  previously  to  his  ac- 
quiring the  Cingalese  language ;  and  three  friends  agreed 
to  purchase  a  warehouse,  and  to  put  it  in  decent  repair, 
for  the  celebration  of  divine  worship.  It  should  like- 
wise be  remarked,  that  on  the  demise  of  the  minister 
of  the  Dutch  church  in  Columbo,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Palm 
was  appoinicij  to  the  cnrc  of  tho  COii|!,regiaioii ;  unil  in 
this  excellent  servant  of  Christ,  Mr.  Chater  found  an 
agreeable  neighbor  and  a  cordial  friend. 

Vol.  I.— No8.  25  &i  26.  39 


In  the  month  of  August,1813,our  missionary  observes, 
in  a  communication  to  the  society,  "  I  preach  twice  a 
week  in  English,  on  Lord's  day  evening  and  Wednesday 
evening.  And  though  our  congregation,  at  present,  is  but 
small,! entertain  hopes  that  I  shall  live  to  see  the  day 
when  our  place  of  worship,  which  is  capable  of  accom- 
modating about  two  hundred  hearers,  will  need  enlarge- 
ment. At  present,  Columbo  is,  indeed,  a  valley  of 
dry  bones ;  but  unpromising  as  appearances  now  are, 
it  is  my  prayer  and  my  expectation  that  a  church  will 
be  formed  here,  which  will  be  a  nursery  for  missionaries 
who  may  go  forth  and  preach  '  Christ  crucified,'  not 
to  the  Cingalese  only,  but  to  the  Candians  also.  It  is 
the  hope  of  such  things  that  makes  preaching  in  Eng- 
lish a  work  of  tenfold  more  delight  than  it  otherwise 
possibly  could  be." 

In  the  ensuing  spring,  Mr.  Chater  began  to  preach 
to  the  Cingalese,  through  the  medium  of  an  interpre- 
ter. "  I  have  been  directing  one  of  my  Dutch  friends," 
says  he,  "  to  try  if  he  could  not  find  out  some  Cinga- 
lese families,  to  whom  I  might  endeavor  to  impart 
some  spiritual  benefit.  He  has  accordingly  found  a 
makandaram,  who  is  a  well-disposed  man,  and  much 
wishes  for  religious  instruction,  for  himself,  his  family, 
and  his  neighbors.  I  go  to  his  house,  which  is  two 
miles  from  the  Fort,  every  sabbath  morning  at  seven 
o'clock,  and  he  welcomes  me  in  the  most  cordial  man- 
ner. On  the  first  occasion,  only  his  own  family  wert 
present ;  but  on  the  following  sabbath,  he  had  collected 
fourteen  or  fifteen  grown  persons,  besides  children,  of 
whom  eight  or  nine  were  females.  The  mahandaram 
can  speak  no  English  ;  but  he  has  brought  a  nephew 
to  mo,  who  speaks  it  better  than  almost  any  Cingalese 
I  have  heard  ;  and  it  is  he  who  acts  as  my  interpreter. 
This,  whilst  it  is  an  immediate  attempt  at  doing  good, 
will  help  mc  forward  in  the  longuagemore  than  almost 
any  thing  else.  But  I  earnestly  long  for  the  time  whea 
I  shall  bo  able  to  preach  to  them,  in  their  own  language, 
without  any  such  assistance." 

On  tho  last  .sabbath  in  May,  a  young  man,  named 
Siorce,  formerly  a  member  of  the  Dutch  church,  waa 


BAPTIST  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


publicly  baptized  by  Mr.  Chater  ;  and,  as  a  little  Bap- 
tist church  had  now  been  formed  in  Columbo,  the  or- 
dinance of  the  Lord's  supper  was  solemnly  adminis- 
tered on  that  day  week.  About  the  same  time, 
some  pious  soldiers  belonging  to  the  seventy-third 
regiment,  who  had  recently  come  from  New  South 
Wales,  obtained  leave  to  attend  the  services  of  the 
sanctuary,  and  appeared  likely  to  strengthen  the  infant 
cause. 

Mr.  Chater  now  seems  to  have  turned  his  attention 
to  the  attainment  of  the  Portuguese  language,  which, 
he  observes,  is  more  generally  used  in  Columbo  than 
any  other.  A  friend,  named  Armour,  had  previously 
preached  in  our  missionary's  place  of  worship  in  that 
tongue,  and  had  a  good  attendance ;  and  the  first  time 
Mr.  Chater  undertook  to  preach  in  Portuguese,  seats 
could  not  be  obtained  by  more  than  one  half  of  the 
persons  who  flocked  together  to  hear  the  gospel.  The 
services  in  English,  however,  and  the  preaching  in 
Cingalese,  by  an  interpreter,  seem  to  have  been  but 
very  thinly  attended. 

Among  the  most  attentive  and  apparently  serious 
of  Mr.  Chater's  hearers,  in  the  spring  of  1815,  was  an 
Irish  Catholic  soldier,  who,  some  time  previous,  had 
been  condemned  to  be  shot,  but  received  a  pardon  at 
the  awful  moment  when,  as  he  supposed,  his  eyes  were 
closed  for  ever  upon  rI!  subiiuiary  objects.  "  1  visited 
him,"  says  our  missionary,  "  nncp  or  twire  in  tliR  con- 
demned cell,  before  1  was  capable  of  making  the  least 
impression  on  his  mind,  though  he  considered  himself, 
cren  at  that  time,  to  be  a  penitent.  When  I  leftliim, 
on  the  Saturday,  I  told  him  I  could  not  entertain  the 
least  hope  respecting  his  state  ;  as  it  appeared  to  me 
that  he  was,  to  that  moment,  an  entire  stranger  to  gen- 
uine repentance,  and  that  if  he  were  not  immediately 
constrained  to  mourn  for  his  sins,  I  feared  he  would 
weep  and  wail  over  the  consequences  of  them  for 
ever.  On  visiting  him  the  next  morning,  however,  1 
found  him  in  a  very  diflerent  state, — deeply  sensible 
of  his  guilt,  misery  and  helplessness ;  and  I  then  be- 
gan to  direct  his  attention  to  the  Lamb  of  God.wiiose 
blood  cleanseth  from  all  sin  ;  and  tiiougli  he  was  de- 
plorably ignorant,  1  hoped  that  he  was  enabled  to 
place  his  entire  trust  in  the  great  atoning  sacrifice. 
On  Monday  morning,  the  time  appointed  for  his  exe- 
cution, he  appeared  prepared  to  meet  death,  and,  on 
leaving  his  cell,  he  exclaimed,  '  This  is  a  blessed  day  ! 
the  best  I  have  ever  seen!'  In  proceeding  to  tlio 
spot  where  he  expected  to  exchange  lime  fori'tornity, 
1  earnestly  warned  him  against  all  false  dependencies, 
and  pointed  him  to  Jesus,  as  the  only  Saviour,  Advo- 
cate, and  Intercessor.     He   returned   appropriate  an- 

uuroi'a    in   nil    ivitr    r.Ku#ii.i..^*.nnu      n».l    «......«»...! 1 

—  ■ — •  ' J   w....... ,.  M,,.,  «|.j...^,.-.,  v._fin|nj::ru 

and  happy.     In  the  course  of  the  same  week,  we  com- 


menced a  prayor-meeting  at  our  house  in  the  Fort ; 
at  which  the  pardoned  culprit  attended,  though  he  w«s 
obliged  to  march  for  Candy  at  two  o'clock  the  next 
morning ;  and  as  he  has  been  brought  to  attend  regu- 
larly upon  the  means  of  grace,  we  hope  and  pray 
that  it  may  not  prove  in  vain." 

A  circumstance  now  occurred  which  was,  indeed, 
calculated  to  put  the  faith  and  patience  of  our  excel- 
lent missionary  and  his  wife  to  a  severe  test,  and 
which,  like  many  other  events  already  narrated,  serves 
to  demonstrate  the  absolute  necessity  of  holding  all 
our  earthly  blessings  with  a  loose  hand,  whilst  our  best 
and  warmest  affections  are  placed  on  things  above, 
where  Christ,  our  never-failing  friend,  sitteth  at  the 
right  hand  of  God. 

In  a  letter,  dated  March  7,  1815,  Mr.  Chater  ob- 
serves to  a  friend  at  Calcutta,  "  As  we  have  now  five 
sons,  Pnd  the  means  of  educating  and  providing  for 
them  in  this  country  are  so  scanty,  we  have  embraced 
a  favorable  opportunity  that  offered,  of  sending  the 
two  eldest  home  to  the  care  of  my  wife's  father.  You 
will  conclude  that  with  the  fear  of  God  before  our 
eyes,  we  could  not  take  a  step  of  so  much  importance 
without  mature  deliberation  and  much  prayer.     We 
have  only  to  pay  two  hundred  rix  dollars  each  for  their 
mess ;  for,  as  the  vessel   is  a  transport,  chartered  by 
government,  the  passage  is  free.     We  have  also  met 
with  n  suitable  person,  who  will  take  care  of  them 
without  requiring  any  other  recompense  than  her  pro- 
visions while  on  board,  which  will  be  readily  granted 
her  from  the  mess.     Should  they  never  become  mis- 
sionaries, we  shall  be  more  pleased  with  the  idea  of 
their  being  in  England  than   here.     And   if  tliey  are 
designed  by  the    Head  of   the  Church  to  labor  for 
him,  we  conceive  that  they  will  gain  much  more  than 
they  will  lose,  by  going  home.     Tiiey  will  have   to 
learn   the   languages  of  this  country  as  we  do  ;  but 
they  will  obtain  an  enlargement  of  idea,  a  store  of 
knowledge,  and  energies  of  body  and  mind  to  do  good, 
such  as  they  could  not  acquire  here.     And  if  they 
are  (pialified  and  disposed    to    become  missionaries, 
their  parents  being  engaged  in  the  work,  will  be,  we 
may  suppose,  an  additional  inducement  to  lead  them 
on."     Such  were  tiie  views  and  feelings  of  this  affec- 
tionate parent,  when  preparing  to  hid  adieu,  for  a  short 
season,  to  two  of  his  beloved  children,  with  whom  ho 
informs  us  he  took  '  a  pleasant  trip'  to  Point  do  Galle, 
previous  to  their  embarkation  in  the  Arniston.     He, 
however,  who  dweiioth  in  the  thick  darkness,  and 
whose  mysterious  providences  are  fur  beyond  the  reach 
of   huniAn   comprehension,   rendered    the  separation 
final  till  the  morning  of  the  resurrection.     Tiie  ves.sel 
iii  •.viiich  iiiC-  dear  jutiihs  ei:ihafkt;ti,  with  Itifti  ami  lady 
Molesworth,and  other  passengers,  unfortunately  struck 


CEYLON. 


on  a  rock  in  Black  Bay,  near  the  Cape,  and  with  the 
exception  of  the  carpenter  and  six  seamen,  every  soul 
on  board  perished  ! 

In  a  letter  addressed  to  Dr.  Carey  on  this  mournful 

subject,  the  bereaved  father  writes  as  follows : "  With 

respect  to  myself,  I  am  confident,  that  with  the  sensi- 
bihty  I  possess  (which  I  believe  religion  has  had  a 
considerable   share  in  producing),  no  hand  but  that 
which  inflicted  the  stroke  could  have  supported  me 
under  it.     But  if  it  came  with  so  much  weight  upon 
me,  in  what  way  must  it  be  supposed  to  have  fallen 
upon  my  dear  wife  ?  All  who  are  acquainted  with  her 
know  that  her  sensibility  is  at  all  times  acute,  and  her 
present  circumstances  must  render  it  more  so.  What 
then,  must  have   been  her  feelings,  on  hearing  tid- 
ings which,  with  all  the  self-possession  I  am  master 
Ot.l  could  communicate  only  in  broken  sei.teiices  ! 
Half  an  hour  before  the  heavy  news  was  made  known 
to  me,  we  had  been  talking  about  the  dear  fellows, 
and  concluding  that  they  must  then  be  near  our  na- 
tive land.     Two  kind  friends  came  and  informed  me 
of  the  calamity  in  the  best  manner  they  could  have 
done.     I  conceived  that  I  was  the  most  proper  person 
to  break  the  matter  to  my  dear  wife,  and  accordingly 
undertook  to  do  it.     But  owing  to  the  distress  I  felt 
on  hearing  of  our  loss,  and  what  I  feared  might  be 
the  sad  consequence  of  it  to  her,  my  feelings  were 
such  as  imagination  can  but  faintly  represent.     I  was 
able  to  say,  with  some  composure,  '  My  dear,  we  must 
prepare  for  trials.'    A  pale  countenance  and  a  trembling 
frame  convinced  her,  that  the  trial  for  which  we  had 
to  prepare  was  no  ordinary  one.     She  conceived  I  had 
been  seized  with  such  a  fit  of  fainting  as  at  the  com- 
mencement of  a  severe  affliction,  more  than  two  years 
ago,  and  that  I  thought  it  would  be  fatal.     During 
the  time  t\m  a  full  heart  prevented  me  from  proceed- 
ing, she  continued  saying,  <  Oh  !  what  is  the  matter? 
Tell  me,  tell  me,  do  lell  me  !'    At  length,  I  uttered 

the  words,   '  My  dear, the  Arniston  !'    This  was 

enough.     All  that  she  could  say  for  nearly  a  quarter 

of  an  hour  after  that,  was,  '  Oh  !  don't  tell  me I 

cannot  hear  it 1  cannot  bear  it !'    Oh  !  how  did 

my  heart  overflow  witii  gratitude,  when,  without  the 
occurrence  of  tho  event  1  so  much  dreaded,  she  began 
to  feel  so  much  composure,  as  to  enable  me  to  con- 
verse and  reason  with  her.  Never  did  I  feel  tho 
need  of  the  consolations  of  religion  before,  as  on  that 
day  ;  nor  did  I  ever  so  sensibly  experience  them. 
We  spent  tho  whole  day  together  ;  and  the  peru.sal 
of  Stonnctt's  excellent  sermon,  on  the  words,  '  Bo 
still,  and  know  that  I  am  God,'  was  made  of  the 
most  essential  service  to  us.  My  dear  wife  was  sup- 
Furicu,  ann  has  l.e«..  i!,„s  far  brought  through  the 
trial,  in  a  manner  that  has  exceeded  my  expectations. 


891 


We  have  found,  in  our  affliction,  a  fulfilment  of  that 
exceeding  great  and  precious  promise,  '  When  thou 
passest  through  the  waters,  I  will  be  with  thee,  and 
through  the  rivers,  they  shall  not  overflow  thee  •* 
when  thou  walkest  through  the  fire,  thou  shalt 
not  be  burned,  neither  shall  the  flame  kindle  upon 
thee.' 

"  From  other  sources  of  information  you  will  per- 
ceive  that,  great  as  our  loss  is,  it  was  not  the  greatest 
that  was  sustained.  Colonel  Giels,  of  his  majesty's 
seventy-third  regiment,  lost  four  fine  boys  ;  all  the 
sons  he  had.  The  daughter  of  the  honorable  and 
reverend  Mr.  Twisleton  that  perished,  was  a  fine 
young  lady,  quite  doted  upon  by  her  parents.  Mrs. 
Twisleton  has  been  so  overwhelmed  with  sorrow,  that 
there  is  reason  to  fear,  she  will  never  be  the  same 
person  again.  Had  I  not  enjoyed  the  peculiar  sup- 
ports  of  religion,  I  believe  I  should  have  watered  my 
bed  with  tears  every  night.  As  it  is,  I  have  pursued 
my  work  without  any  interruption." 

In  alluding  to  the  affairs  of  the  mission  in  1817 
this  tricu  and  devoted  servant  of  the  Redeemer  ob- 
serves, "  I  still  find  life  a  chequered  scene,  but  I  have 
several  sources  of  encouragement  and  consolation  • 
and  It  IS  with  no  small  pleasure  I  inform  you   that 
translating  into  Cingalese,  with  the  aid  of  a  Bramin 
named  Dhun,  is  become  an  easy  and  pleasant  work  to 
me.     Our  congregations,  in  general,  are  small,  but  the 
Lord  does  not  seem  to  have  forsaken  us.     On  tho 
contrary,  one  after  another  is  reclaimed  from  a  life  of 
sin,  and,  so  far  as  we  can  judge,  they  appear  to  become 
new  creatures   in  Christ  Jesus.     When  we  recollect 
what  a  glorious  change  this  is,  both  in  its  cause  and 
consequences,  how  can  we  think  of  it,  but  with  joy 
and  gratitude  ?  Two  of  our  members,  who  appear  to 
be  Christians  of  the  right  stamp,  recently  left  this 
place  for  England  ;  and  it  is  truly  satisfactory  to  reflect 
that  they  found  '  the  pearl  of  great  price'  whilst  in 
Colombo.     Since  their  departure,   three  more   have 
proposed  themselves  for  baptism,  and  a  fourth  hos" 
joined   our   experience-meeting,    who    affords    good 
evidence  that  he   has  'received  with  meekness  the 
engrafted  word.'    Some  others,  also,  are  under  serious 
impressions,  which  we  hope  will  terminate  well." 

In  1818,  new  stations  were  occupied  by  a  Mr.  Grif- 
fith and  by  Mr.  Sierce  (the  latter  of  whom  had,  for 
some  time,  given  himself  up  to  the  missionary  cause), 
at  Point  de  Galle,  and  at  a  village  called  Hurgwell,' 
about  twenty  miles  from  Columbo,  on  the  road  to 
Candia.  At  each  of  these  places  schools  were  estab- 
lished for  the  instruction  of  the  rising  generation,  and 

the    resnprtivo    tniacumuriaa    tiva-ig^A    tX. 1 I      .• 

I •!••.    'iiri!iac:rc3,  DOtn 

111  local  and  itinerant  labors,  to  make  known  the  way 
of  salvation  among  a  people  who  are  represented  as 


999 


BAPriST  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


oompletely  sunnounded  by  the  clouds  of  ignorance  and 
superstition. 

Towards  the  latter  end  of  1819,  the  labors  of  Mr. 
Cbater,  at  Colunibo,  were  considerably  impeded,  in 
consequence  of  the  alarming  prevalence  of  the  small- 
pox in  that  part  of  the  island.  "  Of  this  disease," 
he  observes,  in  a  letter  dated  November  12,  "  five 
thousand  persons  are  said  to  have  been  already  carried 
off  in  this  city,  and  it  still  continues  to  rage.  It  is 
called  in  Cingalese  the  great  sickness,  and  nothing  is 
so  much  dreaded  by  the  natives.  Among  them, 
especially  in  villages,  if  a  person  discover  any  symp- 
toms of  it,  even  his  nearest  relatives  instantly  abandon 
him,  and  leave  him  to  his  fate.  One  reason  assigned 
for  this  is,  that  the  smell  of  the  disorder  is  peculiarly 
attractive  to  the  tigers,  and  that  the  persons  who  are 
affected  with  it  are  almost  sure  to  be  carried  off  by 
them.  Defore  this  alarming  disease  broke  out,  several 
of  my  Cingalese  acquaintance  seemed  desirous  of  join- 
ing our  church,  and  concerning  two  of  them  I  had 
reason  to  hope  the  best ;  but,  at  present,  every  thing 
of  this  kind  is  completely  at  a  stand,  and  several  plans 
which  I  had  begun  to  form,  relative  to  our  schools, 
have  been  entirely  disconcerted."  In  the  course  of  the 
same  year,  Mr.  Griffith  was  compelled,  by  extreme 
ill  health,  to  quit  his  station  at  Point  de  Galle,  and  to 
return  to  England. 

Early  in  the  ensuing  year,  the  aspect  of  affairs  at 
Colombo  began  to  brighten  ;  as  the  attendance  on 
public  worship,  both  in  the  Portuguese  and  Cingalese 
languages,  was  much  more  numerous  than  it  had  been 
for  some  time  past ;  new  openings  presented  them- 
selves for  the  introduction  of  the  gospel  into  some 
of  the  adjacent  villages;  and  three  natives  of  Ceylon, 
two  of  whom  had  formerly  been  Boodhist  priests,  ex- 
pressed an  inclination  to  make  a  public  avowal  of  their 
change  of  faith  by  submitting  to  the  rite  of  baptism. 

But  whilst  these  circumstances  were  calculated  to 
cheer  and  encourage  the  spirits  of  Mr.  Chater,  the 
dark  clouds  of  affliction  were  already  gathering  in  the 
distant  horizon,  and  a  storm  was  shortly  to  assail  him, 
which  once  more  compelled  him  to  exclaim,  with  the 
psalmist,  "  Lead  me  to  the  rock  that  is  higher  than  I." 
The  health  of  Mrs.  Chater,  which  had,  for  a  consider- 
able time,  been  evidently  declining,  became,  at  length, 
so  seriously  impaired,  that  she  was  advised,  by  her 
physician,  to  undertake  a  voyage,  as  the  only  probable 
means  of  recovery.  She  accordingly  embarked,  early 
in  1820,  with  her  seven  children,  designing  to  revisit 
her  native  land  ;  but  on  reaching  St.  Helena,  on  the 
12th  of  May,  she  found  herself  too  ill  to  proceed  any 
farther.  She,  therefore,  sent  her  five  eldest  children 
to  iUii^l&iiU,  ttiid  delciiiiiiieU  (u  reiimin  suine  luiie 
where  she  was,  with  the  two  youngest.     In  the  course 


of  a  few  days,  she  gave  birth  to  two  mfants,  and  tft«r 
languishing  till  the  5th  of  June,  her  disembodied  spirit 
was  removed  to  those  celestial  mansions  of  which  it  is 
recorded,  "The  inhabitant  shall  not  say  I  am  sick." 
It  is  pleasmg  to  add,  that  during  her  trying  illness  she 
received  the  most  humane  and  sympathetic  attentions 
from  his  excellency  the  governor,  the  junior  chaplain 
of  the  colony,  and  their  ladies,  and  many  other  in- 
habitants ;  and  after  her  decease,  the  most  affectionate 
care  was  taken  of  her  motherless  infants,  till  they 
could  be  safely  conveyed  to  England. 

When  the  intelligence  of  this  distressing  event 
reached  Colurabo,  it  required  all  the  fortitude  of  Mr. 
Chater  to  sustain  so  severe  a  shock.  The  same  God, 
however,  who  had  poured  the  wine  and  oil  of  heavenly 
consolation  into  the  wounds  inflicted  by  the  shipwreck 
of  his  beloved  sons,  now  soothed  the  pangs  produced 
by  this  new  and  heart-rending  bereavement.  The 
blessed  oracles  of  truth,  also,  as  is  usual  in  the  day 
of  severe  affliction,  presented  a  variety  of  supports  in 
appropriate  and  animating  promises  ;  whilst  Christian 
friends  of  various  denominations  affectionately  hastened 
to  the  '  house  of  mourning,'  and  literally  vied  with 
each  other  in  attempting  to  administer  relief  to  the 
wounded  spirit  of  their  afflicted  brother. 

The  following  extract  is  from  the  Report  of  the 
Baptist  Missionary  Society  for  1824  : — "  No  additions 
have  recently  been  made  to  the  little  church  under 
the  care  of  Mr.  Chater ;  on  the  contrary,  he  has  been 
called  to  the  painful  duty  of  separating  two  persons 
from  its  communion,  on  account  of  conduct  inconsistent 
with  their  profession.  Under  tnese  discouragements, 
it  has  been  peculiarly  gratifying  to  him,  that,  in  the 
course  of  the  last  year,  he  and  his  associates  in  that 
important  work  have  completed  the  translation  of  the 
whole  Bible  into  the  Cingalese  language.  After  a 
strict  examination  by  intelligent  natives,  this  transla- 
tion has  been  highly  approved  ;  and  it  is  now  undergo- 
ing a  careful  revision,  that,  in  a  second  edition,  it  may 
issue  from  the  press  in  a  form  still  more  adapted  for 
general  circulation.  Since  his  active  engagements  in 
this  department  have  terminated,  Mr.  Chater  has  re- 
vised his  Cingalese  grammar.  He  has  also  published 
a  tract  in  that  langus  ;e,  and  another  in  the  Portuguese  ; 
which  are  well  received  by  the  natives,  and  will,  we 
trust, contribute,  in  some  degree,  under  the  divine  bless- 
ing, to  rouse  them  from  that  lamentable  indifference  to 
religion  which  now  so  generally  prevails." 

It  is  gratifying  to  state  that,  in  1825,  the  accounts 
were  more  encouraging.  Mr.  Chater  had  enjoyed  the 
plea-ire  of  baptizing  eight  persons,  who  were  most 
of  them  young,  and  saw  several  others  anxiously  in- 
tent on  iheii  eiernai  weifarc.  A  ncv.'  piaee  of  worship 
was  completed  at  Hangwcll,  in  which  Mr.  Siers  of- 


JAVA. 


898 


ficiated,  while  he  continued  to  conduct  the  schools  in 
that  and  other  villages.  For  two  or  three  subsequent 
jears,  most  of  the  statements  received  from  Ceylon 
were  of  a  very  encouraging  kind.  The  churches, 
both  at  Columbo  and  Hangwell,  continued  to  increase ; 
several  female  schools  were  established,  which,  with 
those  previously  formed  for  boys,  flourished  ;  native 
Cingalese  were  successfully  employed  to  read  the 
Scriptures  to  their  neighbors ;  one  or  two  native  youths 
were  called  to  the  ministry  ;  a  threatened  illness  ap- 
peared to  be  removed ;  and  it  was  hoped  that  the 
harmony  in  which  this  devoted  missionary  lived  with 
hu  brethren  of  different  denominations  would  remain 
long  uninterrupted. 

But,  alas !  we  have  often  seen,  that,  as  soon  as  the 
great  Head  of  the  church  has  deeply  impressed  the 
minds  of  his  people  with  the  peculiar  adaptation  of  an 
instrument  to  accomplish  hb  purposes,  it  is  removed, 
to  show  them  how  easily  he  can  do  his  work  without 
it.  In  1829,  intelligence  was  received  in  England, 
that,  in  the  hope  of  re-invigorating  a  frame  worn  out 
by  the  unremitting  labors  of  two-and-twenty  years  in 
a  tropical  clime,  Mr.  Chater  had  set  sail  for  hb  native 
country ;  but  the  disease  had  made  so  fatal  a  progress, 
that  when  he  had  been  on  board  but  eight  days,  he 
was  removed  to  receive  the  reward  of  his  zealous  and 
successful  labors.  • 

It  may  be  readily  imagined,  that,  deprived  of  the 
labors  of  so  indefatigable  a  missionary,  the  station  at 
Colombo  would  greatly  suffer.     Mr.  Siers,  however, 
did  his  utmost  to  supply  the  place  of  his  deceased 
friend,  in  which  he  was  kindly  assisted  by  the  Rev. 
B.  Clough,  of  the  Wesleyan  connection ;  and  pleasing 
additions  were  made  to  the  churches.     Still  urgent 
entreaties  were  made  for  poother  European  agent,  and 
the  committee  at  home  were  desirous  of  sending  one. 
Under  these  circumstances,  they  were  highly  gratified 
to  receive  an  offer  from  one  of  their  own  number  to 
fill  the  vacant  post.     The  Rev.  Ebenezer  Daniel  had, 
for  many  years,  very  efficiently  occupied  an  important 
station  at  Luton,  in  Bedfordshire ;  but  feeling  the  supe- 
rior claims  of  the  heathen  world,  amidst  the  fears  of 
an  affectionate  people  he  resigned  his  office,  to  bear 
the  glad  tidings  to  distant  lands.     "  After  a  favorable 
and  speedy  voyage,"  says  the  Report  of  1831,  "Mr. 
Daniel  and  his  family  arrived  at  their  destined  port 
on  the  14th  of  August,  1830.     They  were  received 
with  the  greatest  kindness  by  all  the  Christian  friends 
in  Columbo,  and  with  the  liveliest  joy  by  those  more 
immediately  connected  with  ourselves.     Mr.  Daniel 
began  his  labors  by  preaching  twice  in, the  Fort  on  the 
day  of  his  landing,  and  proceeded  without  delay  to 
examine  into  the  state  of  affairs,  both  at  Columbo  and 
at  Hangwell.     After  having  been  so  long  without  a 


resident  missionary,  it  was  to  be  expected  that  the 
concerns  of  the  mission  would  be  found  m  h  declining 
state  ;  but  much,  under  God,  may  be  hoped  for  iroia 
the  strenuous  efforts  of  our  respected  brother  to  revive 
the  cause.  Having  devoted  some  little  time  to  the 
study  of  the  Cingalese  previously  to  his  embarkation, 
and  pursued  it  on  his  voyage,  he  was  the  better  pre- 
pared to  avail  hunself  of  the  services  of  a  native 
teacher ;  but,  without  waiting  till  he  was  able  to  ad- 
dress the  people  in  their  own  tongue,  he  has  preached 
very  frequently  among  them,  by  means  of  an  interpre- 
ter, in  the  different  places  of  worship  belonging  to  the 
society,  and  in  the  open  air.  Two  persons  are  engaged 
as  readers  of  the  Scriptures,  in  the  Cingalese  and 
Portuguese  languages,  who  go  from  house  to  house  to 
read  the  Word  of  God  to  all  who  are  willing  to  hear 
it.  Ten  native  schools,  seven  for  boys,  and  three 
for  girls,  containing  b  the  whole  nearly  four  hundred 
children,  are  inspected  by  a  constant  visitor,  who  not 
only  superintends  the  schools,  but  in  the  villages  talks 
to  the  adults  on  the  way  of  salvation  by  Jesus  Christ. 
Many  of  the  Cingalese  children  in  the  schools,  it  is 
stated,  have  answered  the  questions  proposed  to  them 
in  a  way  which  would  have  done  credit  to  children  in 
England.  In  addition  to  these  schools,  Mr.  Daniel 
has  established,  with  the  assistance  of  his  family, 
Sunday-schools  in  each  of  his  three  congregations  in 
Colombo,  the  number  of  pupils  in  which  was  about 
one  hundred.  In  the  midst  of  these  exertions,  Mr. 
Daniel  was  cheered  with  the  evidence  that  his  ministry 
had  already  been  rendered  useful.  Several  persons 
appeared  to  receive  hopeful  impressions  under  the 
very  first  sermons  he  delivered  ;  and  at  the  date  of 

his  last  letters — about  three  months  after  his  landing 

sixteen  members  had  been  added  to  the  church.  On 
the  whole,  we  have  great  reason  to  rejoice  in  the  re- 
vival which  has  taken  place  at  this  important  station." 


JAVA. 

On  the  2d  of  March,  1813,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robinson 
left  Calcutta,  with  a  view  to  form  a  missionary  station 
on  the  isle  of  Java;  and  on  the  1st  of  May,  they 
anciiored  in  Batavia  roads,  after  a  safe  and  pleasant 
voyage.  At  Weltevreden  they  were  taken  into  the 
house  of  a  pion  friend,  who  appeared  truly  anxious 
to  render  them  comfortable  ;  and  their  arrival  was 
hailtid  with  peculiar  pleasure  by  a  considerable  number 
of  the  soldiers,  some  of  whom  had  been  in  the  habit 

of  linldin?    rplliriniiR  mpntinira  Dmnn<r    tl>amo.%l..«-    -_J 

--  — r-.    -^ -J- — j^    >....,..,^,.,  r^--.^  auu 

now  avowed  their  willingness  to  submit  to  the  rite  of 
baptism.     Accordingly,  after  preaching  repeatedly  in 


S94 


BAPTIST  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY 


the  cantonments,  Mr.  Robinson  baptized  eight  persons 
on  the  30th  of  May,  in  the  presence  of  a  few  Malays, 
who  were  perfectly  attentive  and  decorous  in  their  con* 
duct,  though  no  one  could  explain  to  them  the  nature 
of  the  ceremony,  by  which  their  curiosity  was  strongly 
excited.  A  Christian  church  was,  afterwards,  regularly 
formed,  and  the  Lord's  supper  was  celebrated  with 
more  than  ordinary  solemnity.  An  old  sei^eant,  who 
happened  to  be  present  as  a  spectator  on  that  occasion, 
was  subsequently  heard  to  say  to  some  of  his  friends, 
that  he  had  been  to  a  place  where  he  had  kneejed 
more  than  he  had  ever  done  in  all  the  former  part  of 
his  life.  "  Never,"  said  he,  "  did  I  witness  such 
a  solemn  ordinance  before  !  and  as  for  those  fellows 
who  partook  of  it,  I  am  determined  to  keep  a  strict 
eye  upon  them  ;  and  if  they  go  back  from  their  pro- 
fession, or  do  any  thing  that  is  wrong,  I  will  run  them 
through  the  body !" 

Elated  by  the  first  impressions  which  appeared  to 
attend  the  preaching  of  the  gospel  among  the  military, 
our  missionary  was  led  to  observe,  in  a  letter,  dated 
June  24,  and  addressed  to  Dr.  Marshman,  "  Almost 
every  sermon  among  the  soldiers  seems  to  be  blessed, 
either  to  the  edification  of  those  who  have  already 
believed,  or  to  the  fastening  of  impressions  on  the 
minds  of  sinners.  In  such  circumstances  it  is,  indeed, 
a  pleasure  to  preach  ;  for  I  go  to  the  place  of  worship 
fully  expecting  to  do  good  to  the  souls  of  men,  and, 
blessed  be  God,  my  expectations  are  not  disappointed. 
Could  you  see  how  attentive  these  poor  men  are  to 
the  word  of  life,  you  would  almost  weep  for  joy  at  the 
sight : — you  would  scarcely  perceive  an  individual 
move  hand  or  foot,  during  the  discourse  ; — all  seeming 
to  hear  as  for  eternity  !"  Circumstances,  however, 
afterwards  occurred  which  called  loudly  for  the  exer- 
cise of  severe  discipline  ;  and,  early  in  April,  1814, 
Mr.  Robinson  states,  "  I  have  now  no  more  employ- 
ment among  the  soldiers  ;  the  whole  regiment,  with 
the  exception  of  one  company,  having  been  sent  on 
an  expedition,  and  when  that  business  is  finished,  they 
will,  most  probably,  be  stationed  at  Samarang." 

"  Since  the  departure  of  the  soldiers,"  he  adds, 
"I  have  been  employed  in  seeking  out  some  new 
friends  among  the  Malay  Ciirlstians ;  and  on  the  sab- 
bath before  last,  I  found  about  six  or  seven  met  together 
In  a  house  where  they  expected  a  visit  from  me.  I 
asked  for  the  Malay  Bible,  read  a  few  verses,  and 
took  courage,  (pt  the  first  time,  to  speak  a  few  words 
to  them  from  what  I  had  read.  When  I  had  finished 
my  remarks,  I  engaged  in  prayer  for  a  few  minutes, 
and  thus  concluded  the  first  meeting  1  ever  held  in 
the  Malay  language.  Finding  that  this  attempt  was 
we'i!  feeetved,  I  -.vent  .-igain,  the  next  sabbulh  even- 
ing ;  and  though  I  was,  at  first,  considerably  abashed, 


by  finding  the  number  of  my  hearers  much  increased, 
I  was  enabled  to  speak  for  about  half  an  hour ;  and, 
if  the  testimony  of  my  auditors  may  be  believed,  the 
greater  part  of  what  I  said  was  understood."  . 

In  the  month  of  May,  Mr.  Robinson  received  per- 
mission to  preach  in  the  Malay  church  ;  which  he 
considered  as  opening  a  prospect  of  great  usefulness 
as  the  congregation  frequently  exceeded  one  hundred 
and  fifty  persons,  including  people  of  all  ranks,  from 
the  most  opulent  inhabitant  to  the  humble  slave,  and 
consisting  partly  of  Dutch,  partly  of  country-bom, 
and  partly  of  what  are  called  the  native  Christians. 
He  also  applied  himself  sedulously  to  the  instruction 
of  the  children  whom  he  had  collected  in  a  school  of 
his  own  establishing ;  and,  on  some  occasions,  he  car- 
ried the  good  news  of  salvation  to  a  village  about  ten 
miles  distant,  where  the  poor  Ignorant  people  (though 
possessing  a  place  of  worship)  had  received  no  visit  of 
a  religious  tendency  for  the  long  period  of  ten  years. 

In  the  summer  of  1815,  Mr.  Robinson  appears  to'' 
have  suffered  severely  from  illness,  and  another  mis- 
sionary, named  Trowt,  who  had,  some  time  since, 
arrived  to  his  assistance,  was  similarly  affected,  though 
in  a  slighter  degree.  By  the  good  hand  of  God,  how- 
ever, they  were  both  raised  up  to  pursue  their  truly 
Important  labors  ;  and  the  latter,  with  the  consent  of 
the  brethren  at  Serampo«,  undertook  the  formation 
of  a  new  station  at  Samarang ;  whilst  Mr.  Robinson 
removed  to  a  more  salubrious  situation  than  that  which 
he  had  recently  occupied.  i 

A  few  weeks  after  his  arrival  at  Samarang,  Mr. 
Trowt  received  a  visit  from  the  udhiputi  of  the  place, 
accompanied  by  his  two  sons,  who  had  been  for  some 
time  at  Serampore,  and  the  old  aji,  their  uncle.     Mr. 
Trowt  stated  the  object  of  his  mission  to  be  the  gene- 
ral dissemination  of  knowledge  and  the  spread  of  the 
gospel ;    and  gave  his  visitors  some  account  of  the 
Bible  and  missionary  societies,  and  of  the  system  of 
education    pursued    in    England.      The  noble  chief 
listened  with  attentive  admiration,  and  often  placed 
his  hand  upon  his  heart,  while  he  expressed  his  pleas- 
ure  and  delight.      He   also  declared  unequivocally, 
that  the  Introduction  of  knowledge  among  his  people 
was  an  object  so  congenial  with  the  feelings  of  his 
soul,  that  he  would  encourage  those  persons  to  the 
utmost  who  would  engage  in  the  work,  and  would  even 
devote  one  quarter  of  his  income  towards  its  support ! 
On  being  shown  an  Arabic  Bible,  he  said  he  was  not 
perfectly  acquainted  with  the  language,  but  he  thought 
he  could  translate  from  it  into  Javanese.    "  I  entreated 
him,"  says  Mr.  Trowt,  "  to  receive  it  from  me,  as  a 
testimony  of  respect ;  whlcii  he  did,  with  expressions 
of  the  dce|)esi  obligation.    On  my  mentioning  a  press, 
he  entered,  at  once,  on  an  enumeration  of  the  benefits 


JAVA. 


that  would  result  from  it,  and  compared  books  to  seeds, 
which,  being  planted  in  the  school,  would  in  a  few 
years  produce  teachers,  who  might  be  scattered  over 
all  the  country.     On  telling  him  how  our  society  and 
other  societies  were  supported,  and  that  I  had,  at  one 
tmie,  collected  a  penny  a  week  from  children  and 
servants,  to  enable  missionaries  to  instruct  the  poor 
,    heathen,  he  was  uncommonly  affected.     I  then  pro- 
posed his  writing  a  letter  to  the  society,  to  request 
more  missionaries,  and  to  state  his  willingness  to  render 
them  assistance.     This  he  readily  promised  to  do  • 
and  after  spending  some  considerable  time  in  the  dis- 
cussion of  religious  subjects,  he  left  me  with  an  intima- 
tion  that  he  wished  to  place  his  youngest  son  under 
my  care,  and  observed,  that  if  he  had  not  to  attend 
the  sittings  of  the  government,  he  would  visit  me 
almost  every  day." 

.J^'a  Z'fr'  u"''  ''r""'"^  missionary,  to  whom  we 
are  indebted  for  this  relation  of  a  visit  which  evidently 
cheered  his  own  heart,  and  inspired  in  his  breast  thi 
most  sanguine  hopes,  was  only  permitted  for  a  short 
period  to  continue  his  labors  at  Samarang.    His  almost 
unremitting  application  to  his  studies  so  seriously  af- 
fected his  constitution,  as  ultimately  to  cause  him  to 
fall  a  prey  to  a  liver  and  bowel  complaint,  with  which 
he  had  previously  struggled  for  a  considerable  time    He 
was  carried  off  on  the  25th  of  October,  1816,  rather  in 
an  unexpected  manner ;    his  ardor  in  his  work  not 
suffering  him  to  pay  that  attention  to  the  state  of  his 
disease  which  it  indispensably  required.    "  His  labors 
however,"  as  the  editor  of  the  '  Periodical  Accounts' 
observes    « tended  to  encourage  and  invigorate  his 
brother  Bruckner,  whom  he  left  to  follow  in  his  foot- 
steps, and  to  carry  forward  that  translation  of  the 
sacred  Scriptures  into  the  Javanese  language,  on  which 
the  heart  of  the  deceased  was  so  intently  fixed."     On 
the  27th  of  December,  also,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Philips 
who  had  been  despatched  from  London,  for  the  purpose 
of  strengthening  the  Samarang  station  in  the  island 
of  Java,  arrived  safely  at  Batavia,  and  proceeded 
soon  afterwards,  to  the  place  of  their  destination 

In  the  course  of  this  year  (1816),  Mr.  Bruckner 
paid  a  visit  to  a  place  called  Prembanan,  which  he 
considers  to  have  been,  in  ancient  times,  the  principal 
.seat  of  idolatry  in  Java,  and  of  which  he  has  given 

the  following  interesting  account : 

"On  first  approaching  the  place,  I  perceived  noth- 
mg  but  a  hill,  or  a  large  heap  of  stones ;  but  my  guide 
caused  me  to  climb  up  the  ascent,  and  I  saw  it  was  a 
large  temple  composed  altogether  of  hewn  stones, 
about  fourteen  cubic  inches  each,  and  every  stone 
had  a  tenon  by  which  it  was  fastened  to  „„n,I.or  i„ 
tins  manner  the  whole  temple  was  built  up,  from  its 
foundation  to  its  top,  without  any  cement.     It  must 


396 


have  been  a  huge  edifice  when  it  flourished,  for  all 
the  hill  on  which  this  temple  stood  was  formed  of 
the  same  sort  of  stones,  which  I  think  had  fallen  from 
the  edifice  from  time  to  time,  and  had  formed  that 
m.    The  temple  itself  consisted  of  a  room  about 
twenty-five  feet  high  and  ten  square.     There  was  but 
one  miage  m  it  of  the  human  shape.     It  represented 
a  woman,  on  whose  head  were  a  crown  and  other 
ornaments  ;  the  upper  half  of  the  body  was  naked, 
and  the  lower  part  dressed  in  royal  apparel.     It  was 
hewn  of  entire  stone  ;  its  seat  was  also  a  large  stone. 
It  appeared  that  the  sepoys,  who  were  numerous  about 
that  place,  paid  their  homage  to  this  lady,  for  her 
forehead  was  smeared  with  some  yellow  and  red  colors 
I  went  to  the  other  side  of  the  hill,  where  there  was 
another  temple,  which  was  not  so  large  as  the  former; 
in  thL  there  sat  a  huge  image  shaped  like  a  man,  but 
having  an  elephant's  head.     But  here  the  sepoys  did 
not  seem  to  pay  any  attention.     I  then  went  on  to 
another  h,!l  composed  of  the  same  kind  of  hewn  stones, 
m  which  there  was  a  cavern,  but  no  image.     There 
are  withm  the  circumference  of  half  an  hour's  walk 
perhaps  more  than  ten  of  these  hUlocks  which  contain 
caverns,  and  seem  to  have  been  used  as  temples. 
But  I  was  tired  in  climbing  up  and  down  them,  and 
gave  my  curiosity  no  further  indulgence  ;  except  that 
I  went  on  from  those  parts,  for  about  ten  minutes, 
farther  to  the  west,  where  there  are  to  be  seen  the 
remains  of  a  royal  palace  built  up  with  tiles  and  cement 
It  appears  from  these  remains  that  this  must  have 
been  a  magnificent  building.     The  windows  are  lofty, 
and  the  remaining  sculpture  is  admirable.    This  palace 
seems  to  have  been  surrounded  by  an  extensive  wall ; 
for,  about  sixty  paces  from  the  edifice  itself,  on  each 
side,  IS  an  entrance  or  gate,  making  altogether  four. 
On  each  side  of  the  gate-ways  at  the  entrance  sit  two 
colossal  images  in  human  shape,  of  hewn  stone,  which 
undoubtedly  must  represent  certain  guardians,  accord- 
ing  to  the  remains  of  heathen  mythology  amongst  the 
Javanese  in  which  such  beings  are  mentioned.    Prob- 
ably this  palace  was  inhabited,  whilst  idolatry  was 
flourishing  in  the  vicinity  ;  so  that  human  power  and 
the  power  of  darkness  might  mutually  assist  each  other 
in  resisting  light  and  reason.    I  have  not  hitherto  been 
able  to  trace  any  thing  in  the  Javanese  books  in  refer- 
ence  to  this  place,  neither  do  the  Javanese  themselves 
know  any  thing  properly  of  it.     All  seems  to  have 
been  lost  for  want  of  writing. 

"  Besides  these,  I  have  seen  several  images  scattered 
abroad  in  different  places.  I  saw  lately  one  huge 
image  like  a  man,  whose  crown  and  other  apparel  con- 
sisted of  human  skuiis,  and  his  seat  was  composed 
of  similar  emblems  of  mortality.  Another  I  saw  at 
the  same  time,  of  the  same  bigness  as  the  first,  arrayed 

f 


296 


BAPTIST  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


like  a  king,  having  four  arms,  and  holding  in  each 
hand  a  diflferent  weapon.  There  was  also  a  very  large 
cow,  ornamented  with  shells  and  other  toys;  and 
another  image  in  human  shape  of  a  smaller  size,  hav- 
ing a  cow  beneath  its  feet.  I  have  also  seen  some 
with  three  heads,  and  a  number  of  arms,  perhaps  ten 
or  upwards,  holding  in  each  hand  a  different  kind  of 
weapon ;  also  some  which  had  but  one  head  and 
many  arms.  To  these  I  observed  the  sepoys  paid 
great  reverence." 

From  this  period  the  three  missionaries,  Messrs. 
Robinson,  Bruckner  and  Philips,  proceeded  with 
equal  zeal  and  assiduity  in  endeavoring,  by  all  the 
means  within  their  power,  to  spread  abroad  the  savor 
of  the  Redeemer's  name,  in  their  respective  spheres 
of  operation.  In  the  month  of  July,  1817,  however, 
Mr.  Philips  was  attacked  with  a  fever,  and  a  cold  on 
the  lungs,  which  gave  a  most  severe  shock  to  his  con- 
stitution ;  and  though  (in  consequence  of  removing 
to  a  more  salubrious  situation,  and  adhering  strictly  to 
the  advice  of  the  medical  man  by  whom  he  was  at- 
tended) his  cough  abated,  and  his  strength  appeared, 
for  a  short  period,  to  increase  ;  yet,  on  his  resuming 
his  labors,  his  former  complaints  returned  with  increas- 
ed violence,  and  by  the  commencement  of  March, 
1818,  he  was  compelled  to  desist  from  his  work  alto- 
gether. The  case  of  our  missionary  was  now  pro- 
nounced hopeless,  without  a  speedy  removal  from  the 
island ;  and  in  these  circumstances  he  was  under  the 
necessity  of  returning  to  England,  just  at  the  time,  as 
he  expresses  it,  when  he  had  begun,  in  some  measure, 
to  realize  his  expectations.  "  I  had  learned  the  Ma- 
lay language,"  says  he, "  sufficiently  to  be  able  to  read 
and  converse  fluently,  and  to  conduct  worship  in  it ; 
and  I  had  so  far  overcome  the  difficulties  of  the  Ja- 
vanese, as  to  be  able  to  translate  into  it  with  some 
degree  of  readiness.  The  English  gentlemen  residing 
at  Samarang  had  also  been  stirred  up,  by  a  circular 
which  I  had  addressed  to  them,  at  the  commencement 
of  the  year,  to  enter  into  a  monthly  subscription  for 
defraying  the  expenses  of  public  worship  in  English, 
which  I  was  to  conduct.  Thus  to  relinquish  my  pros- 
pects of  success,  therefore,  was  a  painful  task  ;  yet  so 
alarming  were  my  symptoms,  and  so  rapid  was  the 
decay  of  nature,  that  I  appeared  to  be  tottering  on 
the  brink  of  the  grave  ;  and  the  united  voice  of  the 
few  friends  who  knew  my  situation,  and  who  saw  me 
struggling  with  a  disease  which  threatened  speedily  to 
put  a  stop  to  my  exertions,  urged  me,  while  the  spark 
of  life  remained,  to  adopt  the  only  probable  means  of 
restoring  me  to  health." 

In  a  communication  from  Weltevreden,  dated  Sep- 
tember28,1818,andaddressftdtotheRev.  Dr.  Ryland, 
Mr.  Robinson  writes,  "  After  preaching  the  word  for 


a  long  period,  with  scarcely  any  success,  it  has  pleas- 
ed the  Lord  to  give  me  a  little  encouragement.  A 
Chinaman,  bom  at  Batavia,  has  avowed  himself  a  dis- 
ciple of  Jesus,  and  was  baptized  last  Lord's  day, 
in  the  presence  of  a  great  concourse  of  spectators. 
The  place  of  baptism  was  a  river  which  runs  just  on 
the  outside  of  the  old  fortifications  of  Batavia,  and 
opposite  to  that  part  of  the  town  which  is  inhabited 
by  the  Chinese.  Many  Dutchmen  and  Portuguese 
were  present,  to  whom  the  sight  was  as  novel  as  to 
the  Chinamen  and  Malays.  After  we  came  up  out  of 
the  water,  we  went  into  the  house  of  a  Malay  to 
change  our  clothes,  and  it  was  with  difficulty  the 
crowd  were  prevented  from  forcing  their  way  in  at  the 
door ;  for  they  had  an  idea  that  I  was  going  to  cut  off 
the  Chinaman's  tail,  and  dress  him  in  the  European  fash- 
ion, and  they  were  exceedingly  anxious  to  see  this 
wonderful  ceremony.  1  had,  indeed,  told  them,  in 
my  addrpss  at  the  water-sidp,  that  he  would  neither 
change  his  drps«  nor  his  name  ;  but  they  could  not 
believe  that  he  would  appear  in  his  Chinese  habit 
again,  till  they  were  convinced  by  ocular  demonstra- 
tion. His  name  is  The'an,  which,  in  the  Chinese  lan- 
guage, signifies  heaven,  a  name  by  no  means  improper 
for  a  Christian.  He  seems  to  be  a  truly  converted 
man,  and  gives  very  gratifying  evidence  of  a  real  work 
of  grace  upon  his  heart.  Several  of  his  countrymen 
have  recently  attended  the  means  of  grace  ;  but  some 
of  them  yesterday  declared  their  intention  of  coming 
no  more,  lest  (to  use  their  own  phrase)  they  should 
be  induced  to  become  Dutchmen.  There  are  still 
two  Chinamen,  however,  who  have  not  taken  the 
alarm  ;  and  they  both  say  that  were  they  fit  subjects 
for  baptism,  they  would  not  scruple  to  be  baptized." 
Nothing  worthy  of  relation  occurs  in  the  history  of 
the  mission  till  the  month  of  June,  1821,  when  Mr. 
Robinson,  by  the  advice  of  his  friends,  and  with  the 
decided  approbation  of  the  committee  in  London, 
relinquished  his  engagements  at  Batavia,  and  removed 
to  Bencoolen.  To  account  for  this  step,  it  may  be 
proper  to  state,  that  from  the  period  of  the  restora- 
tion of  Java  to  the  Dutch  government,  the  missiona- 
ries on  that  island  had  been  subject  to  considera- 
ble restrictions  in  the  prosecution  of  their  im- 
portant labors ;  and,  though  hopes  had  been  enter- 
tained, in  consequence  of  an  application  to  the  king 
of  the  Netherlands,  in  1818,  that  such  restrictions 
would  have  been  removed,  these  hopes  were  not  re- 
alized. The  situation  of  Mr.  Robinson  had,  therefore, 
for  some  time  been  rendered  unpleasant,  and  the  dawn- 
ing prospect  of  his  usefulness  was  almost  entirely  over- 
cast. About  the  same  time,  he  received  an  invitation 
to  Bencoolen,  where  a  more  extensive  field  for  his 
exertions  presented  itself;  and,  after  mature  delibera- 


SUMATRA. 


m 


tk»  and -etmMt  pnytr,  be  acceded  to  the  prqpoi^ 
urangemeiit. 

This  year  (1891)  appeal  to  have  been  a  seaaon  of 
j^uliar  distress  to  the  inhabitantt  of  Java.  In  con- 
sequence of  a  complete  failure  m  the  crop  of  rice, 
owing  to  want  of  rain,  provisions  rose  to  an  enormous 
price ;  and  many  of  the  poor,  rendered  desperate  bjr 
(*want,  ha^  recourse  to  a  system  of  nocturnal  depreda- 
'^'tion.  Through  the  negligence  of  the  people  and  the 
dryness  of  the  weather,  about  thirty  fires  also  occurred 
at  Samarang  and  in  the  adjacent  villages,  within  a  period 
:?  of  six  months ;  and  as  the  houses  of  the  natives  are 
all  constructed  of  bamboo  and  straw,  it  may  be  easily 
conceived  that  when  a  conflagration  breaks  out,  hun- 
dreds of  such  buildings  must  necessarily  fall  a  prey  to 
the  devouring  flames.  In  addition  to  these  calamities, 
the  cholera  morbut  broke  out  in  the  island,  and  raged 
so  awfully,  that  Mr.  Bruckner  remarks,  upwards  of 
fifty  bodies  were,  for  a  long  period,  carried  daily  to 
the  grave  by  the  road  adjoining  his  premises,  exclu- 
■ive  of  all  which  were  taken  in  other  directions. 
"  Thousands,"  says  he,  in  a  letter,  dated  September 
11,  "  have  been  carried  ofi";  and,  though  the  sickness 
ia  abated  in  a  considerable  measure,  it  does  not  yet 
cease,  but,  m  some  districts,  continues  to  rage  violent- 
ly. Several  persons  have  been  carried  off",  with  whom 
I  used  to  meet  occasionally,  and  some  of  whom  I  en- 
tertained a  hope  that  they  might,  one  day,  give  them- 
selves up  to  the  Saviour.  Four  have  died  on  my 
premises,  within  a  short  period,  who  were  either  lodg- 
ers or  servanU  of  mine.  The  Lord  has  been  so  mer- 
ciful to  me  and  my  family,  however,  that  we  have 
been  still  preserved  in  the  midst  of  danger.  Even  my 
little  ones,  who  are  now  five  in  number,  have,  on  the 
whole,  enjoyed  tolerably  good  health  all  the  time ; 
and  I  have  been  enabled,  though  occasionally  feelbg 
a  little  inconvenience,  to  go  on  with  my  work." 

In  the  course  of  the  ensuing  year,  Mr.  Bruckner  re- 
moved from  Samarang  to  a  place  called  Sulatlga,  about 
forty  miles  distant  inland.  This  measure  was  adopted  at 
the  suggestion  of  several  European  friends,  who  were 
decidedly  of  opinion  that  the  change  would  be  beneficial 
to  the  health  of  our  missionary  and  his  family,  the  cli- 
mate being  more  salubrious  than  that  of  Samarang.  He 
was  also  encouraged  to  suppose  that  he  might  here 
prosecute  his  labors  with  a  better  prospect  of  success; 
as  the  inhabitants  of  this  district  seemed  to  be  less 
bigoted  to  the  dogmas  of  Mahomet  than  those  with 
whom  he  had  been  formerly  conversant,  and,  in  some 
mstances,  they  listened  to  the  great  truths  of  ihe  gospel 
with  the  utmost  seriousness  and  attention. 

Intelligence  relative  to  this  mission  is  contained  in 
the  Annual  Report  for  1824,  and  is  as  follows :  "  From 
the  island  of  Java  we  have  no  very  encouraging  details 

Vol.  I.— Nos.  25  k  26.  40 


to  eommMntoatei  StiU  it  must  not  be  foi^tt^  tbst 
otte  impolrtaiiit  taotaom  haa  been  efiiBeted^  trhkb  iltMn 
would  be  an  ample  recompense  for  the  eXertioiis  made 
by  the  society  in  thia  quarter.  We  allude  tothetittW- 
lation  of  the  New  Tesifament  into  the  Jivanese  li^ 
guage,  happily  completed  by  Mr.  Bruckner,  our  tabb^ 
rious  missionary  at  Sulatiga ;  some  portions  of  which, 
we  have  reason  to  believe,  have,  ere  now,  been  print- 
ed at  the  lithographic  pregs,  forwarded  for  that  pUf|Kie 
to  Bencoolen.  In  exertions  to  communicate  religloas 
mstruction,  Mr.  Bruckner  has  been  "  instant  in  season^, 
and  out  of  season ;"  and  he  appears  to  be  much 
respected  by  his  Mahometan  neighbors,  thou^  he 
has  not  yet  perceived  those  higher  results  of  his  la- 
bors, which  would  constitute  their  most  gratifying  re- 
compense." 

The  Javanese  translation  of  the  Scriptures,  already 
alluded  to,  attracted  the  friendly  notice  and  aid 
of  the  Netheriands  Bible  Society,  and  other  sim- 
ilar institutions  on  the  continent  of  Europe.  Mr. 
Bruckner  was,  shortly  after  this,  by  a  formidaUe 
insurrection  of  the  natives  against  their  Dutch  masters, 
driven  from  the  eastern  side  of  the  islapd ;  when  he 
repaired  to  Batavia,  where  he  hoped  to  be  able  more 
efficiently  to  superintend  the  printing  of  his  New  Tester 
ment.  Even  this  work,  however,  was  soon  suspended, 
and  he  removed  to  the  adjoining  island  of  Sumatra, 
and  ultimately  to  Serampore,  where  his  translation  has 
since  been  printed.  Thus,  though  the  society  has  not 
been  able  to  maintain  a  living  missionary  in  this  im- 
portant country,  it  has  proved  an  auxiliary  to  fijtttre 
efibrts,  and  we  trust  will  prove  a  signal  blessing  to  its 
benighted  inhabitants,  by  furnishing  them  with  the 
lively  oracles  of  God. 


SUMATRA. 

The  island  of  Sumatra  being  considered  as  a  station 
of  peculiar  importance,  not  only  as  affording  ac- 
cess to  grent  numbers  of  heathen,  but  as  a  central 
spot  in  which  some  acquaintance  may  be  gained  with 
the  numerous  languages  spoken  in  the  eastern  Archi- 
pelago, Mr.  Nathaniel  Ward  was  sent  thither  fi'om  Cal- 
cutta with  a  printing-press,  in  the  spring  of  1819; 
and  Messrs.  Evans  and  Burton  having  been  designated 
in  London  for  the  same  station,  arrived  in  safety  at  the 
place  of  their  destination,  on  the  9th  of  June,  1820, 
after  experiencing  the  greatest  possible  kindness  from 
the  junior  chaplain  at  St.  Helena,  his  amiable  lady, 
and  other  nious  friends  in  that  lalnnJ. 

The  morning  after  their  arrival  in  Bencoolen  roads, 
they  received  an  intimation  from  the  governor,  sir 


298 


BAPTIST  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


Thomas  Stamford  RaiBes  (to  whom  they  had  trans- 
mitted their  letters  of  recommendation),  that  he  would 
be  glad  to  see  them  on  shore  as  soon  as  convenient, 
assuring  them  that  preparations  had  been  made  for 
their  immediate  accommodation.  Shortly  after,  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Winter,  the  chaplain,  came  on  board,  to 
invite  them  to  his  house,  and  informed  them  that  Mr. 
N.  Ward  had  been  for  some  months  absent,  on  a  visit 
to  Batavia ;  but  that,  previously  to  his  departure,  he 
had  purchased  a  large  house  for  the  purposes  of  the 
mission  ;  and  thai  the  governor  had  ordered  it  to  be 
prepared  for  their  rece))tion. 

After  passing  a  couple  of  days  beneath  the  hospita- 
ble roof  of  Mr.  Winter,  our  missionaries  were  accom- 
panied by  that  gentleman  to  the  government  house, 
and  introduced  to  sir  T.  S.  Raffles,  with  whom  they 
had  a  short  but  very  pleasant  interview  He  received 
them  in  the  most  friendly  manner ;  welcomed  them 
to  the  settlement ;  and  told  them  that  their  exertions 
were  much  needed  ;  observing  that  a  wide  field  of 
usefulness'  lay  open  before  tiieni,  and  promising  to 
facilitate  tl.air  endeavors  as  much  as  possible. 

In  a  subsequent  interview,  when  Messrs.  Evans  and 
Burton  ventured  to  ask  his  excellency's  opinion  as  to 
the  number  of  missionaries  necessary  for  the  island,  he 
said  he  had  written  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Ryland,  request- 
ing him  to  send  us  many  as  he  could  ;  adding,  that 
there  should  not  be  fewer  than  two  or  three  at  any 
place,  to  render  their  labors  effective  ;  particularly  at 
Sumatra,  where,  he  observed,  there  were  three  millions 
of  souls  perishing  in  ignorance  and  misery,  none  of 
whom  were  strongly  prejudiced  in  favor  of  their  false 
religion,  and  by  far  the  greater  part  were  completely 
destitute  of  all  ideas  of  a  religious  nature. 

The  governor  having  hinted  the  expediency  of  visit- 
ing some  of  the  northern  parts,  on  the  same  side  the 
island  as  Fort  Marlborough, — particularly  Pudang, 
Nattal,  Tapanooly,  and  the  small  island  of  Mas,  with 
a  view  of  ascertaining  the  most  eligible  place  for  the 

establishment  of  a   second  missionary  station, Mr. 

Burton  obtained  a  passage  in  a  gentleman's  boat  to 
Nattal,  and,  in  his  way,  touched  at  Padang,  which  ho 
reached  in  five  di.ys. 

"  This  plare,"  says  he,  "  was  taken  by  the  English 
during  the  war,  but  was  restored  to  tiie  Dutch  by  the 
late  Ireaiy.  The  interior  from  hence  is  nuich  supe- 
rior to  any  other  part  of  the  island,  in  point  of  culti- 
vation, population,  and  traftic.  It  is  the  grand  entrance 
fo  the  Mrni^iunciiliow  country,  furtnerly  the  seat  of 
the  universid  government  of  the  island,  where  tho 
Malayan  language  is  supposed  to  bo  spoken  by  nearly 
a  million  of  people  ;  and  presents,  I  should  suppose, 
a  iiitiih  more  extensive  ami  interesting  lu-Jd  lor  a  Ma- 
layan mission  than  any  other  part  of  the  Archipelago. 


"  The  European  population  of  Padang  are  princi- 
pally English,  and  Dutch  persons  educated  in  England. 
The  resident  and  most  of  the  civil  servants  were  under 
sir  T.  S.  Raffles,  in  Java,  and  .show  that  they  have 
not  attended  such  a  master  in  vain.  There  is  here  a 
Dutch  minister ;  but  as  he  can  only  preach  in  his  own 
language,  which  few  of  the  people  understand,  he 
cannot  be  very  extensively  useful.  I  attended  church 
on  the  Sabbath,  and  should  have  preached  after  the 
Dutch  service,  had  we  not  expected,  at  the  time  I 
was  asked,  to  sail  early  on  that  morning.  I  promised 
to  do  so  on  my  return,  should  I  be  there  on  t 
Sunday. 

"  We  staid  at  Padang  six  days,  during  which  time 
I  was  more  than  hospitably  entertained  at  the  house 
of  captain  Kemp,  a  Scotch  gentleman  and  Madras 
mercliant.  I  lef>  the  place,  hoping  that  a  field  so 
apparently  '  white  unto  harvest,'  would  not  long  want 
an  arduous  and  godly  laborer.  I  endeavored  to  obtain 
tho  average  price  of  most  necessary  articles  of  con- 
sumption, and  an.  of  opinion  that  a  missionary  might 
live  for  half  the  sum  at  Padang  that  he  would  require 
at  Marlborough. 

"  After  leaving  Padang,  three  days'  delightful  sail- 
ing brought  us  to  Nattal,  the  quiet  and  retired  residence 
of  John  Prince,  Esq.  a  man  whose  uprightness,  be- 
nevolence, misfortunes,  and  hospitality,  have  gained 
hhn  the  sympathy  and  admiration  of  the  east.     Here 
is  a  small  fort,  similar  to  those  of  the  other  English 
residences  of  the  coast,  in  the  midst  of  which  stand* 
Mr.  Prince's  house.     Near  him  are  a  few  Europeans, 
and  descendants  of  Europeans,  whom  he  has  taken 
under  his  protection,  who,  with  all  the  natives  in  the 
vicinity,  look  up  to  him  as  their  father  and  best  friend. 
He  is  now  forty-five  years  of  age,  and  has  lived  in 
this  seclusion  since  the  ago  of  fifteen  ;    yet  he  is  so 
much  the  gentleman  in  his  manners,  that  good  judges 
have  said,  the  first  society  in  Europe  could   not   im- 
prove him.     It  is  certain   that   his  admirable  conduct 
towards  the  natives,  both  in  his  dealings  with  them  as 
a  merchant,  and   his  treatment  of  those  iminediately 
in  his  service,  has  been  attended  with  such   happy 
effects,  that  the  Malays  of  Nattal  aie  much  superior 
to  any  oihers.     His  influence  among  the  chiefs  is  so 
great,  that  when   they  have  disagreed   among   them- 
selves and   declared   war,  he   has  oftin,  by  bringing 
them  together  and  mere  persuasion,  completely  recon- 
ciled them,  and  left  them  friends. 

"  You  will  not  wonder  that  from  such  a  man  a  mis- 
sionary should  receive  a  cordial  welcome.  Ho  enter- 
tained me  in  the  kindest  maimer,  and  expressed  his 
wish  to  afford  me  whatever  assistance  he  could,  in 
the  formation  and  prosecution  of  my  plant.  I  was 
happy,  and  I  trust  grateful,  in  the  assurance  of  the 


SUMATRA. 


friendship  of  one  so  experienced  and  capable  of  afford- 
ing such  efficient  aid  to  the  mission. 

"  On  one  occasion,  sir  T.  S.  Raffles  recommended 
us  to  direct  our  attention  particularly  to  the  Batta  peo- 
ple ;  and  Mr.  Prince  agreed  with  him  and  many 
others,  in  thinking  that  they  afford  a  most  promising 
field  for  missionary  exertions.  He  thinks  them  in 
number  about  five  hundred  thousand;  and  it  is  cer- 
tainly a  very  curious  circumstance,  and  to  a  missionary 
among  them  a  most  encouraging  fact,  that  of  a  people 
who  are  fully  proved  to  be  cannibals,  more  than  one 
half  should  be  able  to  read  and  write  !  With  such  a 
door  already  open,  what  might  not  be  effected  amongst 
them  ?  At  how  many  quarters,  in  how  many  ways, 
do  the  strong  holds  of  Satan  lie  here  exposed  to  our 
attack  !  Their  alphabet  is  the  most  simple  I  have 
seen,  and  will  be  particularly  easy  to  print. 

"  We  were  not  long  in  coming  to  the  conclusion 
that  our  future  labors  must  be  for  the  welfare  of  the 
Battas  ;  and  to  fix  on  the  most  suitable  "';icc  for  our 
residence,  was  the  next  thing  to  be  thoiu  ,1  of  Mr. 
Prince  was  of  opinion,  at  first,  that  Nattal  possessed 
the  greatest  advantages  ;  hut,  upon  further  inquiry, 
we  determined  to  settle  at  Tapanooly.  This  is  a 
small  island,  about  eighty  miles  north  of  Nattal,  situ- 
ated just  in  the  mouth  of  Tapanooly  bay,  in  which, 
it  is  said,  ail  the  fleets  in  the  world  might  ride  securely 
in  any  weather,  and  scarcely  even  bo  seen  from  the 
main  land  at  its  entrance.  On  this  island  there  is  a 
native  bazn.ir,  and  a  house  belonging  to  Mr.  Prince, 
which  is  now  occupied  by  one  of  his  assistants  and 
this  person's  sister.  Five  or  six  of  the  Batta  rivers, 
flowing  from  the  heart  of  the  country,  fall  into  the 
bay,  which  are  navigable  for  several  miles  up,  and 
have  many  towns  and  villages  situated  on  their  banks : 
so  you  may  readily  conceive  the  advantagei  of  this 
place  as  a  mission  station. 

"Having  concluded  upon  the  situation,  I  was  un- 
willing to  lose  the  time  that  would  bo  required  in  going 
to  see  it,  thinking  it  best  to  return  and  bring  my  dear 
wife  and  balm  as  early  as  possible.  But  as  Mr.  Prince 
was  intending  to  visit  Tapanooly  at  that  time,  and 
kindly  ofl^ored  to  take  me  with  him  in  hii  boat,  and 
introduce  me  at  onre  to  the  native  chiefs,  I  thought  it 
best  to  comply.  This  arrangement,  '  wevcr,  Provi- 
dence did  not  favor.  Other  plans  wj  o  laid  out  for 
me,  whilst  I  was  thus  *  ontriving  my  own  movements. 
Wiicn  our  trunks  were  on  board,  and  we  were  all 
ready  to  sail,  hoping  to  complete  our  voyage  in  two 
days,  a  violent  gale  of  wind  sprung  up,  called  on  this 
coast  a  Sumatran,  or  north-wester,  which  lasted  for 
sevfMtti  <i«y!i,  miii  riMHiiTcd  it  impoBsibie  for  us  to 
move  ;  and  even  when  the  winds  did  abate,  still  con- 
tinuing in  the  same  qutrtor,  it  was  not  improbable  but 


299 


that  our  voyage  might  have  occupied  a  month,  though 
the  distance  was,  as  I  have  before  mentioned,  but 
eighty  miles. 

"  In  this  uncertainty,  Mr.  Prince  thought  it  best  for 
me  to  take  the  course  of  the  winds,  and  return  to 
Marlborough  by  a  native  boat,  which  was  to  sail  in  a 
few  days  ;  engaging  at  the  same  time  to  make  every  ar- 
rangement for  us  in  his  power  at  Tapanooly.  It  was 
necessary  the  native  chiefs  should  be  made  acquainted 
with  our  object,  and  their  permission  obtained  for  our 
settlement  among  them  ;  also  that  materials  should  be 
preparing  for  the  erection  of  a  wooden  house ;  such 
as  the  felling  of  trees,  making  planks,  &c.  These  Mr. 
Prince  kindly  offered  to  manage  for  me  in  considera- 
tion of  our  speedy  return.  But  the  chief  inducement 
for  my  being  at  Marlborough  as  early  as  possible  was, 
that  I  might  get  every  thing  packed  and  arranged  to 
leave  with  a  brig,  which  he  intended  to  send  down  in 
about  a  month,  and  so  accomplish  our  removal  without 
expense  to  the  society.  The  native  boat  not  sailing 
so  early  as  we  expected,  he  sent  me  down  in  one  of  his 
own  to  Padang,  not  fearing  but  that  I  should  readily 
get  a  passage  from  thot  place.  I  heard  afterivards 
that  the  boat  in  which  I  should  have  sailed,  was  lost 
near  Bencoolen.  O  the  watchful  care  of  our  heavenly 
Father  !  This  was  not  the  only  instance  in  which  I 
had  distinctly  to  mark,  and  with  gratitude  to  record, 
his  immediate  interposition  on  my  behalf  during  my 
absence  from  home. 

"  After  waiting  six  days  at  Padang,  impatient  to 
return  to  my  dear  wife  and  babe,  and  having  no  pros- 
pect of  a  conveyance,  I  prevailed  upon  captain  K'inp 
to  sell  me  a  goo<l-sized  jolly-boat  for  one  hundred 
dollars,  in  which  I  determined  (certainly  very  rashly 
and  ignorantly),  if  possible,  to  make  Marlborough, 
a  distance  of  nearly  three  hundred  miles.  I  accord- 
ingly procured  three  seamen,  plenty  of  rice  and  water, 
a  goat  and  two  kids,  and  put  to  sea,  with  no  other 
covering  than  our  shade  over  the  place  where  I  sat  at 
the  helm.  It  happened  that  an  American  vessel  was 
leaving  just  at  the  time,  to  which  I  was  permitted  to 
attach  my  boat,  as  far  as  our  course  was  the  same. 
From  the  liospitable  men  who  formed  this  ship's  com- 
pany, I  received  the  greotest  possible  attention  and 
kindness.  They  took  mo  into  their  vessel,  and  treated 
mo  with  the  best  it  afforded,  and,  on  parting,  wished 
mo  to  name  whatever  tlioy  had  on  board  which  I 
tlioiiglit  would  make  me  more  comfortable,  and  I 
should  have  it.  One  of  them  gave  me  a  volume  of 
the  '  Christian  Observer.' 

"  After  sailing  with  them  a  day  and  a  half,  they  put 
me  into  my  Imat  abt)tit  four  in  the  afternoon,  and  we 
parted  with  mutual  regret,  and  not  without  many  foam 
on  their  part,  I  am  persuaded,  for  the  fate  of  my  poor 


800 


BAPTIST  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


bark.  There  was  certainly  good  reason  for  apprehen- 
sion, for  we  were  forty  miles  from  land — the  wind  had 
blown  strong  from  the  north-west  all  the  day,  and  the 
heavens  gathered  blackness  as  the  night  came  on— 
there  was  nearly  as  heary  a  sea,  I  think,  as  we  had 
in  any  part  of  our  voyage  from  England — so  heavy, 
indeed,  that  it  was  with  the  utmost  difficulty,  after 
taking  in  most  of  the  sail,  they  could  bring  my  boat 
along-side  their  vessel.  As  every  thing  depended  on 
the  stability  of  my  own  mind  in  these  circumstances, 
I  can  ascribe  it  to  nothing  short  of  an  interposition  of 
kind  Providence,  that  my  courage  still  held  out — but 
it  did,  even  on  being  informed,  immediately  after  we 
had  left  the  vessel,  that  we  had  no  fire  in  the  boat,  nor 
the  means  of  procuring  a  light  for  the  night.  I  had 
not  been  in  the  boat  many  minutes,  when  1  became 
exceedingly  sick,  for  the  first  time  at  sea.  I  took  my 
seat  at  the  helm,  however,  and  steered  the  whole 
night.  In  the  morning,  we  saw  land,  and  found  that 
our  course  had  been  perfectly  correct.  The  following 
day,  pleasant  sailing — winds  light — but  the  next  night 
was  very  alarming.  Think  of  us  in  an  open  boat, 
eighteen  feet  long,  close  in  to  a  reefy,  and  consequently 
a  most  dangerous  shore,  carried  rapidly  along  by  fear- 
ful north-west  squalls,  accompanied  with  heavy  rain — 
our  compass  broken  with  the  tossing  nt  the  beginning 
of  the  night,  nor  any  light  to  see  it,  had  it  been  in 
order,  so  dark  indeed  that  we  could  not  see  five  yards 
before  us,  and  you  will  not  wonder  that  all  courage 
failed.  You  may  form,  perhaps,  a  fnint  idea  of  such 
a  situation,  but  to  enter  fully  into  the  feelings  we  pos- 
sessed when  the  storm  was  hushed  and  the  morning 
broke,  discovering  to  us  the  footsteps  of  Him  in  the 
deep,  who  had  guided  us  safely  tlirough  the  horrors 
of  the  night,  almost  in  a  direct  course  tounrds  our 
desired  haven,  is  as  impossible  as  for  inn  to  describe 
them.  Through  mercy,  I  arrived  in  pi-ace  at  .Marlbo- 
rough, on  the  fourth  day  after  leaving  Padunp,  not  a 
little  gratified  to  find  all  friends,  particularly  my  dear 
wife  and  babe,  in  good  hoaltli." 

Of  the  religion  of  the  people  called  liattat,  to 
whom  Mr.  Ilurton  alludes  in  tiie  prcrediiig  romiinmi- 
cation,  the  following  conrise  account  was  ilrinvn  ii|)  by 
Mr.  Prince,  at  tlio  requom  and  for  the  iiifonnotion  of 
the  honorable  sir  T.  S.  Ruffles : — 

«•  The  present  religion  of  the  Dallas  is  a  compound 
of  the  most  ridiculous  and  barbarous  superstitions, 
founiled  on  human  depravity.  They  do  not,  however, 
worsiiip  images  ;  but  believe  in  the  exlMieme  of  certain 
deities,  whose  attributes  bcMpouk  the  existence  of  a 
bettor  race  of  people  than  the  present.  Their  names 
and  descriptions  are  as  follow  : 

•■  De«  Baitah  a»tft  aitrr,  tiio  creator  and  lather 
of  all — who  appointed  three  brothcij — liataragourou, 


Seeree  Padah,  and  Mahalabhoolan — his  vakeels,  or 
agents,  to  instruct  mankind. 

"  Bataragourou  is  the  god  of  justice,  and  is  de- 
scribed literally  under  the  following  character :  <  Fish 
in  the  wears  he  will  restore  to  their  element ;  property 
forgotten  he  will  return ;  a  measure  filled  to  the  brim, 
a  just  balance,  and  upright  judgment  are  his.' 

"  These  are  the  principles  Bataragourou  was  ap- 
pointed to  instil  into  the  minds  of  mankind  ;  but  the 
Battas  acknowledge  themselves  strangers-  to  their 
adoption. 

"  Seeree  Padah  is  the  god  of  mercy  :  '  He  will 
repair  the  clothes  that  are  torn — give  meat  to  the 
hungry — drink  to  the  thirsty — health  to  the  sick- 
relief  to  the  oppressed — advice  to  the  weak,  and  shelter 
to  the  friendless.' 

"  Mahalabhoolan  soon  quarrelled  with  his  brothers, 
separated  from  them,  and  set  up  the  practice  of  tenets 
directly  opposite  to  theirs ;  hence  he  is  described  as— 
'  The  .source  of  discord  and  contention, — the  instigator 
of  malice  and  revenge, — the  inciter  of  anger, — the 
source  of  fraud,  deceit,  lying,  hypocrisy,  and  murder.' 

"  Of  these  three  brothers,  you  will  not  wonder  that 
the  last  is  most  powerful,  or  that  he  has  most  adhe- 
rents. The  Battas  acknowledge  that  they  apply  to, 
and  beseech  him,  when  they  have  followed  any  of 
those  vices,  and  they  also  acknowledge  that  petitions 
are  very  rarely  offered  to  the  other  deities.  They 
name  a  fifth,  '  Naggahpadonah,'  who  is  said,  like 
Atlas,  to  support  the  world,  which  they  describe  to 
consist  of  seven  folds  beneath,  and  as  many  above. 

"  A  person  called  the  Dattoo,  who  is  skilled  in 
every  sort  of  superstition,  is  the  only  resemblance  of 
a  priest  among  ihoin.  Every  village  has  one  of  these. 
Tiie  only  ceremony  practised  of  a  religious  nature, 
as  far  as  I  can  hear,  is  the  custom  of  invoking  the 
shades  of  their  ancestors.  This  is  done  at  pleasure, 
in  prosperity  or  in  adversity.  The  process  of  the 
ceremony  is  as  follows  : — 

"A  wooden  iiiask  is  made  to  represent  the  features 
of  the  deceased  ;  this  is  worn  by  a  clever  fellow,  who 
is  dressed  in  all  the  regalia  of  a  rajah,  and  he  is  wor- 
shipped as  the  living  represontativu  of  the  departed 
object  of  their  regard. 

"  A  feast  is  made  in  honor  of  the  dead,  which  lasts 
for  three  days.  The  performer  exercises  all  the 
authority  that  his  skill  suggests,  and  mixes  his  say- 
ings with  prophecies  suited  to  the  wishes  of  the 
audience. 

"  The  influence  of  the  Dattoo  over  the  deluded 
Battas  is  such,  that  they  will  engnfte  in  no  undertaking, 
however  trilling,  without  first  consulting  him.  He 
ex|MHinds  all  their  religious  books,  and,  according  to 
his   interpretation,  a  day  is  chosen  M  propitious  to 


SUMATRA. 


their  object,  whetlier  that  be  a  suit,  a  journey,  or  the 
commencement  of  hostilities. 

"  The  moral  conduct  of  these  people  appears  to  be 
influenced  by  all  the  vile  passions  of  an  irregular  and 
irritable  constitution.  Truth  is  seldom  regarded,  when 
in  tiie  way  of  their  interests  or  feelings ;  and  honesty 
is  never  founded  on  principle,  but  on  the  fear  of  de- 
tection. The  general  tenor  of  their  lives  has  obliterat- 
ed the  recoUeciion  and  practice  of  the  laws  of  Seeree 
Padah,  and  Bataragourou,  and  they  have  no  priesthood, 
no  rajah  to  recall  them,  or  to  reprove  their  obstinate 
adherence  to  the  principles  of  Mahalabhoolan,  who  is 
certainly  no  other  than  the  devil, 

"  I  am  sure,"  adds  Mr.  Prince,  in  concluding  his 
account,  "  that  Ciiristiau  missionaries  would  find  an 
ample  field  for  their  labors  among  this  people  ;  <br  it 
is  not  ignorance  of  what  is  virtuous  and  good,  but,  as 
they  themselves  acknowledge,  natural  depravity,  that 
must  be  assigned  us  the  principal  cause  of  their  pres- 
ent deplorable  morals." 

During  the  absence  of  Mr.  Burton,  the  care  of  a 
school  which  had  been  established  at  Bencoolen  rest- 
ed entirely  with  Mr.  Evans  ;  but,  as  his  strength  prov- 
ed inadef,..ato  to  the  united  exertions  of  conducting  that 
establishment  and  of  studying  tiie  native  language,  he 
resolved,  on  the  return  of  his  colleague,  to  remove  to 
Padang.  As  that  settlement  was  under  the  jurisdic- 
tion of  the  Dutch,  however,  it  became  necessary  that 
he  should,  in  the  first  instance,  go  thither  alone,  in 
order  to  obtain  penuission  to  settle  there,  before  ho  at- 
tempted to  remove  his  wife  and  child.  He  accord- 
ingly sailed  from  Jiencoolen  on  the '2 1st  of  December, 
and  on  the  aSth  arrived  at  Padung,  where  he  found 
the  Dutch  resident,  a  Mr.  Dupuy,  fully  dispoood  to 
accede  to  his  wishes.  Thus  encouraged,  ho  ungaged 
a  house,  ui  the  rate  of  twrnty-five  dollars  per  mojith  ; 
and  soon  afterwards  relumed,  to  convey  Mrs.  Evans 
and  hor  infant  to  this  nuw  mi.ssionury  station. 

Early  in  the  spring  of  1821,  at  the  suggestion  of 
some  British  and  Aniericon  gentlemen,  visiting  Padang 
for  conunorrial  purposes,  Mr.  Evans  commenced  the 
celebration  of  divine  worship  on  the  sabbath,  and 
the  attendance  was  more  numerous  than  could  have 
been  exported.  The  Dutch  resident,  uIho,  a|)poarod 
frienilly  to  the  formation  of  scIkkjIs  anumg  the  natives, 
and  a  few  children  were  collected  mid  I'lacod  under 
the  care  of  Mrs.  Evans. 

In  a  letter  from  Messrs.  Word  and  Robinson,  dated 
Henroolon,  October  6,  18'.il,  those  nnssionarios  ob- 
serve, "Our  attention  has  been  directed  to  the  native 
schooIs.asB  very  imporlH-<t  subject  in  the  present  stale 
nftho  natjvn  nnnijlnlinn  !  ani\  u/q  doubt  !!<>t  that  vnt:  u;:!! 
be  highly  gratified  with  the  progress  which  has  Iwon 
made  in  every  department  of  them.     We  projMwed 


«^ 


to  the  governor,  some  time  since,  to  commenco  an 
Anglo-Malayan  school  for  the  children  of  half-castes, 
respectable  natives  and  Chinese ;  to  be  supported 
partly  by  public  contribution,  and  partly  by  a. small 
monthly  charge  to  the  children ;  this  latter,  we  thought, 
would  tend  to  promote  the  esteem  of  education.  His 
excellency  kindly  acceded  to  our  proposal,  and  put 
into  our  hands  a  sum  which  had  been  formerly  sanc- 
tioned by  the  supreme  government,  but  had  not  been 
fully  appropriated.  The  schools,  we  think,  are  better 
attended  than  might  be  expected.  Upwards  of  one 
hundred  scholars  are  daily  present  at  those  about  the 
settlement,  and  we  already  observe  a  growing  dispo- 
sition to  appreciate  education.  As  this  advances,  of 
course  the  number  will  increase  ;  and  we  have  reason 
to  hope  that,  at  no  very  distant  period,  the  bulk  of  the 
rising  generation  will  be  able  to  read,  and  will  be 
supplied  with  books  by  ourselves.  We  have  lately 
received  a  petition  from  six  villages,  at  a  distance, 
for  schools,  to  which  the  natives  promise  to  send  near 
two  hundred  children.  These  we  are  now  commen- 
cing, and  hope,  in  the  course  of  time,  to  extend  the  sys- 
tem as  far  as  thirty  miles  around  us. 

"  Our  Malay  congregation  still  continues,  but  it  has 
not  been  so  numerous  of  late  as  it  was  at  first.  The 
novelty  of  it  is  beginning  to  subside,  and  we  may  now 
expect  a  small  number  regularly.  We  go  out  amongst 
the  natives  to  converse  with  them,  and  we  generally 
find  some  who  are  attentive  and  interested  in  what 
they  hear ;  we  find,  indeed,  very  little  disposition  to 
oppose,  and  whenever  we  meet  it,  it  proves  very  feeble. 
This  we  attribute  to  the  little  real  progress  which  Ma- 
homotanism  hos  made  amongst  the  people.  There 
appears,  in  fact,  tc  je  a  degree  of  scepticism  very  gen- 
erally prevalent  anongst  them,  in  regard  to  tliBt  re- 
ligion, which  we  have  observed  in  no  other  Malay 
country.  We  shall,  of  course,  avail  ourselves  of  this 
circumstance  in  our  intercourse  with  them,  and  en- 
deavor to  inculcate  the  doctrine  of  r.idences. 

"  A  considerable  number  of  hymr-t)ooks,  both  in 
the  Arabic  and  the  Roman  character,  nave  been  given 
away,  and  not  a  few  cop.es  of  the  gospel  of  Matthew. 
They  have,  in  most  cases,  been  applied  for  at  our  own 
house  ;  and,  inquiring  particularly  what  use  was  made 
of  them,  wo  found  they  were  chiefly  wanted  to  learn 
to  road  out  of," 

In  another  communication,  dated  January  S,  1822, 
our  missionaries  write,  "  Wo  regret  that  we  have  not 
been  able,  during  the  Inst  three  months,  to  accom- 
plish all  that  we  antieipnied.  Unforeseen  difticultios 
have  much  impeded  our  progress,  both  with  respect  to 
•.::r  j;rc~  ann  3r!io».i.-..  io  luniier  einrient  liio  rviaiay 
department  of  the  press,  we  need,  at  least,  one  good 
Malay  com|M)sitor ;    but  this  is  still  a  desideratum. 


803 


BAPTIST  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


Several  Malays  have,  at  diiTerent  times,  entered  our 
service,  for  the  purpose  of  learning  to  compose ;  but 
no  sooner  did  they  perceive  that  this  acquisition  re- 
quired a  little  mental  exertion,  and  a  moderately  close 
application  to  business,  than  they  left  us  in  disgust. 
So  averse  are  Malays  to  every  thing  that  requires  dili- 
gence and  attention,  that  out  of  a  number  who  enter- 
ed the  office,  only  one  remains ;  and  as  he  is  far  from 
being  an  efficient  workman,  our  Malay  printing  pro- 
ceeds but  slowly.  A  Scripture  tract,  containing  the 
history  of  the  creation  of  the  world  and  the  fall  of 
man,  will,  we  hope,  soon  issue  from  the  press ;  as  also 
a  small  book  of  lessons,  designed  for  the  use  of  the 
native  schools ;  but  besides  these,  we  have  nothing 
else  likely  to  appear  at  present. 
.  "  A  small  work  on  geography  has  been  undertaken, 
but  in  this  very  little  progress  has  at  present  been 
made.  This  little  work  will  not  be  confined  to  first 
principles  ;  as  it  is  hoped  that  others,  besides  school- 
boys, will  read  a  book  which  professes  to  furnisli  them 
with  information  concerning  the  world  which  they  in- 
habit. A  knowledge  of  geography  will  not  make  men 
Christians,  but  a  few  correct  geographical  ideas,  if  re- 
ceived into  the  mind,  must,  we  think,  do  something 
towards  weakening  the  faith  of  Mahometans  in  the 
Koran.  According  to  them,  the  euith  is  a  plain,  con- 
sisting of  seven  stories,  and  bounded  by  a  high  moun- 
tain, or,  as  we  should  term  it,  by  a  chain  of  mountains : 
this  mountain  they  cull  mount  Kaf;  and  tht-y  believe  it 
to  be  inhabited  by  a  race  of  genii,  some  of  whom  are 
infidels,  and  some  good  Mussuli.ien.  They  suppose 
the  earth  is  suppoi'ted  by  angels,  who  bear  it  up  on 
their  hands.  These  angels  landon  the  horns  of  a  cow ; 
the  cow  stands  on  a  Horn  ,  this  stone  is  supported  by 
a  fish  ;  under  this  fwh  is  a  sea ;  under  this  sea,  dark- 
ness ;  and  under  this  darkness,  hell.  These  ideas  arc 
not  those  of  the  vulgar  only  ;  they  arc  contained  in 
their  books,  and  form  what  may  be  called  the  ortho- 
dox creed  on  the  subject ;  and  the  Koran  itself  recog- 
nizes this  absurd  system.  If,  then,  w?  can  succeed  in 
convincing  these  poor  ignorant  people  that  the  earth  is 
a  globe,  and  that  several  navigators  have  actually  sailed 
round  it,  their  implicit  faith  in  the  declarations  of  the 
Koran,  and  those  of  their  other  religious  lK)oks,mustof 
course  bo  shaken.  Some  of  those  natives,  who  have 
been  most  in  tiie  lial)il  of  conversing  with  Europeans, 
do  already  reject  their  own  absurd  theory  ;  but,  for 
want  of  a  plain  statement  of  things  in  their  own  lan- 
guage, their  ideas  arc  very  confused." 

One  soliliiili  morning,  the  brethren  visited  a  place 
called  the  Nens  village,  where  they  entered  into  conver- 
sation uitli  a  |>riest,  who,  from  his  appearance,  was 
i5Ui.|i\»~Ci4  TO  uc  no*  iv~7>  ztmn  n^niy  ycsta  t*i  uilC.  nc 
ingenuously  acknowledged  that  he  was  unacquainted 


with  the  way  of  salvation,  but  obstinately  refused  to 
listen  to  any  instruction.  He  only  regretted  that  he 
could  not  perform  the  pilgrimage  to  Mecca,  as  he 
seemed  fully  convinced  that  a  visit  to  such  a  holy 
place  must  necessarily  be  productive  of  the  most  ben- 
eficial consequences.  The  missionaries  endeavored, 
in  the  most  solemn  and  atiectionate  manner,  to  warn 
him  of  his  danger ;  but  all  vheir  attempts  proved  un- 
availing, and  he  coolly  replied,  "  God  made  me,  and 
God  made  hell ;  what  reason  have  I,  therefore,  to  be 
afraid  of  hell  ?"  To  explain  this  remark,  it  may  be 
necessary  to  state,  that  the  disciples  of  Mahomet  sup- 
pose hell  to  be  a  living  creature,  kept  chained  under 
the  care  of  an  angel ;  and  that,  after  the  resurrection, 
when  all  mankind  are  assembled  in  the  valley  where 
they  are  to  be  judged,  it  will  be  led,  by  its  keeper,  to 
this  valley  for  the  purpose  of  punishing  the  wicked. 

The  Neas  people,  in  their  own  country,  are  hea- 
thens ;  but  many  of  them,  since  they  have  resided  in 
Bencoolen,  have  adopted  the  doctrines  of  the  Koran. 
Those  who  still  adhere  to  piranism  arc,  in  all  things, 
extremely  superstitious  ;  so  that  even  in  the  operation 
of  felling  timber,  they  invariably  place  a  little  grass, 
or  a  few  leaves,  on  the  stump,  to  propitiate  the  de- 
parted spirit  of  the  tree  !  One  of  tiieir  funerals  was 
seen  by  the  missionaries,  and  is  described  as  follows : — 

"  The  corpse  (that  of  a  poor  old  woman)  was  placed 
on  a  bier  covered  with  a  cloth,  and  carried  to  the 
grave  on  the  shoulders  of  four  men.  The  place  of 
sepulture  was  very  shallow,  with  a  cavity  on  one  side 
for  the  reception  of  the  body.  The  cloth  being  taken 
off  the  bier,  the  deceased  appeared  in  herusual  dress, 
with  her  face,  hands  and  feet  uncovered.  The  corpse 
was  laid  on  its  back  in  the  cavity  ;  several  clods  of  earth 
were  placed  near  the  head  ;  and  the  cavity  was  tiicn 
closed  up  with  two  boards.  It  was  said  that  the  clods  of 
earth  were  designed  to  assi.st  the  deceased  in  conveying 
intelligence  to  her  friends  in  the  other  world ;  but  in 
what  particular  way  they  were  supposed  tohe  of  service, 
could  not  he  ascertained.  A  bamboo  was  placed  per- 
pendicularly in  the  grave,  one  end  of  it  touchinu;  the 
bottom,  near  the  hea<l  of  the  corpse,  whilst  on  the 
other  end,  which  rose  several  feet  above  the  surface 
of  the  ground,  a  white  streamer  was  placed.  At  the 
ex|iiration  of  a  month  from  the  time  of  interment, 
this  ImmbiM)  wiis  to  be  drawn  up,  in  order  tiint  the 
spirit  of  the  deceased  nwglit  ascend  through  the  aper- 
ture, to  attend  a  fciist  made  at  the  grave." 

Mr,  Burton,  in  tlic  mean  tinu),  hail  taken  a  journey 
into  the  country  of  the  Battiis ;  and  though  our  |)re- 
R(;ribe<l  limits  preclude  the  admi.H!<ion  of  even  an  out- 
line of  his  journal,  the  following  particulars  relaltMJ  by 
iiiiit  itft}  loo  ini*}rc5itfi^  io  uc  pso^cn  ovrr  »*»  ^iiriiro. 

In  writing  from  a  |)lace  called  Linguahuyesi,  he 


SUMATRA. 


•ays,  "  I  am  just  returned  from  a  long  walk  to  the  ba- 
zaar, which  is  situated  on  the  top  of  an  adjacent  hill, 
and  commands  a  delightful  prospect  of  the  river  and' 
the  circumjacent  country.     Here  were  about  one  hun- 
dred  persons,  amusing  themselves  with  a  most  cruel 
game.     A  small  stake  is  driven  into  the  earth,  and  a 
circle  drawn  round  it,  which  is  divided  into  four  equal 
parts.     In  each  of  the  partitions  different  individuals 
place  equal  sums  of  money  ;  and  to  the  stake  is  tied 
a  young  fowl,  which,  on  having  iu  throat  cut,  flutters 
about  for  a  short  time,  and  then  expires.     The  person 
whose  money  happens  to  be  in  the  partition  where  the 
fowl  lies  after  its  death,  sweeps  the  stakes  ;  and  the 
circle  is  usually  divided  into  as  many  parts  as  there 
are  persons  who  are  desirous  of  joining  in  the  amuse- 
ment.    The  man  officiating  as  cut-throat,  on  this  occa- 
sion, was  the  iman  or  priest  of  the  place.     The  cruel 
and  hardening  influence  which  this  game  must  liuve  on 
the  dispositions  of  the  people  is  sufficiently  obvious. 
It  has  become  such  a  favorite  in  these  parts,  however, 
that  both  fowls  and  eggs  are  difllcult  to  be  procured] 
at  Natlal,  at  any  price."— At  another  place  which  he 
visited,  in  the  course  of  his  journey,  Mr.  Burton  ob- 
serves, "  By  nine  o'clockin  the  morning,  a  concourse 
of  people  had  assembled  in  the  bazaar,  and  were  en- 
gaged boisterously  in  the  game  of  chickens,  which  I 
have  already  described.     When  I  went  up  to  them,  I 
was  astonished  to  find,  at  so  eariy  an  hour,  not  fewer 
than  twenty  dead  fowls,  weltering  in  their  blood  !" 

At  a  village  called  Palampungan,  in  which  a  white 
person  had  never  before  been  seen,  our  missionary  was 
awakened,  about  two  hours  after  he  had  retired  to  rest, 
by  the  sepoys  who  slept  in  the  same  room,  and  who 
were  much  alarmed  by  the  noise  of  tigers  around  the 
house.     "  They  endeavored,"  says  Mr.  Burton,  "  to 
conceal  their  fears  from  me,  but  I  heard   and  under- 
stood  the  expressions,  '  Awake  !    awake !    hear  tho 
tigers  !'  though  tittered  in  a  whisper.     We  soon  lienid 
an  elephant,  at  no  great   distance,  making  the  wood 
crash  horribly  beneath  his  ponderous  feet.    About  half- 
past  eleven,  we  heard  him  distinctly  approaciiing  us, 
and  the  men  became  much  alarmed,  nor  were  their  fears 
entirely  groundless  ;  for  it  was  almost  neces.^nry,  from 
the  peculiar  situation  of  our  house,  that  he  sliould  pass 
very  near  us,  and,  as  they  justly  observed,  if  he  had 
but  rubbed  against  it,  ho  must  have  upset  us.     The 
house  consisted  but  of  one  room  about  twelve  feet 
square,  elevated  al)out  ten   feet  frum  the  ground,  on 
four  crazy  posts.     We  sat  round  our  dim  lamp,  with 
muskets  in  our  hands,  waiting  his  approach,  in  anxious 
suspense.     Jusi  at  twelve  o'clock,  he  came  up  to  us, 
and,  at  the  same  moment,  a  tiger  sprung  fiithor  (ron! 
under  tho  house,  or  from  some  place  close  to  it.     We 
opened  a  small  window,  from  which  I  fired  my  fowl- 


303 


ing-piece,  and  two  of  the  sepoys  endeavored  to  follow 
my  example,  but  their  pieces  unfortunately  missed 
fire.  Both  the  animals,  however,  made  off:  About 
an  hour  afterwards,  we  heard  the  elephant  at  a  distance, 
and  one  or  two  tigers  much  nearer.  The  sepoys' 
therefore,  fired  twice  from  the  windows,  after  which 
we  retired  to  rest  for  the  remainder  of  the  night." 

The  last  extract  which  we  shall  make  from  Mr. 
Burton's  highly  interesting  narrative  relates  to  the  ob- 
taining gold  dust  from  the  bed  of  a  river,  and  which 
«,  in  substance,  as  follows  : 

The  course  of  the  stream  is,  in  the  first  place,  di- 
verted, by  means  of  a  strong  rampart  of  stones,  so  as 
to  leave  part  of  the  bed  dry.  Here,  after  digging  to 
the  depth  of  eight  or  nine  feet,  the  workmen  meet 
With  a  black  mud,  which  is  taken  to  the  water  in  a 
wooden  trencher,  and  washed  in  the  running  stream, 
ull  nothing  seems  to  remain  except  a  sand  resembling 
iron-fihngs.  Among  this  sand,  however,  the  keen  eye 
of  me  person  employed  discovers  small  pieces  of  pure 
gold ;  and  after  these  are  separated,  the  remaining  sand  is 
thrown  away.  The  water  which  collects  in  the  mine 
durmg  the  night  occasions  considerable  trouble,  in 
emptying  it  the  following  morning;  but  this  is  d'one 
with  great  expertness,  by  means  of  a  swing  basket. 
The  profits  are  not  so  great  as  might  be  expected ;  as 
It  seems  at  the  time  of  our  missionary's  visit,  there 
were  three  men  working  in  ihe  mine,  and  they  stated 
that  they  could  not  earn  more  than  about  three  rupees 
per  day. 

One  evening,  in  the  month  of  April,  1822,  whilst 
the  missionaries  were  busily  employed  in  distributing 
religious  tracts  among  the  populace,  in  what  is  called 
the  IVIariborough  bazaar,  the  cry  of  Fire !  was  heard  • 
and,  on  turning  towards  Old  Bencoolen,  they  observed 
a  cokmn  of  dense  black  smoke  rising  from"  an  extent 
of  flame  which  seemed  to  envelope  the  whole  bazaar. 
The   native  school-room  was  situated  near  the  cen- 
tre of  the  bazaar,  and  there  was  every  probability  that 
it  would  fall  a  prey  to  the  conflagration.     One  of  the 
(iatoos  or  native  magistrates,  who  had  been  burnt  out 
of  his  house,  had,  however,  taken  up  his  abode  in  it, 
ond,  to  tho  joy  of  the  missionaries,  it  was  saved  from' 
destruction.     The  conduct  of  the  people,  whilst  the 
fire  was  raging,  was  quite  characteristic.    When  about 
thirty  houses  had  been  consumed,  a  gentleman  from 
Mariborough  h.-p;.  .ed  to  arrive,  having  taken  a  ride 
at  the  time,  in  ih  -.  direction,     ly^  fou„d  ,,,g  ^^^-^^^ 
looking  at  the  fire  with  the  utmosi  unconcern,  satisfv- 
ing  the-nselvos  with  the  !  •  cf  that  it  was  a  <!    'k.,'.,! 
calamity,  vhich  could  neithr  be  averted  nor  remrrfJ-if 

articles  out  of  their  shops  or  houses,  before  the  flames 
fastened  upon  them.     And,  although  one  range  of  the 


ao4 


BAPTIST  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


buildings  stood  on  the  very  brink  of  the  river,  no  one 
thought  of  attempting  to  obstruct  the  progress  of  the 
fire.  The  gentleman  from  Marlborough,  however,  no 
sooner  arrived,  than  he  began  to  concert  measures  for 
the  prevention  of  further  mischief  He  directed  that 
a  house  or  two  should  be  pulled  down  on  each  side  of 
the  street;  but  he  was  under  the  necessity  of  com- 
mencing the  business  himself,  and  of  using  both  per- 
suasive and  coercive  measures,  before  he  copld  induce 
a  single  individual  to  join  him  in  his  exertions.  He 
persisted,  however,  in  his  laudable  attempt,  and  though 
the  breeze  continued  strong,  the  fire  was,  at  length, 
completely  subdued,  after  about  thirty-five  houses  had 
been  laid  in  ashes.  The  sabbath  after  this  disaster, 
the  missionaries  resumed  their  station  at  the  school- 
room, where  the  datoo  was  still  living,  and  where  about 
twenty  persons  pssembled,and  listened  with  seriousness 
and  attention,  for  about  three  hours,  to  the  truths  of 
the  everlasting  gospel. 

At  Padang,  Mr.  Evans  appears  to  l.i  .e  experienced 
some  difficulties ;  partly  through  the  jealous  suspicions 
of  some  of  the  Europeans  by  whom  he  was  surround- 
ed, and  partly  in  consequence  of  a  war  "Mch  the 
Dutch  were  carrying  on  in  the  interior.  'Inis  excel- 
lent missionary  was  also  occasionally  affected  in  his 
health  ;  and  he  and  Mrs.  Evans  were  called  to  sustain 
a  severe  trial  in  the  death  of  their  eldest  child,  who 
expired  after  an  illness  of  only  two  days.  None  of 
these  painful  circumstancns,  however,  were  permitted 
to  retard  the  great  work  of  making  known  the  way  of 
salvation  ;  but  both  in  Padang  and  the  adjacent  villages, 
Mr.  Evans  labored,  by  nil  the  means  in  his  power,  to 
instruct  those  who  were  perishing  for  lack  of  knowl- 
edge. In  narrating  a  visit,  which  he  paid  to  the  in- 
habitants of  a  populous  village  called  Pone,  in  the 
month  of  July,  he  observes,  "  Having  procured  a  man 
to  conduct  us  in  search  of  persons  to  whom  we  could 
talk  and  disfiljule  books,  our  guide  took  us  to  one  of 
the  padrai,  whoso  daily  employment  it  is  to  teach 
youth  to  read  the  Koran  and  other  religious  books,  but 
not  to  understand  any  of  the  contents.  We  found 
him  in  his  school-house,  with  a  few  persons,  but  his 
srliolars  were  not  come.  I  conversed  with  him  for 
some  time,  and  likewise  read  to  him  from  several  books, 
partindnrly  an  account  of  the  creation  of  the  world 
ami  tin;  fall  of  man,  recently  published  at  Boncoolcii, 
in  the  form  of  a  tract.  He  listened  with  apparent 
attention  and  pleasure,  and  when  I  gave  hini  some  of 
the  trarts,  he  promised  both  to  peruse  and  distribute 
them.  His  com|ianions  also  appeared  very  attentive, 
and  received  the  books  wnich  were  given  xh  u  with 
greiit  thnnkfuiness. 

We  next  went  to  the  house  of  the  principal  pttUra, 
whom  wo  found  in  the  miu«t  of  about  thirty  pupils. 


He  is  a  decrepit  old  man,  but  apparently  very  much 
revered.  His  scholars  were  all  employed,  either  in 
reading  or  writing  Arabic,  though  I  suppose  not  one  in 
ten  understood  a  single  word.  The  house  in  which 
they  were  assembled  was  large,  and,  in  one  respect, 
resembled  most  literary  retreats,  as  it  was  a  complete 
picture  of  confusion.  Indeed,  it  wmdd  be  in  vain  for 
me  to  attempt  a  particular  desr.iption  of  it.  There 
were  pens  and  ink,  paper  and  books,  rice  and  dirt, 
rags  and  relics,  in  every  part  of  the  spacious  room ; 
where  all  sat  without  any  apparent  order,  except  the 
old  man,  who  had  a  comer  to  himself,  which  appear* 
ed  to  serve  him  for  the  purposes  of  eating,  drinking, 
lecturing,  ond  sleeping.  The  old  gentleman  received 
us  very  coolly,  and  appeared  very  suspicious ;  nor  was 
it  till  after  a  long  conference,  that  I  could  persuade  him 
to  receive  a  single  book,  or  even  to  look  into  one.  At 
last  he  read  a  little  of  the  New  Testament,  and  some 
of  his  pupils  followed  his  example.  The  news  of  our 
visit  seemed  to  spread  rapidly,  for  many  persons  came 
in  to  sec  us.  I  talked  with  them  for  about  an  hour, 
and  gave  books  to  all  who  could  read ;  after  which  we 
took  our  leave.  One  of  the  men  who  accompanied  ui 
expressed  much  pleasure  at  seeing  us  come  away  in 
safety,  as  he  had  entertained  serious  apprehensions  on 
our  account ;  for  these  peoj)le  are  such  fanatics,  that 
they  would  not  hesitate  to  kill  any  one  whom  they 
supposed  to  be  desirous  of  inducing  them  to  change 
their  religion. 

Mr.  Burton,  in  the  mean  time,  had  finally  deter- 
mined on  taking  up  his  residence  at  a  Batta  village  call- 
ed Sebolga,  on  the  nearest  partof  the  main,  about  two 
miles  distant  from  the  small  island  of  Punchon,  on  which 
is  the  company's  settlement.  Of  the  inhabitants  of 
this  part  of  Sumatra,  a  faithfiil  and  affecting  represen- 
tation has  been  given  by  the  missionary,  who  nobly  re- 
solved to  devote  his  labors  to  their  instruction,  and 
which  will,  no  doubt,  prove  acceptable  to  the  reader. 

"Our  friends  in  England  can  form  but  a  faint  idea 
how  thick  and  gross  the  darkness  is,  with  which  these 
people  arc  emphatically  covered.  It  is  really  surpris- 
ing with  what  perfei-i  ignorance  of  every  thing  beyond 
the  mere  vicinity  of  their  birth-place,  they  can  pass 
through  the  world  ;  and  as  to  a  future  state,  their 
minds  present  a  perfect  blank.  To  our  questions  upon 
this  subject,  wo  have  usually  received  such  answers  as 
the  following — '  When  we  die,  there  is  an  end  of  us  ; 
periiaps  our  souls  become  jins  (d'vils),  and  (ly  about  in 
the  air  for  a  time,  and  then  peri-ii '  The  earth,  for  any 
thing  wo  know,  will  exist  for  ev'  f .'  I  cannot  yet  dis- 
cover that  they  offer  STrifices  u<  any  class  of  beings. 
They  invoke  all  the  jins  in  \  5y>dy,  and  the  spirits  of 
their  ancestors — ot  depi: .  ■  !  leacltors  or  cnnjiirei-i — 
of  Napa,  the  fabled  serpenv  ;  f  the  Hindoos— and  of 


SUMATRA. 


tU  the  rich  men  in  the  world,  dead  and  living,  to  assist 
them  in  seeking  gold,  rice,  clothes,  &;c.     A  funeral  is 
always  welcomed  for  the  good  things  attending  it ;  as 
it  is  a  time  of  great  feasting,  when  the  relations  of  the 
deceased  always  kill  as  many  buffaloes,  or  hogs,  as 
their  circumstances  will  admit,  and  after  the  interment, 
suspend  the  heads  of  these  animals,  with  some  rice 
and  water,  near  the  grave,  that  the  departed  spirit,  in 
visiting  the  body,  may  be  gratified  by  seeing  the  re- 
spect done  to  his  memory,  and  (if  so  inclined)  take 
some  refreshment.     The  body  is  never  interred  till 
the  feasting  is  ended  ;    in  consequence  of  which,  a 
rajah   is   someeimes   preserved   above   ground    three 
months  !   They  suppose  that  the  spirit  may  at  any 
time  be  called  to  tiie  grave  by  the  beating  of  gongs  ; 
and  accordingly,  at  certain  periods,  they  assemble  at 
the  tomb  in  great  numbers  fyr  tills  purpose.     After 
much  dancing,  &.C.,  one  of  the  near  relations  of  the 
deceased  supposes,  or  pretends  to  suppose,  that  he  is 
possessed  by  the  spirit  of  the  departed,  and,  being  no 
longer  himself,  becomes  identified  with  him.     In  this 
new  character,  he  tells  the  multitude  that  he  is  come 
to  meet  them  from  bis  wanderings  in  the  air — that  he 
wishes  to  eat  buffalo  and  rice — to  drink  arrack,  and 
to  obtain  a  new  suit  of  clothes,  all  of  which  are  im- 
mediately given  to  him.     After  some  time,  the  spirit 
departs,  and  he  is  left  to  hiniseH".    If  lie  be  questioned 
about  what  passed  in  his  mind  during  tiiis  possession, 
he  replies  that  he  had  no  longer  his  own  thoughts, 
and  that  he  knows  nothing  about  it.   One  would  think 
it  impossible  that  so  gross  a  deception  as  this  could  bo 
practised  with  effect  upon  any  but  the  very  young ; 
yet  all  classes  pretend  to  believe  it.     Though  they 
look  upon  Satan  as  the  head  of  their  jins,  their  estima- 
tion  of   his  intellect  is  miserably  mean,   as  may  bo 
judged  from  the  ease  with  which  they  suppose  him  to 
be  deceived.     When  a  person  becomes  exceedingly 
ill,  so  that  his  relations  are  apprehensive  of  his  death, 
or  that  Satan  is  about  to  take  him,  it  is  common  for 
them  to  dress  up  an  image,  and  take  it  to  the  door  at 
night,  when  they  suppose  the  prince  of  the  power  of 
the  air  is  about  to  enter,  and  accost  him  in  such  terms 
as  these  :  '  Ah,  Satan  !  are  you  coming  to  take  away 
our  friend,  and  distress  us?     Well,  if  you  will  have 
him — there  he  is'  (throwing  out  the  image)  ;  '  take 
him  away.'     Should  the  sick  man  after  this  recover, 
they  fully  believe  that  they  have  thus  succeeded  in 
cheating  the  devil !     Alas  !    they  have  never  been 
visited  by  the  day-spring  from  on  high  ;  but  darkness 
hero  covers  the  earth,  and  gros»  darkness  the  people  ! 
From  seeing  the  state  of  these  poojilo,  we  are  strongly 

l.«a>.«tn.ln/l     lty-.«mr  .vvukn*    n  ■«    a....   ^UU  —  .a! iV.  ^    ^t.-^     1.1 1 

-  o ■" "■  •■""ptstJinss  sur  iiiai  wjcsscn 

gospel  which  brings  '  life  and  immortality  to  light,' 

and  of  the  duty  incumbent  upon  us — to  diffuse,  as 

Vol.  I.— JNos.  25  Si  2ti.  41 


widely  as  possible  amongst  our  benighted  fellow-men, 
this  glorious  light  from  heaven." 

In  the  Report  of  the  Baptist  Missionary  Society, 
for  1824,  the  pleasing  intelligence  is  communicated, 
that  notwithstanding  the  moral  debasement  of  the 
population,  many  of  the  natives  have  listened  with 
the  most  serious  attention  to  the  words  of  eternal  life, 
and  have  thus  induced  a  hope  that  the  time  is  rapidly 
approaching  when  they  shall  be  delivered  from  their 
present  awful  state,  and  be  brought  into  the  light  and 
liberty  of  the  gospel  of  Christ.  It  is  also  stated,  that 
Mr.  Burton  has  composed  two  or  three  Scripture  tracts 
in  the  Batta  language,  which  have  already  excited 
great  attention,  and  promise  to  be  attended  by  the 
happiest  effects. 

From  the  same  source  of  recent  information  it 
appears,  liiat  Messrs.  Robinson  and  Ward  have  per- 
severed in  tiieir  work  at  Bencoolen,  with  unremitting 
zeal  and  unwearied  assiduity  ;  so  that  a  considerable 
number  of  New  Testaments  and  religious  tracts  have 
been  put  into  circulation,— and  the  schools,  which  are 
conducted  as  nearly  as  possible  on  the  British  system, 
have  become  increasingly  efficient.  Among  the  Ma- 
lays also,  with  whom  conversations  have  been  held  on 
subjects  connected  with  their  eternal  happiness,  some 
improvement  has  become  perceptible  ;  and  a  female 
native  of  Amboyna,  convinced  of  her  ruined  state  as 
a  sinner,  and  led  to  Jesus  as  a  Saviour,  by  the  instru- 
mentality of  Mr.  Robinson's  ministry,  has  been  admit- 
tc'l  into  the  church  by  the  ordinance  of  baptism. 

At  Padang,  the  missionary  prospect  appears  to  be 
brightening  ;  many  opportunities  having  occurred  of 
circulating  tracts  and  gospels  in  the  Malay  language  ; 
whilst  the  sciiools  have  been  augmented  by  several 
pupils  belonging  to  native  families  of  distinction,  whoso 
influonco,  at  a  future  period,  may  prove  highly  bene- 
ficial ;  and  Mr.  Evans,  by  the  exercise  of  great  pru- 
dence and  a  patient  continuance  in  well-doing,  has 
surmounted  many  of  the  difficulties  with  which  he 
had  formerly  to  contend,  and  has  conciliated  the  respect 
and  fHtocm  of  the  Uutcii  authorities  in  the  settlement. 
One  European  has  also  been  baptized  ;  another  has 
expressed  a  desire  to  follow  his  example  ;  and  a  learned 
native,  by  whom  Mr.  Evans  has  been  instructed  in 
the  language,  has  evinced  a  strong  des'.e  to  become 
acquainted  with  the  truths  of  the  Bible. 

Very  shortly  after  the  events  already  related,  the 
island  of  Sumatra  was  transferred  to  the  Dutch  gov- 
ernment, and  a  considerable  change  was  therefore 
made  in  the  condition  and  prospects  of  the  mission. 
Mr.  Robinson  of  Bencoolen  became  afflicted  with 
npnpicsy,  unn  was  cofripeiieii,  Wiih  ins  iiiimiy,  to 
remove  to  Bengal ;  leaving  Mr.  Ward,  for  a  season, 
to  distribute  the  tracts  he  had  prepared,  and  to  super 


806 


BAPTIST  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


^ 


intend  the  schools.  In  July,  1825,  Mr.  Burton,  with 
his  family,  and  the  females  of  the  Orphan  Institution, 
under  the  care  of  Mrs.  Burton,  were  compelled,  from 
a  regard  to  personal  safety,  to  leave  Sebolga ;  and, 
ader  a  perilous  voyage,  they  reached  Calcutta  the 
following  month.  When  he  thus  left  this  scene  of 
action,  he  was  engaged  in  compiling  a  dictionary, 
English,  Malay,  and  Batak  ;  having  previously  com- 
pleted a  translation  of  the  Gospel  of  John.  He  after- 
wards settled  at  Digah,  where  he  finished  his  honorable 
and  successful  course.  At  Padang,  Mr.  Evans  was 
not  exposed  to  the  same  dangers  as  Mr.  Burton ;  as 
the  members  of  the  European  government  treated 
him  with  much  personal  respect.  But  while  they 
sanctioned  his  schools,  they  so  far  complied  with  the 


obstinate  prejudices  of  the  natives,  as  to  impose  re* 
strictions  on  the  direct  promulgation  of  the  gospel ;  in 
consequence  of  which,  in  connection  with  the  bad 
state  of  his  health,  he  returned  to  EngUnd.  As, 
however,  the  prospect  appeared  for  a  while  to  brighten, 
Mr.  Ward,  already  mentioned,  together  with  Mr. 
Bruckner,  was  appointed  to  labor  there,  and  premises 
were  purchased  for  the  use  of  the  society ;  but  it  was 
soon  discovered  that  the  political  state  of  the  island 
was  such  as  to  render  the  suspension  of  their  work 
desirable.  Still  it  is  gratifying  to  know,  that,  after 
the  cessation  of  direct  missionary  efforts,  Mr.  Ward 
was  enabled,  without  expense  to  the  society,  to  carry 
forward,  and  to  complete,  his  translation  of  the  New 
Testament. 


CHAPTER    VII. 


MISSION    IN    THE    ISLAND    OF    JAMAICA 


Iw  compliance  with  the  soliciiation  of  a  mulatto 
Baptist  preacher,  named  Moses  Baker,  who  had  for 
some  years  labored  among  tlie  negroes  in  Jamaica, 
the  committee  resolved  on  attempting  the  formation 
of  a  regular  mission  in  tiiat  island  ;  and,  on  tiie  8th 
of  December,  I8I3,  Mr.  John  Rowe,  a  young  man 
of  exemplary  piety  and  diligence,  a  student  in  the 
college  at  Bristol,  was  solemnly  designated  to  the 
work  of  the  ministry,  with  a  view  to  his  settling  in  the 
West  Indies.  On  the  31st  of  the  same  month,  he 
sailed,  with  his  wife,  from  Bristol,  and  on  the  23d  of 
February,  1814,  he  arrived  at  Montego  Bay,  wlienco 
he  proceeded  to  Flainstead,  the  residence  of  Mr. 
Baker,  about  twelve  miles  from  Falmouth. 

In  the  month  of  April,  our  missionary  took  a  house 
at  Falmoulii,  and  opened  a  school,  with  tiie  hope  of 
lessening  the  expenses  of  the  conunittee  on  his  account. 
He  also  opened  a  gratuitous  sabbath-school,  for  the 
children  of  poor  people,  and  slaves  whose  owners 
would  permit  them  to  attend.  And  previously  to  his 
attempting  to  preach,  he  waited  <m  u  neighboring 
magistrate,  to  afiprize  him  of  his  design.  This  gentle- 
man not  only  readily  gave  his  permission,  but  assured 
Mr.  Rowe  that,  so  long  as  he  continued  to  act  with 
propriety,  iic  ^miid  use  liis  interest  to  promote  the 
objects  of  the  mission  ;  and,  as  a  proof  of  his  solicitude 


for  the  benefit  of  tiie  school,  he  placed  the  child  of  a 
slave  under  Mr.  Rowe's  instructions.     Preaching  was 
then    regularly   commenced,    and    the   persons   who 
assembled  to  hear  the  word  of  life,  both  negroes  and 
white  people,  conducted  themselves  with  the  utmost 
decorum  and  apparent  attention  ;  though  a  spirit  of  per- 
secution had,  for  several  years  previous,  raged  in  the 
island,  and  numbers  of  the  inhabitants  wrr o  said  to  bo 
stroniily  prejudiced  against  the  Baptist  denomination. 
On  the  21st  of  November,  1815,  Mr.  Lee  Compere, 
accompanied  by  his  wife,  and  two  of  the  members  of 
Dr.  Ryland's  church  in  Broadmead,  sailed  from  Bris- 
tol,   to  occupy  other   stations    in   Jamaica,  with    an 
especial  view  to  the  instruction  of  the  slaves,  and  the 
children  of  slaves,  under  the  Sanction  of  their  respec- 
tive proprietors.     On  their  arrival,  they  at  first  fixed 
their  residence  near  Old   Harbor,  St.  Dorothy  ;  but 
afterwards  removed  to  Kingston,  at  the  pressing  invi- 
tation of  the  negro  Baptists,  who  are  said  to  amount 
to  some  thousands,  in  and  near  that  place.     Here  Mr. 
Compere  obtained  a  license  from  the  mayor  ;  and  he 
had  the  pleasing  prospect  of  becoming  useful  among 
those  who,  as  he  expresses  it,  "  had  been  led  into 
various  extravagances  and  mistakes,  for  want  of  some 
one  to  teach  them  the  way  ol  Uod  morn  perfectly, 
and  had  been  split  into  parties,  under  the  guidancs 


JAMAICA. 


of  ignorant  or  unskilful  preachers  ;  though  there  were 
^   among  them  a  considerable  number  of  truly  pious 
people." 

Mr.  Rowe,in  the  mean  time,  whose  conduct,  during 
his  residence  on  the  island,  had  uniformly  evinced  his 
earnest  desire  to  promote  the  spiritual  welfare  of  all 
around  hinj,  in  connection  with  the  most  anxious  con- 
cern not  to  give  unnecessary  offence  by  taking  a  step 
out  of  his  proper  line,  was  suddenly  called  from  the 
field  of  labor  to  the  enjoyment  of  everlasting  rest. 
On  the  21st  of  June,  1816,  he  left  Falmouth  for 
Montego  Bay,  apparently  in  good  health  ;  but  on  the 
86th,  he  sent  a  message  to  Moses  Baker,  earnestly 
desirmg  to  see  him ;  and  before  tiiat  venerable  preacher 
could  arrive,  he  had  breathed  his  last.  His  wife  had 
been  previously  seized  with  the  fever  to  which  he  fell 
a  victim,  and  was  confined  to  her  bed  at  the  time  of 
his  death  ;  but  it  pleased  God  to  restore  her  to  health, 
and  she  subsequently  returned  in  safety  to  Bristol. 

Towards  the  latter  end  of  July,  Mr.  Compere  was 
much  gratified  with  hearing  that  a  remarkable  awak- 
emng  had  appeared  among  the  slaves  on  three  or  four 
different  estates ;  and  in  the  afternoon  of  the  last 
Lord's-day  in  that  month,  his  congregation  appeared 
to  be  unusually  affected  under  the  Word,  which  excited 
him  to  pray  with  peculiar  earnestness  for  the  out- 
pouring of  the  Holy  Spirit  on  himself,  and  on  the 
people.  "1  felt,"  says  he,  "as  I  never  felt  before, 
while  speaking  of  the  sufferings  of  the  Redeemer,  and 
enjoyed  an  uncommon  degree  of  utterance,  accompa- 
nied with  an  agonizing  desire  of  plucking  immortal 
souls,  as  brands,  from  the  everlasting  burnings.  Many 
of  my  hearers  also  appeared  to  be  exceedingly  im- 
pressed, and  the  greater  part  were  bathed  in  tears." 

In  a  letter,  dated  January  8,  1817,  this  missionary 
observes,  "  I  had  the  pleasure,  last  Lord's-day,  of  bap- 
tizing twenty-two  men  and  twenty-eight  women  ;  and 
the  next  day  I  administered  the  same  rite  to  a  sailor, 
who  could. not  leave  his  vessel  on  the  sabbath.  I 
hope,"  he  adds,  "  that  you  will  not  be  deterred  from 
sending  us  an  assistant,  though  I  cannot,  at  present, 
engas;o  that  ho  could  be  supported  here,  except  by 
the  lociety.  But  surely  you  should  pity  our  case, 
and  not  send  all  your  charities  to  the  rich  and  luxuriant 
soil  of  Hindoostan,  but  consider  the  barren  and  deserted 
isles  of  the  west.  Here  are  many  souls  continually 
heaving  a  sigh  to  England,  and,  in  their  broken  lan- 
guage, crying  out,  •  O  buckra !  buckra  no  care  for 
poor  black  man's  soul.  Buckra  know  God  in  England. 
O  buckra  !  come  over  that  great  water,  and  instruct 
we  poor  negro  !'  " 

This  affecting  appeal  to  thn  foelinss  of  ths  rrstrirr-.U- 
tee  appears  to  have  been  unnecessary,  as  it  had  been 
already  determined  that  an  auxiliary  should  be  sent 


811 


out ;  and  on  the  7th  of  February,  Mr.  James  Coultart, 
formerly  a  student  at  Bristol,  was  solemnly  set  apart 
for  that  important  service.  On  the  9thof  Mayjie 
arrived  in  Kingston  harbor,  and  in  less  than  a  fortnight, 
succeeded  in  obtaining  a  license  to  preach  among  the' 
negroes  the  unsearchable  riches  of  Christ.  Both  be 
and  Mrs.  Coultart,  however,  were  much  grieved  on 
finding  Mr.  Compere  in  such  a  debilitated  state,  from 
repeated  attacks  of  the  ague,  that  he  was  scarcely 
able  to  walk  across  his  apartment;  and  when  he 
partially  recovered,  he  judged  it  advisable  to  quit  the 
West  Indies,  and  remove  to  America. 

Thus  unexpectedly  deprived  of  his  fellow-laborer  in 
the  gospel  vineyard,  and  left  to  sustain  the  entire  weight 
of  the  mission  in  which  he  had  merely  anticipated 
employment  as  an  assistant,  Mr.  Coultart  was  doomed 
to  encounter  still  more  serious  difficulties,  and  to  sub- 
mit to  a  loss  much  more  afflictive.  He  was  for  some 
time  severely  afflicted  in  his  own  person ;  and  toward 
the  close  of  September,  the  partner  of  his  affections 
was  seized  with  a  violent  fever,  which,  in  a  short  time, 
put  a  period  to  her  mortal  existence. 

In  a  letter,  dated  October  23,  1817,  our  bereaved 
missionary  observes,  in  allusion  to  this  painful  event, 
"  My  dear  and  invaluable  partner  appeared  to  have  a 
presentiment  of  her  approaching  release,  about  a  fort- 
night before  her  fatal  disease  commenced  ;  and  warned 
me  gently  to  prepare  for  the  event,  assuring  me  that 
it  would  take  place  in  a  %'ery  short  time.     But,  in- 
stead of  thinking  of  the  intelligence  so  tenderly  com- 
municated, I  anticipated  the  pleasure  of  her  pious 
society  for  many  years.     I   fondly  hoped,  that  God 
would  spare  a  life  so  eminently  devoted  to  himself; 
that  he  would  pity  me,  and  grant  me  the  enjoyment 
of  the  advantage  I  derived  from  her  holy  life,  pure 
conversation,  and  fervent  and  frequent  prayers  :  but 
divine  goodness  lent  her  for  a  little  while,  and  the 
same  goodness  has  speedily  recalled  her.    She  inform- 
ed me  that  she  was  confident  of  the  favor  of  her  God, 
yet,  if  it  were  his  will,  she  would  gladly  live  a  little' 
longer  for  my  sake,  as  she  knew  that  her  removal 
would  leave  me  in  a  very  distressing  and  forlorn  con- 
dition.   I  am  happy,  in  some  measure,  in  reflecting  on 
the  character  she  has  left  behind.     It  will  prove  the 
most  honorable  and  lasting  monument  to  her  memory. 
She  was  known  through  a  very  limited  circle ;  but  her 
qualifications  for  the  great  work  in  which  she  engaged 
with  her  whole  heart,  commanded  respect  from  all 
who  had  the  pleasure  of  knowing  her.      She  was 
interred  in  Kingston  church-yard,  where  I  purchased 
a  small  piece  of  ground  for  a  burying-place,  on  account 
of  no .« hitc  pcroon  over  being  buiieij  in  ijie  Baptist 
ground.     Mr.  Man,  the  rector  of  this  city,  performed 
the  last  solemn  office,  and  would  have  preached  a 


soe 


BAPTIST  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


funeral  sermon,  had  not  indisposition  prevented  him. 
He  employed  the  Rev.  Mr.  Phillips,  of  St.  John's, 
for  that  service  ;  and  would  receive  nothing  for  his 
trouble.  He  has  since  sent  me  a  very  polite  invitation 
to  his  house,  which  I  intend  to  accept,  as  soon  as  I 
am  sufficiently  recovered.  I  was  seized,  two  days 
after  my  dear  partner,  with  an  intermittent  feve, ,  ," 
was  obliged  to  be  removed  to  the  house  of  a  mtViatto 
lady  belonging  to  our  society.  The  same  apoihernry 
"and  physician  attended  us  both,  from  whom  I  learnt 
the  true  state  of  Mrs.  Coultart's  health,  not  being  able 
to  see  her,  till  a  few  moments  preceding  her  dtiath, 
when  I  made  those  about  me  convey  me  to  her  room. 
It  was  the  most  afflicting  scene  I  ever  experienced, 
but  they  hurried  me  away  from  it.  I  saw  no  more  of 
it,  nor  could  I  rise  to  see  her  funeral  pass.  My  soul 
seems  gone  up  after  hers,  to  the  confines  of  immor- 
tality, and  wishes  it  could  pass  the  vale  of  death, 
and  see  her,  in  that  blessed  society  which  she  has 
joined. 

"  Since  my  last,  we  have  baptized  one  hundred 
and  eighty  persons,  many  of  whom  gave  a  very  pleas- 
ing account  of  the  change  which  they  had  experi- 
enced, and  they  still  continue  to  adorn  tlieir  profes- 
sion." 

Subsequently  to  the  date  of  this  communication, 
Mr.  Coultart's  indisposition  increased  to  such  an  alarm- 
ing degree,  that  it  became  indispensably  necessary  for 
him  to  return,  at  least  for  a  season,  to  England.  Two 
other  missionarieswere, therefore, designated  for  Jamai- 
ca, namely,  Messrs.  Kitching  and  Godden  ;  the  former 
of  whom  proceeded,  in  the  autumn  of  1818,  to  iiis 
place  of  destination,  and  the  latter  sailed  from  England 
early  in  the  ensuing  spring. 

Their  reception  appears  to  have  been  extremely 
kind,  and  they  were  encouraged  by  the  circumstance 
of  the  congregation  increasing  so  rapidly,  tiiat  it  became 
necessary  to  enlarge  the  place  of  worship,  so  as  to 
accommodate  two  hundred  and  fifty  persons  more  than 
had  ever  previously  attended.  Scarcely,  however,  had 
they  entered  fully  upon  their  labors,  and  congratulated 
themselves  on  the  promising  aspect  of  the  mission, 
when  Mr.  Godden  was  deprived,  by  a  fatal  disease, 
of  his  amiable  and  excellent  wife  ;  and  within  less 
than  two  months  after  that  afflictive  providence,  Mr. 
Kitching,  who  had  transmitted  the  "  heavy  tidings" 
to  England,  was  himself  numbered  with  the  dead  ; 
as  will  appear  from  the  following  extract  of  a  letter, 
addressed  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Steadman,  by  a  friend  in 
the  vicinity  of  Kinj,.ion,  and  dated  December  23, 
1819 :— 

to  favor  Kingston  with  a  faithful  minister,  and  me  with 
an  estimable  friend,  in  the  Rev.  C.  Kitching,  late  a 


pupil  of  yours,  and  to  whom  I  know  you  were  sin- 
cerely attached  ;  and  I  am  sure,  in  communicating  to 
you  the  lamentable  tidings  of  his  being  called  to  take 
up  his  rest  where  sin  and  sorrow  are  not  known,  it 
will  cause  a  pang,  which  only  the  conviction  of  his 
having  taken  up  that  rest,  can  at  all  alleviate.  On 
".  I's-day,  the  5th  instant,  he  felt  very  unwell  indeed ; 
J -"  bad  done  so  the  day  before,  and  had  been  obliged 
to  keep  his  bed  nearly  the  whole  of  the  Saturday,  and 
on  the  sabbath  morning  was  so  indisposed,  that  he 
had  some  thoughts  of  not  preaching  ;  but,  fearing  lest 
a  report  would  go  abroad  that  he  was  very  ill,  and  he 
should,  in  consequence,  alarm  those  who  were  inter- 
ested for  him  h^  ''."•irmined  on  going  to  the  chapel ; 
and,  as  !i  axpressed  hnuiself  nffer  his  sermon  was  finish- 
ed, felt  as  if  the  subject  (which  was  the  salvation  of 
sinners,  through  Christ  the  Redeemer)  had  given  him 
new  strength.  As  it  was  the  first  sabbath  in  the 
month,  the  death  of  the  dear  Redeemer  was  com- 
memorated in  the  afternoon.  I  never  recollect  him 
more  solemn  or  affectionate  in  his  address  to  the  people 
on  the  occasion,  or  more  earnest  in  his  persuasions  for 
their  continuing  firm  in  their  attachment  to  Him  whose 
followers  they  publicly  professed  to  be.  I  returned 
with  him  in  his  chaise  to  his  home.  Mrs.  Kitching, 
from  being  indisposed,  was  unable  to  attend,  and  I 
left  him  with  his  dear  little  infant  lying  asleep  on  his 
arm,  apparently  much  better  than  he  had  b<  en  through 
the  day.  Circumstances  did  not  permit  my  seeing 
him  again  until  the  Wednesday  following,  and  then 
only  for  a  few  minutes,  as  it  was  the  evening  on 
which  he  met  the  leaders  of  the  church — ^but  he  did 
not  then  complain  of  being  particularly  ill,  although 
far  from  well. 

"  On  Thursday  morning  he  was  seized  with  a  violent 
head-ache,  and  every  symptom  of  a  severe  bilious 
attack ;  but  notiiing  serious  was  apprehended,  nor  was 
medical  aid  called  in  until  the  next  day.  When  the 
doctor  saw  him,  he  expressed  it  as  his  opinion  that  it 
was  an  affection  of  the  liver,  with  an  accompanying 
fever.  He  continued  from  this  time  until  his  departure 
took  place,  which  was  on  the  evening  of  Saturday, 
the  18th,  varying  but  little;  sometimes  a  little  better, 
and  at  others  worse,  and  never  free  from  pain  entirely ; 
seldom  able  to  converse,  and  always  in  a  state  of  ex- 
treme debility.  The  state  of  his  mind,  however,  con- 
tinued unchanged,  and  his  latter  end  was  that  of  a 
Christian  ascending  to  Him  who  claimed  him.  His 
faith  in  health  was  fixed  upon  Him  whom  it  was  his 
delight  to  preach  ;  and  in  sickness  he  found  Him  a 
sure  and  certain  help.  '  Oh,'  said  he  in  his  sickness, 
t  ]tci\it  ■»rec!oi!?.  is  re!ii?ion  in  mv  situation  !'  Th6  Bap- 
tist friends  did  all  in  their  power,  that  seemed  likely 
to  be  serviceable  ;  but  how  vain  on  such  occasions  is 


JAMAICA. 


309 


the  help  of  man  I  Towards  his  latter  moments,  the 
medicine  ho  took  rather  bewildered  him ;  but  at  times 
he  was  perfectly  collected,  and  was  observed  to  move 
his  lips,  as  if  in  the  exercise  of  silent  prayer.  His 
last  moments  were  easy,  and  he  scarcely  uttered  a 
groan  when  his  spirit  left  its  mortal  tabernacle. 

"Thus  has  been  removed  from  amongst  us,  one 
whose  memory  will  be  held  precious  by  those  who 
had  the  happiness  of  knowing  him — whose  character 
can  only  be  estimated  by  those  who  had  the  opportu- 
nity of  seeing  him  in  various  trying  situations — and 
under  the  most  perplexing  difficulties.  His  loss,  as  a 
friend,  is  not  felt  by  me  alone ;  and  He  who  views 
the  heart,  and  knoweth  it  altogether,  knows  how  deeply 
it  has  affected  me,  and  what  pain  it  causes  me  in 
retracing  this  sad  event  through  its  different  stages  ; — 
his  loss,  as  a  friend,  will  be  felt  by  the  poor  and 
afflicted,  whose  burthens  he  was  ever  ready  to  lighten, 

and  whose  comfort  he  was  ever  ready  to  increase  ; 

but  his  loss  is  greatest  to  the  missionary  cause  in  this 
island.  Alas  !  that  is  incalculable.  Many  have  been 
the  tears  I  have  seen  him  shed,  when  lamenting  the 
depravity  of  those  over  whose  souls  he  endeavored 
to  watch  ;  but  it  was  a  high  privilege  allowed  him, 
a  week  before  his  illness  commenced,  that,  in  attending 
the  death-bed  of  one  of  the  society,  she  told  iiini  that 
she  owed  her  hopes  in  heaven  to  impressions  she  had 
received  under  his  preaching ;  that  she  was  then  living 
in  the  open  indulgence  of  sin,  and  had  been  recalled 
from  the  iniquitous  state  she  was  in,  unto  the  knowl- 
edge of  Jesus  Christ  the  Lord.  Many  more,  I  have 
no  doubt,  will,  at  the  great  day,  acknowledge  him  as 
the  instrument  of  their  possessing  eternal  life. 

"  Tlie  different  magistrates  and  gentlemen  whom 
his  situation  required  him  to  know,  highly  and  sin- 
cerely respected  him,  and  placed  great  confidence  in 
him.  The  attachment  the  people  bore  towards  him 
cannot  he  estimated  by  a  more  sure  criterion,  than 
that,  at  the  period  of  his  burial,  there  were  at  least 
five  thousand  people  present ;  and,  I  may  say,  not  an 
eye  was  dry.  About  seven  hundred  walked  in  pro- 
cession after  the  hearse  ;  and  there  were  several  gen- 
tlemen's equipages  in  attendance.  But  how  shall 
I  tell  you  that  the  same  grave  contained  his  dear  little 
boy,  whose  three  months'  pilgrimage  te.-niinated  on 
the  same  day  as  his  parent !  Thus  our  dear  sister 
Kitching  is  at  once  a  widow  and  childless !  What 
shall  we  say  to  these  things  ?  They  are,  no  doubt,  the 
act  of  a  great  and  gracious  God,  who  cannot  err." 

Mr.  Coultart,  in  the  mean  time,  having  derived 
much  benefit  from  a  residence  of  several  months  in 
England,  and  having  entered  a  second  time  into  tlie 
conjugal  state,  returned  to  Jamaica,  and  resumed  his 
missionary  labors  at  Kingston,  in  that  island.     In  his 


public  ministrations,  however,  he  appears  to  have  suf- 
fered severely  from  the  confined  limits  of  the  place 
of  worship,  and  the  heat  arising  from  an  overflowing 
congregation.  Hence  he  observes,  in  a  communication 
addressed  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Ryland,  "  I  have  had  the 
curiosity  to  ascertain  the  temperature  of  the  pulpit, 
when  we  are  all  assembled  on  the  Lord's-day,  and, 
though  it  stands  between  two  large  windows  without 
glass,  it  is,  on  an  average,  one  hundred  and  twenty 
degrees  of  Fahrenheit's  thermometer.  Is  it  any  won- 
der, therefore,  that  your  missionaries  die,  when  you 
add  to  this  the  dreadful  effluvia  from  the  blacks,  and 
that  the  doors  and  windows  are  as  full  as  if  the  people 
were  packed  into  them  ?  Yet  what  can  be  done  ?  I 
cannot  order  any  of  them  to  withdraw  ;  for  hundreds 
go  away  that  cannot  hear  my  voice,  and  will  not  come 
again,  as  there  is  no  prospect  of  accommodation." 

At  Spanish  Town,  the  scene  of  Mr.  Godden's  la- 
bors, a  most  brutal  attempt  was  made,  in  the  month 
of  July,  1820,  to  burn  that  devoted  servant  of  the 
Redeemer  in  his  bed  ;  and  though  this  barbarous 
design  was  happily  prevented  by  the  interposition  of 
Divine  Providence,  the  house  in  which  our  missionary 
resided  was  reduced  to  ashes,  and  his  health,  which 
had  been  previously  in  a  delicate  state,  was  much 
affected  by  the  alarm  connected  with  so  lamentable  a 
catastrophe.  "After  attending  the  prayer-meeting 
on  the  evening  of  July  17,"  says  Mr.  G ,  "  I  re- 
tired to  rest,  hoping  to  witness  greater  things  in  the 
church  in  future.  But,  alas  !  in  the  dead  of  the  night, 
my  servant  alarmed  me  with  the  cry  of  '  Fire,  fire  '.' 
Flames  already  blazed  from  a  negro  house,  almost  as 
high  as  the  branches  of  a  neighboring  tamarind  tree ; 
and  on  turning  my  eyes  down  the  street,  in  a  southerly 
direction,  I  saw  the  shingles  of  my  front  piazza  on 
fire,  the  flames  not  more  than  three  feet  high.  I  imme- 
diately ran  to  the  front  door,  calling  for  water,  which 
with  a  saucepan  I  threw  up,  and  nearly  extinguished 
the  fire.  One  shingle,  however,  continued  to  burn, 
in  spite  of  all  my  exertions,  and  soon  communicated 
the  flames  to  a  part  where  they  could  not  be  over- 
come. Perceiving  that  the  house  must  inevitably  be 
destroyed,  I  ran  to  the  bed-room,  slipped  on  some 
articles  of  dress,  seized  the  drawers  which  contained 
some  of  my  wife's  clothes,  and  two  hundred  and  fifty 
pounds  belonging  to  the  church,  and  dragged  them  out. 
When  I  had  proceeded  about  two  yards  with  my  load, 
part  of  the  roof  and  ceiling  of  the  hall  fell  in  with  a 
dreadful  crash,  near  my  shoulder,  and  effectually  cut 
off  all  further  communication  with  the  bed-room.  I 
then  assisted  in  dragging  from  another  apartment  the 

bonlr-rimpc   cnfii    nnri  cnTo    mriii'Ict  iU#k  Aini.-.n>  ^^T  «l.:«~1s.. 
T. " ■"" o"'  -"-"o'^^ 

and  ceilings,  and  quantities  of  melted  lead.     I  cer- 
tainly escaped,  that  night,  with  greater  danger  and 


810 


BAPTIST  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


less  warning  than  Lot  from  Sodom ;  as  in  five  minutes 
from  the  first  alarm,  I  was  in  the  street  with  all  I  could 
save.  Had  I  slept  three  minutes  longer,  another  must 
have  said  to  you,  '  Godden  has  been  burnt  in  his  bed.' 
And  if  the  breeze  had  not  providentially  subsided  as 
it  did,  Spanish  Town,  on  the  next  morning,  would,  in 
all  probability,  have  presented  one  scene  of  desolation. 

"  The  negro  house  was  set  on  fire  by  its  tenant, 
a  negro  slave  of  most  horrid  character,  and  known  by 
the  name  of  Old  Tom.  This  fellow  fired  his  master's 
premises  some  years  ago,  for  which  he  had  been  long 
confined  in  the  work-house.  There  he  again  per- 
formed the  work  of  an  incendiary  with  impunity,  and, 
having  subsequently  got  out  of  his  confinement,  he 
lived  with  a  woman  whose  freedom  he  purchased  ;  and 
he  now  seemed  to  think  he  might  act  as  he  pleased. 
The  woman,  feeling  her  consequence,  as  being  no 
longer  a  slave,  threatened,  as  the  story  goes,  to  abandon 
her  paramour,  and  to  get  married,  and  join  the  Baptists. 
It  is  evident,  however,  that  she  never  thought  of  join- 
ing us  ;  her  language,  of  course,  was  only  designed  to 
irritate,  and  a  woful  irritation  it  has  proved  in  respect 
of  me.  The  two  fires  were  so  situated,  that  the  direc- 
tion of  the  wind  precluded  the  possibility  of  any  par- 
ticles from  "the  one  communicating  with  the  other  ;  and 
it  has,  therefore,  been  concluded  that  the  old  negro 
had  kindled  both.  He  was  met  by  some  of  the  per- 
sons who  were  first  called  to  the  spot,  with  two  chairs 
and  some  other  furniture,  apparently  unconcerned 
about  the  fire  ;  and  from  that  time  nothing  was  seen 
or  heard  of  him  till  the  Saturday  following,  when  he 
was  found  lying  dead,  about  four  or  five  miles  from 
town,  most  liorridly  mangled  by  hogs,  dogs,  and  crows  ; 
the  latter  of  which  had  plucked  out  his  eyes.  A  bottle 
and  some  rum,  with  a  mug,  supposed  to  have  contained 
poison,  together  with  his  clothes  and  two  knives,  were 
found  near  and  upon  him.  A  coroner's  inquest  was 
subsequently  held  upon  the  body,  and  a  verdict  was 
given,  that  the  deceased  had  poisoned  himself  in  a  fit 
of  despair." 

The  following  well-authenticated  anecdote  affords 
an  affecting  proof  of  the  strong  attachment  felt  by  the 
negro  Christians,  in  the  West  Indies,  toward  their 
spiritual  instructers  : — 

In  the  night  of  the  fire  at  Spanish  Town,  a  female 
slave,  who  had  been  previously  baptized,  exerted  her- 
self greatly  in  carrying  water  from  the  river,  in  order 
to  assist  in  extinguishing  the  flames.  When  her 
strength  was  nearly  exhausted,  she  eagerly  inquired 
of  the  by-standors,  "Where  my  ministerT"  A  person 
answered,  "  He  has  been  burnt  in  his  bed."  The 
poor  creature  was  so  affected  by  this  dreadful  intelli- 
gence, that  she  fell  down  and  expired  immediately, 
without  uttering  another  word  I 


At   Kingston,   in   the    mean  time«  Mr. .  Coultart 
had  commenced  the  erection  of  a  neat  substantial 
chapel,  situated  on  lofty  ground,  near  the  entrance 
into  the  city,  and  calculated  to  hold  two  thousand 
persons.     He  had,  also,  many  encouraging  proofs  that 
the  power  of  God  attended  the  dispensation  of  the 
word  of  truth  ;  as  nearly  two  hundred  persons  had 
been  admitted  into  church  fellowship  within  the  space 
of  twelve  months,  and  the  utmost  caution  appears  to 
have  been  exercised   in  attempting   to  discriminate 
between  mere  professors  and  the  genuine  disciples  of 
the  Redeemer.     The  artless  expressions  of  some  of 
these  African  converts  are  very  affecting.     "  A  poor 
slave,"  says  Mr.  Coultart,  "  came  to  my  house  one 
morning  to  tell  me,  '  that  his  heart  trouble  him  much.' 
He  burst  into  tears,  saying,  '  O,  massa,  me  too  bad 
for  Jesus  Christ ;  me  heart  work  too  strong  for  him — 
it  rise  up  against  me — it  give  me  no  rest  at  all — me 
try  for  sleep,  it  no  sleep — it  go  dis  way,  it  go  dat 
way — it  no  go  to  Jesus  Christ  at  all,  massa.    O,  massa, 
what  me  do,  what  me  do  ?     Will  Jesus  Christ  let  me 
perish  ?'     Here  he  was  so  completely  overwhelmed, 
as  not  to  be  able  to  say  any  more  for  a  considerable 
time  ;    then,  quieting  himself  a  little,  he  said,  with 
much  feeling,  '  Me  never  do  noting  good  for  Jesus, 
yet  him  die  for  sinners  !     O  may  be,  him  die  for  me.' 
Another,  after  relating  how  her  mind  had  been  first 
awakened  to  serious  concern,  and   that  a  friend  to 
whom  she  had  communicated  her  feelings,  had  advised 
her  to  pray,  added,  '  She  den  go  back  an  bow  down 
on  her  sinful  knee,  and  tell  God  she  no  wish  to  keep 
on  sin  ;  but  she  no  worthy  to  come,  for  she  had  done 
no  good  ting,  but  only  eat  sin,  and  drink  sin,  and  peak 
sin,  and  tink  sin,  all  her  sinful  life  ;  and  now,  massa,' 
she  said  in  great  agony,  and  with  tears  of  disappoint- 
ment, '  sin  no  leave  me  yet,  massa  '  "     The  same 
missionary  relates  the  following  anecdote,  tending  to 
show  how  highly  these   poor   people  value  their  re- 
ligious privileges.    "  A  slave  wished  his  owner  to  give 
him  permission  to  attend  with  God's  people  to  pray  ; 
his  answer  was,  '  No,  I  will  rather  sell  you  to  any  one 
who  will  buy  you.'     'Will  you,'  said  he,  'suffer  me 
to  buy  myself  free,  if  me  can  ?'     '  If  you  do,  you 
shall  pay  dearly  for  your  freedom  ;  as  you  are  going 
to  pray,  two  hundred  and  fifty  pounds  is  your  price.' 
'  Well,  massa,'   said   the  negro   (who  knew  tlmt  the 
common  price  for  a  slave  was  about  one  hundred  and 
forty  pounds),  '  it  a  great  deal  of  money,  but  me  rnust 
pray;  if  God  will  help  me,  mo  will  try  and  pay  you.' 
He  has  been  a  long  time  working  hard,  and  at  last 
sold  all  himself  and  his  wife  had,  except  his  blanket, 
to   purchase   liberty  to  pray   in   public,  or,  in  other 
words,  to  meet  witli  those  who  love  Jesus  Christ !" 
Who  can  wonder  tlmt,  with  instances  like  these  in 


fi 


view,  Mr.  Coultart  should  exclaim,  "  I  am  really  lost 
in  gratitude  ;  God  is  found  of  many  here,  who,  a  very 
little  time  ago,  sought  not  after  him.  Not  an  iota 
of  praise  belongs  to  me;  my  heart  would  disdain  it. 
It  is  unquestionably  God's  doing,  however  marvellous 
in  our  eyes  !" 

Toward  the  close  of  the  year,  Mr.  Coultart  was 
mduced  by  the  pressing  invitation  of  a  friend  to  pay 
a  visit  to  the  parish  of  Manchineel ;  and  the  following 
relation  of  his  journey,  as  given  by  himself,  will,  no 
doubt,  prove  acceptable  to  the  reader : 

"  Manchineel  is  sixty-thvee  miles  from  Kingston. 
The  road  is  remarkably  rough,  and  in  many  parts 
interestmgly  dangerous  to  a  good  and  well  mounted 
rider.  The  way  I  travelled  commands,  at  irregular 
distances,  an  extensive  view  of  the  sea,  with  a  variety 
of  bays  and  ports,  which  contain  but  few  English 
vessels  at  this  season  of  the  year.  The  estates  are 
numerous,  and  the  cane-fields  rich  in  their  appearance, 
as  the  time  of  harvest  is  near.  I  had,  for  miles  of  my 
way,  not  more  than  a  few  inches  to  spare  between 
me  and  a  precipice  of  five  hundred  feet !  Towards 
the  interior  the  view  is,  in  general,  very  limited,  though 
at  intervals  the  most  varied  and  delightful  prospects 
burst  upon  the  eye.  I  should  think  that  the  aspect 
of  this  country  is,  in  general,  the  most  original  and 
striking  of  any  in  the  world. 

"  Set  out  on  Friday  from  Yillahs,  twenty  miles  from 
Kingston,  which  I  rode  on  the  Thursday  evening 
Reached  Morant  Bay  on  the  same  morning,  about 
SIX,  and  remained  there  during  the  heat  of  the  day 
This  place  is  pleasantly  situated,  and  has  a  small  fort 
with  guns  of  very  heavy  calibre.     Port  Morant  is  the 
next  place  of  any  consequence  ;  but  it  has  few  housps 
compared  with  the  latter,  and   no  chapel  or  church 
near,  that  I  could  hear  of.     Bath  is  the  next  stage  • 
but,  though  a  neat  and  elegant  little  village,  has  no 
place  for  the  accommodation  of  travellers.    The  cotton 
trees   about    this  place  seemed   decorated  with    ten 
thousand  living  lamps,  perpetually  shifting  their  posi- 
tion, and  now  and  then  dancing,  in  fairy-like  confusion 
among  the  thick  and  verdant  foliage.     A  stranger 
brought  from  your  side  of  the  Atlantic,  not  having 
heard  of  these  earthly  luminaries,  might  have  supposed 
himself  traveUing  among  the  stars.     The  way  to  catrli 
as  many  as  you  please,  is   to  take  a  fiery  stick,  and 
blow  upon  It,  making  a  kind  of  intermitting  light,  like 
that  which  the  files  tiiemselves  keep  up.     By  the 
time  I  had  reached  the  top  of  a  very  high  mountain,  at 
the  most  easterly  part  of  the  island,  the  sun  was  just 
rising,  amidst  the  inexpressible  grandeur  of  a  western 
sky,  and  illuminating  with  his  first  ravs  the  unhmken 
bosom  of  the  sea.     Whilst  waiting  beneath  a  tree,  to 
shelter  myself  a  little  from  a  heavy  shower,  I  saw,  to 


JAMAICA.  Ijj 

my  great  astonishment,  a  company  of  those  beetles 
called  Hercules,  rolling  some  ponderous  balls  of  goats' 
dung  before  them  up  the  hill.  The  rapidity  of  their 
march  was  amazing,  considering  the  large  size  of  the 
ball  they  rolled  on  before  them,  and  the  clay,  too,  which 
It  had  accumulated  in  passing  over  the  wet  ground. 
I  soon  after  arrived  at  the  termination  of  my  fatiguing 
journey."  ■>        o      & 

Mr.  Coultart  was  also  induced  to  make  an  excursion 
^  Montego  Bay,  where  he  found  the  venerable  Moses 
Baker  blind  with  age.     Our  missionary   was  much 
gratified  with  the  interview,  and  received,  from  the 
proprietor  of  the  estate  on  which  Mr.  Baker  resides, 
a  most  satisfactory  testimony  to  the  moral  improve- 
ment which  had   taken  place  among  his  negroes  in 
consequence  of  the  pious  instructions  of  that  excellent 
man.      So  convinced,  indeed,   was   the    gentleman 
alluded  to,  of  the  advantages  resulting  from  an  attend- 
ance  upon  the  gospel,  that  he  expressed  an  earnest 
wish  for  some  person  to  be  sent  thither,  under  the 
sanction  of  the  Baptist  Missionary  Society,  who  might 
take  charge  of  the  congregation  which  Mr.  Baker  was 
now  unable  to  supply,  in  consequence  of  his  years 
and  attendant  infirmities.     A  Mr.  Henry  Tripp  was 
afterwards  induced  to  accept  of  this  situation ;  and,  as 
a  pathetic  appeal  had  been  made  to  the  committee' on 
behalf  of  the  negroes  residing  at  Manchineel,  it  was 
determined  to  send  out  a  missionary  who  might  instruct 
them  in  the  things  connected  with  their  everlasting 
peace  ;  Mr.  Joshua  Tinson,  who  had  been  for  some 
years  educating  under  the  patronage  of  the  society, 
was  accordingly  se.ected  for  this  important  service. 

In  the  month  of  August,  1821,  a  considerable  mor- 
tality appears  to  have  occurred  among  the  members 
of  the  Baptist  church  at  Kingston,  so  that  no  less  than 
nine  persons  were  removed  in  the  course  of  one  week. 
Among  these  was  a  female  African,  named  Brooks j 
\vho  had  long  adorned  the  gospel  by  the  consistency 
of  her  walk  and  conversation,  and  of  whom  a  highly 
interesting  account  has  been  published  in  the  Mission- 
ary Herald,  which  is  in  substance  as  follows  :— 

"  Her  parents,  she  used  to  say,  were  remarkably 
fond  of  her,  being  their  only  child :  their  little  hut 
was  situated  at  no  great  distance  from  the  sea :  and 
she  was  large  enougli  to  stroll  some  way  from  home, 
which  she  did  one  day  whilst  her  mother  was  engaged' 
in  some  domestic  duty.  A  party  of  British  sailors, 
who  had  been  on  the  watch  for  such  unoffending  vic- 
tims, laid  hold  of  her,  and  carried  her  on  board  their 
ship.  She  wept  bitterly,  under  the  apprehension  that 
they  would  soon  eat  her,  as  she  could  not  think  of 
any  thing  else  they  eould  possibly  do  wilJi  her.  She 
was  so  sad  that  she  could  not  eat  the  food  they  offered 
her.     The  loss  of  her  dear  parents,  and  her  fears,  so 


diS 


BAPTIST  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


II  i 


wrought  upon  her  mind,  that  ^  fever  attacked  her,  and 
nearly  relieved  her  from  her  more  degraded  oppressors. 
After  recovering  a  little,  she  arrived  in  Kingston,  and 
saw  some  beef  in  the  market.  She  then  said  to  her- 
self, '  Now  I  see  how  they  cut  up  we  fnor  tings  to  sell 
and  eat !'  The  cargo  was  "ent  to  America,  herself 
excepted :  her  now  disconsolate  husband  was  then  in 
the  employ  of  the  person  to  whom  the  cargo  was  con- 
signed, and  he  entreated  his  master  not  to  send  this 
young  girl  away,  as  she  appeared  to  him  rather  supe- 
rior to  the  others.  After  a  time  she  became  afflicted ; 
God  told  her  mind,  she  said,  that  she  was  a  great  sin- 
ner; she  believed  it,  and  felt  that  poignant  distress  which 
some  convinced  and  hopeless  sinners  feel.  She  then 
went  to  a  minister,  and  by  him  was  told  to  go  to  Je- 
sus Christ,  which,  after  some  time,  she  ventured  to  do. 
Her  own  words  are,  '  Massa,  me  feel  me  distress,  me 
heart  quite  big  wi  grief,  for  God  no  do  me  no  wrong, 
him  do  all  good  for  me,  me  do  all  bad  to  him.  Ah, 
massa,  me  heart  too  full  an  too  hard,  me  eye  no  weep, 
but  someting  so  gentle  come  through  me  heart,  den 
me  eye  fill,  and  God  make  me  feel  dot  him  so  good  to 
notice  poor  me,  dat  me  tiirow  meself  down  and  weep 
quite  a  flood  !'  The  black  man  wl-  had  obtained  per- 
mission for  her  to  stop  on  the  island,  now  purchased  her 
from  his  employer,  married  her,  and  went  to  live  at  a 
short  distance  from  tiie  town  :  but  her  husband  was 
not  pious ;  he  persecuted  her  much,  used  her  badly, 
and  threatened  to  put  her  away  because  slie  prayed. 
She  said  tiiat  she  often  wept  and  prayed  on  hiti  ac- 
count, but  he  still  remained  the  same  impenitent  per- 
son. One  night  in  particular,  when  lie  fell  asleep, 
she  arose  and  prayed  earnestly  for  his  conversion ; 
and  soon  after  she  had  returned  to  bed,  he  awoke, 
weeping  very  bitterly  having  been  disturl)e<l  in  a 
dream.  He  cried,  My  wife,  my  dear  wife,  get  up 
and  pray  for  me  piwr  sinner — you  husband  lost !  O 
him  lost !'  In  the  morninj;  he  was  still  deeply  im- 
pressed, and  it  appears  that  he  was  afterwards  jiappily 
made  a  subjocl  of  divine  grace.  Ilotli  he  and  his  wift 
were  now  most  exemplary  in  every  Christian  duty. 
She  lived  nine,  and  sometimes  twelve  miles  from 
Kingston,  but  siie  was  most  reB;nlar  in  her  attendance; 
an  ultciitive  hearer,  and,  during  divine  service,  was 
generally  biitlied  in  tears.  She  had  a  strong  desire  to 
rend  liiu  Hiltle,  but  said,  '  she  should  not  live  to  read 
It  all .'  but  she  wished  to  learn  two  or  three  verses  of 
some  psalm  that  suited  her.  When  she  heard  the  first 
two  verses  of  the  hundred  and  tiiird,  she  said,  '  Yes, 
leuch  me  these,  em  help  lo  pcuk  God's  gmMlness,  for 
him  so  g<x)d  (o  me  poor  ting,  dat  me  nc  know  how  to 

tell  lliin  !«n.  nnij  hi:ii    own  uijrija  bijai.'      SKfi   liusd    !n 

learn  litem;  but  she  is  gone  to  heaven  to  repeat  them 
lo  lier  good  Ixird  that  the  loved  so  much.     She  died 


of  a  short  illness,  an1f  w(i»^  when  Mr.  Coultart  saw  her 
last,  insensible  from  severe  fever." 

On  the  a7th  of  January,  1822,  the  new  chapel  at 
Kingston  was  opened,  and  was  both  numerously  and 
respectably  attended.  Many  hundreds  of  people, 
indeed,  were  waiting  for  admission  an  hour  and  a  half 
before  the  commencement  of  worship ;  and  when  the 
doors  were  opened,  the  place  would  have  been  filled 
to  excess  at  the  first  rush,  had  not  persons  been  sta- 
tioned to  keep  the  galleries  clear  for  strangers.  Up- 
wards of  two  thousand  persons  were  numbered  within 
the  edifice,  and  about  five  hundred  were  accommodated 
with  benches  on  the  outside.  Mr.  Coultart  having 
offered  some  remarks  on  the  reports  and  other  state- 
ments of  the  society,  some  unknown  gentlemen  were 
induced  not  only  to  espouse  but  to  advocate  the  cause,- 
and  to  solicit  the  public  to  support  an  institution  which 
appeared  "  so  likely  to  be  advantageous  to  the  gene- 
ral welfare."  On  the  first  sabbath  in  March,  the 
Lord's  supper  was  administered,  in  the  new  edifice,  to 
about  sixteen  hundred  communicants,  and  Mr.  Godden 
came  over  from  Spanish  Town,  to  assist  in  the  pleas- 
ing solemnities  of  the  day. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tinson  had,  in  the  mean  time,  arrived 
in  safety  at  Jamaica  ;  and  the  former,  on  visiting  Man- 
chineel,  in  company  with  Mr.  Coultart,  wis  received 
with  every  demonstration  of  affection  and  respect  by 
the  poor  negroes,  at  whose  importunate  (solicitations 
he  was  sent,  and  with  the  utmost  kwidness  and  cor- 
diality by  the  worthy  rector  of  the  parish,  and  several 
other  gentlemen  of  high  respectability.  Some  unex- 
pected difrictillios,  however,  arose,  by  which  he  was 
prevented  obtaining  a  license  for  that  parish,  and  con- 
seipiently  found  it  necessary  to  return  to  Kingston. 
This  disappointment,  tluujuh  not  a  little  painful  at  first, 
seems  to  have  l)eeii  <ivcrrule<l  for  good  ;  and  to  have 
proved  the  means  of  intro'i-icing  him  to  a  new  and  ex- 
tensive sphere  ol  usefulness  among  the  negro  popula- 
tion of  the  inolropolis.  He  found  flint,  indci'duknlly 
of  Mr.  Cotillnrt's  congregation,  which,  of  itself,  was 
evidently  more  tlinii  enough  to  nrrii|iy  nil  hin  atten- 
tion, and  exhaust  his  sJrengtli,  in  that  oppressive  cli- 
innle,  a  lar^e  body  of  colored  persons  hail  been  in  the 
hahit  of  meeting  together  for  iliviiie  worship  fur  some 
years,  but  under  great  disatlvnntnges  as  to  the  means 
of  insiniction.  From  t'lis  society  Mr.  Tinson  receiv- 
ed, soon  after  his  return  from  Manchinecl,  a  very  ur- 
gent request  to  settle  over  tlicm,  with  u  hich  he  ihought 
it  his  duty  to  comply.  Licenses  were  reniiii)  gniiiled 
by  the  magistrates,  both  for  Mr.  Tinson  and  the  pluco 
of  worship  which  ho  designed  to  occupy  ;  and  a  church 


....  f. 


n       •    - 1    '^ 

which  large  additions  were  subsequently  made. 
Ai  s«ion  an  il  was  tseertnincd  that  Mr.  Tin'on  would 


JAMAICA. 


remain  in  Kingston,  the  committee  determined  to  send 
out  another  missionary,  who  might  be  enabled  to  sup- 
ply the  necessities  of  Manchineel  ;  and   Mr.  Thomas 
Knibb,  of  Bristol,  was  solemnly  designated  for  that 
new  and  apparently  important  station.     He  according- 
ly sailed  for  Jamaica,  with  Mrs.  Knibb,  on  the  10th  of 
Deceirber,  1822,  and,  by  the  end  of  the   following 
month,  arrived  in  safety.     When  he  landed,  however, 
he  found  that  both  Mr.  Coultart  and  Mr.  Tinson  were 
scarcely  recovered  from  alarming  illnesses,  and  that  the 
atter  was  so  fully  engaged  with  his  own  people,  that 
he  could  render  no  assistance  to  Mr.  Coultart,  whose 
multiplied  labors  and  numerous  members,  consisting 
of  two  thousand  seven  hundred  persons,  rendered  im- 
mediate help  absolutely  necessary.     A  new  opening, 
too,  of  the  most  encouraging  nature,  had  just  present- 
ed itsell  at  the  neighboring  town  of  Fort  Royal  ;  be- 
sides winch,  the  large  free  school  domantled  the  ser- 
vices of  a  pious  and  experienced  teaciier.     These  con- 
sideruiions  induced   the  friends  to  pause  before  they 
could    determine  on   Mr.  Knibb's  leaving   Kingston ; 
and    after  due    deliberation,    and  earnest  praver  for 
direction,  they  all  concluded  that  it  was  his  duty  to 
reniaui,— a  decision  whicii,  on  being  communicated  to 
the  con,  .iiiiee,  was  higlily  rpproved. 

In  a  letter,  dated  March  18, 1822.  Mr.  Knibb  writes 
as  follows:-"  You  have,  peihnps,  been  inf„niie,l  that 
we  have  opfued   a   house  at   l>ort  Koyal,  about  five 
miles  liom  Kingston,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  har- 
bor.    The  place  is  much  loo  small  to  aceoniniodate 
those  who  u.sh  to  attend.     In  order  to  acconnno.late 
more,  Mr.  Coultart  has  junt  purchased  a  large  house, 
m   an  excellent  situation,   built  five  years  ago,  ai.-i 
vvbich  then  cost  one  thousand  five  hundred   pouiuis. 
Me  has  obiained  it  for  one  thousand  j.ounds  curien.-y, 
or  rather  more  than  si     hundred  pounds  sterling.     It 
will   hold  more  than  lour  hundred  neople,  quite  as 
many  as  we  can  expect  (o  attend  ;  and  it   is   built  in 
such  a  manm^r  that  it  could  ea^ly  be  enlarged  at  a 
tnllu,g   expense.      About   three   hundred    and   fifty 
pounds  remain  of  the  .h-bt  of  our  n.  n  ,.bap,.|,  which 
wo  expect  will  be  paid  in  less  than  l^^o  months,    i'ort 
Hoynl  is  a  very  wicked  place.     A  short  time  ago,  it 
coul.l  \,e  wi.h  Sodom  and  (iomorrah   in  wickedness 
Once  it  was  w'x.l.y  swall..vvp,|  „,,  l,y  ,„,  ,.a,ii„|„„k(^, . 
nnd,  111  IHI  I.  almost  the  uholo  town  was  consumed  by 
fire.      It  will  alford  sincere  pleasure  to  the  friends  of 
the  Saviour  to  lenm  that  to  these  p.oi  le  the  gospel  is 
now  preached.     Twenty-one  persons  are  received  as 
candidates  for  baptism.     It  is  „  pleasant  trip  for  us  in 
tt  canoe,  and  we  hav..  reason  to  hope  it  will  be  hii'li- 
-y  -_.ijt.5i.„  ,.,„{„  iicajiti.      iho  people  imv  aii  ex- 
penses." '   • 

A  letter  of  the  same  date,  from  Mr.  Coultart,  com- 
V  oL.  I,  Not,.  27  &i  2a  4g 


8id 


municates  various  instances  of  the  power  of  religion 
among  the  negroes,  as  exhibited  in  that  trying  hour 
when  all  other  aid  proves  utterly  unavailing.  ' 

"  We  have  had  much  sickness  among  our  members, 
01  late,  and  many  deaths,  as  also  some  pleasing  testi- 
monies  of  their  happy  prospects.     A  poor  negro  man 
called  to  invite  me  to  the  sick-bed  of  his  friend  •  I 
went,  and  found  him  stretched  upon  a  mattress  on  the 
floor,  his  hands  folded  and  resting  on  his  breast,  with 
his  eyes  shut,  apparently  in  earnest  prayer.    After  the 
lapse  of  a  minute  or  two,  he  opened   his  eyes,  and. 
stretching  out   his  hand,  said,  'Ah,  massa,  you  know 
Adam  !  here  him  he  now:  me  often  hear  you  voice  in 
prayer,  me  often  hear  you  praise— once  more,  massa 
let  me  hear  you  voice.     O  sing,  sing  de  praise  of  Je' 
sus  once  more  ;  and  den,  may  be,  while  you  sing,  mo 
steal  away  to  Jesus.'    Placing  his  wrist  upon  the  finger 
points  of  the  other  hand,  and  raising  his  elbow  to  give 
the  hand  a  rapid  descent,  so  that  nothing  could  rest  upon 
«t,  he  said,  '  So  the  world  tan  wime  now ;  it  ready  to 
trow  me  off,  but  O  me  hope,  me  hope,  me  will  den 
fa    into  de  arms  of  Jesus.'     Another  said,  after  I  bad 
talked  with  him  and  prayed,  and  was  leaving,  '  Fare- 
well !    to-morrow,  massa,  before  sunrise  on  you,  me 
shal   bcnl  Jesus,me  shall  go  singing  from  thi.s  bad 
"orl.l.      These  predictions  were  literally  fulfilled, 

"A  negro  woman,  at  the  parish-house,  being  near 
death,  .MM-.t  for  mo.  I  foun.l  her  in  a  very  small  room 
on  the  floor,  with  her  mistress  standing  bv.  1  remind- 
ed  her  of  her  worthlessness.  'O  yes,  me  noting 
worth,  me  know,  but  me  mu,t  go  to  Jesus.  So  long 
me  do  bad,  mo  conduct  to  Jesus  very  bad  '  1  «aid 
'Yes,  you  deserve  bell.'  '  C)  yos,  though  mo  no  know 
what  hell  mean,  but  if  it  mean,  me  ^fMjad  forr/«bad, 
me  deserve  to  get  de  worst-but  me  must  hope  an  try 
Jesus.  '  Do  you  think  Jesus  will  receive  you  ?'  <  Ah 
massa,  hini  love  mc  when  me  well  !  yes,  him  love  mo 
den,  now  him  send  sick,  htm  no  going  to  trow  me  off 
now.  No,  no  !  now  me  sick  and  near  do  grave,  none 
care  for  me  like  my  Jesus.' " 

Well  may  the  jiious  mi.ssionary  who  relates  these 
anecdotes  exclaim,  "  It  is  worth  more  than  all  I  rould 
name  on  earth  to  see  such  scenes  as  these.  They  do 
not  often  occur;  but  when  they  do,  they  morethan 
comiiensate  for  all  the  past  of  sorrow." 

In  the  last  report  of  the  Baptist  Society,  it  is  stated 
llinl,  111  the  course  of  the  year  182.1.  some  hundreds 
of  members  were  added  to  the  churches  in  Kingston 
under  the  care  of  Messrs.  Coultart  and  Tiu.son  ;  though 
tiie  former  .,f  tli..se  br.-tluen  was,  for  several  months, 
unavoidably  absent,  having  been  under  the  ..^i-.f.,} 
necessity  of  conveying  Mrs.  Coultart  to  Knglilnd  for 
the  benefit  of  her  health.  |„  consequence  of  the 
continued  ill  health  of  Mr.  Cuidden,  and  a  domestic 


814 


BAPTIST  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


bereavement  sustained  by  Mr.  Tripp,  those  faithful 
laborers  were  also  under  the  necessity  of  quitting  the 
West  Indies  ;  and,  in  order  to  supply  the  vacanciiis 
occasioned  hy  their  removal,  three  other  missionaries 
were  sent  out  by  tiie  committee, — Mr.  Phillips  to 
Anotta  Bay,  Mr.  Phillipo  to  Spanish  Town,  and  Mr. 
Burchell  to  Montego  Bay.  The  former  of  these  re- 
mained some  time  at  Kingston,  during  the  absence 
of  Mr.  Coultart,  and  commenced  his  work  on  the  last 
sabbath  of  18'23,  by  baptizing,  in  the  new  chapel, 
one  hundred  and  forty-eight  persons,  whose  characters 
had  previously  undergone  the  strictest  scrutiny  ;  and 
on  the  same  day,  an  addition  of  one  hundred  and  one 
persons  was  made  to  the  second  church  under  the 
care  of  Mr.  Tinson.  He  afterwards  proceeded  to  his 
destination,  on  the  north  part  -of  the  island,  which 
presented  an  extensive  sphere  of  usefulness.  Mr. 
Phillipo,  though  disappointed  in  the  first  instance 
of  obtaining  a  license,  was  treated  with  the  utmost 
respect  and  kindness  by  several  of  the  nutgistrates, 
and  other  respectable  inhabitants.  And  ^Ir.  Burchell 
commenced  his  public  services  with  such  encouraging 
success,  that  the  premises  occupied  as  a  meeting-house 
soon  became  too  small  for  his  congregation  ;  a  spacious 
building  in  the  centre  of  the  town  was,  therefore, 
subsequently  obtained  for  the  purpose  of  religions 
worship;  and,  on  the  las'  sabhaili  in  Feliruary,  1H4I, 
he  had  the  satisfaction  of  forming  a  small  Christian 
churMi  in  this  new  station. 

On  the  Gtli  of  April,  Mr.  Coultart  returned  to 
Kingston,  after  a  safe  and  pleasant  passage,  and  had 
the  satisfaction  of  fnuling  all  the  missionary  brethren 
and  their  families  in  good  health  ;  but  within  the  short 
space  of  three  weeks,  he  was  called  to  witness  the 
unexpected  removal  of  Mr.  Knibb,  who  was  taken  ill 
on  the  '2!2(l,  and  expiriMl  on  the  evening  of  lh<  •J.'ilh. 
Of  this  truly  affecting  event,  Mr.  Coultart  has  given 
the  following  imi)ressive  account  : — 

"  l)n  llic  VVediu'sday  prior  to  his  death,  our  friend 
Mr.  Knihh  came  nj)  from  Port  Uoyn',  « lien"  he  had 
remained  about  eight  days  for  the  bcnelit  of  the  air : 
he  breakfasted  with  us,  and  seemed  in  good  spirits 
and  tolenihie  lienllh.  On  the  same  eveuint',  he  eoni- 
plained  of  the  water  disagreeing  niili  liiin,  and  had  a 
restless  night.  On  Thursday  morning,  I  went  to  see 
him,  and  foimd  him  nnirh  weakened  liy  the  pain  of 
tiie  pretediiig  nighl.  An  apothecary  had  been  with 
liim,  and  returned  while  I  was  there  :  he  pronotmced 
his  complaint  the  colic,  a  very  eonmion  and  (lani;eron<< 
disease  in  this  country.  It  wb'*  the  third  allack  he 
had  lUKtained  within  the  space  of  twelve  mnnths. 
An  medicine  *ircved  hiefli^ctiiiil  1  did  tmi  nsf?  Iilisi 
au,ain  until  the  Sunday  evenint;,  being  exceedimrly 
busy  ;  but  I  sent  a  inessenger  pretty  often,  who  brought 


favorable  reports  at  times,  saying  the  pain  had  subsided, 
only  his  nights  had  been  sleepless.  Mr.  Tinson  called 
on  the  Lord's-day  evening,  on  his  way  home  from 
Mr.  Knibb's  house,  and  desired  me  to  step  up,  as  he 
perceived  a  great  change,  and  the  physician,  for  whom 
I  sent,  desired  the  aid  of  another.  One  of  the  oldest 
and  most  scientific  practitioners  on  the  island  was 
accordingly  called  in.  I  was  there — he  examined  his 
pulse,  or  rather  the  wrist,  for  the  pulse  was  gone — 
his  legs  were  cold  to  the  knees — his  hands  and  arms 
clammy  and  cold — his  features  lengthened  and  sharp — 
his  eyes  sunk,  and  indicating  intense  anxiety  ;  yet  he 
spoke  to  me  with  great  clearness  and  strength — told 
me  his  mmd  was  fixed  on  Jesus — and  that  he  was 
confident  of  safety  :  yet  it  was  not  a  joyous,  but  a 
solenni  period.  Oh,  it  ivas  a  solemn  period  ! — ho 
saw  his  widow  and  fatherless  babe  ;  he  had  previously 
taken  his  leave  of  them — there  was  now  no  cordial 
embrace,  no  kind  adieu^  as  wight  have  been  expected 
at  a  parting  like  this.  The  (irst  feelings  of  eternity  had 
come  u|)on  him,  and  all  his  wishes  and  his  prayers 
were  fixed  on  his  own  inmiortal  soul.  The  hiccups 
came  on,  an  unerring  symptom  of  death.  The 
palsied  hand  and  slightly  contracted  fingers,  showed 
so  obviously  imd  impressively  the  close  of  the  struggle 
with  the  last  enemy,  that  I  think  I  can  never  forget 
it.  The  scene  has  made  an  indelib'e  impression  on 
my  senses.  We  shall  long  feel  deeply  the  loss  of  so 
faithful  and  indefatigable  a  Christian.  May  Almighty 
(iod  sanctify  this  mysterious  dispensation,  and  direct 
the  committee  to  find  another  to  fill  the  existing 
vacancy." 

As  the  stations  in  Jamaica,  from  this  time,  began 
considerably  to  increase,  both  in  number  and  impor- 
tance, it  may  be  desiral>le  henceforth  to  relate  the  cir- 
cumstances connected  with  each,  and  then  to  detail 
some  fads  relating  to  them  generally, 

KiNosTON.  The  place  of  Mr.  Knibb,  in  this  city, 
was  supplied  in  January,  l>^'i!f,  by  Mr.  W.  Knibb,  a 
younger  brother  of  the  deceased  missionary,  who, 
both  at  Kingston  and  Falmouth,  whore  he  at  pres-^nt 
labors,  has  been  eminently  uiefid.  On  the  l")lh  of  tho 
fi)llowing  month,  Mr.  Knibb  thus  uddresseil  a  friend  in 
lirisiol  :— 

*'  Through  the  merciful  care  of  our  heavenly  Father, 
we  arrived  in  safety  at  Port  Morant,on  Salinday,  the 
l'2ih  ;  and,  on  the  Wednesday  following,  rpaehed  the 
spot  which  is  to  be  the  scene  of  our  future  labors. 
At  Port  Morani,  we  were  treated  with  the  greatest 
kindno'is  by  a  gentleman  named  F.  On  tho  sabbath, 
un  anur  nlujut  f'flv  sluvcs  who  had  wiilked  sixteen 
miles  in  a  burning  stm  to  hear  a  sermon,  many  of 
whom  do  not  have  any  thing  to  eat  tho  whole  day. 


JAMAICA. 


As  soon  as  we  passed  Port  Royal,  a  canoe  came  to 
us,  which  we  liad  no  sooner  entered,  than—'  Please 
massa,  you  massa  Knibb  ?'   '  Yes.'    '  Me  thought  so- 
so  like  your  broder ;    me  be  glad  to  see  you  ;  we 
thought  you  drowned  ;  we  hab  been  looking  for  you 
dis  month.'  On  lunding,  another  hailed  us— <  O  !  massa 
preacJier  come  !  Me  must  carry  someting,  me   be  so 
glad.'     We  procured  a  wherry,  and  reached  Kingston 
in  less  than  an  hour,  where  we  met  with  a  hearty 
reception.     The  next  morning,  I  visited  the  school. 
The  chddreh  leaped  for  joy  ;  indeed,  they  could  not 
refrain  from  dancing,  for  a  negro  must  express  his  joy. 
Their  writing  is  excellent,  and  they  appear  to  improve 
greatly.     Could  you  visit  the  school,  you  would  say, 
My  dear  brother  lias  not  rim  in  vain,  neither  labored  in 
vain.    Some  of  the  children  have  excellent  capacities, 
and    retentive  memories.       One    little    girl   repeated 
several  chapters  of  tiie  Bible,  and  tiie  whole  of  Dr. 
Watts's  Divine  Songs,  at  one  time. 

It  will  afford  you  sincere  pleasure  to  learn  that  Mr. 
Coultart  has  obtained  permission  to  preach  by  candle- 
light, (or,  rather,  oil-light,)  which  he  does  every 
Thursday  evening.  I.ast  Thursday,  the  chapel  was 
filled,  and  nearly  three  thousand  joined  in  singing, 

'  Praine  God,  from  whom  all  blessings  flow,  &,c.'  " 

No  less  than  four  hundred  and  (ifly  mendjers  were 
that  year  added  to  Mv.  ( "oultarl's  church  alone  ;  and  on 
the  (Irst  Sabbath  in  lM>^(],two  thousand  communicants 
met  in  his  spacious  chapel  to  partake  of  tiie  supper 
of  the  Ijord.  The  day-school  cdiiiiiiued  to  prosper, 
•»  did  also  n  Sunday-school  of  two  hundred  children] 
taiigiit  by  the  most  respectable  persons  in  the  church 
and  congregation.  The  church  under  the  rare  of  Mr. 
Tinson,  though  less  favorably  situated  for  a  congrega- 
tion, also  continued  to  increase. 

Soon  after  this,  Mr.  Coultart  was  comp.dled,  on 
account  of  Mrs.  Coultart's  health,  to  ri'iiiin  for  a  while 
to  Knuland,  during  which  time  the  in-ighiuiring  mis- 
sionaries carried  on  public  worship  in  his  chapel. 
Many  highly  respectable  persons  attended  the  public 
examination  of  the  children  of  the  school  in  December, 
IH'2r»;  and  its  con<liiciors  had  the  gratification  of 
stating  that  many  of  its  lornier  pupils  had  become 
members  of  the  church.  During  this  year,  abo.  a 
more  convenii-nf  chapel  was  opened  for  the  use 
of  Mr.  Tinsiui's  congr-gation.  On  Mr.  Coujtart's 
return  from  Englan;!,  he  vns  honored  with  still  in- 
creased success  ;  but  Mr.  7'inson  being  visited  with 
domestic  affliction,  and  his  own  health  being  iinpairt-d, 
ho  sailed  for  the  United  Stales,  and  afterwards  for 

ICnrrlitkitl       n*i.l    ••...•.. »«._,)      4.^ _     I      I      1  ■  ^    . 

— —7 '-titirt?   lu  munvra   iannr  ariil  iinflul- 

ness  in  IH'iiJ.     In  the  year  last  named,  an  auxiliary 
ta  the  parent  Institution  was  formed  at  Kingston,  in 


818 

the  presence  of  several  magistrates  and  members  of 
the  house  of  assembly  ;  and  a  day  school  for  females 
was  also  erected. 

But,  amidst  all  these  encouraging  circumstances,  it 
is  painful  to  state  that  the  health,  both  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Coultart,  was  found  unequal  to  the  duties  which 
devolved  upon  them.  For  a  season,  they  removed 
to  Mount  Charles,  a  more  healthy  part  of  the  island  ; 
but  ultimately  they  found  it  necessary  to  return  to 
England  ;  and  it  is  feared  that  the  zealous  and  suc- 
cessful labors  of  our  valued  brother,  continued  for 
about  fourteen  years,  will  no  more  be  renewed  in 
Jamaica. 

In  the  anticipation  of  Mr.  Coultart's  retirement 
from  Kingston,  the  committee  were  very  anxious  to 
provide  a  minister,  who,  if  the  church  should  concur 
in  the  appointment,  might  succeed  to  the  charge  of 
that  important  station.  It  seemed  highly  desirable  to 
find  one  who  should  combine  with  other  requisites  for 
the  oflice  a  degree  of  experience  in  pastoral  duties. 
Their  attention  having  been  directed  to  the  Rev. 
John  Shoveller,  formerly  of  Penzance,  whose  charac- 
ter and  talents  are  advantageously  known  in  many  of 
our  churches,  it  was  ascertained  that  the  suoject  had 
previously  rested  with  considerable  weight  on  his  own 
mind  ;  and,  after  mature  consideration,  .'le  felt  him- 
self called  on  to  undertake  this  service,  and  sailed  for 
Jamaica  in  the  month  of  March,  1831.  He  arrived 
at  Kingston  on  the  .30th  of  April,  and  the  impressions 
made  on  his  mind  by  what  he  saw  and  heard  may  be 
learnt  from  the  following  extracts  of  a  letter  under  the 
date  of  June  6tli : — 

"  My  time  is  fully  occupied,  and  it  is  a  blessed 
occupancy.  I  feel  that  1  am  living  usefully,  and 
should  it  please  our  Lord  to  jireaerve  my  health  and 
strength,  I  believe  that  I  shall  be  ns  happy  in  this 
service  as  I  can  expect  to  be  on  this  side  heaven. 
Yesterday  was  a  delightful  day  ;  the  attendance  in 
fliis  capacious  chapel  most  numerous  ;  the  people 
devoutly  attentive  ;  and  many  of  them  evidently  much 
affected  under  the  preaching  of  the  word.  In  the 
afternoon,  when  they  stood  u|)  by  hundreds  to  sing, 
after  partaking  of  the  brei'd  and  wine  at  the  Lord's 
table,  the  hymn, 

•  How  swpptly  ftwAil  in  tho  pUce, 
With  ChriHt  within  Uio  duors,'  &c.,  * 

and  especially  the  verse, 

'  Wo  long  to  ioo  thy  churchci  (\ill,'  &c., 

my  heart  truly  thrilled  within  me  at  witnessing  the 
wonderful  grace  of  God. 

'•  I  am  much  interested  with  tho  simple  evangelical 
piety  of  many  of  the  black  people.  Here  are  Chris- 
tians uf  various  altainmunts  and  (^ifts,  as  it  is  witli  you 


tl« 


BAPTIST  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


in  England ;  but  the  doctrine  of  the  cross  is  the  solace 
of  them  all.  During  the  past  three  weeks,  I  have 
been  much  engaged  in  the  quarterly  renewing  of 
tickets  for  communion,  so  that  I  have  had  an  oppor- 
tunity of  conversing  witii  several  hundreds  of  members 
and  inquirers.  I  find  the  knowledge  and  the  power  of 
expression  among  the  people  very  various,  and  many 
are  more  shrewd  und  intelligent  than  I  had  expected. 

"  Those  who  have  had  much  intercourse  with  the 
white  people,  do  not  so  much  use  the  negro  dialect. 
You  would,  however,  be  much  interested,  I  am  sure, 
with  the  remarks  of  some  of  the  poor  people  both  of 
town  and  country.  '  I  hope,'  said  I  to  one  of  them, 
'you  love  the  Lord  Jesus.'  'Oh!  yes,  my  dear 
massa,  me  must  love  him — he  first  loved  me — him  too 
good  to  me — took  upon  him  the  sins  that  was  to  con- 
demn me.'  I'o  another,  '  Well,  my  friend,'  said  I, 
'whom  do  you  trust  to  for  your  salvation?'  'Ah! 
me  trust  to  Massa  Jesus  Christ.'  On  asking  anotiier 
if  he  loved  the  Saviour,  ho  took  off  his  hat,  and  show- 
ing me  his  gray  woolly  head,  '  Ah  !  Jesus,'  said  he, 
'take  care'of  me  long  time,  when  I  was  taken  from 
Africa,  and  bring  me  to  the  gospel,  and  take  care  of 
me  till  now : — me  must  love  him.' 

"  I  am  much  interested  with  the  schools  here,  and 
Lave  now  a  class  of  the  best  scholars  of  both  sexes, 
who  come  to  uk-  once  or  twice  a  week  to  .spend  nii 
hour  for  religious  instruction.  Some  of  these  are  | 
black,  others  cliildren  of  color.  I  anticipate,  in  <!e- 
pendencc  on  the  divine  blessing,  some  useliiliiess  from 
this  exercise." 

The  last  report  of  the  slate  of  the  second  church 
in  Kingston,  informs  us  that  it  continued  in  a  very 
prosperous  condition.  Sixty-seven,  during  the  year, 
had  been  added  to  its  mniiber,  besides  fit'ty-seven 
otliers  lit  Yallahi,  a  station  to  which  a  inort'  distinct 
reference  will  be  shortly  made.  A  remark  made  by 
our  respected  brother,  Mr.  Tinson,  when  speakinif  of 
the  accounts  given  by  candidates  for  church  feliowsiiip 
prior  to  their  ndinission,  deserves  attention,  (>spcciHlly 
as  wo  conceive  it  applies,  generally,  to  the  ncicro  eon- 
verts.  "  In  many  instauce«,  where  tin-  greatest  mental 
poverty  prevails  on  almost  every  suhjcrt  but  religion, 
the  irradiation  of  mind  manifested  in  regard  to  divine 
things  is  evidently  such  as  nothing  but  the  Spirit  of 
God  c-ould  imparl." 

Hef.;rLMvi-  i<ave  this  interosiing  station  ul  Kingston, 
we  must  introduce  to  our  readers  several  interesting 
anecdote?  ronnrrtrd  with  it,  e»en  thoui;h  it  may 
compel  us  to  abridge  our  accotmt  of  other  places. 

In  a  letter,  written  by  Mr.  Coultart  to  Dr.  Myland, 
^Aer  mentioning  that,  at  the  close  of  lrt4<|,  he  had 

,»«|iltiM-.!   uiw  iiuiuircd  ariii  ihiriy   prrsims,  making  a  ||   luce  looking  towards  the  l>oly  UwcJIing-placo  ol  (»od, 
total,  during  the  year,  of  four  hundred  and  fifty, —  H  hii  eyei  shut,  and  hii  tongue  moat  devoutly  telling 


he  proceeds  to  narrate  the  following  affecting  inci- 
dent : — 

"  I  called,  the  other  evening,  upon  one  of  our  poor 
members,  that  was  supposed  to  be  dying.     I  asked 

him  how  his  mind  was  ;  what  his  thoughts  of  death 

'  Quite  happy,'  was  his  reply,  <  and  ready  to  go.' 
I  said,  '  Take  care  ;  don't  deceive  yourself;  you  have 
been  a  vile  sinner,  a  sad,  worthless  creature,  both  to 
God  and  his  church  ;  take  care,  don't  build  on  the 
sand.'  Ho  seemed  astonished  for  a  minute  or  two, 
and  was  silent  ;  then,  as  if  he  had  collected  all  his 
energy,  and  free!  himself  from  the  hand  of  death,  he 
sprang  up  on  his  bed,  saying,  '  No,  minister,  no  ;  1  am 
not  deceived  ;  you  are  clear  of  my  blood.'  I  said, 
'  Let  that  be  to  me  ;  your  time  is  short ;  ask  God  to 
forgive  you  for  Christ's  sake  ;  let  nothing  take  your 
attention  from  Jesus  i.ow ;  cry  to  him  till  you  feel  his 
love.'  1  prayed  with  him,  and  left  him.  In  a  day  or 
two,  some  one  car  again,  and  said  he  was  dying. 
I  hastened  to  his  jd-side.  There  stood  his  friends, 
and  his  weeping  companion  sat  by  him  on  the  bed. 
He  was  dreadfully  convulsed,  and  when  he  opened 
his  eyes  and  saw  me,  he  cried  out  very  loud,  '  Minister, 
bless  you  ;  1  am  safe  ;  Jesus  Christ  has  not  forgotten 
a  poor,  wicked,  worthless  sinner.  No,  I  am  a  dying 
man  :  but  thank  thee,  O  Saviour,  for  the  gospel,  for 
thyself;  come,  and  take  poor  me. — Come,  Lord  Jesus, 
come  quickly.'  My  heart  leaped  for  joy  to  see  this  poor 
lilnrk  brand  plucked  out  of  the  fire.  1  never  saw 
such  ecstasy  in  death  before — looked  on  him  in  his  last 
agony  in  amazement,  and  said,  '  Surely  the  blood  of 
(Jlirist  speaketh  better  things  than  that  of  Abel.'  i  thank 
(jod  1  crossed  the  Atlantic  to  see  this,  to  receive  the  bles- 
sing and  the  delightful  testimony  of  this  poor  descend- 
ant of  Canaan,  going  where  there  is  no  more  curse." 
Mr.  Coultart  thus  writes  : — 

"  Kingston,  Manh  17,  IH^t?. 

"  On  Easter  Sunday,  we  hope  to  baptize  about 
seventy  persons,  who  have  been  seriously  examined  as 
to  their  faith  and  practice,  some  of  whom  have  given  us 
pleasiiiK  satisfaction  as  to  their  fitness  for  the  fellowship 
of  saints.  One  old  man  was  asked  if  he  ever  prayed. 
His  reply  was,  '  Yes,  massa  ;  how  can  me  lib  (live) 
without  |)rny  r'  '  Many  do  livi-,  it  was  rciiiaiked,  who 
never  pray  ;  und  ynu  once  did  not  pray.'  '  Yes,  ma.ssa, 
but  since  mo  know  myself,  me  no  able  to  lib  if  me  do 
not  pray.'  '  I  a?u  glad  to  hear  you  say  so:  well,  you  can 
make  me  hear  what  you  say  when  you  pray  to  CkmI. 
'  Yes,  inassn  wish  it.'  '  I  shall  bo  glad  to  hear.'  Hero 
he  stands  before  my  vision  still  ;  his  hands  lifted  up 
and  rlaspod  in  each  other,  his  wrinkled  and  latooed 


JAMAICA. 


Hun  who  hears  prayer,  that  he  is  a  poor  neger,  and 
did  not  know  how  to  speak  to  one  great  God  who 
make  ail  tingt.  '  But  do,  oh  !  dou  great  God,  cut  de 
string  of  dy  poor  neger's  dumb  tongue,  dat  liiin  may 
peak  de  trut  (truth)  !  Oh  I  opan  him  blind  eye,  dat 
hmi  may  see  into  him  own  heart !  Lord,  open  him 
deaf  ear,  dat  him  may  hear  a  Jesus  peak  to  him,  an 
take  Jesus,  de  Son  of  God,  into  him  heart !  O  Lord, 
dy  poor  neger  come  to  dee ;  neber  let  him  go  again ; 
hold  hvmfasi,  hold  him  fast,  good  Lord,  for  Jesus' 
talc, !' 

"Another  old  member,  a  Mrs.  K.,  wlw  has  been 
long  afflicted,  has  been  recently  removed  to  the  world 
ol  spirits.    Her  sufferings  were  so  severe,  that  she  sel- 
dom closed  her  eyes  in  sleep,  yer  she  enjoyed  an  amaz- 
tngporcton  of  happiness  during  the  decay  of  her  earth- 
ly house.     It  was  remarked  that  siie  had  suffered  long. 
Ves,  shti  said,  '  a  little  time  in  pain  seem  long  to  we 
poor  tings;  but  God  been  so  good,  ,lat  ilc  time  no 
seem  so  lieavy,  an  me  been  looking  ebery  day  for  de 
blessed  Jesus  to  come  and  fetch  him  poor  servant.'  It 
was  said,  •  Do  you  feel  assured  you  shall  be  for  ever 
where  Jesus  is?'    '  Yes,' she  answered,  '  Jesus   pur- 
chas-;  me  wi  him  blood  ;  and  though  me  a  poor  ting, 
and  no  sarvis  to  any  one,  yet  him  love  me,  and  him 
won  t  ding  me  away.     Yes,  niassr,  I  shall  soon  bo 
wid  Jesus,  and  den  I  shall  get  some  rest.     Yes,  yes, 
liini  i>oor  sarvaiit  will  soon  be  in  him  bosom— him  too 
good,  hiin  too  good  r     It  is  impossible  to  say  what  I 
felt  (o  see  her  so  emaciated,  so  dci'i  Iv  afflicted  that 
she  cauld   scarcely  breathe;  yet  to  inysdf  and  Mr. 
Kiiibb  she  spoke  will,  such  energy  as  to  surprise  us 
mto  tears.     Religion,  had  it  done  no  more  than  this, 
has  procured  one  happy  exit  from  der.tli  to  life,  one 
glorious  iriumph  for  a  daughter  of  Ham,  on  whom  the 
curse  of  slavery  rested  heavily  for  many  years. 

"  Mr.  Kiiibb  lias  just  sent  me  his  account  of  the 
same  person,  w  bom  ho  .saw  a  day  or  two  later  than  I 
did,  as  1  was  laid  up  with  a  slight  fever  at  the  time. 

I  transcribe  what  of  it  differs  from  the  above. "  A 

day  or  two  before  her  death,  I  found  her  lying  on  a 
•nat,  her  head  supported  by  a  chest,  which  I  suppose 
contauied  her  little  ail.  As  1  entered,  she  attempted 
to  raise  her  emnriated  frame,  but  wns  unable.  Her 
eye  glistened  with  delight  when  she  said,  'Oh 
massn,  me  glail  to  see  you.  1  have  prayed  I  might 
not  vii-.  !,,  :  :■  I  tell  you  how  good  Jesus  is— him  too 
good,  hi.n  too  good.'  1  endeavored  to  impress  upon 
her  niM;  a  sense  of  her  uuwortliiness.  'Oh,  me 
kiio.-.  w,'  g(M)d  for  noting  ;  but  Jesus  die  for  me,  and 
me  no  afraid  to  die  an  go  to  him.'  1  prayed  with  her, 
and,  taking  her  hand  as  I  came  away,  1  snid,  «  My 
Irieiid,  I  wish  you  aiialMindaiil  eiitrnnce  into  the  king- 
dom of  God's  dear  Son  !'    She  smiled,  and  said,  '  Say 


dtT 


how  dye  (faiewell)  for  me  to  me  minis'  Mr.  Coul- 
tart ;  tell  him  that  I  wish  him  may  have  iwo  crowns 
when  him  come  to  heaven.'  I  was  told  by  a  near 
neighbor,  tftat  when  she  was  unable  to  rise,  she  would 
be  earned  to  the  door,  and  thare,  in  prayer  with  her 
fellow  servants,  recommend  that  Jesus  who  was  her 
all.  Even  this  one  instance  of  the  love  and  tender 
mercy  of  Christ  Jesus  to  a  sinner,  was  worth  crossing 
the  Atlantic  again  to  witness.  How  thankful  should  I 
be  that  a  good  God  has  blessed  my  labors !" 

One  anecdote  more,  in  connection  with  Kingston, 
and  we  will  pass  on.  A  minister  in  England  forward- 
ed, several  years  ago,  the  following  narrative  to  the 
secretary  of  the  society : — 

"  Some  few  years  since,  I  was  preaching  at  Plym- 
outh, -vhen  a  request  was  sent  to  the  pulpit  to  this 
effect:— 'The  thanksgivings  of  this  congregation  are 
desired    to   Almighty  God,  by  the    captain,  passen- 

gers,  and  crew  of  the ,  West  Indiaman,  for 

their  merciful  escape  from  shipwreck  during  the  late 
awful  tempest.' 

"  The  following  day,  I  went  on  board  the  vessel, 
accompanied  by  some  pious  friends  from  the  shore, 
and,  in  conversation  with  the  jiassengers,  a  lady  thus 
expressed  herself:-^  Oh,  sir,  what  an  invaluable  bless- 
I  ing  must  personal  religion  be!  Never  did  I  see  it  more 
I  exemplified  than  in  my  poor  negress,  Ellen,  during  the 
dreadful  storm.  When  we  were  tossed  to  the  heavens, 
and  sunk  again  to  the  depths,  and  expecting  every 
succeeding  wave  would  break  over  the  vessel,  and  en- 
tonil)  us  all,  my  mind  was  in  a  horrible  state— I  was 
afraid  to  die— I  could  not  think  of  appearing  before 
God  but  in  dread  dismay— Ellen  would  come  to  me 
and  say,  with  all  possible  composure,  '  Never  mine, 
missec,  look  to  Jesu  Christ— he  gave— he  rule  de  sea 
— be  pre])arfd  to  die.' 

"  '  And  when,  sir,  we  neared  the  shore,  and  were  at 
a  loss  to  know  on  what  part  of  the  coast  we  were  got, 
fearing  every  minute  to  be  dashed  to  atoms  on  the 
rocks,  my  mind  still  in  a  most  distracted  state— I  fear- 
ed to  die— I  know  nothing  of  religion,— poor  Ellen, 
with  the  .same  composure  as  before,  came  to  mo  and 
said,  '  Uon't  be  fear,  misseo— look  to  Jesu  Christ- 
he  do  rock— no  shipwreck  on  dat  rock— he  save  io  the 
utmost— don't  be  fear,  missec- look  to  Jesu  Christ.' 
I  determined,  1  hope  in  divine  strength,  that  if  ever 
we  reached  the  shore  in  safety,  I  would  seek  to  pos- 
sess  that  religion  which  so  supported  the  heart  of  a 
poor  negro  in  the  midst 'S  such  dreadful  circumstances.' 
"  Of  course  (continued  the  minister)  I  wished  to 
see  this  poor,  yet  rich,  African.  She  was  ctdled  to 
the  cab.in,  bs;t  as  I  wished  our  conversaiion  to  }.»  iieiird 
by  the  sailors,  I  desired  her  to  go  on  deck,  which  she 
did,  and  wo  followed. 


818 


BAPTIST  MISSIONARY  SOCIETV. 


"  Mniiter.  '  Well,  Ellen,  I  am  glad  to  find  that 
you  know  something  of  Jesus  Christ.' 

"  Ellen.  '  Jesu  Christ,  massa ! — Oh,  he  be  very 
good  to  my  soul : — Jesu  Christ ! — Oh,  he  very  dear 
to  me.' 

"  Minister.  '  How  long  is  it,  Ellen,  since  you  first 
knew  the  Saviour,  who  is  so  precious  to  you  ?' 

"  Ellen.  '  Why,  massa,  some  time  ago,  me  hear 
Massa  Kitching*  preach  about  de  blessed  Jesu.  He 
say  to  we  black  people,  de  blessed  Jesu  come  down 
from  de  good  world ;  he  pity  we  poor  sinners.  We 
die  or  he  die — he  die  dat  we  no  die — he  suffer  on  de 
cross — he  spill  precious  blood  for  we  poor  sinners. 
Me  feel  me  sinner — me  cry — me  pray  to  Jesu,  and  he 
save  me  by  precious  blood.  Oh  1  Jesu  Christ  very 
good — he  save  me.' 

"  Minister.  '  And  when  did  you  see  Mr.  Kitching 
last,  Ellen  ?' 

"  Ellen.  '  Missee  Kitching,  sir,  de  fever  take  him 
— he  lie  bed — he  call  we  black  peoples  his  children- 
he  say,  Come  round  de  bed,  my  children  ; — ho  den 
say,  My  children,  I  go  to  God — meet  me  before  my 
God ;  I  go  to  God — meet  me  before  my  God  ;  and 
den  he  fall  asleep.' 

"  Minister.  '  Oh  then,  Ellen,  Mr.  Kitching  is  dead, 
is  he  ?' 

"  Ellen.  •  Dead,  sir  !  Oli  no,  Rfassa  Kitching  no 
die  ;  he  fell  aslooi),  and  he  sleep  till  do  trumpet  of  the 
archangel  wake  him,  and  den  he  go  to  God.  Ycs,de 
trumpet  of  the  archangel  wake  him,  and  den  he  go  up 
to  God.     Massa  Kitching  no  die,  ho  fall  asleep.' 

"  Enviable  ChristiiHiiiy,  which  enables  a  poor  African 
to  regard  death  as  a  sleep,  from  which  the  aichangel's 
trump  will  awake,  and  summon  to  the  eternal  society 
and  enjoyment  of  that  prcciou.-s  Redeemer,  whom, 
having  not  seen,  I  l;ope  we  love." 

From  Kingston,  the  capital  of  the  island,  we  turn 
to  the  Yai.lahs,  to  which  a  reference  has  been  already 
made.  It  is  situated  about  twenty  miles  from  the  city 
just  named  ;  and  the  church  was  commenced  in  IS.W, 
by  the  occasional  preachingof  .Mr.  Tinson,  who  speed- 
ily collected  a  large  congregation.  It  is  a  subordinate 
station  to  the  second  church  at  Kinf:,ston,  and  contain- 
ed, in  April,  IS.'Jl,  one  hundred  and  three  members. 
It  has  not  jet  been  fmored  with  a  pastor  exclusively 
devoted  to  its  interests. 

!'  is  prohahlc  that  the  annexed  account  of  the  origin 
o<"  this  station,  us  fiirnishi'd  by  Mr,  Tinson  to  Mr. 
Dyer,  in  a  letter  dated  July  15,  1830,  may  be  inter- 
esting to  our  readers. 

'•  Since  we  came  back,!  have  opened  a  new  station 

■  Mr.  Cl.rintniilicr  Kilching,  who  died  tt  Kiiimton.  D«c<.iubar 
W,  Iblit. 


at  Yallahs,  about  nineteen  or  twenty  miles  from  Kings- 
ton, where  I  preach  once  a  fortnight.     We  had  mem- 
bers belonging  to  our  church  in  that  neighborhood,  but 
they  could  seldom  attend  in  Kingston.     Much  interest 
has  been  excited,  and  some  opposition  ;  but  the  latter 
has  only  increased  the  former,  and  God  is  blessing  the 
word  abundantly.     Many  come  to  hear ;  and  on  the 
27th  ult.,  I  baptized  thirty-eight  persons,  and,  with 
thirty  dismissed  from  our  church  in  Kingston,  formed 
them  into  a  church  at  Yallahs.    Although  the  day  was 
exceedingly  wet,  the  place  could  not  hold  the  people. 
On  the  Saturday,  some  of  our  poor  friends  from  the 
estates  employed  the  day  allowed  them  to  work  their 
grounds,  in  preparing  for  the  baptism.     We  had  some 
difficulty  in  fixing  on  a  place  for  the  administration  of 
the  solemn  rite,  as  we  could  not  venture  into  the  sea, 
from  the  heavy  swell  which  generally  prevails  on  that 
part  of  the  coast.     We  at  last  determined  on  baptiz- 
ing in  the  river,  close  to  the  sea  beach,  an  excellent 
place  formed  by  the  sea  wasiiing  the  sand  inte  the 
river's  mouth  ;  but  our  friends  hesitated  at  first,  being 
told  that  a  large  alligator  had  been   seen  there  a  few 
days  before.     Assured,  however,  that  if  there  were 
alligators  in  the  liver,  they  would  not  attack  us,  unless 
greatly  provoited,  and  having  no  intention  to  provoke 
them,  we  commenced  our  preparations.    Three  booths 
were  erected  on  the  beach,  the  river  was  explored,  to 
ascertain  its  depth,  the  nature  of  its  bottom,  &ic.,  and 
rods  were  fixed,  to  diow  how  far  and  in  what  direc- 
tion it  was  necessary  to  go,  to  obtain  a  sufficient  depth 
of  water  and  a  secure  footing.     Early  on  the  sabbath 
morning,  we  repaired  to  the  place;  it  had  rained  heav- 
ily nearly  the  wliole  night,  and  the  morning  was  very 
wet ;  hui  there  had  never  been  a  baptism  intheneigh- 
boriiood  before  ;  many  of  the  people  had  never  seen 
the  ordinance    administered,  and   had   heard  strange 
things  concerning  it — that  we  dipped  the  persons  three 
times  in  a  .state  of  nudity,  with  their  heads  downwards 
&ic.,  so  that  great  interest  was  excited  ;  and,  notwith- 
standing  the   inclemency  of  the  weather,  we   had   a 
huge  concourse  of  spectators.     The  greatest  solemni- 
ty prevailed,  and  I  hope  the  Lord  was  with  us  of  a 
truth.     I  have  more  than  once  bapti/.ed  above  a  hun- 
dred at  u  time,  hut  never  before  do  I   renieiid)er  feel- 
ing sufh  pleasure  in  administering  the  ordinance  as  I 
did  on  this  cK-casion.     Several,  who  never  witnessed 
the  ordinance  befi)re,  on  being  asked  what  they  thou  '>» 
of  it  (for  our  peoj)le  are  not  backward  in  making  such 
inquiries),  replied,   it  appeared    exceedingly   scdeinn 
and   impressive.     We  saw  nothing  of   the   alligator, 
tiiough  one  was  caught  the  same  day  a  little  distance 
from  the  river,  measuring  about  eleven  feet  in  len;.;lh." 

Spanish  Town  will  next  claim  our  attention.  This 


JAMAICA. 


place,  situated  about  fourteen  miles  from  Kingston, 
has  a  population  computed  at  ten  thousand,  and  is  the 
seat  of  the  government.     We  have  already  noticed 
the  formation  of  the  church  by  Mr.  Godden,  and  have 
seen  that  Mr.  Philiipo  became  his  successor,  who  yet 
continues  to  fill  the  pastorate.    The  commencement 
of  his  ministry  was  somewhat  discouraging.     He  was 
called  for  a  season  to  labor  under  ill  health  ;  and  hav- 
ing surmounted  this,  an  attempt  was  made,  which, 
however.was  effectually  resisted,  to  compel  him  to  serve 
in  the  ranks  of  the  military ;  and  when  this  difficulty 
also  was  overcome,  his  chapel  was  found  exceedingly 
inconvenient,  and  a  barrier  to  his  extended  usefulness. 
Anew  place  was  erected,  and  handsome  contributions 
were  made  towards  the  expense  tiius  incurred,  both  by 
many  white  gentlemen  in  the  neighborliood,  and  the 
slaves  themselves.     Schools  were  established  on  an 
extensive  scale ;  and  at  one  period  not  less  than  thirty 
children  of  Jewish  families  were  included  among  their 
pupils.     Mr.  Baylis  was  sent,  in  1826,  to  the  assist- 
ance of  Mr.  Philiipo,  with  whom  he  remained  till  the 
new  church  at  Mount  Charles  needed  his  assistance, 
when   lie  was  sue   -eded  by  Mr.   Andrews,  a  young 
man  baptized  on  the  spot,  who  had  previously  been 
engaged  in  conducting  schools  in  the  army.     In  1828, 
not  less  than  four  hundred  and  twenty-five  persons 
were  received  into  the  church  ;  all  of  whom,  by  their 
examinations   before    admission,  and  their  consistent 
conduct  after  it,  gave  ground  to  hope  they  were  sav- 
ingly acquainted   with  divine  truth.     Between  three 
and  four  hundred  children  are  taui;lit  in  the  schools  on 
this  station.     Mr.  P.'s  health,  however,  has  latterly 
greatly  suffered  in  consequence  of  his  unwearied  ex- 
ertions, and   the  society  hope  shortly  to  be  able  to 
render  him  effectual  assistance.     This,  indeed,  would 
have  been  given  before  now,  but  for  the  sudden  and 
affecting  death  of  Mr.  John  Gritlith,  a  short  time  ago, 
only  a  few  days  after  his  arrlvid  on  tlin  island. 

We  nmst  now  ijroreed  to  relate  one  or  two  interest- 
ing facts  connected  with  Spanish  Town,  and  then  pass 
on,  remarking  by  the  nay  that  the  church  here  con- 
sists of  more  than  one  thousand  members,  and  that  it 
has  subordinate  stations  at  Garden  Hill,  Passage  Fort 
and  Kiiigswood. 

A  year  or  two  since,  Mr.  Philiipo  writes  : — «  A  few 
days  ago,  when  meeting  with  several  female  members 
of  the  church,  according  to  weekly  custou),  for  the 
purpose  of  inquiring  »•>  to  their  religious  ex(  jrienrc, 
and  niKuit  the  texts,  liic.  of  the  preceding  sabbath,  I 
thought  it  my  duty  to  reprove  one  of  them,  an  old  negro 
woman,  for  being  so  siddom  able  to  repeat  them.  On 
this  she  rose  up  and  thus  addressed  me,  witli  n\\  »ho 
marks  of  natural  eloquence,  the  tears  starting  from  her 
eyes  as  she  spoke :— '  Me  dear  minisia,  me  no  able  for 


819 

■*)^ 
remember  de  tex.  Me  henry  de  word,  and  drink  him 
down,  fast  as  minista  can  speak,  an  me  go  home— no 
say  rotin  to  no  passon— shut  meself  up  in  de  room- 
say.  Now  me  link  on  de  tex,  an  carry  to  minista— But 
O,  me  sweet  massa !  me  head  too  bad— him  can't  car- 
ry notin.     Me  heary  de  precious  word— me  feel  de 

precious  word — me  understand  de  precious  word an 

me  rejoice  when  me  heary  it,  but  till  (still)  me  no  able 
for  recollec  it,  me  heart  so  hard— debil  so  busy,  him 
tief  de  word  out  me  heart,  make  me  cry.  Massa,  me 
poo  ting,  me  no  able  for  read  none  at  all,  ebery  ting 
me  had,  me  would  give  to  read  God's  word  like  de 
dear  childrens  in  de  cool,  den  me  would  read  de  tex 
two  three  times,  till  him  no  lif  (leave)  my  mine  (mind).' 
On  my  asking  why  she  had  not  endeavored  to  read 
before  she  was  so  old,  and  why  she  had  not  got  one  of 
the  school  children  to  read  to  her,  she  replied—'  Me 
do  beg  one  boy  to  go  some  time,  but  been  (since)  me 
old  free  woman,  no  able  for  work  much,  me  wants  to 
heary  de  Bible  read  all  day  long.  Me  minista  I  me 
wants  for  pend  me  whole  time  now  for  sarve  me  pre- 
cious massa  Jesus,  an  when  sometime  me  no  fine  one 
boy  for  read  to  me,  meself  take  up  de  Bible,  open  it, 
hold  it  to  me  eye  so  (taking  up  a  book,  holding  it 
close  to  her  eyes,  and  looking  at  it  intensely),  and  den 
when  me  fine  me  can't  understand,  me  trow  it  on  de 
table,  sit  down  and  cry— yes,  me  massa,  me  poor 
neger  quite  sorry  him  no  know.' 

"  This  I  believe,"  adds  Mr.  Philiipo,  « to  have 
been  the  sincere  expression  of  this  poor  creature's 
heart;  nor  is  it  the  only  instance  of  the  kind  I  have 
witnessed.  Numbers  I  have  heard  express  the  same 
regret,  as  deeply,  though  perhaps  with  less  emotion." 
In  January,  1830,  a  letter  from  Mr.  Philiipo  to  the 
connnittee  in  England  contained  the  following  intelli- 
gence : — 

"  Last  sabbath  day,  I  baptized  one  hundred  and 
twenty-three  persons  ;  and  many  more  are  waiting  to 
testify  their  attachment  in  a  similar  manner  to  him 
who  hath  loved  them,  and,  I  trust,  washed  them  in 
Ins  blood.  It  may  be  thought  that,  by  the  admission 
of  such  numbers,  sufficient  caution  is  not  exercised  by 
the  church  in  receiving  them  as  candidates ;  but  let 
me  assure  you  that,  to  the  best  of  my  knowledge,  I 
have  never  administered  this  sacred  ordinance  to  one 
from  whom  I  could  have  conscientiously  withheld  it. 

"  The  following  will  give  you  some  idea  of  the  spirit- 
ual knowledge  which  most  of  thorn  manifested  at  their 
examiniition  before  the  church  a  few  J.iyg  ago. 

"Minister.  'You  profess  to  love  and  serve  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ.  What  do  yu  love  and  serve  him 
for  ?* 

"  Candidate.  'Him  pill  him  precious  blood  to  re- 
deoni«««,'o  poo 'sinner,  n)as»u.' 


320 


BAPTIST  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


[!i 


"  M.  '  How  do  you  know  that  he  shed  his  blood 
for  you  ?' 

"  C.  '  Because  me  is  poo  sinner,  and  me  no  lub 
him  once,  but  truly  feel  me  lub  him  now.' 

"  M.  '  Then  you  did  not  always  love  him  ?' 

"  C.  '  No,  massa ;  me  no  always  lub  him,  for  true — 
rae  love  de  world  and  de  tings  of  the  world,  but  me 
no  like  for  heary  bout  Massa  Jesus,  none  'tall.' 

"  M.  '  Do  you  like  to  hear  about  him  now  ?' 

"  C  '  O  my  massa  !  who  me  like  for  heary  bout, 
if  no  like  for  heary  bout  Massa  Jesus  ?  Him  too  good 
to  me  poo  sinner.' 

"  M.  '  What  first  stirred  you  up  to  pray  ?' 

"  C.  '  Me  go  to  chapel,  and  heary  minister  sa, 
'  Xept  ye  repent,  ye  all  likewise  perish  ;'  an  me  feel 
mucli  upon  it ;  feel  me  no  do  one  ting  right  ;  and 
if  me  dead,  me  go  to  hell ;  and  beg  one  broder  for 
set  me  off  to  pray  to  Massa  Jesus  to  have  mercy  on 
me  poor  soul.' 

"  M.  '  And  do  you  think  that  God  has  changed 
your  sinful  heart  ?' 

"  C.  '  Me  hope  so,  massa.  Me  feel  myself  poo 
sinner  till :  worser  and  worser  me  seem  for  get  ebery 
day  ;  but  me  heart  fix  pon  precious  Massa  Jesus,  and 
me  pray  me  for  dead  sooner  den  me  no  lub  and  sarve 
him.' 

"  M.  '  But  how  is  it  that  you  are  getting  worse,  if 
you  have  a  new  heart  ?' 

"  C.  '  Massa,  me  no  know — me  feel  two  sometin^ 
widin  me,  one  good,  turra  bad — me  heart  go  and  come ; 
him  neber  tan  pon  one  ting  good.  Sometime  one  sa, 
Tom,  go  to  chapel ; — turra  one  sa.  Me  no  go  to-night, 
me  quite  tired,  and  de  ground  wet  and  cold.  Sometime 
one  say,  Tom,  pray  and  tank  Massa  Jesus  ; — turra 
one  sa.  Him  too  late  for  pray  now,  must  tan  till 
morrow.  So,  massa,  me  can't  tell  mesclf  sometime 
what  me  is.' 

"  M.  '  Have  you  felt  more  happy,  since  you  have 
made  a  profession  of  the  religion  of  Jesus,  than  be- 
fore ?' 

"  C  '  O  yes,  my  massa  ;  befotiuio,  when  me  sick, 
me  fraid  for  dead  ;  but  me  no  fraid  for  dead  again. 
Massa  Jesus  take  away  him  ting  ;  so  liim  no  able  for 
hurt  one  a  de  little  ones  who  believe  in  him.' 

"  M.  '  And  do  you  really  think  that  you  are  one 
of  tliiif  little  flock  w'lom  he  will  make  victorious  over 
death  r' 

"  C.  '  Massa,  me  tndy  feel  me  poo  miserable  sinner, 
no  able  for  to  do  any  ting  good  in  him  sight,  but  me  got 
no  oder  to  call  upon,  nedder  to  |)ut  my  trust  in,  but 
Massa  Jesus,  and  in  de  precious  blood.  Don't  him 
say,  iiim  no  oast  out  none  dat  come  to  him  ?' 

"  M.  '  Wiio  is  Jesus  Christ  C  and  liow  do  you  know 
that  he  is  able  and  willing  to  forgive  your  sins  ?' 


"  C.  '  Him  de  Son  of  God,  and  don't  massa  self 
tell  us  him  neber  turn  poor  sinners  from  de  door  of 
mercy  ?' 

"  M.  '  As  you  say  you  take  no  more  pleasure  in 
the  things  of  the  world,  what  do  you  delight  in 
now  ?' 

"  C.  '  Me  lub  Jesus  Christ  now,  and  for  do  him 
commandment.  Me  lub  me  church — me  lub  me 
broder  and  sister — me  lub  for  heary  God's  word — me 
lub  for  sing  and  pray — and  all  ting,  massa,  and  me 
own  heart  tell  me,  me  precious  Massa  Jesus  lub.' 

"  M.  '  Why  do  you  wish  to  be  baptized  ?' 

"  C.  '  To  pattern  after  Massa  Jesus.  Him  bury 
under  de  water,  rise  up  again,  so  me  wish  for  follow 
him.' 

"  M.  '  Do  you  think  that  will  help  to  wash  away 
your  sins,  and  make  you  more  prepared  for  heaven  ?' 

"  C.  '  Only  Massa  Jesus'  blood  wash  away  my 
sins,  and  make  me  fit  for  heaven.  Baptize,  dat  make 
de  world  'linow  me  no  belongs  to  dem  again,  but  me 
take  up  de  cross,  follow  Massa  Jesus.' 

"  M.  '  What  do  you  think  of  the  Lord's  supper  ? 
Is  it,  think  you,  the  real  body  and  blood  of  Christ 
that  you  see  on  a  sacrament-day  on  the  table  ?'   . 

"  C.  '  No,  it  only  bread  and  wine  to  remember  us 
dat  like  massa  broke  de  bread,  so  Massa  Jesus  body 
was  broke  for  we  ])oor  sinner,  and  de  wine  show  wo 
how  him  blood  pill  for  we  too.' 

"  iVf .  'Well,  if  we  were  to  receive  you  into  the 
church,  do  you  think  you  would  have  any  duties  to 
perform  towards  it  ?' 

"  C.  '  Yes,  massa.  Me  mus'nt  get  grief  when  me 
broder  and  sister  tell  me  do  wrong — me  must  lub  mo 
minister — all  me  broder  and  sister, — tend  me  church 
regular,  and  do  all  me  can  for  bring  all  de  poo  sinner 
like  meself,  sillin  in  de  cave  of  darkness,  to  Jesus 
Christ.'  " 

We  have  already  seen  that  in  1822,  the  missionaries 
at  Kingston  began  to  preach  the  gospel  at  Port 
Royal,  situated  about  six  or  seven  miles  from  that 
city  ;  and  which,  till  it  was  nearly  destroyed  by  a 
treniencious  eartli(juako  in  1()!M5,  was  considered  the 
capital  of  Jamaica.  Many  persons  from  this  place 
for  a  while  attended  at  Kingston  ;  but  the  congregation 
so  greatly  increased,  that,  in  1H'2(>,  a  church  was  form- 
ed here,  and  Mr.  Knibb,  now  of  Falmouth,  \in(lertook 
its  charge.  The  cause  has  continued  to  flourish,  the 
cliapel  has  been  enlarged,  and,  though  Mr.  Knibb  has 
been  removed  froni  the  station,  evidences  arc  yet  af- 
forded that  the  faitlifid  word  is  not  published  in  vain. 

We  now  solicit  the  attention  of  our  readers  to  the 
churches  at  Old  Harbor,  and  Vebe.     At  the  former 


JAMAICA. 


331 


place,  Mr.  Phillipo  appears  to  have  commenced 
pn^aching  about  the  year  1825,  when  a  new  chapel 
was  erected  at  the  expense  of  individuals  residing  in 
the  neighborhood.  He  was  .  'terwards  assisted  in 
these  labors  by  Mr.  Baylis,  when  he  resided  at  Mount 
Charles.  In  1829,  Mr.  H.  C.  Taylor,  who  had  re- 
sided in  the  island,  as  a  catechist,  under  the  direction 
of  a  kindred  society,  having  become  a  Baptist,  was 
ordained  over  a  church  formed  about  the  same  time. 
Here,  and  at  Vere,  where  a  church  has  since  been 
formed,  he  is  very  busily  employed,  with  very  delight- 
ful success ;  having  the  charge  of  from  five  to  six 
hundred  members,  more  than  one  half  of  which  were 
added  during  the  past  year. 

As  one  specimen,  among  many  others,  of  the  ten- 
dency of  slavery  to  harden  the  heart,  and  the  power 
of  religion  to  enable  a  man  to  bear  up  under  persecu- 
tion for  Christ's  sake,  we  may  refer  to  a  fact  mentioned 
by  Mr.  Taylor,  in  a  letter  dated  October  7,  1830 : — 
A  member  of  his  church  a  short  time  before  "  was 
convicted  of  the  crime  of '  preaching,  as  they  term  it,' 
sentenced  to  six  months'  imprisonment,  and  to  be 
flogged.  The  latter  part  of  his  sentence  was  executed," 
saya  Mr.  Taylor,  "  very  severely,  as  his  poor  back 
evinces  by  scars  which  extend  from  his  ears  down  to 
his  loins ;  the  consequence  of  which  was,  he  was  dis- 
abled for  some  weeks,  and  his  life  was  in  danger.  He 
is  now  better,  bears  up  with  Christian  fortitude,  and  is 
laboring  under  prison  discipline."  Every  reader  will 
feel  indignant  at  the  idea  of  such  outrages  being  com- 
mitted under  the  sanction  of  law,  and  ardently  long 
for  the  period,  we  trust  not  far  distant,  when  justice 
shall  be  rendered  to  those  who  have  so  long  borne  the 
iron  yoke. 

More  than  one  reference  has  already  been  made  to 
Mount  Charles,  the  circumstances  of  which  we 
advert  to  for  a  moment.  It  is  an  inland  situation, 
about  20  miles  north  of  Kingston  ;  its  air  is  considered 
very  healthy,  and  it  stands  very  conveniently  for  the 
attendance  of  large  congregations.  A  plot  of  ground 
was  purchased  here,  in  1825,  for  tlie  erection  of  mis- 
sionary premises,  and  many,  persons  on  the  spot  con- 
tributed liberally  for  the  promotion  of  the  object. 
In  1827,  a  church  was  formed,  and  Mr.  Baylis,  who 
had  previously  assisted  Mr.  Phillipo  at  Spanish  Town, 
became  its  pastor.  Nearly  one  hundred  and  forty 
persons  ware  baptized  here  the  first  year.  Sabbath- 
schools  hive  since  been  established, and  a  subordinate 
station  entered  on  at  Sion  Hill.  Mr.  Baylis  has  f ince 
removed  ti>  Port  Maria. 

MoNTEGo  Bat,  a  town  of  great  commercial  im- 
portance, V/ith  a  population  estimated  at  six  thousand, 


and  situated  in  a  parish  containing  twenty-five  thousand 
negroes,  next  invites  our  attention.  In  1823,  Mr. 
Thomas  Burchell  was  sent  out  from  England,  and 
fixed  his  residence  at  this  place,  commencing  his  labors 
with  a  very  pleasing  prospect  of  success,  though  he 
formed  his  church  with  but  twelve  members.  He  soon 
found  it  necessary  to  obtain  a  more  extensive  chapel, 
and  procured  a  large  building  in  the  centre  of  the 
town,  formerly  used  as  a  court-house,  and  afterwards 
as  a  theatre.  He  met  with  much  opposition,  over 
which  he  eventually  triumphed.  Very  large  congre- 
gations attended  ;  urgent  and  repeated  applications 
were  made  from  neighboring  towns  for  religious  in- 
struction ;  to  which  Mr.  Burchell  attended,  as  far  as 
possible,  till  his  health  became  seriously  injure'' ;  on 
which  account  he  was  compelled  to  visit  England. 
While  there,  he  collected  considerable  sums  of  money 
towards  the  erection  of  a  spacious  new  chapel,  which 
also  was  soon  crowded  with  attentive  hearers,  a  great 
number  of  whom  gave  decisive  evidences  of  conversion 
to  God.  Talents  for  usefulness  discovered  themselves 
among  the  members  of  the  church,  and  the  stations  at 
Putney  and  Gumey's  Mount  are  now  supplied  from 
Montego  Bay  with  Christian  instruction  ;  while  Fal- 
mouth, and  Crooked  Spring,  originally  supplied  in  this 
way,  have  now  separate  churches.  Efforts  so  great 
as  these  demanded  help,  and  Mr.  Mann  was  sent  out 
to  assist  Mr.  Burchell,  who  labored,  first  here,  and 
afterwards  at  Falmouth,  for  about  four  years,  with 
distinguished  success  ;  when,  after  only  a  fewdays'  ill- 
ness, he  was  removed  to  his  rest,  February  17,  1830. 
The  last  Report  of  the  society,  read  in  June,  1831, 
states  that,  "  The  attention  of  Mr.  Burchell  has  been 
much  occupied  by  various  arrangements  respecting 
chapels,  &c.,  at  the  various  and  rapidly  increasing 
subordinate  stations  in  that  part  of  the  island.  Still 
his  ministry  is  greatly  blessed  ;  and,  although  several 
hundreds  have  ceased  to  attend  at  his  chapel,  in  con- 
sequence of  having  been  provided  with  the  means  of 
grace  nearer  home,  they  can  scarcely  find  room  for 
the  numbers  who  flock  to  hear  the  gospel.  Seven 
years  have  not  elapsed  since  Mr.  Burchell  formed  the 
churclt  in  that  town,  with  twelve  members  only,  in  a 
small  upper  room  ;  now,  the  whole  area  of  a  buHding 
seventy  feet  square  hardly  sufllces  to  contain  those 
who  come  together  to  commemorate  the  death  of  their 
Lord  ;  the  church  comprises  upwards  of  fifteen  hun- 
dred members,  besides  '  inquirers'  to  a  still  greater 
number.  We  are  grieved  to  add,  that  some  of  those 
very  men,  whose  slaves  are  taught,  not  only  the  fear 
of  God,  but  honesty  and  sobriety  also,  so  far  from 
being  sensible  of  their  obligations  to  Christian  mis- 
sionaries, are  devising  new  methods  of  vexatious 
molestation.     A  local  tax  of  considerable  amount  has 


Vol.  I— Nos.  27  &  28. 


43 


322 


BAPTIST  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


been  imposed  on  the  chapel ;  and,  as  Mr.  Burchell 
pnperly  declined  the  payment,  until  he  could  ascer- 
tain the  legality  of  the  impost,  the  lamps  used  for  their 
erening  worship  have  been  seized,  and  sold  by  public 
auction  !  Continual  exertion  has  greatly  weakened 
Mr.  Burchell's  constitution,  originally  very  robust - 
but  it  is  hoped  that  the  addition  of  Mr.  Gardner,  who 
joined  his  brethren  on  the  north  side  of  the  island  at 
the  beginning  of  the  year,  will  considerably  diminish 
the  necessity  for  his  travelling,  which,  under  the  burn- 
ing sun  of  Jamaica,  is  attended  with  no  small  danger 
to  health,  and  even  to  life  itself" 

Mr.  Burchell  has,  since  that  time,  again  visited  Eng- 
land for  the  benefit  of  his  health. 

From  the  many  interesting   anecdotes   connected 
with  this  place,  illustrative  of  the  blessings  of  faith  in 

Christ,  we  select  the  following  two  or  three : 

"  During  the  period  of  persecution  to  which  we 
shall  hereafter  more  fully  advert,  two  persons,  connect- 
ed with  Mr.  Burchell's  congregation  at  Montegobay, 
had  their  houses  levelled  with  the  ground,  tiieir  feet 
made  fast  in  the  stocks,  and  were  sent  in  chains  to  the 
work-house,  charged  with  the  heinous  offence  of  pray- 
ing to  the  God  of  heaven.     One  of  these,  however, 
proved  so  completely   incorrigible,   that   they    were 
absolutely  obliged  to  give  him  up  in  despair.     Having 
nothing  to  do  besides,  in  the  jail,  he  spent  his  time, 
morning,  noon,  and  night,  singing  and  calling  upon 
God  ;  which  so  annoyed  the  jailer,  that  he  repeatedly 
went  into  his  cell  and  thrashed  him.     But  the  more 
flogging,  the  more  praying ;  till  at  length   the  jailer 
brought  him  again  before  the  court  for  tins  sin.     The 
poor  man,  however,  resolutely  declared   his   purpose 
to  pray.     '  If  you  let  me  go,'  said  he,  '  me  will  pray ; 
if  you  keep  me  in  prison,  me  will  pray  ;  if  you  flog  me, 
me  will  pray ;  pray  me  must,  and  pray  me  will !'    The 
jailer  was  fairly  confounded  ;  and  rather  than  be  annoy- 
ed any  longer  by  this  '  praying  fellow,'  he  gave  up  his 
fees,  and  a  part  of  the  fine  was  remitted  ;  and  so  the 
man  was  dismissed,  to  go  and  pray  elsewhere  !" 

After  Mr.  Burchell  had  visited  England,  as  before 
named,  in  1826,  he  gave,  on  his  return,  the  following 

account  of  the  manner  in  which  he  was  received  : 

"  On  my  arrival  at  .Montego  Bay,  Jan.  30,  I  was 
welcomed  in  the  most  affectionate  manner  by  tlic  poor 
people.  Their  expressions  of  pleasure,  accompanied 
with  many  tears,  were  truly  affecting,  and  greatly  en- 
deared them  to  me.  Numbers  crowded  to  the  wharf, 
and  many  came  off  to  the  ship  in  boats  and  canoes,' 
to  tell  massa,  '  How  d'ye  ?'  and  bid  him  welcome.  At 
our  morning  prayer-meeting,  the  following  sabbath 
(when  our  chapel  was  thoroughly  crowded),  the 
prayers  of  our  friends  were  indescribably  affecting. 
'  O  Massa  Jesus,  we  tank  de—O  Massa  Christ,  we  soul 


bless  de-de  take  we  Shepherd  home-de  give  him 
strengt---de  bring  him  back— bless  de  Lord,  O  we 
soul.    Now,  Massa  Jesua,  bless  we  Shepherd— help 
him  to  peak  dy  word-help  him  to  peak  to  every  sin- 
ner  m  de  four  corners  of  dis  Montego  Bay,  dat  dey 
may  hear  and  fall  down  before  we  Saviour.'    It  being 
rumored  that  I  should  be  at  Falmouth  last  Sunday, 
great  numbers  crowded  to  me  to  bid  me  welcome,  so 
that  the  house  I  occupied  was  crowded  for  several 
hours  with  poor  negroes,  who  said,  if  they  could  but 
see  my  face,  to  see  that  I  was  indeed  come  at  last, 
they  would  be  satisfied ;  and  as  they  saw  me,  many 
of  them,  in  the  fulness  of  their  joy,  exclaimed—'  Now 
we  heart  too  glad ;  massa  come  at  last,  for  true.'  The 
people  were  brought  by  parties,  and  introduced  bv  the 
mdividualwho  had  been  instrumental  in  '  haling' them, 
as  they  called  it,  i.  e.  persuading  them  to  come  and 
hear  the  gospel,  and  cultivating  a  concern  for  their 
souls.     After  talking  with  several  of  these  parties,  one 
of  our  members,  a  female,  came  to  me.   '  Well,  massa, 
me  very  glad  to  see  you ;  me  too  glad ;  me  come  to 
let  massa  see  me  family ;'  when  she  introduced  to 
me  above  one   hundred  persons,  adding,  '  Me  have 
more  dan  dees,  behind  ;  me  will  bring  next  Sunday  to 
massa.'     This  woman  is  a  slave,  but  possessing  con- 
siderable knowledge  of  the  gospel  and  the  way  of  sal- 
vation, and  she  has  thus  exerted  herself,  travelling 
from  place  to  place,  and  has  been  the  means  of '  pick- 
ing up,'  as  she  terms  it,  above  two  hundred  poor  sin- 
ners.    She  has  been  called  to  suffer  much  for  her  zeal 
and  her  attachment  to  Christ;  but  in  the  midst  of  many 
threats,  she  has  boldly  declared,  '  by  dehelp  of  Massa 
Christ,  to  hale  all  she  can  to  de  gospel.' 

In  giving  an  account  of  the  examination  of  a  num- 
ber of  candidates  for  baptism,  Mr.  B.  says—"  I  asked 
one,  named  Peter,  if  he  loved  Jesus  Christ.  Peter— 
'  Massa,  me  love  Christ  ?  Dat  me  do,  to  me  very 
heart.'  'But  how  do  you  know  you  love  Jesus 
Christ  ?'  Peter—'  How  me  know  ?  Massa  Christ  no 
de  Son  of  God  ?  Him  no  come  into  dis  world  and  pill 
his  blood  for  we  poorncger  ?— Howme  know  me  love 
Christ  ?  Who  me  love,  me  no  love  him  ?  Who  wort 
love,  if  hiin  no  wort  ?  Me  love  him,  massa,  me  feel 
It ;  dat  how  me  know.'  " 

Long  as  we  have  been  staying  on  this  station,  we 
cannot  retire  from  it  without  giving  an  account,  furnish- 
ed by  Mr.  Burchell,  of  a  conversation  held  with  one 
of  his  members  on  his  death-bed. 

"  Calling  on  this  poor  man  one  day,  when  he  was 
very  ill,  I  said,  '  Well,  my  friend,  do  you  think  God 
unkind  for  afflicting  you  so  severely  ?' 
"A.  'No,  massa.' 

(i-  '  Don't  you  feel  soinetimcs  disposed  to  con»- 
plain  ?' 


JAMAICA. 


"  A,  '  No,  pray  to  God  not  to  let  me.' 

"  Q.  « What  makes  you  feel  resigned  ?' 

"  A.  '  Me  know  God  do  no  wrong ;  him  know  what 
is  best ;  him  do  best. 

"  Q.  '  Have  you  ever  felt  sorry  for  coming  to 
Christ?' 

"  A.  '  O,  no  ;  me  feel  sorry  me  no  come  before ; 
me  too  glad  me  hear  of  Jesus  Christ.' 

"  Q-  '  How  do  you  feel  in  the  prospect  of  death  ?' 

"  A.  '  Me  feel  happy.' 

"  Q.  '  What  makes  you  happy  ?' 

"  A.  '  De  love  of  Christ.' 

"  Q.  '  Do  you  think  your  prayers  will  take  you  to 
heaven  ?' 

"A.  'No,  no.' 

"  Q.  '  But  do  not  you  expect  to  go  there,  because 
you  are  not  so  wicked  as  before,  but  are  become  a 
member  of  the  church  ?' 

"  A.  '  No,  me  no  have  one  good  ting  to  tink  of, 
nothing  but  Christ,  him  precious  blood.' 

*'  Q.  '  Why  do  you  thmk  Christ  will  receive  you  ?' 

"  A.  '  Me  love  him  ;  me  love  him  to  me  heart.' 

"  Q.  '  But  will  he  be  willing  ?' 

"  A.  '  Ah,  massa,  him  no  pill  him  precious  blood  ? 
Him  no  say,  Come  unto  me  ?    Me  know  him  true.' 

"  Q.  '  Would  you  like  to  meet  your  Christian  friends 
again  on  earth  ?' 

'•  A.  '  Me  would  like  to  tell  all  me  broders  and  sis- 
ters to  love  Christ  more,  to  keep  nearer  to  God.  Me 
feel  de  more  prayer,  de  nearer  we  keep  to  God,  de 
happier  we  be.' 

"  Again,  a  few  days  before  his  death  : — 

"  Q.  '  Well,  friend,  you  appear  very  low.' 

"  A.  '  Yes,  massa,  but  de  Lord  is  very  good.' 

"  Q.  '  Do  you  feel  much  fear  of  death  ?' 

'■  A.  '  No,  massa  ;  Jesus  promise  to  be  wid  me.' 

"  Q.  '  Where  do  you  think  you  will  go  when  you 
die? 

"A.  '1  tink  I  shall  go  home.' 

*'  Q.  '  But  where  is  the  home  you  mean.' 

"  A.  '  Where  Jesus  is.' 

"  Q.  '  What  do  you  think  of  religion  now  ?'  (At 
this  he  brightened  up). 

"  A.  '  Ah,  massa,  what  become  of  poor  neger,  if 
him  no  hear  religion  ?  What  me  tink '  Me  feci — me 
no  able  to  tell  what  me  feel.  It  good ;  it  make  neger 
happy  to  die.' 

"  Q-  *  Would  you  wish  to  recover  again?' 

"A.  'Me  too  weak.' 

"  Q.  *  Well,  but  if  God  were  to  give  you  your  own 
will,  how  would  you  act  ?' 

"  Ai  '  Why'  n>e  hesitated,  and  replied^ '  no  no 

my  will  no  do  j  me  no  want  my  will — God'a  will  is 
best' " 


3S3 

Mr.  Burchell  adds  the  brief,  but  comprehensive 
testimony, '  He  lived  consistently,  and  died  happily.* 

We  have  already  informed  our  readers,  that,  seve- 
ral years  ago,  Mr.  Burchell,  of  Montego  Bay,  in  con- 
nection with  his  valuable  colleague,  Mr.  Mann,  occa- 
sionally preached  at  Crooked  Spring,  with  very  grat- 
ifying success.  About  1826,  a  church  was  formed 
here,  who,  in  1830,  resolved  on  the  erection  of  a  very 
large  meeting-house ;  and  in  this  latter  year,  Mr.  W. 
W.  Cantlow  became  their  pastor.  We  regret,  how- 
ever, to  add,  that  the  state  of  his  health  has  compelled 
him  to  leave  this  very  promising  station  for  England, 

It  will  be,  probably,  recollected  by  many  of  our 
readers,  that  the  Baptist  mission  in  Jamaica  was  com- 
menced at  Falmouth,  in  1813,  by  Mr.  John  Rowe, 
an  account  of  whose  death  has  been  already  given. 
Various  circumstances  compelled  the  society,  after  his 
removal,  to  withhold  its  aid  from  this  important  town, 
till  about  1826,  when  Messrs.  Burchell  and  Mann 
occasionally  visited  it;  and  in  1827  a  church  was 
formed  of  sixty-seven  members ;  some  of  whom 
ascribed  their  first  serious  impressions  to  Mr.  Rowe's 
ministry.  Mr.  Mann  was,  for  a  short  time,  the  pastor 
of  this  church.  The  following  account  of  the  choice 
of  his  successor,  as  given  by  Mr.  Burchell,  must  be 
considered  interesting : — 

"  Soon  after  the  decease  of  our  excellent  brother, 
Mr.  Mann,  who  was  honored  with  such  signal  success 
in  his  ministry  at  Falmouth,  the  church  proceeded  to 
the  choice  of  another  pastor ;  and  the  mode  in  which 
this  important  business  was  transacted  ought  to  be 
mentioned.  Happy  would  it  be  if  our  churches  at 
home,  on  such  occasions,  uniformly  displayed  so  much 
of  Christian  love  and  unanimity  as  this  society  did, 
which  has  existed  but  a  very  few  years,  and  is  composed, 
for  the  most  part,  of  slaves.  I  called  a  church  meet- 
ing," says  air.  Burchell,  "when  between  four  and  five 
hundred  members  were  present  (special  prayer  meet- 
ings having  been  previously  held).  At  this  meeting, 
I  endeavored  to  impress  on  their  minds  the  importance 
of  being  influenced  by  pure  motives  ;  and,  having  ad- 
dressed them  in  as  conscientious  a  manner  as  I  possi- 
bly could,  I  proposed  Mr.  Knibb,  and  requested  a 
show  of  hands.  I  never  saw  such  a  scene.  The 
whole  church,  to  an  individual,  simultaneously  rose  up, 
and  held  up  both  hands,  and  then  burst  into  tears  ! 
My  feelings  were  overcome,  and  I  wept  with  them. 
This,  I  said,  is  truly  the  Lord's  doing.  Such  a  feeling 
I  never  witnessed  before.     Had  you  and  the  commit- 

of  Providence  is  clear  and  plain,  and  would  have  said 
lo  brother  Knibb/  Gcihou,and  the  Lord  go  with  thee.* 


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BAPTIST  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


"bk'^tfnung  this  unanimous  and  afiectionate  invi- 
Ution  u  a  clear  evidence  of  the  divine  will,  Mr.  Knibb 
removed  to  Falmouth,  though  he  had  much  to  attach 
him  to  the  station  at  Savanna  la  Mar.  The  letters 
since  received  from  him  contain  much  to  awaken  grat- 
itude and  hope." 

The  suborOinate  stations  connected  with  Falmouth 
are  JRto  Bueno,  Stewart'*  Town,  Oxford  and  Cam- 
bridge, and  Arcadia. 

We  proceed  now  to  dwell  on  the  facts  connected 
with  Anotta  Bat.  This  station  was  commenced  by 
Mr.  Ebenezer  Phillips,  who  left  England  with  Mr. 
Fhillipo.  His  ministry  excited  immediate  attention  ; 
an  obvious  improvement  soon  took  place  in  the  morals 
of  many,  and  som ;  e'tperienced  a  saving  change  of 
heart.  A  church  of  forty  members  was  formed  in 
1624  ;  a  school  also  was  established,  and  all  appeared 
prorcismg,  when  death  suddenly  hurried  both  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Phillips  to  an  early  grave.  In  1887,  Mr.  Flood 
succeeded  Mr.  Phillips  in  his  office,  since  which  time 
a  new  chapel  bait  been  erected  ;  but  the  bad  state  of 
Mr.  Flood's  health  has  induced  him  to  return,  for  a 


short  season,  to  his  native  land.     CkarUi  Tovi%  and 
Buff  Bay  are  subordinate  stations  to  AnotU  Bay. 

Port  Mama  is  thr  last  station  in  Jamaica  to  which 
we  can  partreularly  advert.  On  the  return  of  Mr. 
Coultart  from  England,  in  1827,  Mr.  Burtbn,  who 
had  partly  supplied  his  pulpit  during  his  absence, 
was  at  liberty  to  proceed  to  Port  Maria,  where  he 
found  a  few  persons  fully  disposed  to  receive  him 
and  his  message  with  gratitude  and  joy.  Here  he  built 
a  new  meeting-house,  sixty  feet  by  forty,  and  soon 
after,  retiring,  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  Baylis,  whose  la- 
bors have  been  greatly  owned  of  God.  Ora  Cabeua 
and  Bra-  Head  churches  are  affiliated  with  this. 

The  length  to  which  the  accounts  of  the  principal 
stations  on  this  island  have  ahnost  imperceptibly 
extended,  totally  prevents  our  going  into  detail  as 
to  those  at  Ann'i  Bay,  Ocho  Biot,  Savanna  la 
Mar,  Manehioneal,  Lucea,  Fuller' t-Field,  itc.  &c. 
The  state  of  such  of  them  as  form  the  Association 
will  be  seen  in  the  following  table,  printed  by  the 
brethren  on  the  island  ;— 


TABULAR  STATEMENT  OF  THE  BAPTIST  CHURCHES  IN  THE  ISLAND  OF  JAMAICA, 

AS  «»■»  AT  TRB  MEaTl.fa  OF   THE   A»WU*t  ASBOCIATIon,     HBLD   l.f   rALMOUTH,    Olf  THB   riRIT  AND   FITB  FOUOWIHa   DATS 

OF   APRIL,  1831. 

TV  numW  qf  ptrtont  conntded  with  that  churrKu,  denominaUd  Inquirtr*,  it  about  17,000. 


CHURCHES. 


Kingstnn,  Eut  Queen  Swoet, 

^1  Hanover  Street,  .  .  . 

YaUahi, .  .  . 

Smuiisli  Town, 

Moutego  Bay, 

Oumoy'a  Mount, 

Falmouth, 

Anotta  Bay, 

Charlrx  Town, 

Port  Maria, 

Ora  Calieaca, 

Brae  Hea<l 

Mount  Charles, 

Old  Hartmr. 

Haycfl  Haviuina, 
Cr<H>kml  S| 
Port 
Hi.  Ann'i 
Orhu  Rina, 
Savanna  la  Mar, 
FullerVKinld, .  . 
Rio  Bueno, ... 
SK'wtn  ■  Town, , 
Lueea, , 


>kml  Spriiii, 
RnvaL  .  .  .  . 
innVi  Bay, .  . 


Tottl, 


PASTOIta 


Mr.  Cnuliart, 
Mr.  Tinsuii, . 


Mr.  Phil)iiK>,  . 
Mr.  Burrhell, 


Mr.  Knilih, 
Mr.  FIcmhI, 


Mr.  Baylia, 


Mr.  Taylor, . 


Mr.  Cniillow, .  . 
Mr.  Clarke,  .  .  . 
Mr.  Nicliuls,  .  . 


Mr.  tlartlner, .  .  . 
Mr.  Whitehnmo,. 
Mr.  Abbott, .  ,  , '. 


Incnua  during  iIm  Vm. 


114 

tJ7 

57 

117 

370 

.11 

ai(t 
m 
m 

104 
18 
33 

ISO 
ITS* 
88 
33 
91 
IS 
IC 
9 

(n 

80 


1041   393 


11 

47 

:is 

13 
3 

94 

10 
4 

10 


3 
3 

31 
74 


SO 


93 

10 

10 
5 

1 
9 


00 


Ueenue  durini  Uw  Year. 


DM.  M  Mtar    EwhAd 


73 

19 

1 

10 
97 

5 
19 


3 
1 

13 
9 


170 


30 


00 

1 
9 


119 


35 

7 

IC 
11 

9 
14 

4 


111 


CInr 
IncreBM 


90 

30 

103 

l.'ill 

345 

54 

915 

HI 

64 

100 

18 

36 

m 

179 
7H 
91 
59 

m 

10 
9 
S8 
74 
50 


Tolal  Nrnn- 

IHT   of 

If  ember*. 


1031 


9037 

7I» 

103 

1030 

l.'S79 

195 

885 

510 

119 

410 

45 

30 

310 

965 

957 

793 

909 

59 

80 

83 

99 

198 

loe 

_60_ 
10,838 


r  pcTTCTS  asnc: 


3  ssai  sasr  vBBrelu!,  aa  !Jm«  Mk'  lien  ■ 


■  preTKumy  tmfMtma,  up«n  rt«tvMmnslMa. 


JAMAICA. 


9t$ 


This  it,  probably,  the  best  place  to  notice  the  oppo- 
sition with  which  Christian  missions,  and  the  Baptist 
missionaries  especially,  have  had  to  contend  from  the 
kioal  authorities  of  Jamaica.  It  is  quite  consutent 
with  the  principles  and  practice  of  slavery  to  oppose 
Christianity  and  the  extension  of  knowledge ;  we  are 
not,  therefore,  at  all  surprised  to  learn  that  an  unchristian 
and  violen:  spirit  has,  at  different  times,  shown  itself 
•gainst  our  brethren,  which,  but  for  the  determined 
spirit  of  the  British  gdvemment,  in  checking  their  uncon- 
stitutional conduct,  would  have  done  much  to  prevent 
the  good  that  has  been  effected. 

On  the  aad  December,  18S6,  a  consolidated  slave 
law  passed  the  House  of  Assembly,  in  which  several 
clauses  were  introduced  equally  unjust  and  injurious. 
Among  other  restrictions,  a  missionary  was  prohibited, 
under  pain  of  fine  and  imprisonment,  from  receiving 
any  contributions  from  the  negroes  who  attended  his 
ministry.  Application  was  made  to  the  government 
at  home,  who  instantly  disallowed  the  ict,  anc^.  distinct- 
ly avowed  a  fixed  determination  to  allow  no  unneces- 
sary infringement  on  the  religious  liberty  of  any  class 
of  his  majesty's  subjects. 

"  When  it  was  found  that  this  attempt  to  bring  the 
missionaries  under  the  arbitrary  clauses  of  the  slave 
act  had  failed,  a  committee  was  appointed  by  the 
House  of  Assembly  ■  to  inquire  into  the  establishment 
and  proceedings  of  the  sectarians,  and  to  report  there- 
on.' By  this  committee  some  of  our  brethren  were  ex- 
amined in  the  month  of  December,  1826,  having  been 
required  to  attend  at  Spanish  Town  for  that  purpose, 
much  to  their  inconvenience  and  expense ;  soon 
after  which  a  report  was  presented,  from  tlie  commit- 
tee, professing  to  be  founded  on  these  examinations, 
and  the  depositions  of  several  other  persons,  in  which 
charges  are  brought  against  the  missionaries  uf  such  a 
nature  as,  if  true,  would  overwhelm ,  them  with  dis- 
grace and  infamy. 

"  Several  indivi<luals  were  examined  (on  oath,  if  we 
understond  riglitly)  before  this  committee,*  by  whom 
a  report  was  subsequently  made  to  the  House  of  As- 
sembly, gravely  slating,  as  the  result  of  their  investi- 
gations, that  the  principal  object  of  tht  lertnriatu  wat 
to  extort  money  from  their  congregations  by  every 
pouible  pretext,  and  by  the  moti  indecent  expedient! — 
that  they  inculcated  the  doctrines  of  equality  and  the 
rights  of  man,  and  preached  and  taught  sedition, 
•ven  from  the  pulpit — that  they  occasioned  abject  pov- 
triy,  loss  of  comfort,  and  discontent  among  the  slaves 
frequenting  the  chapels,  and  deterioration  of  proper- 

*  Ai  K  •pMlimn  nf  th«  erldriKW  proound  on  Uili  ocouion,  it  ii 
Staled  that  one  o(  iIicm-  wilnpHpt  wu  broiurht  up  br  •  ooniUblc. 
toing  Id  ouatodjT  oil  »  charge  of  aMaull  and  robbery. 


ty  to  their  matters ; — and  that  such  was  theur  outrage- 
ous thirst  for  gain — they  recommended  females  to prot- 
titute  themselves  to  get  money  for  contribution! 

"  In  vain  did  our  brethren  apply  for  a  copy  of  the 
depositions  on  which  the  report  in  question  was  found- 
ed—in vain  did  they  call  on  their  opponents,  through 
the  public  journals,  to  substantiate  the  foul  charges 
brought  against  them.  The  document  was  sent  home, 
with  all  the  formality  of  a  veracious  official  record, 
and  with  express  directions  that  it  should  be  widely 
circulated  through  the  kingdom,  in  order  that  the  Brit- 
ish public  might  learn  the  true  character  of  the  men 
to  whom  it  referred.  These  instructions,  however, 
were  not  obeyed — a  fact  of  itself  sufficient  to  prove 
the  kind  of  estimation  in  which  the  <  Sectarian  Report' 
was  held  by  the  influential  and  well-informed  parties 
in  England  to  whose  care  it  was  intrusted." 

Undismayed  by  this  prudent  check  to  their  hostility, 
the  House  of  Assembly  ventured,  in  December,  1829, 
upon  a  still  bolder  act  of  annoyance.  The  slave  law, 
with  all  its  persecuting  clauses,  was  once  more  reenact' 
ed  ;  and,  as  il  in  defiance  of  the  just  reprobation  with 
which  the  British  government  had  mar'.(ed  those  enact- 
ments, their  severity  was  increased.  Meetings  for 
divine  worship,  by  dissenting  teachers,  were  not  to  be 
held  between  sunset  and  sunrise — a  regulation  which, 
if  it  had  been  carried  into  effect,  would  have  operated 
to  have  destroyed  many  of  the  stations,  and  debarred 
thousands  of  the  poor  negroes  from  the  only  means  to 
which  they  had  access  of  learning  the  truths  connect- 
ed with  their  eternal  salvation.  Urgent  applications 
were  again  made  to  the  British  government,  and  his 
present  majesty,  William  IV.,  in  council,  was  gracious- 
ly pleased  to  follow  the  example  of  his  royal  prede- 
cessor, in  disallowing  the  act  in  question,  thus  afford- 
ing an  auspicious  pledge,  which  subsequent  events 
have  tended  only  to  confirm,  of  the  just  estimation  in 
which  the  British  sovereign  holds  the  civil  and  re- 
ligious liberties  of  his  subjects,  and  of  his  firm  resolution 
to  maintain  them.  When  this  decision  was  made 
known  in  Jamaica,  the  advocates  of  intolerance  felt 
that  it  was  hopeless  to  persevere  in  their  attempts, 
and  the  bill  has  since  passed  the  House  of  Assembly, 
divested  of  those  clauses  which  they  were  so  anxious 
to  introduce.  These  are  evt3nts  in  which  it  becomes 
us  gratefully  to  rejoice,  especially  as  thoy  indicate  the 
watchful  care  of  the  Supreme  and  Universal  Ruler, 
who  guides  all  events  according  to  the  counsel  of  his 
own  will.  May  the  time  soon  arrive  when  every 
other  impediment  to  the  cause  of  righteousness  and 
truth,  in  our  colonies,  shall  be  removed,  and  (he  word 
of  the  Lord  have  free  course  and  be  glorifiod ! 


9^ 


BAPTIST  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


SOUTH  AMERICA. 


In  the  year  1822,  the  attention  of  the  committee 
of  the  Baptist  Missionary  Society  was  directed  to  the 
British  settlement  of  Hondckas,  in  the  bay  of  Mexi- 
co, as  an  eroinendy  important  missionary  station.  A 
missionary  placed  here,  it  was  stated,  would  not  only 
have  access  to  the  negroes  of  the  settlement,  but  to 
the  Musquito  Indians,  who  inhabit  a  large  tract  of 
country  to  the  S.  E.,  and  who  are  very  friendly  to  the 
English.  As  a  free  passage  was  offered  to  a  suitable 
agent  by  a  kind  friend,  Mr.  James  Bourne,  a  student 
at  Bradford,  offered  himself  for  the  service,  and  set 
sail  in  April  of  that  year.     It  was  found,  however, 


that  some  imporUnt  obstacles  presented  themselrea 
to  immediate  success.  Mr.  B.  has  continued  iaithfii]. 
ly  and  constantly  to  preach  the  word,  to  educate  the 
young,  to  distribute  tracts,  and  in  every  possible  way 
to  do  good.  He  has  erected,  partly  with  aid  obtained 
on  the  spot,  a  new  chapel,  has  a  respectable  congrega- 
tion ;  and  notwithstanding  personal  and  domestic  af- 
flictions, and  difficulties  arising  from  human  depravity, 
and  false  religion,  he  has  certainly  scattered  around 
him  great  benefits.  This  gentleman  visited  the  United 
States  in  1827,  and  is  remembered  with  interest  by 
many  of  the  churches. 


SOUTH  AFRICA. 


That  the  English  Baptist  Missionary  Society  are 
desirous  of  extending  theh-  important  labors,  and  of 
widely  diffiisin^  the  blessings  of  the  gospel,  must  have 
been  evident  Trora  the  statements  we  have  already  giv- 
en ;  and  the  following  extract  from  their  Report,  pre- 
sented in  June,  1831,  will  show  that  new  doors  of 
usefulness  are  opening  before  them ;  may  they  enter, 
and  occupy  with  success. 

"  To  this  brief  summary  of  the  state  of  affairs  in  our 
existing  missions,  it  is  proper  to  add  that  some  steps 
have  recently  beeu  taken  towards  occupying  a  new 
station  in  the  very  extensive  field  of  South  Africa. 
Urgent  representations  on  this  subject  have  repeatedly 
been  made  to  the  committee  by  some  friends,  connected 
with  our  denomination,  at  Graham's  Town,  in  the  dis- 
trict of  Albany  ;  and  their  applications  were  powerfully 
seconded  by  missionary  brethren  from  other  societies. 


residing  at  and  near  that  town.  The  committee  were 
at  first  inclined  to  suppose  that  Mr.  Bruckner  might 
remove  thither  with  advantage,  after  he  had  completed 
the  publication  of  the  Javanese  New  TesUment ;  but, 
as  his  views  did  not  coincide  with  tiieir  own,  they 
have  considered  themselves  called  on  to  send  a 
minister  from  this  country ;  the  Rev.  W.  Davies,  lata 
pastor  of  the  church  at  Lake  Lane,  Portsea,  has  de- 
voted himself  to  this  service,  and  will  probably  sail  in 
a  few  weeks.  Should  the  divine  favor  rest  on  this 
new  undertaking,  our  society  will  then  have,  for  the 
first  time,  stations  in  each  nunrter  of  the  heathen 
world.  May  that  blessing  be  dbvoutly  sought,  and  our 
proceedings  at  all  times  be  conducted  in  that  spirit  of 
humility,  self-denial,  and  simple  dependence  upon  di- 
vine aid,  which  !>hall  constitute  a  certain  pledge  that 
it  shall  be  imparted." 


mSTORT    OP    THE    LONDON    MISSION/ RT    SOCIETY. 


CHAPTER    I. 


FORMATION   OP   THE   SOCIETY. 


It  is  now  the  pleasing  task  of  the  historian  to  relate 
the  foi-mation  of  a  society,  which,  desirous  of  merging 
party  names  in  one  grand  combination  for  the  diiilision 
of  divine  light  through  a  benighted  world,  extended 
the  hand  of  cordial  fellowship  to  all  the  genuine 
friends  of  the  Redeemer ;  and  erected  a  banner,  be- 
neath which  both  ministers  and  private  Christians  of 
evangelical  sentiments,  but  of  differr  nt  (denominations, 
might,  without  the  slightest  sacnir  .  of  religious  prin- 
ciple, concentrate  all  their  energies  with  a  view  to  the 
spread  of  the  gospel,  the  exahation  of  Christ,  and  the 
salvation  of  souls. 

A  visit  that  the  Rev.  David  Bogue,  of  Gosport, 
made  to  Br.atol,  in  order  to  supply  the  Tabernacle, 
a -church  erected  by  George  Whitfield,  gave  rise  to 
the  actual  resolution  of  uniting  different  bodies  of 
Christians  in  the  glorious  work.  The  parlor  of  the 
Tabernacle  House  is  called  "  the  cradle  of  the  Mis- 
sionary Society." 

An  Address  to  Evangelical  Dissenters  by  Mr. 
Bogue,  published  in  the  Evangelical  Magazine  for 
September,  1794,  excited  considerable  interest  among 
those  who  were  truly  desirous  of  witnessing  the  ex- 
tension of  the  kingdom  of  Christ ;  and,  after  several 
private  conversations  had  been  held  upon  the  subject, 
the  first  concert!  I  meeting,  with  a  view  to  the  forma- 
tion of  the  society,  took  place  on  the  4th  of  November. 
It  is  said  to  have  consisted  of  "  a  small  but  glowing 
and  harmonious  circle  of  ministers  of  various  con- 
nections and  denominations."  From  this  time,  the 
friends  of  the  perishing  heathen  afipeared  evidently  to 
increase  both  in  numbers  and  coi  diality  ;  and,  in  the 
month  of  January,  1795,  it  was  deemed  expedient  to 
ascertain  the  disposition,  and  to  solicit  the  assistance, 
of  evangelical  ministers  in  the  metropolis.  The  fol- 
lowing "  Address  to  Christian  Ministers,  and  all  other 
Friends  of  Christiar.ily,  on  the  subject  of  missions  to 


the  Heathen,"  was  accordingly  drawn  up,  and  sent  in 
various  directions  as  a  circular ;  and  was  also  inserted, 
about  the  same  time,  in  the  magazine. 

"  The  address  which  appeared  in  ihe  Evangelical 
Magazine  of  last  September,  on  the  subject  of  sending 
missionaries  to  preach  the  gospel  among  Pagan  nations, 
seems  to  have  awakened  considerable  attention.  Many 
acknowledge  the  desirableness  of  the  object ;  some 
lament,  with  tears,  its  having  been  so  long  neglected ; 
and  numbers  only  wait  with  anxiety  for  an  oppor- 
tunity of  exerting  themselves  in  so  glorious  a  cause. 

"  That  something  may  be  done  with  effect,  it  is 
hoped  that  not  only  evangelical  Dissenters  and  Meth- 
odists will  be  found  generally  disposed  to  unite  in 
instituting  a  society  for  this  express  purpose,  but  that 
many  members  of  the  Established  Church,  of  evan- 
gelical sentiments,  and  of  lively  zeal  for  the  cause  of 
Christ,  will  aho  favor  us  with  their  kind  cooperation. 
Indeed,  the  increase  of  union  and  friendly  intercourse 
among  Christians  of  diflferent  denominations  at  home, 
is  one  of  the  happy  effects  which  will  immediately 
flow  from  an  institution  of  this  nature. 

"  In  order  to  the  organization  of  such  a  society,  it 
has  been  proposed  that  a  General  Meeting  of  Minis- 
ters should  be  held  in  London,  early  in  the  ensuing 
summer.  In  the  mean  while,  that  such  a  meeting 
may  be  brought  forward  with  advantage,  it  is  warmly 
wished  that  ministers,  and  others  who  favor  the  design, 
would  immediately  begin  to  exert  themselves  m  their 
particular  spheres. 

"  It  may  be  asked,  tVhat  can  be  done  ?— In  answer 
to  this  inquiry,  the  following  hints  are  suggested  : 

"  Let  each  individual,  who  is  affectionately  sealoui 
in  the  cause,  take  every  proper  opportunity,  by  con- 
versation   and    hv  luttor    In  on<t.....«.    •_ • 

_    _.   . _ ..,,,„. JJJJ.J._.J.J_ 

the  same  sacred  fire  to  others.     Let  him  try  to  im- 
press his  friends,  not  only  with  the  general  importance 


LONDON  MISStONAItY  SOCIETY. 


of  this  business,  but  with  the  idea  of  its  being  practi- 
cable and  expedient,  in  concurrenco  with  others,  to 
do  something  in  it  now.  And  where  the  force  of 
ugdment  seems  to  take  effect,  let  him  further  endeavor 
to  persuade  his  friends  to  come  forward  with  pecuniary 
support  By  all  the  methods  which  a  prudent  zeal 
can  suggest,  let  him  make  up  as  large  a  list  as  possible 
of  respectable  names  and  subscriptions.  Proceeding 
in  this  manner,  it  is  impossible  to  say  what  extensive 
success  may  soon  follow  the  exertions  even  of  a  few 
individuals.  To  such  as  shall  subscribe,  it  may  not 
be  amiss  to  hint  the  impropriety  of  diminishing  their 
former  liberality  to  other  religious  institutions,  in  order 
to  extend  it  to  this  new  undertaking.  The  Lord  does 
not  approve  of  '  robbery  for  burnt-offering.*  What  is 
given,  should  either  be  saved  from  some  article  of 
unnecessary  expenditure,  or  taken  from  what  would 
otherwise  be  laid  up  in  store. 

"  By  such  eiibrts  as  these,  a  Christian  may  engage 
the  support  of  his  friends  in  behalf  of  this  important 
enterprise  ;  but  never  let  it  be  forgotten,  that  it  be- 
longeth  to  '  Him  who  hath  the  key  of  David,  who 
openeth  and  no  man  shutteth,'  to  open  '  a  great  and 
effectual  door'  for  the  propagation  of  his  ,^pel.  To 
Htm,  therefore,  let  every  eye  be  directed !  The 
great  mean  of  obtaining  his  blessing  on  our  benevolent 
exertions  is  prayer.  Perhaps  God's  putting  it  in  our 
hearts  to  engage  in  this  excellent  design,  is  an  answer 
to  the  prayers  of  many  of  his  people  for  a  series  of 
ages.  Let  us  then  take  encouragement  to  stir  up 
ourselves,  and  others  in  our  several  connections,  to 
extraordinary  prayer,  for  the  pouring  out  of  the  Spirit 
from  on  high,  to  direct  and  prosper  this  great  attempt. 
For  this  pur]H>se,  the  laudable  example  of  our  brethren 
in  Warwickshire  is  worthy  of  general  notice  ;  who 
have  set  apart  the  first  Monday  of  every  month,  at 
seven  o'clock  in  the  evening,  as  a  season  of  united 
prayer  for  the  success  of  such  attempts  to  spread  the 
gospel  through  the  world.  '  Ye  that  make  mention 
of  the  Lord,  keep  not  silence  ;  give  him  no  rest  till 
he  establish  and  make  Jerusalem  a  praise  in  the 
earth.' 

"  Already  has  Divine  Providence  begun  to  smile  on 
this  infant  design.  In  the  Evangclicil  Magazine  for 
November,  ont  gentleman  promises  £100  to  the 
society,  as  soon  as  it  is  established  ;  and  £500  more 
are  promised  by  another  gentleman,  for  the  equipment 
of  the  first  six  missionaries  to  the  South  Sea  islands. 
The  warmest  gratitude  is  duo  to  tlicno  two  generous 
friends  of  the  Christian  interest  in  heathen  lands,  and 
their  animating  example  is  worthy  of  being  held  up 
to  general  imitation. 

"  But  the  ardor  ol  our  joy  is  somewhat  damped  by 
the  opposite  consideration,  that  even  among  serious 


and  opulent  professors  of  religk>n,  $ome  are  to  be 
found  of  a  timid,  cold,  contracted  spirit,  who  lose  all 
their  zeal  in  a  false  prudential  delicacy,  and  who  are 
ever  crying  out,  '  A  lion  is  in  the  way  1'  when  any 
benevolent  scheme  is  projected,  so  arduous  and  exten* 
sive  as  this  before  us.  With  such  aa  object  m  view, 
obstacles  and  opposition  are  to  be  expected ;  but  what 
difficulty  presents  itself  in  this  case,  which  by  sove- 
reign grace  heretofore  has  not  been,  and  may  still  be 
surmounted  ?  Even  the  temper  of  the  times,  which 
some  would  insinuate  as  unfovorable  to  our  views,  is, 
however  specious,  no  valid  objection.  That  divine 
oracle  is  a  sufficient  reply,  'He  that  observeth  the 
winds  will  not  sow.'  Besides,  the  faithful  page  of 
history  tells  us,  that  times  of  the  most  gloomy  and 
unpromising  aspect  have,  by  the  wisdom  and  power 
of  the  great  Head  of  the  church,  <  rather  tended  to 
the  furtherance  of  the  gospel.'  Was  it  not  in  the 
reigns  of  Tiberius,  Caligula,  and  Nero,  that '  so  mightily 
grew  the  word  of  the  Lord,  and  pievailed  ?' 

"  What  remains,  then,  but  that  (laying  aside  all 
excuses)  we  put  our  hand  to  the  work  with  vigor  and 
speed.  Perhaps  some  wish  to  wait  till  they  see  their 
seniors  go  before  them ;  but  this  is  a  false  modesty. 
Procrastination  ai^ues  a  torpid  indifference.  To  be 
'forward  to  every  good  work,'  rauks  high  both  as  a 
ministerial  and  Christian  virtue.  A  few  successive 
moments  will  terminate  our  present  life,  and  with  it, 
all  opportunities  of  '  serving  the  will  ol  God  in  our 
generation,'  or  of  '  seeking  tb*?  profit  of  many,  that 
ihcy  may  be  saved.'  Every  argument  that  recom- 
mends the  object  at  all,  tends  also  to  stimulate  to 
instant  exertion.  The  glory  of  God— the  constraining 
influence  of  redeeming  love — the  deplorable  condition 
of  countless  millions,  who  never  heard  of  the  great 
salvation,  and  '  are  ready  to  perish  for  lack  of  knowl- 
edge'—our  awful  responsibility  for  the  use  we  make 
of  the  privileges  and  talents  intrusted  to  us — and 
finally,  the  exalted  honor  and  felicity  awaiting  those 
who  <  shall  have  turned  many  to  righteousness' — are 
powerful  incentives  to  speed  and  diligence  in  this 
noble  design. 

"  It  is  pleasing  to  anticipate  the  wide-extended 
happiness  of  heathens  wher.  converted  to  Christ,  and 
brought  '  to  know  the  joyful  sound  ;'  an  anticipation 
which,  by  the  smiles  of  Heaven  upon  our  endeavors, 
we  may  by  and  by  see  partly  realised.  As  yet,  it  is 
only  matter  of  prayer  and  contemplation — but  if  many 
hands  set  early  to  the  work,  who  knows,  but  before  we 
ourselves  are  numbered  with  the  dead,  we  may  have 
cause  to  adopt  that  gratulatory,  triumphant  song  of  the 
apostle — <  Now,  thanks  be  to  God,  who  ahvays  causcth 
us  to  triumph  in  Chntt,  and  by  us  makutn  manii'osi 
the  savor  of  his  knowledge  in  every  place.' 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY, 


"  Yet  a  little  while,  and  the  latter-day  glory  shall 
chine  fti:th  with  a  reviving  splendor ;  when,  according 
to  the  predictions  of  the  infalHblo  word,  '  the  knowl- 
edge of  the  Lord  shall  cover  the  earth  as  the  waters 
cover  the  sta :  his  name  shall  endure  for  ever :  his 
name  shall  be  continued  as  long  as  the  sun :  men 
shall  be  blessed  in  him  ;  and  all  nations  shall  call  him 
blessed.'  " 

On  the  15th  of  the  same  month,  a  respectable  body 
of  mmisters  met  av  the  Castle  and  Falcon  inn.  Alders- 
gate  street,  and  appointed  a  committee  of  correspond- 
ence, jor  the  purpose  of  collecting  the  sentiments  of 
their  brethren  in  the  country,  relative  to  the  great 
plan  under  contemplation  ;  and  to  the  circular  letter 
drawn  up  on  that  occasion,  such  answers  were  receiv- 
•4  i  ii  '.niious  parts,  as  aftbrded  the  greatest  encour- 
agement. One  minister  commences  his  reply  by  say- 
ing, "  Your  kind  letter  I  consider  as  an  answer  from 
above.  It  has  long  been  my  wish,  my  prayer,  and 
my  hope,  that  God  would  send  forth  his  light  and  his 
truth  among  the  poor  heathen.  And  for  the  promo- 
tion of  this  cause  I  will  plead,  preach,  and  spare  no 
exertion."  Another  observes,  "  We  have  all  done 
too  little  for  the  souls  of  men,  and  the  honor  of  our 
great  Master.  We  have  blessed  ourselves  in  tlie  pos- 
session of  gospel  privileges,  and  have  almost  forgotten 
our  fellow  men,  in  other  parts  of  the  world,  sunk  in 
sin,  and  perishing  in  horrible  darkness.  Verily,  we 
have  sinned  in  this  matter.  May  we  be  forgiven,  and 
may  we  do  so  no  more  !  Let  us  all  rise  up  to  the  work 
of  God,  and  he  will  bless  the  labor  of  our  hands." 

As  it  was  now  sufficiently  obvious  that  the  sparks 
of  heavenly  zeal,  wliicli  had  for  a  long  time  been  se- 
cretly cherished  in  tiie  bosoms  of  God's  servants,  were 
ready  to  burst  forth  into  a  flame,  it  only  remained  to 
conrantrate  the  feelings  of  pious  benevolence,  and  to 
form  a  regularly  organized  plan  of  combined  operation. 
A  general  meeting  was,  therefore,  appointed  to  be 
held  in  the  month  of  September,  and  the  following 
circular  letter  was  extensively  dispersed  among  minis- 
ters, both  in  town  and  in  the  country, 

"  Detr  Brother  in  the  Lord, 

"  You  have  most  probably  been  made  ac- 
quainted that  some  of  your  fellow-laborers  in  the  gos- 
pel of  Christ,  of  different  denominations,  practising 
infant  baptism,  have  united  for  tiie  purpose  of  estab- 
lishing a  society  to  support  missions  in  heathen  and 
unenlightened  countries.  The  committee,  whose 
names  are  subscribed  to  this  address,  compose  a  part 
of  the  number  who  have  mot  for  several  months  past 

In     I  ./\«i#tf%n       tr«  aaAlf    (Iim    I    «xn<l*a     ^Ibu.^*!^.,      ., I      1.1 * 

— ,   — _    _...._    -.itTijlit-tl    HiJU     UIC33mg 

on  this  benevolent  design.     Though  our  plan  is  dis- 

incl  from  the  undertakings  of  the  Moravian  Brethren, 

Vol.  L— Nos.  27  &t  88,  44 


dd9 

and  the  churches  wlio  hold  the  necessity  of  adult  im- 
mersion, we  are  far  from  opposing  or  disapproving  their 
laudable  endeavors  ;  on  the  contrary,  we  applaud  their 
zeal,  and  rejoice  in  their  success,  accounting  it  our 
duty  to  imitate  their  truly  primitive  example.  At  the 
same  time,  it  is  our  desire  to  attempt  an  improvement 
of  the  plan  on  which  they  have  proceeded,  by  an  ex- 
tension of  its  limits,  both  in  the  foundation  and  super- 
structure of  the  intended  edifice.  We  therefore  ear- 
nestly invite  all  who  hold  the  truth  in  love,  to  unite 
in  exertions  which  may  hereafter  be  found  extensively 
successful. 

"Early  in  the  present  year,  we  wrote  to  several 
ministers  in  the  various  counties  of  England,  soliciting 
their  cooperation,  and  requesting  them  to  make  known 
our  communications  in  their  respective  vicinities  and 
connections.     A  small  printed  address  has  been  also 
widely  circulated ;  and,  through   the  medium  of  the 
Evangelical  Magazine,  the  subject  has  been  frequent- 
rly  recommended  to  general  attention.   By  the  answers 
received,  both  from  individuals  and  associated  minis- 
ters, our  expectations   are  exceedingly  flattered  ;  as 
they  contain  expressions  of  the  most  lively  pleasure, 
with  which  our  brethren  concur  in  our  design,  and  also 
assurances  of  their  determination  to  afford  us  their 
most  strenuous  support.     At  length,  it  has  been  re- 
solved to  hold  a  general  meeting  in  London,  on  the 
22d,  23d,  and  24th  days  of  September,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  forming  a  permanent  society,  and  deciding 
upon  the  best  mode  of  carrying  our  wishes  into  full 
effect.     In  prospect  of  this  solemn  assembly,  we  ad- 
dress you,  dear  brother,  as  one  who,  we  trust,  feels  no 
less  interested  than  any  of  us,  in  the  advancement  of 
the  kingdom  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour.     The  success 
of  the  attempt   appears,  under   God,  to  be   almost 
wholly  with  the  ministers  of  Jesus,  and  where  they 
lead,  their  flocks  will  probably  follow— what  Mey  have 
faith  and  love  to  undertake,  tiie  people  will  easily  find 
means  to  execute.     For  our  own   parts,  we  do  not 
imagine  that  the  zeal  of  gospel  ministers  will  be  found 
wanting,  as  they  know  and  believe  that  the  kingdom 
of  their  I^rd  is  already  universal  in  point  of  right, 
and  must  hereafter  become  so  in  fact.     We  hope, 
dear  brother,  that  you,  in  particular,  honored  with  the 
fellowship  of  this  ministry,  are  ready  to  stand  amo 
the  foremost  in  whatever  way  the  Lord  is  pleased 
call  you.     Deeming  it  inexcusable  to  remain  inactit 
we  have  done,  and  through  grace  will  continue  to 
what  we  can.     We  now  apply  to  you  for  assistance 
wo   put  the  cause  into  your  hands — into  yours,  as 
much  as  any  man's,— trusting  that  it  will  not  fail  for 
want  01  your  support  ;  ain!  iliat  if  it  should  stop  short 
of  its  great  end,  it  will  be  as  far  beyond  your  station 
as  your  unwearied  endeavors  can  advance  it. 


m 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


"  We  request  you,  dear  brother,  to  make  the  con- 
gregation over  which  the  Lord  hath  placed  you,  ac- 
quainted with  our  design,  and  to  recommend  it  ear- 
nestly to  their  serious,  devotional,  and  practical  regard. 
Improve  every  opportunity  your  situation  affords  of 
conferring  with  your  neighboring  brethren,  upon  the 
best  means  of  strengthening  our  hands  in  this  good 
work.  Where  congregations  cannot  depute  their  min- 
ister to  assist  at  our  deliberations,  we  earnestly  recom- 
mend that  such  as  are  associated  together  will  delegate, 
at  least,  one  of  their  number  for  that  purpose  ;  and 
others,  no  doubt,  will  help  us  by  their  intercessions  at 
the  throne  of  grace. 

"After  all,  the  chief  difficulty  will  be  to  find 
proper  missionaries — men  of  God,  full  of  faith,  and  of 
the  Holy  Ghost.  We  expect,  however,  to  hear  from 
many  places,  that  the  Lord  has  been  stirring  up  the 
hearts  of  fit  persons  to  this  glorious  work.  Permit  us 
to  ask,  Is  there  among  your  acquaintance  any  one  de- 
sirous to  take  advantage  of  the  opportunity  which,  we 
trust,  will  shortly  be  furnished,  to  become  instrument- 
al in  conveying  the  glad  tidings  of  redemption  into 
the  regions  of  the  shadow  of  death  ?  Your  own  judg- 
ment, and  that  of  your  friends,  as  to  the  best  manner 
of  proceeding,  in  order  to  find  such  instruments,  will 
be  highly  acceptable. 

"  If  it  please  the  great  I^ord  of  the  harvest  to  send 
forth  many  laborers  into  the  wide-extended  field  of 
the  heathen  world,  considerable  funds  will  be  neces- 
sary, that  the  most  distant  climes  may  be  visited  with 
the  fulness  of  the  blessing  of  the  gospel  of  Christ. 
It  is,  therefore,  desirable  to  form  some  estimate  of  what 
can  be  done,  in  the  various  Christian  societies  that  give 
attention  to  this  call.  If  each  congregation  contribute 
something,  however  small  the  ability  of  many  may  be, 
the  aggregate  amount  will  be  considerable.  Uy  the 
more  affluent,  a  due  regard,  we  hope,  will  be  paid  to 
the  example  of  princely  generosity  already  given  by 
some  who  have  set  their  shoulders  to  this  sublime 
work. 

"  The  time  of  the  proposed  meeting  speedily  ap- 
proaches. What  your  hand  finds  to  do,  dear  brother, 
do  it  with  all  your  might.  Millions  of  immortal  souls 
call  upon  us  for  the  word  of  salvation.  Thehonorof 
the  holy  and  blessed  Redeemer  is  bleeding  in  every  cli- 
mate, through  the  crimes  of  \vick(3d  men  who  assume 
the  Christian  name.  What  ought  to  be  our  feelings  and 
exertions  ?  Shall  we  not  liope  that  the  age  of  cold  in- 
difference is  past,  and  that  the  Spirit  of  Christ  has  kindled 
in,  our  hearts  an  unextinguisliable  flame  of  love  to  God 
and  man  ?  May  he  guide  and  prosper  all  your  labors 
of  love  among  the  people  of  your  immedlutn  chante» 
and  smile  upon  whatever  you  undertake  for  the  fur- 
therance of  this  grand  object. 


"  Commending  both  it  and  you  to  his  grapious  pat- 
ronage, we  remain  your  affectionate  brethren  and 
servants  for  Jesus'  sake, 

"  Joseph  Brooksbank,    John  Re}molds, 
"  John  Eyre,  WiHiam  Smith, 

"  Samuel  Greatheed,      James  Steven, 
"  John  Love,  Alexander  Waugh, 

«  W.  F.  Piatt,  Matthew  Wilks. 

"  P.  S.  As  the  genera!  concurrence  in  the  formation 
of  the  plan  is  an  object  much  to  be  desired,  we  shall  be 
happy  to  see  you  among  us ;  hoping  to  derive  pleasure 
from  your  company,  and  assistance  firom  your  talents." 

On  Monday  evening,  September  21,  a  consultation 
of  the  friends  of  the  infant  institution  was  held  at  the 
Castle  and  Falcon,  and  the  numerous  and  highly  re- 
spectable assembly  of  ministers  and  others  convened 
on  that  occasion,  exhibited  an  aspect  of  united  serious- 
ness, ardor  and  cordiality. 

Sir  Egerton  Leigh,  Bart.,  having  been  called  to  the 
chair,  Mr.  Boden,  of  Henley,  offered  up  a  solemn  and 
appropriate   prayer;    Mr.  Steven,  of  Crown  court, 
gave  a  concise  account  of  the  measures  which  had  been 
already  adopted ;  and  Mr.  Love,  of  Artillery  street,  who 
had  acted  as  secretary  to  the  committee  of  correspond- 
ence, read  a  number  of  interesting  lettera  from  the 
country,  which  served  to  demonstrate  that  the  sympa- 
thies, both  of  ministers  and   private  Christians,  had 
already  been  excited,  "  from  east  to  west,  and  from 
north  to  south,"  on  behalf  of  the  poor  and  perishing 
heathen.     The  Rev.  Dr.  Haweis,  of  Aldwinkle,  next 
addressed  the  meeting,  on  the  practicability  of  finding 
suitable  missionaries,  and  read  some  pleasing  commu- 
nications from  persons  who  had  generously  offered  to 
devote  themselves  to  this  arduous  service.     And  after 
the  important  resolution  had  been  unanimously  passed 
for  establishing  a  society  forthwith,  for  f'le  purpose  of 
sending  the  gospel  to  heathen  and  other  unenlighten- 
ed countries,  the  Rev.  J.  Eyre,  of  Homeiton,  read 
the  sketch  of  a  plan,  which  had  been  prepared  by  the 
committee,  and  which  was  now  determined  to  be  laid 
before  the  general  meeting  on  the  cnfiuing  day.     Sub- 
scription books  were  then  opened  ;  the  thanks  of  the 
meeting  were  voted  to  the  ministers  who  had  sanction- 
ed the  projected  design,  by  their  presence  or  episto- 
lary communications  ;  to  the  gentlemen  of  the  com- 
mittee who  had  drawn  up  the  plan  ;  and  to  the  chair- 
man, for  his  polite  attention  to  the  business  of  the 
evening.     The  whole  was  concluded  with  prayer  by 
the  Rev.  Rowland  Hill ;  and  the  assembly  broke  up 
with  a  feeling  of  delight,  "  which,"  it  has  justly  been 
remsfked. "  the  hisrhs^s!  sTrfiti^slinii  f^f  s^nssssltiv  s?s- 
ricc ,  ambition,  or  party  leal ,  could  never  have  inspired." 
The   following  day,  t  very  large  congregation  u 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


sembled  at  Spa-fields  chapel,  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  Ha- 
weis  delivered  a  highly  animating  discourse  from  Mark 
xvi.  15,  16.  At  the  conclusion  of  the  public  worship, 
a  numerous  body  of  ministers  and  lay  brethren,  in  the 
area  of  the  chapel,  formed  themselves  into  a  society, 
in  the  presence  of  a  multitude  of  spectators,  who 
tarried  to  witness  this  interesting  part  of  the  proceed- 
ings, and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Kingsbury,  of  Southampton, 
was  chosen  to  be  president  of  the  meeting.  After 
prayer  by  the  chairman,  the  Rev.  J.  Eyre  introduced 
the  plan  which  had  been  prepared  for  the  considera- 
tion of  this  meeting ;  and,  after  it  had  been  delibe- 
rately discussed,  and  in  a  few  instances  altered  or 
corrected,  it  was  unanimously  adopted.  In  the  even- 
ing, a  second  service  was  held  at  the  Scots'  church,  in 
Crown  court,  Covent  Garden  ;  and  a  most  appropri- 
ate sermon  was  preached  by  the  Rev.  G.  Burder,  to 
whose  invaluable  services  and  unremitting  exertions 
the  Missionary  Society  has,  for  many  years,  been  un- 
der the  deepest  obligations. 

On  Wednesday  and  the  following  day,  four  other 
solemn  assemblies  for  worship  were  successively  held 
at  Haberdashers'  Hall,  the  Tabernacle,  Surry  Chap- 
el, and    Tottenham-court  Chapel ;  where  the  great 
cause  of  missions  was  pleaded  with  the  utmost  solem- 
nity, ardor,  and  affection,  by  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Great- 
heed,  Hey,  Hill,  and  Bogue  ;  and  where  the  unction 
of  the  Holy  Spirit  appeared  to  be  poured  out  in  a 
peculiar  manner,  both  upon  the  ministers  and  the  peo- 
ple.    Every  opportunity,  indeed,  seemed   to  be  "  a 
time  of  refreshing  from  the  presenceof  the  Lord  ;"— 
an  enlargement  of  heart  was  felt  by  many,  who,  in 
former  times,  had  scarcely  given  a  thought  to  the  state 
of  the  perishing  heathen ;  and  the  benevolent  offer- 
ings of  the  hand  were,  in  many  instances  accompanied 
with  the  fervent  prayers  of  the  soul,  that  this  new  at- 
tempt to  illumine  and  evangelize  a  dark  and  sinful 
world,  might  be  abundantly  owned  and  blessed,  to  the 
augmentation  of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom,  and  the 
deliverance  of  immortal  souls  from  the  cruel  thraldom 
of  Satanic  bondage. 

"  The  unanimity  and  fervor  of  the  assembly,  on  en- 
tering on  this  greatest  of  all  schemes,  the  evangelizing 
of  the  world,  created  bursts  of  joy  which  nothing  could 
express  but  tears.  The  Christian  world  seemed  to 
awake  as  from  a  dream,  wondering  that  they  could 
have  been  so  long  asleep,  while  the  groans  of  a  dying 
world  were  calling  upon  them  for  the  gospel  of  Jesus 
Christ.  Another  consideration  that  rendered  these 
seasons  unspeakably  delightful,  was  the  visible  union 
of  Christians  of  all  denominations ;  who,  for  the  first 

tune.  fnriri>ltinir  thotr  ni>»..  „.«:...!: ■  .-  ■•.. 

= 1 ;  i"-jvrin;tr3  Sim  jjartiajities, 

assembled  in  the  same  place,  sang  the  same  hymns,  unit- 
ed m  the  same  prayers,  and  felt  themselves  one  in  Christ. 


331 

"  This  sentiment  was  so  universal,  that  when  Mr. 
Bogue,  in  the  course  of  his  sc.mon,  said,  *  We  ar« 
called,  this  evening,  to  the  funeral  of  bigotry ;  and  I 
hope  it  will  be  buried  so  deep  as  never  to  rise  again,' 
the  whole  vast  body  of  people  manifested  their  con- 
currence, and  could  scarcely  refrain  from  one  gen- 
eral shout  of  joy.  Such  a  scene  was  perhaps  never 
beheld  in  our  world  ;  and  afforded  a  glorious  earnest 
of  that  nobler  assembly,  where  we  shall  meet  all  the 
redeemed,  and,  before  the  throne  of  the  Lamb,  shall 
smg,  as  in  the  last  hymn  of  the  service,  <  Crown  him, 
crown  him,  crown  him  Lord  of  all.'  "• 

In  the  afternoon  of  Friday,  September  25,  the  gen- 
eral  meeting  was  convened,  for  the  last  time,  at  the 
Castle  and  Falcon,  in  Aldersgate  street.     The  Rev. 
Mr.  Percy  having  been  called  to  the  chair,  and  the 
blessing  of  the  Almighty  solemnly  invoked,  Joseph 
Hardcastle,Esq.,was  nominated  to  fill  the  office  of  treas- 
urer to  the  new  society ;  and  though  the  modesty  of 
that  excellent  man  threw  some  objections  in  the  way, 
these  were  soon  overruled,  and  he  was  elected  with 
the  greatest  unanimity.    The  meeting  then  proceeded 
to  the  election  of  twenty-five  directors,  when  the  fol- 
lowing ministers  and  lay  gentlemen  were  unanimously 
chosen ;  the  Reverend  Messrs.  Boden,  Bogue,  Brooks- 
bank,  Burder,  Eyre,  Greatheed,  Haweis,  Hey,  Hill, 
Lambert,  Leigh,  Love,  Mends,  Parsons,  Piatt,  Rey- 
nolds, Steven,  Waughf  and  Wilks ;  and  Messrs.  Foys- 
ter,  Neal,   Stokes,  West,  John  Wilson,  and  Thomas 
Wilson.     To  this  list  were  afterwards  added,  with  the 
entire  approbation  of  the  meeting,  the  Rev.  Messrs. 
Audley  and  Saltern,  and  Messrs.  Alday,  Campbell, 
Cowie,  Steven,  end  Taylor ;  all  of  whom  were  nomi- 
nated by  the  directors  previously  chosen.     The  Rev. 
Mr.  Love  and  Mr.  Shrubsole  were  afterwards  appoint- 
ed secretaries  to  the  society;  and  the  meeting  conclud- 
ed, as  it  had  commenced,  with  unanimity,  prayer, and 
praise. 


n*.^'""°i!^°C  ""^  ^^  ^""'^  ^«"«'  °  ^'  ^y  •''«'"  Bennett, 
U.  D.,  p.  179,  London  edition. 

t  It  ought  to  be  recorded,  that  the  Rev.  Dr.  Waugh  had  the  hon- 
or  to  be  tlie  framer  of  Uie  fitndamental  principle  of  Oie  London 
MiMionary  Society.  Thi»  rcnolution,  which  ia  prewrved  in  the 
recorda  of  the  »ciety  in  his  own  hand- writing,  ia  aa  follows ;— "  Aa 
the  union  of  Qoda  people  of  varioua  denominations,  in  carrying 
on  thia  great  work,  is  a  moat  desirable  object ;  ao,  to  prevent,  if  poa- 
aible,  any  cause  of  future  dissension,  it  is  declared  to  be  a  flmda- 
menUl  principle  of  the  Missionary  Society,  that  our  deaign  ia  not 
to  send  Presbyterianism,  Independency,  Epiaoopaoy,  or  any  other 
form  of  church  order  and  government  (about  which  there  may  be 
a  diflerence  of  opinion  among  serious  persons),  but  the  glorioua 
gospel  of  the  blessed  God,  to  the  heathen;  and  it  shall  be  left  (aa 
it  ought  to  be  left)  to  the  minds  of  the  persona  whom  God  may  coll 
into  the  feUowship  of  his  Son  fVom  among  them,  to  assume  for  them- 
_!t=s  r-K-h  Tvtta  m  church  gGTcmmeiil  ■■  lu  Uieiu  ahoi!  appear 
moat  agreeable  to  the  word  of  God."— JTsmoira  qf  Iht  Ret.  JlUxMnitr 
Waugk,  D.  D.,  »y  Rm>.  Jamei  Hay,  M.  .4.,  and  Ret.  Henry  Btlfrage 
D.  D   p.  sua,  London  ediUon,  1630.  »      v  "» 


f^ 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


CHAPTER   II. 


MISSION    IN    THE   SOUTH   SEA   ISLANDS. 


OTAHEITE* 


Previous  to  the  dissolution  of  the  first  general 
meeting  of  the  Missionary  Society,  the  directors  had 
resolved,  in  humble  dependence  on  the  aid  of  their 
Divine  Master,  to  commence  their  operations  by  a 
mission  to  the  islands  of  the  Pacific  ocean,  which  had 
been  brought  to  light  in  the  voyages  of  discovery 
made  by  command  of  his  majesty  George  the  Third ; 
■nd  which,  however  uninviting  to  the  ambitious  pro- 
jects of  the  warrior,  and  the  anxious  speculations  of 
commerce,  seemed  to  present  an  open  door  for  the  in- 
traduction  of  the  gospel  to  a  people  who  were  in  the 
most  deplorable  state  of  ignorance,  and  whose  beauti- 
ful country  was  literally  filled  with  the  habitations  of 
cruelty.  With  this  view,  subscriptions  were  raised  to 
a  considerable  extent ;  a  committee  of  examination 
was  formed  ;  a  number  of  zealous  persons  expressed 
their  willingness  to  consecrate  the  remainder  of  their 
days  to  the  instruction  of  the  heathen ;  and  on  the 
lOth  of  August,  1796,  thirty  missionaries,  with  six 
vomen  and  three  children,  embarked  at  London,  on 
board  the  Duff,  a  vessel  purchased  by  the  society  for 
the  sum  of  five  thousand  pounds,  and  intended  to  be 
commanded  by  captain  Wilson,  a  gentleman  who  had 
for  some  years  retired  to  aflluence  and  ease  from  the 
East  India  service,  but  who  voluntarily  tendered  his 
assistance  on  this  highly  interesting  occasion.! 

A  gentle  breeze  springing  up  from  the  west-north- 
wost,  the  mariners  weighed  anchor,  and  hoisted  the 
missionary  flag  at  the  mizzen  top-gallant-mast  head  ; 
three  silver  doves  on  a  purple  field,  bearing  olive 
branches  in  their  bills.  Multitudes  of  pious  persons 
had  been   previously  flw^king  around  the  vessel  in 


*  This  iiluid  i*  now  uiually  called  Tahiti,  and  ii  lo  dciigntled 
by  the  govrrnmcnt  uid  tlic  miuinnuira. 

f  Thf  miMionary  bund  coniiited  of  llic  fnllowtng  individuaU  :— 
fonr  ordained  niiniitrn,  a  aurgeon,  and  twenty-fire  otiier  aettlen 
or  miMionaries,  being  pioua  peraona  who  had  previoualr  been  en- 
gaged in  buaineaa  of  difierent  kinda,  and  were  highly  neceaaary  to 
impart  the  principlea  and  habila  of  eivilitation  to  tlia  South  Sea 

Botton  edition,  18JN. 


boats,  to  take  their  leave ;  and  as  the  heralds  of  di- 
vine mercy  sailed  down  the  river,  singing  the  praises 
of  their  exalted  Saviour,  the  scene  became  more  deep- 
ly aflfecting.  The  sailors  in  the  different  ships  which 
they  passed,  viewed  them  with  silent  astonishment, 
whilst  the  serious  people  who  had  assembled  on  each 
side  of  the  river,  waving  their  hats,  bade  these  servants 
of  God  a  long  and  affectionate  adieu.  From  Graves- 
end,  Chatham,  and  Sheerness,  many  of  the  friends  of 
the  institution  met  the  vessel,  bringing  with  them,  ia 
token  of  affection,  supplies  of  poultry,  and  such  other 
stores  as  they  considered  might  be  acceptable. 

On  their  arrival  at  Spithead,  the  wife  of  one  of  the 
lay  missionaries,  having  suffered  severely  from  sea- 
sickness, was  induced  to  abandon  the  prosecution  of 
the  voyage,  and,  at  her  urgent  request,  was  set  on  shore. 
Her  husband  was  evidently  grieved  and  disappointed 
in  the  frustration  of  an  object  on  which  he  had  fixed 
his  mind  ;  but  the  directors  considered  it  would  be 
highly  improf.er  to  separate  man  and  wife,  and  he  was 
accordingly  sent  from  the  ship  with  the  suffering  and 
dejected  invalid.  Here,  also,  James  Cover,  son  of 
one  of  the  ordained  missionaries,  died,  in  the  last 
stage  of  a  consumption,  and  was  committed  to  the 
silent  tomb,  till  the  morning  of  the  resurrection. 

At  Portsmouth,  the  Duff  was  detained  nearly  a 
month,  whilst  waiting  for  a  convoy.  This  delay,  how- 
ever, though  extremely  mortifying  in  the  first  instance, 
was  productive  of  beneficial  consequences  to  the  mis- 
sion ;  as  it  afforded  the  most  satisfactory  proof  of  the 
steadiness  of  the  persons  engaged,  and  enabled  them 
to  procure,  from  a  friendly  clergyman,  an  authentic 
detail  of  the  transactions  of  the  mutineers  at  Otaheite, 
during  an  abode  of  about  two  years,  together  with  an 
interesting  account  of  the  country,  and  a  vocabulary 
sufficiently  copious  to  supply  the  missionaries  with 
the  rudiments  of  the  language,  and  to  furnish  them 
with  a  variety  of  such  phrases  as  would  be  most  abso- 
lutely necesaiiry  in  the  ccmmescement  of  en  inter* 
course  with  the  natives. 


OTAHEITE. 


333 


At  length,  after  various  delays  and  disappointments, 
our  missionaries  sailed  from  England  on  the  25th  of 
Sepitember,  and,  af\er  a  safe  and  pleasant  passage 
of  about  seven  weeks,  arrived  in  the  harbor  of  Rio 
Janeiro,  on  the  coast  of  Brazil.  Here  they  refitted  their 
rigging,  laid  in  stores  of  water,  wine,  live  stock,  &c. 
and  procured  a  variety  of  seeds  and  plants,  which,  it 
was  supposed,  might  be  successfully  cultivated  in  Ota- 
heite.  They  then  resumed  their  voyage,  intending  to  go 
round  by  cape  Horn ;  but  they  met  with  such  contrary 
gales,  and  were  repeatedly  exposed  to  such  imminent 
peril,  that  the  captain  relinquished  his  original  plan,  and 
determined  to  take  the  eastern  passage,  though  he  was 
aware  that  to  reach  Otaheite  by  the  nearest  course, 
they  must  run  about  fourteen  thousand  miles,  though  the 
way  by  cape  Horn  did  not  exceed  half  that  distance. 
As  the  sea,  at  this  time,  ran  tremendously  high,  and 
they  were  apprehensive  of  receiving  some  serious 
damage,  they  shaped  their  course  right  before  it,  till  it 
gradually  became  smoother.  In  the  course  of  the 
first  four  days,  they  ran  six  hundred  and  forty  miles 
by  their  log,  and  were  then  detained  some  time  by 
easterly  winds.  When  they  were  at  length  enabled 
to  proceed,  the  gale  blow  with  great  violence,  the  sea 
running  mountains  high, — the  clouds  appearing  low, 
thick,  and  gloomy, — and  the  vessel  scudding  before 
the  wind  with  surprising  swiftness,  but  shipping  com- 
paratively very  little  water. 

On  the  nth  of  February,  1797,  our  voyagers  en- 
countered the  most  severe  and  awful  storm  they  had 
yet  experienced  ;  but  though  the  billows  rose  to  an 
enormous  height,  and  it  rained  with  extreme  violence 
for  about  eight  hours,  their  little  bark  sustained  no  in- 
jury. Four  days  afterward,  they  were  threatened 
with  a  dreadful  calamity,  in  consequence  of  the  negli- 
gence of  a  man,  who  suffered  a  pitch-kettle  to  boil 
over,  whilst  the  carpenter  was  employed  in  caulking 
the  docks.  The  person,  however,  by  whose  inatten- 
tion the  accident  was  occasioned,  had  sufficient  pres- 
ence of  mind  to  lift  the  blazing  vessel  off  the  fire,  and 
thus  prevented  the  conflagration  which  must  otherwise 
have  seized  on  the  sails  and  rigging, 

In  the  afternoon  of  the  1st  of  March,  such  inmiense 
quantities  of  rain  descended  for  about  two  hours,  that 
nearly  a  tun  of  water  was  caught  by  the  missionaries. 
About  three  hours  of  fine  weather  succeeded ;  but,  at 
the  expiration  of  that  time,  the  clouds  assumed  a 
gloomy  aspect,  and  such  an  alarming  night  commenced, 
that  orders  were  given  to  furl  every  sail  except  the 
foresail,  and  to  lay  to.  ,  The  rain  now  descended  in 
more  violent  torrents  than  before,  accompanied,  from 

-—  - '"^"'i  "'i'l  iti^  iHO^l  Viriu  i;a3iic3 

of  lightning  and  tremendous  peals  of  thunder,  which 
•eemed  to  shake  the  Duff  to  her  centre  at  every  clap. 


At  length,  however,  that  omnipotent  Saviour,  who  hold- 
eth  the  winds  and  the  waves  in  the  hollow  of  his  hand, 
graciously  interfered  on  the  behalf  of  his  afl^ighted 
servants,  and  hushed  to  silence  the  fury  of  the  storm. 

On  Saturday,  the  4th  of  March,  the  island  of  Ota- 
heite was  discovered  at  a  considerable  distance ;  and, 
by  seven  o'clock  the  next  morning,  the  missionaries 
got  abreast  of  the  district  of  Atabooroo ;  when  seven- 
ty-four canoes,  many  of  them  double  ones,  each  car- 
rying about  twenty  persons,  put  off  from  the  shore, 
and  paddled  rapidly  toward  them.  About  a  hundred 
of  the  natives  crowded  on  board,  in  spite  of  every 
exertion  to  prevent  them,  and  began  dancing  and  ca- 
pering about  the  decks  like  frantic  persons,  exclaiming, 
"  Taio,  Taio !"  and  occasionally  uttering  a  few  sen- 
tences of  broken  English.  The  missionaries  were  both 
surprised  and  disappointed  whilst  viewing  the  disorder- 
ly conduct  of  their  visitors,  and  inhaling  the  smell  of 
the  cocoa-nut  oil  with  which  their  bodies  were  smeared ; 
but  the  momentary  prejudice  thus  excited  was  soon  re- 
moved by  the  vivacity,  good  nature,  and  apparent  in- 
genuousness of  the  Otaheitans ;  who,  on  some  of  the 
great  guns  being  hoisted  out  of  the  hold,  for  the  ex- 
press purpose  of  overawing  them,  evinced  that  they 
were  as  free  from  the  apprehension  as  from  the  inten- 
tion of  mischief,  by  cheerfully  assisting  in  placing  those 
weapons  of  destruction  on  their  respective  carriages. 

When  the  first  transports  of  their  astonishment  and 
delight  had  subsided,  many  of  the  natives  voluntarily 
quitted  the  vessel,  and  others  were  driven  away  by 
Manne  Manne,  a  venerable  old  man,  who  called  him- 
self a  priest  of  the  eatooa.  Those  that  remained, 
about  forty  in  number,  were  now  given  to  understand 
that  a  solemn  service  was  to  be  performed  in  honor 
of  the  God  of  Britain,  and  they  accordingly  conduct- 
ed themselves  with  great  decorum  whilst  Mr.  Cover 
prayed  and  preached ;  but  when  the  singing  commenced, 
they  were  evidently  overwhelmed  with  amazement,  and 
occasionally  talked  and  laughed  with  each  other,  whilst 
expressing  the  pleasure  which  they  experienced.  A 
nod  of  the  head,  however,  was  sufficient  to  bring  them 
to  order,  and,  upon  the  whole,  they  behaved  with  great 
quietness  and  attention. 

Two  Swedes,  dressed  in  the  same  manner  as  the 
Otaheitans,  and  tatooed,  like  them,  about  the  legs 
and  arms,  now  came  on  board,  and  gave  the  following 
account  of  themselves : — The  younger,  a  native  of 
Stockholm,  and  about  thirty  years  of  age,  stated  that 
on  the  6th  of  March,  1792,  the  Matilda  was  cast  away 
on  the  south  side  of  the  island ;  and  that  he  and  his 
companions  were  at  first  plundered,  but  subsequently 
treated  with  kindness  by  the  natives.  Since  llial  time, 
the  captain  and  most  of  the  crew  had  returned  home- 
ward by  different  methods,  but  he  had  thought  proper 


834 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


to  remain  on  the  island.  The  other,  named  Peter 
Haggerstein,  stated  that  he  wa?  bom  in  Swedish  Fin- 
land, and  had  been  left  here  by  the  cap'ain  of  the 
Daedalus.  Both  of  them  spoke  tolerable  finglish, 
and  as  they  were  well  acquainted  with  the  Otaheitan 
language,  the  missionaries  naturally  anticipated  that 
they  might  render  them  an  important  service  in  the 
character  of  interpreters. 

In  the  course  of  conversation  with  these  men,  it 
appeared  that  Manne  Manne  was  not  only  a  person  of 
considerable  consequence,  as  being  nearly  related  to 
the  royal  family,  but  was  also  the  chief  priest  in  Ota- 
heite  and  Eimeo.     The  following  day,  therefore,  he 
was  admitted  to  the  taionhip  with  the  captain,  which 
he  appeared  extremely  anxious  to  obtain.     This,  in  the 
South  Sea  islands,  is  a  sort  of  sacred  temporary  friend- 
ship, commenced  and  ratified  by  an  exchange  of  names 
between  the  respective  parties.     The  taio  furnishes 
his  visitor  with  provisions  during  his  visit,  and  expects, 
in  return,  some  trifling  present  of  beads,  nails,  or  other 
similar  articles  ;  which,  in  general,  are  considered  as 
a  sufficient  remuneration  for  all  his  attentions.     Tlie 
old  priest,  however,  was  evidently  desirous  of  some- 
thing more  valuable  ;  as,  on  his  interchanging  names 
with  captain  Wilson,  and  wrapping  a  large  piece  of 
cloth  round  his  body,  he  requested  to  be  furnished 
with  a  musket,  some  shot,  and  gunpowder.     To  this 
request  his  taio  did  not  think  fit  to  accede,  but  Manne 
Manne  was  assured  that  his  friendly  offices  should  be 
amply  repaid  ;  and  with  this  he  appeared  to  be  com- 
pletely satisfied. 

The  Duff  now  proceeded  to  an  anchorage  in  Ma- 
tavai  bay  ;    and,  in  the  course  of  the  afternoon,  the 
captain,   accompanied   by   Manne   Manne,   the   two 
Swedes,  and  a  few  of  the  missionaries,  went  on  shore, 
to  look  at  a  house,  situated  on  point  Venus,  and  said 
to  have  been  built  by  Pomare,  the  king's  father,  for 
captain  Bligh,  who  had  intimated  a  design  of  return- 
ing and  settling  on  the  island.    It  was  a  large,  spacious 
building,  of  an  oblong  figure,  one  hundred  and  eight 
feet  long,  and  forty-eight  wide.     The  roof  was  beauti- 
fully thatched  with  leaves  of  the  palm  tree,  and  sup- 
ported by  three  rows  of  wooden  pillars,  from  nine  to 
eighteen  feet  in  height,  and  about  six  feet  distant  from 
each  other  ;  and  the  sides  of  the  house  were  prettily 
formed  of  screens  of  bamboo,  leaving  an  opening  of 
about  twenty  feet  in  the  middle,  for  the  purposes  of 
ingress  and  egress. 

"A  few  days  after  his  arrival,  captain  Wilson 
obtained  an  interview  with  Otoo,  the  king,  and,  through 
the  medium  of  one  of  the  Swedes,  informed  him  of 
the  object  and  design  of  the  voyage.  He  stated  that 
a  number  of  good  men  had  left  their  native  country 
ana  veiled  Oiaheite,  solely  with  the  view  of  rendering  ' 


an  important  service  to  him  and  to  his  subjects,  by 
instrucUng  them  in  the  most  useful   and    excellent 
things  ;  and  that,  in  the  event  of  their  settling  on  the 
island,  they  only  required  the  grant  of  a  piece  of  land 
sufficiently   stocked   with  bread-fruit  and   cocoa-nut 
trees,  and  so  large  as  to  contain  a  garden,  and  admit 
of  houses  being  built  upon  it.     He  also  observed  that 
they  would  engage  to  abstain  from  any  interference  m 
the  wars  of  the  natives,  and  would  never  use  their 
weapons,  but  for  the  purpose  of  self-defence.     But 
the  chiefs  and   people  were  not  satisfied  with  giving 
them  the  large  and  commodious  Fare  Beritani  (British 
house),  as  they  called  the  one  they  had  built   for 
Bligh,  but  readily  ceded  to  captain  Wilson  and  the 
missionaries,  in  an  official  and  formal  manner,  the 
whole  district  of  Matavai,  in  which  their  habitation 
was  situated.     The  late  Pomare  and  his  queen,  with 
Otoo  his  father,  and  Idia  his  mother,  and  the  most 
influential  persons  in  the  nation,  were  preffent ;  and 
Manne  Manne,  the  chief  priest  of  the  island,  was  the 
principal  agent  for  the  natives  on  the  occasion.     The 
accompanying  plate,  representing  this  singular  transac- 
tion, is  taken  from  an  original  painting  in  the  possession 
of  Mrs.  Wilson,  relict  of  the  late  captain  Wilson.     It 
exhibits  not  only  the  rich  luxuriance  of  the  scenery,  but 
the  expression,  dress  and  tatooing  of  the  natives,  with 
remarkable  fidelity  and  spirit.      The  two  figures  on 
men's  shoulders  are  the  late  king  and  queen.     Near 
the  queen,  on  the  right,  stands  Peter  the  Swede,  thfir 
interpreter,  and  behind  him  stands  Idia,  the  mother 
of  the  king.     The  person  seated  on  the  right  hand  is 
the  chief  of  the  district ;  behind  him  stand  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Henry,  Mr.  Jefferson  and  others.    The  principal 
person  on  this  side  is  captain  Wilson  ;  between  him 
and  his  nephew,  captain  W.  Wilson,  stands  a  child 
of  Mr.  Hassel ;  Mrs.  Hassel,  with  an  infant,  is  before 
them.    On  the  left,  next  to  the  king,  stands  his  father, 
Pomare,  the  upper  part  of  his  body  uncovered,  in 
homage  to  his  son,  and  behind  him  Hapai,  the  king's 
grandfather.     The  high  priest  appears  in  a  crouching 
position,  addressing  captain  Wilson  and  surrendering 
the  district. 

The  next  morning  the  missionaries  went  on  shore 
with  their  chests  and  beds,  and  took  possession  of 
their  house,  which  they  enclosed  with  a  thick  railing 
of  bamboo,  to  prevent  the  natives  from  crowding  upon 
them.  Tlie  different  apartments  were  next  marked  out, 
and  the  necessary  partitions  commenced  ;  but  as  the 
natives  had  to  fetch  the  materials  from  a  considerable 
distance,  this  part  of  the  work  proceeded  but  slowly, 
though  one  man  stripped  his  own  house,  in  order  to 
expedite  it.  In  the  arrangement  which  was  made,  all 
the  rooms  intended  to  he  occunied  by  the  missicnaries 
were  at  one  end  of  the  building;  and,  to  preclude  th» 


OTAMEITE, 


possibility  of  dispute,  were  chosen  by  lot.  Next  to 
them,  were  apartmente  designed  for  a  store-room,  a 
Ubrary.and  a  place  for  the  surgeonand  his  medicines; 
and  the  remaining  space,  into  which  the  outer  doors 
opened,  was  set  apart  for  the  celebration  of  divine 
worship. 

On  the  ensuing  sabbath,  the  brethren  considered  it 
advisable  to  call  the  attention  of  the  Otaheitans  to  the 
important  subject  of  their  mission,  and  it  was  agreed 
that  Mr.  Jefferson  should  address  them,  through  the 
medium  of  Andrew,  the  Swede,  as  interpreter.     Ac- 
cordmgly,  at  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  they  met 
for  this  purpose,  several  of  the  natives  being  present, 
both  within  and  without  the  house  ;  and  as  soon  as 
they   discovered    that   the   speaker's   discourse   was 
addressed  to  them,  they  placed  themselves  in  a  posture 
of  attention.     They  also  proposed  several  pertinent 
questions,  and  particularly  inquired  whether  the  mes- 
sage of  the  British  God  were  sent  to  the  toutous,  or 
servants,  as  well  as  to  the  king  and  the  chiefs.    They 
were  of  course  answered  in  the  affirmative,  and  Mr. 
Jefferson,  pointing  to  his  brethren,  told  them  that  they 
were  the  servants  of  the  only  true  God,  who,  notwith- 
standing all  men  had  offended  him,  was  a  gracious  and 
merciful  Being;  conferring, on  those  who  believed  his 
word,  great  blessings  in  the  present  life,  and  removing 
them  to  a  state  of  unspeakable  felicity  after  death. 
Otoo,  the  king,  was  present  on  this  occasion,  but  the 
discourse  did  not  appear  to  make  any  impression  on 
his  mind. 

On  the  next  Lord's-day,  Seth  Kelso  and  John 
Harris,  who  had  chosen  the  islands  of  Tongataboo 
and  St.  Christina  as  the  scenes  of  their  evangelical 
labors,  were  solemnly  set  apart  at  the  mission-house, 
for  the  important  work  of  the  ministry.  Mr.  Jefferson 
asked  the  usual  questions  of  the  candidates  respecting 
their  object  and  design  ;  Mr.  Cover  delivered  the 
charge,  and  preached  an  appropriate  sermon  ;  and 
Messrs.  Lewis  and  Eyre  prayed  at  the  commencement 
and  the  conclusion  of  the  service.  The  sacrament 
of  the  Lord's  supper  was  also  administered  on  this 
interesting  occasion,  and,  for  the  first  time,  the  bread- 
fruit of  Otaheite  was  used  as  a  symbol  of  the  body 
of  Christ,  and  received  in  commemoration  of  his 
dying  love. 

On  discovering  that  a  society  of  Otaheitans,  distin- 
guished by  the  name  of  Areois,  were  in  the  habit  of 
destroying  their  neiv-born  infants,  the  missionaries 
considered  it  an  imperative  duty  to  make  some  attempts 
with  a  view  to  the  prevention  of  such  an  atrocious 
practice.     Accordingly,  on  being  visited,  one  day,  by 

an  Areois  iind  Wm  wifo   th"  lit' f  «-!  - 

advanced  state  of  pregnancy,  they  remonstrated,  in 
he  most  earnest  and  affectionate  manner,  against  a 


335 


crime  so  unnatural  in  itself,  and  so  highly  offensive  to 
the  Divine  Dispenser  of  life  and  death ;  and  proposed, 
at  the  same  time,  to  take  every  child  which  should 
be  bom  under  their  own  care,  after  providing  a  house 
for  the  accommodation  of  the  mothers  during  their 
confinement.     The  female  appeared  to  feel  the  work- 
ings  of  nature  in  her  bosom,  and  seemed  perfectly 
willing  that  her  infant  should  be  spared ;  but  the  brutal 
chief  was  obstinately  bent  on  its  destruction.     Ho 
acknowledged,  indeed,  that  it  was  a  sanguinary  act, 
but  pleaded  in  excuse,  that  it  had  been  a  practice 
long  established,  and  urged,  that  if  it  were  to  b« 
generally  abandoned,  the  loss  of  all  the  piivilege* 
enjoyed  by  the  Areois,  and  even  the  dissolution  of 
their  society,  must  inevitably  ensue.      After  being 
solemnly  warned  by  the  brethren,  and  threatened  with 
the  loss  of  their  friendship,  he  retired  with  an  air  of 
dejection,  though  apparently  resolved  on  the  immola- 
tion of  his  innocent  offspring  ;  but  in  the  course  of  a 
few  days,  he  returned,  and  promised  that  if  the  babe 
were  bom  alive,  it  should  be  placed  at  their  disposal. 
Anxious  t(       troduce  the  blessings  of  civilization 
together  with  the  instructions  of  Christianity,  the  mis- 
sionaries  embraced  an  early  opportunity  of  rendering 
the  Otaheitans  familiar  with  some  of  the  most  use- 
ful mechanical  arts.      They  accordingly  constructed 
a   saw-pit,  for   the   purpose  of  cutting   timber  into 
planks;   and,  in  the  month  of  April,  having  com- 
pleted the  erection  of  a  forge,  Messrs.  Hassel  and 
Hodges  began  to  work  at  their  trade  as  smiths.     The 
natives  immediately  flocked  around  them,  evincing 
the  utmost  astonishment  and  pleasure  ;  but  on  seeing 
the  sparks  of  fire  which  flew  in  profusion  around  the 
anvil,  and  on  hearing  the  hissing  of  the  hot  iron  when 
thrown  into  water,  their  fears  proved  stronger  than 
their  curiosity,  and  they  fled,  with  the  utmost  precipi- 
tation,  in  various  directions.    Pomare,  who  was  present 
on  this  occasion,  was  so  completely  charmed  with  the 
operations  of  the  bellows  and  the  forge,  that  he  caught 
the  blacksmith  in  his  arms,  all  dirty  as  he  was,  and 
joined  noses  with  him,  as  a  silent  but  forcible  expres- 
sion of  the  highest  satisfaction. 

Several  instances  occurred  in  which  the  missionaries 
had  an  opportunity  of  witnessing  the  superstition  and 
simplicity  of  the  people  to  whom  they  had  conveyed 
the  glad  tidings  of  salvation.  Temarree,  a  chief  priest 
from  Papara,  who,  on  account  of  his  supposed  power, 
was  called  an  eatooa,  or  a  god,  paid  them  a  visit  but 
had  scarcely  entered  their  house,  when  he  was  over- 
whelmed with  the  utmost  astonishment  and  terror,  by 
the  striking  of  a  cuckoo  clock  ;  and  old  Pyetea,  the 
chief  of  tiie  district  of  Matavai,  who  happened  to 
come  in  at  the  same  time,  observed  that  he  had 
brought  the  bird  some  bread-fruit,  as  it  must  be  neces- 


336 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


sarily  starved  if  no  one  gave  it  food.  On  another 
occasion,  one  of  the  bretliren,  walking  with  an  Otahei- 
tan,  took  occasion,  from  the  beauties  of  the  circum- 
jacent country,  to  allude  to  Jehovah,  as  the  Creator 
of  all  things.  The  native  replied,  he  had  no  doubt 
but  that  the  God  of  whom  he  wac  told  had  formed  all 
things  in  Britain,  but  he  contondjd  that  his  influence 
did  not  extend  to  Otaheite.  On  the  contrary,  he 
ascribed  the  interesting  scenes  which  they  were  then 
contemplating  to  different  deities  ;  one  of  whom,  he 
said,  had  reached  up  and  stuck  the  stars  in  the  sky, 
and  another,  named  Mawwa,  had  fastened  ropes  to  the 
sun,  for  the  purpose  of  regulating  the  progress  of  that 
luminary.  The  missionary  then  endeavored  to  un- 
deceive him  with  respect  to  the  artifices  of  the  priests, 
snd  stated  that  the  three  great  gods  Oro,  Tane,  and 
Taroa,  to  whom  sacrifices  were  usually  offered  on 
occasions  of  peculiar  extrenuty,  were,  in  reality,  noth- 
ing more  than  the  work  of  men's  hands.  To  this  he 
replie<t,  that  they  intimated  their  displeasure  by  speak- 
ing to  the  people  ;  but,  on  being  urged  to  explain  how 
this  was  done,  ho  said,  "  On  these  occasions  one  of 
the  priests  rolls  himself  in  a  bundle  of  cloth,  ami 
exclaims,  in  a  shrill,  squeaking  voice,  '  I  an]  angry  : 
fetch  me  hogs;  kill  a  man,  and  then  my  anger  will  be 
appeased.'  " 

In  an  excursion  which  some  of  the  missionaries 
made,  with  a  view  to  ascertain  the  populousness  of 
the  island,  they  visited  one  chief  whose  house  con- 
tained a  variety  of  wooden  deities,  said  to  preside 
over  the  nwi,  moon,  and  stars,  men,  women,  and 
children,  and  different  animals.  Each  of  these  gods 
was  armed  with  a  sword,  axe,  or  hannner,  and  it  was 
gravely  asserted  that  with  these  weapons  any  neglect 
or  insult  would  be  i)nnishcil,  unless  the  oll'iiider  ex- 
piated his  crime  by  a  prompt  and  arceptable  sacrifice. 
On  their  return,  one  of  the  brethren,  named  Kroomhall, 
llirough  fatigue  and  catching  cold,  was  confined  to 
his  bed  by  an  attack  of  fever.  One  of  the  priests 
iinmediulely  asserted  that  this  visitation  was  the  effect 
of  an  Oialieitan  eatooa's  displeasure,  and  predicted 
that  it  would  terminate  in  death.  Mr.  Mrooinliall, 
however,  derided  ihi'  ideii  of  danger  from  a  beiui; 
which  had  no  exi^^lenre,  but  in  the  imagination  of  his 
deluded  worshippers ;  and  said  that  his  affliction, 
which  had  be<'n  sent  by  the  living  Jehcvnh,  would  be 
removed  by  the  same  I)ivine  Personage  tlu;  following 
day.  This  reniark  Mas  inslaiilly  spread  among  the 
natives,  and  our  nussionary  began  to  fear  that  he  lind 
flpokcn  loo  hastily  of  his  recovery,  and  that  (Jod 
inittht  be  dishonored  in  the  event  of  his  illnes.s  con- 
tir.iime.  U(  liirrefure  |Miuitrii  oui  his  soul  in  oarnesi  i 
mippliralions  before  the  throne  of  grace,  and  tie  Ixntl  I 
WM  graciously  pleased  to  hoar  and  answer  tlio  voice  I 


of  prayer.  During  the  night,  he  enjoyed  a  refreshing 
sleep,  and  on  the  morrow  he  was  enabled  to  quit  his 
bed,  and  exhibited  evident  symptoms  of  recovery,  to 
the  astonishment  of  the  Otaheitans,  and  particularly 
of  the  priest,  whose  prediction  had  been  so  completely 
falsified,  and  who  now  anxiously  inquired  whether  the 
disease  had  really  been  removed  by  the  God  of  Britain. 
Mr.  Broondiall  embraced  this  opportunity  of  reasoning 
on  the  absurdity  of  the  Otaheitan  superstitions,  and 
on  the  folly  of  worship|)ing  imaginary  beings  as  gods. 
The  priest,  however,  obstinately  persisted  in  asserting 
that  various  deities,  both  good  and  bad,  presided  over 
Otaheite,  and  that  it  was  necessary  to  pray  to  the 
former,  i-i  order  to  counteract  the  influence  of  the 
latter.  He  also  insisted  that  unless  the  food  eaten  by 
the  natives  were  blessed  by  a  priest,  those  who  partook 
of  it  would  be  immediately  possessed  and  destroyed 
by  the  evil  deities  ;  but  on  being  assured  that  the 
missionaries  had  no  apprehension  on  that  score,  he 
walked  away,  evidently  ashamed  and  put  to  silence. 

Captain  Wilson,  who  had,  in  the  mean  time,  con- 
veyed some  of  the  missionaries  to  the  islands  of  Ton- 
gataboo  and  St.  Christina,  now  returned  to  Otaheite, 
and  had  the  satisfaction  to  find  that  the  brethren  in 
that  place  wern  highly  respected,  and  most  hospitably 
treated,  both  by  the  chiefs  and  the  peop"  ?.  Otoo 
and  his  wife,  indeed,  had,  upon  one  occasion,  brought 
a  large  present  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cover,  desiring  to 
become  their  adopted  children,  and  promising  to  re- 
gard them  as  their  parents  ;  Fomare  and  Idia  also 
heggerl  that  this  wish  of  the  king  and  <pieen  might  be 
granted  ;  and  such  immense  quantities  of  jjrovisions 
were  poured  in  upon  the  missionaries  from  various 
(piarters,  that,  at  one  time,  they  had  not  less  than 
a  wagon  load  of  fruit,  besides  a  profusion  of  hogs 
and  poultry.  Kncouraged  by  these  circumstances, 
the  cajjlain  finally  (piiited  the  island,  and  after  revisit- 
ing the  other  settlements,  and  touching  at  Canton  for 
a  cargo  of  lea,  he  returned  to  England  in  the  begin- 
ning of  July,  niW. 

The  directors  of  the  Missionary  Society,  having 
acquainted  the  friends  o(  ilie  institution,  as  soon  as 
llu-y  possibly  could,  with  the  leading  circumstances 
of  tlie  voyage,  re(piesled  that  a  day  of  public  thanks- 
Eiving  mii;ht  be  observed  on  (he  (iih  of  AugujI,  being 
the  first  Mimday  in  the  month,  when  the  prayer  meet- 
ings of  the  s<MMety  are  usuall)  liehl  throughout  the 
kingdom,  that  all,  whose  hearts  ha\o  been  interested  in 
the  work,  might  have  an  opportimity  of  uniting,  at  iho 
same  lime,  in  the  same  jileasing  and  reasonable  service. 
They  appointed  Mr.  (irilhn  of  I'ortsea.  to  whoso  church 
iiiptain  Wilson  belonged,  to  preach  on  the  iMcnsion 
at  Surry  chapel  in  the  morning,  and  Dr.  Haweis,  as 
being  one  of  the  oldest  ministers  in  the  direction,  and 


OTAHEITE. 


who  first  proposed  the  mission  to  the  Pacific  ocean, 
to  praach  at  Zion  chapel  in  the  evening.  These 
extensive  places  were  soon  filled  with  serious  and 
respectable  auditories.  The  whole  services  were 
conducted  with  the  utmost  solemnity,  the  presence 
of  God  was  happily  experienced  by  preachers  and 
hearers,  and  never,  perhaps,  was  gratitude  more  warm- 
ly expressed  on  any  public  occasion. 

Dr.  Haweis,  in  his  thanksgiving  sermon,  expressed 
his  admiration  in  glowing  eloquence.  "  In  this  voy- 
age," he  observes,  "  to  tell  of  all  His  wonders,  my 
time  would  fail,  and  my  ability  be  unequal.  1  will 
just  refr"-sh  your  memory  with  the  following  hints 
of  some  of  the  great  things  done  for  us,  in  the 
swiftness,  the  safety,  the  health,  and  success  of  the 
voyage. 

"  The  $u!iftne*t  of  the  passage.  This  will  be  the 
admiration  of  every  nautical  man  by  profession.  Who 
ever  heard,  in  the  most  prosperous  voyage  of  the  ablest 
navigators,  of  one  hundred  and  eighty-three  degrees  of 
longitude  passed  in  the  short  space  of  fifty-one  days  ? 
Moving  often  at  the  rate  of  two  hundred  and  twenty 
or  thirty  miles  a  day,  and  so  steadily  before  the  wind 
as  seldom  even  to  interrapt  the  daily  exercises  of 
prayer  and  praise,  of  study,  or  repose ! 

"  Shall  we  not  with  thankfulness  admire  the  safety 
of  the  conveyance  !  Not  a  mast  sprung,  not  a  yard  lost, 
not  a  sail  split,  not  an  anchor  left  behind  !  To  trav- 
erse more  than  twice  the  circumference  of  the  globe — 
especially  amidst  lurking  shoals,  the  hidden  rocks, 
and  low  islands  of  the  Southern  ocean,  must,  it  is 
well  known,  be  full  of  danger.  They  felt  it,  and 
sometimes  were  at  their  wit's  end,  going  up  to  heaven 
and  sinking  down  into  the  dee|)— shook  by  the  pealing 
thunder — embayed  without  a  passage,  and  once  sus- 
pended on  the  dreadful  reef  1  read,  and  trembled. 
But  he  that  dwelletii  under  the  defence  of  the  Most 
High,  shall  be  safe  under  the  shadow  of  the  Almighty. 
1  was  ushamed,  humbled,  comforted,  exulted,  when,  in 
the  midst  of  the  most  awful  scone,  I  hear  one  of  my 
brethren,  '  We  took  the  wings  of  faith,  and  fled  in 
prayer  to  the  God  of  our  mercies ;  and  when  wo  hod 
sung  a  hymn,  presently  the  storm  abated,  and  wo  lay 
down  comfortably  and  fell  asleep.'  Ah  !  '  So  he 
givcth  his  beloved  sleep.' 

"  Shall  we  not  gratefiliy  notice  their  health  7  What 
t  miracle  of  mercy  hath  our  vessel  been  !  Of  about 
sixty  persons,  during  neariy  a  two  years'  voyage,  not 
one  has  been  lost :  not  only  a  hair  of  their  head  Imtli 
not  perished,  but  those  who  have  returned  are  •  fat 
and  well  liking  ;'  and  ahuost  every  man  and  woman 
ore  reputed  in  better  health  than  when  they  left  the 
shores  of  their  nativity.  What  disousc,  inisory,  and 
famine,  have  wo  not  often  hoard  of  in  voyages  of  far 

Vol.  I.  INos.  «y  &  30,  45 


less  extent  and  duration  !  The  great  Physician  had 
determined  that  the  inhabitants  of  this  ark  should  not 
complain, '  I  am  sick.'  Few  vessels  have  ever  been 
so  long  without  touching  for  refreshments ;  or  per- 
formed so  vast  a  run,  as  thirteen  thousand  eight  hun- 
dred miles,  without  the  sight  of  \enA ;  but  except  the 
common  well  known  efiects  of  the  sea,  or.  the  indis- 
position of  one  individual,  not  a  scorbutic  complaint 
appeared,  no  spreading  fever,  no  infectious  disorder, 
no  dangerous  accident,  or  broken  bone.  Passing 
through  climates  so  different— tender  women  and  chil- 
dren,  many  who  had  never  seen  the  sea  till  they 
embarked  upon  it,  unaccustomed  to  such  food,  or 
accommodation,  they  reached  Otaheite,  after  a  five 
months'  voyage,  without  an  individual  sick.  All  the 
way  they  had  plenty  of  provisions,  their  water  sweet, 
abundant,  and  never  failing ;  and  not  a  creature  want- 
ing any  manner  of  thing  that  was  good.  Whilst  we 
record  the  mighty  acts  of  the  Lord,  let  future  voyagers 
learn  from  captain  Wilson,  what  care,  cleanliness, 
proper  food,  and  unremitted  attention,  can,  under  the 
divine  benediction,  do  for  the  health  of  those  '  who 
occupy  their  business  in  great  waters.'  " 

An  account  of  the  voyage  was  published  by  order  of 
the  directors,  for  the  benefi.  of  the  society,  written  prin- 
cipally by  Mr.  William  Wilson,  the  chief  officer,  with  a 
number  of  beautiful  views,  maps  and  charts.  Prefixed 
is  a  scientific  discourse  on  the  geography  and  history  of 
the  South  Sea  islands,  where  the  missionaries  have  set- 
tled. Appended  to  the  voyage  is  a  detailed  account 
of  the  natural  and  civil  state  of  Otaheite.  The  whole 
composed  fronf  the  papers  of  Mr.  Wilson,  the  captain, 
and  the  missionaries,  under  the  superintendence  of  a 
committee  of  directors  appointed  for  the  purpose. 

"  When  the  welcome  arrival  of  the  Duff,"  say  the 
directors,  "  had  called  us  into  the  house  of  God  again, 
on  the  6th  of  August,  to  testify  our  thankfulness  for 
mercies  so  dlstinguisliod,  we  could  not  but  feel  the 
obligations  laid  upon  us  to  renew  our  exertions,  and 
pursue  an  object  so  plainly  pointed  out  by  the  happy 
coincidences  attending  our  first  successful  voyage.  At 
a  special   general  meeting,  therefore,  held  the  next 

day,  it  was  most  cordially  and  unanimously  re«)lved 

That  the  directors  be  authorized  to  employ  a  ship 
belonging  to  the  society  on  another  voyage  to  the 
Pacific  ocean,  for  the  purposes  of  supplying  our 
brethren  who  have  settled  there,  with  assistance  in 
their  labors;  of  adding  to  their  number,  where  circum- 
stances may  render  It  necessary  ;  and  of  planting  the 
gospel  in  other  islands  of  that  ocean,  where  it  shall 
aiipcnr  most  elieible.  from  their  extent,  nomjlntics^ 
or  other  favorable  circumstances. 

"  The  sca'ion  advancing  required  peculiar  diligence; 
and  as  so  much  was  to  he  done  in  a  few  weeks,  our 


m 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


renewed     efforts    immediately    commenced.       The 
committee  of  provision  and  conveyance  engaged  to 
accomplish   every   thing  respecting   the   ship ;    and 
the  committee   of  examination   applied   themselves 
to  the  arduous  task  of  looking  round  for  a  sufficient 
number  of  well  qualified  missionaries,  in  addition  to 
the  few  they  had  already  accepted,  and  of  making 
preparations  for  their  equipment.    We  are  overwhelm- 
ed at  the  reflection  of  the  wondrous   goodness  of 
God,  in  the  spirit  instantly  stirred  up  from  one  end 
of  the   kingdom    to   tiie  other.      Offers  of  service 
poured  in  upon  us.    Single  and  married  brethren  pre- 
sented themselves,  ready  to  quit  every  thing  dear  to 
them,  and  embark  in  the  self-denying  service.     The 
candidates  soon  were  more  numerous  than  our  ship 
was  capable  of  conveying.     All  appeared  with  testi- 
monials of  their  Christian  conduct  from  their  ministers 
and  others.     Carefully  and  repeatedly  they  were  ex- 
amined, as  to  their  experience,  principles,  abilities, 
and   motives,  and   such  of  them  were  selected   as 
appeared  the  most  proper  for  the  work. 

"  Among  these  were  men  not  only  apt  to  teach,  as 
preachers  pnd  catechists,  the  iruth  as  it  is  in  Jesus, 
but  botanists,  agriculturists,  ingenious  artisans  in  sev- 
eral branches,  and,  Tvhat  we  very  particularly  needed, 
six  of  the  brethren  were  instructed  in  the  knowledge 
of  medicine  and  surgery,  and  two  of  the  sisters  in  the 
practice  of  midwifery.  For  two  of  these  medical 
persons,  and  one  of  the  most  valuable  mechanics,  we 
were  indebted  to  our  coadjutors  in  missionary  labors 
in  Edinburgh,  one  of  the  best  schools  for  the  science 
of  medicine  ;  and  from  the  same  society  we  have 
lately  received  the  liberal  present  of  £4(H),  in  token 
of  their  affection  and  esteem,  and  as  fellow-workers 
and  sharers  with  us  in  all  our  mercies. 

"  Every  individual  of  these  missionaries  loft,  appar- 
ently, comfortable  stations,  ami  some  of  them  we  know 
relinquished  even  advantageous  prospects.  \Vc  had 
reason  to  believe  none  v.ero  urged  by  necessity,  or  a 
love  of  change,  to  engage  in  the  work,  but  by  a  deliber- 
ate choice,  as  the  date  in  wliicii  tiioy  could  most 
effectually  glorify  (J.td  in  their  bodies  and  in  their 
spirits,  which  are  his. 

"Our  wannest  desires  were  naturally  directed  to 
that  honored  insl.ument,  r-  tiiin  Wilson,  to  conduct 
our  second  enterprise  lo  (ho  IVifir  oronn,  ns  ho  had 
embarked  in  the  first  with  such  disiniercstecl  zeal,  and 
executed  it  with  such  wisdom,  pntienre,  fidelity,  nnd 
success,  as  not  only  crowned  our  wishes,  but  exceoded 
our  most  sanguine  hopes,  llensons,  Aijly  conclusive, 
however,  prevented  his  compliance  with  our  request, 
whilst  no  man  mora  readily  anil  aciivelv  enzazed  is 
forward  the  important  design.  Providenlial  circum- 
stances, also,   occurred,  which    deprived   ui  of  hii 


nephew,  to  whom  we  chieliy  owe  our  journals,  charta, 
and  drawings  ;  but  Mr.  Robson,  who  had  sailed  with 
captain  Wilson,  and  highly  approved  himself  for  his 
ability,  diligence,  nautical  skill,  and  exemplary  Chris- 
tian conduct,  was  judged,  by  our  committee  of  nautical 
directors,  fully  adequate  to  the  charge ;  and  the  Rev- 
erend Mr.  Howell,  of  Knaresborough,  offering  his 
services  as  a  missionary,  was  joined  with  tho  captain 
in  the  superintendence  of  the  missionaries,  and  en- 
gaged to  keep  all  the  journals,  and  assist  the  committee 
chosen  among  themselves  for  the  regulation  of  their 
afiairs.     The  instructions  given  to  them  have  been 
laid  before  the  public  in  the  Evangelical  Magazine. 
And  after  the  most  attentive  review  of  the  mission- 
aries chosen,  and  the  steps  which  have  hitherto  been 
taken,  we  have  reason  to  hope  that  this  mission  will 
terminate  no  less  favorably  tlirji  the  lormer.     But  we 
presume  not  to  place  our  dependence  on  any  humaa 
care  and  foresight.     We  know  that  the  blessing  must 
come  from  Jesus  Christ,  the  great  Head  of  the  church. 
His  wisdom  must  guide  them,  his  power  protect  them, 
and  his  Spirit  alone  is  able  to  subdue  the  unruly  wills 
and  affections  of  sinful  men,  unite  them  in  the  bonds 
of  love,  animate  them  with  zeal  and  fervor,  and  fill 
them  with  all  the  fulness  of  God,  for  the  work  and 
warfare  in  which  they  are  engaged.     To  him  we  have 
surrendered  them  ;  and  shall  not  cease  to  follow  them 
with  our  ardent  prayers.     We  know  in  whom  wo  have 
believed  ;  his  mercies  we  have  experienced  in  a  similar 
situation  ;  and  this  God  is  our  God  for  ever  and  ever ; 
he  shall  be  our  guide  even  unto  death." 

The  missionaries  sent  out  on  this  occasion  consisted 
of  ten  married  couples,  with  seven  children,  and  nine- 
teen single  brethren  ;    and,  in  bidding  them  adieu, 
some  of  the  directors  parted  with  their  dearest  con- 
nections not  only  without  regret,  but  rejoicing  that 
those  who  were  united  to  them  by  the  endearing  ties 
both  of  friendship  and  consanguinity,  were  disposed 
to  make  such  a  noble  sacrifice  for  the  cause  of  Christ, 
and  were  counted  worthy  to  share  in  such  an  lionorablo 
service.      They  embarked  in  October,  and  had  an 
unpleasant  voyage  to  Portsmouth,  where  the  vessel 
was  detained  several  weeks  by  contrary  winds  ;  yet 
no  man's  heart  failed,  nor  did  the  women  evince  any 
diminution  of  their  zeal  or  courage.     At  length,  on 
the  aOth  of  December,  they  weighed  anchor,  and  with 
a  fair  wind  sailed  under  the  convoy  of  tho  Aniphion 
frigate  ;  and,  though  they  were  aftcnvarcis  compelled 
to  put  back,  in  consequence  of  tho  wind  shifting,  they 
were  more  fortunate  tho  next  evening,  and  got  under 
way  with  a  fine  breeze  from  tho  east. 

—  r-T:;!Tt~.:3;-,  t::c  rrmu  cic-n"  naro,  tnc  :ca  ran 

high,  and  most  of  the  missionaries  were  severely  indis- 
posed.    And  two  days  afterwards,  in  consequence 


OTAHEITE. 


of  the  increasing  violence  of  the  storm,  and  the  ves- 
sel '.laving  already  shipped  several  seas,  the  hatches 
were  battened  down  ;  yet,  notwithstanding  this  precau- 
tion, most  of  the  articles  between  decks  were  soon  set 
afloat.  The  billows,  in  the  mean  time,  beat  the  ship 
with  a  degree  of  violence  which  made  her  tremble 
from  stem  to  stern.  One  sea,  indeed,  ran  so  high, 
that  the  spray  went  over  the  mizzen-mast  head,  and  a 
vast  quantity  of  water  forced  its  way  down  into  the  cab- 
in, which  occasioned  a  loud  and  general  exclamation  of 
alarm.  At  midnight,  a  solemn  silence  prevailed  for 
some  time,  which  was  interrupted  only  by  the  roaring 
of  the  sea,  the  falling  and  breaking  of  various  articles, 
and  the  occasional  expressions  of  fear  which  were  ut- 
tered respecting  the  imminent  danger  of  the  ship. 
These  mournful  sounds,  however,  gradually  died  away, 
the  wind  abated,  and,  on  the  morning  of  the  28th, 
the  hatches  were  unbattened,  and  the  brethren  were 
once  more  permitted  to  come  upon  deck. 

On  the  2d  of  January,  1799,  the  brethren  lost  their 
convoy,  and  the  following  day  they  were  alarmed  by 
the  appearance  of  a  strange  sail  bearing  down  upon 
them,  which  they  conceived  might  probably  be  a  French 
privateer.  On  a  near  approach,  however,  she  i  oved 
to  be  an  American  brig  from  Philadelphia,  and  bound 
to  Leghorn.  Another  sail  came  in  view  on  the  15th, 
just  after  the  Duff  had  crossed  the  tropic  and  entered 
the  torrid  zone  ;  but  she  pursued  her  course,  apparent- 
ly regardless  of  the  missionary  vessel. 

On  the  morning  of  the  30th,  a  more  serious  alarm 
was  excited  by  the  appearance  of  a  ship  of  war  and 
a  schooner,  the  latter  of  which  was  most  probably  a 
prize.  As  the  schooner  was  immediately  sent  off,  and 
the  ship  gave  chase  to  our  missionaries,  cajitain  Uob- 
son  crowded  all  the  sail  he  could ;  placed  extra  ropes 
where  he  conceived  they  might  be  necessary,  as  it 
blew  hard  ;  and  prepared  the  guns  for  action  ;  as  lie, 
with  the  officers  and  seamen,  considered  it  tiieir  duty 
to  resist  the  capture  of  the  vessel.  Hope  and  fear 
now  preponderated  alternately  in  every  bosom,  and 
many  an  anxious  look  was  cast  behind  on  ilieir  pursuer ; 
but,  at  length,  about  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon, 
she  abandoned  the  chase,  and  loft  them  to  continue 
their  voyage  in  peace. 

Nothing  further  transpired  worthy  of  narration  till 
the  19th  of  February,  when  they  canio  within  sight  of 
cape  Frio,  and  oxpooicd,  within  a  .short  time,  to  an- 
chor in  the  harlmr  of  Rio  Janeiro.  The  morning  was 
riear  and  fmo.nnd  a  strange  nail  was  discovered  astern, 
at  a  considernhlo  distance,  and  apparently  riiiing  at 

.  —  ..   - _..  — _„  ,.rr,:3i:i:-a.      snc  V.a"  uUcr- 

wards  seen  under  way,  but  this  rircuinstancc  seems  to 
have  excited  little  or  no  attention  among  the  mission- 
aries, most  of  whom  were  busily  employed  ;  some  in 


washing  their  clothes,  that  they  might  be  ready  to  go 
on  shore ;  and  others  in  writing  to  their  friends,  anx- 
ious to  give  them  the  earliest  intelligence  of  their  prog- 
ress and  safoty     It  seemed  improbable,  indeed,  that 
an  enemy's  vessel  should  be  cruising  in  that  quarter, 
where  it  was  so  likely  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  the 
Portuguese  ;  and  many  of  the  persons  on  board  were 
of  opinion  that  the  ship  they  had  seen  was  the  Porpus, 
bound  to  New  South  Wales,  as  she  had  not  reached 
Portsmouth  when  the  convoy  sailed.     The  day  was  . 
accordingly  spent  in  perfect  security,  and,  about  ten 
o'clock  at  night,  the  captain  and  most  of  the  passen- 
gers retired  to  rest,  without  the  slightest  apprehension 
of  impending  danger.    What,  then,  was  their  astonish- 
ment, when  the  strange  vessel,  which  had  been  rapid- 
ly approaching  them  by  the  aid  of  her  sweeps,  and 
had  advanced  with  her  port-holes  closed,  the  more  ef- 
fectually to  conceal  her  design,  fired  a  gun  to  bring 
them  to!    A  light  squall  springing  up,   the   moon, 
which  had  hitherto  shone  brightly,  was  obscured  by 
dense  clouds,   and    it  began  to  rain  heavily.     The 
first  shot  was  soon  succeeded  by  a  second,  which  fell 
so  near  the  Duff  as  to  be  distinctly  heard  in  the  air. 
Still  both  the  captain  and  the  missionaries  were  inclin- 
ed to  hope  that  there  was  no  real  danger ;  and  with 
this  idea  they  attempted  to  support  the  spirits  of  the 
females,  w  ho,  as  might  naturally  ha  expected,  were  in 
a  state  of  the  most  anxious  apprehension.     The  Atal 
truth,  however,  was  soon  communicated.    The  enemy, 
having  previously   hailed  them  in    English,   sternly 
ordered  the  boat  to  be  sent  alongside,  threatening,  in 
case  of  refusal,  to  sink  them  to  the  bottom  of  the  sea. 
The  first  mate  immediately  went  on  board,  and  soon 
returned  with  the  appalling  intelligence,  that  the  Duff 
was  a  prize,  and  that  all  the  men  must  instantly  quit 
lier,and  place  themselves  at  the  disposal  of  the  enemy. 
The  effect  which  this  communication  produced  on  the 
feelings  of  the  captain,  the  missionaries,  and  the  crew, 
may  bo  more  easily  imagined  than  described.     The 
married  brethren   in  particular  were  agonized  at  the 
thought  of  leaving  their  beloved  wives  and  children 
at  the  merry  of  a  banditti,  subsisting  by  pillage,  and 
inured  to  scenes  of  blood.     Little  time,  however,  was 
ufforded  for  reflection,  as  the  officers  who  had  come  on 
lioard,  armed  with  cutlasses,  would  not  even  permit  those 
who  were  unprovided  with  a  change  of  apparel  to  col- 
lect H  few  articles  together  ;  but  both  the  missionaries 
and  the  crew  wore  driven  into  the  boat  with  as  little 
ceremony  as  if  they  had  been  sheep  appointed  to  bo 
slaughtered. 

Wii  ituciiing  iiie  enemy's  vessel,  the  unlortunale 
prisoners  were  placed  on  the  quarter-deck,  under  the 
clmrge  of  several  sentinels  ;  and  here  they  had  an 
opportunity  of  contrasting  their  recent  peaceful  and 


340 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


pious  enjoyments,  wiu,  the  tumultuous  noise,  the  for- 
bidding appearance,  and  the  barbarous  manners  of  the 
unfeeling  wretches  by  whom  they  were  now  surrounded. 
In  this  pitiable  aud  heart-rending  situation  they  re- 
mained till  two  o'clock  in  the  morning,  when  they 
were  ordered  to  go  below,  and  were  immediately  com- 
pp"ed,  at  the  point  of  the  sword,  to  enter  a  place  be- 
twu^n  decks,  where  there  was  scarcely  room  for  them 
to  lie,  and  where  it  was  impossible  to  stand  upright. 
In  this  horrid  situation,  where  they  were  obliged  to 
spend  their  nights  whilst  on  board  the  privateer,  the 
heat  was  so  intense,  the  air  so  close,  and  the  smell  so 
offensive,  that  they  were  in  imminent  danger  of  suffo- 
cation. The  boards  on  which  they  slept  were  also  so 
uneven,  that  some  of  them  were  two  inches  above  the 
other ;  and,  in  addition  to  this,  they  were  dread- 
fully annoyed  by  vermin  falling  from  the  dirty  ham- 
mocks above  them  ;  whilst  the  sentinels  who  stood  on 
guard,  in  passing  to  and  from  the  lantern,  trod  over 
them,  and  frequently  thrust  the  points  of  their  swords 
between  them,  to  feel  for  room  where  they  might  put 
their  feet. 

The  first  morning  after  their  capture,  our  missiona- 
ries were  allowed  to  come  on  deck  about  six  o'clock, 
and  their  first  anxiety  was  to  look  after  the  ship  which 
contained  some  of  their  dearest  relatives  and  connec- 
tions; but  it  is  impossible  to  describe  the  anguish 
which  pervaded  their  bosoms,  when  ll  beheld  her 
steering  a  course  directly  opposite  to  their  own,  and 
gradually  disappearing  in  the  distance.  At  the  same 
time  they  learned  from  captain  Kobson,  that  the  ves- 
sel in  which  they  were  now  confined,  was  a  French 
privateer  commanded  by  captain  Carbonelle  ;  and  that 
there  was  no  possibility  of  the  Duff"  being  ransomed,  as 
she  was  to  be  taken  to  the  Spanish  port  of  Monto  Video, 
in  South  America;  and  the  privateer,  having  come  up- 
on a  thres  months'  cniiso,  would  not  return  into  port 
till  10  expiration  of  that  time,  unless  two  or  three 
valuable  prizes  should  bo  captured  in  the  interim. 

The  daily  allowanceof  our  unfortunate  missionaries, 
during  their  inournful  captivity,  is  said  to  have  been 
at  follows : — For  breakfast,  they  had  biscuit  and  but- 
ter, half  a  pint  of  water,  and  alKJUt  a  glass  of  brandy  ; 
for  dinner,  a  small  piece  of  salted  pork,  in  a  tub  with 
vinegar,  the  same  portion  of  brandy,  and  nearly  a 
pint  of  water:  one  knife  was  nlloiied  for  the  use  of 
twelve  persons,  and  t.nken  awny  iiniiiedialely  liie  meal 
was  finished.  Supper  wim  .served  at  five  o'clock, 
which  consisted  of  horse-beans  or  peas,  with  broken 
biscuit,  boiled  in  water,  and  appearini^  nearly  as  thick 
as  mud.     This  was  served  u|i  in  a  tub,  with  half  a 

nini    nf    walMf^    and    the    lisus!    slloi^'fsttm    r-S    s-\i-±ts 

It  has  been  justly  said,  that  "  the  brethren  now  knew 
the  value  of  water  by  painful  experienco  of  the  want 


of  it.  Such  as,  in  England,  'bey  would  not  have  em. 
ployed  to  wash  their  hands,  they  were  now  glad  to  use 
for  quenching  their  thirst ;  and  even  of  this,  though 
they  were  almost  fainting  beneath  the  heat  of  a  ver- 
tical sun,  they  had  but  a  scanty  allowance  in  twenty- 
four  hours.  The  sailors,  also,  cruelly  plundered  them 
of  what  little  property  any  of  them  happened  to  pos- 
sess, and  c^p-i  such  as,  on  the  night  of  their  capture, 
had  brought  with  them  a  small  bundle  of  clothes,  were; 
by  the  rapacity  of  these  brutes  in  human  form,  left 
without  a  second  shirt,  and  were  literally  obliged  to 
go  without  linen  whilst  they  washed  the  only  one  re- 
maining in  their  pos»ession."  The  captain,chief  mate, 
and  Mr.  Howell,  however,  were  much  better  accom- 
modated than  their  suffering  companions,  and  were 
even  admitted  to  the  table  of  the  French  commander ; 
who,  on  becoming  acquainted  with  their  character  and 
the  design  of  their  voyage,  seemed  disposed  to  alle- 
viate the  horrors  of  their  captivity,  and  intimated  that 
the  hard  treatment  endured  by  their  friends  was,  in 
respect  to  himself,  the  result  of  necessity,  and  not  of 
inclination.  "  Had  he  known,  he  said,  who  they  were, 
and  with  what  views  they  had  left  their  nativa  land, 
he  would  sooner  have  given  £500  out  of  his  own  pock- 
et, than  have  met  with  them;  but  as  it  was,  the 
laws  of  his  country,  and  the  claims  of  his  officers  and 
men,  compelled  him  to  act  as  he  did." 

During  the  night  of  February  21,  the  privateer  cap- 
tured a  Portuguese  brig,  laden  with  salt.     When  the 
captain  was  brought  on  board,  he  supposed  M.  Car- 
bonelle to  be  an  Englishman,  as  the  linguist  had  ad- 
dressed him  in  good  English.     This  pleasing  delusion, 
however,  was   soon  dissipated,  and  the  unfortunate 
captive,  on  learning  that  he  was  in  the  power  of  the 
French,  declared  himself  totally  ruined,  as  the  whole 
of  his  property  consisted  in  his  vessel  and  her  cargo. 
Another  brip,  employed  as  a  Lisbon  packet,  was  sub- 
sequently taken,  near  the  entrance  of  the  harbor  of 
Rio  Janeiro,  after  a  chase  of  several  hours ;  but  be- 
fore the  enemy  came  up  with    her,  the  captain  had 
taken  the  precaution  of  sending  all   the  passengers, 
letters  and  money  on  shore  in  the  long-boat,  which 
happily  got  sofe  to  land.     A  tliini  prise  was  captured 
before  day-break  on  the  1st  of  March,  which  proved 
to  be  a  Portuguese  slave-ship,  come  from  the  cape  of 
Good   Hope,  and  Wind   for  Rio  Janeiro.     Captain 
Carbonelle  was,  therefore,  induced  to  alter  his  original 
design   in  respect   to   the   extent  of  his  cruise,  and 
avowed  his  intention  of  sailing  immediately  for  Monte 
Video,  in  the  Rio  de  la  Plata,  to  the  great  joy  of  the 
missionaries,  who  considered  that  the  period  of  their 
rsptiruy  wuusa  03  tiiUa  prutiuciitisiiy  shortcnon. 

Tlie  brethren  now  agreed  to  write  a  petition  to  the 
French  captain,  to  grant  them  their  beds  and  wearing 


OTAHEITE. 


m 


apparel,  and  also  to  interest  himself  with  the  Spanish 
governor  to  prevent  them  from  being  confined  as  pris- 
oners, and,  if  possible,  to  obtain  their  liberty.  A  pe- 
tition to  this  effect  was  accordingly  drawn  up,  and  pre- 
sented to  M.  Carbonelle ;  who  replied  that  be  would 
do  as  much  for  them  as  lay  in  his  power. 

On  the  morning  of  the  13th  of  March,  they  entered 
the  Rio  de  la  Plata  ;  and,  on  entering  the  harbor  of 
Monte  Video,  they  received  the  welcome  intelligence 
that  the  Duff  had  safely  arrived,  and  that  the  women 
and  children,  who  had  not  yet  disembarked,  were  in 
perfect  health.  In  the  afternoon,  two  of  Mr.  Gregory's 
children,  and  a  daughter  of  Mr.  Jones,  came  onboaj-d 
to  see  ti)eir  fathei-s,  and  remained  about  an  hour ;  and 
the  following  morning  the  married  brethren  were  per- 
mitted to  visit  their  wives  on  board  the  Duff.  The 
meeting  which  ensued  was,  as  may  be  easily  conceiv- 
ed, of  the  most  affecting  nature  ;  and  the  narration 
which  the  females  gave  of  their  voyage  to  Monte  Vi- 
deo, and  the  treatment  they  had  received,  was  calcu- 
lated to  inspire  the  most  fervent  gratitude  to  that  God, 
who,  in  the  midst  of  his  paternal  chastisement,  had 
remembered  mercy,  and  had  constrained  the  enemy 
to  treat  these  poor  defenceless  captives  with  every 
mark  of  respect  and  sympathizing  kindness. 

It  seems  that,  immediately  after  their  separation 
from  their  beloved  husbands,  each  of  the  female  mis- 
sionaries took  possession  of  her  own  cabin  door,  scarce- 
ly knowing  what  conjectures  to  form,  but  earnestly 
looking  up  to  "  the  Friend  of  the  friendless"  for  succor 
and  protection.  After  a  short  time,  a  French  officer, 
accompanied  by  a  sailor,  came  down  from  the  deck, 
and  went  round  to  each  cabin,  thrusting  his  sword  un- 
der the  beds,  to  ascertain  whether  any  men  had  been 
secreted  there  ;  but  in  all  other  respects,  behaved 
with  the  utmost  respect  and  politeness.  The  children, 
in  the  mean  time,  were  wrapped  in  a  profound  slumber, 
totally  unconscious  of  the  disaster  which  had  befallen 
their  unhappy  parents.  These  were  pointed  out  to 
the  officer,  on  his  entering  the  cabins  of  Messrs.  Jones 
and  Gregory ;  and,  uAer  he  was  satisfied  that  no  per- 
son had  been  concealed,  he  returned  on  deck,  and 
placed  a  sentinel  at  the  hatchway,  to  prevent  ony  of 
the  soancn  from  going  below.  Shortly  afterwards, 
the  ladies  received  the  welcome  intelligence  that  the 
English  surgeon,  Mr.  Turner,  had  been  kindly  permit- 
ted by  M.  Carbonelle  to  return  or  board  the  Duff, 
lest,  in  case  of  illness,  his  professional  assistance  might 
be  needed. 

From  this  time,  the  wives  of  our  missionaries  ex- 
perienced the  most  liberal  treatment  from  the  prize- 
master  and  his  officers,  who  appeared  to  sympathize 
with  their  misfortune,  and  evidently  determined  to 
render  their  captivity  as  light  as  possible.     The  most 


scrupulous  regard,  indeed,  was  paid  to  their  cotiTe- 
nience  and  comfort ;  and  with  respect  to  the  supply  of 
their  table,  they  were  repeatedly  told  that  they  had 
only  to  mention  what  they  wished  for,  and,  if  it  were 
in  the  ship,  it  should  be  immediately  given  them. 
And  upon  then:  arrival  at  Monte  Video,  on  the  Sd  of 
March,  they  were  supplied  with  a  variety  of  fruits, 
which,  after  the  time  they  had  been  at  sea,  must  havn 
proved  highly  acceptable. 

After  the  missionaries  had  formed  a  variety  of  con« 
jectures  respecting  the  manner  in  which  they  should 
be  disposed  of  by  their  captors,  they  were  given  to 
understand  that  the  Spanish  governor  had  granted  his 
permission  for  the  debarkation  of  the  women  and  chil- 
dren, and  that  a  house  was  prepared  for  their  recep- 
tion ;  but  that  the  landing  of  the  men  had  been  pro- 
hibited by  an  order  from  the  viceroy  at  Buenos  Ayres, 
who  was  violently  prejudiced  against  them,  on  account 
of  their  religion.  It  was  stated,  however,  that  the 
married  brethren  might  visit  their  wives  occasionally 
in  the  day  time,  and  return  on  board,  provided  that 
they  were  careful  to  keep  out  of  the  sight  of  the  gov- 
ernor. This  hint  was  of  course  taken,  with  feelings 
of  lively  gratitude  ;  and  during  their  stay  in  South 
America,  the  brethren,  instead  of  being  confined  as 
prisoners  of  war,  were  permitted  to  go  about  without 
molestation,  and  were,  in  many  instances,  supplied  by 
the  natives  with  the  best  their  tables  afforded.  Two 
of  the  females  being  near  the  time  of  their  confine- 
ment, and  the  house  selected  for  their  temporary  resi- 
dence being  extremely  inconvenient,  a  gentleman. of 
Monte  Video  generously  granted  them  the  use  of  his 
country  house,  with  all  the  accommodations  it  was 
capable  of  affording.  With  the  situation  and  conve- 
niences of  this  charming  place  they  were  completely 
fascinated ;  and  the  garden  and  orchard,  which  were 
attached  to  the  dwelling,  exiiibited  one  of  the  most 
luxuriant  scenes  of  fertility  that  can  possibly  be  imagin- 
ed. Some  of  the  trees  were  apparently  ready  to  break 
down  beneath  a  load  of  fruit,  whilst  apples,  peaches, 
nectarines,  &c,,  lay  perishing  on  the  ground  in  im- 
mense profusion  ;  esculent  vegetables  of  various  kinds 
presented  an  abundant  supply  for  culinary  purposes ; 
and  a  translucent  stream,  which  ran  along  the  bottom 
of  the  orchard,  furnished  the  family  with  excellent 
fish  and  salubrious  water,  Still,  however,  amidst  all 
the  kindness  they  received,  and  all  the  blessings  with 
which  they  were  surrounded,  the  Europeans  felt  that 
they  were  strangers  in  a  foreign  land  ;  and  when  they 
reflected  on  the  afflictions  with  which  they  had  been 


visited. and  thn  hnrrinn  u-liich  «till  misniAH    fi 


nr  n  ■aaann 


at  least,  to  shut  out  every  prospect  of  usefulness,  their 
bosoms  heaved  with  involuntary  sighs,  and  the  tear  of 
regret  occasionally  rolled  unbidden  down  their  cheeks. 


343 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


Shortly  after  his  arnvtl  at  Monte  Video,  captain 
Robson  appears  to  have  formed  the  pleasing  anticipa- 
:ion  of  ransoming  the  Duff,  through  the  medium  of 
bills  of  exchange  drawn  upon  the  Missionary  Society. 
The  crew  of  the  privateer,  however,  being  anxious  for 
their  prize-money,  this  desirable  object  could  not  be  ob- 
tained without  the  immediate  payment  of  cash  ;  which, 
in  the  existing  circumstances  of  the  brethren,  could 
not  possibly  be  tendered.  An  attempt  was  then  made 
to  negotiate  for  the  purchase  of  one  of  the  brigs  cap- 
tured by  the  Grand  Buonaparte,  and,  after  some  time, 
the  bargain  was  considered  as  6naily  closed ;  but  whilst 
the  missionaries  were  arranging  their  future  plans,  and 
stating  their  willingness  to  go,  some  to  the  cape  of 
Good  Hope,  and  otiiers  to  Sierra  Leone,  whilst  a  few 
expressed  a  wish  to  return  to  England,  it  was  discov- 
ered that  the  vessel  was  already  sold  to  a  Portuguese 
merchant.  In  addition  to  this  disappointment,  thi 
brethren  received  the  appalling  intelligence  that  the 
Spanish  viceroy  bad  issued  orders  for  them  all  to  be 
detained  as  prisoners,  if  they  did  not  quit  the  country 
within  a  very  short  period.  After  a  few  days,  how- 
ever, captain  Carbonelle  procured  a  passage  for  them 
to  Kio  Janeiro,  in  the  vessel  of  which  they  had  been 
disappointed,  and  kindly  advanced  them  a  considera- 
ble sum,  on  account  of  the  society,  for  the  purchase 
of  stores  for  their  voyage. 

On  the  8th  of  May,  after  bidding  adieu  to  their 
kind  and  generous  friends  in  Monte  Video,  captain 
Robson  and  the  missionaries  embarked  on  board  the 
Portuguese  brig  Postiliihio  de  Amerique,  and  the  next 
evening  sailed  for  Rio  Janeiro.  They  expected  to 
perform  the  voyage  in  about  a  fortnight,  but,  in  con- 
sequence of  adverse  winds,  it  occupied  nearly  a  month, 
and,  as  the  vessel  was  small,  they  were  much  incon- 
venienced for  want  of  room  during  their  passage.  At 
length  they  began  to  congratulate  themselves  on  a 
near  approach  to  their  "  desired  haven  ;"  but,  at  this 
juncture,  they  were  alarmed  by  a  fleet  of  about  thirty 
ships ;  one  of  which  (a  frigate  of  forty  guns)  bore 
down  upon  them,  and,  though  she  proved  to  be  a  Por- 
tuguese, they  found,  after  a  short  communication  with 
the  commodore,  that  they  were  once  more  placed  in  a 
state  of  captivity  ;  the  brig  in  which  they  had  obtain- 
ed their  passage  having  been  purchased  without  hav- 
ing been  regularly  condemned,  and  the  merchant  who 
had  made  the  purchase  having  been  previously  charg- 
ed with  some  illegal  practices  as  a  smuggler. 

Our  unfortunate  missionaries  were  now  divided  into 
two  compnnics,  pnrt  of  them  being  taken  on  board  the 
Medusa,  the  conunodore's  ship,  of  seventy-four  guns, 
and  the  remainder  Iming  removed  into  the  Amazon 
frigate,  whilst  captain  Hobson  remained  in  the  captur- 
ed brig.     The  situation  of  the  prisoners  in  the  respec- 


tive vessels  to  which  they  were  conveyed  was  strik- 
ingly  diflferent.  On  board  the  Amazon,  they  were 
treated  with  the  utmost  humanity  and  kindness,  and 
indulged  with  every  accommodation,  by  the  captain 
and  his  officers,  who  evidently  commiserated  the  hard- 
ship of  their  situation,  and  resolved,  as  far  as  possible, 
to  alleviate  the  rigor  of  their  captivity.  Those  who 
had  the  misfortune  to  be  carried  on  board  the  Medu- 
sa, however,  found  themselves  at  the  mercy  of  the 
most  brutal,  unfeeling  tyrants,  who  seemed  to  enjoy 
nothing  so  much  as  the  power  of  inflicting  misery  up- 
on their  helpless  and  unoffending  prisoners.  After 
fasting  some  time,  the  missionary  party  in  this  vessel 
were  served  with  black  beans  and  putrescent  beef, 
which  they  could  not  possibly  eat,  and  which  was 
brought  to  them  in  a  tub,  without  bread,  or  any  allow- 
ance of  water.  As  a  substitute  for  the  former,  they 
had  a  beaten  root,  which  appeared  somewhat  like  saw- 
dust ;  and,  in  respect  to  the  latter,  they  were  inform- 
ed that  none  could  be  given  them  till  the  morrow. 
On  retiring  for  the  night,  it  appeared  that  the  place 
allotted  for  five  women  and  two  children,  was  in  the 
centre  of  the  Portuguese  sailors,  from  whom  they  were 
divided  only  by  a  piece  of  canvass,  and  the  space  thus 
apportioned  was  so  small  as  to  be  completely  covered 
by  two  mattresses.  The  next  morning  a  scanty  sup- 
ply of  water  was  furnished,  but  not  a  drop  was  allow- 
ed for  the  parched  and  almost  perishing  children,  till 
Mr.  Jones  had  repeatedly  entreated  on  their  behalf. 
At  length,  however,  he  succeeded  in  obtaining  an  allow- 
ance of  a  quart  (wine  measure)  for  each  of  the  adults, 
and  a  pint  for  each  child,  for  twenty-four  hours. 

For  some  time,  both  the  commodore  and  his  first 
captain  pretended  to  consider  the  missionaries  as  con- 
victs, who  had  been  doomed  to  expiate  their  crimes 
in  exile,  but  who  had  by  some  means  contrived  to  ef- 
fect their  escape.  This,  however,  was,  in  all  proba- 
bility, 0  mere  pretext  for  inflicting  upon  them  the  vile 
degradation  and  unmanly  cruelties  which  have  been 
already  noticed ;  and,  after  the  lapse  of  two  or  three 
weeks,  the  exemplary  conduct  of  the  brethren  com- 
pelled even  those  unfeeling  miscreants,  who  had  pre- 
viously delighted  in  torturing  their  feelings  by  the 
grossest  violations  of  common  decency,  to  ameliorate 
their  sufferings,  and  to  grant  them  rather  better  treat- 
ment. The  Rev.  Mr.  Howell,  for  instance,  who  was 
reduced  to  a  most  pitiable  state,  in  consequence  of 
illness  and  his  inability  to  eat  the  filthy  provisions 
served  up  to  him,  was  furnished  with  a  bed  in  one  of 
the  cabins,  and  admitted  to  the  commodore's  table ; 
and  one  of  the  missionary's  wives,  whose  health  was 
in  ■  vAfy  delicate  state^  was  afterwards  induls^ed  with 
similar  privileges,  though  she  had  formerly  been  treat- 
ed in  the  most  unfeeling  manner. 


OTAMEUTfi. 


■ -.sAfter  edcounteribg  some  severe  gales,  and  giving 
chase  to  several  strange  vessels,  one  of  which  was 
captured,  they  arrived  at  Lisbon,  on  the  SSd  of  Sep- 
tember ;  and  here  our  missionaries  not  only  obtained 
their  liberty,  but  Mr.  Gregory  and  his  family  were 
gratuitously  accommodated,  by  an  English  gentleman, 
with  an  elegant  suite  of  apartments,  the  rent  of  which 
was  18  moidores,  or  £24  6s.  per  month.  Arrange- 
mente  were  soon  afterwards  made  for  their  return  to 
their  native  land ;  and,  with  the  exception  of  Mrs. 
Hughes,  who  died  at  Lisbon,  and  was  interred  in  the 
Protestant  burial-ground  in  that  city,  they  were  all  per- 
mitted to  reach  the  British  shores  in  safety. 

Having  thus  briefly  related  the  principal  events  of 
the  second  missionary  voyage,  we  must  now  revert  to 
the  affairs  of  Otaheite,  where  a  circumstance  occurred 
which  induced  most  of  the  brethren  in  that  island  to 
abandon  the  scene  of  their  labors,  and  threatened  the 
mission  itself  with  complete  annihilation. 

Early  in  the  month  of  March,  1798,  the  ship  Nauti- 
lus, having  performed  a  long  and  most  perilous  voyage, 
anchored  in  Matavai  bay,  with  the  view  to  undergo- 
ing some  repairs,  taking  in  water,  &c. ;  and,  on  this 
occasion,  both  the  officers  and  crew  were  traated  very 
kindly  by  the  missionaries,  who  cheerfully  rendered 
them  every  assistance  in  their  power.     A  fter  a  few 
days,  they  set  sail,  intending  to  prosecute  their  voyage, 
but  were  soon  compelled  to  return  by  adverse  winds 
and  a  violent  storm.     Shortly  after  this,  two  of  the 
seamen  belonging  to  the  Nautilus,  and  five  natives  of 
Ow'iyhee,  who  happened  to  be  on  board,  escaped 
from  the  vessel,  and  concealed  themselves  on  shore. 
Some  of  the  chiefs  appeared  inclined  to  protect  the 
deserters  ;  but  the  captain  resolved,  if  possible,  tore- 
cover  them,  particularly  the  mariners  ;  and,  with  this 
view,  he  prevailed  on  the  brethren  to  send  a  deputa- 
tion to  the  king,  and  the  other  principal  chiefs,  Po- 
raare  and  Temaree,  that  the  fugitives  might  be  deliver- 
ed up.     Accordingly,  Messrs.  Brooinhall,  Jefferson, 
Main,  and  W.  Puckey,  waited  first  on  Temaree,  and 
requested  that  he  would  accompany  them  to  the  king. 
To  this  he  readily  acceded,  and,  on  reaching  the  royal 
habitation,  they  found  his  Otaheitan  majesty  busily  em- 
ployed in  cleaning  a  small-tooth  comb !     He  received 
them  with  apparent  cordiality,  and  desired  them  to  ex- 
plain their  business;  but  on  finding  that  Pomare  was  at 
a  place  about  two  miles  distant,  they  stated  that  they 
wished  him  to  be  present  before  they  entered  upon 
the  subject  of  their  visit ;  and,  as  they  conceived  that 
some  delay  might  occur  in  the  event  of  their  sending 
a  messenger,  they  resolved  to  go  personally,  and  per- 

j_..^.  ••—•!!  fj  tHc  iraurooi  nisson. 

VVhen  they  had  proceeded  about  three  quarters  of 
a  mile,  and  were  approaching  the  bank  of  a  river, 


which  it  tvaii  necessary  to  ford,  they  were  surrounded  by 
nearly  thirty  of  the  natives ;  three  or  four  of  whom  sud- 
denly  laid  hold  on  Mr.  Broomhall's  coat,  which  he  was 
carrying  under  his  arm,  and  endeavored  to  wrest  it  from 
him.   Surprised  at  this  conduct,  Mr.  Jefferson  hastened 
to  the  assistance  of  his  friend ;  but  before  he  could 
receive  an  answer  to  the  questions  which  he  addressed 
to  the  assailants,  he  perceived  Puckey  lying  on  the 
ground,  at  a  short  distance,  surrounded  by  several 
Otaheitans,  who  were  eageriy  tearing  off  his  clothes, 
and  afterwards  dragged  him  to  the  river,  by  the  hair 
of  the  head,  as  if  intending  to  drown  him.     In  an  op- 
posite direction,  he  discovered  Main  in  the  hands  of 
some  others,  who  were  stripping  him  with  avidity ; 
and,  in  the  space  of  a  few  seconds,  Jefferson  himself 
was  seized  and  stripped  by  four  or  five  of  the  natives, 
whocontended  violently  with  each  other  for  the  different 
articles  of  his  dress,  and,  in  the  scuffle,  dragged  him 
through  the  river  with  the  most  unfeeling  brutality, 
so  that  he  fully  expected  to  have  been  murdered ; 
though,  by  the  kind  intervention  of  an  ever- vigilant 
Providence,  he  sustained  no  material  injury.     Main 
and  Puckey,  in  the  mean  time,  were  hurried  along, 
completely  naked,  with  the  exception  of  a  narrow 
strip  of  cloth  fastened  round  their  loins  ;  whilst  some 
of  the  natives,  who  had  taken  no  part  in  this  disgrace- 
ful outrage,  seemed  inclined  to  rescue  them  from  the 
hands  of  their  enemies,  and  many  of  the  Otaheitan 
females  evinced  their  feelings  of  regret  and  compassion 
by  their  tears. 

The  ruffians  who  had  seized  on  Mr.  Jefferson  and 
his  brethren,  now  seemed  undetermined  how  to  dis- 
pose of  them ;  but,  at  length,  they  consented  to  con- 
duct them  to  Pomare,  whom  they  found,  with  his  wife 
Idia  and  a  few  attendants,  under  a  shed  by  the  sea- 
side.    The   missionaries  had  no  sooner  stated  their 
complaint,  than  they  were  humanely  furnished  with 
cloth  sufficient  to  cover  them,  and  were  solemnly  as- 
sured of  protection  for  the  future ;  and,  after  they 
had  rested  themselves  for  about  an  hour,  they  were 
accompanied,  both  by  Pomare  and  Idia,  on  their  return 
to  Matavai.     As  they  approached  the  spot  where  they 
had    been   so   inhumanly   stripped   and    maltreated, 
they  were  joined  by  Mr.  Broomhall ;  who,  after  nar- 
rowly escaping  assassination,  was  permitted  to  retain 
his  shirt,  watch,  and  trowsers.     About  eight  o'clock 
in  the  evening,  they  arrived  at  the  mission-house,  to 
the  great  joy  of  their  brethren,  who  had  received  intel- 
ligence of  the  recent  outrage,  and  had  also  been  induced 
to  suppose,  by  various  reports,  that  the  natives  had 
meditated  a  regular  ^ttack  upon  their  little  settlement, 
ihe  next  day,  Muiuie  Manne,  the  old  high-priest, 
came  to  Matavai,  with  a  message  from  Pomare  to  the 
four  brethren  who  had  been  so  cruelly  treated,  and 


944 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


brought  with  him  achickeo  and  a  young  plantain  tree, 
•8  an  atouement  and  peace-offering.  He  also  gave 
them  to  understand,  that  most  of  the  articles  of  which 
they  had  been  plundered  should  be  forthwith  restored. 
Eleven  of  the  missionaries,  however,  namely,  Messrs. 
Cover,  Clode,  Cook,  Hassel,  Henry,  Hodges,  Main, 
Oakes,  J.  Puckey,  W.  Puckey,  and  W.  Smith,  con- 
ceiving their  lives  to  be  in  imminent  danger,  in  conse- 
quence of  this  painful  occurrence,  agreed  with  captain 
Bishop,  of  the  Nautilus,  to  convey  them,  with  four 
women  and  four  children,  to  Port  Jackson.  They 
accordingly  embarked  without  delay,  and,  after  an 
unpleasant  voyage  of  about  six  weeks,  they  arrived  at 
the  place  of  their  destination,  where  they  were  received 
in  the  most  polite  and  friendly  manner  by  the  governor, 
and  by  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Johnson  and  Marsden,  the 
excelle.^t  chaplains  of  the  settlement ;  who  encouraged 
them  to  exert  themselves  in  promoting  the  interests 
of  the  colony  where  they  had  sought  an  asylum.* 
Instead  of  achieving  any  thing  for  the  honor  of  the 
gospel,  however,  some  of  them  afforded  melancholy 
proof  that  Otaheite  wou'd  not  have  been  eventually 
benefited  by  their  continuance  on  that  island  ;  whilst 
others,  who,  notwithstanding  their  attachment  to  the 
Redeemer,  had  suffered  their  fears  to  triumph  in  the 
season  of  adversity,  were  doomed  to  sufibr  more 
severe  trials  in  New  South  Wales,  than  any  of  their 
brethren  who  remained  at  their  post,  trusting  in  God 
for  their  preservation.  Mr.  Hassel  was  dangerously 
wounded,  and  robbed  of  nearly  the  whole  of  his  prop- 
erty, by  a  gang  of  villains,  who  broke  into  his  lodging 
near  Paramatta ;  and  Mr.  Clode  was  inhumanly 
murdered  in  the  vicinity  of  Sydney,  as  will  appear 
from  the  following  communication  firom  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Johnson  to  Joseph  Hardcastle,  Esq.,  the  late  treasurer 
of  the  Missionary  Society,  dated  August  26,  1799: — 
"  By  this  time,  I  suppose,  you  have  heard  that  part 
of  the  missionaries  sent  first  to  Otaheite,  have  left 
that  Island,  and  have  come  to  Port  Jackson.  These 
gentlemen  arrived  here  on  the  14lh  of  May,  1798,  at 
a  time  when  I  was  confined  to  my  room  through  a 
long  and  severe  sickness.  Upon  their  first  arrival, 
Messrs.  Cover  and  Henry,  with  their  families,  spent 
a  few  days  with  us,  after  which  they  removed  up  to 

•  The  deciaion  of  thow  who  left  Tthiti  m«y  appear  prematarr ; 
but  it  ik  not  eaay  to  form  a  oorreot  eatjmale  of  tho  dangera  to  which 
they  were  expoaed.  This  maj  be  illuitrated  Oom  the  fact  atated 
by  Mr.  Ellii ;— "  Otn,  called  Pomare  alnce  hia  flither'a  death,  ha* 
often  told  Mr.  NotI,  that,  after  the  departure  of  the  DnfT,  fVeqiiently, 
when  he  haa  been  carried  on  men'a  ahouldera  round  the  raaidenoe 
of  the  miaaionariea,  Peter  the  Swede,  who  haa  been  with  him,  haa 
aaid,  when  tho  miaaionariea  hare  been  kneeling  down  in  prayer 
at  their  fWmily  worahlp,  '  See,  tJiejr  are  all  down  on  their  kneea, 
qtiite  «eteneeleaa ;  how  eaally  your  people  might  raah  upon  them, 
and  kill  them  all!  and  then  their  proparty  would  be  youra.'  " — 
KUu't  Polynuian  Ratarcka,  p.  6!),  rol.  i.  London  edition. 


Paramatu,  about  fifteen  miles  from  Sydney,  where 
they  still  reside. 

"  Owing  to  my  indispoaition,  it  was  some  time  after 
before  I  became  acquainted  with  any  other  of  the 
missionaries ;  and  with  one  or  two  I  did  not  feel  dis- 
posed to  claim  any  acquaintance,  and  fear  the  society 
have  been  deceived  in  them ;  but  I  wish  to  be  excused 
saying  more  upon  that  subject.  A  consciousness  of 
my  own  infirmities  makes  me  delicate  in  exposing 
those  of  others — to  their  own  Master  they  must  stand 
or  fall.  The  apostle's  motto,  I  wish,  on  all  occasions, 
to  make  my  own  :  '  Be  not  high  minded,  but  fear.' 

"  During  the  time  of  my  illness,  Mr.  Samuel  Clode 
frequently  called  upon  me,  and,  I  believe,  was  pretty 
well  acquainted  with  the  nature  of  my  indisposition  ; 
and  soon  after  I  recovered,  a  friendly  intimacy  was 
formed  between  us,  and,  I  confess,  the  more  I  came 
to  know  of  him,  the  more  I  esteemed  him.  But  it 
has  pleased  God  to  remove  my  friend  away  from  me, 
to  meet  him  no  more  till  it  pleases  him  to  remove  me 
likewise  from  this  vale  of  sin  and  misery.  I  will  now, 
sir,  give  you  a  short  account  of  this  painful  and  mel- 
ancholy event. 

"  Mr.  Clode,  some  weeks  previous  to  this,  had  sig- 
nified to  me  his  intention  of  returning  to  England,  and 
at  that  time  was  preparing  things  necessary  for  tho 
voyage.  He  had  spoken  to  captain  Wilkinson,  of  the 
Indispensable,  and  had  so  far  agreed  with  him,  that 
the  captain  had  begun  to  provide  a  cabin  for  him ;  but, 
alas !  a  cabin  of  a  different  kind  awaited  him.  A 
soldier,  of  the  name  of  Jones,  had  for  some  time  owed 
Mr.  Clode  a  sum  of  money.  Mr.  Clode  now  thought 
It  necessary  to  ask  for  it,  and,  after  some  altercation, 
Jones  desired  him  to  call  on  Tuesday,  the  2d  of 
July,  In  the  artemoon,  and  he  would  settle  with  him. 

"On  Tuesday,  about  four  o'clock,  he  called  at  my 
house,  sat  a  few  minutes,  and  then  took  his  leave  for 
the  night,  promising  to  call  the  next  morning,  and  to 
bring  with  him  something  for  my  little  boy,  who  was 
at  that  time  Indisposed.  But  truly  it  may  be  said,  we 
know  not  what  a  day  may  bring  forth  ;  for  the  next 
morning,  instead  of  seeing  my  friend,  tidings  were 
brought  me  that  he  was  murdered,  and  had  been  found 
In  a  saw-pit  under  water,  his  skull  fractured  in  different 
parts,  and  his  throat  cut  from  ear  to  ear !  Judge,  sir, 
of  my  surprise  and  horror  upon  receiving  this  Informa- 
tion. A  kind  of  stupor  seized  me — I  could  not  believe 
it — It  appeared  as  a  dream  ;  but  recollecting  myself, 
I  Immediately  went  and  acquainted  his  excellency, 
the  governor,  with  the  melancholy  news.  The  gov- 
ernor, with  several  other  officers,  went  with  me  to  the 
■^tscs.  where  we  found  everv  thlnz  as  w!is  represent- 
ed ; — a  scene  so  shocking  as  I  never  shall  forget,  but 
too  painful  and  distressing  for  me  fully  to  relate. 


OTAHEITE. 


"  It  pleased  God,  however,  that  this  horrid  inimler 
did  not  remain  long  concealed ;  divine  justice  and 
vengeance  soon  pursued  and  overtoc^  his  cruel  and 
blood-thirsty  murderers.    News  of  this  shocking  event 
soon  spread  in  all  directions.    Numbers  of  all  descrip- 
tions of  persons  ran  to  the  spot ;    Jones,  the  man 
above-mentioned,  among  the  rest,  and  who  had  the 
audacity  to  impute  the  murder  to  the  person  who 
found  my  friend  in  this  melancholy  state.     But  this 
wretch's  crime,  and  his  base  intention  in  throwing  it 
upon  another,  were  both  soon  discovered.    Suspicions 
falling  upon  Jones,  the  path  leading  from  the  pit  to 
his  house  was  closely  examined,  and  blood  traced 
(besides  some  of  the  deceased's  brain  laid  in  different 
places)  to  the  very  door;    and,  on  making  further 
search  in  the  house,  blood  was  discovered  in  different 
parts,  particularly  in  a  small  skilling,  where,  as  after- 
wards appeared,  my  friend  was  dragged  after   this 
horrid  butcher  had  knocked  him  down.     An  axe  was 
found  with  blood  and  brains  upon  it,  though  it  had 
been  previously  washed  ;  a  knife  and  blanket  were 
discovered  in  the  same  state  ;  and,  upon  examining 
the  person  of  Jones,  blood  was  found  upon  one  of  his 
fingers.     These,  and  other  circumstances,  fully  con- 
firmed the  suspicion  of  his  guilt.    Jones,  his  wife,  and 
two  men  who  lived  in  their  house,  were  immediately 
apprehended,  and  the  next  day,  a  criminal  court  was 
convened  purposely  to  try  them,  when  Jones,  his 
wife,  and  Elbray,  were  convicted  upon  the  clearest 
evidence  ;    and,  most  probably,  the  fourth,  though 
acquitted,  was  a  party  concerned.     After  their  con- 
viction, I  officially  visited  these  three  horrid  mokisters ; 
who,  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  a  more  full  con- 
fession of  this  murder,  and  others  which  Jones  was 
conjectured  to  have  committed,  were  put  into  sep- 
arate places.     Jones  continued  hardened  to  the  last, 
his  wife  little  better  ;  but  Elbray,  stung  with  remorse, 
made  a  full  confession  of  the  whole  transaction,  which 
I  took  down  in  writing,  and  was  to  the  following  effect : 
"  The  scheme  was  flrst  planned  hy  Jones  and  his 
wife  on  the  Sunday ;  Elbray  was  asked  to  assist  in  it, 
but  at  first  refused.    Jones,  however,  to  gain  him  over, 
gave  him  several  drams  of  spirits,  and,  on  the  morning 
of  Tuesday,  he  consented.     Trotman  (the  other  man 
that  was  tried,  but  acquitted)  was  sent  with  Jones's 
two  children  to  a  settler's  farm  for  turnips.    Mr.  Clode 
was  at  that  time  in  the  town,  and,  expecting  him  to 
return  home  before  dinner,  it  was  the  intention  of  the 
other  three  to  despatch  him  before  Trotman  and  the 
children   returned  ;  but  Mr.  Clode  not  returning  so 
soon  as  was  expected,  this  scheme  failed.     About 
four  o'clock,  two  other  !inlHir>ra  called  in  to  drink  te°. 
At  that  time,  Jones  and  Elbray  were  looking  out  for 
their  victim,  and  seeinj;  him  coming  down  the  hill  at 
Vol.  I.— Nos.  29  it  30.  46 


a  distance,  they  went  into  the  house,  and  Jones  pro' 
posed  that  his  wife,  together  with  the  two  soldiers 
and  Trotman,  and  the  children,  should  go  to  look  at 
a  piece  of  wood,  which  was  said  to  be  cutting  for  the 
purpose  of  a  canoe ;  a  proposal  which  was  immediately 
embraced.  Mr.  Clode,  who  by  this  time  had  come 
to  the  door,  was  now  asked  in,  and  a  chair  was  set  for 
him  by  the  table  to  settle  his  accounts  with  Jtmes. 
An  axe  was  placed  in  the  comer  of  the  room,  and 
with  this  Elbray,  coming  behind  him,  was  to  knock 
him  down.  He  accordingly  took  it  in  his  hand  ;  but, 
his  heart  failing  him,  he  laid  it  down  again,  and  went  out 
of  the  house.  On  entering,  in  a  few  moments,  be  heard 
the  first  blow  given  by  Jones,  who  repeated  his  blows 
so  often,  that  Elbray  at  last  cried  out,  '  For  God's  sake, 
Jones,  you  have  knocked  him  all  to  pieces  !'  They 
then  dragged  him  into  the  skilling,  and  after  they  had 
both  come  out,  Jones  went  in  again,  and  coming  out 
a  second  time,  took  up  a  large  knife.  Elbray  asked 
him  what  he  was  goifig  to  do  with  it :  he  replied,  with 
an  oath, '  He  moves ;  he  is  not  dead ;'  and,  taking  the 
knife,  went  in  once  more,  and  cut  his  throat,  from  ear 
to  ear,  and  then  returned,  both  the  knife  and  his  hands 
reeking  with  blood.  This  he  immediately  washed, 
whilst  Elbray  scattered  ashes  over  the  room  to  conceal 
the  blood  upon  the  floor.  The  window-shutters  were 
then  closed,  the  tea-things  set  against  the  company 
returned ;  and,  after  tea,  liquor  was  set  upon  the 
table,  and  Several  songs  were  sung  by  Jones,  his  wife, 
and  others.  About  nine  o'clock,  Jones  and  Elbray 
went  out,  when  they  dragged  the  body  of  the  deceased 
through  a  hole  in  the  skilling,  and  taking  it  upon  their 
shoulders,  carried  it  to  the  pit,  threw  it  in,  and  covered 
it  over  with  green  boughs.  They  then  returned  to 
their  company,  and  kept  up  their  jovial  mirth  till  after 
midnight. 

"  The  providence  of  God  was  singularly  manifest 
in  bringing  this  horrid  murder  to  light.  A  man  had 
been  at  work,  hoeing  for  several  days,  upon  the 
ground  round  this  pit,  and  in  the  evening  used 
to  leave  his  hoe  on  this  spot.  Going  to  work 
the  next  morning,  and  looking  for  his  hoe,  he  was 
surprised  to  see  so  many  green  boughs  laid  over  the 
pit ;  and  suspecting  that  some  stolen  property  might 
be  there  concealed,  he  put  in  his  hoe  and  removed 
the  boughs,  when  he  immediately  saw  the  hand  of  a 
dead  man.  On  his  calling  to  a  person  who  was  cut- 
ting firewood  at  a  short  distance,  three  or  four  others 
came  at  the  same  time,  Jones  among  the  rest,  and 
immediately  charged   the  man  that  first  discovered 

Mr.  Clode  in  this  woful  plight,  with  the  murder,  and 

...._•«.!    •..    ,:-    {.:.   I ■- !.u    .    I II — „L:.r    i 

"......-..     trr    it^    fri5    iiKiius    mm    a    iioiiunrri^-iiicx,    anu 

take  him  into  the  camp  a  prisoner.     The  miscreant 
then  came  into  camp  with  others,  to  bring  tidings  of 


146 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


tb«  murder ;  expressed  his  concern  for  the  fate,  of  a 
man  he  so  much  loved,  and  to  whom  he  was  indebted 
for  his  attention  to  him  and  family,  in  times  of  sick- 
ness  ;  and  again  endeavored  to  throw  the  crime  upon 
the  man  that  first  discovered  the  body.  From  the 
tale  he  told,  and  other  circumstances  concurring,  the 
man  was  committed  to  prison ;  but,  at  the  very  time 
Jones  was  thus  speaking,  another  man  came  up,  and 
■aid  to  Jones — '  You  are  the  murderer;  blood  has 
been  traced  from  the  pit  directly  to  your  house.'  He 
then  began  to  protest  his  innocence,  and  to  repeat 
what  I  have  before  related.  His  house,  his  body,  &tc. 
were  examined  :  he  was  taken  to  the  pit,  ordered  to 
look  at  the  body,  and  to  touch  it.  He  replied, '  Yes, 
I  will,  and  kiss  him  too,  if  you  please,  for  I  loved  him 
as  my  brother.' 

"  That  thw  unfeeling  wretch  had  reason  to  love 
Mr.  Clode,  you  may  easily  perceive  by  his  wife's  dec- 
laration to  me  whilst  under  sentence.  Speaking  to 
her  of  this  horrid  business,  and  lamenting  the  unhappy 
end  of  a  friend  I  so  much  esteemed,  she  replied, '  Oh, 
sir,  that  dear  man  was  the  saving  both  of  my  life  and 
the  Ufe  of  my  husband.  His  attention  to  Trotman  was, 
also,  such  as  I  never  saw  in  any  other  person  in  my 
life :  three  times  a  day  he  came  to  visit  him,  washing 
and  cleansing  his  sores  ;  and  had  it  not  been  for  his  at- 
tention, he  would  have  surely  lost  liis  iiand.' 

"By  an  order  from  the  governor,  the  house  in  which 
the  murder  was  committed  was  pulled  down  on  the 
Saturday,  and  burnt  to  ashes ;  a  temporary  gallows 
was  erected  upon  the  same  spot,  and  at  twel ye  o'clock 
these  three  inhuman  wretches  were  taken  out,  and 
conveyed  in  a  cart  to  the  place,  where,  having  discharg- 
ed my  duty  as  chaplain,  they  were  launched  into  eter- 
nity, to  appear  at  the  tribunal  of  a  righteous,  sin-aveng- 
ing God.  The  bodies  of  the  two  men  were  hung  in 
chains  near  the  place  ;  that  of  the  woman  was  given 
to  the  surgeons  for  dissection. 

"  In  the  interim,  I  gave  directions  to  have  the  body 
of  my  deceased  friend  brought  into  the  town,  to  a 
small  hut  of  my  own,  and  ordered  a  decent  coffin  to 
be  made.  Numbers  came  to  see  him,  and  many  la- 
mented his  untimely  end.  On  Friday,  his  remains 
were  committed  to  the  silent  grave.  The  pall  was 
borne  by  five  surgeons  and  captain  Wilkinson.  His 
excellency  the  governor  walked  with  me  before  the 
corpse.  Messrs.  Cover,  Henry,  Hussel,  Smith,  Oakes, 
and  the  two  Puckeys  followed,  and  after  them  several 
officers  and  others.  After  having  read  the  burial  ser- 
vice, a  hymn  was  sung,  and  I  spoke  a  litlle  ujion  the 
melancholy  occasion.  Many  of  the  spectators  were 
in  tears,  and  I  was  so  much  affected  myself,  that  I  could 

"-.•  " '■■>  •"•'  B^T^  iiuth.-c,  trial  I  purposca  to  prcacn 

a  discourse  on  the  Sunday  but  one  next  ensuing." 


The  aspect  of  the  Olaheitan  mission  was  now  ex- 
tremely gloomy :— the  sun  which  had  shone  so  auspi- 
ciously on  the  arrival  of  the  Duff,  seemed  to  have 
gone  down  at  noon-day; — the  fascinatinj;  piospect 
which  had  opened  to  the  view,  and  had  warmed  the 
hearts  of  the  friends  of  the  Redeemer  in  England,  was 
now  enveloped  with  clouds  and  darkness ; — and  it  ap- 
peared as  if  the  lamp  of  divine  truth  must  be  necessa- 
rily withdrawn  from  a  people  who  "  knew  not  the  day 
of  their  visitation."  The  all-wise  and  infinitely  gra- 
cious God,  however,  had  incalculable  blessings  in  store 
for  Otaheite  ;  and,  notwithstanding  the  departure  of 
their  brethren, — their  own  numerical  weakness, — and 
the  serious  perils  to  which  they  were  exposed, — seven 
of  the  missionaries,  namely,  Messrs.  Bicknell,  Broom- 
hall,  Eyre,  Harris,  Jefferson,  Lewis,  and  Nott,  resolv- 
ed to  continue  at  their  post,  and  to  commit  themselves 
unreservedly  to  the  care  and  keeping  of  that  Omnipo- 
tent Saviour,  whose  precious  gospel  they  were  most 
anxious  to  promulgate  among  the  benighted  idolaten 
by  whom  they  were  surrounded. 

As  the  missionaries  were  perfectly  aware  of  the  cu- 
pidity of  Pomare,  by  whose  connivance,  or  that  of  the 
king,  they  had  already  suffered  various  depredations, 
they  considered  it  advisable,  on  the  departure  of  their 
brethren,  to  deliver  up  the  public  store-room  and  the 
blacksmith's  shop,  with  all  their  contents,  into  the  hands 
of  that  chief  They  also  intimated  their  willingness 
to  surrender  to  him  their  private  property  of  every 
description,  if  he  desired  it ;  but  this  he  had  sufficient 
honor  to  decline.  Notwithstanding  their  precaution, 
however,  the  Europeans  were  frequently  alarmed  by 
intelligence  that  the  mission-house  was  marked  out  for 
spoliation  and  destruction ;  and  on  several  occasions 
tiiey  were  actually  plundered  of  various  articles.  Hos- 
tilities were  also  kindled  in  the  district  of  Pare,  in  con- 
sequence of  Pomare  having  killed  two  of  the  men  who 
had  so  cruelly  treated  the  four  missionaries.  The  chief, 
however,  having  in  vain  made  overtures  of  peace  to 
the  malcontents,  attacked  them  with  a  numerous  force, 
drove  them  back  to  the  mountains,  slew  about  fifteen 
of  them,  and  reduced  thoir  houses  to  ashes;  after 
wiiich  there  was  no  further  difficulty  in  bringing  them 
to  terms  of  accommodation. 

Towards  the  close  of  August,  a  circumstance  occur- 
red which  was  calculated  to  place  in  a  striking  point 
of  view  the  prejudices  and  impatience  of  the  natives 
under  affliction,  whilst  it  menaced  one  of  the  mission- 
aries with  the  heaviest  visitation  o(  the  king's  displeas- 
ure ; — Just  as  the  brethren  had  sat  down  to  dinner, 
Pomare,  accompanied  by  a  number  of  Otaheitans, 
came  into  the  house,  and  stated  that  a  serious  accident 
had  happened  at  the  huhu,  or  gt'eai  iiuuae,  in  Pare, 
occasioned  by  the  explosion  of  a  considerable  quantity 


OTAHEITE. 


un 


of  gunpowder.  As  he  urgently  solicited  immediate 
usktance,  Mr.  Broomhall  left  his  repast,  to  mix  up 
some  suitable  ingredients ;  and,  accompanied  by  Mr. 
Harris,  set  off  in  a  single  canoe  to  one  of  the  points 
of  Pare,  and  then  proceeded  as  quickly  as  possible  to 
the  nanu,  where  they  found  Temaree,  the  chief  of 
Papara,  lying  on  his  bed  in  a  most  wretched,  mangled 
state.  Mr.  Broomhall  immediately  began  to  apply 
what  he  had  prepared,  with  a  camel's  hairbrush,  to  the 
lacerated  skin  of  the  sufferer,  who  was  apparently  more 
passive  under  the  operation  than  might  have  been  ex- 
pected. On  the  missionaries  repealing  their  visit  the 
following  day,  however,  they  were  greatly  surprised  at 
the  appearance  of  the  patient,  who  was  daubed  over 
with  a  thick  white  paste,  which,  on  inquiry,  proved  to 
be  the  scrapings  of  yams.  Both  the  chief  and  his 
wife  seemed  highly  offended  with  Mr.  Broomhall,  for 
having  applied  a  composition  which  had  been  produc- 
tive of  pain,  and  which  they  believed  to  have  been 
cursed  by  the  God  of  Britain.  As  Temaree  appeared 
unwilling  to  receive  any  further  assistance,  the  breth- 
ren went  in  quest  of  6ve  other  persons  who  had  been 
dreadfully  injured  by  the  same  accident,  though  they 
had  hitherto  been  left  in  their  pitiable  situation,  every 
attention  having  been  devoted  to  the  great  chief.  Two 
of  the  five  permitted  Mr.  Broomhall  to  dress  their 
wounds,  but  the  others  would  not  suffer  him  to  touch 
them. 

After  calling  at  the  house  of  an  acquaintance,  the 
brethren  returned  to  visit  Temaree,  and  at  this  time 
Otoo  and  his  consort  were  riding,  in  their  usual  style, 
upon  tiie  shoulders  of  their  attendants,  in  front  of  the 
house.  "  I  now,"  says  Mr.  Harris,  "  asked  brother 
Broomhall  to  go  out,  in  order  that  we  might  speak  to 
the  king.  We  accordingly  went,  and  I  addressed  him 
with  one  of  the  usual  salutations.  It  was  returned  in 
silence,  and  with  a  fallen  countenance,  which  always 
denotes  his  wrath,  and  often  precedes  the  command 
kill  him ;  for  he  thinks  no  more  of  sacrificing  a  man 
than  of  cutting  off  a  dog's  neck.  I  saw  plainly  that 
his  executioners  knew  his  thoughts,  and  their  eyes 
were  fixed  in  a  peculiar  manner  on  me  and  on  him, 
watching  his  motions.  Otoo  laid  his  hand  on  my  shoul- 
der, and  called  one  of  his  men  to  him.  I  cleariy  saw 
that  mischief  was  impending;  but,  laboring  to  conceal 
my  alarm,  I  withdrew,  on  pretence  of  looking  at  an 
animal  which  had  been  presented  by  a  European  cap- 
tain, and  which,  at  this  juncture,  caught  my  eye.  I 
then  advanced  a  few  steps  farther  towards  brother 
Broomhall,  who,  with  a  countenance  resembling  the 
color  of  writing-paper,  said,  'Let  us  go;  there  is  some- 
thing the  matter.'  I  readily  accednH  to  his  mnt-Gn, 
and  we  went  off  towards  Matavai,  though,  I  confess,  t 
never  expected  to  reach  it ;  conceiving,  as  I  did,  that 


the  scenes  of  March  96  were  again  about  to  be  acted, 
only  in  a  more  tragksal  manner." 

In  alluding  to  the  death  of  Temaree,  which  seems 
to  have  occurred  on  the  8th  of  September,  Mr.  Harris 
observes,  "  This  awful  visitation  is  evidently  to  us  a 
singular  interposition  of  Providence,  though  time  alone 
can  unfold  its  consequences.  There  seemed  to  be  such 
a  rooted  jealousy  subsisting  between  Pomare,  Idia| 
and  the  deceased,  that  we  were  in  daily  expectation 
of  an  open  rupture ;  and  though  he  behaved  towards 
us  with  civility,  the  few  times  he  happened  to  visit  us, 
we  have  some  reason  to  suppose  that  he  and  Otoo 
were  the  principal  agents  in  causing  the  four  brethren 
to  be  stripped  at  Pare." 

Many  considerable  presents  had  been  made  to  the 
deceased  chief,  and  he  hnd  a  number  of  muskets ;  but 
his  grand  object  was  gunpowder,  of  which  he  had  re- 
ceived several  pounds  from  one  of  the  ships  last  at 
Otaheite.  The  largeness  of  the  grain  having  induced 
him  to  question  whether  the  Europeans  had  furnished 
him  with  real  powder,  he  proposed  to  his  attendants  to 
ascertain  the  fact  by  an  experiment.  Accordingly  a 
pistol  was  loaded,  and  unthinkingly  fired  over  the 
whole  quantity  of  powder  received ;  which,  on  the  fall- 
ing of  a  spark,  instantaneously  exploded.  The  natives 
were  not,  at  first,  aware  of  the  injury  they  had  receir- 
ed  ;  but  wlien  the  smoke  had  dispersed,  and  they  be- 
gan to  rub  those  partsof  their  bodies  which  appeared  to 
be  fouled  by  the  powder,  they  were  terrified  on  perceiv- 
ing the  skin  peel  off  under  their  fingers ;  and  several  of 
them  instantly  plunged  into  an  adjacent  river ;  whilst 
intelligence  of  the  disaster  was  conveyed  to  Pomare, 
who  happened  to  be  at  Matavai,  and  immediately  ap- 
plied to  the  missionaries  for  assistance. 

On  the  18th  of  November,  the  missionaries  were 
informed  that  Otoo  and  Manne  Manne  had  usurped 
the  power  over  all  the  larger  peninsula,  and  excluded 
Pomare  from  exercising  authority  in  any  part  of  the 
same.  If  this  were  the  result  of  Manne  Manne's  in- 
trigues, however,  he  was  not  long  permhted  to  triumph 
in  his  success ;  as,  on  the  3d  of  December,  the  mis- 
sionaries received  intelligence  that  he  was  killed, 
and  that  the  servants  both  of  Idia  and  of  Otoo  were 
plundering  his  property.  The  prevalent  report  relative 
to  this  catastrophe  was  as  follows : — Pomare  having 
sent  word  to  his  wife,  in  a  private  manner,  that  the  old 
priest  must  be  put  out  of  the  way,  Idia  went  repeat- 
edly to  the  king,  in  order  to  procure  his  consent  to  the 
measures  which  she  intended  to  adopt.  Otoo  was,  at 
first,  very  unwilling  to  sacrifice  a  man  with  whom  he 
was  in  close  alliance ;  but,  at  length,  yielded  to  the 

.^..t.-.....,..,.^  ...    ,,!:*  111./11161.       1  lit:  iitTAt  iiiuriiiiig  ixic  UB- 

suspecting  Manne  Manne  was  overtaken  near  One-tree 
Hill,  by  Fare-roa,  (the  man  with  whom  Idia  had  for 


848 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


some  time  cohabited)  and  one  of  the  Sandwich  ialanden. 
After  a  short  conversation,  Fare-roa  smote  his  victmi 
on  the  head  with  a  stone,  and  the  high-priest,  who  had 
been  long  venerated  by  the  natives  as  possessing  pe- 
culiar influence  with  their  gods,  sunk  helpless  and  un- 
protected into  the  arms  of  death,  beneath  the  treacher- 
ous blow  of  an  assassin.     His  corpse  was  afterwards 
conveyed  to  the  great  morai  in  Pare,  of  which  the  fol- 
lowing description  has  been  given  by  Mr.  Jefferson : — 
"  This  morai,  or  place  appointed  for  the  worship 
of  the  eatooa,  stands  on  a  sandy  point  of  land,  pro- 
jecting a  little  way  out  towards  the  sea,  and  forming  a 
small  bay  on  each  side.     I  arrived,  in  company  with 
an  Otaheitan  priest,  between  eleven  and  twelve  o'clock 
in  the  forenoon,  and  observed  a  number  of  bread-fruit, 
cocoa-nut,  and  other  trees,  growing  close  to  the  morai. 
Before  we  entered,  my  guide  gathered  a  bunch  of 
green  leaves,  that  grew  upon  the  beach ;  and,  as  soon 
as  we  came  to  the  accustomed  place  for  making  offer- 
ings,  he   threw   them   upon  the  pavement,  and   re- 
peated, in  a  careless  manner,  a  few  words  soliciting  the 
favor  of  the  deity  supposed  to  preside  there.     The 
place  where  this  ceremony  was  performed  is  dedicated 
to  their  principal  eatooa,  called  Oro,  and  is  a  rough 
stone  pavement  about  eighteen  feet  square.     At  the 
norfli  end,  opposite  to  the  sea,  is  a  large  pile  of  stones, 
upwards  of  five  feet  high,  three  or  four  feet  wide,  and 
about  eighteen  feet  long.     Upon  the  top  are  several 
pieces  of  board,  some  of  them  six  feet  long  and  twelve 
inches  broad  ;  the  ends  being  slit  into  five  parts,  to  rep- 
resent a  human  hand,  with  the  fingers  a  little  extended. 
At  the  south  end  are  set  up  five  stones,  three  of  which 
are  larger  than  the  other  two.     These  are  designed  to 
mark  out  the  places  of  the  officiating  priests,  both  of  su- 
perior and  inferior  rank  ;  who  sit  cross-legged  upon  the 
pavement,  supporting  their  backs  against  the  stones, 
and  in  this  posture,  with  their  faces  towards  the  pile  of 
stones  and  boards,  they  present  their  prayers.     The 
middle  space  is  where  the  human  victims  are  slaugh- 
tered, by  being  knocked  on  the  head  with  stones  and 
a  club  ;  after  which,  a  principal  priest  scoops  out  the 
eyes  of  the  murdered  person,  and,  holding  them  in  his 
hands,  presents  them  to  the  king,  who  opens  his  mouth, 
as  if  intending  to  swallow  tlu-ni.     When  this  ceremony 
is  concluded,  the  carcass  is  thrown  into  a  pit,  and  cov- 
ered with  stones;  onH,  from  tlie  number  of  pits  sur- 
rounding the  place,  as  well  as  from  the  expressions  of 
my  conductor,  I  apprehend  that  many  hundreds  of 
men  and  women  have  been  here  sacrificed  by  the  abom- 
inable superstition  of   il'.&se   idolaters.      Besides  tlio 
captives  taken  in  war,  i!ie  bodies  of  those  slain  in  bat- 
tle, or  those  cut  off  by  tb"  '   iiwmnd  of  the  king,  or 
thai  are  purposely  uamoiKK-ii    i  uiiv  niiier  part  under 
his  jurisdKtion,  are  bp;ught  ^.;^    his  inorai,  that  prayers 


may  be  made  over  them,  previously  to  their  inters 
ment. 

"  A  little  to  the  right  of  this  pavement  of  blood, 
and  nearer  towards  the  point,  is  an  altar  to  Oro,  raised 
upon  three  rows  of  wooden  pillars,  thirteen  in  a  row, 
neariy  seven  feet  liigh,  and  four  or  five  feet  broad  ;  the 
top  being  covered  with  cocoa-nut  leaves,  and  the  front 
and  ends  decorated  with  leaves  of  the  sugar  cane.so  fixed 
that  they  may  hang  down  like  long  fringes.  Upon  this 
altar  was  a  large  hog,  with  other  offerings  of  fish, 
bread-fiuit,  and  mountain  plantains.  A  little  more  to 
the  right,  was  the  frame  of  an  altar  going  to  decay, 
dedicated  to  an  imaginary  deity  named  Ore-madooa ; 
and  a  few  yards  farther,  toward  the  extremity  of  the 
land,  appeared  a  pile  of  stones,  ten  or  twelve  feet 
high,  and  about  twenty  in  length,  sacred  to  a  marine 
god  called  Tupah,  and  said  to  be  the  occasional  ^ene 
of  human  sacrifices.  By  this  time,  however,  I  was 
tired  and  disgusted  with  these  awful  proofs  of  man  s 
apostasy,  and  of  Satan's  power  over  him ;  and  there- 
fore desired  my  guide  to  withdraw." 

On  the  first  intelligence  of  Manne  Manne's  death, 
much  confusion  ensued  in  Pare,  and  the  friends  of  the 
deceased  dispersed  themselves  in  various  directions. 
One  of  his  relatives  was  exposed  to  the  most  immuient 
peril,  hut  hud  his  life  saved  m  a  manner  too  interesting 
to  be  passed  over  in  silence.  At  the  commencement 
of  the  tumult,  this  man  was  sitting  quietly  in  his  hut, 
which  was  quickly  surrounded  by  a  barbarous  mob, 
who  seemed  only  intent  on  marking  their  progress  with 
destruction.  A  savage,  thirsting  for  blood,  saw  this 
person,  and  instantly  lifted  up  an  English  axe,  for  the 
pur]M>se  of  despatching  him.  The  deadly  weapon  was, 
for  a  moment,  poised  in  the  air,  when  a  by-stander 
exclaimed,  "  Hold !  you  must  not  kill  him  ;  for  Idia 
has  commanded  that  his  life  shall  be  spared."  7i"his 
assertion,  it  seems,  had  no  foundation  in  truth,  and  was 
merely  the  result  of  a  sudden  impulse  on  the  mind  of 
the  speaker.  Happily,  however,  it  proved  the  mean 
of  tiie  poor  man's  deliverance.  The  man,  who  would 
otherwise  have  imhnied  his  hands  in  innocent  blood, 
dropped  his  axe  on  hearing  the  name  of  Idia  ;  and  on 
the  rescued  victim  being  c  s  ve-!  !->  the  dwelling  of 
till  king's  mother,  she  generour'-'  '.  -lUfd  him  of  pr»>- 
tertion,  and  took  him  into  '  (.:    "r  .  x. 

In  the  month  of  Noven ,  ,  j9,  nio  brethren  re- 
ceived intelligence  of  the  death  of  Mr.  Lewis,  who, 
for  upwards  of  fifteen  months  past,  had  been  in  a  state 
of  excommunication  from  the  church,  in  consequence 
of  his  determination  to  cohabit  with  one  of  the  native 
Jemales  as  his  wife.  Under  such  ciroumstances,  the 
news  was  peculiarly  painful,  and  after  the  most  carefiil 
investigation,  the  real  cause  of  his  dissolution,  which 
was  sudden  and  unexpected,  remained  shrouded  in 


OTAHEITE. 


mystery ;  though  there  was  every  reason  to  suppose 
that  he  had  been  murdered  by  some  of  the  natives,  on 
account  of  the  woman  for  whom  he  had  forfeited  his 
most  important  privileges,  and  with  whom  he  appears 
to  have  lived  very  unliappily.     One  of  the  missiona- 
ries who  went  to  examine  the  corpse  of  his  former 
friend  and  colleague,  observes,  that,  in  consequence  of 
the  strong  suspicions  which  had  been  excited  in  his 
mmd,  by  what  he  had  heard,  he  determined  to  obtain 
all  the  uiformation  that  he  possibly  could,  in  his  way 
to  Ahonoo,  where  the  deceased  had  resided ;  and,  ac- 
cordingly, called  at  every  house  where  he  conceived 
any  intelligence  could  be  procured  ;  but  the'  accounts 
which  he  received  were  very  contradictory.     "  The 
first  person,"  says  he,  "of  whom  I  inquired,  told  me, 
that,  like  a  man  out  of  his  senses,  Mr.  Lewis  ran  against 
the  boards  of  Jiis  room,  first  on  one  side,  then  on 
the  other ;  and  at  last,  rushing  out  at  the  door,  he 
threw  himself  headlong  among  the  stones,  and  thus 
deprived  himself  of  existence.     Another  said  that  he 
was  taken  ill,  and  died  in  his  bed,  about  the  middle  of 
the  day  ;  whilst  others  asserted  that  an  evil  spirit  had 
entered   into   him,  and  destroyed   him   by  violence. 
When  I  arrived  at  the  house  of  the  deceased,  I  found 
his  body  laid  on  a  bedstead,  on   the  outside  of  his 
sleeping  room,  and  covered  with  a  piece  of  white 
Otaheilan  cloth.      Upon  uncovering  liis  face,  there 
appeared  a  bruise  upon  the  upper  part  of  his  fore- 
head,  somewhat    larger    than    half   a  crown;    and 
other  bruises  were  visible  on  his  right  cheek-bone,  his 
left   eye-brow,   and   the  bridge  of  his  nose.      Upon 
the  rigiit  side  of  his  face  there  was  a  deep  wound, 
as  though  mflicted  with  some  sharp  instrument,  and 
which  extended  a  little  below  the  right  comer  of  his 
mouth. 

"  After  I  had  examined  the  body,  I  desired  the  fe- 
male with  whom  he  lived  to  give  me  an  account  of 
what  she  had  observed  in  his  conduct  previous  to  his 
death,  and  I  particularly  inquired  whether  he  had  been 
angry  with  her.  She  replied  in  the  affirmative,  but  said 
she  had  done  nothing  to  offend  him.  I  then  asked  if  he 
had  been  displeased  with  any  of  her  countrymen  ;  and 
she  admitted  that  he  had ;  but  assured  me  their  only 
ofience  consisted  in  having  entered  his  garden.  Now 
the  man  who  cooked  her  food  had  previously  told  me, 
that  Mr.  Lewis  had  seen  some  of  the  natives  standing 
behind  the  post  of  his  door,  and  beckoning  to  his  wife 
to  come  out  to  them,  and  that  his  anger  had  been  ex- 
cited by  her  stepping  aside.  I  then  asked  her  what  he 
did  to  the  people ;  upon  which  a  man  who  appeared 
to  act  as  the  woman's  prompter,  said,  '  Tell  him  that 
he  scolded,  drove  us  away,  and  threatened  us  if  we 
aiieinptcd  to  come  again.'  Then  (thinking  probably 
that  I  did  not  understand  him)  he  tunied  to  his  com- 


84» 

panions,  and  said,  in  a  private  manner, '  That  is  one 
part;  but  tay  nothing  about  $tonet  folloteing.' . 

"  In  answer  to  other  inquuries  respecting  the  deceas- 
ed, I  was  told  that  he  remained  in  his  garden  till  near 
dusk,  and  afterwards  ate  his  supper,  though  very  spar- 
ingly. He  was  still  displeased  with  the  person  whom 
he  considered  as  his  wife,  and  desired  her  to  go  homo 
to  her  parents ;  but,  after  some  time,  he  seemed  willuig 
to  be  reconciled,  and  engaged,  as  usual,  in  reading  and 
prayer.  He  then  prepared  his  bed  ;  but  before  he  laid 
himself  down,  he  went  out  at  the  door,  and  remained 
some  time.  At  last  the  female  heard  him  fall,  and 
after  calling  to  him  without  receiving  any  answer,  she 
took  a  lamp  b  her  hand,  and  found  that  he  liad  fallen 
upon  a  stone,  and  was  bleeding  profusely.  She  then 
ran  for  her  parents,  who  resided  within  about  twenty 
yards  of  the  house,  but  before  they  came  to  his  assist- 
ance, he  had  breathed  his  last."  After  the  interment 
of  the  corpse,  the  missionaries  were  assured,  botli  by 
the  king  and  his  father,  that  if  Mr.  Lewis  liad  been 
murdered,  the  district  in  which  he  lived  should  be  ut- 
teriy  destroyed;  and  many  of  the  inhabitant  of  Aho- 
noo actually  fled  to  the  mountains,  under  an  idea  that 
Po.nare  had  resolved  on  their  extirpation.  The  breth- 
ren, however,  endeavored  to  point  out  the  cruelty  and 
wickedness  of  punishing  the  innocent  with  the  guilty; 
and,  as  there  was  no  actual  proof  of  the  supposed 
assassination,  they  exerted  themselves  strenuously  and 
successfully  to  prevent  any  efiusion  of  human  blood. 

On  the  6th  of  January,  the  missionaries  had  the  sat- 
isfaction to  welcome  to  their  band,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hen- 
ry, who  returned  from  Port  Jackson  ui  a  whale  ship. 
Mr.  Henry  was  the  only  one  of  the  number  who  left, 
that  resumed  his  labors  in  Tahiti. 

In  the  month  of  June,  1800,  the  missionaries  were 
severely  tried  by  a  new  and  unexpected  afillction.  Mr. 
Broomhall,  who  had  for  some  time  past  evmced  much 
coldness  and  indifference  in  respect  to  the  things  of  God, 
and  upon  some  occasions  had  actually  withdrawn  from 
the  religious  services  of  the  brethren,  in  order  to  avoid 
engaging  in  prayer,  at  length  avowed  that  his  principles 
had  undergone  a  complete  revolution,  and  that  he  no 
longer  believed  even  m  the  immortality  of  the  soul ; 
though  he  ingenuously  acknowledged  that  he  was  now 
destitute  of  that  felicity  which  he  had  formerly  enjoy- 
ed. This,  of  course,  led  to  a  correspondence,  and  to 
various  meetings,  in  which  every  argument  that  could 
have  been  dictated  by  love  to  an  immortal  soul, 
jealousy  for  the  honor  of  the  Redeemer,  and  anxiety 
on  account  of  the  heathen,  was  brought  forward,  to 
convince  him  of  his  error,  to  warn  him  of  liis  danger, 
and  to  lure  him  back  to  the  paths  of  peace.  Unfor- 
tunately, however,  arguments,  expostulations,  entrea- 
ties, and  warnings,  were  all  brought  forward  in  vain ; 


880 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


■nd  it  became  the  painful  but  poreraptory  duty  of  the 
jitthren  6rst  to  suspend,  and  cf--..vards  to  excommu- 
nicate, a  man  who,  after  all  his  religious  profession, 
seemed  entirely  devoted  to  the  principles  of  infidelity. 
Previous  to  this  infliction  of  church  discipline,  he  had 
formed  an  intimacy  with  a  native  female,  but  was  soon 
left  by  her,  and  he  took  the  earliest  opportunity  of 
quitting  the  island.  His  departure  was  advantageous 
to  the  mission,  as  his  influence  on  the  minds  of  t!ie 
inhabitants  was  to  be  dreaded  ;  but  it  proved  peculiarly 
painful  to  the  little  band  of  bretliren.  They  followed 
him  \viiii  their  supplications.  It  has  since  appeared, 
that  he  engaged  in  navigation,  and  traded  in  tlie  Indian 
seas.  Years  elapsed  without  any  information  respect- 
ing him.  In  1809,  he  was  in  Calcutta,  laboring  under 
severe  illness  ;  and,  his  mind  being  awakeiicd  to  a 
perception  of  his  awful  state,  he  obtained  a  private 
interview  with  Dr.  Marshman  and  Mr.  Ward,  the 
Baptist  missionaries  at  Serampore.  Mr.  Ward  writes 
from  Calcutta,  May  8,  1809,  and  says  that,  "  after  a 
little  conversation  on  the  state  of  his  soul,  lie  added, 

'  You  now  behold  an  apostate  missionary.      I  am 

Broomliall,  wlio  left  his  brethren  nine  years  ago.  Is 
It  possible  you  can  behold  we  without  despising  me  ?' 
Dr.  Marshman  entreated  this  returning  prodigal  to  be 
assured  of  the  utrrost  love  on  our  part  ;  encouraged 
him  in  his  dctcrinination  to  return  to  his  missionary 
brethren,  and  promised  to  intercede  on  his  behalf" 
Shortly  after  .this  occurrence,  Mr.  Uroondiall  embark- 
ed on  another  voyage,  pu-;-osing,  on  his  r(Murn,  to 
dis|)osc  of  his  vessel,  and  dtvote  the  remainder  of 
bis  days  to  the  cause  which  ho  had  dishonored  and 
abandoned.  From  that  voyage  ho  was  not  permitted 
to  return.  Tiie  ve.isel  was  never  heard  of  after  leaving 
poit. 

During  these  orcurrcnces  in  Otaheite,  the  directors 
in  England  had  sent  out  twelve  new  misssionnries  in 
the  Koyul  Admiral,  a  ship  with  convicts  for  Port 
Jackson,  coininanded  by  captain  William  Wilson,  who 
had  been  appointed  one  of  the  mates  of  the  Dufl',  in 
both  tiie  voyages  which  that  vessel  made  to  the  South 
seas.  Shortly  after  quitting  the  Mritish  shores,  it  was 
perceived  that  tiie  prisoners  were  seriously  affi'cted 
with  various  diseases  ;  and,  as  they  approached  the 
torri<l  zone,  a  putrid  fever  broke  out  among  them, 
which,  in  addition  to  scurvy  and  dysentery,  spread, 
with  alarming  rapidity,  botii  among  the  convicts  and 
the  sailors  ;  and  alwut  forty  persons,  including  Mr. 
Tt'rncr,  the  surgeon,  and  Mr.  Morris,  one  of  the 
brethren,  weie  swept  away  to  an  untimely  grave.  The 
rest  of  the  missionories,   however,  were  mercifully 


prcscrrcti  ;   ant:  nitrr 


isnncu  ifiG  ruFi- 


victs  in  New  South  Wales,  they  arrived  in  safety  at 
Otaheite,  on  the  lOth  of  July,  1801. 


His  majesty's  sloop  of  war  the  Porpoise  had  been 
previously  sent  to  the  island  from  Port  Jackson,  for 
the  purpose  of  salting  pork  for  the  colony,  and  lay  at 
anchor  with  several  canoes  about  her ;  but  the  moment 
the  Royal  Admiral  appeared  in  sight,  the  natives 
paddled  hastily  toward  her,  and  crowded  on  board ; 
most  of  them  recognizing  the  captain,  and  seeming  to 
vie  with  each  other  m  congratulations  and  professions 
of  friendship.  They  were  particularly  curious  to 
know  who  were  the  brethren  that  had  come  to  join 
the  rest ;  and,  on  their  being  pointed  out,  they  em- 
braced them  warmly,  and  paid  them  unremitting  at- 
tentions during  thu  remainder  of  the  evening. 

After  landing  and  making  the  requisite  arrangements 
for  the  incorporation  of  the  old  and  new  missionaries, 
captain  Wilson  observes,  "  We  went,  by  appointment, 
to  meet  the  king,  Pomare,  Idia,  and  some  other  chiefs  ; 
and  through  the  medium  of  an  interpreter,  I  spoke  to 
thein  cuiicerning  the  reasons  which  had  first  induced 
the  missionaries  to  visit  the  island,  the  reception 
which  had  been  given  them,  and  the  benefits  which 
had  already  resulted  from  their  residence  in  the  country. 
'  also  mentioned  a  few  instances  in  which  they  haJ 
been  ill  treated,  end  endeavored  to  convince  them 
how  easy  it  would  he  for  me  to  retaliate  ;  but,  1  added, 
though  these  facts  were  known  in  Britain,  the  chiefs 
of  that  country  were  still  so  desirous  of  the  welfare 
of  i!;e  Olaheitans,  shat  they  had  sent  other  men  in 
the  room  of  those  whom  their  violence  had  driven 
away.  Then  taking  each  of  the  new  missionaries  by 
the  hand,  and  leading  them  to  each  of  the  chiefs, 
1  introduced  them  by  name.  With  this  ceremony 
they  were  much  delighted,  and  promised  to  protect 
thfiii  to  the  utmost  of  their  power.  Hefore  we  retired, 
Poiimro  asked  whether  the  new  comers  would  fight 
for  hitii  ;  and,  on  my  replying  that  iliey  would  never 
take  up  arms  except  in  thi'ir  own  defem.e,  1  believe 
their  value  sunk  considerably  in  his  estimation.  He 
replied,  however,  '  I'^ery  well,  'f  they  will  not  fight, 
I  will  fight  for  them  ;  but  it  seems  very  odd  that  king 
George,  who  has  so  many  fighting  .iien,  should  send 
none  to  my  assistance  !'  " 

When  the  Royal  Admiral  was  about  to  quit  Otaheite, 
Mr.  Read,  one  of  the  new  missionaries,  being  dissatis- 
fied with  some  of  the  regulations  drawn  up  by  his 
brethren,  re-emborked,  with  a  view  to  go  to  the  capo 
of  (Jood  Hoi)0  ;  and  captain  Wilson  succeeded  in  re- 
moving from  the  inland  throe  runaway  seamen,  who  had, 
for  some  time,  been  enemies  to  all  good,  disturbers  of 
the  public  peace,  and  a  complete  nuisance  to  society. 

Though  the  missicmaries  had  endeavored,  from  llioir 
nrsi  tirriVrii  in  Otuiieiic,  lo  convey  sf»iMC  inca  ni  inc 
truths  ol  Christianity  to  the  natives  through  the 
medium  of  on  interpreter,  it   was  not  till  the  com- 


OTAHEITE. 


MK 


mcncement  of  the  year  1802,  that  they  were  enabled 
to  preach  in  the  language  of  the  country.  In  the 
month  of  February  in  that  year,  however,  Messrs. 
Nott  and  Elder  set  out  on  a  circuit  round  the  island  ; 
knd  in  little  more  than  thirty  days,  they  had  the  satis- 
faction of  proclaiming  the  gospel  of  salvation  in  all 
the  districts  except  that  of  Atehura.  The  congrega- 
tions which  they  assembled  varied  in  numbers,  from 
sixteen  or  twenty  to  a  hundred  and  sixty  persons  ; 
and  in  many  instances  the  hearers  seemed  to  pay  con- 
siderable attention,  and  even  asked  various  questions 
concerning  Jehovah  and  his  Son  Jesus  Christ :  some 
of  them,  also,  appeared  to  credit  the  assertion  that 
the  heavens  and  tiie  earth  were  created  by  the  power 
of  Jehovah  ;  and  seemed  peculiarly  struck  with  the 
fact  that  no  less  an  atonement  for  sin  could  satisfy 
him  than  the  incarnation  and  deatii  of  his  own  Son. 
Others,  as  might  have  been  expected,  were  careless 
and  indifferent ;  and  at  one  place,  where  a  gieat 
number  of  the  natives  were  assembled  for  the  purpose 
of  fishing,  only  thirty-five  persons  could  be  induced 
to  leave  their  employment  for  a  short  time,  in  order 
to  attend  to  the  things  connected  witii  their  eternal 
peace. 

The  two  missionaries  arrived  in  the  district  of  Ate- 
hura in  the  latter  end  of  March,  when  a  religious 
festival  was  held  in  honor  of  Oro,  wiiicli,  tliougii 
only  a  shapeless  log  of  wood,  was  worshipped  as  the 
great  god  of  tiie  Oiaheitnns.  When  tiiey  reached 
the  place  of  meeting,  Pomare  was  offering  a  present 
of  five  or  six  large  hogs  to  this  imaginary  deity,  on 
board  a  sacred  canoe.  Tiio  brethren,  therefore, 
resolved  to  improve  so  favorable  an  ojjportunity  of 
conversing  with  tiio  chief,  on  the  existence  of  the 
true  God,  the  absurdity  of  idol  worship,  the  only 
expiation  for  sin,  the  approacii  of  a  judgment  day, 
and  the  eternal  misery  of  the  disobedient.  Pomare 
at  first  seemed  iirnvilling  to  hear ;  but  the  persons 
around  hnn  continued  liie  conversation  by  asking 
questions  ;  and  at  length  he  said,  that  he  would  attend 
to  the  new  religion. 

A  dispute  subsiMiuenlly  arose,  at  this  place,  between 
Otoo  and  the  Ateluirans,  wliicli  not  only  interrupted 
the  tranquillity  of  the  island,  but  unhajipily  orcasionnd 
a  serious  rebellion,  nn<l  a  considciuiiio  effusion  of 
blood.  The  king  having  cndcavorod,  but  without 
•(Toct,  to  persuade  the  iiiiiabilunls  of  Alehurn  to  give 
up  their  venerated  doily  lo  him,  at  length  look  it  from 
tiiPin  by  foM-e.  This  naturally  inflniiicd  the  resent- 
ment of  the  Ateluirans,  who  immedialcly  resolved  to 
revenge  so  gross  an  insult,  and, on  finding  themselves 
Jutiieii  iiy  jioiiio  of  the  Mirmimding  districts,  liiev  com- 
menced a  furious  war  against  the  king's  adherents, 
whom  they  completely  vanquished  in  their  first  battles, 


and,  in  some  instances,  treated  them  with  the  most 
wanton  cruelty.  Both  Otoo  and  Pomare  were  now 
seriously  alarmed  at  the  progress  and  success  of  the 
rebels,  who  seemed  to  acquire  fresh  confidence  as  they 
were  enabled  to  mark  their  route  with  destruction. 
By  the  assistance  of  captain  Bishop  and  his  men, 
however,  who  happened  to  be  on  the  island,  ia 
consequence  of  their  ship,  the  Norfolk,  having  been 
forced  on  shore  in  a  violent  gale,  the  royalisu  sub- 
sequently obtained  some  advantages  ;  and,  on  the 
arrival  of  captain  Simpson  in  the  Nautilus,  the  king 
and  his  friends  had  the  satisfaction  of  witnessing  the 
complete  discomfiture  of  the  insurgents;  who,  on  dis- 
covering the  British  sailors,  were  overwhelmed  with 
consternation,  and  fled  in  all  directions,  leaving  Rua, 
their  ringleader,  and  seventeen  other  persons  dead  on 
the  field  of  battle.  Peace  was  soon  afterwards  con 
eluded  ;  and  the  missionaries,  who  had  been  seriously 
alarmed  for  their  personal  safety  during  the  late  com- 
motions, had  now  an  opportunity  of  presenting  their 
heart-felt  praises  to  that  adorable  Saviour,  by  whose 
good  providence  they  had  been  shielded  from  appar- 
ently inevitable  ruin. 

In  the  month  of  October,  the  brethren  Jefferson 
and  Scott  went  out  on  a  preaching  excursion  round 
the  island,  and,  in  the  course  of  their  journey,  they 
had  the  privilege  of  addressing  the  word  of  salvation 
to  about  three  thousand  seven  hundred  persons ;  many 
of  whom  a])peared  to  listen  to  them  with  serious 
attention,  and  some  of  them  caught  up  almost  every 
sentence  that  was  uttered  with  great  avidity  and  ad- 
miration. Others,  however,  evinced  the  utmost  indif- 
ference ;  and  in  one  district,  where  the  inhabitants 
had  been  recently  visited  by  a  <lreadful  mortality,  the 
utmost  levity  and  insensibility  were  apparent.  Indeed, 
the  missionaries  found  it  impossible  either  to  make 
them  sensible  of  the  value  of  their  immortal  souls, 
or  to  convey  to  them  any  consistent  idea  of  the  nature 
of  the  soul  itself  The  generality  of  them  seemed 
to  consider  it  as  something  residing  in  another  world, 
and  only  visiting  the  body  at  certain  times,  as  in 
cases  of  dreams,  &tc.  It  is  not  matter  of  surprise, 
therefore,  that  the  most  solemn  trullis  shoull  have 
been  received  by  these  benighted  idolaters  with  care- 
lessness, and,  in  some  instances,  with  laugiitor. 

In  December,  I80a,  Mr.  Bicknell,  in  company  with 
Mr.  Wilson,  made  a  voyage  to  Kimeo,  and  preached 
to  many  of  its  natives,  who  seemed  to  listen  with 
earnestness,  and  re(pu;sled  future  instruction. 

On  the  ;)d  of  September,  1803,  the  inissionnriea 
received  intelligence  of  the  sudden  death  of  Pomare  : 
anil  on  going  to  I'are,  several  of  them  saw  the  corpse, 

and   were   informed   of   the   following  particulars  : 

AAer  dinner,  Pomare  and  two  of  his  attendants  got 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


into  a  single  canoe,  and  paddled  toward  the  brig  Dart, 
which  was  then  lying  near  the  island.  When  they 
hnd  almost  reached  the  vessel,  the  chief  felt  a  sudden 
pain  in  his  back,  which  caused  him  to  raise  himself  up 
with  a  jerk,  and  put  his  hand  to  the  part  affected  ;  but 
he  had  no  sooner  done  this,  than  he  fell  with  his  face 
toward  the  bottom  of  the  canoe,  the  paddle  dropped 
from  his  hand,  and  he  shortly  uAerwards  expired 
without  uttering  a  word.  Tlie  canoe  immediately 
rdturned  to  land,  and  the  body  was  deposited  in  a 
house,  whilst  messengers  were  despatched  in  different 
directions,  to  communicate  the  news  of  this  solemn 
and  unexpected  circumstance. 

Pomare,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  appears  to  have 
been  between  fifly  and  sixty  years  of  age,  and  is  de- 
scribed by  the  missionaries  as  "  tall,  stout,  and  well- 
proportioned  ;  grave  in  countenance,  majestic  in  de- 
portment, and  affable  in  behavior."  He  was  born  in 
Pare,  and  by  hereditary  right,  was  chief  of  that  district 
only.  The  notice  of  the  English  navigators,  however, 
laid  a  foundation  for  his  future  aggrandizement ;  and, 
by  the  assistance  of  the  deserters  from  various  ships 
that  visited  Otaheite,  particularly  the  crew  of  the 
Bounty,  ho  gradually  acquired  a  greater  extent  of 
authority  and  territory  than  any  individual  had  ever 
previously  |)osse.s9cd  in  the  island.  As  a  governor 
he  was  said  to  be  oppressive,  yet  it  was  generally 
acknowledged  that  Otaheite  enjoyed  much  greater 
tranquillity  during  his  reign,  thtin  whilst  the  chief  of 
every  district  was  independent  of  his  neighbors.  Pos- 
sessing an  active  mind,  and  a  considerable  share  of 
perseverance,  he  devoted  much  of  his  time  and  atte-.i- 
tion  to  the  erection  of  houses,  the  building  of  canoes, 
•nd  the  ctdtivation  of  the  ground  ;  and  the  works 
of  these  descriptions  which  he  accomplished,  place 
both  his  talents  and  his  |>ower  in  an  interesting  point 
of  view. 

As  to  his  morals,  Pomare  was  a  poor,  ignorant 
heathen,  who  considered  nothing  sinful  but  the  npRlect 
of  Ills  idolatrous  devotions,  to  which  lie  was,  at  all 
times,  extrcuiely  attentive.  Hence,  (he  brctlirrn 
observe,  that  a  great  niinilx'r  of  inorais  and  altars  had 
been  built,  by  his  command,  all  over  the  island,  and 
hundreds  of  his  subjects  wore  immolated  from  lime 
to  time,  to  propitiate  his  idols,  besides  the  solenm  and 
frequent  presentation  of  hogs,  fish,  canoes,  clothes, 
•nd  other  offerinKs.  To  the  missionaries,  however, 
he  was  always  friendly,  and  though  it  is  probible  he 
miitht  secretly  ridicule  or  conlemn  the  doctrines  of 
the  cross,  as  heint;  comjilctely  opposed  to  his  own  re- 
ligious views  and  principles,  be  never  threw  an  obstacle 
in  the  way  of  the  promulgation  of  divine  tnith  within 
lii<  jurisdiction, 
'llio  death  of  so  powerful  t  protector  naturally 


excited  in  the  minds  of  the  brethren  some  apprehen* 
sions  as  to  their  future  safety  ;  and,  at  their  earnest 
solicitation,  the  captain  of  the  Dart  deferred  sailing 
until  the  following  day  ;  when  they  were  assured, 
both  by  the  king  and  his  mother,  that  they  might 
pursue  their  labocs  without  the  slightest  dread  of 
molestation. 

During  the  years  1804  and  1805,  the  missionaries 
continued,  under  various  discouraging  circumstances, 
to  preach  the  gospel  of  Christ  in  the  most  faithful  and 
affectionate  manner ;  resolving,  whether  men  would 
hear,  or  whether  they  would  forbear,  to  deliver  their 
own  souls  from  ^uilt,  and  to  use  every  means  in  their 
power  for  the  promulgation  of  those  truths  which 
they  had  found,  by  personal  experience,  so  indi;!pen- 
sable  to  the  enjoyment  of  true  felicity.  Tliey  also 
proceeded  to  form  a  regular  Otaheitan  vocabulary, 
comprising  upwards  of  two  thousand  words  ;  in  forming 
this,  the  Roman  characters  were  employed  ;  sounds 
in  the  Tuhitian  language  attached  to  them,  and  a 
native  name  affixed  to  each,  for  the  purpose  of  facil- 
itating the  introduction  of  letters  among  the  people. 
The  missionaries  also  prepared  acatechism, and  Messrs. 
Scott  and  Davis,  notwithstanding  a  variety  of  almost 
insuperable  obstacles,  applied  themselves  so  diligently 
to  the  instruction  of  the  native  children,  that  many 
of  them  began  to  make  considerable  progress  in  an 
acquaintance  with  what  may  be  termed  the  rudiments 
of  the  Christian  religion. 

In  1606,  Mr.  Kelly  and  his  family  relinquished  mis- 
sionary lalwrs,  and  sailed  for  Fort  Jackson. 

The  ravages  of  disease,  produce<l  by  the  vicioua 
habits  of  the  people,  and  increased  by  the  importation 
of  maladies  of  foreign  origin,  desolated  the  island, 
and  induced  the  directois  lo  send  out  Mr.  Warner  as 
surgeon  to  the  mission,  which  he  joined  in  1807. 

The  king,  who,  on  the  demise  of  his  father,  assumed 
the  name  of  Pomare,  had,  for  a  considerable  time, 
ajiplied  himself,  under  the  instnictions  of  his  European 
friends,  to  attain  the  art  of  writing  ;  and  his  atlempls 
were  crowned  with  such  success,  that,  in  the  beginning 
of  1807,  ho  was  enabled  lo  address  the  following  letter 
to  the  Missionary  Society,  having  first  composed  it  by 
himself  in  the  Otaheitan  language,  and  afterwards 
transcribed  the  Knglish  translation  drawn  up  fur  him 
by  the  brethren. 

"MaUnai,  OUJuilt,  Jan.  IH,  1H07. 
"Fnir.NDs, 

"  I  wish  you  every  blessing  in  your  residence 
in  your  country,  with  success  in  teoching  this  bad 
land,  this  foolish  land,  this  witked  land,  this  land 
which  is  ignorant  of  good,  this  land  that  knowoth  not 
the  true  Ood,  this  regardless  land. 


OTAHEITE. 


"  «« Friends,  I  with  you  health  and  proiperity ;  may 
I  also  live,  and  may  Jehovah  save  us  all. 

"  Friendx,  with  respect  to  your  letter  you  wrote  to 
me,  I  have  this  to  say  to  you,  that  your  business 
with  me,  and  your  wishes,  I  fully  consent  to,  and 
shall  consequently  banish  Oro,  and  send  him  to 
Raiatea. 

"  Friends,  I  do  therefore  believe,  and  shall  obey 
your  word. 

"  Friends,  I  hope  you  also  will  consent  to  my  request, 
which  is  this  ;  I  wish  you  to  send  a  great  number  of 
men,  women,  and  children  here. 

"  Friends,  send  also  property  and  cloth  for  us,  and 
we  also  will  adopt  English  customs. 

"  Friends,  send  also  plenty  of  muskets  and  powder, 
for  wars  are  frequent  in  our  country.  Should  I  be 
killed,  you  will  have  nothing  in  Tahiti :  do  not  come 
here  when  I  am  dead.  Tahiti  is  a  regardless  rountry, 
and  should  I  die  with  sickness,  do  not  come  here. 
This  also  I  wish,  that  you  would  send  me  all  the 
CMrious  things  that  you  have  in  Englond.— Also  send 
mo  every  thing  necessory  for  writing,— paper,  ink,  and 
pens,  in  abundanc<^ ;  let  no  writing  utensil  be  wanting. 

"  Friends,  I  have  done,  and  hove  nothing  at  all 
more  to  ask  you  for.  As  for  your  desire  to  instnict 
Tahiti,  'tis  what  I  fully  acquiesce  in.  'Tis  a  common 
thing  for  people  not  to  understand  at  first,  but  your 
object  is  good,  and  I  fully  consent  to  it,  and  shall 
cast  ofl"  all  evil  customs. 

"  What  I  say  is  truth,  and  no  lie,  it  is  the  real 
truth. 

"  This  is  all  I  hove  to  write,  I  have  done. 

"  Friends,  write  to  me,  that  I  moy  know  what  you 
have  to  say  ; 

"  I  wish  you  life  and  every  blessing. 

'•  May  I  also  live,  and  may  Jehovah  save  us  all. 
"  I'oMAnE,  King  of  Tahiti,  &c.  &c. 
"  For  my  frirndi,  the  Miitionary  Society,  fjondon." 


Sit 


The  year  1808  commenced  tranquilly  ;  but,  on  the 
night  of  November  6th,  a  reljciiion  broke  out  in  the 
district  of  Matovoi,  and  soon  spread  throughout  the 
island.  Six  of  the  missionaries,  therefore,  with  the 
women  and  chililron,  retired  to  Huahine,  in  the  brig 
Perseverance,  which,  at  this  critical  time,  had  provi- 
dentially touched  at  Otahoile.  The  remaining  four, 
Messrs.  Hnyward,  Nott,  Scott,  and  Wilson,  continued 
with  the  king  ;  but  they  v,ero,  soon  afterwards,  com- 
pelled to  remove  to  Eimeo,  the  royalists  having  been 
completely  defeated  in  an  engogement,  and  the  houses, 
garden,  and    plontations  belonging   to  the  brethren, 

I _   — .   .,,.^^^   „j,    jjjj.  insurgents. 

Pomaro  himself  followed  them  in  about  three  weeks, 
and  after  some  time,  all  of  thorn,  with  the  exception 

Vot«  I.— Nus.  'J!)  k  30.  47 


of  Mr.  Nott,  joiiwd  their  colleagues  in  Haahine,  whei« 
they  were  treated  in  the  most  friendly  manner  by  th« 
natives. 

In  October,  1809,  the  brig  Hibemia,  captain  Camp- 
bell, and  the  Venus  schooner,  arrived  at  Huahine,  and 
brought  intelligence  that  Pomare,  who,  in  the  interim, 
had  returned  to  Otaheite,  found  it  impossible  to  reduce 
his  revolted  subjects  to  allegiance.  As  the  re-estab- 
lishment of  his  authority  was,  therefore,  very  proble- 
matical, and  even  in  case  of  such  a  result,  much 
bloodshed  might  be  previously  anticipated,  the  mil- 
sionaries  considered  it  their  duty  to  retire  to  New 
South  Wales,  till  they  should  receive  directions  from 
England  as  to  their  ulterior  destination.  Accordingly, 
the  whole  of  the  brethren,  except  Messrs.  Nott  and 
Hayward,  embarked  in  the  Hibemia;  and,  on  the 
17tli  of  February,  1810,  they  arrived  at  Port  Jackson, 
after  narrowly  escaping  shipwreck  among  the  rocki 
of  the  Fejee  islands. 

The  arrival  of  the  missionaries  was  no  sooner  au> 
nounced  to  the  governor,  than  his  excellency  appear- 
ed disposed  to  treat  them  with  the  greatest  kindness, 
promising  them  the  privileges  of  settlers,  and  recom- 
mending  that  some  of  them  should  undertake  the  in- 
struction of  youth.  About  the  same  time,  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Marsden  returned  from  a  visit  to  England  ;  and 
by  the  active  and  benevolent  exertions  of  that  piout 
and  amiable  clergyman,  the  married  brethren  were 
provided  with  comfortable  accommodations,  and  the 
single  men  were  put  in  a  way  of  supporting  themselves 
in  useful  and  respectable  situations. 

The  mission  to  the  South  Sea  islands  now  seemed 
to  be  finally  closed,  and  t' -se  devoted  servants  of 
Christ,  who  had  so  long  and  patiently  labored  amidst 
innumerable  difficulties  and  increasing  dangers,  were 
constrained  to  feor  that  they  had  "  spent  their  strength 
for  nought,"  and  that  the  resources  of  the  society 
had  been  partially  exhausted  in  vain.  The  Redeemer, 
however,  to  whom  "  all  power  is  given  in  heaven  and 
in  earth,"  had  "  thoughts  of  mercy"  for  Tahiti,  and 
had  graciously  determined  that  the  seed  of  his  gospel, 
which  had  been  sown  in  tears,  and  which  was  now 
considered  as  scattered  by  the  winds,  should  at  length 
germinate,  and  produce  a  glorious  harvest ;  that  the 
clouds,  which  had  so  long  obscured  the  Otaheitan 
horijion,  should  be  dispersed  by  the  light  of  his  counte- 
nance ;  that  the  idols  of  the  Pacific  ocean  should  fall 
before  hin  blood-stninod  cross,  'ike  Dagon  before  the 
ark  ;  and  that  the  wisdom  of  his  providence,  the 
power  of  his  arm,  the  faithfulness  of  his  promises, 
and  the  triumphs  of  liis  grace,  should  pour  confusion 
on  tne  sneers  of  inri<i«!iiy, — ttu»h  io  niienco  the  mourn- 
ful lamentations  of  disappointed  thousands, — and  stim- 
ulate his  faithful  heralds  to  new  and  increased  exertions 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


in  the  cause  of  divine  truth.  Whilst  the  missionaries, 
therefore,  were  sedulously  endeavoring  to  do  all  the 
good  in  their  power  in  New  South  Wales,  they  felt 
an  unconquerable  desire  to  resume  their  important 
work  on  the  islands  which  they  had  reluctantly  quitted ; 
and,  on  the  other  hand,  Pomare  was  so  sensibly  af- 
fected by  the  loss  of  their  company  and  advice,  that 
he  repeatedly  wrote  to  them  in  the  most  affec- 
tionate terms,  expressing  the  deepest  sorrow  at  their 
absence,  and  entreating  them  to  retuni  as  soon  as 
possible.  Tranquillity  was,  also,  gradually  restored 
between  the  king  and  his  revolted  subjects,  and,  under 
these  encouraging  circumstances,  five  of  the  mission- 
aries (Messrs.  Bicknell,  Davies,  Henry,  Scott,  and 
Wilson)  sailed  from  Port  Jackson  in  the  autumn  of 
1811,  and  rejoined  Mr.  Nott,  who  alone  remained 
with  the  king,  at  Eimeo. 

After  their  return,  Pomare  evinced  the  sincerity  of 
his  professions  by  the  evident   partiality    which  he 
showed  for  the  society  of  the  missionaries.     In  fact,  he 
never  appeared  so  happy  as  wiien  in  tlieir  company  ; 
and  in    the   summer,  he  gladdened  their  hearts  by 
declaring    to    them    his    entire    conviction    of    the 
truth   of  the   gospel.     It  appeared  that,  during   the 
absence   of    the   missionaries,    he   had    scrupulously 
observed  the  Christian  Sabbath ;     and  that  he  had 
expressed  the  deepest  contrition  on  account  of  his 
former  life.     One  of  the   laborers  in  this  interesting 
mission  observes,  that  "  Pomare  had,  for  some  time 
past,  shown  iiis  contempt  for  the  idols  of  his  ancestors, 
and  his  desire  to  bo  taught  a  more  excellent  way,  that 
he  might  obtain  the  favor  of  the  true  God.     The 
natives  had  watched  the  rhonge  in  his  mind  uitii  the 
most   fearful  apprehension,  as  to  its  results  upon  the 
minds  of  his  subjects.     They  wore  powerfully  ntriTted 
on  one  occasion,  when  a  present  was    brout;lit  liin) 
of  a  turtle,  which  was  always  held  snrriMJ,  and  dressed 
with  sacred  fire  within  the  precincts  of  the  temple,  part 
of  it  being  invariably  offcrtid  to  the  idol.     The  attend- 
ants were  proceeding  with   the  turtle   to  the  niarae, 
when  Pomare  called  thcni  hack,  and  lolij  tlicin  to  pre- 
pare an  oven,  to  bake  it  in  his  own  kitclicn,  and  serve 
it  up,  without  offering  it  to  the  idol.     The   pcojilo 
around  were  astonishrd,  mid  could  luiniiy  liclimc  the 
kini^  was  in  a  stalt"  of  sanity,  or  was  rt-nily  in  ciinit'st. 
The  kini(  repeated  his  (lirertion  ;  a  fire  was  maile,  the 
turtle  baked,  and  service!  up  nt  tne  next  ri'past.     The 
people  of  the  king's  household  stood,  in  inuleexpeeln- 
tion  of  some  fearful    visiiiition  of  the  god's  nnaer.  as 
soon  as  the  king  should  touch  a  inorsel  of  the  fish  ;  by 
which   he  had,  in  this  instance,  committed,  as  they 
imagined,  an  act  of  darini;  impiety.     The  kini;  rut  up 
the  turtle  and  began  to  eat  it,  inviting  some  that  sat  at 
meat  with  him  to  do  the  same  ;  but  no  one  could  bo 


induced  to  touch  it,  as  they  expected  every  moment  to 
see  him  either  fall  down  dead,  or  seized  with  strong 
convulsions.  The  king  endeavored  to  convince  his 
companions  that  their  idea  of  the  power  of  the  gods 
was  altogether  imaginary,  and  that  they  had  been  the 
subjects  of  complete  delusion  ;  but  the  people  could 
not  believe  him  ;  and,  although  the  meal  was  finished 
without  any  evil  result,  they  carried  away  the  dishes 
with  many  expressions  of  astonishment,  confidently 
expecting  some  judgment  would  overtake  him  before 
tl»e  morrow,  for  they  could  not  believe  that  an  act 
of  sacrilege,  such  as  he  had  been  guilty  of,  could  be 
committed  with  impunity. 

"  The  conduct  and  conversation  of  Pomare  in  refer- 
ence to  the  gods,  on  this  and  similar  occasions,  must 
necessarily  have  weakened  the  influeiiCe  of  idolatry 
on  the  minds  of  those  by  whom  he  was  attended  ;  and 
if  it  produced  no  immediate  and  salutary  effect  on  them, 
it  doubtless  confirmed  his  own  belief  in  the  vanity  of 
idols,  and  the  folly  of  indulging  either  hope  or  ibar 
respecting  them.     A  number  of  the  principal  chiefs  of 
the  Leeward  islands,  as  well  as  the  adherents  to  his 
cause    and    the    friends  of    his    family    in   Tahiti, 
constantly  resided  with  the  king,  after  his  expidsion 
from  the  island  of  his  ancestors,  and  accompanied  him 
on  his  return  to  resume  his  former  government.     He 
spared  no  efforts  favorably  to  impress  them  in  regard 
to  Christianity  ;   but  to  no  purpose  for  a  long  time. 
When  he  offered  himself  for  bai)tism,  he  stated  that  he 
had  endeavored  to  persuade  Tamatoa,  his  father-in-law, 
and  Tapoa,  the  king  and  principal  chief  of  Raiatoa,  to 
renounce   idolatry  and  become  the  disciples  of  Jesus 
Christ;  but  they  had  assured  him,  whatever  ho  might 
do,  they  would  adhere  to  Oro.     Others  expressed  the 
same  dotenniiiation  ;  and  I'omare  came  forward  alone, 
re(|uestiiig  baptism,  and  desiring  to  hear  and  obey  the 
word  of  God,  as  he  said  '  he  desired  to  ho  happy  after 
death,  and   to   be   saved   at  the  day  of  jinlgment.* 
He  did  not  confine  his  efforts  to  private  conversation, 
hut  in  pidilic  council  urged  upon  Tauiutoa  and  Maliine, 
the  chiefs  of  Kaiaiea  and  Huahine,  the  adoption  of  the 
Christian  religion  ;  hereby  publicly  evincing  his  own 
detenninatiim    to    adhere    to    the    choice    he    had 
made. 

"  The  missionaries  had  every  reason  to  believe  the 
king  was  sincere  in  his  desires  to  Itecomn  a  true 
follower  of  Christ ;  but  as  they  then  deemed  only 
those  who  were  true  converts  to  Christianity,  proper 
subjects  for  the  Christian  ritt  of  Imptism,  and  feared 
that  his  mind  might  not  be  sufficiently  informed  on  tho 
nature  Bn<i  design  of  that  ordinance,  and  that  ho  was 
rather  an  enmost  inquirer  after  divine  truth,  than  an 
actual  possessor  of  its  moral  principle  and  spiritual 
influence,  they  proposed  to  him  to  defer  his  baptism 


OTAHEITE. 


until  he  had  received  more  ample  instruction.  They 
were  also  desirous  to  receive  additional  evidence  of  his 
■incerity,  and  of  the  uprightness  and  purity  of  his  con- 
duct, during  a  longer  period  than  they  had  yet  observed 
it.  The  king  acquiesced  in  their  proposal,  and  re- 
quested their  instructions. 

"  At  the  same  time  that  the  king  thus  publicly 
desired  to  profess  Christianity,  he  proposed  to  erect  a 
large  and  substantial  building  for  the  worship  of  the 
true  God.  His  own  affairs  remained  unsettled  and 
,  discouraging ;  he  was  still  an  exile  in  Eimeo,  and 
rumors  of  war  not  only  prevailed  in  Tahiti,  but  inva- 
sion threatened  Eimeo.  Tliis  island  the  missionaries 
considered  only  as  a  temporary  residence,  till  they 
should  be  able  to  resume  their  labors  in  Tahiti, 
or  establish  a  mission  in  the  Leeward  islands,  and 
therefore  recommended  him  to  defer  it.  But  he 
replied,  '  No  ;  let  us  not  mind  these  things  ;  let  it 
be  built.' 

"  Shortly  after  this  important  event,  which  may  justly 
be  considered  as  tiie  dawning  of  that  day,  and  the  first 
ray  of  that  light,  which  has  since  shed  such  lustre,  and 
beamed  with  such  splendor  and  power,  upon  these 
isles  of  the  sea,  two  chiefs  arrived  from  Tahiti,  inviting 
Pomare  to  return  and  resume  his  government,  prom- 
ising an  amicable  adjustment  of  their  differences.  The 
interests  of  iiis  kingdom  appeared  to  require  his  concur- 
rence with  their  proposal ;  and  on  tiie  thirteenth  of 
August,  in  less  than  a  month  after  the  pleasing  event 
referred  to,  he  sailed  with  them  from  Eimeo,  followed 
by  the  chiefs  and  people  from  the  Leeward  islands,  and 
most  of  the  inhabitants  of  Papetoai  and  its  vicinity. 
His  departure,  in  this  critical  slate  of  mind,  was  much 
to  be  regretted,  as  it  deprived  him  of  the  instructions 
of  his  teachers,  exposed  him  to  many  temptations  and 
much  persecution. 

"  Fomaro,  in  infancy,  had  been  rocked  in  the  cradle 
of  paganism,  and  trained  under  its  inllucnce  tiirough 
subsequent  life.  His  fatlior,  Pomare,  and  his  mother, 
[din,  were  probably  more  infatuated  witii  idolafy,  and 
more  uniformly  attached  to  the  idols,  and  every  insti- 
tution connected  with  their  worship,  than  even  the 
priests,  or  perhaps  any  otlier  individuals  in  the  islands. 
He  had  been  curly  ond  often  initiated  in  all  the  mys- 
teries of  falsehood  and  uboniination  connected  with 
the  system,  and  had  engancd  with  avidity  in  the  bloody 
and  nmrderous  rit.s  of  idol  worship.  In  addition  to 
this,  ho  had  been  niirtured  amid  the  debasing  and 
llol'uti^^  iniinorulity,  for  which  his  country,  ever  since 
its  discovery,  had  been  distinguished;  and  although 
his  ideas  of  the  moral  perfections  of  the  tri  ;  God  might 
Iw  but  indistinct,  mid  his  views  of  the  iiiiriiy  rcijijired 
Ml  the  gospel  hut  i.artiul,  yet  it  might  nuturuliy  be 
expected,  that  the  convictions  of  guilt  in  such  an  indi- 


vidual, when  first  awakened  to  a  sense  of  the  nature 
and  consequence  of  sin,  would  be  deep  and  severe. 
That  this  was  actually  the  case,  appears  from  several 
letters  which  he  wrote  to'  the  missionaries  soon  after 
his  arrival  in  Tahiti,  as  well  as  from  the  conversation 
they  had  with  him  on  the  subject. 

"  In  a  letter,  dated  Tahiti,  September  25,  1812,  he 
thus  expresses  himself:  «  May  the  anger  of  Jehovah 
be  appeased  towards  me,  who  am  a  wicked  man,  guilty 
of  accumulated  crimes,  of  regardlessness  and  ignorance 
of  the  true  God,  and  of  an  obstinate  perseverance  in 
wickedness  1  May  Jehovah  also  pardon  my  foolishness, 
unbelief  and  rejection  of  the  truth  I  May  Jehovah  give 
me  his  good  Spirit  to  sanctify  my  heart,  that  I  may  love 
what  is  good,  and  that  I  may  be  enabled  to  put  away  all 
my  evil  customs,  and  become  one  of  his  people,  and  be 
saved  through  Jesus  Christ,  our  only  Saviour  1  I  am  a 
wicked  man,  and  m\  sins  are  great  and  accumulated. 
But  O,  that  we  may  all  be  saved,  through  Jesus 
Christ.'  Referring  to  his  illness  about  this  time,  he 
said,^  '  My  affliction  is  great ;  but  if  I  can  only  obtain 
God's  favor  before  I  die,  I  shall  cotmt  myself  well.  But, 
oh,  should  I  die  with  my  sins  unpardoned,  it  will  be  ill 
indeed  with  me.  O  !  may  my  sins  be  pardoned,  and 
my  soul  saved,  through  Jesus  Christ!  May  Jeho- 
vah regard  me  before  I  die,  and  then  I  shall  rejoice, 
because  I  have  obtained  the  favor  of  Jehovah.' 

"  In  another  letter,  written  about  a  fortnight  after- 
wards, he  observes,  '  I  continue  to  pray  to  God  with- 
out ceasing.  Regardless  of  other  things,  I  am  concern- 
ed only  that  my  soul  may  be  saved  by  Jesus  Christ! 
It  is  my  earnest  desire  that  I  may  become  one  of  Jeho- 
vah's people ;  and  that  God  may  turn  away  his  anger 
from  me,  which  I  deserve,  for  tny  wickedness,  my  igno- 
rance of  him,  and  my  occumulated  crimes !'  In  Februa- 
ry,181.3,  he  wrote  to  the  following  effect:  'The  Almigh- 
ty can  (or  will)  make  me  good.  1  venture  with  my  guilt 
(or  evil  deeds)  to  Jesus  Christ,  though  I  am  not  equal- 
led in  wickedness,  not  equalled  in  guilt,  not  equalled  in 
obstinate  disobedience,  and  rejection  of  the  truth, 
hoping  tiiat  this  very  wicked  man  may  be  saved  by 
Jehovah  Jesus  Christ.' 

"  Such  was  the  interesting  state  of  Pomare's  mind, 
at  the  close  of  the  year  181'i,  and  the  commencement 
of  18i;i.  At  the  same  time  that  this  event  shed  such 
light  upon  the  prospects  of 'ho  missionaries,  other  cir- 
cumstances concurred,  to  confirm  them  in  the  convic- 
tion, that  God  was  about  to  favor,  in  a  signal  manner, 
their  enterprise,  to  follow  their  labors  with  his  blessing, 
and  with  still  greater  success.  Of  one  or  two  other 
natives  they  had  every  reason  to  hope  most  favorably ; 
w.!!.s  nne,  who  died  about  ihis  time,  leu  a  pleasing 
testimony  behind,  of  repentance  and  reliance  on  the 
pardoning  mercy  of  God, 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


During  the  yean  1813  and  1814,  the  blessing  of 
God  was  abundantly  poured  out  upon  the  labors  of 
the  brethren  at  Eimeo ;  so  that,  in  the  spring  of  the 
latter  year,  they  had  the  satisfaction  to  report  to  the 
directors  that  no  less  than  fifty  of  the  natives  had  re- 
nounced their  idols,  and  desired  to  be  considered  as 
the  worsliippers  of  Jehovah.  They  also  stated  that 
these  persons  were  generally  regular  in  their  attend- 
ance on  the  means  of  instruction  ;  that  they  strictly 
observed  the  sabbath,  asked  a  blessing  on  their  meals, 
p.ayed  in  private  and  with  their  families,  and  associat- 
ed for  devotional  practices ;  and  that,  whilst  they  ex- 
hibited an  evident  and  striking  improvement  in  their 
outward  deportment,  they  expressed  a  constant  and 
ardent  desire  for  the  forgiveness  of  their  sins,  and  the 
renewal  of  their  hearts  by  the  gracious  influence  of  the 
Holy  Spirit. 

Messrs.  Hayward  and  Nott,  in  the  mean  time,  had 
visited  the  islands  of  Huahine,  Raiatea,  and  Taliaa; 
and  at  each  of  these  places  tliey  succeeded  in  conven- 
ing a  number  of  the  inhabitants,  who  listened  with 
apparent  seriousness  and  attention  to  the  glad  tidings 
of  salvation  by  the  death  of  Christ.  At  Huahine, 
indeed,  a  young  chief,  by  whom  they  were  treated 
with  distinguished  kindness,  professed  his  cordial 
reception  of  the  Christian  religion,  solemnly  ab- 
juring his  false  gods,  and  earnestly  desiring  that 
some  of  the  brethren  might  be  sent  to  reside  on  his 
island. 

In  the  commencement  of  the  year  1815,  the  con- 
gregation at  Eimeo  was  considerably  increased  by  an 
influx  of  strangers  from  other  islands,  whose  earnest 
desire  to  receive  religious  instruction,  prompted  them 
from  time  to  time  to  visit  this  place.  The  congrega- 
tion, in  general,  consisted  of  about  three  hundrtd,a.\\A 
the  number  of  persons  who  had  requested  their  names 
to  be  written  down,  as  professed  worshippers  of  the 
true  God,  was  increased  to  upwards  of  two  hundred ; 
the  pupils  in  the  schools,  of  whom  the  major  part 
were  adults,  was  about  two  hundred  and  tiity.  Of 
those  who  had  desired  their  nanies  to  bo  inscribed  as 
worshippers  of  Joliovah,  four  iiidiviiliiuls  (one  man 
and  three  women)  died  about  this  time,  coiifossins 
their  sins  and  avowing  the  great  atonement  set  forth 
by  the  gospel  as  the  only  grmmd  of  their  hope  for 
eternal  life.  Tiio  priest  of  I'apetoai  (the  district  in 
which  the  brethren  resided)  also  omiiraeetl  the  gospel 
of  Christ,  renounrod  idolatry,  and  publicly  ronnnittcd 
his  god  to  the  flames.  His  cxarn|)io  was  speedily  fol- 
lowed by  many  of  the  natives,  and  not  only  were  the 
former  objects  of  superstitious  worsiiip  cast  into  the 
fire,  but  the  moraisami  altars  were  destroyed,  and  even 
ilie  wood  of  wiiich  liiey  were  composed  was  used  to 
dress  common  food,  of  which  difl^ercnt  classes  and 


both  sexes  partook  indiscriminately,  in  direct  violation 
of  ancient  customs  and  prohibitions. 

The  interesting  account  respecting  the  discovery  of 
a  spirit  of  inquiry  in  Tahiti,  is  taken  from  Ellis's  Poly- 
nesian Researches : — 

"  The  communications  between  Tahiti  and  Eimeo 
were  now  frequent,  and  the  repeated  accounts  of  Po- 
mare's  persevering  and  laudable  endeavors  to  enlighten 
the  minds  of  his  subjects,  were  not  the  only  cheering 
tidings  they  received.  Mr.  Bicknell  went  over  in  a 
vessel  bound  to  the  Pearl  islands,  and  in  a  few  days 
returned,  with  the  pleasing  report  that  a  spirit  of  in- 
quiry had  been  awakened  among  some  of  the  inhabit- 
ants of  that  island,  that  two  of  those  they  had  former- 
ly instructed,  had  occasionally  met  to  pray  to  God. 
In  order  to  ascertain  the  nature  and  extent  of  the 
anxiety  which  had  been  excited,  and  to  confer  with  tho 
individuals  under  its  influence,  Messrs.  Scott  and  Hay- 
ward,  having  been  deputed  by  their  companions  to 
visit  Tahiti,  sailed  over  from  Eimeo,  on  the  15th  of 
June,  1813.  Although  the  king  was  residing  in  Ma- 
lavai,  they  landed  in  the  district  of  Pare,  and  proceed- 
ing to  the  valley  of  Hautaua,  they  learned  that  the  re- 
port was  correct,  and  that  in  the  neighborhood  there 
were  some  who  had  renounced  idolatry,  and  professed 
to  believe  in  Jehovah,  the  true  God. 

"  On  the  following  morning,  according  to  the  usual 
practice  when  travelling  among  the  people,  they  re- 
tired to  the  bushes  near  their  lodgings,  for  meditation 
and  secret  prayer.  The  houses  of  the  natives,  how- 
ever larpe  they  might  be,  never  contained  more  than 
one  room ;  and  were  generally  so  crowded  with  peo- 
jile,  that  retirement  was  altogether  unattainable. 
Willie  seeking  this  about  the  dawn  of  the  day,  on  the 
nioniinp  after  their  arrival,  Mr.  Scott  heard  a  voice  at 
no  preat  distance  from  his  retreat.  It  was  not  a  few 
detaclied  sentences  that  were  spoken,  but  a  continued 
address ;  not  in  the  lively  tone  of  conversation,  but 
solemn,  as  devotion  ;  or  pathetic,  as  the  voice  of  1am- 
cntntion  and  supplication. 

"  A  variety  of  feelings  led  him  to  approach  the  spot 
whencG  these  sounds  proceeded,  in  order  to  hear  more 
distinctly.  O,  what  hallowed  music  must  have  broke 
upon  his  listening  ear,  and  what  raj)iurc  must  have 
thrilled  his  soul,  when  he  distinctly  recognized  the  voice 
of  prayer,  and  heard  a  native,  in  tho  accents  of  his 
mother-tongue,  with  on  order  that  proved  his  sincerity, 
addressing  petitions  and  thanksgivings  to  the  throne  of 
mercy  !  It  was  the  first  time  lit-  know  that  a  native  on 
Tahiti's  shores  had  prayed  to  any  but  his  idols  ;  it  was 
the  first  native  voice  in  praise  ond  prayer  that  he  had 
ever  heard,  and  he  listened  Blmost  entranced  with.  !h» 
propriety  and  glowing  language  of  devotion,  then  cm. 
ployed,  until  his  feelings  could  be  restrained  no  longer 


OTAHEITE, 


Tears  of  joy  started  from  his  gladdened  eye,  and  roll- 
ed  in  swift  succession  down  his  cheeks,  while  he  could 
hardly  forbear  rushing  to  the  spot,  and  clasping  m  his 
arms  the  unconscious  author  of  his  ecstasy.  He  stood 
transfixed  as  it  were  to  the  spot,  till  the  native  retired ; 
when  he  bowed  his  knees,  and,  screened  from  hu- 
man observation  by  the  verdant  shrubs,  offered  up,  un- 
der the  canopy  of  heaven,  his  grateful  adoration  to  the 
Most  High,  under  all  the  melting  of  soul  and  the  ex- 
citement of  spirit,  which  the  unprecedented,  unexpect- 
ed, though  long-desired,  events  of  the  morning  had 
inspired.  When  the  missionaries  met  at  the  house  in 
which  they  had  lodged,  the  good  tidings  were  commu- 
nicated ;  the  individual  was  sought  out;  and  they  were 
cheered  with  the  simple  yet  affecting  account  he  gave 
of  what  God  had  done  for  his  own  soul,  and  of  the 
pleasing  state  of  the  minds  of  several  of  his  coun- 
trymen. 

"  His  namj  was  then  Oiio,  though  it  is  now  Pete- 
ro;  he  had  formerly  been  an  inmate  of  the  mission 
family  at  Matavai,  and  had  received  instructions  tliere. 
He  has  since  been  a  useful  member  of  the  community, 
and  is  still  a  consistent  member  of  a  Christian  society  ; 
in  which  he  has  for  some  years  sustained,  with  credit 
to  himself  and  advantage  to  the  church,  the  office  of 
deacon.  He  had  occasionally  been  with  the  king  since 
his  return  to  Tahiti,  and  some  remarks  from  Pomare 
had  . I  wakened  convictions  of  sin  in  his  conscience. 
Anxious  to  obtain  direction  and  relief,  yei  having  no 
one  to  whom  ho  could  unburden  his  mind  with  hopes 
of  suitable  guidance,  he  applied  to  Tuahine,  who  had 
for  a  long  time  lived  wit!'  the  missionaries  ;  hence  Oito 
inferred  he  would  be  u„  .  to  direct  his  mind  aright. 
Tuahine  has  since  rendered  the  most  important  ser- 
vices to  the  mission,  in  aiding  Mr.  No»  with  the  trans- 
lations. When  the  Gospel  by  John  and  the  Acts  of 
the  Apostles  were  finished,  and  Mr.  Nottleft  Huahine, 
in  July,  1819,  ho  removed  to  Raiaten,  his  native 
island,  and  has  since  been  not  only  a  useful  mem- 
ber of  society,  and  an  ornament  to  the  religion  he 
proffsses,  but  an  officer  in  the  Christian  church  in 
Raiatea. 

"  Tuahine's  mind,  on  the  subject  of  the  Christian 
religion,  was  in  a  state  resembling  that  of  Oito's.  Their 
conversation  deepened  their  impressions;  they  fre- 
quently mot  afterwards  for  this  purpose,  and  often 
retired  to  the  privacy  of  the  sequestered  valleys  or 
verdant  shrubberies  adjacent  to  their  dwellinj;*,  for  con- 
versation and  prayer.  The  singidarity  of  their  con- 
duct, together  with  the  report  of  the  change  in  the 
sentiments  of  the  king,  soon  attracted  observation : 

.  . — ..,_,,  .,5^..j^  .....  several  y~.!ng  men  anfl  uoys 

attached  themselves  to  Oito  and  Tuahine,  and  this  lit- 
tle banil,  without  any  missionary  to  teach  them,  or 


m 


even  before  any  one  was  acquainted  with  the  circum- 
stance, agreed  to  refrain  from  worshipping  the  idols 

from  the  evil  practices  cf  their  country— to  observe 
the  sabbath  day,— -and  to  worship  Jehovah  alone. 
They  had  established  among  themselves  a  prayer 
meeting,  which  they  held  on  the  sabbath,  and  often 
assembled  at  other  times  for  social  worship. 

"  This  intelligence  was  like  life  from  the  dead  to  the 
missionaries ;  they  thanked  God,  and  took  courage ; 
but  before  commencing  their  journey  round  Tahiti,  they 
wrote  to  their  brethren  in  Eimeo  an  account  of  what  they 
had  seen  and  heard ;  declaring  all  that  they  had  heard 
was  true,  that  God  had  « also  granted  to  the  Gentiles 
repentance  unto  life,'  that  some  had  cast  away  their 
idols,  and  were  stretching  out  their  hands  in  prayer  to 
God,  &c.  The  effect  of  their  letter  was  scarcely  less 
on  the  minds  of  the  missionaries  in  Eimeo,  than  the 
recital  had  been  to  themselves  in  Tahiti.  They  were 
deeply  affected,  even  unto  tears.  I  have  often  heard 
Mr.  Nott  speak,  with  evident  indications  of  strong 
feeling,  of  the  emotions  with  which  this  letter  was  read. 
And  when  we  consider  the  long  and  cheerless  years, 
which  he  and  some  of  his  associates  had  spent  in 
fruitless,  hopeless  toil  on  that  unpromising  field,  the 
slightest  prospect  of  an  ultimate  harvest,  which  these 
facts  certainly  warranted,  was  adapted  to  produce  un- 
usual and  exalted  joys, — emphatically  a  missionary's 
own,— joys  '  that  a  stranger  intermeddleth  not  with.' 
"  Messrs.  Scott  and  Hay  ward  made  the  tour  of  Ta- 
hiti, preaching  to  the  people  whenever  they  could  col- 
lect a  congregation,  and  then  returned  to  Eimeo  with 
Tuahine,  Oito,  and  their  companions, — who  accom- 
panied them  in  order  to  attend  the  school,  and  receive 
more  full  instruction  in  those  things,  respecting  which, 
though  formerly  so  indifferent,  they  were  now  most 
anxious  to  be  informed. 

"Tuahine  was  born  in  the  island  of  Raiatea,  but 
had  been  some  time  residing  in  the  inland  parts  of  the 
district  of  Pare.  Oito  was  an  inhabitant,  if  not  a  na- 
tive, of  Hautaua,  and  in  this  lovely,  verdant,  and  seques- 
tered valley,  the  first  native  meeting  for  prayer  was  held, 
and  the  first  associated  vows  were  paid  to  Heaven." 

Besides  the  worshippers  of  Eimeo  and  Otaheite, 
several  persons  had  made  a  public  renunciation  of  idol- 
atry in  the  islands  of  Raiatea,  Huahine,  and  Tapua- 
manu  ;  so  that  the  whole  number  of  those  who  were 
ridiculed  by  their  ungodly  countrymen,  in  the  differ- 
ent islands,  as  the  Bure  Atun,  or  praying  people, 
amounted  to  upwards  of  five  hundred  persons,  includ- 
ing some  of  the  principal  chiefs. 

It  has  been  justly  remarked,  that  wherever  the 
gospel  of  Christ  obtains  a  successful  entrance,  the 
powers  of  darkness  invariably  attempt  to  check  its 
progress,  by  the  agency  of  ungodly  men.  And  this  fact 


8S8 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


was  strikingly  exemplified  in  the  conduct  of  the  idol- 
atrous chiefs  at  Otaheite ;  who,  indignant  at  the  apos- 
tasy of  their  countrymen  from  the  ancient  worship, 
and  exasperated  by  a  report  that  the  king's  daughter 
was  to  be  educated  in  the  Christian  religion,  resolved, 
at  once,  to  check  the  progress  of  what  they  consid- 
ered an  alarming  evil.  A  confederacy  was  according- 
ly formed  between  the  chiefs  of  Pare,  Hapaiano,  and 
Matavai,  against  the  Bure  Atua,  or  praying  people, 
all  of  whom  were  to  be  massacred  without  mercy  in 
one  night.  This  design  was  afterwards  communicated 
to  the  chiefs  of  Atehura  and  Papara ;  who,  though 
formerly  the  rivals  and  enemies  of  the  projectors, 
readily  entered  into  their  sanguinary  project,  and  pre- 
pared to  join  them  without  delay.  The  night  of  the 
7th  of  July  was  fixed  upon  for  its  execution ;  but  the 
ever-watchful  Providence  of  that  God  who  knoweth 
the  hearts  and  devices  of  all  men,  and  preserveth  them 
who  put  their  trust  in  his  name,  frustrated  the  wicked 
intentions  of  the  conspirators.  While  some  of  the 
chiefs  lingered  in  their  operations,  intelligence  of  their 
design  was  secretly  conveyed  to  the  converts,  who 
immediately  got  on  board  their  canoes  and  retired  to 
Eimeo. 

The  disappointed  chiefs  now  quarrelled  among  them- 
selves. The  Porionu  party,  who  were  the  original 
conspirators,  were  attacked  by  the  Atehurans,  whom 
they  had  invited  to  join  them  ;  an  engagement  ensued, 
and  the  former  were  completely  defeated.  On  this 
occasion,  many  natives  were  killed,  and,  among  tiie  rest, 
a  principal  chief,  who  liad  instigated  the  attack.  The 
victorious  party,  having  been  joined  by  the  people  of 
Papara  and  Taiarabu,  proceeded  through  the  whole  of 
the  north-east  part  of  tiie  island,  burning  and  plundering 
wherever  they  came  ;  and  from  the  borders  of  Ate- 
hura northward,  round  to  the  isthmus,  the  country  was 
converted  into  a  scene  of  ruin  and  desolation. 

Pomare,  in  the  mean  time,  remained  at  Eimeo,  re- 
ceiving all  the  refugees  who  sought  an  asylum  in  that 
island,  but  observing  a  strict  neutrality  in  respect  to 
liic  war.  In  fact,  he  repeatedly  sent  pacific  messages 
to  the  chiefs  of  the  conquering  party,  who  as  repeat- 
edly declared  that  they  were  at  peace  with  him,  al- 
though still  at  variance  among  themselves,  the  grounds 
of  their  old  contentions  being  yet  unsettled.  At  length, 
after  a  season  of  great  anxiety  and  gloomy  suspense, 
a  prospect  of  peace  seemed  to  open,  and  the  Otahei- 
tans,  who  had  fled  from  their  merciless  persecutors, 
were  invited  to  return  and  resume  the  possession  of 
their  lands.  This  invitation  was  of  course  complied 
with  ;  but  an  ancient  custom  made  it  necessary  that 
the  king  and  his  people  should  accompany  the  refu- 
gees, in  order  to  leiiiataio  tiieni,  by  a  public  form,  in 
their  former  possessions. 


As  Pomare  and  his  attendants  approached  the  shores 
of  Otaheite,  the  idolatrous  party  assembled  on  the 
beach  to  oppose  his  landing,  and  actually  fired  on 
his  people.  By  the  express  orders  of  the  king, 
however,  the  fire  was  not  returned,  but  a  pacific  mes- 
sage was  sent  to  the  assailants.  This  led  to  an  appar- 
ent reconciliation,  and  several  of  the  people  were  quiet- 
ly reinstated  in  their  possessions. 

The  temporary  calm  which  ensued  proved  to  be 
deceitful  and  of  short  duration.  The  heathen  party 
still  thirsted  for  the  blood  of  the  Christians ;  and,  on 
the  12th  of  November,  which  happened  to  be  the  sab- 
bath, they  made  a  sudden  and  impetuous  attack  upon 
the  king  and  the  other  converts,  when  they  were  as- 
sembled for  divine  worship,  conceiving  that,  on  such 
an  occasion,  they  might  easily  throw  the  whole  body 
into  confusion.  In  this,  however,  they  were  disap- 
pointed. Providentially,  the  missionaries  had  warned 
the  praying  people,  before  they  returned  to  Otaheite, 
of  the  probability,  in  case  the  war  was  renewed,  of 
such  a  stratagem  being  attempted.  In  consequence 
of  this  caution,  the  congregation  had  assembled  under 
arms  ;  and  although  they  were  at  first  thrown  into  some 
disorder,  they  soon  formed  for  repelling  their  assailants, 
and  an  obstinate  engagement  ensued,  in  which  several 
fell  on  both  sides. 

Among  the  friends  of  Pomare,  who  engaged  on  this 
occasion,  were  many  refugees,  from  the  other  partiea 
who  had  not  embraced  Christianity;  but  the  converts 
refused  to  place  any  dependence  on  these,  and  boldly 
took  the  lead  in  facing  the  enemy ;  and,  as  they  could 
not  all  come  into  action  at  once,  those  who  had  a  few 
moments'  respite,  fell  down  upon  their  knees  and  cried 
to  Jehovah  for  mercy  and  protection,  earnestly  beseech- 
ing him  to  support  his  own  cause  against  the  idolaters. 
Soon  after  the  commencement  of  the  engagement,  Upu- 
fara,  the  chief  of  Papara,  who  was  the  principal  instiga- 
tor of  the  attack,  was  slain  ;  and  his  adherents  were 
immediately  thrown  into  the  utmost  confusion,  so  that 
Pomare  obtained  a  complete  victory.  Instead  of  resort- 
ing to  vindictive  measures,  the  king  conducted  himself 
towards  the  vanquished  with  the  utmost  lenity  and 
moderation.    He  gave  orders  that  they  should  not  be 
pursued,  and  that  the  women  and  children  particular- 
ly should  be  kindly  treated.     These  commands  were 
strictly  observed ;  not  a  single  woman  or  child  was 
hurt,  nor  was  tiie  property  of  the  conquered  plunder- 
ed.    The  bodies  of  those  who  fell  in  the  engagement, 
contrary  to  the  former  barbarous  practice,  were  de- 
cently interred,  and  the  corpse  of  the  hostile  chief 
was  removed,  in  a  respectful  manner,  to  his  own  dis- 
trict.    These  lenient  proceedings  produced  the  hap- 
piest  etTect  on   the   nunds  ot  the   idolaters.     'I'hcy 
unanimously  declared  that  they  would  trust  their  gods 


OTAHEITE. 


no  longer — that  the  priests  had  grossly  deceived  them 
— and  that  they  would  henceforth  embrace  the  new 
religion,  so  distinguished  by  its  benevolence,  mildness, 
and  clemency. 

On  the  evening  of  the  day  following  that  of  the 
battle,  the  professors  of  the  Christian  faith  assembled 
together  to  adore  and  praise  Jehovah  for  the  deliver- 
ance which  he  had  wrought  on  their  behalf.  On  this 
occasion,  they  were  joined  by  many  who  had  till  then 
Ijeen  zealous  worshippers  of  idols.  After  these  events, 
Pomare  was,  by  universal  consent,  restored  to  his  for- 
mer government  of  Otaheite  and  its  dependencies ;  and 
proceeded  to  appoint  chiefs  in  the  respective  districts, 
some  of  whom  had,  for  a  long  time,  made  a  public 
profession  of  Christianity,  and  had  for  several  months 
attended  the  means  of  religious  instruction  with  the 
missionaries  in  Eimeo. 

In  consequence  of  these  events,  idolatry  was  en- 
tirely abolished,  both  in  Otaheite  and  Eimeo ;  and 
these,  together  with  the  small  islands  of  Tapua-manu 
and  Tetaroa,  became  altogether,  in  profession  at  least. 
Christian  islands.  Their  idols  and  morals  were  destroy- 
ed, human  sacrifices  and  infant  murder  were  abol- 
ished, and  the  people  were  every  whore  earnestly  in- 
viting the  missionaries  to  come  and  instruct  them  in  the 
knowledge  of  the  Christian  religion.  In  every  place 
the  sabbath  was  strictly  observed  ;  and  houses  for  the 
worship  of  the  true  God  were  erected  in  almost  every 
district. 

"  This  astonishing  and  delightful  revolution,"  says 
the  editor  of  a  Narrative  of  the  Mission  to  Otaheite, 
"  extended  to  the  Leeward  islands.  Tapa,  the  prin- 
cipal chief,  publicly  renounced  idolatry  and  embraced 
Christianity.  His  example  was  followed  by  most  of 
the  other  chiefs,  and  a  large  majority  of  the  people 
of  the  four  Society  islands ;  viz.  Huahine,  Raiatea, 
Tahaa,  and  Borabora.  At  the  latter  island,  two 
of  the  chiefs,  named  Tefaora  and  Mai,  distinguished 
themselves  by  their  zeal  in  destroying  the  idols,  and 
erecting  a  place  for  the  worship  of  the  true  God.  The 
chiefs  of  these  islands  repeatedly  sent  messages  to 
the  missionaries,  earnestly  entreating  them  to  send 
some  of  their  number  to  teach  them  also,  and  Mai, 
the  chief  in  Borabora,  sent  them  a  letter  to  remind 
them  that  Jesus  Christ  and  his  apostles  did  not  con- 
fine their  instructions  to  one  place  or  country. 

"  The  missionaries,  Messrs.  Hayward  and  Nott,  had 
been  preaching  the  gospel  all  round  Eimeo,  in  which 
island  it  had  \wn\  embraced  by  about  twelve  hundred 
persons.  They  found  in  every  district  a  place  built 
for  Christian  worship,  in  which  the  people  had  held 
pinyer-mrrtings  turee  tiines  evefy  sabbath  nay,  and 
once  every  Wednesday.  Almost  every  house  had 
family  worship  daily,  and  most  of  the  people  retired 


for  private  devotion  twice,  and  sometimes  three  times, 
a  day.  They  had  also  made  tours  round  Huahine, 
Raiatea,  and  Tahaa,  and  had  visited  Borabora :  and 
they  calculated  that  in  these  islands  nearly  four  thou- 
sand  people  had  embraced  the  Christian  religion. 

"  Messrs.  Hayward  and  Nott  had  likewise  visited 
Otaheite,  and  had  been  twice  round  the  island  preach- 
ing the  gospel  in  every  district  to  attentive  congrega- 
tions,  which  often  consisted  of  more  than  four  hun- 
dred persons,  and  of  never  less  than  one  hundred. 
Fifty  places  of  worship  had  been  erected,  in  which 
the  people  met  for  prayer,  &c.  They  commenced 
their  journey  at  Pare,  and  closed  it  at  Matavai,  their 
former  residence.  They  had  not  been  long  in  the 
latter  district,  before  many  of  their  old  neighbors  came 
and  asked  the  missionaries  to  spend  the  sabbath  with 
them,  and  said,  if  they  would  again  reside  among 
them,  not  only  the  ground  where  their  houses  and  gar- 
dens were  formerly  situated,  but  the  whole  of  the  dis- 
trict should  be  theirs.  This  invitation  happened  on 
the  6th  of  March,  exactly  nineteen  years  since  the 
first  missionaries  were  landed  on  the  shores  of  Ota- 
heite. Messrs.  Hayward  and  Nott,  during  their  tour, 
every  where  experienced  kindness  and  hospitality  from 
the  natives.  Mr.  Nott,  besides  preaching  to  them, 
employed  much  of  his  time  in  hearing  and  answering 
the  numerous  questions  which  they  proposed,  relative 
to  the  conduct  which  they  ought  to  observe  under 
their  new  profession,  both  as  to  religious  and  civil  mat- 
ters. Mr.  Hayward  was  principally  occupied  in  teach- 
ing them  to  read,  and  in  distributing  spelling-books ; 
of  which,  if  he  had  possessed  tham,  he  might  have 
given  away  many  hundreds  more." 

On  the  13th  of  May,  1818,  a  general  meeting  was 
convened  in  the  district  of  Papetoia,  Eimeo,  in  imita- 
tion of  the  meetings  held  in  London,  when  about  two 
thousand  of  the  natives  assembled,  and  agreed  to 
fprm  an  "  Otaheitan  Auxiliary  Missionary  Society," 
to  aid  the  parent  society  in  England,  in  sending  the 
gospel  to  other  nations.  Mr.  Nott  preached  on  the 
occasion  to  this  large  auditory,  who  were  very  atten- 
tive ;  after  which  the  king  delivered  a  sensible  and  in- 
teresting address,  of  considerable  length,  on  the  pro- 
priety of  forming  the  proposed  society.  With  a  view 
to  excite  the  people  to  emulation  in  this  good  work, 
he  adverted  to  the  formation  of  similar  societies  among 
the  Hottentots,  in  Africa,  and  to  their  contributions  of 
sheep  or  other  property,  in  places  where  they  had  no 
money.  He  also  reminded  them  of  the  labor  which 
they  had  performed,  and  the  pains  they  had  taken  for 
their  false  gods,  and  showed  how  trifling  the  offerings 
lliey  were  called  upon  to  make  to  the  true  God  were, 
in  comparison  with  those  they  formerly  offered  to  their 
idols ;  observing,  further,  that  even  their  lives  were 


860 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


wcrificed  to  the  god,  that  was  indeed  no  god,  being 
nothing  but  a  piece  of  wood  or  cocoa-nut  husk !    He 
then  recommended  that  they  should  collect  a  little 
property  for  the  spread  of  the  gospel  in  other  islands, 
where  U  was  not  yet  enjoyed.     He  explained  to  them 
that  a  great  quantity  of  money  roust  necessarily  be 
given  to  the  captains  or  owners  of  ships  for  the  con- 
veyance of  missionaries  from  one  part  of  the  world  to 
another,  and  that  this  had  been  furnished  by  the  per- 
sons in  England,  who  wished  the  word  of  God  tpgrow, 
giving  little  money,  which,  being  collected  together, 
made  great  money  ;   and  that  by  these  means  the 
Otaheitans  enjoyed  the  blessings  of  the  gospel,  and 
that  he  therefore  thought  it  was  right  that  they  should 
use  their  endeavors  to  send  it  to  other  lands,  who 
are  now  as  they  once  were.     He  observed,  that  al- 
thougii  they  had  no  money,  they  might  give  pigs,  ar- 
row-root, cocoa-nut  oil,  and  cotton,  to  buy  money  with. 
"  Yet,"  said  he,  "  let  it  not  be  by  compulsion,  but 
voluntary.     He  that  desires  the  word  of  God  to  grow 
where  it  has  been  planted,  and  to  be  taken  to  coun- 
tries miserable  as  ours  was  before  it  came  here,  will 
contribute  freely  and  liberally  towards  promoting  its 
extension.     He  who  is  insensible  to  its  call,  or  igno- 
rant of  its  benefits,  will  not  exert  himself  with  this 
view.     So  let  it  be.     Let  him  not  be  called  an  illiber- 
al man,  neither  let  the  chiefs,  his  superiors,  be  angry 
with  him  on  that  account."     Such  was  the  substance 
of  the  king's  speech.     When  he  drew  to  the  close  of 
it,  he  proposed  that  all  persons  present,  who  approv- 
ed of  the  plan,  and  were  willing  to  unite  in  promoting 
it,  should  hold  up  their  right  hands.     A  most  interest- 
ing sight  ensued,  when  in  an  instant  every  hand  in  the 
assembly  was  raised  to  signify  their  readiness  to  unite 
in  the  glorious  work  of  spreading  the  gospel  of  Jesus 
Christ  among  the  unenlightened  heathen.     Pomare 
then  read  the  rules  of  the  proposed  society  ;  persons 
were  appointed  as  treasurers  and  secretaries  in  the 
several  districts  of  the  islands,  and  the  people  dis- 
persed apparently  highly  gratified. 

Shortly  after  this  meeting,  preparations  were  made 
for  conveying  the  brethren  who  had  recently  arrived 
from  England,  to  several  diftercnt  stations  in  the  Wind- 
ward and  Leeward  islands,  according  to  a  previous  ar- 
rangement, in  which  they  had  respectively  concurred. 
A  brig  called  the  Haweis,  built  at  Eimeo  by  the  mission- 
aries, and  launched  in  December,  1817,  had  now  com- 
pleted her  rigging,  and  was  nearly  ready  for  sea.  She 
sailed  early  in  the  month  of  June,  and  from  this  time 
until  the  close  of  the  year,  was  employed  among  the 
islands,  partly  in  removing  the  missionaries,  and  part- 
ly in  procuring  a  cargo  of  native  produce  (chiefly  sall- 
o..  jsnr.;  sn-.  cocoa-niii  o:iy  for  the  colony  of  New 
South  Wales.    She  finally  left  the  islands,  having  Mr. 


James  Hayward,  misaionory,  on  board,  on  the  1st  of 
January,  1819,  and  arrived  at  Port  Jackson  on  the 
17th  of  the  following  month,  commanded  by  captain 
John  Nicholson,  and  navigated  by  a  crew,  consisting 
of  seven  Europeans  and  six  South  se«  islanders. 

The  month  of  May,  1819,  was  a  season  replete 
with  interest  at  Otaheite,  as  will  appear  from  the  fol- 
lowing extracts  of  a  circular  printed  at  the  mission- 
press  in  Eimeo: — "The  king,  Pomare,  has  lately 
erected  a  very  extensive  building  at  Papara,  in  the 
district  of  Pare,  in  Otaheite,  and  devoted  it  to  the 
meetings  of  the  missionary  society,  which  was  form- 
ed among  the  Otaheitans  last  year.  This  building  we 
denominate  the  Royal  Mission  chapel,  and  its  dimen- 
sions are  as  (bilow : — It  is  seven  hundred  and  twelve 
feet  long,  by  fifty-four  feet  wide.  The  ridge-pole,  or 
middle,  is  supported  by  thirty-six  massy  pillars  of  the 
bread-fruit  tree.  The  outside  pillars  around  the  house 
are  two  hundred  and  eighty.  It  has  one  hundred 
and  tliirty-three  windows  with  sliding  shutters,  and 
twenty-nine  doors;  the  ends  are  of  a  semicircular 
form.  There  are  three  square  pulpits,  about  two  hun- 
dred and  sixty  feet  distant  from  each  other,  and  the 
extreme  ones  about  one  hundred  feet  from  the  ends 
of  tlie  house.  It  is  filled  with  forms,  except  an  area 
before  each  pulpit,  and  laid  with  clean  grass.  The 
rafters  are  covered  with  a  fine  kind  of  fringed  matting, 
which  is  very  neatly  bound  on  with  cords  of  various 
r  >lors ;  and  the  ends  of  the  matting  are  left  hanging 
down,  like  the  naval  and  military  Qai"  in  St.  Paul's 
cathedral.  The  whole  building  is  surrounded  with  a 
strong  fence  of  wood,  and  the  space  between  it  and 
the  building  is  filled  with  gravel. 

"  Pomare  has  lately  expressed  an  earnest  desire  for 
baptism,  engaging  to  devote  himself  to  the  Lord,  and 
to  put  away  every  sin  and  every  appearance  of  evil. 
He  has  had  conferences  with  some  of  the  brethren  on 
this  subject,  and  has  also  written  a  letter  to  us,  ex- 
pressing a  deep  sense  of  his  sinfulness  and  unworthi- 
ness,  a  firm  dependence  upon  the  blood  of  Christ  for 
pardon,  and  an  earnest  desire  to  devote  himself  to  the 
Ijord  in  baptism.  As  it  appeared  to  be  the  voice  of 
the  whole  nation,  and  particularly  oT  the  most  pious 
chiefs,  and  as  his  conduct  has  been  so  constant  and 
persevering  in  teaching  and  promoting  good  things,  we 
resolved,  in  humble  dependence  upon  divine  grace,  to 
baptize  him  on  Lord's  day,  the  16th  instant. 

"  On  Monday,  the  10th,  the  brethren  assembled  at 
Papara,  and  found  the  people  encamped  on  each  side 
of  it  along  the  sea-beach,  to  the  extent  of  about  four 
miles.  They  soon  assembled  together  to  pay  their 
respects  to  the  king,  and  made  a  grand  appearance, 
buing  Ueceiiliy  uilired  in  wjiiie  uulivu  ciuthiilg.  ihe 
brethren  met  the  king  and  chiefs  in  the  usual  place  of 


OTAHEITE. 


Sit 


worship,  according  to  the  appointment  of  Pomare, 
who  had  judiciously  arranged  all  the  services  and 
business  of  the  week.  Brother  Darling  began,  with 
singing,  reading  the  Scriptures,  and  prayer.  The 
king  then  proceeded  to  business.  He  first  wrote  his 
own  name,  and  his  gift  to  the  missionary  society  (viz. 
eight  hogs)  ;  and  having  written  the  name  of  his  prin- 
cipal governor,  treasurer,  and  secretary,  he  desired 
each  of  us  to  write  our  names,  with  our  donations.  In 
the  same  manner  he  proceeded  with  all  the  governors, 
writing  their  names  and  contributions.  Pomare  then 
called  on  brother  Crook  to  conclude  the  meeting  with 
a  short  exhortation,  singing,  and  prayer. 

"  Tuesday  was  the  day  appointed  for  opening  the 
Royal   Mission  chapel.      About  eleven  o'clock,  we 
met  the  king  at  the  east  end  of  the  house.     He  was 
dressed  in  a  white  shirt,  with  a  neat  variegated  mat 
around  his  loins,  and  a  tiputa  over  all,  colored  and 
ornamented  with  red  and  yellow.     The  queen  and 
principal  women  were  dressed  in  native  clothing,  with 
an  English  frill  about  the  neck.    We  took  our  stations 
according  to  appointment ;  brother  Piatt  in  the  west 
pulpit,  brother  Darling  in  the  middle,  and  brother 
Crook  in  the  east.     The  king  sat  in  the  east  end  of 
the  chapel.     Brother  Bourne,  from  the  middle  pulpit, 
commenced  the  service,  by  giving  out  a  hymn  in  our 
Otaheitan  collection,  in  a  very  shrill,  penetrating  voice, 
which  was  heard  from  one  end  of  the  house  to  the 
other.     The  whole  congregation  stood  up  and  sang. 
Each   preacher  then  read  the  fourteenth  chapter  of 
St.  Luke's  Gospel,  and  prayed.     Three  sermons  com- 
menced about  the  same  time  ;  brother  Darling's  text 
was  Isaiah  Ivi.  7,  /  will  make  them  joyful  in  my  house 
of  prayer;  brother  Piatt's  text,  Luke  xiv.  22,  And 
yet  there  is  room;  and  brother  Crook's,  Exod.  xx.  24, 
In  all  places  where  I  record  my  name,  I  will  come  unto 
thee,  and  I  will  bless  thee.    The  sermons  being  ended 
much  about  the  same  time,  all  the  congregation  again 
sang,  and  the  whole  was  concluded  with  prayer.    The 
scene  was  striking  beyond  description  :  no  confusion 
ensued  from  three  speakers  preaching  all  at  once  in 
the  same  building,  they  being  at  so  great  a  distance 
from  each  other.    The  cast  end  was  so  much  crowded, 
that  the  preacher  could  not  pass  through  the  aisle, 
and  with  difficulty  got  to  his  station  through  a  door 
behind   the  pulpit.     The  number  of  hearers  in  the 
whole  chapel  is  supposed  to  have  been  between  five 
and  six  thousand.     Every  thing  exceeded  our  most 
sanguine  expectations.     Apprehensions  were  enter- 
tained from  bringing  together  the  inhabitants  of  differ- 
ent districts,  who  formerly  had  been  at  variance,  and 
Poinnre  hnd  inknn  tl<R  i^fecciution  to  "lace  two  prin- 
cipal persons,  on  whom  he  could  depend,  at  each  door 
and  window :    hut  every  thing  was  very  peaceable 
Vol.  I.— Kos.  31  &  32.  48 


and  orderly,  and  not  tb«  least  disturbtoce  occurred. 
<  Surely,'  said  some,  '  there  will  be  no  war ;  for  all 
the  people  have  left  their  arms  at  home,  and  have 
brought  the  old  and  decrepit,  the  children,  the  lame, 
and  the  blind  !' — a  thing  that  was  never  done  in  any 
of  then:  great  meetings  before.  We  met  together  in 
the  afternoon,  to  attend  to  the  internal  concerns  of 
the  society,  and  departed  to  our  lodgings  much 
gratified,  and  praising  God  for  what  we  had  seen  and 
heard. 

The  Rev.  William  Ellis,  describing  this  building, 
says,  "  Although  divested  of  every  thing  like  stateli- 
ness  or  grandeur,  the  first  visit  I  paid  to  the  chapel 
left  a  strong  impression  on  my  mind.  I  entered  from 
the  west ;  and  the  perspective  of  a  vista,  extending 
upwards  of  seven  hundred  feet,  partially  illuminated 
by  the  bright  glow  of  strong  noon-day  light  entering 
through  the  windows,  which  were  opened  at  distant 
intervals,  along  the  lengthened  pile  of  pillars  that 
supported  the  rafters  ;  the  clean  rustic  appearance  of 
the  grass-spread  floor ;  the  uniformity  of  the  simple 
and  rude  benches  extending  throughout  the  whole 
building  ;  the  pulpits  raised  above  them,  heightened 
the  eflfect  of  the  perspective.  The  reflections  also 
associated  with  the  purpose  for  which  it  had  been 
erected,  and  the  recent  events  in  the  history  of  the  peo- 
ple, whose  first  national  Christian  temple  I  was  visiting, 
awakened  a  train  of  solemn  and  grateful  emotions." 

It  has  appeared  matter  of  surprise  to  many,  that  the 
natives  should  desire,  or  the  missionaries  recommend, 
the  erection  of  such  a  large  place  of  worship.  The 
royal  chapel  at  Papara  is,  however,  the  only  one  of 
the  kind  in  the  islands.  It  originated  entirely  with 
the  king,  and  in  its  erection  the  missionaries  took  no 
part.  The  king,  determined  on  his  purpose,  levied  a 
requisition  for  materials  and  labor  on  the  chiefs  and 
people  of  Tahiti  and  Eimeo,  by  whose  combined 
efforts  it  was  ultimately  finished.  The  missionaries 
were  far  from  approving  of  the  scale  on  which  Pomare 
was  proceeding ;  and,  on  more  than  one  occasion,  some 
expressed  their  regret  that  so  much  time  and  property 
should  be  appropriated  to  the  erection  of  a  building 
which  would  be  of  far  less  general  utility  than  one  of 
smaller  dimensions.  But  the  king  was  not  thus  to  be 
diverted  from  his  original  design  ;  and,  however  inju- 
dicious the  plan  he  pursued  might  be,  the  motives  by 
which  he  was  influenced  were  certainly  commendable. 
He  frequently  observed,  that  the  heaviest  labor  and 
the  most  spacious  and  enduring  buildings  ever  erected, 
were  in  connection  with  the  worship  of  their  former 
deities,  illustrating  his  remarks  by  allusion  to  the 
Ratsor.a!  msraes  at  ^-itehura  and  Tautira,  declaring, 
at  the  same  time,  his  conviction  that  the  religion  of 
the  Bible   was  so  much    superior    to    that    under 


Mi 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


which  they  formerly  lived,  that  they  ought  to  erect  a 
rauch  better  place  for  the  homage  of  Jehovah  than 
had  ever  been  reared  for  the  dark  mysteries  and  cruel 
sacrifices  connected  with  the  worship  of  their  idols. 
Pomare  experienced  great  satisfaction  in  superintend- 
ing its  erection,  and  in  marking  its  progress.  He  was 
present,  surrounded  by  thousands  of  his  subjects, 
when  it  was  set  apart  to  the  sacred  purpose  for  which 
it  had  been  built ;  and  his  feelings  on  that  occasion 
were  no  doubt  of  a  delightful  kind — very  different 
from  those  of  his  father ;  who,  when  the  missionaries 
built  their  little  chapel  at  Matavai,  sent  a  large  fish, 
requesting  it  might  be  suspended  in  the  temple  of  the 
God  of  Britain,  that  he  might  secure  his  favor.* 

"  Wednesday,  being  the  anniversary  of  the  mission- 
ary society,  was  regarded  with  peculiar  interest.  About 
half  past  ten,  the  king  arrived,  and  the  people  began 
to  enter  the  chapel  in  great  multitudes.  Brother 
Henry  occupied  the  east  pulpit,  and  preached  from 
Psalm  Ixxxvi.  8,  9,  Among  the  gods  there  is  none 
like  unto  thee,  &c.  Brother  Wilson,  in  the  middle 
pulpit,  preached  from  Isaiah  xxxv.  2,  TTiey  shall  see 
the  glory  of  the  Lord,  and  the  excellency  of  our 
God,  &c.  Brother  Bicknell,  in  the  west  pulpit, 
preached  from  Luke  x.  2,  Pray  yc  therefore  the  Lord 
of  the  harvest  that  he  would  send  forth  laborers,  &c. 
In  the  afternoon,  about  half  past  three,  we  assembled 
again.  Brother  Darling,  in  the  east  pulpit,  preached 
from  2  Thess.  iii.  1,  Pray  for  us,  &c.  Brother 
Bourne,  in  the  middle  pulpit,  preached  from  Psalm 
cxxxvi.  1,  O  give  thanks  unto  the  Lord,  for  he  is 
good ;  and  brother  Crook,  in  the  west  pulpit,  preached 
from  Luke  xvi.  9,  Make  to  yourselves  friends.  Sic. 
We  retired  in  the  evening,  praising  God,  and  entreat- 
ing him  to  bless  all  our  attempts  to  spread  his  glory, 
and  promote  his  honor. 

"  Having  as  a  nation  embraced  Cliristianity,  tliey 
were  unanimous  in  desiring  that  their  civil  and  judicial 
proceedings  should  be  in  perfect  accordance  with  the 
spirit  and  principles  of  the  Christian  religion.  Hence, 
they  were  led  to  seek  the  advice  of  their  teachers,  as 
to  the  means  they  should  adopt  for  accomplishing 
this  object.  The  missionaries  invariably  told  them 
that  it  was  no  part  of  their  original  design  to  attempt 
any  change  in  their  political  and  civil  institutions,  as 
such  ;  that  these  matters  belonged  to  the  chiefs  and 
governors  of  the  people,  and  not  to  the  teachers  of 
the  religion  of  Jesus  Christ.  To  this  they  generally 
replied,  that,  under  the  former  idolatrous  system,  they 
should  have  been  prepared  to  act  in  any  emergency, 
but  they  were  not  familiar  with  the  principles  of  Chris- 
tianity in  their  application  to  the  ordinary  relations 

*  See  Polyneiiui  ReicuchM,  London  edition,  1830. 


of  life,  especially  in  reference  to  the  punishment  of 
crime. 

"  In  compliance  with  these  solicitations,  the  mis- 
sionaries illustrated  the  general  principles  of  Scrip- 
ture, that  in  all  the  public  stations  they  sustained, 
they  were  to  do  unto  others  as  they  would  that  others 
should  do  unto  them  ;  that  with  regard  to  government, 
Christianity  taught  its  disciples  to  fear  God,  and  honor 
the  king  ;  that  the  power  which  existed  was  appointed 
of  God  ;  and  that  magistrates  were  for  a  terror  to 
evil  doers,  and  a  praise  to  them  that  do  well.  These 
general  principles  were  presented  and  enforced  as  the 
grounds  of  proceeding  in  all  affairs  of  a  civil  or  politi- 
cal nature. 

"  The  missionaries,  though  frequently  appealed  to, 
generally  left  the  determination  of  the  matter  to  their 
own  discretion,  declining  to  identify  themselves  with 
either  party,  in  any  of  their  differences.  They  prom- 
ised, however,  to  the  chiefs  such  assistance  as  they 
could  render  in  the  preparation  of  their  code  of  laws, 
and  constitution  of  government,  but  were  exceedingly 
anxious  that  it  should  be  the  production  of  the  king 
and  chiefs,  and  not  of  themselves.  They  had  hitherto 
avoided  interfering  with  the  government  and  politics 
of  the  people,  and  had  never  given  even  their  advice, 
excepting  when  solicited  by  the  chiefs.  When  the 
conduct  of  petty  chiefs  or  others  had  affected  their 
own  servants,  or  persons  in  their  employment,  if  they 
have  taken  any  steps,  it  has  been  as  members  of  the 
community,  and  not  as  ministers  of  religion. 

"  After  the  introduction  of  Christianity,  the  chiefs 
were  among  the  first  to  perceive  that  the  sanguinary 
modes  of  punishment  to  which  they  had  been  accus- 
tomed were  incompatible  with  the  spirit  and  precepts 
of  the  gospel,  and  earnestly  desired  to  substitute 
measures  that  should  harmonize  with  the  new  order 
of  things.  The  king  applied  for  assistance  in  this 
matter,  soon  after  the  general  cliange  that  took  place 
in  1815.  The  missionaries  advised  him  to  call  a 
general  council  of  the  chiefs,  and  consult  with  them 
on  the  plans  most  suitable  to  be  adopted.  Whether 
his  recollection  of  tiie  unpropitious  termination  of 
former  councils  influenced  him,  or  whether  he  was 
unwilling  to  delegate  any  of  that  power  to  others  with 
which,  heretofore,  he  had  been  solely  invested,  is  un- 
certain ;  but  he  objected  to  the  assembling  of  the 
chiefs  at  that  time,  still  requesting  advice  and  counsel 
from  the  missionaries.  This  they  readily  afforded, 
l)olh  as  to  the  general  principles  of  the  British  con- 
stitution, the  declarations  of  Scripture,  and  the  prac- 
tice of  Christian  nations.  Their  own  sentiments  in 
reference  to  their  duty  at  this  time,  will  best  appear 
from  the  following  extract  of  a  public  letter,  bearing 
date  July  2,  1817  :— 


OTAHEITE. 


" '  During  many  years  of  our  residence  in  these 
islands,  we  most  careAilly  avoided  meddling  with  their 
civil  and  political  affuirs,  except  in  a  few  instances 
where  we  endeavored  to  promote  peace  between  con- 
tending parties.  At  present,  however,  it  appears 
almost  impossible  for  us,  in  every  respect,  to  follow 
the  same  line  of  conduct.  We  have  told  the  king 
and  chiefs,  that,  being  strangers,  and  having  come  to 
their  country  as  teachers  of  the  word  of  the  true  God, 
and  the  way  of  salvation  by  Jesus  Christ,  we  will 
have  nothing  further  to  do  with  their  civil  concerns, 
than  to  give  them  good  advice  ;  and  with  that  view, 
several  letters  have  passed  between  us  and  the  king. 
We  have  advised  him  to  call  a  general  meeting  of  all 
the  principal  chiefs,  and,  with  their  assistance  and 
approbation,  adopt  such  laws  and  regulations  as  would 
tend  to  the  good  of  the  community,  and  the  stability 
of  his  government ;  and  that  in  these  things,  if  he 
desired  it,  we  would  give  him  the  best  advice  in  our 
power,  and  inform  him  of  what  is  contained  in  the 
word  of  God,  and  also  of  the  laws  and  customs  of  our 
own  country,  and  other  civilized  nations.' 

"  The  first  code  of  laws  was  that  enacted  in  Tahiti 
in  the  year  1819  ;  it  was  prepared  by  the  king  and  a 
few  of  the  chiefs,  with  the  advice  and  direction  of  the 
missionaries,  especially  Mr.  Nott,  whose  prudence  and 
caution  cannot  be  too  highly  spoken  of,  and  by  whom 
it  was  almost  framed.  The  code  was  remarkably 
simple  and  brief,  including  only  eighteen  articles.  It 
was  not  altogether  such  as  the  missionaries  would 
have  wished  the  nation  to  adopt,  but  it  was  perhaps 
better  suited  to  the  partial  light  the  people  at  that 
time  possessed,  and  to  the  peculiar  disposition  of 
Pomare.  He  was  exceedingly  jealous  of  his  rights 
and  prerogatives,  and  unwilling  that  the  chiefs  should 
assume  the  least  control  over  his  proceedings,  or  par- 
ticipate in  his  power.  His  will  still  continued  to  be 
law,  in  all  matters  not  included  in  their  code ;  and 
with  regard  to  the  revenue  which  the  people  were 
required  to  furnish  for  his  use,  he  would  admit  of  no 
rule  but  his  own  necessities,  and  consequently  con- 
tinued to  levy  exactions,  as  his  ambition  or  commercial 
engagements  might  require. 

"  The  missionaries  would  have  regarded  with  higher 
satisfaction  an  improvement  in  the  principles  recog- 
nized as  the  basis  of  the  relation  subsisting  between 
the  king,  chiefs,  and  people — some  division  of  the 
power  of  government — enactments  proportioning  the 
produce  of  the  soil  to  be  furnished  for  the  king,  and 
securing  the  remainder  to  the  cultivators.  But  hav- 
ing recommended  these  points  to  the  consideration 
of  the  rulers,  they  did  not  think  it  iheir  duty  to 
express  any  dissatisfaction  with  the  code,  imperfect 
as  it  was. 


"  The  thirteenth  day  of  May  was  appointed  for  the 
promulgation  of  the  new  laws ;    and   the  spacious 
chapel  which  the  king  had  recently  erected  was  chosen 
as  the  edifice  in  which  this  important  event  should 
take  place.     It  was  thought  no  desecration  of  a  build- 
ing reared  for  public  devotion,  and  solemnly  appropri- 
ated to  the  worship  of  the  Almighty,  and  other  pur- 
poses directly  connected  with  the  promotion  of  his 
praise,  that  the  grave  and  serious  engagements  by 
which  the  nation  agreed  to  regulate  their  social  inter- 
course, should  be  ratified  in  a  spot  where  they  were 
led  to  expect  a  more  than  ordinary  participation  of 
the  divine  benediction.      During  the  forenoon,  the 
chiefs  and  people  of  Tahiti  and  Eimeo  assembled  in 
the  royal  chapel ;  and  about  the  middle  of  the  day, 
the  king  and  his  attendants  entered.    The  missionaries 
were  also  present ;  but,  regarding  it  as  a  civil  engage- 
ment, attended  only  as  spectators.     The  king,  how- 
ever, requested  Mr.  Crook  to  solicit  the  divine  bless- 
ing on  the  object  of  the  meeting.     He  therefore  read 
a  suitable  portion  of  the  sacred  volume,  and  implored 
the  sanction  of  the  King  of  kings  upon  the  proceedings 
that  were  to  follow.     Nothing  could  be  more  appro- 
priate than  thus  acknowledging  the  Power  by  whom 
kings    reign,   and   seeking   his   blessing   upon   those 
engagements  by  which  their  public  conduct  was  to  be 
regulated.     The  divine  benediction  having  been  thus 
sought,  the  king,  who  had  previously  taken  his  station 
in  the  central  pulpit,  arose,  and,  after  viewing  for  a 
few  moments  the  thousands  of  his  subjects  that  were 
gathered  round  him,  commenced  the  interesting  pro- 
ceedings of  the  day,  by  addressing  Tati,  die  biother 
and  successor  of  the  late  Upufara,  who  n  -s  the  leader 
of  the  idolatrous  and  rebel  army  defeated  in  November, 
1815.     '  Tati,'  said  the  king,  '  what  i.s  yo  ir  dusire  ? 
What  can  I  do  for  you  ?'     Tati,  who  sat  nearly  oppo- 
site the  pulpit,  arose  and  said,  '  Those  are  what  we 
want — the  papers  you  hold  in  your  hand — the  laws  ; 
give  them  to  us,  that  we  may  have  them  in  our  hands, 
that  we  may  regard  them,  and  do  what  is  right.'   The 
king  then  addressed  himself  to  Utami,  the  good  chief 
of  Teoropaa,  and   in   an   affectionate  manner  said, 
'  Utami,  and  what  is  your  desire  ?'    He  replied,  '  One 
thing  only  is  desired  by  us  all,  that  which  Tati  has 
expressed — the  laws,  which  you  hold  in  your  hand.' 
The  king  then  addressed  Arahu,  the  chief  of  Eimeo, 
and  Veve,  the  chief  of  Taiarabu,  nearly  in  the  same 
manner,  and  they  replied   as   the  others  had  done. 
Pomare  then  proceeded  to  read  and  comment  upon 
the  laws   respecting   murder,  theft,  trespass,  stolen 
property,  lost  property,  sabbath-breaking,  rebellion, 
marriage,  adultery,  the  judges,  court-houses,  &c.,  ia 
eighteen  articles.     After  reading  and  explaining  the 
several  particulars,  he  asked  the  chiefs  if  they  approved 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


of  them.  They  replied,  aloud, '  We  agree  to  them — 
w*  heartily  agree  to  them.'  The  king  then  addressed 
the  people,  and  desired  them,  if  they  approved  of  the 
laws,  to  signify  the  same  by  holding  up  their  right 
hands.  This  was  unanimously  done,  with  a  remarka- 
ble rushing  noise,  owing  to  the  thousands  of  arms  being 
lifted  at  once.  When  Pomare  came  to  the  law  on 
rebellion,  stirring  up  war,  &(c.,  he  seemed  inclined  to 
pass  it  over,  but  after  a  while  proceeded.  At  the 
conclusion  of  that  article,  Tati  was  not  content  with 
signifying  his  approbation  in  the  usual  way  only,  but, 
standing  up,  he  called  in  a  spirited  manner  to  all  his 
people  to  lift  up  their  hands  again,  even  both  hands, 
he  setting  the  example,  which  was  universally 
followed.  Thus  all  the  articles  were  passed  and 
approved. 

"  The  public  business  of  the  day  was  closed  by  Mr. 
Henry's  offering  a  prayer  unto  him  by  whom  kings 
reign,  and  princes  decree  judgment ;  and  the  people 
retired  to  their  respective  dwellings. 

"  Pomare  subsequently  intimated  his  intention  of 
appropriating  Palnierston's  island  as  a  place  of  banish- 
ment for  Tahitian  convicts,  and  proposed  to  the  mis- 
sionaries to  publish  his  request  that  no  vessel  should  re- 
move any  who  might  be  thus  exiled.  The  laws  which 
the  king  read  to  the  people  were  written  by  himself, 
and  formed,  probably,  the  first  written  code  that  ever 
existed  in  the  islands  ;  and  he  afterwards  wrote  out, 
in  a  fair,  legible  and  excellent  hand,  a  copy  for  the 
press.  Printed  copies  wore  distributed  among  the  peo- 
ple, but  the  original  manuscript  in  the  king's  hand- 
writing, signed  by  himself,  is  in  the  possession  of  the 
London  Missionary  Society.  The  laws  were  printed 
on  a  large  sheet  cf  paper,  and  not  only  sent  to  every 
chief  and  magistrate  throughout  both  islands,  but  [lostcd 
up  in  most  of  the  public  pinres. 

"  The  sentence  to  be  passed  on  individuals  who 
should  be  found  guilty  of  many  of  the  crimes  prohibited 
by  thes<rlaws  was  loft  to  the  discretion  of  the  judge  or 
magistrate ;  but  to  several  the  penalty  of  death  was 
annexed  ;  and  only  a  few  months  after  their  tniactinont, 
the  sentence  of  capital  punishment  was  paisod  on  two 
individuals,  whose  names  were  Papahia  and  Koropao. 
They  were  inhabitants  of  the  district  of  Atehuni, 
and  were  executed  on  the  'i.'>tli  of  Orlobt-r,  |HI9,  for 
attempting  to  overturn  the  government.  PupaliinhntI 
been  a  distinguished  ivarrior,  and  was  in  the  very  prime 
of  life.  He  was  a  man  of  a  hold  and  daring  character, 
and  of  turbulent  conduct.  He  came  several  limes  to 
my  hcHise,  during  our  resiileiice  at  Kinico ;  and 
although,  in  consequence  of  his  restless  and  violent 
bchariof,  !  Wa5  iiOi  pfepojaeSsrd  in  his  farOT,  iny 
personal  acquaintance  made  me  feel  additional  in- 
terest in  the  melancholy   fate  of  the  firit  malefactor, 


on  whom  the  dreadful  sentence  of  the  law  was  inflicted. 
The  lives  of  these  unhappy  men  were  not  taken  by 
thrusting  a  spear  through  the  body,  or  beating  out  the 
brains  with  a  club,  or  by  decapitation,  which  were  the 
former  modes  of  punishment,  but  they  were  hanged  on 
a  cocoa-nut  tree,  in  a  conspicuous  part  of  the  district."* 

The  circular  letter  before  quoted,  in  continuing  an 
account  of  the  interesting  transactions  of  this  important 
week,  states,  "  On  Friday  we  attended  to  the  business 
of  the  missionary  society.  We  met  the  king,  as 
president,  and  all  the  governors,  officers,  and  members, 
in  the  royal  mission  chapel.  Brother  Bicknell  began 
with  a  short  address,  singing  and  prayer.  Brother 
Wilson  then  addressed  Tati  and  the  society,  and  con- 
cluded by  moving, '  Thanks  to  Pomare  for  his  princely 
conduct  as  president  of  this  society,  and  for  his  royal 
contribution  ;  and  that  he  be  requested  to  take  his 
seat  as  president.'  Utami  rose,  and  supported  the 
motion,  which  was  afterwards  put,  by  Tati,  and  unan- 
imously agreed  to.  The  king  then  took  his  seat,  and 
addressed  the  people,  exhorting  them  to  be  firm  in  their 
attachment  to  the  society, and  tocontinuetheirsubscrip- 
tions  and  support  till  death.  The  people,  to  signify 
their  consent  to  what  Pomare  had  said,  immediately 
held  up  their  hands. 

Brother  Darling  then  addressed  the  president,  and 
spoke  of  the  encouraging  circumstances  of  the  society, 
moving,  '  That  the  treasurer  put  the  property  on 
board  the  first  convenient  ship,  and  send  it  to 
the  best  market ;  and  that  the  secretary  do  write  a 
letter  to  accompany  it,  to  the  Rev.  George  Burder, 
secretary  to  the  parent  society,  and  that  the  net 
proceeds  be  remitted  to  the  treasurer  of  the  missionary 
society  in  Ijondon.'  Tliis  was  seconded  by  Tati,  when 
the  president  put  it,  and  it  was  carried  unanimously. 
Brother  Crook  then  spoke  of  the  great  quantity  of 
property  in  the  hands  of  the  treasurer,  and  concluded 
by  moving,  'That  a  vole  of  thanks  be  given  to  the 
treasurer  and  secretary,'  which  was  also  carried 
unanimously.  Brother  Bourne  proposed,  '  That  a 
vole  of  thanks  be  given  to  all  the  governors  in  their 
various  (le|tarlments  for  their  diligent  and  active 
services  on  account  of  the  society.'  Hitoli  seconded 
the  motion,  which,  In-ing  put,  was  universally  agreed  to. 
Brother  Plait  then  moved,  '  That  the  thanks  of  the 
nieoting  h"  given  to  the  various  treasurers  and  secre- 
taries under  the  respective  governors.'  Brother 
Crook  supportnd  this  motion,  which  was  also  carried, 
liastly,  brother  Henry  proposed,  '  That  a  vote  of 
thanks  ho  given  to  the  governors,  officers  and  mem- 
bers of  Kimno,  for  their  active,  coiiperation.'  Thii 
mntinn  was  aoiy   sU|i|n)iimi   tiy    AtttiriiVi,  kiuI  OSiTimi, 


*  Kllli'i  PolynvtUn  RMwuehM,  vol.  U. 
Mittioa, 


p.  3KfT,  LoDdon,  Fittl 


OTAHEITE. 


like  all  the  rest,  by  an  universal  show  of  hands.  The 
king  next  addressed  the  governors,  officers,  and 
members  of  the  society,  exhorting  them  to  persevere 
in  this  delightful  work ;  observing  that  due  notice 
would  be  given  them  as  to  what  was  to  be  collected 
for  the  next  year,  whether  oil,  cotton  or  any  other 
article.  Brother  Crook  addressed  the  whole  society, 
and  exhorted  them  to  persevere  in  this  glorious  work, 
which  rejoiced  our  hearts,  and  would  certainly  cause 
the  hearts  of  thousands  to  rejoice  with  us.  The  meet- 
ing was  then  concluded  by  singing  and  prayer. 

'I  On  sabbath  day,  the  16tli,the  congregations  were 
again  assembled  in  the  chapel  royal.     The  people 
.    were  not  so  numerous  as  before,  as,  in  consequence  of 
their  having  been  so  long  from  home,  many  had  returned 
to  procure  food.     Ilowever,  we  had  still  between  four 
and  Ave  thousand  hearers.     Brother  Wilson  occupied 
the  east  pulpft,  brother  Henry  the  west,  and  brother 
,   Bicknell  the  middle.     They  all  preached  from  the 
same  subject— the   commission  of  our   Lord    to   his 
disciples,  to  teach  and  baptize  all  nations,  Matt,  xxviii. 
18—20.     The  sermons  being  ended,  wo  all  surrounded 
the  king,  who  was  seated  in  the   centre,    near  the 
middle  pulpit.     Brother  Bourne  commenced  by  giving 
out  a  hymn,   which    was    sung  by  the   congregation. 
Brother  Bicknell   engaged   in   prayer,   which    being 
ended,  the  king  stood  up.     Brother  Bicknell  stood  on 
the  steps  of  the  pulpit,  and  taking  the  water  from  the 
basin,  held  by  brother  Henry,  poured  it  on  his  head, 
baptizing  him  in  the  name  of  the  Father,  Son,  and 
Holy  Ghost.     Fomare  was  observed  to  lift  up  his  eyes 
to  heaven,   and  to  move  his  lips  with  an  indistinct 
sound.     The  sight  was  very  affecling,  especially  to  our 
older  brethren,  who  had  been  watciiing  over  him  for 
so  many  years.     Brother  Bicknell  addressed  the  king 
with  firmness,  yet  with  much   feeling,  entreating  him 
to  walk  worthy  of  his  high  profession  in  the  conspicu- 
ous  situation  ho   would  now   hold  before  the  eyes  of 
men,  angels,  and  God    himself     Brother  Henry  ad- 
dressed   the    people,  exhorting    them    to   follow  the 
example  of  their  king,  and  to  give  themselves  up  to  the 
Lord.      Another  hymn  was  then  sung,  and  brother 
Wilson  concluded  the   whole  with  prayer.     Poniaro 
shook  hands   nflbrtionately  with  all  the  missionaries, 
they  being  sialioned,  by  his  own  desire,  at  his  right  and 
loft  hand;  and  after  the  ceremony,  he  returned  to  his 
Mmp." 

Mr.  Ellis,  in  relation  to  this  event,  observes,  that 
•*  the  emotions  tssociaied  with  it  must  have  been 
intense  and  interesting,  especially  to  the  two  older 
missionaries  who  had  performed  the  rile,  H«  had  been 
id»riiitie<i  wiUiiiiec.hivr  events  of  their  lives  ;  upwards 
of  two-and-twenty  years  had  rt)lled  by  since  the  provi- 
dence of  Ood  first  brought  them  acquainted  with  him, 


365 

otthe  shores  of  Matavai,  and  in  connection  with  that 
in:erview,  which  memory  would,  prob».bly,  present  in 
strong  and  vivid  colors  on  this  occasion,  they,  perhaps 
recollected  the  opinion  formed  of  him,  by  the  humane 
commander  of  the  Duff,  that  he  appeared  the  last 
person  likely  to  embrace  the  gospel.  Yet,  amid  the 
thickest  darkness  that  had  ever  veiled  their  prospects 
through  him  the  first  cheering  ray  of  dawning  light  had 
broken  upon  them :  he  was  their  first  convert ;  in 
every  difficulty  he  had  been  their  steady  friend;  in 
every  labor  a  ready  coadjutor;  and  had  now  publicly 
professed  that  his  faith  was  grounded  on  that  Rock 
whereon  their  own  was  fixed,  and  his  hopes,  with 
theirs,  derived  from  one  common  source.  What 
intense  and  mingled  hopes  and  fears  must  have  per- 
vaded their  hearts  !  What  hallowed  joy  must  they  have 
felt  in  anticipation  of  his  being,  with  them,  an  heir  of 
unmortality,  chastened  with  appalling,  and  not  un- 
grounded, fears  that,  after  all,  he  might  become  a 
cast-away  !" 

On  the  19th  of  May,  1821,  the  Rev.  Daniel  Tyer- 
man,  late  of  Newjwrt,  in  the  Isle  of  Wight,  and  George 
Bennet,  Esq.,  of  Sheffield,  having  kindly  agreed  to  go 
out  as  a  deputation  to  the  South  sea  islands,  sailed  in 
the  Tuscan  whaler,  from  Spithead,  in  company  with 
the  Rev.  T.  Jones,  missionary,  and  Messrs.  Armitage 
and  Blossom,  artisans,  and  their  wives ;  and  on  the 
22d  of  August  they  addressed  a  letter  to  the  direct- 
ors, of  which  the  following  is  an  extract : 

"  While  traversing  the  torrid  zone,  the  'sun  was  not 
permitted  to  smite  us  by  day,  nor  the  moon  by  night.' 
Wo  wore  sensible  of  the  heat,  but  not  more  inconve- 
nienced by  it  than  we  have  been  in  our  own  country. 
The  thunder  and  lightning  did  us  no  harm ;  indeed,  our 
captain  says,  he  never  experienced  so  little  in  passing 
between  the  tropics  in  any  former  voyage.  And  yet, 
to  remind  us  of  the  obligutions  to  gratitude  under 
which  we  are  laid,  and  to  occasion  thanksgivings  to 
God  on  our  behalf,  by  our  dear  friends  in  England,  we 
may  mention  one  or  two  instances  of  dang(  r  from 
which  wo  have  been  delivered. 

"  One  night,  during  a  storm  of  thunder  and  light- 
ning, with  squalls,  when  both  the  captain  and  chief 
mate  were  on  deck,  a  ball  of  fire  fell  into  the  sea,  with 
a  great  noise,  just  over  our  iee-bow,  which  both  those 
gentlemen  thought  would  probably  have  proved  fatal 
to  us,  had  it  fallen  on  the  ship ;  and  ihey  mentioned 
an  instance  in  which  a  similar  ball  of  fire  had  proved 
destructive  to  a  vessel  in  the  British  channel  not  lone 
ago.  * 

"  On  Wednesday  night  lust,  also  fdurms  ■  -nG-t 
tremendous  gale,  which  continued  four  days),  the 
captain,  aftera  dreadful  clap  of  thunder,  which  seemed 
consentaneous  with  the  vivid  lightning,  cried  out  to 


m 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


both  or  us  by  name,  desiring  that  we  would  pray 
to  God  for  mercy  upon  us  all,  saying,  '  It  is  all  over !' 
and  at  the  same  time  himself  praying  earnestly  for 
mercy.  At  this  moment,  another  most  terrific  flash 
of  lightning  and  burst  of  thunder  took  place,  and  was 
followed  immediately  with  what  he  and  we  conceived 
to  be  the  rushing  in  of  the  waves  between  decks,  as  at 
some  great  chasm  made  by  the  electric  fluid ;  but 
which  we  soon  found  to  have  been  occasioned  by  a 
fall  of  hailstones,  many  of  which  were  as  large  as  the 
first  joint  of  a  man's  finger,  and  which  fell  with  such 
intense  force,  that  they  left  a  mark  and  sensation  of 
pain  on  every  face  which  was  struck  by  them.  The 
chief  mate  said,  that  the  men  stood  aghast,  and, 
though  many  of  them  were  accustomed  to  storms  at 
tea,  they  crowded  round  him  like  sheep,  and  could 
hardly  be  prevailed  upon  to  attend  to  the  needful  du- 
ties of  the  ship,  which  at  this  period  were  the  more 
perilous,  on  account  of  the  main  sheet  having  been 
torn  from  their  hands  by  the  fury  of  the  gale,  and 
which  was  then  dashing  about  with  a  violence  which 
would  have  proved  fatal  to  any  one  whom  it  might 
have  struck.  But  (his  awful  night  passed  over,  and 
at  twelve  the  next  day  the  pale  moderated,  so  that 
we  were  enabled  to  proceed  (though  on  a  dreadfully 
agitated  ocean),  without  having  a  mast  sprung  or 
struck,  a  .^ail  carried  away  or  ripped,  a  timber  injured, 
or  a  person  harmed  ! 

"  During  this  gale,  our  minds  were  kept  in  entire 
peace  and  repose  on  our  Heavenly  Father,  '  who 
manages  the  seas,  and  rides  upon  the  storm.'  Our 
female  friends  were  alarmed,  but  not  greatly.  Thus 
gently  does  God  deal  with  us !" 

On  (he  25th  of  Scptenihcr,  the  deputation  arrived 
at  Tahiti,  and  under  that  date,  in  their  journal,  they 
write — "  Tabid,  '  the  desire  of  our  eyes,'  came  upon 
us  at  sunrise,  in  all  its  grandeur  and  loveliness  ; — 
more  grand  in  (he  height  of  its  mountains,  and  mora 
lovely  in  the  luxuriance  of  its  valleys,  than  our  imagi- 
nations had  ever  pictured  it  from  the  desrrip(ions  of 
former  visi(ors  and  missionaries.  We  had  before  us, 
in  exquisitely  undulated  outline,  the  two  peninsulas 
of  which  Tahiti  consists;  the  whole  nMilered  more 
striking  by  the  shadowy  obscurity  which  clouds  of 
different  hues  and  density  cast  over  it.  In  n  few  hours, 
fts  we  drew  nearer,  the  beautiful  region  unveiled  itself 
in  all  its  enchanting  variety  of  hills  and  plains,  woods 
and  water*  ;  hills,  green  up  to  their  peaks,  twice  the 
height  of  Snowden  ;  plains  spaciously  opening  fnmi 
between  the  highlands  towards  the  shore,  where  the 
dwellings  of  (ho    popula(ion  were   thickly  sprinkled 


eUa/lxi 


growth   and   tropical    ramifications,  so  diflitrent  from 
British  (otatl  scen«ry  ;  and  water  tmrsting  in  brilliant 


cascades  from  the  rocky  eminences,  then  widening  m 
rivulets  through  the  valleys  to  the  sea." 

On  the  3d  of  December,  the  deputation  wrote 
from  Eimeo  to  the  following  eflbct : — 

"  We  are  in  health  and  comfort  up  to  the  present 
moment,  and  have  been  more  delighted  with  the  vw- 
tories  and  blessed  results  of  preaching  and  lining  the 
gospel  of  Christ  than  we  are  able  to  express,  at  every 
station  where  we  have  already  been  in  Otaheite,  and 
in  this  island.  Thulv'  the  half  was  not  told  us  I' 
God  has  indeed  done  great  things  here,  in  a  civil, 
moral,  and  religious  view.  Tlie  people  here  exhibit 
as  literal  and  pleasing  a  proof  of  being  '  turned  from 
darkness  un(o  ligh(,  and  from  the  power  of  Satan  unto 
God,'  as  can  be  conceived. 

"  A  nation  of  pilferers  has  become  eminently  trust- 
worthy. A  people  formerly  universally  addicted  to 
lasciviousness,  in  all  its  forms,  have  become  modest 
and  vir(uous  in  (he  highest  degree ;  those  who,  a  few 
years  ago,  despised  all  forms  of  religion  except  their 
own  horrid  and  cruel  superstitions,  have  universally 
declared  (heir  ap;^°iroba(ion  of  Chris(iani(y, — study 
diligently  those  parts  of  (he  Christian  Scriptures  which 
have  been  translated  for  them, — ask  earnestly  for  more, 
— and  appear  conscientiously  to  regulate  themselves 
by  those  sacred  oracles,  under  the  <lirection  of  their 
kind  teachers,  whose  self-denying  zeal  and  persever- 
ance have  been  almost  as  remarkable  as  the  success 
with  which  God  has  been  pleased  to  honor  them. 

"  The  king  was  unwell,  and  was  at  this  island  when 
we  arrived  in  Otaheite.  He  soon  made  two  obliging 
communications  to  us,  through  our  excellent  friend,  Mr. 
INott,  in  which  be  expressed  his  hope  of  soon  being  at 
Matavai  to  receive  us.  On  finding,  however,  that  be 
rather  grew  worse  than  better,  we  came  over  to  Eimeo, 
and  were  received  by  him  with  (he  utmost  demonstra- 
tions of  kindness,  and  with  marked  tokens  of  respect ; 
Messrs.  Nod  and  Henry  accompanying  us,  and  inter- 
preting for  us.  His  information,  for  a  person  who  has 
read  only  the  Taheitan  language,  appeared  to  us  con- 
siderable, from  the  questions  ho  asked  respecting  our 
society's  labors,  their  success,  and  their  in(ended  fields 
of  lalior ;  also  his  inquiries  respecdng  (he  civil  aflairs 
of  England  and  of  Europe. 

"  You  have  leiimod,  wo  trust,  from  letters  sent 
home  before  we  reached  Otaheite,  that  the  transla- 
tions and  printing  are  going  on  well.  Matthew  and 
John  are  printed  in  the  Taheitan  language,  and  are  in 
innumerable  hands.  The  book  of  Genesis,  Joshua,  (he 
Psalms,  Isaiah,  the  Acts,  the  Epistle  to  the  Komans, 
and  the  oth<  i   Epistles,  are  in  course  of  translation, 


/ .U»  k. 


The  grarniiiar  and  dictionary  are  not  in  so  forward  a 
state  ;  but  both  these  are  so  important,  that  we  hope 


OTAHEITE. 


to  make  a  more  encouraging  report  of  their  progress  at 
no  distant  period. 

"  We  are  gratified  in  observing,  almost  every  where, 
many  marlis   of  improvement;    better   houses    and 
chapels  having  been  built,  or  in  preparation  for  be- 
ing built,  at  nearly  every  station  ;  rapid  improvement 
in  reading  and  writing  ;  European   dresses  partially 
superseding  the  Taheitan  ;  the  chiefs  ingeniously  and 
diligently  building  their  own  boats  in   the   European 
form,  with  European  tools  ;  many  cultivating  tobacco 
and  sugar;  and  nearly  all  manufacturing  cocoa-nut  oil. 
"  Among  other   marks  of  improvement,  we  must 
mention  a  road,  which  is  already  made  to  a  consider- 
able extent,  and  which  is  intended  to  go  round  the 
whole  island.     This  is  of  very  great  and  obvious  im- 
portance.    It  has  been  formed  by  persons  who  were 
punished,  according  to  the  new  laws,  for  evil  doing  ; 
and  the  intention  is,  that  it  shall  be  completed  by  per- 
sons of  that  description.     It  is  remarkable  that  these 
persons  have  no  need  to  be  superintended  in  their  labor, 
but  they  uniformly  perform  the  portion  of  work  allotted 
to  them.    Before  this,  there  was  no  road  in  any  part  of 
the  island,  except  the  narrow  winding  tracts  by  which 
the  natives  found  their  way  from  one  place  to  another." 
The  king's  illness  continued  to  increase  rapidly,  and 
on  the  7th  of  December,  Mr.  Crook  was  requested, 
by  a  messenger,  to  attend  inunediately,  as  Pomare 
had  fainted.     He  accordingly  hastened  to  the  royal 
residence,  with  Mr.  Redfern,  a  surgeon,  from  Port 
Jackson,  and  found   that  the  patient's  end  was  fast 
approaching.     After  he  had  revived,  Mr.  Crook  re- 
minded  him  that,  though  he  was  a  great  sinner,  the 
Lord  Jesus  was  a  great  Saviour,  and  lie  alone  could 
aid  him  in  the  article  of  deatii.     The  dying  monarch 
replied  empiialically,  Jaui  alone  !  and  then  sank  into 
a  kind  of  stupor,  which   continued  till  about  eight 
o'clock,  when  his  spirit  was  sununoned  into  the  unseen 
world.      The  scone  at   this  moment  was  peculiarly 
affecting,  and,  after  Mr.  Crook  had  offered  up  a  short 
prayer,  a  general  weeping  commenced  aumng  the  rela- 
tives around  the  bed,  who,  in  a  kind  of  mournful  chant, 
lamented  the  loss  of  their  beloved  king. 

The  next  morning,  the  corpse  was  removed  to  Pa- 
para,  where  a  coflin  was  made  of  the  broad-fruit  tree, 
and  decently  covered  with  English  black  cloth.  It 
measured  nearly  seven  foot  in  length ;  two  feet  ten 
inches  at  the  shoulders,  two  feet  at  the  head,  and 
twenty-one  inohoi  at  ilio  feet.  On  the  1  Itii,  tiio  ile- 
ceased  was  solemnly  interred  in  a  now  stone  tomb, 
near  the  royal  mission  chapel ;  and  all  the  missionaries 
of  Otahoiie  and  Eimoowere  present,  except  Mr.  Dar- 
""s>  ^"^i  nappeii«a  to  tie  on  ■  iour  in  Tainrabu.  The 
•olemn  occasion  was  improved,  for  the  benefit  of  the 
concourse  of  nativoi  who  attended,  by  Mc<<sra.  Davies, 


Wii 


Nott,  and  Henry ;  after  which  the  king's  guards  fired 
several  rounds,  and  the  vessels  in  the  harbor  fire* 
minute  guns.  In  the  evening,  the  missionaries  held 
an  English  service  in  the  chapel,  which  was  attended 
by  a  number  of  their  countrymen  from  on  board  the 
vessels  then  lying  at  anchor  near  the  island. 

The  deceased  prince  stood  full  six  feet  two  Inches 
high,  and  was  proportionably  stout.  He  stooped, 
however,  in  walking,  and  in  general  appeared  reserved 
and  gloomy.  He  was  also  naturally  indolent,  and  sel- 
dom walked  out,  except  for  the  purpose  of  bath- 
ing. He  possessed  a  capacious  mind,  and  was  evi- 
dently superior  to  his  countrymen  in  knowledge  of 
every  kind.  Naturally  fond  of  power,  he  wished  to 
have  both  the  persons  and  property  of  his  subjects  at 
his  entire  disposal,  and  by  the  people  generally  he  was 
much  feared.  He  inherited  from  his  father  a  partiality  for 
foreigners,  yet  it  is  remarkable,  that  he  ivas  more  averse 
tiian  his  subjects  to  the  adoption  of  European  customs. 
He  proved  himself,  however,  to  be  a  warm  friend  to 
the  missionaries ;  who,  on  the  occasion  of  his  death, 
justly  acknowledged  their  gratitude  to  God,  for  the 
countenance,  protection  and  favor  which  they  had  in- 
variably enjoyed  under  his  government. 

Pomare,  at  the  time  of  his  decease,  was  about  for- 
ty-seven years  of  age,  and  appears  to  have  been  three 
times  married.  His  first  wife,  Tetua,  died  without 
issue,  in  1806.  By  his  second  wife,  Tamtaria,  he  had 
issue,  Aimata,  his  only  surviving  daughter.  By  his 
third  wife,  Tano  (the  queen  dowager),  he  had  two 
sons,  of  whom  the  first  died  in  1818  ;  the  other,  who 
survives,  is  acknowledged  the  successor  of  his  father, 
by  the  title  of  Pomare  the  Third.  This  arrangement 
was  made  by  the  late  prince  ;  who  also  directed  that 
the  queen  and  her  sister  should  remain  in  Otaheite, 
superintending  the  education  of  the  royal  children, 
and  governing  the  kingdom  with  the  advice  of  all  the 
principal  chiefs. 

Pomaro  directed  that  the  young  king  should  bo 
solemnly  crowned  in  the  European  manner,  and 
requested  that  all  the  missionaries  would  attend  and 
take  their  part  in  the  ceremony.  Pomare's  dying 
charge  was,  "  If  my  fon  grow  up  a  good  man,  receive 
him  as  your  king  ;  if  a  bad  one,  banish  him  to  Huahine." 
In  accordance  with  this  request,  the  ceremony  took 
place  at  Papara,  April,  ai,  ISili  ;  and  as  it  was  the 
first  coronation  that  had  taken  place  since  the  intro- 
duction of  Christianity,  it  excited  great  interest  among 
tlio  people.  The  following  is  an  account  of  the 
pageant  as  transmitted  by  one  of  tlie  missionaries : — 

"  O^dif  6/  Vroctiiiun. 

"  1.  A  female  native  conducting  two  girls  with  bas- 
kets of  flowers,  to  be  scattered  along  the  way  leading  to 


AHA 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


the  place  of  the  coronation,  which  was  about  liair  a  mile 
distant,  in  a  field  where  two  platforms  of  stones,  one 
raised  higher  than  the  other,  had  been  erected  for  the 
convenience  of  performing  the  ceremony. 

*'  2.  Tiie  wives  and  children  of  the  missionaries  who 
were  present. 

"  3.  One  of  the  supreme  judges,  Maliine,  carrying 
the  large  Bible,  with  one  of  the  senior  missionaries, 
Mr.  Nott,  and  one  of  the  gentlemen  of  the  deputation, 
the  Rev.  D.  Tyerman,  on  the  right  hand,  and  another 
senior  missionary,  Mr.  Henry,  and  the  other  gentle- 
man of  the  deputation,  G.  Bennet,  Esq.,  on  the  left 
band. 

"  4.  All  the  other  missionaries  and  friends  who  were 
present,  four  abreast. 

"  5.  Three  of  the  supreme  judges  abreast,  the  one 
in  the  centre,  Utami,  carrying  the  code  of  laws. 

"  6.  The  other  three  supreme  judges  abreast,  the 
one  in  the  centre,  Tati,  carrying  the  crown. 

"  7.  The  king,  seated  on  his  chair,  carried  by  four 
stout  boys,  sons  of  the  chiefs,  and  four  others  supi)ort- 
ing  the  canopy  over  his  head. 

"  8.  The  king's  mother  and  sister,  on  his  right  hand, 
and  his  aunts  on  his  left. 

"  I).  Pomare,  the  king's  brother-in-law,  close  behind 
the  king. 

"  10.  Tapa,  and  the  other  parents  of  the  royal  fam- 
ily, with  the  anointing  oil  and  the  tables. 

"  II.  All  the  governors,  four  abreast. 

"  18.  The  district  judges,  four  abreast. 

"  13.   All  the  magistrates,  four  abreast. 

"  Arrangement  at  the  Coronation. 

"  On  the  arrival  of  the  procession  at  the  place  of 
the  coronation — 

"  1.  The  wives  and  childnni  of  the  missionaries,  and 
friends,  were  seated  on  each  side  of  the  upper  plaiform. 

"  2.  The  king  was  seated  on  his  chair  in  the  middle 
of  the  platfonn,  with  the  canopy  over  his  head,  the 
tables  |>laced  before  liiui,  u|)on  which  the  crown  was 
placed  in  the  centre,  the  Bible  on  the  right  side,  and 
the  laws  on  the  left,  with  n  small  vial  containing  the 
anointing  oil. 

"  3.  The  queen  and  her  daughter  were  seated  close 
•t  the  king's  right  hand,  and  next  to  them  one  half  of 
the  missionaries,  one  of  the  gentlemen  of  the  deputa- 
tion, and  one  half  of  the  supreme  judges. 

"  4.  ( ;iose  at  the  king's  left  hand,  his  adopted  moth- 
er and  her  sisters  ;  next  to  them  the  other  half  of  the 
missionaries,  the  other  gentleman  of  the  de|mtation, 
and  the  r«'st  of  the  supreme  judges. 

"  5.  Close  behind  ilin  kintr.  Po!>>ars.  the  kins'a 
brother-in-law,  and  on  his  right  and  left  hand,  the  fathers 
of  the  royal  family.     Brother  Davies,  who  was  ap- 


pointed to  act  as  speaker  for  the  king,  sat  close  by 
him. 

"  6.  On  the  lower  platform  all  the  governors  and  dis- 
trict judges  were  seated  on  one  side,  and  their  wives 
on  the  other.  On  the  governors'  platfonn,  and  close 
to  the  royal  or  upper  platform,  on  each  side,  the  singers 
were  placed. 

"  7.  In  front  of  and  round  about  the  governors' 
platform,  the  children  were  seated,  and  next  to  them 
the  women.  Next  to  the  women  all  the  magistrates 
were  seated,  and  behind  them  the  multitude. 

"  After  the  ceremony  of  the  coronation  was  closed, 
a  herald  proclaimed  freedom  to  all  who  were  under 
the  sentence  of  the  law,  snying, '  Let  those  that  have 
been  banished  return  to  their  lands,  and  let  every  man 
and  w  Oman  be  freed  from  every  penalty  ;  and  let  all 
be  exhorted  to  become  good  members  of  society,  &c.'  " 

The  gospel,  in  the  mean  time,  had  been  gradually 
making  its  way  among  the  other  isles  of  the  Pacific 
(X'can.  Even  in  the  Paumotu  islands,  inhabited  by  a 
race  of  people  proverbial  for  their  gross  superstitions, 
detestoble  vices,  and  ferocious  cnielty,  the  account  of 
what  had  transpired  in  Otaheite  produced  such  a  won- 
derful eflTect,  that  many  of  the  people,  with  two  or  three 
of  the  chiefs,  threw  away  their  idols  and  abjured  hea- 
thenism ;  and  the  sacred  flame  thus  kindled  continued 
to  bum  brighter  and  brighter,  till  three  of  these  islands 
in  the  dangerous  ArchiiMjIago  embraced  the  gospel,  and 
gladly  n-ceived,  from  native  teachers,  progressive  in- 
struction in  the  great  things  of  God. 

The  renunciation  of  idolatry,  in  tiie  island  of  Ru- 
rutu,  was,  also,  unexpectedly  effected,  nnd  was  attend- 
ed with  some  peculiaHy  interesting  and  encouraging 
circvunsiances,  as  will  appear  from  the  following  stote- 
meiit  of  Messrs.  Threlkcld  and  Williams,  missionaries 
at  Huiatea: — 

"  We,  one  day,  perceived  a  strange  sail  at  sea,  which 
made  towards  the  reef,  nnd  appeared  to  Ik;  determined 
to  Imxurd  nuuiini;  on  it,  instead  of  bearing  up  for  the 
proper  harbor ;  a  practice  resorted  to  by  the  natives 
when  in  extremity.  Perreiving  their  inuninent  danger, 
the  cliiefs  manned  our  Imats,  and  went  off  to  pilot  the 
strangers  safely  into  the  liarlmr.  When  they  arrived, 
we  found  they  were  natives  of  the  island  of  Runitu. 
They  had  come  from  Mou  lihi,  and  touched,  on  their 
voyage,  at  Boroboro,  but  coidd  not  get  in  for  the  con- 
trary wind.  They  had  been  «lrifted  about  at  sea  for 
three  weeks,  and  latterly  without  either  food  or  water, 
except  sea-water,  which  they  were  obliged  to  drink. 
Contrary  winds  drove  them  (Wmh  their  own  island  ;  but 
the  I»rd,  to  whose  merciful  designs  winds  and  waves 

.,,..jj{.  j,,,.|„.,j^  £,,„.  ptiiutru  iiicni  tisniicr. 

"  They  were  exceedingly  astonished  at  the  difference 
of  cuitunu  hero,  particularly  in  seeing  men  and  women 


Mung  together,  and  the  Areoi  society,  their  dance*. 
Md  every  lascivious  amusement,  completoly  put  away. 
When  they  heard  of  the  new  system  of  religion,  and 
saw  the  people  worshipping  the  living  and  true  God, 
they  were  convinced  of  its  propriety  and  superiority, 
and  immediately  began  to  learn  to  read. 

"  The  chief,  with  his  wife  and  a  few  others,  went  on 
•hore  at  Borabora.     Mr.  Orsmond,  the  missionary  at 
that  station,  paid  every  attention  to  ihem  during  their 
short  stay ;  gave  them  books,  and  began  to  teach  them 
to  read  ;  but  ns  the  canoe  and  the  greater  part  of  the 
people  were  at  Raiatea,  they  soon  followed.     Thev 
were  about  twenty-five  in  number,  men  and  women. 
We  set  apart  a  certain  time  for  their  instruction,  sup- 
phed  them  all  with  elementary  books,  and  gave  them 
in  charge  to  our  deacons,  who  wore  very  much  pleased 
with,  and  diligent  in  the  discharge  of  their  nexv  office. 
Iheir  language  being  somewhat  different,  the  deacons 
could  make  themselves  understood  better  than  we  could 
"  Auura,  their  chief,  paid  particular  attention,  as 
well  as  his  wife:  the  greater  part  of  the  others  ap- 
peared indolent.      He   appeared    to   appreciate   the 
worth  of  knowledge,  and  the  value  of  the  good  tidings 
of  salvation;  and  his  questions  upon  our  discourses 
were  such  as  surprised  not  only  the  Raiateans,  but 
ourselves  also      We  think  he  possesses  a  very  acute 
judgment   so  far  as  he  knows.     We  do  not  Ln,  in 
hus  speaking,  to  be  understood  that  we  believe  him 
to  be  what  would  bo  called  in  England  a  converted 
character,  though  we  have  indubitable  evidence  that 
he  IS  a  true  convert  from  idolatry  to  Christianity.    God 
hath  called  them  out  of  darkness  to  the  knowledge 
of  his  Son  Jesus  Christ.     May  they  soon  really  know 
liim,  whom  to  know  aright  is  ..tcrnni  lifo  !  Auura  was 
contmually  expressing  his  anxious  desire  to  return  to 

he  knowledge  he  had  obtained  of  the  true  Go<l.  and 
his  Son  Jesus  Christ,  expressing  his  f.ars  in  nn  affec 
tionate  manner,.that  when  ho  got  ba.k  he  should  find 

theTn     '  "  "'"  '""  *'"'"'  '''"''  '"^"'"^  *le*troying 

"  The  brig  Hope,  captain  Grimes,  from  Ixjndon, 
happening  to  touch  at  Raiatea,  wo  mentioned  to  the 
captain  our  wish  to  got  these  poor  people  to  their  own 
island  ;  he,  with  a  readiness  which  does  himthehiKh- 
est  credit  offered  immediately  to  touch  at  their  island, 
and  to  take  our  boat  in  tow,  that  we  miRht  have  an 
<.p|K,rtumty  to  open  a  communication  with  the  natives. 
We  sent  for  Auura,  the  chief,  an.l  his  wife,  who  were 
highly  delighted  with  the  prospect  of  returning,  hut  he 
raised  an  objection  to  going  to  his  land  of  .l«rkn.... 
"...«,«  m  fart  some  one  with  Imn  to  instruct  him  and 
MS  people.     \V„  w,re  raH.p,  „,  ^  ,„^,  ,,^^^  ,^  ^^^ . 

however,  we  immediately  called  the  deacons,  informed' 


OTAHEITE. 


im 


who  would  volunteer  their  services  to  go  as  .eJhe« 
to  these  poor  people.  They  assembled  the  church 
when  two  canrie  forwaid,  we  hope  with  the  .pirTtTnd 
anguage  of  the  pjophet  of  old,  •  Her«  ^  w'e ;  sJnl 
us.  They  were  the  very  men  we  should  have  chosen 
had  we  thought  it  pnident  to  nominate  ;  but  we  l3l  it' 
to  him  who  disposes  the  hearts  and  thoughts  of  men 
according  to  his  own  will. 

"  Mahamene,  a  deacon,  having  a  wife,  but  no  chil- 
dren,  was  one  ;  Puna,  a  steady,  and  we  hope  a  tX 
pious  man,  havmg  a  wife,  with  two  children,  was  the 
other;  they  were  both  men  we  could  ill  spare,  on  ac! 
count  of  their  steadiness  and  our  confidence  iii  ,hem  • 
but  such  character  are  the  only  p,«per  persons  fo; 
such  a  work ;  therefore  every  other  consid^tion  was 
obliged  to  give  way.  To  select  a  crew  to  bring^ack 
our  boat  was  the  next  consideration;  and  this  took  up 
he  greatest  part  of  the  night,  as  they  had  but  a  short 
time  to  get  ready  for  the  ship. 

"  The  next  morning,  the  brig  got  under  weigh ;  and, 
after  most  affectionately  committing  Mahamene  and 
Puna,  with  their  wives  and  little  ones,  to  the  care  of 
our  I^rd  and  God,  in  the  presence  of  the  congreRa- 
t.on,  we  gave  to  each  a  letter  in  English  and  Tal^it.n. 
recognizing  them  as  under  the  patrenage  of  the  London 
Missionary  Society,  with  our  sanction,  and  recommend- 
>ng  them  to  any  cajitains  of  vessels  that  might  touch 
at  Kurutu.  " 

"As  the  vessel  lay  outside  the  reef,  we  were  pre- 

■Z"^  ^,T  T^.  "  '•''';"'«'•  ««'-vi'^e ;  but,  though  short. 
It  was  1«  1,  affcuing  and  interesting.  At  length  we 
conducted  our  new  fellow-laborers  to  the  brig  The 
captam  paid  every  attention  ;  took  our  boat  in  tow  and 
departed  leavmg  us  anxiously  waning  to  hear  in  due 
season  of  the.r  reception  and  success-nor  were  we 
disapiiointod. 

"  After  a  little  more  than  a  month's  absence,  wo 
.a<l  the  pleasure  of  seeing  the  b.,at  return,  laden  with 
the  gods  o(  the  heathen  taken  in  this  bloodless  war 
won  by  the  power  of  him  who  is  the  Prince  of  Peace' 
And  on  reading  the  intelligence  communicated  by  our 
friends,  we  felt,  ,,t.ri.aps,  something  of  that  holy  joy 
that  the  angelic  hosts  will  experience  when  they  shall 
«hout  .  The  kingdon,,  of  this  uorld  arc  becoL  th, 
kinfrdom  of  our  Ood  and  of  hi*  Christ.'  " 

From  the  letters  sent,  on  this  occasion,  by  the  two 
native  teachers,  it  appears,  that  immediately  after  tho 
return  of  Am.ra,  a  meeting  of  the  chiefs  was  convened, 
and  s,H,h  cogent  arguments  were  breiight  forAvanl  in  be. 
.m!!  u.  the  vnnsiian  ft^i.^jon,  that  the  assembly  formally 
•lecreed  the  abandonment  of  idolatry.  In  order  how- 
over,  to  put  the  power  of  their  gods  to  the  test,  it  x,u 
agreed,  that  before  carrying  this  resolution  into  effect 


370 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


they  should,  conirary  to  their  established  usage,  eat 
together  the  next  day,  in  company  witii  their  wives 
and  children.  If  any  died  according  t()  the  predictions 
of  the  priests,  who  asserted  that  any  female  presum- 
ing to  eat  either  hog  or  turtle — or  niiy  oliier  person 
vanturing  to  eat  upon  a  sacred  place — would  he  inev- 
itably devoured  by  the  evil  spirit,  then  they  would  not 
renounce  their  idols  ;  hut  if  no  o\w  were  injured,  lliey 
would  destroy  them  all.  They  nucordingly  met  lU  the 
time  appointed,  and  after  satisfy ing  their  appetites  with 
out  drawing  upon  themselves  tlui  threatened  calamity, 
they  proceeded  to  the  demolition  of  the  nioriiis,  and 
agreed  to  send  their  helpless  deities  to  the  missionaries 
at  Kuiutca. 

It  is  worthy  of  remork,  that  when  the  hont  with 
Auura  and  (lie  native  teochors  first  reached  the  shore, 
lhos<f  persons,  with  their  companions,  knelt  down  (o 
return  thanks  to  (iod  for  their  preservation,  not  know- 
ing that  the  spot  wos  sacred  to  Oroo,  one  of  the  idols. 
The  Uurutuans  sai<l  iinmediatcly,  "  These  people  will 
die  I"  The  parly  also  ate  inadvertently  on  a  sarnd 
spot.  WJRii  tiu>  Rurutuans  saw  that,  they  said,  "  No 
doubt  they  will  die  for  this  trespass  on  the  sacred 
giXMunl,"'  and  looked  earnestly,  expecting  some  one  to 
have  swollen  or  fallen  down  dead  suddenly  ;  luU  after 
they  had  l(H<ked  a  consideraiile  tinu>,  and  saw  no  harm 
come  to  them,  they  (diunged  their  minds,  and  said, 
'•Surely  theirs  is  the  truth;  hut,  perhaps,  the  goil  will 
come  in  the  niii,lit  and  kill  lliem — we  will  wait  and 
see."  One  man  actually  went  in  the  night  to  the 
wife  of  the  chief  (Auura),  who  also  ate  a  part  of  a 
hog  or  turtle  on  the  $acrril  spot,  ami  said,  "  Are  you 
.Mill  alive?"'  N\'hen  the  morning  arrived, and  the  Uu- 
rutuans found  that  no  harm  had  happened  to  any  of 
them,  they  became  exceeilingly  disgusted  at  their 
havint^  been  so  long  deceived  by  the  evil  spirit. 

It  is  pleasing  to  adil.  that  the  gospel  was,  aNo,  suc- 
cessfully introduced,  partly  by  tiu>  breihreu  laboring 
under  the  auspices  of  the  luissicmary  swiely,  and 
partly  by  native  teachers,  into  Taliaa,  an  island  sitiuited 
about  two  miles  to  the  north  of  Itaiaten,  ami  connect- 
ed with  it  by  a  reef,  which  seems  impassable  losliips; 
— into  Muiaoiti,  usually  called  Sir  Charles  Saunders's 
island ; — into  Maupiti,  or  Maurna,  forty  miles  westward 
of  Horalnira  ;  — into  the  Harvey  islands,  in  semcof  which 
the  inliabitanis  had  never  seen  a  ship  sinre  the  visit 
(if  captain  Cook  ; — and  into  the  islands  of  Uaivavai, 
ilinintara,  and  Tubouai,  which  (with  Hurutu,  aheody 
noticed)  form  the  principal  part  of  the  Haivavai  group. 
And  it  is  a  fuel  Uw  interesting  to  be  passed  over  in 
silence,  that  Mr.  Noit  and  the  Otahoitan  teachers  ar- 
rived at  TuiK)UBi  just  in  time  iu  prevent  a  war  wiiich  was 
to  have  coininenced  on  the  ensuing  morning.  The 
hostile  parties  were  encamped  about  a  mile  distant 


•roin  each  other,  fidly  prepared  for  action.  On  the 
arrival  of  the  strangers  from  Otaheite,  however,  and 
the  distribution  of  a  great  number  of  Tahoitan  spell- 
ing-books antong  the  natives,  the  implements  of  death 
were  universally  laid  aside ;  the  thirst  of  vengeance 
no  longer  occupied  the  breasts  of  the  warriors ;  but 
all  seemed  onxious  to  avail  themselves  of  instruction, 
and,  instead  of  imbruing  their  hands  in  each  other's 
blood,  they  exhibited  o  most  gratifying  and  <leliglitful 
spectacle,  whilst  learning  the  first  rudiments  of  letters, 
as  preparatoiy  to  their  acquiring  the  knowledge  of  that 
ins|)in!d  volume  which  pidilishcs  peace  between  heaven 
ami  earth,  and  which  predicts  the  approach  of  that- 
blessed  period  when  the  destrtictivo  art  of  war  shall 
be  learned  no  more  for  ever. 

In  the  report  of  the  directors  of  the  missionary 
society  for  the  present  year  (1H4I),  it  is  stated  that 
"  the  child'  authority  over  Otaheite  and  Kimeo  is  ot 
present  exercised,  not  by  the  regent,  but  by  Poamro 
Vahine,  sister  of  the  queen  dowager.  She  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  eluncli  at  I'apacte,  and  is  considered  as  a 
pious  woman.  All  the  branches  of  the  royal  family 
reside  in  the  district  of  Pare,  where  they  have  threo 
or  four  establisluiu'nts.  The  young  king  has  acquired 
a  little  of  the  F.nglish  language,  and  discovers  a  de- 
cided partiality  for  the  nnssionaries,  ond  a  preference 
of  their  inanni-r  of  living.  Ainiata,  his  sister-in-law, 
now  about  fourti-en  years  of  oge,  was  married,  in  the 
early  part  of  1H>2;1,  to  I'omare  of  Tahaa,  a  youth  of 
about  sixteen,  descended  from  the  race  of  Otaheitan 
princes,  and  strongly  attached  to  (Christianity." 

To  the  same  interesting  dm-ument  we  are  indebted 
for  tire  information,  that  in  the  mouth  of  May,  IHii.*!, 
the  nuM\ber  of  bapli/ed  natives  in  what  are  callecl  tho 
(ieorgian  and  Swiety  islands  only,  ainom\ti'd  to  }),;!()(), 
including  ■'),Ht»0  adults,  and  JJ.StM)  children  ;  that  of 
these  individuals,  about  HOO  were  miMubers  of  churches  ; 
and  that  'i..')l)((  adults,  and  ii.M'it)  children,  were  ini- 
der  school  instructicni.  It  also  apjienrs,  in  res|)cct 
to  the  'I'aheilttu  version  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  that 
the  whole  of  the  (iospi^ls  by  Matthew,  Ijuke,  and 
John,  with  the  Ai'ls  of  the  Apostles,  were  printed, 
ami  either  eircidaleil  or  ready  for  circidaticm  ;  that  ten 
of  the  epistles  of  l'a>il  were  revised  for  press,  nnd 
alM)nt  to  be  printed  ;  that  the  epistles  of  ,)ohn  and 
.Jtuie  were  Irnn-italed,  though  not  revised  ;  and  that 
the  books  of  (Jenesis,  Joshua,  Judges,  Ruth,  I'snims, 
isaiah,  Daniel  and  Jonah  were  chiefly  under  revision. 

The  missionary  staticnis  in  these  islands  having  re- 
ceived Knropenn  names,  from  the  deputation,  we  slioll 
hcHMfter  rccogni/.e  them  by  their  new  ajipellations. 

We  shall  now  detail,  as  far  as  our  int'onnaiion  ex- 
tends, iln>  progress  of  the  missions  in  tho  several  islands 
under  distinct  heads. 


OTAHEITE. 


TAHITI. 

District  or  Matavai. 

fVaugh  Town,  and  Ilankey  City. 

During;  tlio  year  ondiiiir  May,  1823,  the  number 
baptiiod  in  this  station  was,  of  ailults,  ono  hundred 
nnd  twenty ;  of  children,  ono  liundrod  ;  candidates 
for  baptism,  oi|^htoen  ;  addition  to  the  connnnnicanls, 
tliirty-throo  ;  making  a  total  of  ono  hundred  and  eight  : 
marriages  during  the  sanio  period,  twelve. 

In  October,  |H-^'i,  a  connnodious  chnpel,  one  hun- 
dred feet  by  forty,  was  opened.  The  nund)er  of  the 
congregation  attending  this  place  of  worship  is  ropro- 
sonted  as  very  encouraging.  The  deputation  say, 
•'  Here  is  great  reason  for  thanksgiving  to  God.  The 
profession  of  the  gospel  is  luiivcrsal ;  the  Lord's  day 
is  observed  with  great  strictnciss  ;  every  family  has  an 
altar  dedicated  lo  the  Most  High  ;  nnd  we  have  reason 
to  bqie  that  there  is  much  real  religion  in  (he  conirre- 
gation."' 

Mr.  Ilaywnrd,  who  had  been  a  faithful  missionary 
for  twenty-one  years,  was  this  year  compelled  to  re- 
linquish his  labors,  in  consequence  of  the  ill  lienllh  of 
Mrs.  Hayward;  ami  Mr.  Nott,  afler  a  diliKeut  service 
of  thirty  years,  returned  to  Kii^huul.  TIk.  church  nt 
Hankey  (^iiy,  which  had  enjoyed  iheminislry  of  Mr. 
Nott,  was  unit(!il  with  that  at  VVaughTown,  under  the 
care  of  Mr.  Wilson. 

From   the  report  of  the  society  for  lH«(i,  the  fol- 
lowing is  an  extract  in  reference  to  this  station  for  the 
past  year.—"  The  number  of  new  members  admitted 
ia  ono  hundred  and  sovonly-onc,  of  whom   twenty 
have  since  removed  to  other  stations.     The  attend- 
ance on  the  sabbath  is  large.    'I'he  confereuco  moelings, 
whi(!h  had    been  discontinued,   have  been   resumed. 
The  luunber  who  attend  is  now  considerable,  and  the 
ofTect  oi)parently  benedcial.      Three  oilier  lueelings 
are  held  on  the  week  days   for  conversations  respec- 
tively with  the  candidates   for  comiiiuuion,  with  the 
l)apti«e(l,  and  with  the  candidates  for  baptism.    Tiieso 
conversations  relate  in  part  to  the  nature  and  design 
of  baprism  and  the  Lord's  supper,  and  to  the  sermons 
of  the  preceding  sabbath.      A  few  members   of   the 
church  have  (le|i«rtcd  this  life  with  a  gowl  hope  of 
glory.     Among  these  was  the  chief  woman  of  the  dis- 
trict of  Miilavai,  named   Moenanu,  who  dicil   at   the 
(if^e  of  thirty-five.     Sbo  had  been   a  member  of  the 
cimrch  four  yearn,  and  bad  acted  conformably  to  hir 
C'liristiun  prol'ession." 

^fr.  Wilson  was  troubled  for  a  coimid<Mal)le  time  by 
two  persons,  wjio  protended  to  bo  inspired  b/  the 


871 

Spirit  of  Oorf,  and  empowered  to  work  miraclei,  and 
declared  that  there  was  "no  sin  here, nor  puniihment 
hereafter."  Several  of  tiie  members  were  leducod  from 
the  soundness  of  the  faith,  nnd  were  removed  from  Chri». 
tian  fellowship.  At  Hankey  City,  at  the  lastreporti, 
the  school  contained  two  hundred  scholars,  the  congre- 
gallon  amounted  to  three  hundred  persons,  and  the 
church  consisted  of  ono  hundred  and  twonty-fivo  mem- 
bers In  addition  to  the  .schools,  meetings  and  duties 
of  the  sabbath,  Mr.  Nott  is  engaged  in  the  revision  of 
a  uniform  edition  of  the  Talieitan  New  Testament 


District  or  Atehura. 

liimler't  Point, 

Mr.  Darling  and  Mr.  Hourne  were  the  first  who  oc- 
cupied this  now  flourishing  settlement:  they  came  in 
IHI!>,  They  continued  to  laboi  together  until  Jan- 
uary, lH«ii,  when  Mr.  Bourne  removed  to  Tabon. 
The  deputation  observe,  that  Mr.  Darling  has  learnetl 
the  art  of  printing,  "and  now  conducts  the  press  with 
an  edicienc.y  which  is  highly  creditable  both  to  his 
talents  and  industry.  He  has  printed  the  Acts  of  the 
Apostles,  the  Tiiheitan  giHimnar,  a  tract  which  ho 
himself  translated  into  the  language.  He  hos  now  in 
baud  ten  of  the  epistles  of  I'aiil,  translated  by  Mr. 
Davies. 

In  IH'iti,  the  following  ofliciul  return  was  made 
from  this  siailement :— "  The  total  number  of  the 
bapii/ed  is,  of  adults,  four  hundred  and  twenty  ;  of 
I'.hildren,  three  hundred  and  eighty-six.  Of  the  lat- 
ter, many  are  now  grown  up.  The  number  received 
into  the  church  during  the  past  yeor  is  thirty-nine  ; 
that  <if  regular  comiminiconts  one  hundred  and  nine. 
Many  candidates  for  communion  are  under  preparato- 
ry inslriiciion, 

In  18!i7,  the  report  mentions  that  an  endemic  had 
been  v<'ry  prevalent.  It  carried  off  thirtjcn  adults 
and  fourteen  children.  Among  the  deceosed  was  a 
deacon  of  the  church,  named  Aiherd-,  a  truly  piong 
num.  active  in  bis  office  nnd  the  schools.  Ho  had  of- 
■ered  his  si-rvices  as  a  lenchrrlo  some  of  the  surrounding 
islands,  but  no  opportunity  had  occurred  for  th.it  pur- 
pose. Jesus  Christ  wns  the  subject  of  his  daily  med- 
itation. Ho  died  in  pencn.  Of  the  children  who 
died,  two  or  three  of  the  boys  gave  pleasing  evidence 
of  a  spiritual  change. 

From  the  letters  of  the  deputation,  and  from  the 

reiiorls  of  tlli<    snrintv.  it  nnnoara    tU«t    •!.:.    ....: .•- 

making  steady  progress.  Tho  weekly  meetings  ar* 
numerously  and  regularly  attended.  The  day  schools 
for  udiilis  and  children  are  in  a  nourishing  state.     Tho 


yra 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


Tftheittn  public  library  for  the  Windward  islands, 
formed  at  this  settlement,  has  been  enriched  by  many 
preaents.  A  new  mission-house,  a  spacious  school- 
house,  and  several  good  dwelling-houses,  hare  been 
erected,  and  a  new  road  has  been  made  throughout  the 
district.  The  congregation  usually  consists  of  between 
eight  hundred  and  nine  hundred.  The  people  mani- 
fest a  desire  for  religious  improvement,  and  many  ap- 
pear anxious  to  share  the  gracious  influence  of  the 
Holy  Spirit.  During  the  six  months  previous  to  the 
date  of  the  latest  intelligence  (1831),  upwards  of 
twenty  members  had  been  added  to  the  church. 


District  or  Papara. 
Hataeit  Toum. 

This  place  received  its  name  in  honor  of  Dr.  Ha- 
weis,  the  zealous  patron  of  the  mission.  Imme- 
diately after  the  change  from  heathenism  to  Christian- 
ity took  place,  in  1816,  a  large  chapel  was  erected  at 
Haweis  Town,  measuring  ninety  feet  by  thirty-three. 
It  was  the  first  Christian  chapel  erected  after  the 
change,  and  was  used  till  October,  1823,  when  an  ex- 
cellent place  of  worship  was  opened.  The  length  of 
the  new  house  is  one  hundred  and  twenty-one  feet  by 
fifty-seven,  and  contiguous  to  it  is  a  plastered  school- 
room, seventy-three  feet  by  twenty-three  feet.  A  church 
was  formed  on  Congregational  principles,  in  1820.  Tlie 
deputation  afford  an  honorable  testimony  to  the  zeal  and 
fidelity  of  Mr.  Daviesand  his  coadjutors.  In  1826,  Mr. 
Davies  completed  translations  of  the  Epistles  of  James, 
Peter,  John,  and  Jude,  and  also  the  book  of  Psalms. 
This  mission  sustained  a  heavy  loss  in  the  removal  by 
death  of  Mrs.  Davies.  This  melancholy  event  look 
place  while  her  husband  was  absent  from  home  on  a 
visit  to  some  of  the  islands. 

In  the  report  for  1828  is  the  following  general  ac- 
count of  baptized  communicants,  8ic.,  in  the  three 
districts  of  Paparn,  Papeuriri,  ond  Papeari,  which  will 
be  read  with  interest : — 


Baplixtd. 

Ctmmu. 

nU*Ht». 

DM. 

KttU 

Y«u. 

Adulu. 

Chihim. 

1820 

251 

185 

38 

0 

0 

1821 

33 

30 

6 

0 

0 

1832 

109 

108 

32 

0 

0 

18*1 

142 

117 

23 

4 

1 

1824 

172 

115 

66 

0 

1 

1825 

87 

75 

131 

4 

1 

iS^ 

97 

64 

62 

A 

a 

1327 

17 

41 

44 

15 

0 

838 


735 


402       29 


In  1830,  Mr.  Davies,  addressing  the  secretary,  com- 
plains of  the  indifference  of  spiritual  things  among  many 
of  those  who  have  by  baptism  made  a  profession  of 
Christianity ;  yet  he  communicates  the  pleasing  intel- 
ligence that,  in  other  respects,  the  station  is  not  with- 
out indications  of  the  divine  favor  and  care. 

At  the  last  accounts,  the  school  at  Haweis  Town 
contained  one  hundred  and  ninety-four  children,  and 
five  hundred  adults ;  the  school  at  the  Branch  station, 
Papeuriri,  seventy  children  ;  and  that  at  Papeari,  fifty ; 
making  the  total  number  of  scholars,  three  hundred 
and  fourteen  children,  and  five  hundred  adults :  of  the 
former,  one  hundred  and  sixty-three  were  boys,  and 
one  hundred  and  fifty-one  giris ;  and  of  the  latter,  two 
hundred  and  ninety  were  men,  and  two  hundred  and 
ten  females.  The  average  congregation  was  about 
nine  hundred,  and  the  mission-chapel  was  capable  of 
admitting  sixteen  hundred  persons. 


District  or  Pare. 
mik$U  Harbor. 

In  May,  1823,  thrfee  hundred  and  ninety-five  adults 
had  been  baptized  at  this  station.  The  whole  number 
of  communicants  was  seventy-two.  The  report  for 
1824  states, 

"  Some  of  the  congregation,  and  one  or  two  mem- 
bers of  the  church,  have  been  ensnared  by  tempta- 
tions to  intchiperance,  presented  to  them  by  ships  in 
the  harbor.  The  individuals  implicated  have  acknowl- 
edged their  guilt,  apparently  with  a  penitent  mind. 
A  day  of  fasting,  prayer,  and  solemn  humiliation,  was 
held  shortly  after,  which  appears  to  have  been  attend- 
ed with  very  good  effect. 

"  The  weekly  meetings  for  conversation  with  tho 
baptized,  and  with  candidates  for  baptism,  are  contin- 
ued, and  not  without  encouragement. 

"  For  the  benefit  of  crews  of  vessels  which,  from 
time  to  time,  enter  the  harbor,  Mr.  Crook  has  estab- 
lished an  English  service  on  sabbath  morning.  The 
attendance  fluctuates  between  fifteen  and  fifty,  accord- 
ing to  the  number  of  the  ships  at  anchor. 

"  A  neat  school-house  has  been  erected  for  native 
giris,  upwards  of  fifty  of  whom  attend.  This  school  is 
conducted  by  Mr.  Crook's  two  eldest  daughters. 

"  A  new  school-house,  fitted  up  on  the  Lancaste- 
rian  plan,  has  been  built  for  the  boys,  of  whom  tho 
number  is  about  eighty. 

"  Much  of  Mr.  Crook's  time  continues  to  be  occu- 
pied in  administering  medical  assistance  to  the  sick 
and  diseased. 

"  A  new  and  commodious  mission-house  has  been 


OTAHEI'M!. 


erected  in  the  front  of  the  public  road.    This  has  been 
done  by  the  nati'^es." 

In  1827;  Mr.  Pritchard,  who  commenced  his  labors 
in  1895,  began  to  preach  in  Taheitan,  and  commenced 
an  English  and  Taheitan  Dictionary,  which  he  hopes 
will  afford  considerable  facilities  for  the  acquisition  of 
the  latter  language. 

Wilks's  Harbor  is  now  a  flourishing  seaport.  This 
circumstance,  though  it  favors,  in  some  respect,  the 
temporal  prosperity  of  the  people,  exposes  them  to 
peculiar  temptations.  The  frequent  arrivals  of  ves- 
sels at  this  station  afford  frequent  opponunities  for 
preaching  to  seamen,  and  distributing  religious  tracts. 
"  His  majesty's  sloop  of  war  Satellite,  captain  Laws, 
visited  Tahiti  in  the  month  of  March,  1829.  The 
visit  of  captain  Laws  was  encouraging  to  tiie  mission- 
aries, and  salutary  in  its  influence  on  the  people. 
Captain  Laws  expressed  himself  gratified  with  the 
progress  of  the  children,  and  surprised  to  find  that  so 
many  could  read  fluently,  and  write  correctly  from  dic- 
tation. In  token,  of  his  approbation,  he  gave  pres- 
ents to  the  teachers,  and  those  of  the  scholars  who 
produced  the  best  specimens  of  penmanship,  and  testi- 
monials of  good  conduct." 

Mr.  Prilchard  has  established  an  institution  for  the 
education  of  native  teachers,  and  the  missionaries 
anticipate  very  favorable  results  from  the  advantages 
its  members  will  receive.  The  institution  was  com- 
menced with  five  individuals.  When  the  last  accounts 
were  received,  the  number  of  students  was  ten. 


Taiahapu. 
Bogue't  Town. 

Mr.  Crook  left  Wilks's  Harbor  in  October,  1823, 
and  settled  here  at  the  request  of  the  inhabitants.  They 
built  for  him  and  his  numerous  family  a  commodious 
house.  The  congregation,  at  this  period,  consisted  of 
about  five  hundred. 

Mr.  Crook,  in  a  letter  respecting  his  people,  who, 
previously  to  his  arrival,  had  not  enjoyed  flie  benefits 
of  a  resident  missionary,  writes, 

"  We  are  going  on  comfortably,  and  I  hope  success- 
fully, at  Taiarapu.  Our  number  is  continually  increas- 
ing. Wo  have  forty-seven  members  in  the  church, 
and  as  many  as  forty-three  are  candidates  for  the  lord's 
supper,  and  earnestly  desire  admittance.  They  all 
give  a  consistent  account  of  themselves  and  of  the 
ordinance,  and  nothing  immoral  has  been  laid  to  their 
"•~"g"  ]  ""t  we  waTii  something  more  decisive  of  ploiy 
in  their  clmacter.  In  some  things  they  seem  to  excel. 
They  are  very  attentive  to  the  word  ol  God,  reading 


919 


it  continually,  and  searching  after  its  meaning.  Thia 
IS  their  common  topic  of  conversation.  They  also  excel 
in  prayer,  and  many  of  them  possess  an  excellent  gift  • 
but  they  are  deficient  in  diligence,  and  in  compassion 
for  others.  God,  I  trust,  who  has  wrought  the  former, 
will,  in  his  own  time,  and  in  the  use  of  means,  effect 
the  other. 

"  We  have  baptized,  at  this  new  station,  two  bun- 
dred  and  fifteen,  viz.  seventy-three  men,  seventy 
women,  thirty-seven  boys,  and  thirty-five  giris.  There 
are  also  sixty-eight  persons  who  had  been  previously 
baptized  by  myself  and  others.  We  have  every  prospect 
that  we  shall  add  greatly  to  their  number,  and  that  in- 
struction in  general  will  be  attended  to." 

The  school  is  in  excellent  condition,  and  the  scholars 
have  made  great  proficiency  in  reading  and  in  learning 
the  catechism.  All  the  adults  attend  school  every 
morning,  and  are  making  good  progress.  The  two 
eldest  daughters  of  Mr.  Crook  render  essential  service 
in  the  giris'  school. 

Mr.  Crook  has  long  paid  attention  to  the  study  of 
medicine,  &c., and  has  been  very  useful  in  administering 
to  the  relief  of  numerous  patients,  some  of  whom  come 
to  him  from  remote  parts  of  Tahiti,  and  even  from  other 
islands.  To  aid  his  benevolent  designs,  the  good  peo- 
ple of  Bogue's  Town  have  resolved  tobuild  an  hospital. 
In  1825,  a  new  chapel  was  opened  at  this  station. 
The  reports  from  this  mission  have  been  increasingly 
interesting,  and  Mr.  Crook  states  that  the  place  of 
worship  is  generally  full ;  and  in  1828,  the  directors 
report  a  total  of  two  hundred  and  seventy-four  com- 
municants. 

A  tremendous  hurricane,  accompanied  by  heavy 
rains  and  floods,  on  the  11th  of  January,  1828,  carried 
away  all  the  out-houses,  end  destroyed  the  gardens, 
&.C.  at  this  station.     It  was  deemed  advisable,  in  con- 
sequence of  this  disastrous  event,   that  Mr.   Crook's 
dwelling-house  should  be  removed  to  a  more  secure 
place,  as  its  situation  appears  not  to  have  been  well 
chosen.     His  people  have  behaved  kindly  towards  him, 
and  agreed  to  build  a  new  house  for  their  missionary. 
On  account  of  the  enfeebled  state  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Crook's  health,  and  their  large  family,  Mr.  Crook,  in 
the  close  of  1830,  resigned  his  charge,  with  the  con- 
currence of  the  missionaries,  and  the  entire  approba- 
tion of  the  directors,  to  whom  his  activity  and  devoted- 
ness  as  a  missionary  afforded  uniform  satisfaction.  The 
missionaries  at  Tahiti  purpose  to  place  an  eflicient  na- 
tive teacher  at  this  place,  as  soon  as   possible,  and  to 
visit  it  ahemately  once  a  month.     When  the  last  ac- 
counts were  transmitted,  there  were  one  hundred  and 
forty-eight  men  and  one  hundred  and  twenty-three 
females  united  in  church  fellowship,  with  twelve  who 
were  candidates  for  admission. 


374 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


HIDIA. 


At  the  advice  of  the  deputation,  Mr.  Jones  re- 
moved fr<$m  Papara  to  this  place  in  March,  1825,  and 
has  met  with  pleasing  encouragement. 

In  May,  1825,  the  number  admitted  to  baptism  was 
one  hundred  and  thirty-nine,  of  whom  eleven  had  re- 
ceived this  initiatory  rite  at  other  stations.  The  church, 
at  that  time,  consisted  of  sixty-nine  members,  of  whom 
twenty-two  were  admitted  into  communion  at  other 
stations.  The  congregation  consisted  on  the  sabbath, 
of  between  five  hundred  and  six  hundred,  and  on 
Wednesday  evenings,  of  about  three  hundred.  A 
school  was  formed,  in  which  about  two  liundred  chil- 
dren attended.  An  adult  school  was  also  commenced, 
and  attended  by  between  two  hundred  and  throe  hun- 
dred ;  and  a  chapel  and  dwelling-house  were  erected. 

On  the  18th  of  November,  Mr.  Jones  was  deprived 
of  his  wife  by  death.  After  this  event,  he  appears  to 
have  found  himself  incapable  of  attending  to  his  mis- 
nionary  duties.  He  left  the  islands  in  October,  1826, 
retired  to  North  America,  and  dissolved  his  connection 
with  the  society. 

Since  Mr.  Jones  left  the  islands,  this  station  has 
been  occasionally  visited  by  the  brethren  at  Tahiti. 
Mr.  Henry  has  recently  removed  from  Eimeo,  and  set- 
tled in  Teiarei,  which  affords  the  inhabitants  of  Hidia 
religious  instruction.  Tiie  name  of  this  new  station 
is  Roby  Town.  In  the  department  of  tuition,  Mr. 
Henry  is  assisted  by  his  son  William  Ebenezer.  The 
Lord  of  missions  has  graciously  vouchsafed  to  mani- 
fest the  power  of  divine  influence  on  tiio  minds  of  the 
people.  The  church  at  this  place  numbers  two  hun 
dred  and  thirty-five  members. 


EIMEO. 

Roby's  Place. 

In  1824,  Messrs.  Henry  and  Piatt  occupied  this 
station  as  missionaries  ;  and  the  settlement  received 
advantage  from  the  residence  of  Messrs.  Armitage 
and  Blossom,  who  superintended  the  cotton  manufac- 
tory. This  building  is  sixty  feet  by  thirty,  and  was 
established  as  the  means  of  giving  a  useful  impulse  to 
industry  among  the  natives.  The  deputation  paid 
their  official  visit  to  this  station  in  February,  1824, 
and  write : — 

"The  church  that  wns  organized  here  in  1820,  has 
greatly  increased,  and  now  numbers  among  its  com- 
municants no  fewer  than  two  hundred  and  ten,  who 


appear  to  be  truly  pious  and  consistent  professott' 
of  the  gospel,  living  in  great  peace  and  harmony  with 
each  other,  while  their  spirit  and  deportment  adorn 
the  doctrine  of  God  their  Saviour.  Often  have  we 
surrounded  the  table  of  the  Lord,  with  this  worthy 
flock,  with  inexpressible  delight,  while  we  have  assist* 
ed  in  the  administration  of  the  holy  supper.  Differ- 
ence of  clime  and  of  color  from  ourselves  seemed  but 
to  endear  these  our  Christian  brethren  and  sisters  the 
more  to  our  hearts.  So  long  as  life  lasts,  we  shall  re- 
member .these  sacred  seasons,  both  with  this  and  all 
the  other  churches  in  these  islands,  with  the  noblest 
feelings  of  Christian  affection  ;  while  sorrow  fills  our 
hearts,  that  we  shall  break  bread  and  drink  wine  with 
them  no  more,  till  we  shall  drink  it  new  in  our  Father's 
kingdom.  While  we  have  reason  to  think  well  of  the 
piety  of  the  members  of  the  church,  a  general  air  of 
seriousness  was  ever  apparent  in  the  whole  congrega- 
tion, who  crowd  the  place  on  I^ord's  days  and  on  other 
occasions ;  and  the  greatest  decency  of  dress  is  seen 
throughout,  among  both  sexes,  many  of  whom  dress  in 
European  clothing." 

Mr.  Henry,  in  a  letter  dated  some  months  subse- 
quently to  the  visit  of  the  deputation,  thus  writes : — 
"  Although  Satan  and  his  emissaries  have  been,  and 
are  still,  making  strenuous  efforts  to  impede  the  good 
work  of  the  l^ord,  and  to  prop  up  his  falling  kingdom 
of  darkness,  and  have  been  too  successful  in  drawing 
away  many  to  disgrace  their  profession  of  Christianity, 
by  returning  to  folly  and  iniquity,*  yet  there  is,  I 
think,  reason  to  believe,  that  reaZ  eiVfl/  rc/ig'Jon  is  upon 
the  increase,  more  or  less,  at  all  the  stations.  There 
is  scarcely  a  church-meeting  at  this  station  hut  some 
are  added  to  the  church  ;  and,  1  believe,  this  is  the 
case  at  most,  if  not  all,  of  the  rest." 

In  the  report  of  I  (••■26,  it  appears  that  the  church  con- 
sisted of  two  hundred  and  seventy  members,  of  whom 
twenty-five  were  admitted  in  the  course  of  the  year. 
A  Raiatean,  who,  about  two  years  before,  had  ac- 
quired undue  influence  in  Eimeo,  and  had  begun  to 
use  it  to  the  prejudice  of  the  missionaries,  became  a 
sincere  convert.  He  repaired,  of  his  own  accord,  to 
the  missionary,  and  acknowledged  his  criminal  con- 
duct, professed  repentance,  was  afterwards  baptized, 
and  behaves  consistently. 

About  this  time,  the  missionaries  abandoned  the 
original  place  of  worship  for  a  stone  building  of  ex- 
traordinary workmanship.  Respecting  this  edifice  tlie 
deputation  say, 

"  This  chapel  would  indeed  do  credit  to  any  town 
in  England.  Its  form  is  octagonal,  sixty  feel  in  diam- 
eter, and  it  is  built  of  coral  rock,  well  cut  out  and 

•This  refc™  chiefly  to  the  reviTil  »raong  the  young  people  of 
the  idoUtioue  ciutom  of  tatooing. 


£IMC0. 


squared,  and  put  together  in  regular  courgos.     The 
doors  and  windows  are  semicircular,  and  well  propor- 
tioned.    Over  the  lower  tier  of  windows  is  a  second 
tier  of  small  windows,  each  a  semicircle,  for  the  bene- 
fit of  the  galleries,  which  are  intended  to  be  carried 
entirely  round.     The  walls  are  finished  by  a  handsome 
cornice,  and  the  whole  will  be  covered  by  a  neat 
thatch.     The  walls  wore  nearly  completed  when  we 
left,  and  are  about  twenty  feet  higii.     Over  each  of 
the  four  doors  is  an  inscription  well  cut  in  the  coral 
stones.     Those  over  the  east  and  west  doors  are  in 
Latin ;  that  over  the  south  door  is  in  English ;  and 
that  over  the  north  is  in  the  Taheitan  language,  stating 
the  day  of  liie  month,  and  the  year  of  the  reign  of  the 
king,  when  the  foundation  stone  was  laid.     It  was 
planned  and  principally  superintended  by  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Piatt ;  but  the  whole  workniiuisliiii  has  been  exe- 
cuted by  the  natives,  with  such  tools  as  they  could  ob- 
tain, and  these  none  of  the  best ;  such  as  axes,  adzes, 
old  saws,  &c.,  or  any  other  iron  instruments  they  pos- 
sessed.    The  coral  was  raised  from  the  bottom  of  the 
sea  in  large  fragments,  with  great  didiculty.      The 
building  stands  upon  the  site  of  an  old  public  marae, 
on  a  conspicuous  point  of  land,  and  nearly  at  the  cen- 
tre of  the  settlement.   The  while  coral  gives  it  a  strik- 
ing appearance  ;  and  the  whole  edifice  cannot  be  viewed 
but  with  just  astonishment  and  great  delight,  when  it 
is  considered  that  the  whole  actual  workmanship  has 
been  performed  by  men  who  had  never  been  accus- 
tomed to  hew  stones,  nor  indeed  had  ever  seen  it 
done.     The  whole  building  is  in  good  style,  and  ac- 
curately executed,  and  does  great  credit  both  to  the 
architect  and  to  the  workmen." 

The  latest  intelligence  from  Roby'sPluce  is  contain- 
ed in  the  following  extract  from  the  society's  Report 
for  1831:—      .  ^  ' 

"  Since  the  last  Report,  the  directors  have  received 
intelligence  of  tho  settlement  of  Mr.  and   Mrs.  Simp- 
son at  this  station.     They  arrived  in  June,  18'29,  and, 
from  tiiat  period  to  the  date  of  the  latest  intelligence, 
have    uninterruptedly  prosecuted   their  missionary  la- 
bors among  the  people  of  Roby's  Place,  paying  par- 
ticular attention  to  the  young.    A  new  school  has  been 
erected  ;  one  hundred  and  sixty-six  juvenile  scholars 
and  eighty-five  adults  receive  instruction  twice  a  day. 
While  etigaged  in  imparting  useful  knowledge,  Mr. 
Simpson  is  endeavoring  to  promote  industry  and  gen- 
eral improvement.     In  this  department  of  his  exer- 
tions, he  has  directed  his  attention  to  those  who,  though 
they  have  not  become  heathen,  do  not  profess  to  be 
religious,  and  pay  but  little  attention  to  the  precepts 
of  tho  eosnel.     Tlinnnw  xAann  nf  ...^-oi.:..  .. 

..  '^j   •  J Ti  "  ''•"iiiJu- 

dious  and  pleasant  building,  was  opened  in  July,  1829 ; 
and  the  number  of  those  who  attend  on  tho  sabbath  is 


Stil 


between  six  hundred  and  seven  hundred.  The  rite 
of  baptism  has  been  administered  by  Mr.  Simpson  to 
twenty-six  individuals,  and  forty-one  have  been  united 
with  the  church.  The  declaration  these  individuals 
made  of  their  experience  of  the  power  of  the  truth,  and 
their  Christian  deportment,  was  satisfactory.  Twelve 
before  removed  have  been  restored,  on  evidence  of  re- 
pentance ;  and  of  twelve  who,  on  account  of  intem- 
perance, had  been  excluded  from  communion,  nine,  on 
similar  evidence,  have  been  re-admitted." 


Grijffin  Town,  and  South  Sea  Academy. 

"  Griffin  Tow^n.— This  place  is  situated  on  the  south- 
east side  of  the  island,  in  the  district  of  Afareaitu,  and 
is  the  same  where  the  first  printing  estab..shment  in 
the  islands  was  commenced,  under  the  direction  of 
Mr.  Ellis.  Mr.  Orsmond  removed  here  from  Borabora, 
for  the  purpose  of  taking  charge,  with  Mrs.  Orsmond] 
of  tho  South  Sea  Academy,  an  institution  formed  in 
March,  1824,  for  the  purpose  of  giving  'to  the  chil- 
dren of  the  missionaries,  both  boys  and  girls,  such  an 
education  as  is  calculated  to  prepare  them  to  fill  useful 
situations  in  future  life.'  It  was  founded  in  con- 
formity to  instructions  given  by  the  directors  to  the 
deputation,  and  will  be  supported  at  the  expense  of  the 
society. 

"  Beside  discharging  the  duties  devolved  upon  him 
as  conductor  of  the  seminary,  Mr.  Orsmond  will  en- 
gage in  preaching,  and  in  such  other  missionary  work 
as  may  be  compatible  with  his  immediate  object.  Some 
of  the  natives,  who  resided  at  Roby's  Place  for  the 
benefit  of  Christian  ordinances  and  instruction,  have 
accordingly  removed  to  Griflin  Town,  as  being  more 
contiguous  to  their  respective  districts  and  lands. 

"  The  school-house  stands  at  the  head  of  a  fine 
bay,  and  at  the  mouth  of  a  beautiful  and  extensive 
valley ;  and  tho  deputation  are  of  opinion,  a  more 
eligible  situation  could  not  have  been  .selected  for  tho 
purpose.  It  is  in  length  one  hundred  ar.d  thirty  feet 
by  forty,  and  includes,  beside  separate  school  rooms, 
suitable  accommodation  for  forty  girls  and  boys.  The 
charge  of  its  erection  was  generously  borne  by  the 
niissionariof!,  who  will  also  defray  the  expense  of  keep- 
ing it  in  repair. 

"  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Orsmond  were  unanimously  chosen, 
by  the  missionaries,  to  take  charge  of  the  seminary, 
and  apjjroved  by  tho  deputation. 

"  The  female  department  of  the  establishment  is  un- 
der the  superintendence  of  Mrs.  Orsmond." 

The  ncadcmy-houso  unite.5  stability  with  neatness, 
and  is  well  adapted  to  its  purpose. 

In  the  Report  for  1826,  it  is  stated  that  seventeen 


a76 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


pupils  have  been  received,  all,  with  the  exception  of 
the  young  king,  Pomare,  nonr  about  seven  yean  of 
age,  the  children  of  missionaries,  for  whose  benefit  the 
institution  was  founded.  They  are  taught  to  read  and 
write,  and  arc  instructed  in  grammar,  arithmetic,  hb- 
tory,  chronology,  ajstronomy,  8ic.  The  children,  for 
the  short  time  tliey  have  been  under  tuition,  have,  in 
the  opinion  of  the  mbsionaries,  made  good  progress. 

The  second  annual  meeting  of  the  institution  was 
held  in  March,  1826,  and  the  examination  was  satis- 
factory to  the  school  committee. 

Mr.  Orsmond,  in  his  communications  with  the  society, 
%  regrets  that  his  public  duties  in  the  academy  do  not 
leave  him  time  to  attend  to  his  pastoral  duties,  to  the 
extent  he  desires  to  do." 

From  one  year  to  another,  the  Reports  mention  the 
growing  usefulness  of  this  seminary.  In  1828,  twen- 
ty-three students  shared  its  bene&ts.  Four  youths  left 
the  academy  at  its  fourth  annual  meeting,  and  departed 
to  the  colony  of  New  South  Wales. 

In  consequence  of  impaired  health,  Mr.  Orsmond 
tendered  his  resignation ;  and  in  1830,  the  directors 
recommended  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Simpson  to  take  charge 
of  the  academy. 

The  inhabitants  at  Griffin  Town  manifest  an  increas- 
mg  attention  to  tlie  missionary,  and,  according  to  their 
ability,  assist  him  in  his  work.  The  Report  for  1831 
mentions,  that  the  means  of  Christian  instruction  have 
been  uniformly  well  attended ;  the  members  of  the 
church  continue  to  live  ia  uninterrupted  affection 
among  themselves,  and  tc  adorn  by  their  lives  the 
gospel  of  the  Saviour :  no  instance  requiring  the  ex- 
ercise of  discipline  in  the  church  had  occurred ;  and 
twenty,  from  among  those  who  were  the  most  careless 
and  irreligious  of  the  inhabitants,  had,  after  affording 
satisfactory  evidence  of  their  piety,  been  added  to 
the  communicants ;  while  a  number  of  persons,  who 
had  been  removed  from  other  stations  on  account 
of  their  irregularities,  have  been  reclaimed,  and  ad- 
mitted to  Christian  fellowship.  Among  the  accounts 
of  the  efiects  of  the  gospel  on  the  heart,  that  given  by 
Tuahine  is  peculiarly  interesting ;  and  the  happy  deatli 
of  Maoae  furnishes  fresh  evidence  of  the  power  and 
blessedness  of  faith  m  the  Redeemer. 


SOCIETY    OR   LEEWARD    ISLANDS. 
HUAHlNli. 

Station  Fare  Habor. 

This  is,  in  all  respects,  a  station  of  great  interest. 
The   population   rapidly  increases.    The  Report  of 


1896  informs  us,  that  the  number  of  improved  dwell- 
ing-houses erected  u  four  hundred,  and  many  mora 
are  in  progress.  In  1826,  the  chapel  was  rebuilt  cm 
an  enlarged  scale.  It  will  accommodate  two  thousand 
persons,  and  has  a  gallery  that  holds  four  hundred 
children.  The  building  has  four  entrances,  and  thir- 
ty-eight windows,  in  the  Gothic  style.  Mr.  Barff  has 
stated  the  congregation  at  from  one  thousand  two  hun- 
dred to  one  thousand  four  hundred  persons,  whose  at- 
tendance is  regular,  "and  many  of  whom  afford  proof 
that  they  do  not  hear  the  gospel  in  vain.  The  week- 
day meetings,  for  exhortation,  religious  conversation, 
and  prayer,  in  which  a  very  lively  interest  prevails,  are 
attended  with  profitable  results.  Mrs.  Barff  every 
week  meets  the  female  members  of  the  church,  about 
two  hundred  in  number,  for  religious  conversation  and 
prayer. 

"  After  these  pleasing  statements,  it  is  the  more 
painful  to  add,  that  a  calamitous  event,  which  happen- 
ed nigh  to  this  station  during  the  year  1826,  has  been 
made  an  occasion,  on  the  part  of  some  of  the  natives, 
for  acts  highly  discreditable  to  their  character.  It  seems 
that  an  American  vessel,  called  the  Hyxeo,  command- 
ed by  captain  Coffin,  on  the  21st  of  November,  struck 
on  the  reef.  The  people  belonging  to  the  vessel,  con- 
sidering their  situation  perilous,  abandoned  it  to  a  body 
of  natives,  who  were  requested  by  the  captain  to  make 
every  possible  effort  to  save  the  property  on  board. 
These  natives  having,  during  the  night,  found  a  quan- 
tity of  spirits,  and  drank  of  them  immoderately,  pro- 
ceeded to  appropriate  to  their  own  use  a  number  of  ar- 
ticles belonging  to  the  ship.  They  afterwards  restored 
a  part  of  this  property,  but  not  the  whole.  Mahin6, 
the  principal  chief  of  Huahine,  who  was  at  the  time 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  island,  on  being  informed 
of  what  had  taken  place,  acted  in  a  most  commenda- 
ble manner.  He  made  a  present  to  the  captain,  as 
some  compensation  for  the  loss  he  had  sustained, 
adopted  measures  for  the  protection  of  the  remaining 
property,  and  even  himself  personally  engaged  in 
watching  it.  The  greater  part  of  the  natives  who  were 
involved  in  the  guilt  of  the  above-mentioned  transac- 
tions, had  no  conntction  with  the  minion ;  but  it  is 
painful  to  state,  that  some  of  them  made  a  profession 
of  religion.  With  few  exceptions,  these  have  since 
manifested  repentance,  and  have  been  restored  to  their 
accustomed  intercourse  with  their  fellow  Christians. 
A  spirit  of  holy  jealousy  and  self-examination  appears 
to  have  been  excited  very  generally  among  the  peo- 
ple of  the  station  by  these  occurrences,  and  a  more 
diligent  attention  to  the  means  of  grace  has  been  the 
result." 

During  1826,  7,  8,  the  public  services  on  the  LoiU"» 
day  continued  to  be  well  attended,  and  the  church 


MAIAOITI— RAIATEA. 


members,  at  the  beginning  of  1828,  amounted  to  three 
hundred  and  eighty-one.  Nearly  all  the  people  attend 
the  adult  school,  and  their  improvement  is  very  en- 
couraging. The  people  also  advance  in  civilization : 
new  houses  are  continually  erected,  and  the  planting 
of  cotton  and  coffee  is  gradually  extending. 

In  1829,  Mr.  Barff  was  cheered  by  learning  that 
some  among  his  people  had  apparently  tasted  that  the 
Lord  is  good.  Four  promising  young  men  commenced 
preparatory  instruction  for  becoming  native  missiona- 
ries. A  sick  visiting  society  has  been  established  ;  the 
settlement  divided  into  ten  parts,  and  in  each  division 
a  "leading  man"  appointed,  with  persons  of  each  sex 
as  his  assistants. 

Mr.  Barff  has  printed  an  edition  of  two  thousand 
five  hundred  copies  of  John's  Gospel  inTaheitan,  two 
thousand  copies  of  Dr.  Watts's  Catechism,  and  one 
thousand  copies  of  a  Hymn  Book  in  Rarotognian,  for 
the  mhabitants  of  the  Hervey  islands.  The  latest  in- 
telligence announces  the  total  number  of  the  church 
members  as  four  hundred  seventy-seven. 


MAIAOITI. 

"  The  mission  in  this  island  is  under  the  immediate 
care  of  two  native  teachers,  sent  there  by  the  church 
at  Huahine.  The  church,  consisting  of  thirty-three 
members,  all  of  whom  are  regarded  as  truly  pious,  is 
under  the  pastoral  care  of  Mr.  Barff,  wlio  visits  them 
as  often  as  his  other  engagements  will  allow,  when  he 
administers  the  ordinances  of  the  Lord's  supper  and 
baptism.  In  his  absence,  the  teachers  conduct  the 
public  worship,  and  explain  the  Scriptures  to  the  peo- 
ple ;  they  also  superintend  the  schools,  which  embrace, 
mfants  excepted,  the  whole  population  of  the  island, 
which  consists  of  two  hundred  and  ten  souls. 

"  A  chapel  has  been  built,  sixty  feet  by  thirty-six, 
which  was  entirely  the  work  of  the  natives.  They 
have  also  built  and  furnished  a  Iiouse  for  the  ac- 
commodation of  Mr.  Barff,  when  on  his  occasional 
visits. 

"  The  deputation  could  hear  of  no  crimes  in  this 
island ;  and  the  judges,  as  to  criminal  cases,  were 
consequently  without  employment.  They  suppose  a 
happier  people  than  those  on  this  island  do  not  exist." 

The  Report  for  1828  gives  the  following  interesting 
statement  with  respect  to  this  mission :— '<  This  little 
station  is  flourishing  under  the  superintendence  of  Anna. 
The  total  number  of  communicants  is  eighty-five,  and 
of  baptized,  aduils  uml  children,  two  hundred  and  sev- 
enteen. Mr.  Barff  made  a  visit  in  February,  and  dur- 
ing his  stay  received  twenty-four  into  communion,  who 

Vol.  I.— Nos.  31  &  32.  gg 


8tr 

had  been  candidates  for  two  years ;  and  baptized  fiAy- 
seven  infants." 

The  only  intelligence  received  for  1830-1,  has  been 
from  Anna,  the  native  missionary,  whose  enlightened 
and  judicious  labors,  with  those  of  his  fellow  laborer, 
Airima,  have  for  some  years  been  devoted  to  the  in- 
struction of  the  people.  The  Lord  appears  to  have 
bestowed  his  blessing  on  the  exertions  of  these  Chris- 
tians ;  and  the  account  gives  a  pleasing  view  of  the 
general  prosperity  of  the  station,  the  harmony  of  the 
people,  their  improvement  in  spiritual  knowledge,  their 
gratitude  for  the  gospel,  and  pleasure  in  hearing  of  its 
diffusion ;  and  refers  to  the  measures  they  were  pur- 
suing for  the  purpose  of  sending  out  some  of  their  own 
number  to  teach  the  inhabitants  of  other  islands. 


RAIATEA,    SOMETIMES   CALLED   ULIETEA. 

This  island  was  formeriy  the  chief  seat  of  idolatry, 
and  the  source  of  all  political  authority  to  the  group! 
Human  sacrifices  were  brought  from  all  the  neighboring 
islands,  and  offered  to  Oro,  the  god  of  war;  and  here 
the  now  Christian  prince,  Tamatoa,  was  once  prayed 
to  as  a  deity. 

"  In  tracing  the  introduction  of  Christianity  into  this 
island,  we  are  carried  back  to  1809,  when  a  few  of  the 
natives  were  instructed  at  Eimeo.  In  1816,  the  Rev. 
C.  Wilson,  missionary  at  Eimeo,  and  Pomare,  late  king 
of  Tahiti,  were  providentially  cast  upon  this  island, 
and  obliged  to  remain  for  some  time.  Mr.  W.  embraced 
the  opportunity  of  preaching  the  gospel  to  the  natives, 
while  Pomare  employed  all  his  influence  to  induce 
them  to  abandon  their  idols  and  embrace  the  truth. 
Success  attended  their  united  efforts ;  and  the  king, 
\yith  his  chiefs  and  people,  avowed  themselves  Chris- 
tians. Immediately  they  desisted  from  offering  human 
sacrifices,  from  idolatrous  worship  and  infanticide,  built 
places  for  Christian  worship,  but  knew  little  of  the 
gospel  except  the  name,  and  continued  in  the  indul- 
gence of  every  evil  desire,  till  after  the  settlement  of 
the  missionaries  among  them." 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Threlkeld  and  Mr.  Williams  re- 
moved from  Eimeo,  and  settled,  September,  1818,  in 
the  midst  of  a  forest,  where  scarcely  a  habitation  stood. 
In  1823,  a  beautiful  town  had  been  built,  extend- 
ing about  two  miles  along  the  margin  of  a  bay,  having 
several  bridges  over  streams  which  fall  into  the  bay. 
In  the  centre  is  a  chapel,  one  hundred  and  fifty-six  feet 
by  forty-four,  in  which  one  thousand  penpln  usiiallv 
assembled  for  religious  service.  Agriculture  and  the 
mechanical  arts  have  been  introduced  by  the  mission- 
aries with  happy  effect ;  but  the  triumph  of  the  cross 


378 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


roust  be  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  signal  ever  achiev- 
ed in  this  revolted  world.  Not  a  vestige  of  idolatry 
remains. 

The  deputation,  in  18S3,  wrote  concerning  the  re- 
ligious state  of  the  people,  "  With  much  satbfaction, 
we  witnessed  ;he  baptism  of  one  hundred  and  fifty 
persons  in  one  day,  making  the  number  of  baptized 
about  one  thousand  one  hundred,  leaving  a  remainder 
of  persons  in  the  island,  unbaptized,  of  about  two  hun- 
dred. In  examining  the  ruined  morais,  or  temples,  at 
Opoa,  we  could  hard'y  realize  the  idea  that,  six  or 
seven  years  ago,  they  were  all  in  use  ;  and  were  rath- 
er inclined  to  imagine  these  the  ruins  of  some  wretch- 
ed idolatry,  which  had  suffered  its  overthrow  fiAeei)  or 
twenty  centuries  ago.  In  looking  over  the  large  con- 
gregation, and  in  seeing  so  many  decent  and  respec- 
table men  and  women,  all  conducting  themselves  with 
the  greatest  decorum  and  propriety,  we  have  often 
said  to  ourselves,  <  Can  these  be  the  very  people  who 
participated  in  the  horrid  scenes  which  we  have  heard 
described  ? — nay,  the  very  people  who  murdered  their 
children  with  their  own  hands  ?  who  slew  and  offered 
human  sacrifices  ?  who  were  the  very  perpetrators  of  all 
these  indescribable  abominations  ?  To  realize  the  fact 
is  almost  impossible.  But  though,  six  or  seven  years 
ago,  they  acted  as  if  under  the  immediate  and  unre- 
strained influence  of  the  most  malignant  demons  that 
the  lower  regions  could  send  to  torment  the  world,  we 
view  them  now  in  their  houses,  in  their  various  meet- 
inf;s,  and  in  their  daily  avocations,  and  behold  them 
clothed,  and  in  their  right  mindt.' 

"  All  the  people,  both  adults  and  children,  who  are 
capable  of  it,  are  in  a  stale  of  school  instruction.  Many 
of  the  men  and  women,  and  not  a  few  of  the  children, 
can  read,  fluently  and  with  accuracy,  those  portions  of 
the  Sacred  Scriptures  which  have  been  translated,  and  of 
course  all  the  elementary  books ;  the  rest  rend  in  one  or 
other  of  these  elementary  books  ;  many  ran  write,  and 
several  cipher.  Such  is  the  slate  of  thin^cs,  and  such 
is  the  system  of  improvement  that  is  now  in  oj)eraiion, 
I  hat  not  a  single  child  or  grown  person  can  remain  in 
this  island  unable  to  read. 

"The  children  assemble  every  morning  at  sunrise 
for  instruction  in  a  large  house  erected  for  the  purpose  ; 
— they  are  three  hundred  and  fifly  lioys  nnd  girls  ; — 
while  the  adults  asscuihlc  at  the  same  lime  in  the 
ciiapel,  Saturday  and  sabbath  muniings  excepted,  lo 
read  and  ro|>eat  their  .atechisms.  After  the  school 
hours  are  over,  which  is  about  eight  o'clock,  ihoy  go 
In  their  several  occupations  for  the  day. 

"  Every  Ijord's  day  begins  with  a  public  praynr- 
mcetmg  at  sunrise,  and  which  is  conducted  by  the 
nniivcs  themselves.  The  wlmlo  congregation  allend. 
At  nine  o'clock  is  public  worship  again,  when  one  of 


the  mis3ionaries  preaches.  After  this,  the  missiona- 
ries have  an  English  service  at  their  own  houses,  for 
the  immediate  benefit  of  their  own  families.  At  one 
o'clock,  the  people  assemble  again  in  the  chapel,  to  be 
catechised  on  the  subject  of  the  morning's  sermon, 
while  the  children  in  the  school-house  are  catechised 
in  those  compendiums  of  gospel  doctrines  which  have 
been  drawn  up  for  them.  At  four  o'clock  in  the  after- 
noon is  public  worship  again,  when  the  other  mission- 
ary preaches.  In  the  evening,  most  of  the  people 
meet  at  their  own  houses,  in  classes  of  twenty  or 
thirty  persons  each,  for  prayer  and  religious  conversa- 
tion. On  Monday  evenings  is  a  paraparaura,  or  gen- 
eral conversation  at  the  chapel,  when  the  missionaries 
answer  any  questions  that  may  he  proposed  to  them 
on  all  subjects,  secular  or  religious.  On  Tuesday 
evenings,  the  people  are  catechised  oii  the  subject  of 
the  Lord's  day  afternoon  sermon,  in  classes  of  about 
thirty  persons  each,  into  which  all  the  baptized  adults 
are  divided,  while  all  the  rest  are  allowed  to  attend ; 
after  which,  any  of  the  men  are  allowed  to  deliver  ex- 
hortations. Six  or  seven  generally  speak  on  these  oc- 
casions, and  generally  with  great  zeal  and  propriety, 
and  do  not  fail  lo  rebuke  each  other  for  any  inconsis- 
tency which  they  may  have  seen,  while  they  exhort 
each  other  to  diligence  and  perseverance  in  the  ways 
of  God.  On  Wednesday  evening  is  a  public  lecture. 
Thursday  evenings  Mrs.  Threlkeld  meets  a  nelect  so- 
ciety of  women,  for  religious  conversation  and  prayer. 
On  Friday  evening  is  a  service  and  a  lecture,  deliver- 
ed to  those  who  have  been  baptized  ;  after  the  address, 
the  natives  deliver  exhortations,  as  on  Tuesday  even- 
ings. Saturdays  are  always  wholly  appropriated -to 
the  preparing  of  food  for  the  liOnl's  day.  The  chil- 
dren's soliool  is  under  the  superintendence  of  Mrs. 
Threlkeld,  while  Mr.  Williams  meets  a  large  class  of 
adults  every  morning  al  thecliapc),  to  catechise  them 
on  those  [Xjriions  of  the  Scriptures  which  have  been 
Iraiixlated,  and  which  they  read  in  course.  We  have 
often  htfon  Nuq)riscd  and  delighted  at  the  intelligence 
uiid  rclifiious  knowledge  which  the  people  discover  on 
ihesi?  and  other  occosions.  In  point  of  intellect,  wo 
consider  tlicTuhcitans  equal  to  the  English,  and  in  re- 
ligious knowledge  inferior  to  few,  comparing  congre- 
gation with  congregation. 

"Al  the  time  wo  left  the  station,  thirty  persons,  among 
whom  were  the  king  and  queen,  and  one  of  the  king's 
brothers,  cnnstiiutcd  the  rhurrh  of  communicants. 
Tlicsn  perM)ii»  were  not  admitted  because  of  their  dig- 
nity, hut  on  the  groiuid  of  their  piety  alone.  Ronk 
here  lins  no  influence  in  matters  of  religion.  The 
church  is  organized  on  Independent  Congregational 
principlci,  and  the  members  are  admitted  by  the  com- 
mon suffrages  of  the  ministers  and  the  church. 


RAIATEA. 


"  It  happens  In  this,  as  in  all  the  other  islands  of 
this  group,  that  there  are  from  twenty  to  forty  loose 
and  profligate  characters,  who  disapprove  of  the  purity 
of  Christianity,  though  they  assent  to  its  doctrines, 
and  do  not  wish  to  have  the  former  order  of  things 
restored.     There  is  not  a  ;«.nily  in  this  island  that  has 
not  family  prayer  morning  and  evening ;  and  what  is 
singular,  even  the  careless  persons  of  whom  we  speak 
regularly  keep  up  an  attention  to  this  duty,  as  well  as 
the  public  duties  of  the  sabbath.     They,  of  course,  are 
not  baptised.     During  the  time  of  our  residence  here, 
several  of  these  persons  were  brought  to  justice  for 
different  offences ;  among  these  were  two  or  three  in- 
stances of  adultery.     At  nine  o'clock  every  night,  a 
bell-man  goes  through  the  whole  settlement ;  this  is 
the  signal  for  all  persons  to  retire  to  their  houses.     A 
watch,  consisting  of  a  few  persons,  then  sits,  and  con- 
tinues to  perambulate  the  place  all  night,  every  hour 
crying, '  All's  well.'     We  have  great  reason  to  rejoice 
in  the  mighty  and  wonderful  change  which  has  taken 
place  in  this  island.     The  improvement  of  the  people 
in  religious  knowledge— the  general  morality  which 
characterizes  all  orders  of  society— their  rapid  ad- 
vancement in  the  acquisition  of  the  arts  of  civilized 
life — their  peaceable  and  decent  behavior — their  neat 

and  comfortable  appearance — their  industry,  iic. all 

afiord  the  most  striking  contrast  with  their  former  con- 
dition,  and  place  them  high  on  the  scale  of  moral  ex- 
cellence  and  worth. 

"  It  has  afforded  us  great  pleasure  to  witness  the 
affection  and  confidence  in  which  the  missionaries  and 
their  pious  wives  are  held.     Their  opinions  are  re- 
garded as  oracles.     They  are  consulted  on  all  occa- 
sions, and  on  all  subjects,  and   a  long  acquainiance 
with  the  accuracy  of  thf<ir  judgments,  and  their  disin- 
terested motives,  has  secured  to  them  the  entire  con- 
fidence  of  the  king,  the  chiefs,  and  of  all  the  people ; 
and  thoy  are  worthy  of  the  confidence  and  good  opin- 
ion which  they  enjoy.     They  are  men  of  good  tal- 
ents, sound  judgments,  ar. '  ardent  piety.     They  are 
zealously  devoted  to   their  work,  which  they  regard 
as  extending  to  the  good  of  the  people,  both  in  things 
temporal  and  spiritual.     The  happiness  of  the  people 
in  both  worlds  is  the  great  object  with  our  worthy 
brethren,  in  which  great  design  wo  rejoice  to  be  able 
to  testify  that  their  pious  and  intelligent  wives  take  a 
lively  and  active  part,  by  instructing  the  females  in 
whatever  is  calculatud  to  make  them  hsppy  in  them- 
selves, and  useful  in  domostir  life.     To  close,  the  con- 
dition  of  the  wliolo  settlement  is  such  as  to  afford  the 
most  convincing  proof,  that  the  exertions  of  the  mission- 
arits  have  been  remarkably  owned  of  Go<l,  and  thai 
the  pn'sehinit  of  the  gospel  ii  the  most  direct,  eertnin 
and  eflieient  nienns  of  promolin|  both  religion  and 


wm 


civilization.  Had  nothing  more  been  done  by  your 
exertions  than  what  our  eyes  Lave  beheld  in  Uiis  island 
only,  they  have  been  abundactly  compensated.  We 
cordially  unite  with  you  in  thanking  God  for  what  he 
has  done  in  Uiia  island,  and  see  ample  reason  to  take 
courage  in  assailing  the  strongest  holds  of  Satan  that 
he  possesses  in  the  whole  heathen  world,  assured  of 
final  success." 

It  ought  to  be  distinctly  recorded,  that,  in  all  these 
islands,  the  churehes  of  Christ  have  imitated  tiie  prim- 
itive church,  and  endeavored  to  send  out  the  words  of 
life  around  them.  Already  these  churches  have  formed 
efficient  missionary  societies ;  and  the  Report  of  the 
society  for  1827,  states  that  the  cocoa-nut  oil  con- 
tributed by  the  Raiatean  auxiliary  society  for  1825-6, 
sold  for  £300  sterling,  of  which  sum  £30  were  sub- 
scribed by  the  children  belonging  to  the  schools  of 
this  station. 

In  1826,  a  new  chapel  was  opened  at  this  station, 
on  which  occasion,  many  visitors  firom  Tahaa  and 
Kuahini  were  present. 

This  year,  Mr.  Williams  visited  Rarotogna,  for  the 
purpose  of  aiding  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pitman  in  the  estab- 
lishment of  that  mission.  He  was  detained  there 
nearly  twelve  months,  and  translated  the  Gospel  of 
John  into  the  Rarotognian  dialect.  He  also  built  a 
vewel  of  between  sixty  and  seventy  tons  burden,  in 
which  he  returned  to  Raiatea,  in  1828,  after  visiting  the 
islands  Aitutake,  Mitiaro,  and  Atui.  This  vessel,  call- 
ed "  The  Meuenger  of  Peace,"  was  intended  to  be 
employed  in  carrying  native  teachers  to  those  islands 
where  the  gospel  had  not  yet  been  introduced.  Prep- 
arations were  made  for  establishing  native  missions 
on  an  extensive  scale.  In  December,  1829,  this  ves- 
sel sailed  with  Mr.  Piatt,  who  undertook  to  visit  the 
out-stations  in  the  Hervey  islands,  and  who  took  out 
two  new  na-ive  preachers  for  Aitutake.  At  many  of 
the  islands,  captain  Henry  reports,  when  his  vessel 
touched,  the  firet  inquiry  was,  "  Have  you  any  teach- 
ers  for  us  ?" 

His  majesty's  sloop  of  war  Satellite  visited  Raiatea 
in  March,  1829.  Captain  Laws  attended  the  exam- 
ination of  the  schools,  and,  in  token  of  his  approbation, 
distributed  handsome  presents  to  the  teachers  and  chil- 
dren. He  also  expressed  himself  well  phased  with 
the  exertions  of  Mr.  Williams  to  improve  the  tempo- 
ral circumiitinceg  of  the  people,  who,  among  other 
kinds  of  labor,  have  been  taught  to  make  rope  from 
the  bark  of  the  purau,  a  species  of  hiH$cua. 

The  Report  of  the  directors  for  1830-1,  contains 

flin     (ftlt.kiviiiw    waiMA^r..:..    :_A^ll: __■    ..  ... 

•—    r.  r. — "•"o  !"t-i!:gcncc   rcianvf  to  tnii 

promising  field  of  labor. 

"  The  intelligence  which  the  directors  have  receiv- 
ed from  the  station  in  this  island  is  among  the  most 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


animating  that  has  arriTed  from  the  South  seao.  The 
appearance  of  the  settlement  generally  is  improTed  ; 
the  industry  of  the  people  is  increasing  ;  a  number  of 
young  men  are  capable  of  working  in  iron  and  wood, 
so  as  to  obtain  a  regular  and  valuable  remuneration 
for  their  labor.  The  people  were  increasing  in  mari- 
time enterprise.  The  king's  wharf  resembled  a  small 
dock-yard,  and  a  number  of  vessels  have  been  built 
in  Raiatea,  or  in  other  islands,  and  brought  there  to  be 
finished.  The  people  at  the  missionary  station  main- 
tained peace  and  order  during  the  absence  of  Mr.  Wil- 
liams ;  the  meetings  for  poblic  worship  and  the  schools 
were  regularly  attended.  Since  his  return  from  the 
Hervey,  Friendly  and  Samoa  islands,  a  new  school- 
house  had  been  erected,  the  schools  re-organized,  and 
the  work  of  instruction  recommenced  with  alacrity 
and  vigor;  and,  although  no  striking  instances  of  con- 
version have  occurred,  the  people  have  not  been  with- 
out tokens  of  the  divine  favor.  Some  have  died, 
leaving  satisfactory  evidence  of  the  efficacy  of  the 
religion  they  had  professed.  The  salutary  effect  of 
the  visit  of  captain  Laws,  of  his  majesty's  ship  Satel- 
lite, to  the  missionary  stations,  was  mentioned  at  the 
last  meeting  of  the  society.  The  directors  have  now 
the  pleasure  to  inform  their  friends,  that  these  islands 
have  since  been  visited  by  a  United  States  frigate, 
commanded  by  captain  Finch,  and  his  majesty's  ship 
Seringapatam,  commanded  by  the  honorable  captain 
Waldegrave.  The  visit  of  these  gentlemen  has  not 
only  been  peculiarly  gratifying  to  the  missionaries,  but 
from  their  liberal  presents  and  the  encouragement  they 
gave  by  their  example  and  influence  to  the  promotion 
of  morals  and  religion,  was  highly  beneficial  (o  the 
people.  Captain  Waldegrave  attended  the  assemblies 
for  public  worship,  tic,  and  expressed  himself  saiis- 
fioii  with  what  he  had  seen.  Mr.  Williams  has  for- 
warded an  interesting  account  of  the  visit  of  the  Serin- 
gapatam, and  the  directors  are  expecting  to  receive 
one  from  the  missionaries  in  the  Windward  islands. 

"  The  anniversary  of  the  Kaiaica  Missionary  Society 
was  held  on  the  I2xh  of  May,  and  was  attendtnl  by 
the  commander  of  the  Seringapatam  and  ir  iny  of  the 
officers.  Mr.  Williams  preached  in  the  morning,  and 
the  meeting  for  transacting  the  Inisiness  of  the  socie- 
ty was  held  in  the  aAoniunn.  The  (hanks  of  tlu*  inoot- 
in^  wnrc  publicly  lender(>d  lo  captain  Waldegrave  and 
his  officers,  for  the  countenance  they  had  given  to 
religion  in  the  island.  .  in  reply,  captain  Waldegrave 
expressed  the  sincere  pleasure  he  felt  in  seeing  the 
people  in  such  a  state ;  he  also  ^Kiintedout  the  advantage 
nf  knowloilge ;  adding  that  Scriptural  knowledge  was 
tiie  ninst  iin|H)rtant,  aiui  ansumd  ihem  that  iienhiHiid  not 
U\\  to  inform  his  frieniH  in  Enp;land,  who  took  a  lively 
interest  in  their  welfare,  of  what  he  had  seen  and  heard." 


TAHAA. 

The  report  of  Messrs.  Tyerman  and  Bennet  to 
the  directors,  dated  13th  February,  1823,  contains 
the  following  delightful  information  respecting  this 
island : — 

"  Though  the  gospel  was  received  by  some  persons  in 
this  island  in  the  year  1816,  yet  the  king,  and  most  of 
the  chiefs  and  people,  continued  to  reject  it ;  and,  from 
hatred  to  Christianity,  they  made  a  descent  upon  Raia- 
tea, joined  the  malcontents  there,  and  attacked  Tamatoa 
and  his  troops  with  superior  numbers,  and  took  them 
by  surprise.  But,  from  some  cause  or  other,  they 
fought  under  a  dispirited  feeling;  while  Tamatoa  and 
his  Christian  troops  were  brave  and  courageous.  Fenu- 
apeho  was  in  the  conflict,  and  had  most  of  the  ornaments 
of  his  dress  shot  away.  Soon  his  troops  were  put  to 
flight,  and  he  was  taken  prisoner.  The  hand  of  God 
was  so  apparent  in  the  behalf  of  the  Christians,  and 
against  the  idolaters,  and  the  manner  in  which  the 
prisoners  were  treated  by  Tamatoa  and  his  victorious 
f6rces  was  so  humane,  that  the  vanquished  king  was 
induced  to  embrace  the  gospel :  all  the  chiefs  and 
people  followed  his  example.  Tamatoa  not  only 
spared  the  life  of  his  captive,  but  restored  him  to  hit 
island,  and  soon  after  granted  him  his  independency  ; 
and  thus  illustrated  an  important  maxim  in  his  religion, 
returning  good  for  evil.  Chapels  for  Christian  wor- 
ship were  now  built  all  over  the  island,  the  sabbath 
began  to  be  observed,  and  the  same  order  of  things 
was  adopted  in  tins  as  in  (he  other  islands  that  had 
embraced  the  gospel. 

"  But  though  this  was  the  fact,  and  a  missionary 
society  was  instituted  to  aid  the  funds  of  the  liOndon 
Missionary  Society,  yet  they  continued  destitute  of  a 
stated  ministry  until  last  year,  (1 82)2,)  when,  in  Feb- 
ruary of  that  year,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Bourne,  who  was  at 
that  lime  lalmringat  Himaania,in  Otaheite,  in  connec- 
tion with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Darling,  was  induced  to  listen 
to  the  pressing  invitation  of  tlie  king  and  people, 
and  went  ond  .settled  among  them.  Mr.  Darling  being 
competent  to  the  duties  of  that  station,  Mr.  Bourne 
felt  himself  at  liberty  to  remove  to  this.  He,  with 
his  wife  and  family,  was  received  with  every  demon- 
stration of  joy,  and  firing  of  guns.  Seventy  of  the 
■.vomen  fired  a  salute  of  musketry  on  the  landing  of 
Mrs.  Bourne.  A  small  tem|iorary  house  was  imme- 
diately provided  for  their  accoinmo<lntion  at  (he  settle- 
ment, which  is  called  Vaitoare.  Immediately  thejr 
liegan  the  erecting  of  a  large  now  house  for  his  use. 
Tiio  spot  of  ground  chosen  ibr  it  was  liie  side  of  a 
hill,  on  acc(Mint  of  its  being  airy.  They  had  to  level 
the  ground  at  the  ax|H)nse  of  great  labor :  this  diffi- 


TAHAA. 


ciilty  was  toon  conquered  ;  and  in  less  than  a  year 
after  his  anival,  a  very  excellent  plastered  house,  sixty 
feet  in  length  by  thirty  feet  wide,  containing  seven 
good  rooms,  well  floored,  with  a  wide  veranda,  with  a 
large  garden  at  the  front,  neatly  enclosed  with  a  bamboo 
fence,  was  completed.    They  also  made  large  mats  for 
the  floors  of  several  of  the  rooms,  and  fine  well-made 
parau  maU  for  curtains  to  several  of  the  windows. 
Mr.  B.  and  his  family  had  just  taken  possession  of  this 
troly  comfortable   house,   when   we   visited  Tahaa. 
During  the  time  we  remained  there,  which  was  nearly 
two  months,  we  were  highly  gratified  by  the  kind  at- 
tentions of  the  people  to  the  minister.    Most  of  them 
when  they  returned  from  their  lands,  made  a  point  of 
bringing  large   quantities  of  bread-fruit,  cocoa-nuts, 
fish,  «ic.     The  king  gave  him  two  small  vulleys,  at 
the  head  of  one  of  which  his  house  stands,  and  which 
contains  a  large  plantation  of  bananas  ;  and  the  other, 
which  IS  at  a  short  distance,  contains  a  great  number 
of  bread-fruit  trees.     The  ground  of  this  latter  valley 
Mr.  B.  allows  the  people  to  enclose  and  to  cultivate 
for  their  own  use,  on  paying  him  a  mere  acknowledg- 
ment of  first-fruits. 

"  The  place  of  worship  which  the  people  had  erect- 
ed for  their  own  accommodation,  Mr.  Bourne  soon 
found  to  be  too  small,  and  it  was  enlarged  to  twice  the 
size.     But  this  is  also  too  small.     Many  of  the  peo- 
ple are  obliged  to  remain  at  the  outside.     The  popu- 
lation of  the  island,  which  is  700,  is  the  congregation. 
Like  the  other  congregations,  they  make  a  decent  and 
neat    appearance.       Tlio   bonnets   of  many   of   the 
women  would  do  credit  to  any  milliner's  shop  in  Lon- 
don.    The  descriptions  which  we  have  given  of  other 
congregations,  both  as  to  dress  and  behavior,  are  ap- 
plirable  to  this.     Though  the  public  and  private  ser- 
vices attended  to  here  are  similar  to  those  in  Kaiatea  and 
Huiihine,  which  we  have  named,  not  being  exactly  the 
same,  we  shall  mention  them.      On  Ixird's  days  there 
is  an  early  prayer-ineoling  at  sunrise,  after  which  there 
is  a  public  service,  and  sermon  in  the  morning  and 
afternoon,  and  catochixing  of  both  the  adults  and  chil- 
dren between  the  scrvrces  of  morning  and  afternoon. 
All  the  children  are  assembled  at  the  school-room,  and 
taken  to  the  place  of  worship.     There  is  a  school  for 
both  the  children  and  adults  every  morning  at  sunrise, 
excepting  Satunlay  and  r^)rd's  day  mornings.      Oii 
the  Monday  evenings,  a  conversation  nieetinK  is  held ; 
on  the  Tuesday  evenings,  a  meeting  of  the  candidates 
for  baptism ;   the  same  evening,  Mm.  Bourne  has  a 
small  select  |«rty  of  females  at  her  own  house,  for 
prayer  and   religious  conversation ;  on  the    WnHnn.. 
day   evenings,   there  is  a  public  lecture;   on  Friday 
evenings,  a   meeting   of    the    baptised,   when   gen- 
eral exhortations  ire  allowed.      Every  morning   Mr. 


Bourne  catechizes  a  elau  of  adults  at  the  chapel  in  the 
New  Testament.    On  the  first  Monday  evenings  in 
the  month,  missionary  prayermeetings  are  held.   Sat' 
urdays  are  always  employed,  by  the  people,  for  cook- 
ing food  for  the  Lord's  day.     No  Christian  church  is 
yet  formed  hero,  though  it  is  hoped  there  are  several 
persons  of  real  piety,  r,nd  fit  to  be  admitted  to  the 
Lord's  table.     However,  Mr.  Bourne  intends  soon  to 
organize  a  church.    The  number  of  persons  baptized, 
at  the  time  we  leA  the  station,  were    one  hundred 
and  seventy-eight  adults,  two  hundred  and  sixty-six 
children.     Some,  though  but  few,  of  these  had  been 
baptized  before  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Bourne,  by  MessH. 
Threlkeld  and  Williams,  who  kindly  visited  this  island, 
occasionally,  to  preach  the  gospel  to  the  people,  while 
destitute  of  a  settled  minister.     The  candidates  for 
baptism  now  are  eighty-four ;  one  hundred  and  forty 
of  the  adults  read  the  New  Testament ;  one  hundred 
tnd    sixty,  elementary    books.       Indeed,   with    the 
exception  of  a   few  aged   persons,  who   have   lost 
their  faculties,  blind,  deaf,  8tc.,  all  the  adults  in  the 
island  can   read.      Many  write,  and   a  few  cipher. 
There  is  a  school  every  morning  at  sunrise,  and  at 
noon,  for  the  children,  when  all  attend  who  are  of  a 
suitable  age ;  they  are  two  hundred  and  ten  in  number, 
and  a  school  of  finer   and  more  healthy  children  we 
never  saw.     Tliis  school,  however,  is  in  its  infancy, 
many  of  the  children,  with  their  parents,  having  but 
very  lately  come  to  reside  at  the  settlement ;  and  Mr. 
Bourne  finds  a  difficulty  in  obtaining  suitable  teachers. 
A  few  of  the  children  can  read  well,  and  repeat  their 
catechisms  correctly.     All  are  in  a  train  of  instruction, 
and  we  doubt  not  that  more  energetic  means  will  now 
be  brought  into  operation.     The  infants  who  ate  not 
of  an  age  to  attend  school,  are  more  numerous  here 
than   in   any  other  of  the   islands  in   proportion  to 
the  population.     Nearly  all  of  both  sexes,  who  are  of 
suitable  ago,  are  married.     These  are  a  fine  race  of 
people,  and  in  some  respects  diflfer  in  appearance  from 
their  noighlx>rs.     Deformed  persons,  and  those  who 
are  afllicted  with  swelled  legs,  and  scrofulous  com- 
plaints, are  fewer  in    proiwrtion   than  in   any  of  the 
islands  wo  have  yet  seen. 

"  They  are  also  a  very  industrious  people.  Civili- 
zation  is  making  rapid  progress ;  and  we  fetl  j.ersuad- 
od  that,  in  the  course  of  two  or  three  years,  these 
people  will  ho  fully  on  an  equality  with  their  neigh- 
bors, notwithstanding  they  have  labored  so  long  under 
those  disadvantages  which  arose  from  the  want  of  a 
missicMiary  among  them.     Though  they  were  before  t 

ivarlilra  no/^tmla*    A^VmUti^^tm  Iw,  .1...* ..*:^_    .1 

_       .      _  _  .  ...  ,._,,.j..5,.„^  ::icj-  arc  IKJW 

peaceable  and  inoflbnsive.  They  live  in  groat  har- 
mony among  themselves.  Scarcely  any  quarrelling  or 
angry   disputation   over    takes    place   among    them. 


t8§ 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


This  may  be  said  also  with  nferenca  to  the  other 
islands.  No  crime  of  a  flagrant  nature  has  been  oom- 
mitted  for  some  time  past,  excepting  two  or  three 
instances  of  adultery.  But  no  crime  is  winked  at  by 
the  government.  The  Lard's  day  is  universally  ob- 
served,  and  any  work  done  on  that  day  would  be 
punished  with  great  severity.  A  dispoution  to  tatau 
themselves,  among  the  careless,  is  the  most  common 
offence. 

"Mrs.  Bourne  has  formed  all  the  baptised  wo- 
men into  classes  of  ten  persons  each,  for  the  purpose 
of  making  themselves  comfortable  bonnets,  and 
promoting  general  industry.  Eight  of  these  plait 
the  materials ;  the  two  others  sew  the  bonneu,  and 
have  so  much  of  the  plat,  for  their  labor,  as  will 
make  each  of  them  a  bonnet.  There  is  a  strong  de- 
sire among  the  people  to  adopt  the  English  mode  of 
dressing ;  but  they  are  not  able  to  obtain  the  materials, 
which  is  much  to  be  regretted ;  some  of  them,  how- 
ever, have  suits  of  English  clothing,  and  most  would, 
could  property  obtain  them.  Their  articles  for  barter 
are  arrow-root,  cocoa-nut  oil  and  hogs,  as  in  the  other 
islands. 

"  After  residing  nearly  two  months  with  our  pious 
and  worthy  brother  and  sister  Bourne,  from  whom  we 
received  the  most  uniform  and  kind  attentions,  we 
feel  happy  in  bearing  our  testimony  to  their  worth  as 
missionaries  of  Clirist.  They  are  possessed  of  good 
talents  and  information,  and  are  animated  by  a  steady 
seal  in  their  great  work,  and  enjoy  the  affections  and 
confidence  of  their  people,  by  whom  we  were  received 
with  the  most  cordial  joy,  and  treated  with  the  most 
friendly  and  olTri-tionatc  attentions." 

As  Raiatea  and  Talma  are  enclosed  within  the 
same  coral  reef,  it  has  been  agreed,  by  the  missionaries 
of  these  islands,  to  hold  joint  annual  meetings  of  their 
respective  auxiliary  missionary  societies  alternately  in 
each.  In  18'i4,  the  meeting  "".3  held  in  Raiatea,  on 
the  iwclfth  of  May,  on  which  occasion  upward  of  two 
tliotisund  persons  were  |irescnt.  One  of  the  deacons 
of  the  church  conimoncud  the  service  with  reading  and 
supphcation  ;  Mr.  Bourne  preached  ;  and  another  dea- 
con concluded  with  prayer. 

After  the  service  in  the  chapel,  the  congregation 
retired  to  partake  of  ilic  refreshments  provided  on  the 
occasion.  Tables  were  spread  and  "  upwards  of  two 
thousand  of  the  natives,  including  childron,  were 
seated  at  them,  on  sofas,  and  screened  from  the  sun 
by  awnings  of  native  cloth.  Two  persons,  one  at 
each  end  of  the  pavement  on  which  the  company  wore 
tssiMiibled,  iniplorcd  the  divine  blessing.     Many  ani- 

those  of  new  year's  day,  in  which  they  endeavored  to 
animate  each  other  to  love  and  good  works.     The 


company  afterwards  returned  to  the  "'^apel,  when  tha 
business  of  the  two  societies  wu  transacted,  and  sev* 
oral  speeches  delivered  by  natives.  The  hymn, 
beginning  <Blow  ye  the  trumpet,  bU>w,'  was  sung 
with  much  pious  animatk>n,  after  which  one  of  thfl 
members  of  the  church  prayed. 

"  When  the  secreUries  had  read  tha  respactiva 
reports, 

"  Tamatoi,  the  kuig  of  Raiatea,  arose  and  deliver- 
ed an  address,  with  much  energy,  to  the  following 
effect :— <  Dear  friends,  this  is  the  fifth  year  that  we 
have  met  together  at  Raiatea  for  this  good  purpose. 
My  heart  is  greatly  rejoiced  that  Tahaa  and  Raiatea 
are  united  in  so  good  a  work.  Our  labor  has  not  been 
in  vain ;  lands  that  were  in  darkness  have  been  enlight- 
ened by  our  instrumentality  ;  idols  have  been  scattered 
to  the  wind ;  the  word  of  God  has  been  planted,  has 
taken  root,  and  grown ;  we  behold  its  luxuriant  ap- 
pearance with  pleasure.  Surely  we  have  been  well 
paid  for  our  labor :  rejoice  greatly.  We  have  prayed 
for  the  spread  of  the  gospel ;  it  has  spread.  We 
have  used  the  means ;  they  have  been  blessed.  Let  us 
continue  to  labor,  till  every  land  shall  have  teacheri 
from  God,  to  teach  them  the  path  of  life.  Our  fame 
has  spread  greatly ;  let  us  act  worthy  of  that  fame. 
How  disgusting  to  have  fame,  and  not  to  be  worthy 
of  it !  Our  lamp  has  shone  brilliantly  ;  let  us  use  the 
means,  that  it  may  continue  to  shine  before  men,  that 
they  may  glorify  our  Father.  We  have  become  as  a 
trunk  from  which  many  branches  have  sprung  ;  let  ui 
set  a  good  example  to  all  our  branches,  that  wc  may 
be  like  a  good  trunk,  whose  branches  are  luxuriant. 
If  we,  the  trunk,  are  evil,  how  can  wo  expect  that  our 
branches  will  be  otherwise  ?  lint  they  i('i7/,  they  will 
go  on,  they  will  grow  ;  and  if  we,  who  were  first,  are 
not  diligent,  we  shall  soon  be  last.  Then  let  us  ba 
diligent,  friends  ;  let  us  not  be  tired  in  subscribing  our 
little  property  ;  let  us  send  teachers ;  let  us  continua 
to  pray,  and  God  will  continue  to  blesK  us.  Let  us 
ourselves  not  return  back,  lest  Christ  should  say  to 
us,  as  he  said  to  Capernaum,  "  Thou,"  k.c.'* 

"  Fenuapeho  then  arose,  and  8|>oke  to  the  follow- 
ing effect : — '  Praise  to  Gud  well  becomes  us,  dear 
friends ;  but  let  it  be  heart-praise.  Do  what  wo  will 
for  God,  he  looks  at  the  heart.  We  give  our  property 
for  the  spread  of  his  word  ;  do  we  ^ive  it  with  our 
heart,  willingly,  cheerfully,  to  the  Lord  ?  His  word 
is  to  be  great  among  the  gentiles,  from  the  rising  to 
the  setting  of  the  sun.  Consider  what  we  were  for- 
merly ;  now,  how  very  happy  wo  are  in  our  circum- 
stances and  all  that  relates  to  us !     The  glory  of  God 


SI  JTrrtiKSL  a 


P-- 


trtitatn  -r-a?*  t??r-  ..t*?. 


MttL  si.  S3. 


TAHAA. 


all  this  good  has  come  to  us.    We  knew  nothing  of 
societies  formeriy  j  nowthisnewjwojperry.amissionaiy 
society,  is  seen  amongst  us.    Praise  God  for  his  good- 
ness,  and  labor  that  others  may  see  and  know  as  we  do. 
We  were  dwelling  in  a  dark  house  formeriy,  and  did 
not  know  the  evil  and  despicable  things  that  were  in 
that  dark  house.     The  lamp  of  light,  the  Word  of 
God,  has  been  brought,  and  we  behold  with  dismay 
and  disgust  this  and  that.     But  stop :  some  are  killing 
^emselves  this  very  day,  while  we   are   rejoicing. 
Some  are  strangling  their  children,  while  we  are  saving 
ours.      Some  are  burning  themselves  in  fire,  while 
we  are  bathing  in  the  cool  waters  of  the  gospel.  What 
shall  we  do  ?     We  have  been  told  by  our  missionary 
this  day,  that  God  works  by  means :  sending  his  Word 
is  one  means  ;  sending  his  servants,  another  means  ; 
to  effect  which  property  must  be  given.   This  we  have  • 
this  we  can  give.  Prayer  is  another  means  in  our  power! 
l^t  us  pray  fervently.  Let  us  not  covet  our  property, 
but  give  it  freely  for  so  good  a  purpose ;   lest  our 
prayers  should  condemn  us,  when  we  pray,  "  Send 
forth  thy  Word,  make  it  grow,"  and  do  not  use  the 
means.     I'll  say  no  more ;  but  let  us  all  cleave  to 
Jesus.' 

"  [The  cause  advocated  by  such  men  as  Fenuapeho 
is  well  advocated  ;  ftr  he  acts  as  he  wishes  others  to 
act.  He  has  eight  or  nine  children,  for  every  one  of 
whom  he  gives,  as  well  as  for  himself  and  wife,  five 
bamboos  each,  and  has  done  so  for  several  years- 
amounting  to  fifty,  or  more,  bamboos  of  oil  each 
year.] 

"After  Fenuapeho  had  spoken,  Mr.  Bourne  read  a 
long  and  interesting  lettrv  from  a  native  teacher,  left 
at  the  island  of  Mautii. 

"AiiuHisTo,  a  chief  from  Otaheite,  an  intimate 
friend  of  the  late  king  Pomare,  and  a  very  sensible 
man,  arose  and  said,  '  He  had  been  at  May  meetings 
at  this  place  and  that  place,  but  thought  he  felt  his 
heart  more  full  of  joy  now  than  he  ever  did  before. 
To  hear  and  see  the  kings  and  chief  persons  advocate 
the  cause  of  Christ  is  gratifying  indeed.     My  compas- 
sion  has  been  growing  greatly  towards  those  who  are 
still  in  darkness— SI  ill  killing  thcmselvea  for  Satan. 
Shall  we  sit  still  and  do  nothing  ?     God  could  work 
without  us  ;  ho  said,  Lrt  there  he  light,  and  there  wa$ 
light ;  but  he  pleases  to  work  by  us.     I^et  us  work, 
then,  and  give  our  property  to  assist  the  groat  Society 
in  liondon  in  their  great  work.     God  the  Father  had 
work,  God  the  Son   had  work,  Go<l  the  Spirit  had 
work,  in  the  redemption  of  souls;  and  shall  God  work, 
Biid  we  sit  still  ?     Shall  Jesus  pray,  and  wo  be  silent  ? 
Uou  rma  given  us  strength,  breath,  and  ability  to  work 
■nd  pray,  to  assist  and  support  his  servants  in  their  great 
work.     Work,  then,  for  Josus  Christ.' 


"Faahim,  from  Tahaa,  spoke  for  a  short  time,  ex- 
horting  to  liberality  and  cheerfulness  in  the  good  work 

"ATituETA,  one  of  the  deacons,  spoke  as  follows- 
— '  We  are  told  by  Daniel,  that  God  is  to  set  up  a 
Kingdom  that  shall  never  be  destroyed.     The  four 
great  kingdoms,  where  are  they?    The  Babylonish, 
the  Persian,  the  Grecian, and  even  the  Roman  empire, 
compared  to  iron,  where  are  they  all  ?     The  stone, 
the  small  stone,  cut  out  of  the  mountain,  is  to  fill  the 
whole  worid.     It  is  filling  the  world.     It  is  a  kingdom 
that  shall  never  be  destroyed.     Let  us  be  concerned 
to  assist  in  extending  the  limits  of  this  excellent  king- 
donri.'     He  concluded  by  a  very  apt  application  to 
each  individual,  that  all  might  become  subjects  of  this 
kingdom. 

"  Itae,  from  Tahaa,  spoke  upon  the  excellency  of 
the  gospel  of  Christ :— '  What  had  been  suffered  by 
some  from  attachment  to  it?  Shadrach,  Meshech 
and  Abednego  were  cast  into  the  furnace  ;  and 'shall 
not  we  testify  our  attachment,  by  contributing  to  send 
It  to  others  ?  Consider  how  much  was  given  by  us 
formerly  to  Satan.  Are  there  not  some  present  who 
have  given  ru.*-aA«,»— many  pigs,  their  five,  their 
eight,  their  ten  pigs  at  once  to  the  evil  spirit  ?  Now, 
we  are  only  called  upon  to  give  five  bamboos— our 
three  balls  or  measures  of  arrow-root.  Let  us  give 
willingly,  as  unto  the  Lord.' 

"  Temauri,  another  of  the  deacons,  arose,  and  after 
a  few  comparisons,  tending  to   show  that  all  sought 
means  to  accomplish  their  desired  end,  as  the  fisher- 
man his  net,  hooks,  baits,  &tc.,  proceeded—'  So  will 
those  who  love  Christ.    They  will  seek  means  to  send 
his  gospel  to  other  lands,  that  others  may  know  Christ 
too.     I  have  been  seeking  a  name  by  which  to  call 
this  property  thi.H  subscribed  and  thus  collected,  and 
think  it  n;ay  be  called.  Property  to  seek  out  lost  ,ouh. 
Are  not  the  souls  of  those  living  in  darkness  lost  souls  ? 
And  is  not  this  property  the  means  by  wiiich  they  ob- 
tain the  light  of  life  ?     It  is  the  thought  of  lost  souls 
that  animates  good  people  in  their  labors.     Thoy  do 
not  collect  property  for  themselves ;  it  is  for  lost  souls. 
Wo  give    property  for   every  thing;    if  we  want  a 
ranoe,  we  give  property  for  it ;  if  we  want  an  axe,  wo 
give  property  for  it ;  if  we  want  a  net,  we  give  jiroper- 
ty  for  it ;  and  are  lost  souls  not  worth  giving  property 
to  obtain  ?     Think  of  lost  souls,  and  work  while  it  is 
en  I  led  day.' 

"  Vahine  Umb,  of  Tahaa,  addressed  the  meeting, 
and  compared  the  smiety  to  a  ship,  prayer  to  the 
sails,  and  the  Spirit  of  God  to  the  wind.       He  exhort- 

_  .    -_ _ „,.,„,..   rriin.::  ^:ic  sum)  WOUia 

ho  acceptable  to  God. 

•  7Vi<.aAa  )•  th*  nam*  of  a  plccg  oftlnntt  paHcd  through  th* 

notlrili  of  «  dfdicitrd  pig. 


m 


LONDON  MMSIOIf  ART  SOCIETY. 


"  Tb  Amo*  Mose,  *bA  said—*  My  beloved  brethren 
—but  it  b  not  I  that  have  loved  jrou;  it  is  God 
that  bis  loved  us  all.  It  a  well  for  me  to  speak  of 
the  love  of  God — ^I,  who  am  so  great  a  sinner  against 
the  king  and  against  God.  I  am  the  chief  of  sinners ; 
but  God  has  plucked  roe,  I  hope,  as  a  brand  from  the 
burning.  We  talk  of  giving  property  to  God ;  God  is 
the  Lord  of  it  all.  It  is  not  we  that  give  it  to  him,  but 
he  that  has  given  it  to  us,  together  with  hands  and 
strength  to  work  it.  Let  us,  therefore,  rejoice,  and 
work  for  him  with  the  hands  he  has  given  us.  Angels 
are  beholding  us  this  day ;  they  are  all  ministering 
spirits  (as  we  heard  from  our  teacher  last  sabbath), 
and  rejoice  greatly,  with  wonder,  at  the  work  the  Lord 
is  doing.' 

"  Several  other  speeches  were  delivered ;  but  the 
above  are  the  principwl.  Mr.  Williams  afterwards  read 
two  letters  received  from  the  Taheitan  teachers  at 
Aiiutake,  addressed  to  the  people,  and  concluded  with 
prayer. 

"  The  company  then  retired  again  to  the  pavement, 
where  tea  was  provided  for  the  same  number  of  per- 
sons as  had  previously  dined  together.  Many  animat- 
ed speeches  were  again  delivered,  and  great  delight  was 
•vident  in  every  countenance  of  this  large  assembly. 
As  the  sun  retired  below  the  horiion,  the  company 
again  returned  to  the  chapel,  which  was  lighted  up  for 
an  evening  service.  One  of  the  deacons  read  the  Sd 
chapter  of  Daniel,  and  engaged  in  prayer.  Mr.  Wil- 
liams then  preached  from  Rom.  x.  and  part  of  14th  and 
16th  verses:  How$hall  they  hear  vithout  a  preach- 
er 1  and  hote  $hall  they  preach  except  they  be  lentl 
Another  of  the  deacons  concluded  with  prayer.  Thus 
ended  the  fifth  anniversary  meeting,  which  Mr.  Wil- 
liams describes  as  one  of  holy  joy. 

The  day  following,  the  children  of  the  schools,  be- 
longing to  both  stations,  had  a  feast.  They  were  first 
assembled  in  the  chapel,  where  Mr.  Bourne  addressed 
them.  They  afterwards  walked,  abotit  six  hundred  in 
number,  to  the  pavement,  where  tables  were  spread 
U  on  the  preceding  day.  When  the  feast  was  ended, 
several  of  the  elder  boys  delivered  short  addresses, 
most  of  them  founded  on  sermons  they  had  heard. 
Tiiese  speeches,  which  were  unpremeditated,  as  it 
was  not  previously  known  that  the  boys  would  be 
called  upon  to  speak,  were  delivered  with  much 
fluency  and  propriety,  and  appeared  to  give  peculiar 
pleasure  to  every  one  present.  Aller  partaking  of 
further  refreshment  (a  substitute  for  tea),  the  children 

*  T(  Abo  «u  fonntrljt  unong  Ui*  ringlMiien  of  >  nbt\  p*rt7i 

who    kST*    %11    !I9I»    ■iil»iiiillA«t    lk*HM*lirAa   Ln  Ik*   aiilhftgilw   nf  Am 

king.  Tb«]r  bav*  tUo  Iwen  bapUnd,  and  aoUd  »t»t  abtoa  with 
gmit  eonaiaunejr.  Many  oT  Uiam  art  eandidaU*  fcr  Um  Lord'i 
fapp«r. 


t^in  asMinbled  la  the  oHkpel,  where  Mr.  WilUtnu 
deHveied  a  short  addms,  and  eoncluded  with  prayer. 
They  afterwardit  all  retired  to  then  respective  homeir 
apparently  mueh  delighted. 

Mr.  Williams,  contemplating  thn  delightAil  spect»- 
cle,  asks,  in  reference  to  the  former  horrid  custom  of 
infitnticide.  Would  one  quarter  of  them  hate  been  m 
esUtence,  if  the  gotpel  of  Chriet  had  not  been  brought 
to  the$e  Ulande  1  and  then  answers  his  own  question-— 
No,  the  hand$  of  their  mothen  would  have  been  sm- 
brued  in  their  blood  /" 

In  18S5,  a  new  chapel  was  opened  at  this  station, 
and  the  number  of  natives  in  church  fellowship  was 
eighty,  whose  conduct  reflected  credit  on  their  Chris- 
tian professran. 

In  1827,  Mr.  Bourne  was  compelled,  by  the  afflic- 
tive circumstance  of  Mrs.  Bourne's  illness,  to  remove 
from  Tahaa  to  New  South  Wales,  and  this  station  was 
placed  under  the  care  of  Mr.  Williams,  from  Rarotogna. 
The  reports  of  the  society  aflbrd  ground  for  hope  that 
the  work  of  God  in  this  island  has  not  suflfered  any 
material  injury  since  the  removal  of  Mr.  Bourne. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  have  been  appointed  to  this 
field  of  labor,  and  sailed  from  England  on  the  first 
of  October,  1830. 


BORABORA. 

This  island  renounced  idolatry,  with  the  rest  of  the 
Society  islands,  in  the  year  1816,  and  many  of  the 
natives  were  long  very  desirous  that  a  missionary  should 
setde  among  them.  To  meet  their  wishes,  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Orsmond,  from  the  L.  M.  S.,  left  Raiatea  on  the 
13lh  of  November,  1 820.  The  natives  received  him  with 
much  cordiality,  and  soon  after  commenced  the  build- 
ing of  a  place  of  worship,  and  also  of  better  habita- 
tions. The  chapel  was  opened  in  January,  1822. 
"  The  spot  selected  for  this  settlement,"  say  the  dep- 
utation, "  is  unequalled  by  any  other  on  the  island.  It 
is  on  the  western  side  of  the  great  central  mountain, 
extending  along  iu  base,  and  is  upwards  of  thirteen 
furlongs  in  length,  parallel  with  the  winding  shore.  In 
front  is  a  fine  harbor,  in  which  several  hundred  ships 
might  lie  at  anchor  with  perfect  safety,  in  nil  weathers. 
On  the  west  side  of  this  beautiful  bay  is  the  long  island 
Tobura,  and  two  ^mal!  coral  islets ;  where  is  an  open- 
ing through  the  reef,  with  the  island  of  Maupiti  in  full 
view,  at  the  distance  of  thirty-five  or  forty  miles.  A 
more  beautiful  and  suitable  situation  cannot  be  Im- 
--;---! .  —.Kits  s  rirh  hnrds;  nf  lev  land,  and  iome  vu- 
leys  near,  aflford  sufficient  garden-ground  to  the  people 
for  growing  the  food  common  to  the  country." 


MAUPITI. 


A  Christian  church  was  formed  here  in  1820.    In 
1824,  it  had  thirty-six  members,  of  whom  six  were 
,     deacons.    The  number  baptized  was,  of  adults,  five 
hundred  and  forty-three,  of  children,  fpur  hundred  and 
forty.     Native  schools  for  adults  and  children  were 
well  attended.    In  the  school  for  the  latter  were  one 
hundred  and  forty-nine  boys  and  one  hundred  and 
thirty-nine  girls,  of  whom  about  seventy  could  read  the 
Taheitan  New  Testament  with  fluency.     An  Adult 
and  Juvenile  M.  S.  had  been  formed.     The  contribu- 
tions of  the  former  amounted  to  two  thousand  and 
seventeen  bamboos  of  cocoa-nut  oil,  and  those  of  the 
ktter  to  three  hundred  and  ninety-one.     Excellent 
roads  had  been  made,  and  a  noble  stone  pier  erected, 
which  was  carried  out  nearly  three  hundred  sixty-five 
feet  into  the  sea.     The  village  consisted  of  a  street 
extending  nearly  two  miles  in  front  of  the  bay,  compos- 
ed of  well-built  houses.     A  code  of  laws,  which  had 
undergone  a  very  careful  revision,  had  been  promul- 
gated by  the  authority  of  the  king  and  chiefs,  and  with 
the  consent  of  the  people.     Although  the  mission  was 
at  this  period  in  its  infancy,  it  had  had  the  honor  of  send- 
ing forth  three  native  teachers  with  their  wives  to  Ri- 
matara,  two  with  their  wives  to  Maupiti,  two  married 
and  one  single  to  the  Friendly  i$land*,  three  to  Nav- 
igators' itlands,  and  two  with  their  wives  to  Harvey 
islands. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Piatt  removed  to  Borabora,in  1824, 
to  fill  the  place  of  Mr.  Orsraond,  on  his  taking  the' 
charge  of  the  academy  at  Eimeo. 

The  number  baptized  during  1826,  was  five  adults 
and  twenty-one  children.  Total  baptized,  since  the 
commencement  of  the  mission  in  1820,  of  adults,  six 
hundred  and  eighteen,  t)f  children,  five  hundred  and 
eighty-nine ;  members  added  to  the  church,  forty-eight. 
Six,  during  1826,  had  died  in  the  faith:  three  had  been 
excluded  from  communion ;  of  whom  one,  on  repent- 
ance, had  been  re-admitted  ;  four  had  incurred  censure  ; 
of  whom  three,  on  repentance,  had  been  restored.' 
Total  number  received  into  church-fellowship  since 
November,  1821,  two  hundred  and  forty. 

Many  of  the  young  people  at  this  station  have,  un- 
happily, manifested  p.  very  untractable  disjwsition,  and 
occasioned  no  small  trouble  to  the  missionary. 

An  increased  quantity  of  land  has  been  brought 
under  cultivation.  The  people  display  their  ingenuity 
and  industry  in  the  manufacture  of  a  considerable 
number  of  chairs  and  tables,  and  other  useful  ariicles ; 
such  as  a  press-mill  for  the  sugar  cane,aturntiylathe| 
be.  ice. 

Tefaaro,  one  of  the  two  kings,  or  principal  chiefs, 
of  this  island,  died  durinv  189A.  whilo  <^n  .  „:.:.  .. 
Tahiti. 

Vol.  I.  Nos.  33  h  34.  61 


885 


Through  the  years  1826,  27,  28,  Mr.  Piatt  report- 
ed his  station  as  prosperous.  He  observes,  "  In  gen- 
eral the  minds  of  the  people  are  expanding,  strength- 
enmg,  and  advancing  in  divine  knowledge."  Fifty- 
one  persons  were  added  to  the  church  in  1828,  and 
there  were  one  hundred  candidates  for  its  fellowship. 
At  the  latest  intelligence,  the  church  consisted  of  about 
three  hundred  members. 


MAUPITI. 

In  1822,  two  native  teachers  were  sent  here  from 
the  station  at  Borabora.     In  1823,  the  deputation  vis- 
ited  Maupiti  in  compliance  with  the  earnest  request  of 
the  king.     The  deputation  writes,  "  We  had  the  hap- 
piness  to  be  present  at  the  baptism  of  seventy-four 
persons,  two  hundred  and  ninety-one  having  been  bap- 
tized before  ;  so  that  there  are  now  three  hundred  and 
sixty-five  of  the  baptized.     We  also  enjoyed  the  priv- 
liege  of  bemg  present  at  the  formation  of  the  first 
Christian  church  here.     The  king  and  five  others,  with 
the  two  teachers  and  their  wives,  constituted  the  church. 
On  the  Lord's  day,  we  had  the  pleasure  to  partake  of  the 
Lord's  supperwith  them,  which,  together  with  our  party 
from  Borabora,  made  the  number  twenty.    The  chapel 
was  crowded,  and  deep  feeling  was  manifest  in  the 
countenances  of  all  present.     We  had  the  very  high 
gratification  also  of  taking  a  part  in  their  first  mission- 
ary meeting,  which  was  hastened  on  our  account.  The 
king,  Taero,  presided,  and  all  the  chiefs  took  a  part ; 
many  of  them  spoke,  and  nearly  all  concluded  with 
some  text  of  Scripture.     Indeed,  their  knowledge  of, 
and  love  for,  the  Scriptures,  is  a  striking  feature  in  the 
character  of  all  these  islanders,  and  as  pleasin  '    as 
strikmg.     The  subscription    announced  amounted  to 
nearly  one  thousand  bamboos  of  cocoa-nut  oil." 

The  number  of  members  added  to  the  church  in 
1825-6,  was  thirty-six,  and  the  death  of  a  few  is  men- 
tioned, who  departed  in  the  enjoyment  of  a  hope  full 
of  immortality.  Some  crafty  visionaries  created  much 
trouble  in  tliis  island,  but  tlie  faithful  labors  of  Mr. 
Piatt,  from  Borabora,  restored  peace  and  order  to  the 
church  and  station.  The  teachers,  beside  attending 
to  their  missionary  duties,  have  not  been  inattentive  to 
civilization ;  they  have  displayed  their  industry  and 
skill  in  the  erection  of  dwelling-houses,  boat-build- 
ing,  &cc.  &c. 


886 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


PAUMOTU,  OR  PALLISER  ISLANDS. 

FoBMEBLT,  the  inhabitants  were  notorious  for  ab- 
ject superstitions,  abominable  vices,  and  unrelent- 
ing cruelties  ;  but,  through  the  influence  of  the  mis- 
sionaries at  the  Society  islands,  they  hare  nearly  all 
renounced  idolatry,  changed  their  habits,  and,  at  least 
in  name,  become  Christians.  The  language  is  radi- 
cally the  same  as  that  of  Tahiti.  The  native  teachers 
here  are  Moorea  and  Teraa,  who  were  members  at 
Wilks's  Harbor,  and  settled  on  the  island  of  Anaa 
in  1832. 


AUSTRAL  ISLANDS,  OR  ISLANDS 
OF  RAIVAVAI. 

[FiTehoDdred  milei  wuth  of  Tahiti.] 

In  this  group,  there  are  five  stations,  viz.  Raivavai, 
Tubouai,  Rurutu,  Rimatara  and  Rapa,  under  the  care 
of  fifteen  Tahitian  teachers.  The  deputation  visited 
these  islands,  and  reported  the  state  of  things  at  Rai- 
vavai and  Rurutu  to  be  highly  gratifying.  At  the 
former  island  they  found  two  chapels  erected,  and  the 
congregations  large  and  attentive. 

In  1827,  ths  entire  population  of  Rurutu  had  been 
baptized,  and  the  church  consisted  of  thirty  members. 
At  a  visit  made  by  Mr.  Davies  to  Raivavai,  he  found 
seventeen  natives  capable  of  reading  in  the  Tahitian 
Gospels.  The  number  of  the  baptized  adults  was  one 
hundred  and  twenty-two.  In  Rimatara  and  Tubouai, 
he  met  with  much  that  gratified  him. 

The  good  work  of  conversion  in  Rapa  has  been 
principally  effected  by  Hota  and  Nene,  from  Tahiti, 
who  have  leen  joined  by  Mahana  and  Pauo,  the 
former  a  schoolmaster,  the  latter  a  boat-builder.  The 
church  and  schools  are  represented  as  in  a  very  flour- 
ishing condition.  On  the  19th  of  April,  1829,  the 
ordinance  of  baptism  was  administered  to  two  hundred 
and  fifty-one  persons. 


HARVEY    ISLANDS. 

We  adopt  this  as  a  general  designation  of  the  group, 
from  one  of  the  light-islands  of  which  it  consists  being 
called  Harvey  itland,  and  bui  nuse  that  island  is  bet- 
— .„  {;,-"5frtj^?tj-  iiitm  aiijT  uiHcr  OX  inc  group. 


S.  lat 


158»  56'  W 
ISS"  48*  " 
IBS'  14'  " 
158»  3'  '< 
visited  by 
are  laid  down 


Ion. 


all 


captam 
in  his 


Not  noticed  in  any  charts  which  the 
missionaries  have  seen. 


One  of  them,  whose  name  is  not  given,  is  uninhabited 
the  rest  are  as  follow  :— 

Harvey  island,     19"  IT 

Aitutake,  16°  68' 

Atui,  ao»    1' 

Mangeea,  21°  56' 

These  were 
Cook,  and 
charts. 

Mitiaro, 

Maute, 

Rarotonga. 

At  some  of  these  islands,  the  natives  had  never 
seen  a  ship  since  captain  Cook's  visit. 

When  Mr.  Williams  visited  the  colony  of  New 
South  Wales,  in  1821,  he  left  two  native  teachers  at 
one  of  the  islands  of  this  group,  called  Aitutake 
(written  Whylootacke  on  the  charts),  having  previous- 
ly furnished  them  with  copies  of  the  Tahitian  Gos- 
pels, and  a  supply  of  elementary  books  in  the  same 
language.  Subsequently,  two  native  teachers  from 
Borabora  settled  in  another  island.  Nearly  two  years 
having  elapsed,  during  which  period  no  tidings  of 
the  teachers  had  been  received,  Mr.  Williams  and 
Mr.  Bourne  resolved  to  visit  Aitutake,  in  the  brig 
Endeavor,  a  vessel  belonging  to  the  chiefs  of  the  Lee- 
ward islands.  They  sailed  on  the  4th  of  July,  1823, 
taking  with  them  six  native  teachers,  members  of  the 
church  at  Raiatea  ard  Tahaa,  with  their  wives.  They 
arrived  off  Aitutake  on  the  ninth  of  the  same  month. 

The  first  sounds  from  the  shore  that  saluted  their 
ears  were — "  It  it  all  well  toilk  Aitutake.  Aitutake 
has  received  the  word  of  God.  The  word  of  Ood 
hat  taken  deep  root  at  Aitutake.  The  maraes  and 
idolt  are  contumed  in  the  Jire." — These  and  such 
like  exclauiations  proceeded  from  every  canoe  they 
passed,  as  they  approached  the  island.  The  brethren, 
however,  appeared  to  doubt  the  truth  of  these  rep- 
resentations, when  the  natives,  to  remove  their  in- 
credulity, pointed  to  the  hats  which  they  wore,  and 
exhibited  the  spelling-books  which  they  had  in  their 
hands.  A  chief  and  another  native,  who  were  among 
the  first  in  the  island  to  receive  Christianity,  were 
now  admitted  on  board,  and  from  them  the  following 
information  \  as  obtained : — "  That  all  the  idols  in  the 
island  were  destroyed  and  burnt  to  ashes,  except  a  few 
in  the  possession  of  the  teachers  ;  that  the  profession  of 
Christianity  was  universal ;  that  a  chapel  was  erected ; 
and  that  they  were  waiting  the  arrival  of  missionaries 
••'  order  to  open  it."  The  brethren  then  went  on 
shore,  and  found  the  teachers  in  health,  and  pursuing 
their  labors  with  alacrity.  The  teachers  confirmed 
what  had  bouD  announced  hj  the  naiives,  adding  that 


the  sabbath  was  regarded  as  a  sacred  day ;  that  pub- 
ho  worship  was  attended  by  all,  and  family  worship 
by  nearly  all,  the  people  on  the  island.  The  brethren 
having  opened  the  chapel,  returned  on  board  the 
Endeavor,  accompanied  by  the  young  king  and  his 
wife,  the  grandfather  of  the  king,  together  with  Papei- 
ha,  one  of  tlie  native  teachers,  left  by  Mr.  Williams 
in  1821. 

They  now  proceeded  to  the  island  of  Mangeea,  to 
which  place  they  resolved  to  send,  on  their  return 
home,  two  single  men  to  reside  as  teachers.     From 
Mangeea  they  sailed  to  Atui.     At  this  island,  they 
found  two  teachers  from  Borabora,  who  had  been  sent 
a  few  months  before.     They  were  in  a  pitiable  con- 
dition.    They  had  been  stripped  by  the  natives  of 
their  property,  and  were  greatly  discouraged  by  their 
want  of  success.    Messrs.  Williams  and  Bourne  invited 
the  king  of  Atui  to  accompany  them  to  Borabora,  but 
he  deemed.     He,  however,  consented  to  go  out  to 
sea  with  them  for  two  or  three  days.     During  this 
time,  he  witnessed  public  service  on  board,  and  had 
much  conversation  with  the  brethren.      The  result 
was,  that  he  determined  to  embrace  Christianity,  to 
destroy   all  his  maraes,  and   to    erect    a    house  of 
prayer.     The  brethren  prevailed  on  him  to  accora- 
pany  them  to  two  adjacent  islands,  Maute  and  Mitiaro. 
of  which  he  is  also  king,  and  to  use  his  influence  to 
enable  them  to  settle  a  teacher  on  each  island.     He 
acquiesced,  and  two  teachers  were  landed.     The  na- 
tives of  both  these  islands  have  subsequently  embraced 
t/hristianity. 

In  relation  to  the  king,  Messrs.  Williams  and  Bourne 
write  as  follows:-"  Thus  the  king  of  Atui  came  on 
board  this  vessel  a  bigoted  idolater;  he  was  induced 
to  embrace  the  true  word;  to  use  his  influence  in 
overthrowing  the  adoration  of  age,  in  two  islands: 
and  returns  to  that  of  his  own  residence,  with  a  full 
determination  to  do  the  same  there.  We  are  con- 
strained to  say,  '  It  i,  the  Lord',  doing,,  and  it  i, 
marvellou,  in  our  eye, !'  " 

From  Atui  the  brethren  proceeded  to  Rarotonga,  a 
large  island,  with  a  numerous  population.  Here  they 
left  Papeiha,  and  six  natives  of  the  island  who  had 
embraced  Christianity  at  Aitutake,and  who  were  pas- 
sengers in  the  Endeavor. 

From  the  reports  made  of  this  island,  in  1827,  we 
learn  that  infanticide  has  ceased;  that  chapels  and 
missionary  abodes  had  been  erected.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Pitman,  with  the  native  teachers  Papeiha  and  Ti- 
berio,  are  laboring  at  Gnatangiia,  where  a  new  chapel 
has  been  opened.  This  is  a  good  building,  one  hun- 
dred  and  fifty-four  feet  by  fifty-six.  and  reflects  much 
ereuit  oa  inc  natives.  Un  the  5th  of  August,  1827, 
Mr.  Pitman  preached  his  first  sermon  in  the  Rarolon- 


NEW  SOUTH  WALES. 


387 

pan  dialect,  li,  1828,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Buzacott  joined 
Mr  Pitman.  At  this  station  there  i,  a  sugar-mill, 
and  the  art  of  sugar-making  has  been  introduced  into 
all  the  out-stations. 

In  1830,  the  regulations  of  the  chiefs  for  the  sup- 
pression of  vice  were  opposed  by  some  ill-disposed 
persons,  who  proceeded  to  acts  of  violence,  and  burnt 
the  houses  of  the  obnoxious  parties.  During  this  con- 
flagration the  chapel  at  Gnatangiia  was  consumed. 
But  on  the  following  day  the  chiefs  met,  and  aereed 
to  erect  a  new  one. 

In  1829,  Mr.  Buzacott  commenced  a  new  station— 
AvARUA— eight  miles  from  Gnatangiia.  The  latest 
reports  mention  that  there  are  five  hundred  and  fifty 
boys  and  girls  in  the  school. 

There  is  also  another  station  at  Arokagni,  which 
was  formed  in  1828,  at  the  urgent  request  of  Tino- 
mana,  chief  of  Aroragni.  The  charge  has  been  com- 
muted  to  Papeiha. 

The  annual  report  for  1831  states,  that  Aitdtake, 
m  1830,  appeared  in  a  state  of  interesting  prosperity 
At  the  examination  of  the  school,  nearly  four  hundred 
children  were  present.  The  people  in  general  adorn- 
ed their  profession  of  Christianity ;  and  the  missiona- 
ries  observe,  in  their  account  of  their  last  visit 
"Many  we  have  reason  to  believe,  are  Christians 
indeed." 

In  Atui,  on  the  9th  of  June,  1830,  the  first  church 
in  the  island  was  formed,  and  the  sacrament  of  the 
Lord's  supper  administered  by  Mr.  Williams  to  twenty 
persons.  ' 

In  Mangeea,  the  number  who  have  embraced 
Christianity  amounts  to  one  hundred  and  thirty-six 
adults,  with  three  hundred  children.  The  island  is  in 
a  fine  state  of  cultivation,  and  the  manners  of  the  in- 
habitants  are  improving. 


NEW  SOUTH  WALES. 

In  the  latter  part  of  1826,  Mr.  Threlkeld  com- 
menced  his  labors  at  Bahtaba,  on  lake  Macquarie 
Mr.  Threlkeld  has  exerted  himself  in  attaining  a 
knowledge  of  the  aboriginal  language,  of  which  speci- 
mens pubhshed  by  him  have  attracted  considerable 
interest  in  the  colony.  The  great  expense  attending 
this  mission  has  induced  the  directors  to  apply  to  the 
local  governm  nt  for  aid,  in  support  of  the  measures 
requisite  for  promoting  industry  and  civilization  amone 
the  aborigines  located  at  the  station.  Should  this  aid 
be  refused,  it  is  probnble  that  this  mission  Tvil!  bo 
abandoned. 

The  Society  has  been  under  great  obligations  to  the 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


Rer.  Samuel  Musden,  the  colonial  chaplain,  for  his 
kind  services  at  this  station. 


NAVIGATORS'  OR  SAMOA 
ISLANDS. 

Tbkse  islands  are  eight  in  number,  and  are,  like 
the  Georgian  and  Society  islands,  divided  into  two 
clusters,  each  containing  four  islands.  To  attempt  the 
introduction  of  Christianity  among  the  inhabitants  of 
this  populous  group  of  islands,  two  of  which  are  larger 
than  Tahiti,  was  the  chief  object  of  a  hazardous 
voyage  undertaken  by  Messrs.  Williams  and  Barff,  in 
the  summer  of  1830.  At  Tonga  they  met  a  chief, 
with  his  wife  and  family,  belonging  to  these  islands, 
who,  on  being  acquainted  with  the  object  of  their 
voyage,  requested  that  he  might  accompany  them  to  his 
native  country.  They  were  thus  providentially  furnished 
with  the  most  desirable  means  of  opening  a  communica- 
tion with  the  people.  This  chief  proved  an  invaluable 
acquisition  to  the  missionaries  in  their  subsequent  inter- 
course with  the  Samoans.  When  they  reached  the 
group,  they  found  war  raging  between  the  two  princi- 
pal islands,  Upolu  andSavai.  This  war  was  occasion- 
ed by  the  death  of  the  chief  priest  of  the  islands,  who 
had  been  recently  murdered.  The  missionaries  ex- 
perienced a  favorable  reception  from  the  friends  of  the 
chief  who  had  accompanied  them  from  Tonga,  and 
whom  they  found  to  be  related  to  families  of  the 
highest  rank.  Maleitoa,  the  king  of  the  large  island 
of  Savai,  was  at  the  seat  of  war  with  his  army.  A 
messenger  was  sent  to  inform  him  of  the  arrival  of  the 
missionaries  ;  and  though  a  slight  engagement  had 
taken  place  in  the  morning,  he  left  his  warriors,  and 
hastened  to  welcome  them,  and  told  them  he  had 
heard  of  the  new  religion,  desired  much  to  be  acquaint- 
ed with  it,  and  thanked  them  for  coming  to  his  coun- 
try. They  informed  him  of  the  object  of  their  visit, 
introduced  the  teacheri,  and  endeavored  to  persuade 
him  to  discontinue  the  war.  This  the  king  and  chiefs 
promised  to  do  as  soon  as  possible,  but  informed  the 
missionaries  that  they  must  fight  that  light,  and  then 
they  would  come  and  learn  from  the  teachers  the  lotu, 
or  word  of  the  great  God.  Though  the  most  tragical 
fate  had  been  experienced  by  former  visitors  to  the 
Navigators'  islands,  and  no  European  had  ever  set  his 
foot  on  the  shores  of  the  large  island  off  which  their 
Uttle  vessel  lay,  encouraged  by  the  appearance  and 
professions  of  the  chiefs  and  people,  Messrs.  Barff  and 
Williams  landed,  and  remained  three  days  and  two 

...g...~    ...... ».^    .....    ....... ..t^tff.^    jjy     miviii    tiitrj     TTtriTT 

treated  with  the  greatest  kindness.     On  the  island 


iSiavaJ,  they  left  the  native  teachers,  four  under  the 
protection  of  king  Maleitoa,  and  four  under  that 
of  his  brother. 

At  a  large  publk:  meeting  with  the  chiefs  and  peo- 
ple, when  presents  were  exchanged,  the  missionaries 
promised  the  chiefs  that,  in  ten  or  twelve  months,  they 
should,  if  possible,  be  revisited ;  and  informed  them 
that  if  they  attended  to  the  instruction  of  the  teach- 
ers, European  missionaries  should  come  to  reside 
among  them.  It  is  estimated  that  six  English  mission- 
aries will  be  required  for  these  islands.  Few  missions 
have  been  commenced  under  circumstances  more 
pleasing,  or  have  presented  equally  encouraging  pros- 
pects of  speedy  and  extensive  success. 


SANDWICH   ISLANDS. 

It  is  particularly  worthy  of  remark,  that  even  at 
the  commencement  of  the  operations  of  the  London 
Missionary  Society,  the  directors  expressed  an  inten- 
tion of  sending  the  glad  tidings  of  salvation  to  the  inhab- 
itants of  the  Sandwich  islands,  which  they  justly  rep- 
resented as  presenting  "  a  noble  field  for  evangeli- 
cal labors."  Captain  Wilson,  however,  on  assuming 
the  command  of  the  Duff,  stated  expressly,  that  it 
would  not  comport  with  the  object  of  his  voyage  to 
visit  this  part  of  the  Pacific  ocean,  without  excluding 
the  Friendly  islands ; — the  capture  of  the  missionary 
vessel,  on  her  second  voyage,  with  the  pressure  of 
business  occasioned  by  the  return  of  the  brethren,  sus- 
pended, for  a  time,  the  further  consideration  of  the 
subject ; — and  a  scries  of  other  circumstances,  appar- 
ently untoward,  but  all  regulated  by  mfinite  wisdom, 
precluded  the  introduction  of  the  gospel  to  these  pop- 
ulous and  interesting  islands,  till  the  visit  of  the  dep- 
utation to  the  South  seas ;  when  "  a  great  door  and 
effectual "  was  opened  for  the  admission  of  teachers, 
who  had  been  appointed  to  a  different  situation,  but 
who  were  irresistibly  led  to  this  scene  of  usefulness ; 
whilst  the  friends  of  tlie  Redeemer,  both  at  home 
and  abroad,  were  constrained  to  exclaim,  "  This  is 
thy  work,  O  God,  and  thy  hand  hath  done  it!" 
The  particulars  of  this  highly  interesting  event  will 
be  found  in  the  subjoined  extracts  of  letters  from  the 
Rev.  W.  Ellis,  and  from  the  deputation  to  their 
friends  in  London  ;  the  perusal  of  which  is  well  cal- 
culated to  infuse  new  animation  and  zeal  into  the 
heart  of  every  reader,  who,  being  personally  inter- 
ested in  the  preciousness  of  Jesus,  is  led  to  pray 
that  his  perishing  fellow  creatures  may  be  also  made 
acquairitcd  Wnh  biin,  whoin  :o  knaW  anghi  iS  liiS 
eternal. 


SANDWICH  ISLANDS. 


'<  Tamehameha,  the  late  king  of  the  Sandwich 
islands,"  says  Mr.  Ellis, "  considering  himself  under  the 
protection  of  the  king  of  England,  had  always  been 
very  attentive  to  English  vessels  touching  at  any  of 
his  islands  for  refreshments ;  and,  in  consequence  of 
his  kindness  having  been  reported  to  our  govern- 
ment, a  very  neat  schooner  was  sent  to  him  from  Port 
Jackson  as  a  present  from  the  prince  regent.  Captain 
Kent,  of  bis  majesty's  colonial  cutter  Mermaid,  hav- 
ing the  schooner  under  his  charge,  touched  at  Huahine 
for  fresh  provisions,  on  his  way  to  the  Sandwich  islands, 
and  very  kindly  offered  a  passage  to  any  of  us  who 
might  wish  to  visit  the  islands ;  and,  as  he  intended 
to  touch  at  the  Marquesas,  it  afforded  a  favorable 
opportunity  for  introducing  the  gospel  among  those 
islands,  which,  from  their  proximity  to  the  Society 
islands,  had  a  peculiar  claim  on  our  attention.  I  was 
appointed  to  accompany  the  deputation,  to  endeavor  to 
settle  some  native  teachers  among  them,  and  to  ex- 
amine the  ground,  with  a  view  to  its  becoming  a  mis- 
sionary station.  Accordingly,  on  the  25th  of  Febru- 
ary, 1822,  we  left  Huahine,  having  with  us  Anna  and 
Matatore  (two  native  deacons),  with  their  wives,  who 
were  sent  by  the  missionary  society  in  Huahine  to 
the  Marquetat,  to  instruct  the  people  thero  in  the 
knowledge  of  the  troe  God,  and  of  the  way  of  salva- 
tion through  Jesus  Christ ;  also  to  teach  them  to  read 
and  write.  On  the  27th  of  March,  we  came  in  sight 
of  the  north-east  coast  of  Hawaii,  orOwhyhee.  We 
sailed  along  within  four  or  five  miles  of  the  shore, 
almost  enchanted  with  the  beautiful  appearance  of 
this  part  of  the  island.  The  coast  was  very  bold, 
generally  rising  four  hundred  feet  almost  perpendicu- 
larly from  the  sea :  in  some  places,  the  rocks  were 
bare,  or  only  partially  covered  with  moss ;  in  others, 
they  were  richly  clothed  with  shrubs  and  trees.  The 
line  of  coast  was  occasionally  broken  by  deep  bays  or 
extensive  valleys,  while,  at  unequal  distances  from 
each  other,  the  most  beautiful  cascades  of  various 
forms  and  dimensions  flowed  down  its  steep  front,  and 
emptied  themselves  into  the  ocean  below. 

"  We  had  a  brisk  gale  in  passing  the  strait  between 
Maui  and  Hawaii,  after  which  it  became  calm,  and  we 
were  obliged  to  lay  to,  for  the  night,  off  Tovaihai.  I 
accompanied  our  captain  on  shore,  near  to  which  we 
were  met  by  Kuakini,  the  governor  of  the  island,  who 
was  very  inquisitive  about  the  object  of  our  visit,  and, 
learning  from  Auna  that  we  were  missionaries,  express- 
ed his  wish  that  some  of  us  might  remain  with  them.  A 
very  friendly  intercourse  soon  commenced  between 
the  natives  who  came  off  with  him  and  the  Otahei- 
tans  with  us,  and  the  evening  passed  agreeably  away. 
He  joined  with  us  in  our  family  devotions,  and  after- 
wards told  Auna  and  his  companions,  that  he  much 


wished  to  be  instructed  m  the  religion  of  Jesus  Christ, 
and  to  be  made  acquainted  with  Jehovah,  the  true 
God,  but  had  nobody  to  teach  him,  except  an  Ota- 
heitan,  who  had  told  him  about  these  things. 

"  On  the  ensuing  sabbath,  we  came  to  an  anchor  in 
Karakakua  bay,  and  endeavored  to  improve  the  sea- 
son as  well  as  circumstances  would  admit.  Early  on 
the  following  morning,  we  went  on  shore,  and  proceed- 
ed to  the  spot  where  our  unfortunate  countryman, 
captain  Cook,  met  his  lamentable  end.  An  aged 
chief  undertook  to  be  our  guide,  and  conducted  us  to 
the  spot  where  the  celebrated  navigator  fell,  which  wa 
contemplated  with  melancholy  interest.  We  after- 
wards wandered  through  the  villages,  conversing  with 
the  people,  whom  we  found  every  where  willing  to 
listen  to  us,  and  generally  expressing  a  desire  to  learn 
to  j  sad  and  write,  to  be  made  acquainted  with  the  true 
God,  and  the  way  of  salvation  through  Jesus  Christ ; 
generally  lamentmg,  also,  that  they  had  no  one  to  in- 
struct them,  and  soliciting  us  to  remain  with  them. 
I  talked  in  Tahitian  to  them,  employing  also  the  few 
phrases  of  their  language  1  had  been  able  to  pick  up, 
assuring  them  we  sincerely  compassionated  them 
in  their  present  ignorant  state,  and  most  ardently 
wished  they  might  soon  participate  in  those  blessings 
now  so  richly  enjoyed  by  their  brethren  in  the  Geor- 
gian and  Society  islands. 

"  Hawaii,  or  Owhyhee,  is  a  fine  island,  of  very  con- 
siderable magnitude,  estimated  by  Vancouver  at  four 
thousand  square  miles.  The  population  is,  perhaps, 
one  hundred  thousand,  and  not  a  missionary  among 
them  to  tell  them  of  the  love  of  God  to  lost  sinners,  as 
the  American  missionaries  at  Woahoo  have  not  been 
able  to  form  a  permanent  station  on  this  island ;  for  the 
king  appears  unwilling  that  any  of  them  should  remove 
from  the  vicinity  of  his  place  of  residence.  I  had 
several  opportunities  of  conversing  with  the  governor 
while  we  remained  at  Hawaii.  He  was  remarkably 
pleased  with  our  first  visit,  and  kept  us  till  a  very  late 
hour  conversing  on  different  subjects,  being  very 
minute  and  particular  in  his  inquiries  about  the  Society 
islands. 

"After  Mr.  Tyerman  and  myself  had  lain  down  to 
sleep  on  our  mat,  he  came  in  and  sat  by  the  side  of 
us,  with  his  slate  in  his  hand,  to  receive  a  copy,  with 
which  I  readily  fiimished  him.  He  afterwards  con- 
tinued his  inquiries  until  about  two  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  when  he  left  us  and  retired  to  rest,  frequent- 
ly repeating, '  I  desire  to  learn  ;  great  is  my  desire.'  " 

In  another  letter,  dated  July  9,  Mr.  Ellis  vn-ites  as 
follows  :— 

"  After  waitine  a  fortnieht  for  the  Prince  Retrnnt 
(the  schooner  sent  out  as  a  present  to  the  king  of 
these  islands),  our  captain  weighed  anchor,  and  pro* 


800 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


ceeded  to  Woahoo.     We  called  at  Kairua  andTovai- 
hai  on  our  way;  and  on  Monday,  the  21st,  we  came 
to  anchor  in  Kou  liarbor,  off  Hanarooroo.     Shortly 
afterwards  we  accompanied  captain  Kent  on   shore, 
and  were  met  on  the  beach  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Thurs- 
ton, and  Messrs.  Chamberlain  and  Loomis,  missionary 
brethren  from  America,  who  have  been  here  about 
two  years.     Our  meeting  was   peculiarly  gratifying, 
and   they  kindly   invited   us   to   the   mission-house. 
After  paying  our   respects   to   the   king   and   other 
branches  of  the  royal  family,  together  with  the  foreign 
residents  of  the  place,  we  accompanied  our  brethren 
to  their  residence,  about  half  a  mile  from  the  landing- 
place,  where  we  were  very  kindly  welcomed  by  our 
sisters  Thurston,  Chamberlain  and  Loomis,  who  re- 
peated the  invitation  we  had  before  received,  to  spend 
in  their  family  the  time  we  might  remain  on  the  island, 
which  we  gladly  accepted,  and  have  been  very  com- 
fortably accommodated  during  our  protracted  deten- 
tion here.     Our  brethren  and  sisters  are  very  laudably 
employed  in  studying  the  language  and  teaching  sev- 
eral of  the  natives ;  preaching  also  the  gospel,  by 
means  of  an  interpreter.     They  appear  to  possess  the 
spirit  of  their  office  ;  and  though  they  are  exposed  to 
many  trials,  yet  they  are  enabled  to  persevere  in  their 
benevolent  attempts  to  propagate  the  gospel  of  the 
Son  of  God  among  the  benighted  tribes  around  them, 
who  are  literally  perishing  for  lack  of  knowledge. 

"Our  Tahitian  companions  were  invited  to  the 
bouse  of  Kaahuraanu,  the  queen  of  Atooi.  They 
had  met  with  a  countryman  of  theirs,  who  had  former- 
ly been  with  the  mutineers  in  the  Bounty,  but  had 
been  residing  here  many  years  as  steward  to  the 
queen's  brother,  the  governor  of  the  island  of  Moui. 
The  intelligence  and  amiable  manners  of  Auna  and 
his  wife,  togetiier  with  their  truly  Christian  deport- 
ment, soon  gained  them  the  esteem  of  their  host  and 
hostess,  who  became  remarkably  inquisitive  about  the 
change  that  had  taken  place  in  the  Gfiorgian  and 
Society  islands,  and  the  present  state  of  things  there. 
Every  necessary  information  was  cheerfully  given,  and 
every  inquiry  fully  answered  by  Auna  and  his  com- 
panions, to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  the  chiefs  and 
people  ;  contradicting  entirely  the  false  reports  that 
had  been  maliciously  propagated  among  them,  as  to 
the  degraded  state  of  the  people  of  the  Society  islands, 
and  especially  of  the  kings  and  chiefs,  who  were  false- 
ly represented  as  poor  and  miserable.  They  were 
also  frequently  inquired  of  by  Rihoriho,  the  king  of  the 
Sandwich  islands,  respecting  these  things,  dnd  were 
enabled  to  satisfy  his  mind,  and  remove  some  of  his 
prejudices  against  Christianity.  Family  worship  was 
regularly  performed  by  our  friends  everv  mnrnino^  ond 
evening,  ol  which  the  king  and  queen  expressed  their 


approbation,  and  requested  that  it  might  not  be  perform- 
ed before  they  were  awake  in  the  morning,  as  they  were 
anxious  to  unite  in  it.     Auna  and  his  wife  had,  also, 
now  full  employment  in  teaching  the  king  of  Atooi 
his  queen,  and  their  attendants,  to  read  and  write. 

"About  three  weeks  after  our  arrival,  they  prepared 
to  visit  Moui  and  the  large  island  of  Owhyhee.     They 
then  requested  that  Auna  and  his  wife  would  continue 
here,  and  accompany  them,  to  instinct  them  in  the 
word  of  God.      They   also   expressed   their  wishes 
that   I  would   remain  with  them,  and  send  for  my 
family;    or   go   back  to  Huahine,  and     return  here 
with  them,  to  teach  them   the   good   way   to  heav- 
en.     From   the   first  day  we   had    landed,  we   had 
often  been   requested,   by   some  of  the   chiefs   and 
people,   to    come    among    them;     but,    considering 
the     field    occupied    by    our    American     brethren, 
we  had  made  no  answer  to  their  applications :  how- 
ever, we  now  felt  that  we  must  give  them  some  de- 
cisive  answer.      We  consulted  with  our  missionary 
brethren  here,  and  requested  their  opinion  as  to  the 
expediency  and  desirableness  of  the  Tahitians'  remain- 
ing, and  my  returning  to  engage  in  missionary  labor  in 
the  Sandwich  islands.     They  unanimously  declared, 
that  it  would  most  likely  be  for  the  advantage  of  the 
great  cause  in  which  we  were  all  engaged,  that  our 
friends    should   remain;   and    expressed    themselves 
pleased  with  the  prospect  of  my  becoming  a  laborer 
in  these  inviting  fields.     Messrs.  Tyerman  and  Rennet 
were  also  of  opinion  that  I  could  be  spared  from  the 
Society  islands,  and  that  there  was  much  greater  need 
of  more  laborers  here  than  among  those  islands,  which 
were  so  well  supplied  with  Christian  teachers.     We 
therefore  requested  Auna  to  tell  Kaahumanu  and  her 
consort,  that  we  were  anxious  they  should  be  instruct- 
ed in  the  doctrines  and  precepts  of  the  new  religion, 
as  they  call  Christianity ;  and  that  it  was  perfectly 
agreeable  to  us  that  he  should  remain  with  them ;  and 
that  I  would  return  with  my  wife  and  family,  and,  with 
the  servants  of  Jesus  Christ  already  here,  engage  in 
teaching  them  and  their  people  the  good  things  in 
which  we  had  already  instructed  the  natives  of  the 
Society  islands. 

"  In  the  evening  of  the  same  day,  we  waited  upon 
them,  when  they  expressed  their  pleasure  at  our 
friends'  remaining  with  them,  instead  of  proceeding  to 
the  Marquesas  ;  and  also  the  satisfaction  they  felt  at 
my  intending  to  return  and  settle  among  them.  The 
next  morning,  Auna  and  his  wife,  with  many  tears,  took 
an  affectionate  leave  of  us,  to  accompany  the  king  of 
Atooi  and  his  queen  to  Moui  and  Owhyhee :  we  fol- 
lowed them  with  our  prayers,  that  the  leaven  of  the 
gnspsi!  which  they  earrj-  may  soon  spread  among  liitj 
unleavened  mass  around  them.     A  few  days  after- 


SANDWICH  ISLANDS. 


wards,  Rihoriho,  the  king,  expressed  to  Mr.  Bingham 
and  myself  his  decided  approbation  of  my  coming  here, 
as  did  also  his  queen  and  most  of  the  chiefs,  together 
with  the  prime  minister,  Karanimoku. 

"  The  analogy  between  the  language  of  these  islands 
and  that  of  Otaheite  is  very  great,  as  they  are  evidently 
only  different  dialects  of  the  same  tongue.  I  hope  soon 
to  be  able  to  preach  in  it  with  perspicuity ;  and  to  set 
before  the  people,  in  a  plain  and  intelligible  manner, 
the  unseaichable  riches  of  Chri-  ;  the  will  of  God  for 
their  salvation.     I  have  preached  regularly  twice  a 
week,  ever  since  our  arrival,  to  our  friends  from  the 
Society  islands :  many  of  the  natives  of  these  islands 
have  attended,  and  generally  understand  the  greater 
part  of  the  discourse.     I  hcve  also  been  daily  engaged 
in  the  acquirement  of  the  language,  and  find  my  ac- 
quaintance with  the  Tahitian  affords  me  great  assist- 
ance, and  accelerates  my  progress.  The  king  proposes 
to  be  our  instructer,  and  requests  us  not  to  apply  to 
the  common  people,  as  they  will  teach  us  to  speak 
incorrectly.     He  is,  perhaps,  the  best  acquainted  with 
the  language  of  any  individual   in   the  islands,  and 
would  make  the  best  instructer ;  but  his  time  and  at- 
tention are  seldom  unoccupied  by  other  affairs.     How- 
ever, we  are  happy  to  receive  instruction  from  him, 
whenever  we  can   find  him  disengaged,  and  feel  very 
thankful  that  he  is  so  much  disposed  to  assist  us.     I 
trust  the  time  is  not  very  far  distant  when  the  knowl- 
edge he  possesses  of  his  own  language  will  be  employ- 
ed in  assisting  the  translation  of  the  Scriptures  into  it, 
as  Pomare's  was  in  aiding  the  translations  into  that  of 
Otaheite." 
The  deputation,  in  writing  from  Woahoo  (one  of  the 

Sandwich  islands),  on  the  10th  of  August,  observe : 

"  Mr,  Ellis  has  composed  four  hymns,  in  the 
Owhyeean  language,  which  are  sung  in  the  chapel. 
You  will  hardly  be  able  to  conceive  the  delight  we 
had  in  hearing  these  people,  for  the  Jirtt  time,  uniting 
to  sing  the  praises  of  Jehovah  in  their  own  tongue  ! 
A  scene  of  great  usefulness  appears  to  be  opening 
hero.  One,  indeed,  of  greater  interest  and  importance, 
than  that  which  is  presented  by  the  Sandwich  islands, 
could  scarcely  be  found.  A  group  of  twelve  or  thir- 
teen fine  fertile  islands,  in  one  of  the  most  delightful 
climates,  perhaps,  any  where  to  be  met  with,  rising 
rapidly  into  consequence  as  places  at  which  vessels 
may  refresh,  passing  from  the  western  side  of  the  new 
world  to  the  eastern  parts  of  the  old  world,  and  as  the 
port  for  repairs  and  refreshments  to  great  numbers  of 
Pacific  ocean  whalers,  having  also  a  population  of 
above  two  hundred  thousand  inhabitants,  must  have 
great  importance  as  a  missionary  field.  We  made  a 
tour  round  tlie  greater  part  of  this  beautiful  island,  ac- 
companied by  our  missionary  friend,  Mr,  Bingham, 


391 


and  a  messenger  from  the  king ;  and  were  every 
where  received  with  the  greatest  kindness,  both  by 
chiefs  and  people.  While  we  deeply  mourned  over  the 
deplorable  state  of  ignorance,  vice  and  wretchedness 
m  which  we  found  the  people  of  all  ranks,  we  could  not 
but  rejoice  at  the  readiness  we  every  where  found  to 
listen  to  the  gospel,  which  was  addressed  to  various 
assemblies ;  sometimes  within  a    house,  sometimes 
under  a  tree,  or  in  the  shade  of  a  rock.     We  did  not 
find  any  natives  who  had  the  least  notion  who  it  was 
that  made  the  sea,  the  sky,  or  themselves  ;  but  they 
all  said  it  was  good  to  learn  these  things,  and  to  wor- 
ship  Jehovah ;  and  that  as  soon  as  the  king  told  them 
to  do  so,  they  would  all  come  to  learn.     At  one  place 
we  were  kindly  received  and   hospitably  entertained 
by  an  intelligent  chief,  who  was  one  of  the  principal 
pne,t>  of  the  abolished  system.     He  made  many  in- 
quiries  about  the  nature  of  this  new  religion,  and  pro- 
posed some  difficulties  for  solution.      Among  other 
questions,  he  asked,  whether  Jehovah  could  under- 
stand, if  they  prayed  to  him  in  Owhyeean,  or  whether 
they  must  all  learn  English,      When  he  had  received 
answers  which  appeared  to  satisfy  him,  he  said  it  was 
good,  and  he  was  ready  to  receive  instruction  and  to 
worship  Jehovah,  as  soon  as  Rihoriho  should  order  it. 
All  seems  to  hang  on  the  word  of  the  king.     The 
government  of  these  islands  is  an  absolute  monarchy  • 
there  is  no  law  but  the  king's  will.     The  king  (Riho^ 
riho)  says  to  the  missionaries  and  to  us,  that  by-and- 
by  he  will  tell  his  people  that  they  must  all  learn  the 
good  word,  and  worship  Jehovah  ;  but  that  the  mis- 
sionaries must  teach  him  first,  and  get  well  acquainted 
with  the  Owhyeean  language.     But,  alas,  the  king  is 
slow  to  learn  !     Nevertheless,  these  difficulties,  and 
all  others,  we  trust,  will  be  overruled,  and  in  due  time 
removed,  that  the   glorious   gospel   may  have   free 
course  to  promote  the  happiness  of  man,  and  the  glory 

Scarcely  had  this  communication  been  forwarded  to 
the  directors,  wh(  n  other  letters  were  sent  off,  con- 
taining the  following  animating  intelligence : 

"  The  king's  decision  is  made  in  favor  of  the  gos- 
pel ;  and  t.vo  days  ago  the  chapel  overflowed  with  all 
the  royalty  and  dignity  which  these  islands  afford. 
The  names  of  twelve  natives  have  also  been  given  in, 
who  appear  to  be  sincerely  attached  to  the  word  of 
God ;  so  that  ere  long  we  hope  that  the  administration 
of  Christian  baptism  to  the  natives  will  commence  by 
the  missionaries. 

"  Within  the  last  week,  an  astonishing  ardor  has  be- 
gun to  manifest  itself,  and  is  now  spreading  among  the 
chiefs  in  al)  directions,  and  scores  ssro  applying  daily 
for  books,  and  we  are  fully  employed,  from  morning 
until  night,  in  teaching  the  people.    Some  go  to  th« 


aw 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


king  and  his  family,  and  others  to  the  houses  of  the  chiefs. 
They  are  making  tlie  most  pleasing  progress.  It  is,  in- 
deed, life  from  the  dead.  Our  coming  liere  appears  to  be 
singularly  of  God  ;  and  probably  in  no  part  of  our 
journey  shall  we  be  more  useful  than  in  this,  though 
it  was  completely  out  of  the  range  of  our  calcula- 
tions." 

On  the  2t2d  of  August,  the  deputation,  accompa- 
nied by  Mr.  Ellis,  left  Woahoo  on  their  return  to 
Huahine  ;  and  towards  the  end  of  October,  a  general 
meeting  of  the  missionaries  of  the  Leeward  islands 
was  held  at  Raiatea  ;  when,  after  mature  deliberation, 
it  was  deemed  expedient  that  Mr.  Ellis  should  remove 
with  his  family  to  the  Sandwich  islands,  in  compliance 
with  the  earnest  invit&tion  of  the  king  and  chiefs,  as 
well  as  the  American  brethren  settled  in  that  exten- 
sive field  of  lal)or.  A  native  teaciier,  named  Taua, 
and  his  wife,  were  also  appointed  to  accompany  him  ; 
and  on  the  31st  of  Decutiiber,  the  little  party  set  sail 
for  Woahoo,  where  they  arrived  in  safety  on  the  Bth 
of  February,  1823. 

On  the  31st  of  March,  the  king  Riho-.'ho,  who  had 
now  assumed  the  name  of  Tamehameha  the  Second, 
having  attained  to  some  proficiency  in  the  art  of 
writing,  addressed  a  letter  to  the  directors  of  the  Lon- 
don Missionary  Society,  of  which  the  following  is  a 
correct  translation  : — 

"Woahoo,  March  31, 1893. 

"  Great  affection  to  you  dwelling  together  in 
Britain.  These  are  my  words  to  you,  which  1  now 
make  known. 

"We  have  recently  learned  to  road,  and  have  become 
acquainted  with  it.  We  have  respect  unto  God,  and  de- 
sire Jehovah  for  our  God.  Wo  also  regard  Jesus  Christ, 
as  a  Saviour  for  us,  that  our  hearts  may  be  like  yours. 

"  Ours  is  a  land  of  dark  hearts.  Had  you  not  com- 
passionated us,  even  now  wo  should  bo  quite  dark. 
But  you  have  compassionated  us,  and  wo  arc  enlight- 
ened. We  are  praying  unto  God,  and  arc  listening  to 
the  word  of  our  salvation.  Wo  also  keep  the  sacred 
day  of  Jehovah,  the  sabbath,  which  is  one  good  thing 
that  we  liavo  obtained  ;  one  good  thing  that  we  have 
lately  known  to  be  a  temporal  good.  Mr.  KIlis 
IS  come  to  this  place  ;  we  desired  his  coniiii^,  and  wc 
rejjice.     He  is  teaching  us  that  wo  may  all  be  saved. 

"  Write  ye  unto  me,  tiiat  1  may  know  what  yon 
write,  l-ray  ye  also  to  God  for  m,  that  ho  would 
give  salvation  for  us,  that  our  bodies  (actions,  walk, 
conversation,  &t.r.)  may  be  made  good,  thut  our  souls 
may  he  saved  by  Jesus  Christ. 

"  Great  affection  for  you  all, 

(Signed)  "  Tamrhamrha, 

"  King  of  the  iiandKicli  Islands. 
*  TV  |A«  CoMfMNy  nf  Oirttlori  qftkt  Mimiomrf  -lornt^.' 


In  the  autumn  of  1823,  Tamehamena  resolved  to 
pay  a  visit  to  his  Britannic  majesty,  in  order,  as  Mr 
Ellis  expresses  it,"  that  he  might  obtain  some  friendly 
counseland  advice,  in  respect  to  the  government  of  those 
far  distant  isles ;  and  that  he  and  his  favorite  asso- 
ciates, who  designed  to  accompany  him,  might  in- 
crease their  acquaintance  with  the  world,  enlarge  their 
views  of  human  society,  and  have  an  opportunity  of 
observing  the  laws,  customs,  institutions,  religion  and 
character  of  the  nation,  beneath  whose  guardian 
friendship  and  protection  they  and  their  countrymen 
had  with  confidence  placed  themselves."  This  design 
was  by  no  means  agreeable  to  the  king's  subjects ; 
many  of  whom  exhausted  all  their  powers  of  persua- 
sion in  order  to  induce  iiim  to  relinquish  his  intended 
voyage.  His  mind,  however,  was  fully  made  up  on 
the  subject ;  and  on  the  27th  of  November,  he  era- 
barked  in  a  vessel  called  L'Aiglo  for  London ;  being 
accompanied  by  his  queen,  Kamehamare ;  a  chief 
nomed  Rnki,  with  his  wife  Ririiia  ;  captains  Jack  and 
Mnnuia,  two  native  commanders  of  native  vessels,  capa- 
ble of  speaking  a  little  English ;  Kuanaoo,  the  king's 
weigher  of  sandal-wood ;  and  a  person  named  Young, 
who  was  capable  of  conversing  in  English.  As  the 
king  cntcrud  the  boat,  his  subjects  thronged  the  beach, 
and  their  loud  weeping  mingled  with  the  roaring  of 
the  cannon  at  his  departure.  His  principal  chiefs  ac- 
companied him  on  board,  and  took  a  respectful  and 
affectionate  leave  of  him  and  his  attendants. 

On  the  arrival  of  these  interesting  personages  In 
I..ondon,  they  took  up  their  residence  in  a  hotel  in 
the  Adelphi,  where  every  suitable  attention  was  paid 
to  them,  by  order  of  his  majesty.  Previous  to  their 
introduction  to  the  king,  however,  both  Tamehameha 
and  his  consort  were  seized  with  the  measles,  and  in 
a  few  days  were  in  an  alarming  state  of  inflammation. 
Every  possible  aid  was  afforded  by  several  eminent 
physicians,  but  all  proved  ineffectual,  and  the  royal 
visitors  sunk  under  the  pressure  of  disease  ;  tl)o  queen 
dying  on  liie  Htli  of  July,  1824,  and  the  king  on  the 
Mth,  five  days  only  intervening  between  the  time  of 
their  decease.  Their  remains,  after  lying  in  state, 
were  deposited  in  the  vault  of  St.  Martin's  church,  in 
the  Siran<l,  wiience  they  wore  subsequently  convey- 
ed, by  the  Illondc  frigate,  to  the  country  which  gave 
them  birth. 

Previous  to  the  departure  nf  the  royal  suite  from 
liondon,  a  deputation  from  the  directors  of  the  I*on- 
don  Missionary  Society  wailed  upon  them,  and  were 
kindly  received.  They  staled  as  well  as  they  were 
able  (there  being  no  competent  .iileipreter  present), 
the  iiiteniion  of  the  Society  to  have  tiianked  the  kiiiic  and 
his  chiefs  for  the  kindness  they  had  shown  to  Mr,  Ellis 
and  the  American  brethren  ;  for  the  attention  they  had 


SANDWICH  ISLANDS. 


paid  to  religious  instruction,  the  abolition  of  idolatry, 
and  tho  observance  of  the  Lord's  day  ;  and  for  the 
general  favor  shown  to  Christianity.     The  deputation 
also  wished  to  condole  with  the  survivors  on  the  great 
loss  they  had  sustained,  and  the  grievous  disappoint- 
ment which  the  inhabitants  of  the  Sandwich  islands 
must  feel,  when  a  ship  should  appear  on  their  coast, 
without  the  personages  they  so  earnestly  longed  to 
see  ;— and  whilst  they  pointed  out  the  duty  of  submit- 
Ung  to  the  will  of  the  Almighty  without  murmurinK, 
they  expressed  a  hope  that  the  king's  successor  and 
the  chiefs  would  continue  to  manifest  the  same  atten- 
tion to  ilie  missionaries,  and  an  increasing  regard  to 
the  religion  of  Christ. 

Soon  after  Tainelmmeha  left  Woalioo  for  England 
his  people  nianifcstod  a  great  desire  for  instruction, 
which  IS  supposed  to  be  partly  attributable  to  the  injunc- 
tions be  left  behind  him,  and  to  the  powerful  influence 
of  Karaimoku,  the  prime  minister,  on  whom  had  de- 
volved the  charge  of  the  government.     The  demand 
for  books  became  greater  than  tho       .sionary  could 
meet,  and  it  is  represented  as  affording  the  brethren 
high  gratification,  in  taking  their  evening  walks,  "  to 
hear  the  hymns  of  the  chapel,  and  the  lessons  of  the 
school  recited  by  the  people,  instead  of  the  monoto- 
nous sounds  of  their  ceaseless  jjura  (or  praise  to  their 
gods  and  departed  heroes),  while  tho  book,  the  slate, 
the  pen,  are  superseding  games  of  chance."      The 
report  of  the  directors  states—"  Karaimoku  powerfully 
seconds  the  efforts  made  by  the  missionaries  to  pro- 
mote  ihe  moral  and  religious  improvement  of  tho  peo- 
ple.    He   has   prohibited   drunkenness,  shut  up   all 
houses  for  retailing  ardent  spirits,  and  lias  enjoined  on 
all  classes  attention  to  tho  means  of  instruction,  and 
an  observance  of  the  sabbath  day." 

In  consequence  of  the  continued  illness  of  Mrs. 
Ellis,  and  the  improbability  of  her  recovery,  if  she 
renmined  in  the  Sandwich  islands,  Mr.  Ellis  determin- 
ed, with  tho  advice  of  Dr.  Hlatchcly  and  the  full  con- 
currcnco  of  the  other  American  brethren,  to  try  the 
effect  of  a  voyage  to  Europe.     Mr.  Ellis  accordingly 
embarked  with   his  family   in   the  Uussel,  American 
whaler,  commanded  by  captain  Coleinan.wlio  generous- 
ly  afforded  him  a  free  passage  to  the  United  States,  on 
the  I8tli  Sept.  ISai.  The  Russol  arrived,  l«»tli  M.irch. 
1825,  at  New  Bedford,  whence  ftl     and   Mrs.  Ellis 
proceeded  to  Boston,  in  which  cil>    .ley  experienced 
the  kindest  reception.    A  severe  attack  v(  illness  with 
which  it  pleased  «oa  to  visit  Mrs.  Ellis,  detain. . I  them 
in  America  four  months,  during  which  period  they  re- 
reived  the  kindest  attentions.     In  reference  to  theso 

manifestaticn.*  nr<<  hnitliiirlu  l:...i„„..  I)  rif-   vm!    .■        I 
, ,  -     ••  - ~.    '■'''.  k.tii-  inus 

a.l.lresses  the  secretary—"  It  is  impossible  for  me  to 

nunm  half  of  tlios,,  who  have  diiiinguished  thems  Ivei 

Vol.  I.  Nos.  .13  ii  34.  5.3 


MB 

by  their  disinterested  kindness.     But  I  cannot  omit  to 
mention  the  officers  and  members  of  the  Americm 
Board  of  Commistioners  for  Foreign  Musiont ;  many 
of  the  ministers  in  Boston  and  the  vicinity ;  Dr.  J.  C 
Warren,  whose  valuable   professional   services  have 
been   constantly  and   gratuitously  rendered;   Henry 
Homes,  Esq.;  John  Tappan,  Esq.;  Mrs.  M'Lean;  J 
W.  Jenkins,  Esq. ;  deacon  M'CIure  ;  and  the  Hon 
Samuel  Hubbard.  In  the  pious  and  amiable  family  of  the 
latter,  we  have  been  domesticated  for  the  last  three 
weeks,  at  his  country  house."  On  the  20th  of  July,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Ellis  embarked  with  their  family  for  England 
m  the  Hudson,  New  York  packet,  captain  Champlin! 
and  arrived  in  London  on  the  18th  of  August.     Soon 
after  his  arrival,  Mr.  Ellis  published  the  Narrative  of  a 
Tour  M  Hawaii,  performed  by  himself  and  the  Rev 
Messrs.  Bishop,  Goodrich  and  Thurston,  American 
missionaries,  in  the  year  1823. 

The  only  representatives  of  the  London  Missionary 
Society  now  employed  in  the  Sandwich  islands  are 
laud,  Toteta,  and  Tule,  excellent  Tahitian  teachers, 
who,  with  their  pious  wives,  are  laboring  for  the  eood 
of  souls. 

In  reference  to  this  mission,  the  directors  say— "It 
affords  them  great  pleasure  to  report  that  the  work  of 
Ood  in  the  Sandwich  islands,  which  is  now  carried  on 
by  our  American  brethren  and  their  native  assistants 
with  whom  three  valuable  brethren  and  three  females' 
from  our  stations  in  the  South  Sea  islands,  are  Indus- 
triously  and   harmoniously  laboring,  is   proceeding  in 
the  most  interesting  and  useful  manner.    The  progress 
of  education,  the  translation  of  the  Bible,  the  inten- 
tion of  the  people  to  religion,  and  the  influence  of  the 
whole  on  their  individual  characters  and  social  habits 
and  comforts,  are  truly  delightful   and  encouraging. 
As  might  be  expected,  Satan  is  endeavoring  to  hinder 
[    this   good   work,  by   raising    up    adversaries,  chiefly 
among  the  Ainericnn  and  European  residents  in  the 
islands.     But,  notwithstanding  this  opposition,  little 
doubt  can  be  entertained  of  the  evangili?,ation  of  these 
interesting  regions,  and  that   the  glorious  work  com- 
menced in  Tahiti  and  Hawaii  will,  in  due  time,  spread 
over  the  iiuinerous  island.s  which  spot   the  bo.som  of 
tho  Facilic  ocean.        While  advertino;   to   the  work 
which  is  going  on  in  the  Sandwich  islands,  the  direc- 
tors cannot  allow  the  opportunity  to  pass,  witliout  re- 
fcrring,  with  high  satisfaction,  to  liiu  style   in  which 
their  transailiintic  brethren  are  now  entering  on  the 
great  work  of  (-hristian  mission.s.     In  a  manner  wor- 
thy  of  the  rising  greatness  of  their  country,  of  tli« 
eneiKy  of  their  luitionni  <liiiiacter,  and  the  purity  of 
ihcii  ..iigious  principles,  liu'v  are  now  coming  forward 
to  the  help  of  tho  Lord  against  the  mighty.     In  tlia 
increase  of  their  resources,  the  multiplication  of  their 


894 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


agents  and  the  ardor  of  their  zeal,  the  directors  of  the 
London  Missionary  Society  most  sincerely  rejoice. 
In  their  exertion  we  see  the  operations  of  the  same 
principles  which  animate  the  Christians  of  our  (and 
what  was  once  their)  native  land.  In  their  mission- 
aries, we  recognize  men  of  the  same  spirit  with  which 
our  beloved  brethren  are  animated  ;  and  in  the  success 
which  has  accompanied  their  enterprise,  we  contem- 
plate the  blessing  of  the  same  covenant  God  who  has 
rewarded  our  feeble  efforts.  Across  the  wide  Atlantic, 
we  give  them  most  cordially  the  right  hand  of  our 
Christian  fellowship,  praying  that  grace,  mercy  and 
peace,  from  their  God  and  ours,  may  be  multiplied 
upon  them." 


TONGATABOO. 


After  landing  the  first  missionaries  in  Otaheite, 
in  1797,  captain  Wilson  sailed  for  the  Friendly  isles, 
for  the  purpose  of  settlinj;  some  other  heralds  of  sal- 
vation on  the  shores  of  Tongntaboo  ;  and  on  the  10th 
of  April,  the  Duff  was  safely  moored  in  the  harbor  of 
that  island.  An  immense  number  of  the  natives  im- 
mediately came  toward  the  ship  m  their  canoes,  and 
endeavored  to  get  on  board ;  but  as  they  were  all 
anned  with  spears  and  clubs,  about  twenty  only  were 
admitted,  the  others  being  kept  off  by  sentries,  judi- 
ciously placed  along  each  side  of  the  deck.  They 
offered  a  variety  of  articles  for  barter  ;  but  their  de- 
mands were  so  exorbitant,  that  little  business  could 
be  done  in  that  way  ;  and  their  language  proved  so 
dissimilar  from  that  of  Otaheite,  that  it  was  scarcely 
[lossible  to  understand  them.  It  soon  appeared,  how- 
ever, that  two  Europeans  were  in  the  island,  who 
were  fully  competent  to  the  task  of  acting  as  interpret- 
ers ;  and  this  consideration  rendered  tlicm  welcome 
visitors  on  board,  though  their  appearance  was  ex- 
tremely forbidding,  and  strongly  indicative  of  consum- 
mate villany. 

These  men,  one  of  whom  was  an  Irishman,  named 
John  Connelly, — the  other,  Henjainin  Ambler,  of  Ijon- 
don, — stated  that  liiey  were  mariners,  who  had  (|uit- 
ted  an  American  vessel,  and  remained  at  Tongntaboo 
til!  they  had  become  perfectly  arcpmintcd  with  (he 
language.  They  also  gave  some  informntinn  relative 
to  the  different  chiefs  on  the  i-sland,  and  represented 
Tibo  Moomoof .  the  i{uf(ona,oT  principal  chief,  as  par- 
ticularly characicrized  by  humanity  to  his  own  subjects, 
and  hospitality  to  strangers. 

('aptain  Wilnon  now  explained  the  object  of  the 
missionaries  in  visiting  this  distant  part  of  the  globe, 
and  inquired  what  treatment  they  might  expect,  in  the 


event  of  their  settling  in  Tongataboo.  Ambler  replied 
that  the  natives  would  receive  them  gladly,  and  show 
them  much  kindness,  though  he  could  not  answer  for 
the  security  of  their  property.  Connelly,  however, 
intimated  that  if  they  encumbered  themselves  with 
iron  tools,  and  attempted  to  oppose  the  depredations 
which  would  be  inevitably  committed  upon  them, 
their  lives  would,  in  all  probability,  be  sacrificed. 
They  then  received  some  presents,  with  which  they 
appeared  much  pleased,  and  quitted  the  vessel,  prom- 
ising to  use  their  influence  with  Moomooc  on  behalf 
of  the  missionaries. 

About  ten  o'clock  the  next  morning,  Ambler  and 
his  companion  returned  to  the  vessel,  bringing  three 
hogs  and  some  yams  from  the  venerable  chief,  whose 
canoe,  soon  afterwards,  came  alongside.  He  was,  at 
first,  unwilling  to  ascend  the  ladder,  fearing  that  his 
strength  would  prove  incompetent  to  the  task.  His 
desire  of  going  on  board,  however,  finally  triumphed 
over  his  fears,  and  after  repeatedly  resting  himself,  he 
was  conducted  into  the  cabin,  and  placed  in  a  chair 
which  he  greatly  admired,  whilst  his  attendants 
squatted  themselves  on  the  floor  around  him.  He 
surveyed  the  cabin  and  its  furniture  with  minute 
attention,  expressing  his  admiration  of  all  he  saw, 
and  occasionally  proposing  a  number  of  pertinent 
questions ;  and  when  he  was  informed  that  the 
persons  who  were  desirous  of  settling  at  Tongat- 
aboo could  instruct  the  natives  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  such  articles  as  had  particularly  attracted 
his  notice,  he  appeared  completely  transported  with 
joy.  The  captain  embraced  this  opportunity  of  men- 
tioning every  circumstance  which  seemed  likely  to 
raise  in  his  mind  an  elevated  idea  of  the  missionaries  ; 
and  Moomooc  immediately  offerc<I  them  a  large  house 
near  his  own,  in  which  they  would  enjoy  the  full  ben- 
efit of  his  protection.  As  it  was  evident,  however, 
from  his  declining  years  and  numerous  infirmities,  that 
he  was  already  hastening  to  that  "  bourne  whence  no 
traveller  returns,"  it  was  aficrwarda  agreed  that  they 
shotdd  all  reside  with  Toogahowe,  who  was  ropresont- 
cd,  by  Ambler,  as  the  greatest  warrior  in  the  island 
and  likely  to  be  the  successor  of  the  aged  dugona. 

This  business  being  finally  arranged,  a  canoe  was 
sent,  on  the  I8th  of  April,  for  the  missionaries  and 
their  chests;  and  Messrs.  Howell,  Huchanan,  Caullon, 
Harper,  Shelly,  Vceson  and  Wilkinson  immediately  pro- 
ceeded with  Ambler  and  a  petty  chief,  named  Comma- 
bye,  to  Aheefo,  where  a  house  had  been  prepared  for 
their  reception.  Messrs.  Cooper,  Kelso  and  Nobs  re- 
mained on  Itoard,  to  prepare  the  rest  of  the  things. 

The  next  illernoon.  about  three  o'clock,  three  of 
the  missionaries  returned,  and  reported  that  the  dis- 
tance to  Aheafo  wai  greater  than  they  had  anticiMt«d| 


TONGATABOO. 


and  that  the  landing  with  goods  was  extremely  diflS- 
cult,  It  being  necessary  to  wade  up  to  the  knees  over 
a  flat  which  extends  about  half  a  mile  from  the  beach 
into  the  sea.  They  also  stated,  that,  after  surmount- 
ing this  obstacle,  they  had  to  proceed  a  mile  farther 
before  they  reached  their  habitation  ;  so  that,  notwith- 
standing the  assistance  of  the  natives,  it  was  near  one 
o  clock  in  the  morning  before  the  whole  of  their  prop- 
erty was  securely  housed,  and  they  were  left  to  them- 
selves. They  added,  however,  that,  after  committing 
themselves  to  the  watchful  providence  of  God  they 
enjoyed  a  sound  and  uninterrupted  repose,  and,  in  the 
morning,  were  supplied  with  a  breakfast  by  the  prompt 
and  hospitable  attention  of  the  natives. 

The  three  remaining  missionaries  having  joined  their 
companions,  and  the  Duff  having  sailed  from  Tongata- 
boo,  a  temporary  sensation  of  melancholy  filled  the 
breasts  of  those  who  had  bidden  a  long  adieu  to  their 
native  land,  their  beloved  friends,  and  all  the  comforts 
of  civilized  life  ;  but  on  reminding  each  other  of  the 
blessed  cause  in  which  they  had  engaged,  and  the 
triumphs  which,  through  their  humble  instrumentality 
might  be  achieved  by  the  gospel  of  Christ  among  the 
perisl-.ng  heathen,  their  minds  were  completely  tran- 
quillized, and  they  were  enabled  to  look  around  with 
composure  and  resignation  on  the  scene  which  they 
were  henceforth  to  consider  as  their  country,  and  the 
place  where,  after  death,  their  bodies  must  moulder 
.nto  dust.     The  kind  attentions  of  the  natives  also 
tended  to  reconcile  them  to  their  new  situation ;  as 
these  visited  them  in  great  numbers,  and  invariably 
brought  presents  of  cloth,  pigs,  cocoa-nuts,  or  plan- 
tains.     Such  articles  as  the  missionaries  could  conve- 
niently spare  were,  of  course,  presented  in  return,  and 
all  occasions  were  embraced  for  the  gratification  of 
their  curiosity.     This  was  wonderfully  excited,  one 
day,  by  the  striking  of  a  cuckoo  clock,  which  the 
brethren  had  just  fixed  up,  and  put  in  motion.     The 
natives,   after   regarding  it    for  some    time  with   si- 
lent  astonishment,   concluded    that   it   was  a  spirit 
and    circulated    the    report    among    their    country' 
men,  that  the  missionaries  were   in  possession  of  a 
htril  ,p,rU,  which  would  infallibly  discover  any  dep- 
redation that  might  be  committed  upon  their  proper- 
ty.    It  unfortunately  happened,  however,  after  some 
time,   thnt   a   chief,   named    Duatongo,  having   been 
presented  will,  a   clock  of  a  similar  description,  was 
prompted  by  curiosity  to  take  it  to  piece.,  nnd   on 
hnding  it  impossible  to  put  it  together  again,  ho  sent 
for  the  brethren  to  mend  it  ;  but  as  nil  their  attempts 
proved  unavailing,  they  were  considerably  lessened  in 
•he  opinion  of  the  natives,  who  had   nrpvin-.::!-  Ur,- 
agined  thnt  nothing  could  exceed  the  bounds  oniicir 
capability. 


The  aged  dugona  Moomooc  was,  at  this  time,  ex- 
tremely  111  and  apparently  near  death;  and  on  the 
mornmg  of  the  28th,  the  missionaries  received  a  most 
affecting  account  of  the  fate  of  one  of  his  sons  named 
Colelallo.     The  unfortunate  youth,  who  resided  at 
some  distance,  was  sent  for,  by  the  order  of  his  father, 
under  pretence  of  having  his  little  fingers  cut  off  (a 
practice  usual  in  Tongataboo,  with  a  view  to  appease 
the  anger  of  the  odooa,  or  spirit,  that  the  sick  person 
may  recover),  but,  in  fact,  that  he  might  be  strangled. 
The  summons  was  obeyed  by  Colelallo  without  hesi- 
tation  ;  and,  on  his  arrival,  he  was  saluted  in  the  most 
cordial  manner  by  his  elder  brother,  Toogahowe     On 
proceeding,  however,  to  visit  his  dying  parent,  he  was 
seized  by  the  attendants,  who  immediately  prepared 
to  strangle  him.     The  fatal  truth  now  flashed  on  his 
mind,  and  he  assured  them  that  he  would  submit  to  his 
father  s  will,  if  they  would  use  gentler  means ;  but  as 
they  continued   their   violence,   he   exerted   all   his 
strength  in  resisting,  and  at  length  succeeded  in  beat- 
mg  them  off     The  respite  thus  obtained,  however, 
was  of  short  duration.     Three  natives  of  the  Feiee 
islands  were  called  in;  and  these,  being  joined  by  a 
ststerof  the  devoted  victim,  soon  put  a  period  to  his 
mortal  existence. 

To  account  for  this  cruel  and  unnatural  murder  it 
may  be  necessary  to  state,  that  in  such  cases,  it  is  be- 
lieved the  strength  of  the  person  strangled  will  be 
transferred  info  the  invalid  on  whose  behalf  the  sacri- 
fico   IS  made,   and  that  the  recovery  of    the   latter 
will  consequently  ensue.     The  preposterous  fallacy 
of  this  idea,  however,  was  sufficiently  manifested  with 
respect  to  Moomooc,  who,  notwithstanding  the  immo- 
lation of  his  unor-nding  offspring,  continued  to  sink 
mto  a  state  of  complete  exhaustion  till  the  morninR 
of  the  29th,  when  he  breathed  his  last.     In  the  after- 
noon of  the  some  day,  the  corpse  was  carried  past  it>- 
mission  house,  on  a  kind  of  bier,  constructed  of  the 
boughs  of  trees,  and  supported  by  about  twenty  men 
Several  relatives  of  the  deceased  picceded  the  body 
m  their  mourning  dresses,  consisting  o.    natting  wrap- 
ped round  them  instead  of  cloth,  and  a  twig  of  the 
chcstnui-tree  about  their  necks.     Some  of  them  had 
cut  their  he.ul>-  -vitli  sharks'  teeth,  and  the  blood  was 
runiimg  m  streams  down    their  faces.     IJdiiiid    the 
corpse  was  n  multitude  of  people  of  both  sexes ;  and 
in  the  procession  were  two  wives  of  the  deceased,  who 
wore  devoltKl  to  he  strangled  at  the  funeral ;  one  of 
ihcse  was  bathed  in  tears,  but  the  other  appeared  little 
concerned. 

The  interment  having  l.con  fixed  for  the  2d  of  May. 
Sfniir  of  iho  iiiiwioimiius  went  to  see  tiio  ceremony j 
nnd  found  about  four  thousand  porsoiii  sitting  round 
liic  pliHo  of  scpuliiue.       A  few  minutes   after    their 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


•mval,  they  heard  a  great  shouting  and  blowing  of 
oonch  shells  at  a  short  distance ;  and  soon  al\erwards, 
about  a  hundred  men,  armed  with  clubs  and  spears, 
rushed  into  the  area,  and  hi-i>;an  to  cut  and  mangle 
themselves  in  a  most  dreadful  manner.  Many  of  them 
struck  their  heads  so  violently  with  their  clubs,  that 
the  blows  might  be  heard  twenty  or  thh-ty  yards  dis- 
tant, and  these  were  repeated  till  the  blood  ran  donTi  in 
streams.  Others,  wlio  had  spears,  thrust  them  through 
their  thighs,  arms  and  cheeks,  calling,  at  the  same  time, 
on  the  deceased,  in  a  most  affecting  manner;  and  a 
native  of  Fejee,  who  had  been  in  the  service  of 
the  late  dugona,  having  previously  oiled  his  hair,  set 
it  on  fire,  and  ran  about  with  it,  ail  in  flames.  When 
this  frantic  creature  and  his  companions  retired,  a 
second  party  went  through  the  ."tame  cruelties ;  and 
after  them,  a  third  entered,  shouting  vociferously  and 
blowing  their  conch  shells.  Four  of  those  in  the  van 
held  stones,  which  they  u«ed  for  the  purpose  of  knock- 
ing out  their  teeth ;  and  those  who  blew  the  shells 
occasionally  wounded  their  heads  with  them  m  a  shock- 
ing manner.  One  man,  who  had  a  spear,  thrust  it 
through  his  arm  just  above  the  elbow,  and  ran  about 
the  area  with  the  weajion  sticking  in  his  flesh.  And 
another,  who  appeared  lo  be  one  of  the  piincipal 
chiefs,  acted  as  if  completely  under  the  influence  of 
madness,  running  wildly  to  every  comer  of  the  area, 
and  beating  his  head  with  a  club  till  the  blood  flowed 
down  his  shoulders. 

The  missionaries  now  retired  for  about  two  hours ; 
but  on  returning,  they  found  the  natives  of  bdih  sexes 
still  busily  employed  in  cutting  and  mangling  tlicm- 
selves.  "We  had  not  been  long  there,"  say  they, 
"before  we  hcinl,  at  a  distance,  low  but  expressive 
sounds  of  she  deepest  sorrow  and  lamentation.  These 
proceeded  from  a  party  of  nlwut  a  hundntd  and  forty 
women,  marching  in  single  file,  and  each  hearing  a 
basket  of  sand.  Kighty  men  followed  in  the  same 
manner,  each  carrying  two  baskets  of  coral  sand,  and 
singing  as  they  marched,  '  This  is  a  blessing  to  the 
dead,'  to  which  the  females  answered  in  responses. 
Another  company  of  women  then  came  forward  with 
a  large  quantity  of  cloth,  with  which  they  covered  iho 
entire  space  lieiween  the  corpse  and  flic  grave  ;  whilst 
sev(>n  men  blew  conch  shells,  and  others  sang  in  a 
doleful  strain,  exjiressive  of  the  most  heartfelt  grief. 
The  corpse  was  now  conveyed  lo  \\u\  grave  u|)on  a 
large  hale  of  black  cloth,  the  bearers  stooping  low. 
and  supi»orting  the  bale  in  their  hands.  A  fde  of  nine- 
teen females  folloued,  cacli  currying  a  bag  of  valuable 
articles ;  twenty  more  brought  fine  nioti  in  their  hands, 
which  they  deposited  in  iho  lonih  as  '  an  offurine  >q  th« 
dead  ;'  and  immediately  after  came  a  present  from 
Toogahowe,cunsistmgofthirly-fivo  bales  of  silk,  each 


bale  carried  by  four  men  on  a  frame.  Another  party 
of  mourners  now  entered  the  area,  sixteen  of  whom 
had  recently  cut  off  their  little  fingers ;  and  these  were 
followed  by  another  party,  with  clubs  and  spears,  who 
beat  themselves  severely,  and  disfigured  their  faces 
with  the  husks  of  cocoa-nuts,  fixed  on  the  knuckles  of 
each  hand.  We  noticed  that  those  who  had  held  offices 
under  the  deceased,  or  were  related  to  him,  were  the 
most  cniel  to  themselves.  Some  of  these  thrust  two, 
three,  and  even  four  spears  into  their  arms,  and  in  that 
state  danced  round  the  area,  and  some  broke  the  ends 
of  the  spears  in  their  flesh.  The  grave  was  covered 
with  a  hewn  stone,  about  eight  feet  long,  four  feet' 
broad,  and  twelve  inches  thick.  This  stone  was  sus- 
pended by  two  large  ropes,  which  went  round  two 
strong  piles  driven  into  the  ground  ;  and  whilst  it  was 
slowly  lowered  by  about  two  hundred  men,  the  women 
and  children  wept  aloud,  or  chanted,  in  a  mournful 
tone,  '  My  father,  my  father !  The  best  of  chiefs !' 
More  cloth  was  then  brought, to  be  put  into  the  tomb; 
and  another  party  entered,  exercising  the  same  cru- 
elties on  themselves  as  have  been  already  related. 
After  these  paroxysms  of  grief,  they  sat  some  time  in 
silence  ;  and  when  they  had  pulled  the  rope  clear  off 
the  stone  which  covered  the  grave,  some  of  the  people 
uttered  a  loud  shout,  which  was  immediately  followed 
by  a  general  tearing  of  the  leaves  from  the  necks  of 
all  present  ;  after  which  they  dispersed." 

By  the  natives  the  missionaries  continued,  generally 
speaking,  to  be  treated  with  the  greatest  kindness  and 
hospitality ;  but  their  own  countrymen,  Ambler  and 
Connelly,  together  with  a  fellow  named  Morgan,  who 
had,  for  some  time,  resided  on  an  adjacent  island, 
occasioned  them  much  trouble  and  vexation.  The 
consistent  and  decorous  conduct  of  the  brethren,  so 
completely  opposite  to  their  habits  of  prolligacy,  in- 
s])ired  them  with  feelings  of  enmity,  and  the  various 
articles  which  they  possessed  influmed  their  cupidity 
to  the  highest  pitch.  By  repeated  apjilications,  they 
had  already  obtained  property,  in  various  articles,  to 
a  considerable  amount ;  but,  at  length,  they  became 
so  intrusive  and  unreasonable,  that  the  patience  of  the 
missionaries  was  exhausted,  and  they  resolved  to  with- 
stand the  further  solicitations  of  men  on  whom  they 
had  bestowed  so  much  to  little  purpose.  The  ruf- 
fians had  now  recourse  lo  peremptory  demands  and 
audacious  meitacos.  One  day,  indeed,  Ambler  had 
the  assurance  to  order  the  brethren  to  quit  the  house 
which  they  inhabited,  and  to  sow  no  more  seed*  in 
the  garden  ;  and  on  another  occasion,  he  and  Morgan 
abused  them  in  the  most  scurrilous  manner,  and  both 


itU'Lorl  nnfl  BfnM>lr 


„f  tU^ 


n„:„_ ...... 


powered  by  numbers,  however,  they  were  thrust  out 
of  the  house,  before  they  had  committed  toy  serious 


TONGATABOO. 


9SV 


injury ;  but,  as  they  went  off,  they  were  hetrd  to  utter 
the  moat  dreadful  imprecations,  and  to  swear  that 
the  whole  of  the  roissionaries  should  be  sacrificed  to 
their  vengeance  before  the  ensuing  morning. 

Apprehensive  of  the  mischief  which  might,  in  some 
way,  result  from  the  machinations  of  these  abandoned 
fellows,  and  alarmed  by  a  report  which  they  had  pre- 
viously heard,  relative  to  an  intended  attack  upon  their 
house  and  property,  the  missionaries  now  deemed  it 
expedient  to  separate,  and  to  place  themselves 
under  the  protection  of  different  chiefs.  Accordingly, 
three  of  them,  Messrs.  Kelso,  Shelley  and  Wilkinson, 
remained  at  Aheefo  with  their  patron,  Toogahowe, 
who  had  now  succeeded  his  father  as  dugona  of  the 
island  ; — Bowell  and  Harper  went  to  Ardeo,  to  reside 
with  Vaarje  ; — Buchanan  and  Gaulton  to  Mooa,  to 
live  with  Duatonga  ;— Cooper  took  up  his  abode  with 
Mooree,  at  Ahogee ; — and  Veeson  with  Mulicemar  at 
Mooa. 

On  the  18th  of  August,  captain  Wilson  paid  a  sec- 
ond visit  to  Tongataboo;  and,  on  hearing  of  the  con- 
duct of  Ambler  and  his  profligate  companions,  he  re- 
solved, if  it  were  practicable,  to  carry  them  off  the 
island,  in  order  to  secure  the  missionaries  from  any 
further  uneasiness  on  their  account.  Connelly  he 
secured,  but  Ambler  and  Morgan,  having  obtained 
some  intimation  of  his  design,  contrived  to  elude  his 
utmost  vigilance.  One  day  a  party  of  men  from  the 
ship  proceeded,  in  company  with  Veeson,  to  the  sup- 
posed place  of  their  retreat.  Their  search,  however, 
proved  entirely  fruitless,  and  before  they  could  return 
to  the  ship,  the  shades  of  night  began  to  close  around 
them.  On  entering  a  narrow  lane,  Veeson  advanced 
some  distance  before  the  rest  of  tiie  party,  and  on 
meeting  some  of  the  natives,  he  inquired  whether 
they  had  seen  Ambler;  instead  of  returning  any 
answer,  they  immediately  seized  him  by  the  arms, 
dragged  him  forcibly  along  the  lane,  and  threw  him 
on  his  bark.  Two  or  three  of  them  then  held  him 
firmly  down,  whilst  another  raised  his  club,  with  the 
evident  design  of  splitting  his  skull.  At  this  critk^al 
juncture,  however,  the  moon,  emerging  from  a  dark 
cloud,  shone  powerfully  on  the  features  of  the  intend- 
ed victim,  and  induced  the  ruflians  to  abandon  their 
murderous  design,  from  a  dread  of  the  vengeance  of 
Mulicemar,  wich  whom  the  missionary  was  a  particular 
favorite.  At  the  same  time,  the  men  from  the  vessel 
fame  up,  and  firetl  on  Vooson's  assailants,  but  they  all 
effected  their  osrapo  without  sustaining  any  injury. 

On  the  departure  of  captain  Wilson,  the  missiona- 
ries were  doomed  to  experience  a  now  and  severe  trial, 
in  i'eSpBct  to  (he  ronducc  of  uiie  win),  from  iiie  mutual 
affection  and  identity  of  interests  so  long  apparently 
prevailing  between  them,  should  have  been    pecu- 


liarly careful  of  wounding  their  hearts,  at  a  time 
when  they  stood  in  need  of  every  possible  support 
and  consolation.  Shortly  after  Veeson's  departure 
from  Aheefo,  it  was  asserted  by  some  of  the  Tongas 
that  he  had  formed  an  improper  intimacy  with  one  of 
the  native  females  ;  and  this  report  was  unfortunately 
strengthened  by  some  parts  of  his  conduct.  The 
charge  laid  against  him,  however,  was  solemnly  denied 
till  after  the  sailingof  the  Duff,  when  he  acknowledged 
his  criminality. 

On  this  distressing  occasion,  the  brethren  used  every 
argument  in  their  power  to  awaken  their  fallen  col- 
league t(  a  sense  of  his  guilt,  and  to  lure  back  this 
unhappy  wanderer  into  the  paths  of  peace.  At  first 
it  appeared  as  if  their  friendly  expostulations  would 
have  been  crowned  with  success  ;  but  the  hopes  thus 
excited  were  soon  and  sadly  disappointed,  by  his 
mingling  with  the  heathen,  and  evincing  a  strong  pre- 
di'-  tion  for  their  habits,  in  which  he  soon  arrived  at 
a  lamentable  proficiency.  As,  however,  he  proposed 
to  marry  the  female  with  whom  he  cohabited,  and  this 
appeared  to  be  the  only  remedy  now  left,  the  mission- 
aries consented  to  solemnize  the  nuptial  ceremony. 
But  when  the  parties  came  before  them,  and  the  sol- 
emn and  binding  nature  of  the  engagement  about  to 
be  formed  was  explained  to  the  woman,  the  poor  crea- 
ture burst  into  tears,  and  pere:.iptorily  refused  to 
come  under  such  obligation!; ;  alleging  as  her  reason, 
that  no  due  affection  subsisted  between  them,  but  that 
she  had  been  merely  actuated  by  a  dread  of  incurring 
the  displeasure  of  her  parents  and  the  anger  of  the 
chief  with  whom  Veeson  resided. 

From  this  time,  Veeson  appeared  to  proceed  from 
bad  to  worse;  so  that,  in  the  commencement  of  1798, 
the  missionaries  were  under  the  painful  necessity  of 
excommunicating  him  from  their  little  society.  The 
letter  of  dismission  was  conveyed  to  him  by  Mr.  Kel- 
so, who  assured  him  that  many  petitions  had  been  pre- 
sented at  the  throne  of  grace,  in  the  hope  of  averting 
the  necessity  of  such  a  measure,  and  that  it  had  been 
finally  adopted  with  the  utmost  reluctance  and  grief 
of  heart.  Ho  then  endeavored,  but  without  effect,  to 
rouse  him  to  a  consideration  of  the  dreadful  nature 
and  tendnncy  of  his  present  career ;  and  finally  he 
entreated  that  he  would  make  such  a  memorandum 
of  his  time  that  ho  might  always  recognize  the  return 
of  the  sabbath,  nnd  unite,  at  least  occasionally,  in  th  > 
services  of  Oo^,.  ,m  that  sacred  day,  with  those  who, 
though  now  sc,.iiated  from  h!  i>  were  ardently  solici- 
tous for  his  return  into  the  paths  of  holines  .  AH 
these  admonitions  nnfc  i^ttely  proved  unavuiiinft ;— • 
the  apostate  had  faiien  i.ito  a  snare  of  the  'f-i!  tea 
strong  to  be  easily  broken  ; — the  sabbath  he  hiui  no 
wish  to  remember  ; — and  in  a  short  time  ho  returned 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


his  Bible  ond  the  whole  of  his  religious  books  to  Mr. 
Gaulton  at  Mooa, — as  if  desirous  of  divesting  iiiinself 
of  every  thing  wliich  could  possibly  remind  him  that 
he  had  formerly  made  a  profession  of  the  Christian 
religion. 

In  the  month  of  July,  tiie  brethren  were  informed, 
that  most  of  the  chiefs  on  the  island  had  solicited  the 
dugona  to  put  them  all  to  death,  under  the  pretence 
that  their  prayers  were  productive  of  misfortunes 
to  their  neighbors,  but,  in  reality,  from  a  desire  to 
become  possessed  of  Oieir  property.  Contrasting  this 
intelligence  with  the  friendly  behavior  of  the  chiefs, 
the  missionaries  considered  it  a  mere  fabrication ;  but 
it  afterwards  appeared  that,  about  this  time,  a  plot 
was  really  in  existence  for  their  assassination  ;  liiougli, 
by  the  good  providence  of  God,  some  friends  wore 
raised  up  on  the  behalf  of  the  intended  victims, 
who  pleaded  their  cause  so  powerfully,  that  the  con- 
spiracy was  broken,  and  its  projectors  were  put  to 
silence. 

In  the  spring  of  n99,  an  event  occurred  wliich 
was  productive  of  the  most  disastrous  consequences, 
not  only  to  the  missionaries,  but  lo  the  whole  island. 
This  was  the  treacherous  assassin-.;  tn  of  the  dugona, 
by  his  own  cousins,  Feenou    Loogalalla   and    Dubo 
Newer,  on  the  21st  of  April,  after  the  celebration  of 
an  annual  religious  ceremony,  and  whilst  the  unsus- 
pecting victim  was  sleeping  in  imaginary  security,  sur- 
rounded by  his  attendants.     It  seems  that  tiie  murder- 
ers had  been  instigated  to  this  atrocious  act  by  the 
solemn  injunction  of  their  dying  father,  whose  hope 
of  obtaining  supreme  power    on  the  demise  of  his 
brother  Moomooe  had  been  finally  crushed  by  the 
succession  ol  Toogahowe,  and  whose  irritated  feelings 
had  brouglit  on  a  fit  of  illness,  which  ternunated  in  his 
death.     The  dreadful  fact,  however,  was  no  soonur 
made  public,  than  the  great  mass  of  the  natives  were 
inspired  with  sentiments  of  indignation  and  vengeance  ; 
and  Loogalalla,  notwithstanding  the  friendship  of  sev- 
eral powerful  chiefs,  found  that  war  must  bo  the  in- 
evitable result  of  his  treacherous  cruelty.     Prepara- 
tions were,  accordingly,  made  on  both  sides  with  the 
utmost  alacrity;  and,  on  the  lOlh  of  May,  an  engage- 
ment took  place  at  Bungye,  in  which  the  Ahoefoniaiis, 
or  royalists,  completely  routed  the  rebels,  who  fled  in 
all  directions,  leaving  great  numbers  of  killed  and  wound- 
ed on  the  field  of  battle.    At  first,  the  victors  seemed  ile- 
teriniiied  to  give  no  quarter ;  and  some  of  the  missiona- 
ries, who  happened  to  be  pruiieiit,  witnessed  scenes  most 
revolting  to  the  feelingsof  humanity.  "A  little  way  from 
the  spot  where  the  fight  commenced,"  say  they,  "  we 
found  an  old  mai    roasting  part  of  mr  of  the  dead 
L'ui.'ic:?,  app.ircntiy  wan  a  ik-»i^ii  iu  '-.u  n  1  and  at  a 
short  tlistance,  a  ellow,  who  had  seven  <i  (he  head  and 


body  of  one  of  the  rebels  asunder,  was  proudly  ei* 
hibiting  them  as  trophies  of  his  prowess ;  whilst  some 
of  the  women,  as  they  passed  him,  dipped  their  hands 
into  the  blood,  and  licked  them !" 

The  approach  of  the  missionaries  to  the  field  of 
battle  was  highly  gratifying  to  the  royalists,  who  con- 
cluded that  they  had  fire-arms  about  them,  and  would 
certainly  use  them  against  the  enemy.  Accordingly, 
on  every  little  advantage  they  gained,  the  brethren 
came  in,  with  the  imaginary  deities  of  the  island,  for 
their  grateful  acknowledgments;  and  even  the  dog 
which  Mr.  Kelso  led  in  his  hand,  had  an  abundance 
of  yava  presented  to  him.  But  as  soon  as  it  was  dis- 
covered that  they  took  no  part  in  the  combat,  they  were 
contemplated  by  the  disappointed  Aheefonians  with 
contempt  and  aversion. 

Aware  of  the  danger  to  which  they  were  now  ex- 
posed, the  missionaries  hastened  back  to  their  dwell- 
ing at  Aheefo  ;  but  here  they  found  that  their  beds 
and  every  thing  loose  had  been  carried  off;  and, after 
depositing  their  chests  in  the  house  of  a  neighbor,  they 
received  the  appalling  intelligence  that  a  party  of 
rebels  had  just  landed  from  their  canoes,  and  were 
advancing  towards  them.  They  fled,  therefore,  to  a 
place  called  Eeleegoo,  in  the  back  part  of  the  island, 
which  .seemed  to  offer  them  a  temporary  shelter,  being 
very  little  frequented  from  the  land,  and  rendered  in- 
accessible to  canoes,  by  a  high  reef  of  coral  rocks. 
In  the  evening,  they  ventured  to  return  once  more  to 
their  habitation,  but  soon  found  that  no  .safety  was  to 
be  enjoyed  there.  They,  therefore,  retured  to  the 
house  of  a  neighbor,  who  professed  much  kindness 
toward  them,  but  who  (as  they  were  afterwards  b- 
formed)  entertained  serious  thoughts  of  having  them 
all  murdered  in  the  night. 

Alwut  day-break  the  next  morning,  the  brethren 
returned   to  Eeleegoo,  and  remained  concealed,  near 
their  former  station,  till  towards  noon,  when  they  per- 
ceived numbers  of  the  natives  running  on  all  sides  of 
them,  and  wore  informed  that  a  second  engagement  had 
taken  place,  in  which  the  royalists  had  been  defeated, 
and  that  most  of  their  friends  among  the  chiefs  were 
killed.     I'l'MiMving  that  concealment  was  no  longer 
possible,  the  missionaries  now  resolved  to  follow  the 
crowd  J  but  after  proceeding  about  a  couple  of  miles, 
they  came  up  with  a  party  of  armed  men,  who  de- 
manded their  clothes  ;  and,  as  either  refusal  or  delay 
minlit  huvr  been  productive  of  the  most  trngioal  con- 
sequences, they  surrendcipd  them  without  opposition, 
congratulating  thcmselv*-.  fh:it  they  had,  with  a  view 
to  the  possibility  of  s!i..b  an   occurrence,   provided 
themselves  witl  'ipder  ;:»rments  of  the  country  cloth. 
Tiuy  now  prw','.,.'  till  they  reached  a  thick  wood, 
situate  between  t,.    .^aJ  and  a  range  of  craggy  rocks 


TONGATABOO. 


forming  the  termination  of  the  beach ;  and  here  they 
resolved  to  seek  a  shelter  till  the  confusion  subsided, 
as  it  was  evident  they  had  been  regarded  with  an  evil 
eye  by  several  of  their  fellow  travellers.      In  the 
course  of  the  afternoon,  they  found,  in  an  aperture  of 
a  rock,  a  quantity  of  fresh  water,  which  afforded 
them  a  most  welcome  refreshment ;  and,  about  sunset, 
two  of  them,  having  gone  out  in  quest  of  food,  ob- 
tamed  some  bread-fruit  and  bananas  from  a  party  of 
the  natives.     These  afforded  a  seasonable  supply  to 
the  poor  fugitives,  who  had  tasted  nothing  but  water 
since  tlie  preceding  evening;  but  they  were  horrified 
by  the  intelligence  that  their  brethren,  Bowell,  Gaul- 
ton  and   Harper,  with  an  American  seaman,  named 
Burlmm,  (who  had  lately  settled  with  some  of  his 
comj.nnions  on  the  island,)  had  all  been  inhumanly 
murdered  at  Ardeo.     Of  the  cause  and  particulars  of 
this  lamentable  catastrophe  they  could  gain  no  infor- 
mation.    It  seems,  however,  that  the  victorious  Ahee- 
fonians  continued  to  pursue  the  rebels  till  they  came 
to  Ardeo ;  and  the  missionaries,  conceiving  no  danger 
from  those  in  whoso  quarrel  they  had  never  interfered, 
came  out  of  their  house  to  see  them  pass.     Unfortu- 
nately, however,  there  happened  to  be  among  the  war- 
riors  an  individual  who,  on  some  former  occasion,  had 
solicited  some  presents  from  the  brethren,  which  were 
refused.    The  savage,  therefore,  resolved  on  embracing 
the  opportunity  now  afforded  of  taking  a  dreadful 
revenge.     Ho  accordingly  rushed  upon  them,  with 
several  of  his  countrymen ;  and  Bowell  and  Harper, 
with  the  American,  Burham,  were  immediately  felled 
to  the  ground,  and  immolated  on  the  spot.     Gaulton, 
in  the  mean  time,  had  fled  to  some  distance ;  but  on 
looking  back  and  seeing  his  colleagues  fall,  ho  imme- 
diately returned,  with  the  hope,  it  is  supposed,  of  sav- 
ing their  lives,  when  he  was  instantly  put  to  death  by 
the  merciless  barbarians,  who  afterwards  pillaged  the 
house,  and  even  succeeded  in  discovering  many  valu- 
able articles  which  had  been  buried,  for  security,  by 
the  unfortunate  missionaries. 

The  news  of  this  dreadful  calamity  naturally  in- 
spired the  surviving  brethren  with  the  most  painful 
apprehensions ;  and  the  following  day,  they  were  so 
much  alarmed  by  the  suspicious  conduct  of  one  of  the 
natives,  who,  after  balancing  his  spear  to  attack  them, 
assumed  a  conciliatory  tone,  and  retired  under  the 
pretence  of  fetching  some  cloth  from  a  neighboring 
wood,  that  thoy  resolved  to  seek  some  otiicr  shelter. 
Accordingly,  having  discovered  a  path  which  led  to 
the  sea,  they  descended  toward  the  bench;  and  after 
travelling  alwiit  a  mile,  they  mot  with  a  party  of  ten 

Ar   ttvplva    nnti&.^o    r^i.A  #^r  •■.Kn»»  l^..la^J  *\ ^      ^       i 

_i , _....,,,  ,„^,.,^.  jjjj..,j  .y  jj  pjjj„j, 

called   Fahcffa,  where  they  were  kindly  entertained 
for  the  night. 


399 

From  this  time  till  the  commencement  of  June,  the 
brethren  were  harassed  from  place  to  place,  and,  on 
some  occasions,  narrowly  escaped  destruction.  At 
length,  however,  Loogalalla  obtained  an  important  tri- 
umph over  his  enemies,  and  notwithstanding  the  san- 
guinary means  by  which  he  had  risen  to  supreme  pow- 
er, he  appeared  disposed  to  protect  the  missionaries, 
and  not  only  gave  orders  to  his  adherents  to  avoid  in- 
juring them,  but,  on  landing  at  Maffanga,  he  sent  Vee- 
son,  with  a  party,  to  search  for  them,  in  order  to  se- 
cure their  safety  in  the  general  commotion. 

On  the  8th  of  June,  the  brethren  were  requested, 
by  a  chief  named  Fackafanooa,  to  accompany  a  party 
to  Ardeo,  in  search  of  some  things  which  were  sup- 
posed  to  have  been  concealed  there,  and  with  this 
solicitation  they  gladly  complied,  in  the  hope  of  ren- 
dering the  last  offices  of  friendship  to  their  murdered 
colleagues,  whose  bodies  still  remained  unburied  and 
exposed  to  the  insults  of  all  who  passed  by.   «  On  our 
arrival  at  Ardeo,"  say  they, "  we  found  it  a  perfect  des- 
olation  ;  the  fences  being  all  torn  in  pieces,  the  houses 
either  burnt,  or  laid  in  ruinous  heaps,  and  the  fruiu 
mostly  destroyed.     After  taking  a  survey  of  the  prem- 
ises,  we  were  conducted  to  the  place  where  our  breth- 
ren lay,  which  presented  a  still  more  melancholy  and 
distressing  scene.    We  found  Bowell  and  Gaulton  upon 
the  road  very  near  to  each  other,  and  brother  Harper 
lay  in  the  adjoining  field.     They  were  all  so  much 
disfigured,  however,  that  we  could  not  have  known  any 
of  them,  but  from  the  information  of  the  natives,  who 
had  often  seen  them  since  their  death.     Burham  lay, 
at  a  considerable  distance,  in  a  kind  of  ditch  ;  and  as 
his  body  was  in  such  a  state  that  it  could  not  be  moved 
without  falling  to  pieces,  we  covered  it  with  earth 
where  it  was.     We  then,  with  the  assistance  of  the 
natives,  dug  a  grave  large  enough  to  contain  the  breth- 
ren; and  having,  with  some  difficulty,  removed  them 
into  it,  we  buried  them,  without  either  coffin  or  shroud, 
not  having  so  much  as  a  change  of  country  cloth  for 
our  own  use." 

On  their  return  from  this  mournful  employment,  the 
missionaries  began  to  resume  their  manual  labor  among 
the  Tongas,  and  those  of  them  who  had  consented  to 
reside  with  Fackafanooa,  erected  a  forge  in  a  house 
\yhich  had  been  allotted  them  for  that  purpose.  Their 
situation,  however,  was  so  truly  distressing,  in  conse- 
quence of  the  avarice  of  their  host,— the  unreasonable 
demands  of  the  natives, — the  charges  frequently  laid 
against  them  with  respect  to  the  malignant  influence 
of  their  devotions,— and  the  repeated  alarms  which 
they  experienced  in  consequence  of  the  plots  which  were 
laid  for  their  desirucituii,  that  some  of  them  cntertamed 
serious  thoughts  of  leaving  the  island  in  their  small  boat, 
and  attempting  a  voyage  to  New  South  Wales.  Others, 


400 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


borever,  observed  thit  this  would  be  iiwrely  flying 
from  their  existing  calamities  to  inevitable  death  ;  as 
it  was  preposterous  to  suppose,  destitute  as  they  were 
of  every  material  for  navigation,  and  having  no  moans  of 
procuring  a  sufKcient  quantity  of  food  and  water  for 
their  support,  that  they  could  possibly  succeed-  in 
reaching  Port  Jackson.  Their  prospects  were,  there- 
fore, gloomy  and  appalling  indeed  ;  b«it,  as  they  ob- 
serve in  their  journals,  "  in  this  season  of  distress,  the 
Lord  appeared  for  their  deliverance  in  a  way  quite 
unexpected." 

On  the  aist  of  January,  1800,  tlicy  heard  the  re- 
port of  two  guns  in  the  bay  ;  but,  as  the  evening  was 
too  fnr  advanced  to  admit  of  their  attempting  to  ascer- 
tain the  cause  of  this  unusual  noise,  they  passed  the 
night  in  a  state  of  anxious  suspense,  alternately  agi- 
tated with  emotions  of  hope  niid  fear.  The  next  morn- 
bg,  they  endeavored  to  get  their  boot  to  sea,  hut  the 
tide  did  not  rise  sudiciently  high  till  near  sunset. 
They  then  discovered  two  vessels  lying  in  the  roods ; 
but  the  wind  proving  contrary,  it  was  neorly  midnight 
before  they  reached  them.  The  one  proved  to  be  the 
Betsy  of  London,  bound  to  Port  Jackson  ;  the  other,  a 
Spanish  brig  which  she  had  captured  on  the  coast  of 
Peru.  Captain  Clark,  the  commander,  being  made 
acquainted  with  their  circumstances,  kindly  offered 
them  a  passage  to  Port  Jackson,  assuring  them  that 
his  cabin,  and  whatever  it  contained,  should  beat  their 
service. 

"  Every  scruple  regarding  the  propriety  of  our  quit- 
ting the  island,"  say  the  missionaries,  "  was  now  ban- 
ished from  our  minds ;  for  as  the  Lord  had  so  wonder- 
fully and  graciously  opened  a  way  for  our  escape,  we 
could  not  but  regard  it  as  an  evident  intimation  of  his 
will  for  our  removal.  We  accordingly  accepted  the 
generous  offers  of  the  captain,  and  immediately  de- 
spotched  two  natives,  who  had  come  with  us,  with  a 
letter  to  brother  Shelley,  who  chose  to  remain  at 
home  till  we  had  attained  to  a  certainty  respecting  the 
ships.  The  next  evening,  about  dusk,  ho  arrived  in  n 
snioll  canoe,  provided  for  him  by  Atta  (a  friendly 
chief),  who  strongly  urged  him  to  depart,  that  he 
might  escape  the  danger  which  seemed  to  be  impend- 
ing. At  his  request,  Shelley  wrote  a  letter,  directed 
to  the  commander  of  the  Duff,  or  any  other  ship 
which  miglu  touch  at  Tongaiaboo,  assuring  them  of 
his  friendly  disposition  towards  the  missionaries,  and 
acquitting  him  of  any  participation  in  the  ill  usoge  tiioy 
had  received. 

"  On  the  morning  of  the  2<lth,  wo  put  to  sea ;  and, 
as  we  approached  the  north  point  of  the  island,  nror 
which  Atr.i  rpsiflnil.he  nnij  nnQtKnr  (..hicf.  '.Tith  scvr^r?] 
of  otir  old  friends,  came  off  with  a  few  cocoo-nuts,  as 
■  present  to  the  captain,  and  took  a  most  affectionate 


leave  of  us  all.  Our  own  feelings,  on  this  occasion, 
cannot  be  easily  conceived,  much  less  expressed. 
The  loss  of  time,  of  labor,  and  of  public  expense, 
which  had  been  sustained,  wore  weighty  considera- 
tions ;  but  the  thought  of  leaving  a  whole  country, 
containing  thousands  of  our  race,  sitting  in  the  gross 
darkness  of  pagan  superstition,  bound  to  the  service  of 
the  wont  of  tyrants,  by  their  own  ignorance  and  preju- 
dices,  and  without  being  able  to  effect  any  thing  to- 
ward their  emancipation,  outweighed  all  the  rest.  It 
appeared  to  be  our  duty,  however,  humbly  and  thank- 
fully to  submit,  knowing  that  the  Lord  is  sovereign  in 
all  his  dispensations ;  and,  at  the  same  time,  to  rejoice, 
in  hope  that  these  benighted  islands  shall  yet '  wait 
for  his  law ;'  for  which  end  it  is  not  impossible  that  our 
residence  among  them  may,  in  some  way,  be  yet  made 
subservient." 

After  a  safe  and  expeditious  voyage,  the  missiona- 
ries arrived  in  New  South  Wales,  where  they  expe- 
rienced the  warmest  welcome  and  the  kindest  atten- 
tions; nnd,  in  the  ensuing  year,  they  all  returned  to 
England,  with  the  exception  of  Mr.  Shelley,  who 
married  a  pious  female  at  Port  Jackson,  and  proceed- 
ed to  join  the  brethren  in  Otaheite.  Veeson  was  left 
at  Tongataboo ;  and,  the  wor  having  been  renewed 
with  savage  fury,  ho  was  in  continual  danger  of  his 
life,  till  the  Royal  Admiral,  commanded  by  captain  W. 
Wilson,  providentially  touched  at  the  Friendly  islands, 
in  August,  1801,  and  thus  afforded  him  the  means  of 
escape. 


MARQUESAS,  ST.  CHRISTINA,  OR 
TAHUATA. 

ArTRR  captain  Wilson  had  settled  the  missionaries 
in  Otaheite  and  Tongataboo,  in  the  spring  of  1797,  ho 
sailed  for  St.  Christina,  one  of  the  Marquesas  islands, 
wliicli  Messrs.  Harris  and  Crook,  two  of  the  brethren, 
had  chosen  as  the  scene  of  their  evangelical  labors. 
On  the  fifth  of  June,  they  reached  the  place  of  their 
destination  ;  and,  on  the  following  day,  were  visited 
by  a  chief  named  Tenae,  eldest  .son  of  Honoo,  who 
appears  to  hove  held  the  supreme  authority  on  this 
islond  at  the  time  of  captain  Cooke's  visit.  He  came 
in  0  tolerably  good  couso,  ond  introduced  himself  by 
presenting  the  captain  with  a  smooth  staff,  about  eight 
feet  long,  the  head  of  which  was  ornamented  with  a 
few  locks  of  human  hair  neatly  plaited.  Observing 
a  musket  on  the  quarter  deck,  lie  took  it  carefully  to 
captain  tVjisoii,  and  requested  him  io  "  piit  it  to 
sleep."  He  then  received  some  presents,  consisting 
of  an  axe,  a  looking  glass,  a  neck  chain,  iic. ;  and,  on 


MARQUESAS. 


being  told  that  two  Europeans  were  desiroug  of  set- 
tling on  the  island,  he  appeared  greatly  delighted,  and 
said  he  would  give  them  a  house  and  supply  their 
wants  to  the  utmost  of  his  ability. 

The  two  missionaries  having  subsequently  gone  on 
shore,  to  seo  the  residence  which  Tenoo  had  offered 
them,  the  captain   inquired,  on   their  return,  what 
opmion  they  hod  formed  of  the  island,  and  whether 
they  were  still  desirous  of  taking  up  their  abode  there, 
with  a  view  to  the  promulgation  of  the  gospel  among 
the  heathen.      Mr.  Crook,  who  was,  at  this  time,  only 
twonty-tivo  years  of  age,  replied,  that,  though  the  in- 
habitants  appeared  to  be  suffering  under  a  scarcity  of 
provisions,  he  had  no  doubt  but  St.  Christina  had  its 
plentiful  seasons  as  well  as  the  other  islands  ;  and  as  he 
had  never,  either  before  or  since  his  engagement  with 
the  Society,  had  a  view  to  his  personal  comforts,  he 
had  no  objections  to  offer.      Mr.  Harris,  however, 
though  formerly  extremely  anxious  to  settle  on  tliis 
spot,  now  apj)eared  to  have  lost  tho  whole  of  his  mis- 
sionory  ardor,  and  to  be  completely  under  the  domin- 
ion  of  fear,  which  he,  in  vain,  attempted  to  conceal ; 
and,  the  following  day,  when  Mr.  Crook  landed  with 
his  bed,  ond  a  few  articles  of  wearing  apporel,  in  order 
to  make  a  trial  of  his  reception  among  tl»o  natives, 
Harris  refused  to  accompany  him,  under  the  pretence 
tiiat  he  must  remain  on  board,  to  pack  up  their  things 
in  small  parcels,  for  tlie  convenience  of  carrying  them 
up  the  valley. 

The  principal  food  of  the  natives,  at  this  time, 
appears  to  have  been  a  kind  of  sour  paste,  called 
mahie,  and  even  this  was  made  in  small  q.iantities,  and 
witlKMit  much  regard  to  cleanliness.  Mi.  Crook, 
however,  determined  on  reconciling  himself  to  it,  as 
well  as  he  could  ;  and,  in  a  note  addressed  to  captain 
Wilson,  on  the  subject,  he  states  that  as  the  islanders 
always  servo  him  first  of  the  best  they  have,  and  he 
may  expect  to  obtain  fresh  fish,  with,  occasionally,  a 
liitio  pork,  lie  thinks  ho  "  may  live  contented,  without 
casting  an  eye  to  the  luxuries  of  Otaiieite."  It  was 
evident,  indeed,  that  the  importance  of  the  work  in 
which  he  had  engaged,  outweigiie.l  every  other  con- 
sideration with  this  excellent  young  man,  who  so  ef- 
fo-tualiy  conciliated  the  esteem  of  Tenae,that  ho  was 
adopted  os  the  sou  of  that  ciiief,  and  ever  afterward 
considered  in  the  same  lipht  as  his  other  children. 

On  llio  Htli,  Mr.  Harris  was  put  on  shore  with  all 
his  thiiiirs ;  but  he  complained  bitterly  of  tlio  badness 
of  the  food  and  tiio  general  poverty  of  the  island;  and 
early  in  the  morning  of  the  24th,  it  was  rumored  that 
he  had  been  on  the  beach  the  whole  of  the  preceding 
niitiil,  niiii  had  been  robbed  nf  wns!  of  his  propcfty. 
Tliis  story  at  first  gained  hut  little  credit;  but,  on  captain 
Wilson  despatching  the  jolly-boat  to  inquire  into  the 
Vol.  I.— Nos.  33  &  34.  59 


401 

particulars,  it  proved  to  be  perfecUy  correct.    Alarm- 
ed and  disgusted  by  the  conduct  of  some  of  the  iw- 
tive  females,  who  had  obtruded  themselves  upon  his 
repose,  ho  determined  to  lUy  no  longer  upon  the 
island ;  and,  having  packed  up  his  clothes  the  next 
day,  he  went  down  to  the  beach  towards  the  dusk  of  the 
evening;  but  as  none  of  the  mariners  happened  to  be 
on  shore,  and  the  ship  was  too  far  distant  to  admit  of 
his  hailing  them,  he  spent  an  uncomfortable  night 
sitting  upon  his  chest.     About  four  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  some  of  the  natives,  conceiving  this  to  be  a 
good  opportunity  for  pilfering,  drove  him  from  his  seat, 
and  inspired   him  with  such  terror  that  he  fled  for 
safety  to  the  neighboring  hill.      The  persons  who 
were  sent  by  the  captain  to  bring  him  off,  found  him 
in  a  most  pitiable  condition,  and  like  a  man  bereft 
of  his  senses ;  and  as  the  state  of  the  surf  rendered  it 
impossible  for  them  to  land,  they  were  under  the  ne- 
cessity of  hauling  off  both  the  chest  and  its  owner  by 
means  of  a  rope. 

The  next  day,  captain  Wilson,  having  completed 
some  necessary  repairs  in  the  rigging  of  the   Duff, 
began  to  think  of  taking  his  departure.     This  was,  of 
course,  mtimated  to  Crook  ;  but  he  remained  steadftst 
m  his  resolutionof  continuing  on  the  island,  and  mere- 
ly requested  a  few  agricultural  implements,  and  such 
other  things  as  might  be  likely  to  render  him  useful  to 
the  temporal  as  well  as  to  tho  spiritual  interests  of  the 
people.     He  said,  he  should  certainly  have  considered 
It   a  great  happiness  had  he  been  favored  with  the 
company  of  an  agreeable  and  friendly  colleague,  whose 
conversation  and  sympathy  might  have  cheered  and 
consoled  liim  in  the  time  of  trouble ;  but,  since  the 
Lord  had  ordered  things  otherwise,  he  thought  that  it 
better  suited  with  his  character  and  profession,  to  re- 
sign  himself  to  GojI's  fatherly  care,  and  to  rest  on  his 
promise,  than  to  quit  a  station  where  a  door  of  useful- 
ness was  apparently  opened  ;  and  he  added,  that  if  hU 
blessed  Redeemer  should  make  him  the  honored  in- 
stniinent  of  preparing  the  way  for  some  of  his  more 
able  servants,  ho  siiould,  at  least,  have  the  happiness 
to  reflect  that  his  life   had  not  been  spent  in  voin. 
The   next  evening   he  went  on  board  witii   Teiiae, 
ft)r  the  purpose  of  taking  leave  of  his  beloved  friends ,' 
Olid  when  the   canoe  was  returning  from  the    vessel^ 
and  the  last  affectionate  adieus  were  interchanged,  his 
manly  behavior  did  him  great  credit.  "The  tears,"  says 
the  editor  of  tiie  First  Missionary  Voyage,  "glistened 
in  his  eyes,  but  none  fell,  nor  did  ho  betray  the  least 
sign  of  fear,  in  being  left   to  enter   upon  his  work 
alone." 

From  tho  statoment  of  this  devoted  and  intrepid 
young  missionary,  cominunicBted  to  the  directors,  on 
his  return  to  England,  and  published  in  the  Evangeli- 


«ifi 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


cal  Magazine  for  1799,  it  appears,  that,  during  the  first 
six  months  of  his  residence  at  St.  Christina,  he  suffer- 
ed considerably  from  hunger,  in  consequence  of  the 
previous  improvidence  of  the  natives  ;  but  he  was  in- 
variably treated  with  kindness  by  the  chiefs,  and  per- 
mitted to  partake  of  their  scanty  morse'  '  !■  ;. ;  <  u  'it 
months  after  the  departure  of  captain  V  iii,.;>t:  ;  <i  .».  .  ■ 
ican  vessel,  trading  to  the  North- ..  i  coa>'(  i.  )  .^ed 
in  Resolution  bay,  and,  by  her  capiaia,  Mr.  Crook 
sent  home  his  journal.  Four  months  afterward,  an- 
other vessel,  bound  to  China,  aj)peared  off  the  island, 
and  our  missionary  went  on  board  merely  with  the 
design  of  writing  home.  A  strong  breeze,  however, 
springing  up  from  the  mountains,  carried  the  ship  to 
the  leeward,  and  thus  effectually  prevented  Mr. 
Crook's  return.  He  now  requested  the  captain  to 
carry  him  to  Sir  Henry  Martin's,  an  island  about  sixty 
miles  to  the  north-nest ;  and  there  he  was  received 
with  the  utmost  cordiality  by  the  natives,  who  were 
overwhelmed  with  astonishment,  on  hearing  themselves 
addressed  by  a  white  man  in  their  own  language.  At 
first,  indeed,  thoy  conceived  he  was  a  god,  and  it  was 
with  some  difficulty  that  he  convinced  them  of  the 
fallacy  of  that  absurd  idea.  The  principal  chief  im- 
mediately made  him  his  tat/o,  and  not  only  supplied 
his  immediate  wants  with  the  most  profuse  liberality, 
but  afterward  gave  him  a  large  piece  of  ground  stock- 
ed with  cocoa-nut  and  bread-fruit  trees,  together 
with  materials  for  the  erection  of  a  comfortable  habi- 
tation. 

After  Mr.  Crook  had  resided  here  about  seven 
months,  two  south  whaler  ships,  the  Euphrates  and 
Butterworth,  from  Ijondon,  put  in  for  refreshments  ; 
and  our  missionary  proved  extremely  serviceable  to 
the  Europeans,  both  by  acting  as  interpreter  and  by 
procuring  the  needful  supplies.  It  now  occurred  to 
him,  that  he  might  probably  render  the  best  service 
to  the  Marquesas  islands  by  returning  to  England,  and 
representing  the  real  state  of  the  whole  group  to  the 


directors ;  together  with  the  propriety  of  sending  out 
more  missionaries,  who,  by  exhibiting  a  form  of  Chris- 
tian economy,  might  induce  the  natives,  from  what 
they  should  see  in  domestic  life,  to  pay  greater  atten- 
tion to  the  instructions  given  them.  With  these  views 
he  returned  to  London,  in  the  month  of  May,  1799 ; 
but  various  obstacles  have  prevented  the  accomplish- 
ment of  this  desirable  object.  For  many  years,  no 
effort  was  made.  At  last,  in  1825,  Mr.  Crook  em- 
barked in  the  ship  Lynx,  captain  Sibrill,  accompanied 
by  four  Tahitian  teachers,  for  the  purpose  of  resuming 
a  mission  which  was  dear  to  his  heart. 

The  Lynx  proceeded  to  Resolution  bay,  and  Mr. 
Croolt  *:; '0' H  into  negotiations  with  the  chiefs,  who 
promised  to  build  a  place  for  the  worship  df  the  true 
God.  The  people  also  seemed  very  solicitous  that 
teachers  should  come  to  them. 

In  1826,  teachers  left  Tahiti  in  the  Minerva,  cap- 
tain Ebrill,  and  a  station  was  formed  at  Uahou,  another 
island.  The  two  native  teachers,  who  took  up  their 
residence  in  St.  Christina  or  Tahuata,  were,  however, 
soon  compelled  to  return  to  Tahiti.  They  received 
the  most  barbarous  treatment  from  the  natives.  Cap- 
tain Staveis,  of  the  Offley,  who  touched  at  Tahuata, 
brought  them  away  just  at  the  moment  when  the 
savage  natives  contemplated  immolating  them  to  their 
idols. 

The  two  teachers  at  Uahou  report  that  Teato,  the 
king,  is  good  to  them. 

Early  in  1829,  Messrs.  Pritchard  and  Simpson  vis- 
ited the  Marquesas  for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining  how 
far  the  establishment  of  a  European  mission  among 
them  was  practicable.  They  landed  on  two  of  the 
islands ;  but  from  the  rude  behavior  of  the  natives,  their 
insatiable  desire  after  fire-arms  and  ammunition,  and 
the  report  of  frequent  wars,  they  were  obliged  to  re- 
turn, under  the  impression  that  at  present  a  settlement 
among  them  is  impracticable. 


SOUTH  AFRICA. 


408 


CHAPTER   III. 
MISSION    IN    SOUTH  AFRICA, 


ENCorn^OED  by  the  success  which  had  crowned 
their  first  attempt  to  transmit  the  glad  tidings  of  sal- 
vafon  to  the  islands  of  the  Pacific  o^ean.  andlwed 
to  new  and  mcreased  exertions,  by  the  lively  inre't 
which  the.r  movements  had  already  excited  fn  the  re 
hgjous  world   the  directors  of  the  London  Missionary 
Soc  ety  were  led  to  turn  their  serious  attention  to  the 
contment  of  Africa  so  long  neglected  and  so  dee^; 
injured  ;  and  notwithstanding  the  failure  of  an  attempt 
made  m  conjunction  with  some  other  societies,  to  Ts- 
abhsh  a  mission  ,n  the  country  of  the   Foulahs  and 
the  colony  of  Sierra  Leone,  the  subsequent  conquest 
of  the  cape  of  Good  Hope,  by  the  arms  of  his  Brhan- 
nic  majesty,  seemed  to  open  an  effectual  door  to  those 
extensive  regions  in  the  south,  where  a  variety  "J 
tnbes  and  nations  were  sitting  in  gross  darkness,  and 
on  the  borders  of  the  shadow  of  death.     At  the   ame 
period,  an  individual  was  induced   to   ofier  his  s^r! 
vices  to   the   society,  who  appeared    to  have   been 
expressly  and  in  a  peculiar  way  fitted  for  the  superin- 
tendence of  such  an  interesting  and  important  mission. 
This  was  the  justly  celebrated  Dr.  Vanderkemp,  of 
whose  con  version  and  call  to  the  work  of  an  evangelist 
U.e  following  brief  outline  is  extracted  from  the  nar- 
ration of  a  highly  respectable  individual,  who  knew 
him  intimately,  and  esteemed  him  as  he  deserved 
Jrh"""!.'  ^^"f""^'  Vanderkemp  was  the  son  of  a 
worthy  and  excellent  minister  of  the  Dutch  church  in 
Kotterdam,  and  was  bom  in  the  year  1748      At  the 
university  of  Leyden  he  commenced  his  studies,  and 
h's  progress  m  literary  acquirements  was  so  remarka- 
ble, that  many  of  his  contemporaries  considered  him  to 
possess  an  extraordinary  strength  of  mind,  and  antici- 
pated that  he  would  prove  to  be  one  of  the  most  dis- 
mguisl^d  characters  of  the  age.     Hav.ng  completed 
h.s  studies,  he  entered  the  army,  i„  which,  during 
ixteen  years'  service,  ho  rose  to  be  a  captain  of  horse! 
and  lieutenant  of  the  dragoon  guards.      During  the 
whole  of  this  time,  however,  he  was  infected  with 
principles  of  the  grossest  infidelity  ;  and  in  this  awful 
delii<!iQn  he  ■■•?.?,  .j;,).^ :t  -    • 


...  .  -^i'P'b' sircngtheneil  by  too  many 

of  his  acquaintance.     On  quitting  the  military  service. 


he  resolved  to  enter  on  the  practice  of  medicine :  and 
having  obtained   a  diploma   from   the  university  of 
l!.dmburgh,  where  he  had  pursued  his  studies  for  two 
years  with  unremitting  attention,  he  returned  to  Mid- 
dleburg,  m  the  island  of  Zealand,  and  began  to  prac- 
tise  as   a   physician  with   great   credit  and  success 
After  some  time,  he  retired  to  Dort,  with  the  design 
of  spending  the  remainder  of  his  life  m  literary  pur- 
suits  and  rural  amusements.     In  the  month  of  June 
1791,  however,  as  he  was  one  day  sailing  in  a  pleasure 
boat,  on  the  river,  with  his  wife  and  daughter,  the 
boat  was  overset  by  a  sudden  storm:   his  wife  and 
child  were  drowned,  and  he  himself  only  escaped  a  simi- 
ar  fate  by  being  picked  up  by  the  crew  of  a  vessel  which 
had  been  driven  from  her  moorings,  after  he  had  been 
carried  down  the  stream  to  the  distance  of  nearly  a  mile 
At  this  eventful  period  his  infidel  principles  appear 
to  have  been  shaken ;  as,  on  the  ensuing  sabbath   he 
not  only  went  to  church,  but  united  in  commemoratinR 
the  death  of  that  Jesus  whom  he  had  long  regarded  as 
an  impostor,  in  respect  to  his  pretensions,  and  the 
victim  of  his  own  obstinacy  in  opposing  the  ecclesias- 
tical and  political  maxims  of  his  countrymen.     In  fact 
on  this  solemn  occasion,  his  heart  appears  to  have 
been  completely  subdued  by  the  power  of  divine  grace  • 
and  whilst  his  attention  was  directed  to  the  death  of 
Uirist,  he  seems  to  have  been  savingly  convinced  of 
his  personal  dignity,  his  all-sufficient  atonement,  and  his 
ability  and  inclination  to  save  even  thechief  of  sinners 
wljo  flee  unto  him  as  a  refuge  from  the  wrath  to  come' 
The  reality  of  the  change  which  Dr.  Vanderkemp 
now  experienced  was  most  satisfactorily  demonstrated 
m  Ins  life  and  conversation  ;  and,  some  years  afterward 
Ins  mind  was  so  deeply  affected  with  a  copy  of  an  ad- 
dress  from  the  Missionary  Society  in  London  to  the 
friends  of  religion  in  Germany,  that  he  immediately 
resolved  to  devote  his  services  to  the  perishing  hea- 
then.   The  address,  which  had  wrought  so  powerfully 
on  his  own  mind,  he  also  translated  into  the  Dutch 
language,  and  circulated  it  amnne  his  countrvmnn  with 
such  success,  that  the  itev.  Mr.  Kicherer  was  induced 
to  propose  joining  this  zealous  veteran  in  his  intended 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


labors ;  and  a  number  of  excellent  Hollanders,  both  at 
Rotterdam  and  in  Friesland,  united  together  for  the 
express  purpose  of  cooperating  with  the  London  so- 
ciety in  their  attempts  to  irradiate  the  dark  corners  of 
the  earth,  and  to  spread  abroad  the  knowledge  of  that 
divine  Redeemer,  to  whom,  in  the  fulness  of  time, 
every  knee  must  bow,  and  every  tongue  must  confess 
that  he  is  Lord  of  all. 

The  necessary  arrangements  having  been  made  by 
the  directors,  Dr.  Vanderkemp,  and  the  Rev.  Messrs. 
Kicherer,  Edmonds  and  Edwards,  sailed  for  the  cape 
of  Good  Hope,  in  the  month  of  December,  1798,  on 
board  the  Hillsborough,  a  transport  vessel,  bound 
to  New  South  Wales,  with  convicts.  Another  and 
more  comfortable  mode  of  conveyance  might  have  been 
obtained  ;  but  the  brethren  preferred  this  from  an  anxi- 
ety to  commence  their  evangelical  labors  among  the 
most  miserable  and  abandoned  of  their  fellow  men,  but 
whose  hearts  were  not  beyond  the  reach  of  almighty 
and  transforming  grace. 

The  prisoners  on  board  the  Hillsborough  were,  in- 
deed, characterized  by  wickedness  and  ferocity  ;  and, 
even  before  the  vessel  quitted  the  harbor,  they  afford- 
ed the  most  unequivocal  proofs  of  their  daring  and 
dangerous  temper.  It  having  been  supposed  that  some 
deserters  had  secreted  themselves  among  these  unhap- 
py creatures,  several  naval  officers  came  on  board,  to 
ascertain  the  fact ;  but  no  sooner  had  one  of  the  offi- 
cers attempted  to  pass  the  entrance  of  the  orlop  deck, 
than  he  was  instantly  seized  by  the  convicts,  who 
snatched  off  his  hat,  tore  his  clothes,  and  wounded 
him  with  his  own  dagger,  which  they  had  wrested  from 
him  ;  so  that  he  was  constrained  to  beg  for  mercy,  and 
accounted  himself  fortunate  in  escaping  with  his  life. 
And  though,  two  days  afterward,  a  detachment  of  ma- 
rines, headed  by  some  officers,  came  on  board  with  a 
determination  to  search  the  hold,  they  found  the  pris- 
oners so  exasperated  and  determined,  that,  to  prevent 
an  effusion  of  blood,  they  retired  wiiliout  accomplishing 
their  design.  About  the  same  time,  some  of  the  more 
refractory  planned  the  scheme  of  sawing  off  their  irons, 
and  seizing  the  ship  ;  and,  though  this  plot  was  provi- 
dentially discovered  and  rendered  abortive,  they  after- 
wards formed  tlie  design  of  sinking  the  vessel  by  boring 
holes  in  her  sides,  with  an  idea  tliat  they  might  effect 
their  escape  in  the  boats, 

Notwithstanding  their  knowledge  of  these  appalling 
facts,  and  the  friendly  representations  of  the  captain,  in 
respect  to  the  personal  danger  which  they  migiit  incur, 
Dr.  Vanderkemp  and  his  colleagues  determined  to 
enter  the  dismal  abo  ieof  the  convicts,  in  order  to  con- 
verse with  them  on  tlie  concerns  of  their  immortal 
souls ;  and  not  only  were  iliey  received  williout  mo- 
lestation, but  their  remarks  were  heard  with  atten- 


tion ;  and,  after  the  lapse  of  a  short  time,  it  became  ap- 
parent that  the  word  spoken  was  owned  and  blessed  to 
several  individuals,  who  formed  a  little  society  among 
themselves,  and  held  a  meeting  three  times  a  week,  for 
the  purposes  of  prayer  and  religious  conversation. 

But  it  was  not  only  in  fearlessly  going  among  these 
poor  creatures,  and  affectionately  explaining  to  them 
the  way  of  salvation,  that  our  missionaries  evinced  their 
zeal  and  anxiety  for  their  beat  interests ;  but  when  a 
putrid  and  pestilential  fever  broke  out  among  the  con- 
victs,and  death  began  tomakeawful  havoc  among  them, 
these  intrepid  and  devoted  servants  of  Jesus  redoubled 
theireffortson  behalf  of  the  sick  and  the  dying,  evidently 
regardlessoftheirown  danger,  and  completely  absorbed 
in  the  anxious  hope  of  proving  instrumental  to  the  sal- 
vation of  some  of  these  wretched  sufferers,  who  were 
now  rapidly  hastening  toward  the  judgment-bar  of 
Christ.  It  is  pleasing  to  add,  that  their  labors  were  not 
in  vain  ;  but,  on  the  contrary,  out  of  thirty-four  pris- 
oners who  died  on  their  passage  to  the  cape,  they  had 
reason  to  hope  that  several  found  mercy  through  the 
blood  of  the  cross,  and  entered  into  that  "  rest  which 
remaincth  for  the  people  of  God." 

Not  many  days  after  they  had  entered  the  Atlantici 
the  faith  of  the  brethren  was  severely  tried  ;  but  the 
result  was  highly  honorable  to  the  religion  which  they 
professed.  During  a  violent  storm,  which  continued 
nearly  three  days,  the  ship  made  a  great  deal  of  water ; 
and  the  captain  stated,  that,  notwithstanding  the  con- 
stant labor  of  the  pumps,  it  continued  to  gain  upon 
them  considerably,  so  that  it  was  supposed  the  vessel 
had  sprung  some  dangerous  leak,  which,  unfortunately, 
could  not  be  discovered.  This  intelligence,  of  course, 
brought  the  missionaries  to  their  knees  ;  and,  with  the 
most  solemn  earnestness,  thefy  pleaded  the  promises  of 
God  whilst  imploring  his  gracious  preservation.  They 
also  appear  to  have  possessed  a  perfect  composure  of 
mind,  and  an  unshaken  confidence  in  their  Redeemer, 
when  apparently  exposed  to  the  most  imminent  danger ; 
in  proof  of  which  we  may  refer  to  the  noble  remark  of 
the  reverend  Mr.  Kicherer,  who,  on  being  reminded 
by  Dr.  Vanderkemp,  that  he  had  told  the  friends  at 
Portsmoutli  he  would  joyfully  go  on  board,  even 
though  he  knew  the  Hillsborough  should  founder  on 
her  passage,  and  on  being  asked  how  he  felt  whilst 
death  seemed  staring  him  in  the  face,  calmly  replied, 
"  The  ship  may  sink,  but  the  foundation  on  which  my 
soul  rests  is  immovable,  and  can  never  fail."  At 
length,  when  all  human  efforts  seemed  unavailing,  and 
the  water  began  to  increase  so  rapidly  that  destruction 
appeared  inevitable,  it  was  providentially  discovered 
that  one  of  the  poit-holes  had  by  some  means  got  open. 
This  being  immediately  closed,  the  water  was  easily  got 
under,  and  in  a  short  time  the  storm  abated ;   so  that 


SOUTH  AFRICA. 


the  ardent  prayers  of  the  brethren  were  soon  succeeded 
by  grateful  thanksgivings. 

On  their  arrival  at  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  they 
were  received  with  the  greatest  kindness  and  cordiality ; 
much  respect  was  shown  them  by  the  government ; 
and  such  a  lively  interest  was  excited  in  favor  of  their 
designs,  that  a  South  African  Missionary  Society  was 
formed  for  promoting  the  spread  of  the  Redeemer's 
kingdom  in  that  part  of  the  globe.  A  door  seemed, 
also,  to  be  opened  to  the  introduction  of  the  gospel 
among  the  Boschemen  or  Bushmen,  a  savage  and  cruel 
nation  of  Hottentots,  of  whom  two  captains,  called  Vigi- 
lant and  Slaporm,  were,  at  this  juncture,  in  Cape  Town, 
and  expressed  an  ardent  desire  to  abandon  their 
former  mode  of  life,  and  to  be  instructed  in  the  knowl- 
edge and  service  of  the  God  of  the  Christians.  "  A 
pious  colonist,"  says  Dr.  Vanderkemp,  "anxious  to  put 
an  end  to  an  almost  perpetual  scene  of  bloodshed,  re- 
cently proposed  a  kind  of  treaty  of  peace  between 
these  wild  Hottentots  and  the  colonists ;  and  on  this 
being  brought  to  a  conclusion,  he  kneeled  down  with 
his  men  in  the  field,  and  engaged  in  prayer  and  sing- 
ing of  hymns.  Struck  with  the  novelty  of  this  solem- 
nity, the  Bushmen  naturally  inquired  what  was  intend- 
ed by  it ;  and  on  being  told  that  it  was  a  thanksgiving 
to  God  on  account  of  the  peace  which  had  been  con- 
cluded, they  bewailed  their  ignorance  of  that  adorable 
Being,  and  begged  that  teachers  might  be  sent  into  their 
country,  to  instruct  them  in  the  truths  of  Christian- 
ity." In  consequence  of  this  favorable  opening,  it 
was  determined  that  Messrs.  Kicherer  and  Edwards 
should  endeavor  to  introduce  the  gospel  among  the 
Bushmen,  whilst  Dr.  Vanderkemp  and  Mr.  Edmonds 
should  pursue  their  original  plan  of  endeavoring  to 
plant  the  standard  of  the  cross  in  Caffraria. 

The  necessary  preparations  having  been  made  for 
their  journey,  Dr.  Vanderkemp  and  his  colleague  quit- 
ted Cape  Town  on  the  589th  of  May,  after  receiving  the 
affectionate  adieus  of  a  crowd  of  friends,  who  expressed 
the  most  grateful  sense  of  their  useful  and  disinterested 
labors  among  them.  They  were  furnished  with  letters  of 
recommendation  from  the  governor  and  the  fiscal  to  the 
landrost  of  Graaf  Reinet,  and  to  general  Vanderleur, 
commanding  the  British  troops  in  that  district ;  and,  in 
the  course  of  their  journey,  they  were  cheerfully  pro- 
vided with  teams  of  oxen,  and  loaded  with  presents,  by 
the  colonists,  who  welcomed  them  as  angels,  and  heard 
them  with  as  much  !«verence  as  if  they  had  been  the 
immediately  inspired  apostles  of  the  Redeemer.  On 
the  sabbath,  indeed,  tiie  people  flocked  from  all  parts 
to  hear  them  preach  ;  the  habitations  of  these  colo- 
nists heinff  so  remote  from  s  "lace  of  worslii'i.  that  they 
had  scarcely  an  opportunity  of  hearing  a  discourse  for 
six  ur  twelve  months  together. 


405 


But  though  our  missionaries  received  every  possible 
attention  from  the  people  among  whom  they  continued 
some  time  to  travel,  they  experienced  many  inconve- 
niences, and  were  exposed  to  serious  dangers,  in  pros- 
ecuting their  journey  through  the  wilderness.  This 
part  of  the  country,  which,  in  some  places,  was  so  ster- 
ile, that  neither  a  drop  of  water  nor  a  blade  of  grass 
was  to  be  seen,  abounded  with  lions,  tigers,  wolves,  and 
other  ravenous  animals  ;  the  howling  of  which  render- 
ed it  almost  impossible  for  the  brethren  to  obtain  any 
repose,  though  they  were  mercifully  preserved  from 
their  attacks.  In  addition  to  this,  the  nights  and  morn- 
ings were  severely  cold  and  frosty,  and  on  the  24th  of 
June,  they  observe,  "  the  water  in  our  calabashes  was 
completely  frozen,  the  ink  in  the  tent  was  also  congealed, 
and  the  drops  of  water  spilt  upon  the  mats,  which  served 
us  instead  of  a  table,  were,  at  breakfast  time,  and  even 
in  the  sunshine,  turned  to  ice." 

On  their  arrival  at  Graaf  Reinet,the  missionaries  were 
received  with  every  mark  of  kindness  by  the  landrost 
and  Mr.  Ballot,  the  minister,  with  whom  they  consent- 
ed to  spend  a  few  days ;  but  the  former  earnestly  dis- 
suaded them  from  attempting  to  cross  the  Great  Fish 
river  into  Caffraria ;  urging  the  impracticability  of  it 
at  that  time,  and  assuring  them  that  their  lives  would 
be  exposed  to  the  most  imminent  peril,  both  from 
Caffres  and  Hottentots,  who  were  mutually  inflamed 
against  the  Dutch  and  English.  The  minds  of  the 
brethren,  however,  were  too  intently  fixed  upon  their 
important  work,  to  suffer  them  to  be  intimidated  by 
these  representations,  though  they  resolved,  in  conse- 
quence of  the  intelligence  which  they  gathered  fix)m 
their  friends,  to  conduct  their  plan  with  all  possible 
circumspection. 

Having  resumed  their  journey,  and  approached  the 
frontier  of  Caffraria,  our  missionaries  sent  a  message  to 
Geika,  the  king  of  that  partof  the  country,  announcing 
'their  intention  of  paying  him  a  visit ;  and  after  a  few 
days,  they  received  a  very  encouraging  answer  from  him, 
stating  that  he  wished  to  see  them  as  soon  as  possible, 
and  had  sent  them  his  tobacco-box,  by  way  of  passport, 
as  it  would  be  recognized  and  respected  throughout  his 
dominions,  as  a  pledge  of  his  favor  and  protection.  He 
warned  them,  however,  against  certain  Caffre  tribes, 
whom  he  considered  as  rebellious  subjects,  and  who 
were  associated  for  predatory  purposes  under  an  individ- 
ual called  captain  Konga.  By  these  freebooters,  the 
brethren,  and  the  colonists  who  accompanied  them,  had 
already  been  attacked  and  robbed  of  a  considerable 
number  of  their  cattle  ;  and  on  the  day  after  the  return 
of  the  messenger,  a  numerous  body  of  the  same  tribe 
appeared  suddenly  upon  an  adjacent  mountain,  and, 
rushing  down  upon  the  travellers,  with  a  horrible  yell, 
attempted  to  break  in  upon  their  wagons.     A  battle 


406 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


ensued,  which  contiiiii(<d  about  an  hour,  aud  terminated 
in  the  retreat  of  the  assailants  ;  but  as  some  of  their 
number  continued  to  follow  the  colonists  on  the  side  of 
the  mountains,  and  to  harass  their  line  of  march,  the 
latter  were  under  the  painful  iiccessity  of  leaving  their 
cattle  a  prey  to  their  enemies. 

On  the  20th  of  September,  our  missionaries  arrived, 
•fter  a  toilsome  and  dangerous  journey,  at  the  place 
of  Geika's  residence.     Here  they  were  surrounded  by 
about  a  hundred  Caffres  ;  but  no  one  seemed  capable  of 
answering  their  inquiries.     After  the  lapse  of  about  ten 
minutes,  however,  the  king  came  forward ,  with  a  slow, 
majestic    step,   and    attended    on   each  side   by   one 
of  his  principal  men.      He  was  co\ered  witli  a  long 
robe  of  pantlier  skin,  and  wore  on  his   head  a  diadem 
of  copper,  and  another  of  beads  :  he  had  in  his  lian<l  an 
iron  kiri,  or  club,  and  his  cheeks  and  lips  were  paint- 
ed red.     He  stopped  about  twenty  paces  from  tiie 
brethren,  and  one  of  his  captains  intimated  to  them  that 
this  was  the  king.     They  tiien  stepped  forward,  and  he, 
at  the  same  time,  advanced  towards  them,  and  extended 
his  right  hand,  but  without  speaking  a  word.     His  cap- 
tains and  women  we.  -  ranged  behind  iiim,  in  the  form  of 
a  semicircle ,  and,  at  some  distance,  the  rest  of  his  people. 
Dr.  Vanderkenip,  after  returning  the  king's  tobacco- 
box  fdled  w  ith  buttons,  inquired  whether  any  person 
were  present  who  could  speak  Du;c!i ;  but  no  answer 
was  returned  to  this  question.     In  about  a  quailer  of 
an  hour,  however,  a  Dutch  figitive,  named  Koenracd 
Buys,  arrived,  dressed  in  the  European  fashion,  and   [ 
appointed  by  the  king  to  act  as  interpreter.     Through 
the  medium  of  this  pers(m,  Geika  asked  the  missiona- 
ries with  what  view  they  had  undertaken  liieir  journey,   i 
and  what  they  desired  of  him.      Dr.  Vanderkenip  re- 
plied,  that  tl'cy  had  come  to  instnict  him  and  his  sub-   i 
jects  in  matter   wiiicii  would  render  them  truly  liappv, 
not  only  in  the  present  life,  hut  even  after  death  ;  am! 
the  only   favors   they   had  to  solicit   were,   that    they 
might  be  allowed  to  settle  in  the  country,  under  his 
royal  protection,  and   tliai  they  might  bo  permitted  to 
return  honie  whenever  they  thought  proper.     In  an- 
swer to  this  the  king  observed,  that  they  had  coino  at 
a  very  unfavorable  period ;    as  all  the  country  was  in 
confusion,  though   he  himself  was  desirous  of  peace, 
and  had  no  part  in  tlic  hostilities  which  subsisted  bf.^ 
twcen  some  of  the  Culfres  and   the   colonists.     He, 
tiiorefore,  advi.sed  them  not  to  think  of  staying  with  him,' 
observing  that  ho  was  unable  to  entertain  them  siiiiahly , 
and,  instead  of  cxn  ndini!;  his  protection  to  them,  he  was 
incapable  of  protecting  himself     To  this  Dr.  Vander- 
kemp  answoreil  that  they  were  only  private  i)crsons. 
desirous  of  providing  for  themselvos ;  that,  in  respect 
•n  t.\r  r.-iinmon   caianiiiics  of  w,,r,    »Uii..ii    iin-y    «iro 
Bwaio  could  not  be  averted  by  an  individual,  they  would 


bear  them  with  patience;  and  that  they  asked  no 
other  protection  than  that  which  was  enjoyed  by  the 
meanest  of  the  king's  subjects.  Geika,  however,  per- 
sisted in  advising  them  to  quit  the  country  j  and  the 
conference  terminated  to  the  great  disappointment  of 
the  veteran,  who,  from  his  first  engagement  with  the 
London  society,  had  set  his  heart  on  introducing  the 
gospel  to  the  natives  of  Caffraria. 

The  presents  which  Dr.  Vanderkemp  had  brought 
from  the  colony  for  Geika  were  received  with  evident 
pleasure,  and,  in  return,  the  missionaries  received  a  fat 
cow.     Within  the  space  of  two  days,  however,  they 
were  informed  that  a  Dutchman,  named  Piet  Prinslo, 
who,  notwithstanding  his  aversion  to  their  designs,  had 
accompanied  them  part  of  their  journey,  had  sent  a 
message  to  the  king,  representing  them  as  most  dan- 
gerous persons,  possessing  poisoned  wine,  and  sent  into 
his  country  for  the  purposes  of  espionage  and  assassi- 
nation.     He,   therefore,   advised  him  to  refrain  from 
tasting  their  wine,  and  urged  him  to  keep  them  in  con- 
finement, till   he   should   come   and   substantiate   the 
charges  laid  against  them.     This  base  and  malignant 
accusation  made,  as  might  naturally  have  been  expected, 
a  deep  impression  on  the  mind  of  Geika,  who  now  sul- 
lenly refuBt'd  either  to  give  them  permission  to  remain 
in  his  territories,  or  even  to  state  that  they  were  at  lib- 
erty to  depart.     After  a  few  days,  indeed,  the  breth- 
ren were  told  by  Buys,  the  interpreter,  that,  in  conse- 
quence of  his  having  spoken  repeatedly  en  the  subject, 
the  kirn;  had  refused  to  admit  him  into  his  presence  ;  and 
it  was  by  no  means  improbable  that  they  (the  mission- 
aries) and  all  their  companions  might  be  put  to  death. 
"All  this  evil,"    sriys  Dr.   Vanderkemp,   "  was  nnput- 
ed  to  m",  as  h.ivir,g  led  our  people  inf)  these  dangers  ; 
notwithstanding  they  kne-.v  tliat  1  had  repeated!)  warn- 
ed  them   against   them,  and  that   they  had  accompa- 
nied me  by  their  own  choice.     As  for  myself,  I  knew, 
when  1  first  camo  into  this  country,  that  I  entered  it 
having  the  sentence  of  death  in  myself,  th;\t  I  should 
not  trust  in  myself,  but  in  (i  id,  who  raiseth  the  dead." 
After  mature  deliberation,  Buys,  who  now  began  to 
consider  his  own  safut;-  very  doibtful,  sent  a  message 
to  the  king,  charging  !iim  with  the  want  of  even  com- 
mon respect  both  to  himself  and  tlie  missionaries,  ami 
siaiiiiL'  that  he  and  they  had  resolved  on  immediately 
quilting  his   territories.     Tli,s  led  to  an  interview,  in 
which  (iiika  ingeiumusly  acknowlediiiMl  that   lie   had 
aried  wrong;  and  to  atone  for  his  unkindnuss  t  >  .ho 
bretlnen,  he  granted  them  a  tract  of  land  on  llie  other 
side  of  the  river  Keiskamnni,  with  full  liberty  to  settle 

there,  or  to  leave   the  c itry   whenever  they  might 

conceive  such  a  measure  to  bo  expedient. 

t»n  tile  WOtii  ol  October,  the  missionaries  arrivcii  at 
the  spot  assigned  for  thei.  resi<lence,  which  Dr.  Van- 


SOUTH  AFRICA. 


407 


derkemp  describes  as  "  a  beautiful  field  of  grass,  in  the 
middle  of  an  amphitheatre  of  high  mountains,  inhabited 
by  numbers  of  Caffres,  divided  into  different  kraals." 
At  the  foot  of  the  mountains  ran  the  river  Guakooby, 
affording  most  excellent  water.  The  ascent  of  the 
hills  was  covered  with  a  profusion  of  trees,  some  of 
which  had  attained  to  the  height  of  a  hundred  feet : 
above  these  were  meadows  of  a  vast  extent,  and  beau- 
tiful verdure,  and  the  summit  was  crowned  by  an  inac- 
cessible forest.  Here  the  doctor,  with  the  assistance 
of  his  colleague  and  their  people,  made  preparations 
for  erecting  a  house,  and  began  laying  out  a  garden, 
which  he  planted  with  peaches,  apricots,  currants, 
gooseberries,  raspberries,  and  a  variety  of  other  fruits. 
Mr.  Edmonds,  however,  did  not  feel  inclined  to  re- 
main in  Africa,  and,  five  months  afterward,  ho  set  out 
on  a  journey  to  the  cape,  with  the  view  of  transferring 
his  services  to  the  heathen  in  Bengal. 

On  the  7th  of  February,  1800,  whilst  Dr.  Vander- 
kemp  was  engaged  in  family  prayer,  king  Geika  enter- 
ed the  tent,  and  after  the  conclusion  of  the  worsiiip,  ho 
said  that  he  should  probably  at  one  time  or  another  be- 
come a  Christian  ;  adding  that  his  niotiier  and  another 
woman  were  desirous  of  being  instructed  in  tlio  prin- 
ciples of  Christianity.     In  lifle  more  than  two  iuonths, 
however,  he  ordered  the  doctor  and  his  people  to  quit 
the  residence  whicii  he  had  assigned  them,  and  to 
remove  to  the  river  Debo  ;  and  it  was  soon  afterward 
sufficiently  obvious  that  he  still  viewed  our  missionary 
with  an  eye  of  distrust  and  jealousy.      "  One  day," 
says  Dr.  Vanderkemp,  "  lie  came  to  us  with  about  fifty 
Cafi"res  and  Hottentots,  having,  as  usual,  thiir  kross 
about  their  shoulders,  ond  only  a  single  club  or  assapiiy 
in  their  hands  ;  but  about  two  hundred  oilit-rs  lay  con- 
cealed in    he   woods   around  our  encampment,  com- 
pletely armed  with  shields  and  darts,  and  prepared  tut 
»n  engagement.     Geiko  told  Mr.  Buys,  that  the  Hot- 
tentois  had  iiuluccd  him  U>  treat  us  as  ms  enemies,  and 
had  rRporled  that  wo  had  s'  nio  evil  desij  i  against  him  ; 

but  !:e  was  no.v  conviiired,   by  our  appeara !,   that 

this  iccusation  was  uufoimded.  It  sfiMiied,  however, 
that  the  king's  apprduMisions  were  oi.ly  feigned,  and 
that  ho  really  designed  to  have  destroyed  us,  though 
liis  conscience  had  suspended  the  execution  of  his 
sanguinary  purpo'-  for  the  present ;  as  one  of  his  o-.vn 
captains  upiir  !ded  him  o|M-nly,  and  in  our  presence, 
with  liis  treacherous  conduct  in  respect  of  us."  About 
three  months  after  this  occurrence,  n  fresh  plot  was 
formed  against  the  life  of  our  missionary,  who  was  de- 
nounced •«  a  conspirator  ImuIi  against  Geika  and  the 
colonisli ;    but  by  the  overruling  providence  of  God, 

?*tT-?  impi^Tij   innmtrt;  rxinrtlir^. 

Amidst  ■!!  the  iriaU  with  whiiih  he  was  oxorcisod, 
Ur.  Vanderkemp  apjiears  to  have  paid  the  most  unre- 


mitting attention  to  the  great  object  of  his  settlement  in 
this  benighted  land.  Hence  it  appears  from  his 
journals  that  he  established  a  school  for  teaching 
reading  and  writing  in  the  Dutch  and  Caffre  languages  ; 
held  a  conversational  meeting  twice  a  week ;  and 
preached  frequently  on  the  most  important  subjects. 
Some  of  his  discourses  were  abundantly  blessed  to  sev- 
eral  Hottentot  females  ;  and  one  of  them,  named  Sarah, 
afforded  such  satisfactory  proof  of  the  work  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  that  the  doctor  felt  no  hesitation  in  admitting  her 
to  thorite  of  baptism,  together  with  her  three  children. 
Of  this  woman  an  anecdote  is  related,  which  is  not 
only  interesting  in  itself,  but  particularly  worthy  of 
notice,  as  tending  to  illustrate  the  providential  care  of 
a  gracious  God  on  the  behalf  of  those  who  revere  his 
name,  and  are  truly  desirous  of  committing  their  con- 
cerns unto  him : — 

Sarah  had  no  sooner  become  the  subject  of  a  divino 
change,  than  she  was  viewed  with  dislike  and  contempt 
by  those  who  were  either  hostile  to,  or,  at  least,  unin- 
fluenced by  the  gospel,  whi:h  she  had  found  to  bo  the 
word  of  salvation  ;  and  as  she  happened  to  be  in  cir- 
cumstances of  indigence,  her  enemies   had  too   many 
opportunities  of  evincing  their  unkindness  toward  her. 
On  one  occasion,  this  poor  creature  was  in  great  dis- 
tress, for  want  both  of  food  and  clothing ;   and  Dr. 
Vanderkemp,  with   that  humanity  by  which  he  was 
so  strongly  characterized,  requested  one  of  the  colo- 
nists to  sell  him  a  couple  of  sheep,  for  the  express 
purpose  of  bestowing  them  upon  Sarah  and  her  little 
family.      When  the  man  understood  for  whose  use 
these  provisions  were  designed,  he  peremptorily  re- 
fused to  part  with  them  ;  and  the  benevolent  missionary 
was,  in  this  instance,  disappointed  of  "  the  luxury  of 
doing  good."     Three  days  afterward,  however,  he  car- 
ried some   pieces  of  iron  to  the   house  of  his   humble 
hearer,  telling  her  she  might  exchange  them  with  the 
Caffres,  either  for  a  cow  or  a  quantity  of  corn  ;  and  he 
had  then  the  pleasure  of  hearing  that  God  had  appear- 
ed for  his  servant  in  a  most  unexpected  manner.     The 
preceding  day,  whilst  Sarah  was  attending  the  means 
of  grace,  a  woman  sent  her  a  joint  of  meat  ;   and  the 
same  colonist  who  had  recently  dis);layed  such  want 
of  feeling,  sent  to  inform  her  that  thirteen  of  his  sheep 
had  boon  killed  by  falling  from  a  rock,  and   that  she 
was  at  liberty  to  go  and  take  them.      "  Thus,"  says 
Dr.  v.,  "the  merciful  Jesus,  who  had  hoard  her  cries, 
and  those  of  her  little  ones,  not  only  supplied  them 
with  food,  but  furnished  thcni  with  plenty  of  sheepskins, 
to  cover  their  bodies." 

In  the  month  of  October,  Ur.  Vanderkemp  received 
ir.tormariori  insi  saran  wss  uiHiiil  io  i»u  removed  to  a 
distant  part  of  the  country.  "  I  cannot  easily  express," 
says  he,  "  how  I  felt,  on  seeing  the  first-fruit  and  hope 


4oe 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


of  a  rising  church  taken  from  me,  yet  in  the  bud,  nnd  ex- 
posed to  all  else  malice  of  Satan  and  an  evil  world,  with- 
out any  means  of  grace  except  what  her  Bible  could 
^Jbrd  her.  With  her  departed,  also,  two  oilier  Hot- 
tentot females,  of  whom  1  had  conceived  great  hopes." 
A  number  of  the  colonists,  considering  themselves 
no  longer  safe  in  CafiVaria,  resolved  to  escape  out  of 
that  country  under  the  pretext  of  elephant  hunting  ; 
and  a  variety  of  circumstances  ap{)earing  to  favor  such 
a  measure.  Dr.  Vanderkemp,  after  much  prayer  and 
•erious  deliberation,  resolved  to  accompany  them. 
They  accordingly  set  out  on  the  31st  of  December, 
accompanied  by  several  Caifres.  These,  however,  left 
them  on  the  6th  of  January,  1801  ;  and  the  travellers, 
consisting  of  fifty-nine  persons,  pursued  their  route  in 
three  wagons  and  a  carl,  having  with  them  about 
twenty-five  hoi-scs,  besides  three  hundred  cattle,  and  a 
considerable  number  of  sheep  and  goats. 

In  the  course  of  their  journey,  ihey  experienced 
much  inconvenience,  and  were  exposed  to  many  and 
imminent  perils,  particularly  as  the  dreadof  being  dis- 
covered at  night  by  the  savages,  ralle<l  Eastern  Hush- 
men,  deterred  them  (Vom  kindling  the  usual  lire,  and 
thus  exposed  them  to  the  lions  and  other  beasts  of 
prey,  with  which  this  part  of  the  country  is  infested. 
On  one  occasion,  indeed,  they  were  attacked  by  a 
parly  of  the  natives,  who,  however,  wer«  fortunately 
compelled  to  retreat :  a  number  of  their  oatile  wore 
also  carried  away  by  a  rapid  stream  ;  and  before  tliey 
reached  the  colony,  the  greater  part  of  their  horses 
had  been  swept  away  by  disease.  Our  *'eteran  mis- 
sionary, also,  was  exi>osed  to  several  serio«i$  accidents  ; 
being  kicked  on  the  breast  by  a  horse,  stung  in  the 
hack  by  a  scorpion,  and  ex|x>sed  to  the  most  imminent 
danger  in  attempting  to  fbnl  a  rirer.  Out  of  nil  these 
calamities,  however,  both  he  and  his  fellow-travellers 
were  merciftdly  delivered  ;  and,  on  the  14th  of  May, 
they  arrived  in  safety  at  Oraaf  Reinet,  where  two  new 
missionaries,  sent  out  to  the  assistance  of  Dr.  Vander- 
kemp, were  anxiously  waiting  for  an  interview  with 
that  devoted  servant  of  Jesus. 

"  To  my  inexpressible  joy,"  says  the  df>rtor.  "  I 
found  my  brethren,  Vandcr  Lingen  and  Head,  lodged 
in  a  very  comfortable  h(m»o  belonging  to  the  church 
of  this  village,  and  entertained  by  the  commissioner 
Maynier,  who  showed  us  imcomuion  civilities.  He 
told  mo  that  my  slay  with  the  migrated  coliHiisis  in 
Caffl-nria  hoii  been  the  only  obslacln  by  which  the 
marrh  of  a  body  of  itnldiers  lo  seiase  them  had  been 
prevented  ;  as  he  foresnw  thai  this  violent  step  would 
liivi*  exposed  me  to  considerable  danger." 

The  first  morning  after  his  arrival  at  (Jraaf  Reinet. 
UT.  vsnavrKuiiij)  ittCfivni  a  n»i;  from  the  ciders  of 
the  church,  who   were  extremely   desirous    ihnt    he 


should  take  the  pastoral  charge  of  the  colonists  at  that 
station.  To  this  proposal  he  could  not  accede,  having 
fully  determined,  by  the  divine  permission,  to  conse- 
crate his  life  and  labors  to  the  instruction  of  the  hea- 
then ;  but  after  mature  consideration,  it  was  determin* 
ed  that  Mr.  Vander  Lingen  should  occupy  the  vacant 
situation,  and  that  the  doctor  and  his  new  colleague, 
Mr.  James  Read,  should  devote  their  attention  to  the 
evangelization  of  the  Hottentots  in  the  vicinity. 

This  arrangement  having  been  sanctioned  by  the 
commissioner  Maynier,  the  missionaries  began  to  apply 
themselves  sedulously  to  their  important  work,  and  the 
measures  adopted  for  the  instructbn  of  the  heathen 
appeared  likely  to  be  crowned  with  early  and  consid- 
erable success;  but  the  prince  of  darkness,  perceiving 
that  some  of  bis  bond  slaves  were  about  to  be  rescued 
from  his  cruel  thraldom,  raised  a  formidable  oppositron 
npiainst  the  heralds  of  divine  truth.  Under  the  false 
pretence  of  h.iving  been  driven  from  their  houses  by 
the  Oaffres,  a  numerous  body  of  armed  colonists  quitted 
their  farms  and  advanced  towards  Graaf  Reinet,  com- 
plaining of  the  measures  adopted  toward  the  Hotten- 
tots, and  ihrentening  to  put  an  end  to  their  instruction. 
Having  approached  the  village  on  lK>rseback,  they 
lia'ied  at  i  sImmtI  distance  from  it,  and  sent  a  message  to 
the  commissioner,  demanding  that  the  Hottentots,  who 
had  for  a  short  time  been  instructed  in  the  cliiirch 
•very  evening,  should  be  admitted  no  more  into  that 
sacred  edifice,  but  that,  to  remove  the  contamination 
already  occosionod  by  their  having  assembled  there, 
the  seats  should  be  washed,  and  the  pavement  broken 
up  ;  and  that  the  |)ul|>it  should  be  covered  with  black 
cloth,  in  token  of  mourning  k.t  the  want  of  a  regular 
clergyman. 

The  missionaries  were  no  sooner  appnsed  of  these 
demands,  than  they  intimated  lo  the  commissioner 
their  reailiness  lo  mnke  any  sacrifice  which  might  pro- 
vent  an  effusion  of  bloo«l  ;  and  staled  that  they  would 
cheerfully  leave  the  church,  and  instruct  their  Hoitcn- 
lot  hearers  in  some  other  plaie.  This,  in  fact,  they  did 
the  same  evening;  and  as  some  other  concessions  were 
granted,  a  hope  was  entertained  ijiat  matters  would 
now  have  tenninaled  amicably.  As  it  appeared,  how- 
ever, the  next  innining,  that  the  insurgents  were  by 
no  means  soli^tied,  Mr.  Lyndcn,  the  commander  of 
the  trcKipo,  inf<)rnie<l  them  thai  he  would  wait  ill!  one 
o'clock  at  noon,  in  order  lo  allow  ihem  lo  come  to  ■ 
friendly  tmderslanding  with  the  commissioner,  but 
ihnmiened,  if  liiey  persisted  in  their  obstinacy  till  thai 
time,  he  v/imU\  attack  ihem  without  further  delay.  It 
seems  this  oHieer  hod  only  twenty-one  light  dragcNins, 
eighty  ariiwd  lloilentots,  nineteen  I'andours,  and 
four  pieces  of  oninance  at  iiis  disposnj.  Of  ilu".i', 
however,  ho  made  tlie  best  disposition,  drawing  up  the 


line  of  bat^'e  m  the  form  of  a  cescem ;  the  right,  con- 
8«t.ng  of  the  Hottentots,  bearing  against  the  viJlage,- 

placed  before  the  front  on  the  left,  and  the  dragoons 

TThT     '  ""T-   .'^'"'"'•^  ^y  '''«'"  preparaSons. 
the  rebels  retreated,  after  vainly  attempting  to  pro- 

cure  a  longer  time  for  deliberation ;  and,  a  few  days 

afterward,  by  the  intervention   of  Dr.  Vanderkemp 

dusio"   "''^"^"^  '"^  ^^  ^""^'"   '^  '   1'"*='^'=   <=°"- 
Though  peace  was  thus  concluded  without  an  appeal 

to  anus,  u  was  unfortunately  of  short  duration  ;  as,  in 

consequence  of  Dr.  Vandcrken.p  and  Mr.  Ik-ad  hav- 
ing made  a  short  visit  to  CafTraria,  by  desire  of  the 
co.n.n.ss.oner,  the  discontent  of  the  colonists  was  again 
excaed  ;  and  they  actually  cin^ulated  a  paper  in  which 

hey  stated  that  the  ...issionaries  had  bLn  atten.pting 
to  sttr  up  Ge.ka  agamst  the.n,  and  called  upon  thei? 
countrymen  to  march  a  second  time  against  Graaf 
Kemet.  Accordingly,  on  the  2M  of  October,  the 
bre  hren  whdst  sittmg  at  supper,  hear.l  seven  or  eight 
shots  Cred  by  the  msurgents  upon  a  patrol  of  dragoons  • 
and  at  an  early  hour  the  next  morning,  as  Dr.  Vander- 
kemp  was  going  to  the  water,  to  wash  some  linen,  he 
perceived  a  multitude  of  Hottentot  women  and  chil- 
w":  T'ZlT  !''"  "'-■'S'''^"''S  kf""!"  toward  the 

of  the.r  flight  he  saw  that  the  rebels  had  completely 
surroundod  the  village,  and  were  advancing  from 
every  ,,uarter.  The  great  guns  of  the  barrJs  and 
redoubt  were  immediately  opened  upon  them,  but 
without  lutimulating  them  in  tho  least,  and  the  firiuR 
continue,!  on  both  sides  with  few  intervals  till  sunset 
Some  houses,  which  the  insurgents  took  possession  of, 
.^ere  burnt  by  the  troops ;  and  it  seemed  likely  at  one 
«"..e  that  the  whole  village  would  have  been  laid  in 
ruins  Divine  Providence,  however,  n.creifully  avert- 
ed this  calamity,  and,  during  the  nigh,,  ,h„  rebels 
thought  proper  to  retreat.  Dr.  Vandurkomp,  also, 
escaped,  on  this  occasion,  without  injury  ;  though  on 
two  srparate  occasions,  during  the  engag.mient,  he  had 
occasion  to  pass  within  a  short  distance  of  the  enemy 
who  discharged  several  shots  at  him. 

In  the  month  of  February,  lHl)i,  Dr.  Vanderkomp 
•ud  Mr.  Read  quitted  Graaf  Heine,,  and  proceeded, 
with  a  hundred  and  nine  Hottentots  under  the  escort 
of  major  Sherlock,  to  Jlou  Place,  in  ,he  vi,i„i,y  of 
Alg,«  bay.  where  «,,  extensive  farm  had  i,een  granted 
Jor  the  pur,Kise  of  .  musjonary  setilemrnt,  by  the 
kmdness  o(  general  Dundas,  the  governor  of  the 
c«pe  ;  who  not  only  cordially  approved  the  idea  of 
Civdiiiug  the  »«iivos,by  nmkina  them  »^,„,ai....  i ..;... 
ine  truihs  01  Christianity,  but  evinced  his  >cal  in  the 
IOO.I  ctuoe,  by  sending  forward  .  ,,uanti,y  of  rice  and 
Vol..  !.—,%„,.  , 15  jli  ;jO.  ^^ 


SOUTH  AFRICA. 


409 

such  other  articles  as  the  brethren  were  most  likely  to 
want,  immediately  aAer  their  arrival 

"At  this  place,"  says  Dr.  Vanderkemp, «  we  found 
an  abundance  of  gras,.  Umber  and  limestone ;  a  dTX 
".g-house.  consistmg  of  three  rooms  ;  another  house, 
fit  for  a  church  and  school ;  and  a  third,  which  we 
fitted  up  as  a  printing-office.     I  gave  to  every  famUy 
eight  hundred  square  paces  of  land,  to  build  a  house 
on.and  to  make  a  kitchen  garden.    Every  morning  and 
evening  we  met  together  in  the  school,  for  our  family 
worship  m  which  I  read  a  chapter  out  of  ,he  S 
ture,and  explained  ,t    .  Twice  a  day  we  gave  instruc- 
tions m  reading  and  writing.     I  preached'once  „nTlL 
sabbath,  and  catechized  every  Wednesday  and  Satur- 
uay  aUernoon  and  evening." 

There  was  now  apparently  reason  to  hope  that  a 
permanent  settlement  would  be  formed  on  this  spot 
wbici.  might  be  productive  of  great  advantages  to  U,e 
aeighbormg  heathen.     Trials  and  afflictions,  however, 

to  trust  the  wisdom  of  the  Providence  whose  myste- 
rious dealings  they  found  themselves  incapable  of 
explaining.  ' 

Shortly  after  the  arrival  of  the  missionarieb  at  Bota 
flace,  some  severe  diseases,  occasioned  by  the  stae- 
nated  waters  in  tlie  vicinity,  began  toappear among  the 
Hottentots;  and  Dr.  Vanderkemp  was  attacked  with  a 
diarriHBa  and  an  intermi„ing  fever,  followed  by  a  vio- 
lent  riieumatic  a.Tection,  which  totally  suspended  his 
wonted  hilwrs,  and  confined  hiin  to  his  bed  for  several 
months.     The  new  institution  was  also  viewed  with 
feelings  of  jealousy  and    hatred  by  the   neighboring 
colonists,  who  professed  to  consider  it  as  an  asylun. 
for  thieves  and  murderers,  and  represented  the  breth- 
ren as  persons  disposed  to  favor  the  predatory  CalTres 
Oiul   Hottentots,  without  any  regard  to   the  safely  of 
the  peaceable  inhabitants  of  the  country.     In  alluding 
to  the  base  and  unfounded  charges  of  these  persons 
Dr    V  anderkonip  observes,  "  The  truth   is.  we  never 
hadliio  lensi  connection  with  any  of  the   phinderinit 
pun.es.  bu,  merely  received   into  our  institution  such 
as  separated  themselves  from  them,  and,  from  aversion 
to  their  former  habits,  ruine  d„ily  ,o  us,  to  hear  the 
word  of  Gml.  mill  to  rondun  themselves  peaceably 
nrcordm^  to  our  rules.     In  consecp.ence  of  this,  how' 
ever,  we  received  an  order  from  government,  prohibit- 
m  us  from  receiving  any  more  HoitePtots,  or  having 
any  ccmnc-ction  with  the  tribes  on  .no  S-nduy  river. 
W  P  were  thus,  to  our  great  sorrow,  compelled  to  refuse 
adimssH,.,  to  many  of  these  unfortunate  people,  prin- 
cipally uomon  and  childre.i ;  who.  nevertheless,  chose 
rai::cr  ir.  iiv«  „i  ii.«  wchmIs  among  the  brutes,  than  to 
return  to  thojr  respective  tribes." 
On  the  ronriu'^ion  of  peace  between  England  and 


410 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


France,  the  Cape  \ras  restored  by  the  former  power 
to  the  Dutch.  Premusly,  however,  to  the  resigna- 
tion of  his  government,  general  Dundas  paid  a  visit  to 
the  brethren  at  Bota  Place,  and  after  slating  that  cir- 
cumstances would  compel  him  to  remove  the  garrison 
from  Fort  Frederick  (a  station  almut  seven  miles 
distant),  he  advised  them,  with  a  view  to  their  future 
security,  either  to  remove  their  institution  to  that  for- 
tress, or  to  accompany  him  to  the  Cape,  and  defer  the 
instruction  of  the  Hottentots  till  the  country  should  be 
in  a  more  tranquil  situation.  The  first  of  these  pro- 
posals they  declined,  for  a  variety  of  reasons,  but  re- 
served the  right  of  availing  themselves  of  it,  in  the 
event  of  their  being  unable  to  remain  at  their  present 
settlement.  And  with  respect  to  the  second,  both  the 
missionaries  expressed  a  determination  to  remain  with 
the  objects  of  their  anxious  solicitude,  even  though 
certain  death  should  be  the  consequence.  The  gov- 
ernor, therefore,  desisted  from  his  persuasions,  and 
returned  to  the  Cape,  after  presenting  them  with  six 
thousand  pounds  of  rice,  six  casks  of  salted  meat,  two 
hundred  sheep,  one  hundred  and  fifty-five  black  rattle, 
eleven  milch  cows,  three  wagons,  a  corn-mill,  a  pair 
of  bellows  for  a  forge,  and  various  agricultural  im- 
plements. 

Alwut  a  week  after  the  governor's  departure,  the 
settlement  was  attacked,  in  the  middle  of  the  night, 
by  a  troop  of  plundering  Hottentots,  who,  after  repeat- 
edly discharging  their  muskets,  took  away  all  the 
cattle  belonging  to  the  brethren.  One  of  the  most 
esteemed  nadves  belonging  to  the  station  approached 
these  ruthless  invaders,  and  addressed  them  in  a  con- 
ciliatory manner;  but  they  cried,"  I<ook  !  there  roinos 
a  peacemaker  ;  shoot  him  I  kill  him  !"  and  the  poor 
fellow  immediately  received  a  ball  in  iiis  leg.  They 
then  made  an  assault  u|>on  the  residence  of  the  mis- 
sionaries, probably  designing  to  sacrifice  them  to  their 
vengeance  ;  and  with  this  view  they  employed  the 
cattle,  in  the  manner  of  the  Caffres.  Some  newly- 
sawn  pianks,  however,  had  been  providi-ntially  laid  be- 
tween the  house  of  the  briuhren  and  th"  next  to  it,  and 
these  intimidated  the  beasi!«,  so  that,  instead  of  stepping 
over  them,  tl'ey  turned  aside,  and  left  the  robbers 
completely  <'X|tosed.  At  this  juncture,  the  inhabitants 
of  the  settlement  fired  among  them  in  seir-defence  ; 
and,  though  it  was  ini|K)siible  to  take  any  particular 
aim,  owing  to  the  darkncAii  of  the  nigiit,  the  chief  of 
the  plundering  parly  was  wound<-d  in  the  ihigh,  and, 
the  great  artery  lieing  divided,  the  effusion  of  blood  was 
so  great,  that  ho  expired  in  f  few  mimiles.  On  finding 
that  he  had  breathed  his  last,  the  whole  troop  retreat- 
ed with  precipitaticm,  leaving  b«*liiiid  them  all  the  rat- 
tle, e»;epl  eighteen,  which  had  beon  driven  off  at  the 
•ominencement  of  the  assault. 


"The  next  night,"  says  Dr.  Vanderkemp,  «'w» 
were  again  surrounded  by  enemies ;  but,  on  finding 
that  we  had  removed  our  cattle  from  the  kraal  into  a 
square  which  was  surrounded  by  the  houses,  and  barri- 
catloed  at  all  the  entrances,  they  left  us  unmolested. 
Two  days  afterward,  however,  they  returned  with  t 
reinforcement,  and  a'.tacked  us  in  the  middle  of  the 
day,  and  drove  away  our  cattle  from  the  pastures, 
after  having  stabbed  one  of  our  wood-cutters,  who  had 
gone  into  the  wood  to  pray."  The  patience  of  the 
inhabitants  being  now  exhausted,  they  rushed  out  in  a 
body  vipon  the  robbers,  and  attacked  them  with  such 
fury  that  they  were  soon  compelled  to  consult  their 
safety  by  flight ;  and  the  whole  of  the  cattle  were 
happily  brought  back  to  the  settlement,  with  the  ex- 
ception  of  eight  oxen,  which  had  been  killed  or  mor- 
tally wounded. 

It  was  considered  no  longer  safe  to  remain  at  Bota 
Place,  a;  j  enemy ,  though  driven  off  for  the  present, 
might  Si.on  return  with  a  force  too  great  to  bo  success- 
fully resisted.  The  missionaries,  therefore,  with  the 
consent  of  their  people,  removed  their  institution  to 
Fort  Frederick,  until  the  new  government  might  assigit 
some  other  sjwt  for  their  residence. 

Notwithstanding  their  removal,  the  situation  of  our 
missionaries  was  still  extremely  unpleasant  and  trying; 
partly  from  the  wretched  state  of  their  own  people, 
for  want  of  food,  clothing,  and  other  necessaries  ;  and 
partly  fnmi  the  hostile  conduct  of  the  boors,  or  farmers, 
whom  general  Dundas  had  left  in  possession  of  tho 
fort  till  the  Dutch  should  arrive.  Those  ungodly 
wretches  were  sworn  enemies  to  tho  brethren,  and 
would,  no  doubt,  have  fell  gratified  by  imbruing 
their  hands  in  their  blood.  As  they  were  afraid  to 
attack  them,  however,  they  embrnced  every  opportu- 
nity of  seiy.ing  their  property,  and  that  of  their  people; 
and,  in  some  instances,  even  children  were  stolen  by 
tliem,  and  sent  to  a  distant  part  of  tho  country.  They 
also  employed  the  basest  means  to  seduce  tho  Houen- 
tots  into  drunkenness,  fornication,  and  other  vices,  and 
to  inspire  them  with  contempt  for  the  religion  of  Christ ; 
and,  in  addition  to  all  these  enormities,  they  barba- 
rously murdered  two  of  ihe  persons  belonging  to  the 
institution. 

On  the  I8th  of  April,  1803,  major  Von  Oelter 
arrived  in  Algoa  bay,  with  a  small  b«)dy  of  troops,  to 
assume  tho  command  of  tho  fort  ;  and  on  the  second 
nf  tho  ensuing  month,  the  missionaries  received  a  visit 
from  governor  Jansens,  who  had  undertaken  a  tour 
thniugh  the  country,  in  order  to  ascertain  the  real 
causes  of  tho  anarchy  which  had  now  for  a  long  lime 
sulMiisted  in  this  part  of  the  colony.  It  seemed  that 
his  excellency  had  J»een  strongly  prejudiced  against  the 
brethren  by  the  base  and  unrounded  representation* 


BETHEI.SOORP, 


rfthe  enemies  of  religion ;  but  he  was  soon  convinced 
of  the  utility  of  their  labors,  ami  kindly  assigned  them 
•  tract  of  land  for  a  settlement,  about  seven  miles 
northward  of  Fort  Frt-derick,  and  in  the  vicinity  of  a 
•mall  nver  which  the  Hottentots  call  tlio  KooIhw. 

Of  the  principal  occurrences  at  this  phuo,  as  well  as 
of  the  events  lonnocled  with  other  stations  in  South 
Africa,  It  will  now  bo  necessary,  for  the  sake  of  per- 
spicuity, to  give  n  brief  but  connected  history. 


411 


nCTHELSDORP. 

tin  U..  dlrtriol  of  Uii,„|..ff.,  r„«r  hu«a„.|  .„.|  fifty  ...n,.  ,„,„„j 
of  Cap*  Town.] 

On  their  arrival  nt  the  new  sttilion,  to  which  l)r 
Vanderkemp  gave  the  „„me  „f  H,thrf>iforp,  or  .he 
V,Uageofttc,hrl,  they  found  it  nmch  hoahhicr  than 
Bota  I  lace,  and  affording  better  pn.siurngo  Imtj.  for 
sheep  and  oxen.  Water  and  firo-w„od,  however,  weio 
less  abundant  than  they  could  have  desire.! ;  nn.l  there 
was,  unfortunotely,  no  timber  in  the  neighborhoo.i 

Having  marked  out  a  plot  of  ground,  two  h.nuirod  u,u! 
forty  paces  in  length,  and  one  hundre.l  aii.l  forty-four  in 
breadth,  they  divided  il  into  dilferent  allotmenls  li,r  the 
famihos  under  their  care,  and  gave  the  iiiinie  of  Ihlhel 
fountatn  to  the  stream  which  ran  through  ihe  ini.idj,.  of 
the  settlement.  They  then  erected  «  temporary  elunrh, 
and   houses  for  iheir  own  aceonmio    iiion,  ihe  walls 
and  roofs  beuig  chiefly  comilmcted  ofteed.s  ;  and  in  the 
beginning  of  July,  .hey  were  enabled  to  commen.e 
pub...- worship,  and  to  open  a  school  for  the  instruction 
of  vouth  in  the  humlilo  edifice  which  they  had  reareil 
for  the  service  of  (Jod,  who  hath  promise.!,  tliat,  in 
et-ery  place    where    his   name    in   rec.rded,   lie  will 
come  unto  his  adoring   people,  and   give    tlu<m   liis 
blessing. 

In  Ihe  r.-port  of  their  prcK-eedings  eo.mminicaled  to 
the  .hroeiors  of  the  Ix.ndon  society,  the  mis.sionarics 
observe,  "  The  work  of  God,  to  the  glory  of  his  „„,„,. 
has  ihii  year  (IH(KJ)  been  very  CMi.spiru.uis.  !l,.ai|„.„ 
darkness  ha-,  lle.l  before  the  light  of  ih,.  ^o,,,,.!,  n,„i 
llie  power  of  converting  grace  has  triiimplied  over  tlie 
tyronny  of  Satan  in  the  heorts  of  M-veral  of  those 
|.«gans  to  whom  we  Imve  be.Mi  cail.-d  to  preo.-li  ilie 
word  rf  Christ  ,  an.!,  among  (he.e,  brother  CJupido 
de»<!ivc»  i..  ita  particularly  mentioned  :— 

'  Be(i>r..  his  conversion,  C^ipido  -va,  a  most  not,,. 
rier,  ».„ur,  famous  forswearing,  lying,  figh.ing.  »„,| 
espe,.a||y  drunkenness  ;  which,  in  conse.juence  of  th«, 
weakness ofhinconstitution.  fre.njonily kid  hl!!-.:-.n=  ,;.  '- 
Ix'd.  On  siii-li  o(!casions,  ho  invariably  resolv...!  to  almir. 
d«.n  tins  .|..^r«dillg  sin,  and  to  lead  a  sober  life  ;  but  no 


sooner  did  lii«  health  return,  than  his  besetting  tin  tinin 
prevailed.  He  wassometimeatfraid  of  the  angerofcLl. 
though  he  knew  him  not,  and  expeoted  that  hi.  conduct 
would  lead  to  the  destruction  of  his  soul.     He  there- 
fore,  anxiously  inquired  of  all  ho  met  !iy  what  means  he 
might  be  freed  from  the  crime  of  drunkenness,  con- 
reiving  that  ho  might  be  easily  delivered  from   all 
other  sins.     Some  directed  him  to  apply  to  witches 
and  wizards ;  but  these  were  miserable  comforters,  for 
Ihey  told  hrni  that  the  very  inquiries  which  he  made 
evinced  that  ho  was  near  death.     Otlicra  prescribed 
various  kinds  of  medicines,  which  he  took  with  avidity  • 
but  all  proved  in  vain.    At  length,  being  providentially' 
Ud  to  Oraaf  Romot,lio  heanl.in  a  disc.nirse  delivered 
.y  Mr.  Vander  Lingen,  that  Jesus  Christ,  the  Son  of 
l^od,  was  able  to  save  sinners  from  all  their  sins      Ha 
nnmcliately  said  within  himself, '  That  is  what  I  want  I' 
and  soon  afterwards  united  himself  to  the  missionary 
nistiiution,  that  ho  might  hear  something  more  of  this 
l>los,sou  Jesus.     In  hi,  .ubsoqueut  attendance  on  the 
n.eans  of  grace,  under  Ur.  Vanderkemp,  the  secrets 
of  Ins  heart  wore  laid  open:  ho  was  taught  to  seek  an 
'"tercst  in  (Christ,  and  is  now  become  one  of  our  mosi 
/.ealou.s  fellow  hilwrors,  earnestly  recommending  Christ 
10  In.s  fellow  men,  as  ihu  only  remedy  for  sin." 

Of  .im.iher  convert,  named  Hoeank,  it  is  stated,  that 
wlieii  he  lu„  visi.e.1  the  brethren,  ho  was  in  n  most  dis- 
grn,.e(.il  Male  ..f  inloxication,  and  they  were  serimisly 
rtlra.d  tlial  he  might  .seduce  some  of  tlioir  people.    Hi, 
nltentioii,  however,  was  s.Km  excited  by  .he  irmlis  of 
II"'  gospel,  and,  after  some  time,  ho  applied  to   Dp 
Vaiulerkemp  for  a.lvie,<  and  consohilioii  un.ler  great 
d..stre.ss  of  .oul.     On  this  occasion   ho  slate.!,  in   his 
simple  language,  iliat  "  lie  ha.l  go.  two  hearts   ••  and 
l)rtM-ee.!e.l,  i„  the  nu    i  nlfecliiig  ,n„,„u,r.  .0  d...cribe 
lluit  inl.'rnul  cndi.'i  «hich  is  so  accurately  d.-lineated 
in  Ihe  S<-ripl,ires  of  irulh,  and  ,0  fr.M|uenlly  mourned 
over  by  every  genuine  believer.    In  him,  h..w,.vcr,  llm 
I'ower  .)f  divme  grii.e  prove.l  viciorious,  ami  liis  heart 
one..  Ih..  aho.!,.  of  .-very  baleful  lust,  beam.-  n  l.abi-' 
lalion  ol  (;.„|  ihnnigh  the  Spirit,  bein^  fille.l  with  /,eol 
or  Ihe  honor  of  it...  Re.leemer,  an.l  over»l..wing  with 
love  10  lii»  coimirymen.  among  wh..m   lie  l...gaii  lo 
preach  the  unseHrchable  riches  of  Christ  with  c.nsider- 
al'le  occepian.-e. 

Another  im.tance  of  the  success  which  attended  the 

faillifu!  laliors  ..f  il uHsionnries  among  t!.u  heaiheu, 

in  litis  pan  of  Afii.a,  appears  in  ihe  occounl  of  a  Hot-' 

"'" "" •'  «•""•'"",  who,  for  several  years,  hud  been 

exiremely  anxious  lo  obtain  some  knowledge  of  divine 
Ihings.bui  liH.I  met  with  no  one  capable  ..f  giviiiR  hint 
iiir  i!iriinTj.iii„i.  f.,1  wiii.li  jie  ihirsted.  From  Iha  time 
thai  the  United  Hrrthren  seiiled  ihemselv.-s  ul  Mniinn's 
Kh...f,  ho  tried  every  means  lo  got  oui  of  survico,  in 


Its 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


order  that  he  might  be  able  to  visit  them ;  but  all  his 
attempts  proved  ineflTectual.  In  the  midst  of  the  com- 
inotions  in  the  district  of  Graaf  Reinet,  and  whilst 
some  of  the  boors  were  flying  from  their  houses,  Sam- 
son was  falsely  accused  of  having  betrayed  their 
intended  route  to  the  English.  For  this  imaginary 
crime,  he  was  immediately  put  in  irons,  and  sentenced 
to  be  killed  the  next  morning.  During  the  night, 
however,  he  contrived  to  break  his  chains,  and  happily 
escaped  to  the  missionaries,  by  whom  he  was  readily 
and  afieclionately  instructed  in  the  things  pertaining  to 
his  everlasting  peace.  From  this  time  he  became  a 
most  attentive  hearer  of  the  word  of  God  ;  and  in  the 
spring  of  1803,  he  was  admitted  to  the  rite  of  baptisni ; 
after  which  he  became  a  useful  auxiliary  to  the  breth- 
ren, in  explaining  the  gospel  to  his  countrymen,  and 
in  earnestly  admonishing  them  to  flee  from  the  wrath 
to  come. 

In  their  occasional  hunting  excursions,  the  native 
converts  seem  to  have  embraced  every  opportunity  of 
conversing  both  with  their  own  countrymen  and  the 
Dutch  colonists  on  the  subject  of  their  eternal  interests  ; 
and  in  the  month  of  September,  1804,  the  well-timed 
and  faithful  remarks  of  Boezak  appear  to  have  made  a 
considerable  impression  on  the  minds  of  three  Hotten- 
tots, and  a  young  peasant,  named  Bromhout.  On  a 
subsequent  hunting  expedition,  tiiis  useful  auxiliary  of 
tiie  brethren  narrowly  escaped  being  killed  by  an 
elephant.  He  and  two  of  his  companions,  having  shot 
a  female,  were  busily  employed  in  cutting  the  animal 
to  pieces,  when  the  male  approached  them  so  secretly 
behind  the  b'lshes  that  they  did  not  observe  liini  till 
he  got  within  twenty  pares  of  the  spot  where  they 
were  standing.  Two  of  the  hunters  imnudiately  fled  ; 
but  Bopzak  fired,  and  wounded  the  elephant  in  the 
breast.  The  infuriated  animal  immediately  rushed 
towards  him  with  n  dreadful  shriek,  and  woidd  have  in- 
evitably sacrifired  him  to  his  vengeance ;  but  at  this 
critical  moment  the  men  who  had  retreated  providen- 
tially turned  hack,  ond  despatched  the  elephant  by 
their  shots. 

On  the  2'lih  of  April,  IPO.'i,  in  consequence  of  the 
false  representations  and  unfounded  charges  of  the 
Dutch  boors,  who  lienrti!)  detested  the  missionaries, 
and  earnestly  desired  their  destruction.  Dr.  Vanderkeinp 
received  an  order  from  governor  .lansens  to  repair  to 
Cape  Town  without  delay.  This  produced  a  general 
dejection  among  the  people  ;  and  when  they  heard  ihni 
their  venerable  tearher  was  to  he  accompanied  by  his 
colleociie.Mr.  Head,  their  grief  was  naturally  increas- 
ed Providentially,  however,  they  were  in  no  dangler 
c'l  being  left  destitute  of  innruction,  as  Messrs. 
Ulbriclu  and  Tromp,  two  brethren  sent  out  by  the 
Dutch    society,    had    arrived    at    Bcthelsdorp   oIkjiU 


three  days  previous  to  the  governor's  communi- 
cation. 

Tlie  day  before  their  departure,  Dr.  Vanderkemp 
addressed  his  little  flock  from  those  affecting  words 
which  David  uttered  when  the  unnatural  rebellion  of 
Absalom  compelled  him  to  abandon  his  capital  :  "  If 
I  shall  find  favor  in  the  eyes  of  the  Lord,  he  will 
bring  me  again,  and  show  me  both  it  and  his  habitation : 
But  if  he  say,  I  haveoo  delight  in  thee,  behold,  here 
am  I ;  let  him  do  to  me  as  seemeth  good  unto  him." 
In  the  evening,  Mr.  Read  spoke  from  Rev.  xxi.  6 : 
"  It  is  done  :  I  am  Alpha  and  Omega  ;  the  beginning 
and  the  end."  And  the  impression  which  was  made 
by  each  of  these  discourses  may  be  much  easier  con- 
ceived than  described. 

The  next  morning.  Dr.  Vanderkemp  and  Mr.  Read 
set  out  on  their  journey,  after  taking  a  most  tender 
farewell  of  their  people,  the  greater  part  of  whom 
followed  them  to  a  considerable  distance ;  and  when, 
at  length,  they  interchanged  the  last  adieus,  and  grad- 
ually began  to  return,  one  girl  persisted  in  stopping 
with  her  beloved  teachers,  declaring  that  she  would 
rather  throw  herself  beneath  the  wheels  of  the  wagon, 
and  be  crushed  to  pieces,  than  consent  to  leave  them. 
The  aflfectionate  creature  was,  therefore,  admitted 
among  the  travellers,  and  arrived  safely  with  them  at 
the  cape,  on  the  third  of  June. 

During  their  detention  at  this  place,  the  prospects 
of  the  brethren  appear  to  have  been  very  gloomy,  as 
Dr.  Vanderkemp  observes  in  a  letter,  dated  December 
8,  1805: — "Our  frequent  applications  to  the  governor 
for  permission  to  return  to  our  congregation  at  Bethels- 
dorp,  or  to  continue  our  missionary  work  in  any  other 
district  of  the  colony,  or  to  undertake  an  exploratory 
excursion  into  the  countries  beyond  its  limits,  have  all 
been  rejected,  on  account  of  the  outcries  of  the  boors 
against  us,  representing  us  as  in  the  interest  of  the 
f^nglish,  and,  therefore,  likely  to  produce  a  dangerous 
influence  upon  the  minds  of  the  nativas." 

All  things  now  seemed  to  make  against  the  prosecu- 
tion of  the  mission,  and  both  Dr.  Vanderkemp  and  his 
colleague  fully  ex])ected  tJiat  they  should  very  soon 
le  uiider  the  necessity  of  leaving  the  country.  Tlio 
flod,  however,  to  whose  service  they  were  devoted, 
••ad  otherwise  determined;  and,  when  all  hope  appear- 
ed to  be  cut  off",  deliverance  was  nigh  at  hand.  On 
the  4th  of  January,  1806,  a  British  fleet  "ppeared  off 
tin  roast ;  and  the  troops  Iiavinc  landed,  a  lew  days 
afterward,  under  the  command  of  sir  David  Buird, 
the  Dutch  retreate'  after  •  short  resistance,  and  the 
British  rolor.^  were  hoisted  in  the  capital.  After  the 
cn'iituktion  iif  ih«>  town,  sir  David  sen!  for  Dr.  Van- 
derkem|>,  and  trnated  iiim  with  every  mark  of  respect 
nnd  |)olitencss.    He  even  took  him  with  him  to  sec  thf 


BETHELSDORP. 


Hottentot  prisoners  of  war,  and  left  it  to  him  to  de- 
termine whether  they  should  be  liberated.  He,  soon 
afterwards,  gave  the  doctor  permission  to  return  to 
Bethelsdorp,  and,  for  that  purpose,  granted  him  one 
of  the  wagons  taken  from  governor  Jansens  ;  but  Mr. 
Read,  at  his  particular  desire,  went  by  sea.  "  Little 
did  I  think,"  says  Mr.  R.  "  that  this  circumstance 
would  have  afforded  me  an  opportunity  of  seeing  my 
desire  upon  my  enemy.  A  few  days  before  the  arrival 
of  the  British  fleet,  however,  a  French  privateer  had 
been  driven  on  shore  by  an  English  frigate  near  the 
Cape  ;  and  one  day,  when  tacking,  we  came  very  near 
her,  just  as  I  was  telling  the  captain  of  my  having 
been  captured  in  the  Duff  by  the  Grand  Buonaparte. 
'  There,  then,'  said  he,  pointing  to  the  stranded  vessel, 
'lies  your  enemy;  for  that  is  the  ship  which  was 
cruising  on  the  coast  of  South  America  in  the  last  war.' 
My  feelings  on  the  occasion,"  adds  Mr.  Head, "  were 
more  than  I  can  express :  all  my  former  trials  were 
brought  to  my  recollection,  and  I  could  only  wonder 
at  the  way  in  which  the  Lord  had  led  me."  It  is 
pleasing  to  add,  that  both  the  missionaries  arrived  in 
safety  at  Bethels,  irp,  and  were  received  by  their 
beloved  people  with  the  most  enthusiastic  tokens 
of  joy.  "  Even  the  old  Hottentot  women,  who 
could  scarcely  leave  their  houses,"  says  Mr.  Read, 
"  made  their  appearance  on  this  occasion,  to  join  ihe 
general  acclamation  of  clapping  of  hands  ;  and  I  was 
almost  afraid  of  being  smothered  under  their  caresses." 
Thus  were  the  machinations  of  the  enemies  of  the  cross 
defeated  ;  and  thus  were  the  devoted  heralds  of  mercy 
happily  restored  to  the  scene  of  tlieir  labors. 

About  six  months  after  his  return  from  the  Cape, 
Dr.  Vanderkemp  experienced  a  striking  instance  of 
the  providential  care  of  his  heavenly  Father.  A 
heavy  frame  of  wood,  which  some  workmen  were 
raising  upon  a  house  under  the  suporiiitcndence  of  the 
veteran  missionary,  acridcp^ally  'lippod  from  tfie  part 
on  which  it  rested,  and  struck  him  severely  on  the 
head,  wounding  hitn  in  several  places.  Such,  indeed, 
was  the  violence  of  the  blow,  that  the  blood  gushed  out 
of  his  nose  and  mouth,  and  one  of  his  teeth  was 
literally  forced  out  of  the  jaw  ;  yet  his  life  was  liniipily 
preserved.  Another  and  still  more  remarkable  escape 
is  noticed  in  the  report  of  the  following  year,  1807. 
"  It  happened,"  say  the  missionaries,  "  that  the  horns 
of  one  of  our  oxen  became  cntauglnl  with  the  horns  of 
another,  which  were  bent  like  those  of  ihfcnt'!e!)e!on!;- 
ing  to  the  Caffros  ;  mid  it  was  impossiblo,  therefore,  to 
separate  them  without  binding  he  animals,  and  throwing 

them  upon  the  ground."    As  soon  as  they  weri!  loosed 
1...  .i._  .._:. I  «<r.... c  .i.«  I .1 V i__i 1 

f^    rtirr  •»i!rt — t  r:?**tt-  v*    -r*-  •»i-:r;irtT    *  ttlltirrr.rilip  arm 

Ulbricht,  with  others,  the  beasts  sprang  up  full  of  fury. 
The  spectators  immediately  fled ;  but  one  of  the  oxen 


413 

overtook  the  venerable  doctor,  and  taking  him  between 
ite  horns,  threw  him  to  a  distance  of  several  paces. 
In  the  fall,  one  of  his  legs  was  grazed,  and  his  hip  was 
writhed  in  such  a  manner  that  he  was  unable,  for  some 
days,  to  lift  it  up. 

Eariy  in  September,  1809,  the  old  church  at  Beth- 
elsdorp,  having  been  weakened  by  the  removal  of  an 
adjoining  house,  began  to  give  way  ;  and  one  evening, 
whilst  Mr.  Ulbricht  was  preaching,  it  gave  a  sudden 
crack,  and  partly  fell  in ;  whilst  the  hearers  fled  in  all 
directions,  and  in  the  utmost  confusion.  Happily,  how- 
ever, no  serious  misfortune  occurred,  and  the  next  day 
the  crazy  edifice  was  propped  up,  so  as  to  admit  of  the 
congregation  assembling  there,  till  a  more  durable 
structure  could  be  raised.  "  Our  people,"  say  the 
brethren,  "  had  long  since  offered  their  services  for 
the  erection  of  a  new  church ;  but,  unfortunately,  the 
necessity  for  building  occurred  at  a  very  unfavorable 
time  of  the  year,  provisions  being  extremely  scarce. 
On  the  11th  of  September,  however,  we  began,  some 
to  lay  the  foundation,  and  others  to  cut  wood,  &c. 
The  walls  were  carried  up  with  mud  and  strong  posts, 
seven  feet  high  and  eight  inches  thick,  and  the  thatch 
was  put  on  by  the  end  of  the  month ;  so  that,  on  the 
30th,  we  were  enabled  to  perform  divine  service  in  it, 
and  the  old  one  was  pulled  down." 

In  the  month  of  April,  1811,  Dr.  Vanderkemp  and 
Mr.  Read  arrived  at  Cape  Town,  having  been  sum- 
moned to  appear  before  an  extraordinary  commission, 
which  had  been  appointed  by  the  governor,  lord  Cale- 
don,  to  afford  their  assistance  in  the  investigation  of 
numerous  cljarges  of  cruelty  and  murder  committed 
in  the  vicinity  of  Bethelsdorp  ;  complaints  of  which 
had  been  repeatedly  made  by  the  missionaries.  They 
communicated  to  the  commissioners  more  than  a  hun- 
dred cases  of  Hottentots  said  to  have  hern  murdered 
since  the  establishment  of  the  institution  at  Bethels- 
dorp. In  consequence  of  this  information,  his  excel- 
lency directed  thai  «iie  commissioners  should  person- 
ally visit  the  several  districts  in  which  these  enormities 
were  alleged  to  have  been  perpetrated.  Notwithstcnd- 
iiig  this  noble  act  of  justice  on  the  part  of  his  lordship, 
however,  but  few  of  the  cases  could  be  ultimately  sub- 
stantiated by  legal  evidence  ;  as  it  was  scarcely  possible 
to  obtain  the  testimony  of  one  colonist  against  another, 
and,  by  the  Dutch  code,  the  oath  of  a  Hottentot  was 
inadmissible. 

On  the  13th  of  September,  five  German  brethren, 
together  with  G.  Comer,  a  converted  black,  from 
Demarara,  arrived  in  safety  at  the  Cape,  having  sailed 
from  Portsmouth  on  the  3Ist  of  Juno.and  were  gladly 
receive;!  cy  iiic  iiiiSsioriiinca  6ri.7  Dy  liii  iiiuiius  «m 
religion  nt  large. 

It  now  became  a  business  of  no  small  care  and  ira- 


414 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


porUnce,  in  their  peculiar  circumstances,  to  dispose 
of  all  the  missionaries  in  a  suitable  manner.    At  length, 
however,  an  arrangement  was  determined  upon,  and 
partly  executed,  when  an  event,  one  of  the  most  dis- 
tressing  which  the  London  Missionary  Society  had 
hitherto  been  called  to  lament,  occurred ;    viz.  the 
heavy  loss  of  their   venerable   and    apostolic  mis- 
sionary. Dr.  Vanderkemp.     His  health  had  been  visi- 
bly on  the  decline  for  some  time  past,  and  his  friends 
contemplated,  with  painful  apprehensions,  hb  project- 
ed mission  to  Madagascar.     That  populous  and  long- 
neglected  island  had,  for  many  years,  engaged  the 
attention  of  this  pious  man,  and  he  longed  to  commu- 
nicate to  its  numerous  inhabitants  the  invaluable  bless- 
ings of  the  gospel.     Application  had  been  made  to 
his   excellency   lord   Caledon  for   his  consent    and 
assistance,  which  was  kindly  promised.     But,  on  the 
removal  of  that  nobleman,  it  was  necessary  to  obtain 
the  same  countenance  from  his  successor,  sir  John 
Cradock.     Dr.  Vanderkemp  also  waited  to  know  the 
determination  of  his  brother  Pacalt,  then  at  Bethels- 
iJorp,  who  had  proposed  to  accompany  him.     After 
nome  time,  a  concurrence  of  favorable  circumstances 
fleemed  to  indicate  that  the  door  of  faith  was  about  to 
be  opened  to  the  heathen  of  Madagascar.     But  whilst 
the  doctor  was  anticipating  his  removal  to  this  new 
field  of  labor,  the  Lord  of  missions  saw  fit  to  call  him 
home  to  the  enjoyment  of  eternal  rest. 

After  despatching  some  of  the  brethren  to  their 
appointed  stations,  ho  was  taken  ill  in  the  morning  of 
Saturday,  December  the  7th.  On  the  preceding 
evening,  his  exhortation,  and  especially  his  prayer, 
was  much  noticed  by  his  friends  ;  and,  in  the  morning, 
his  exposition  of  a  chapter  was  peculiarly  acceptable. 
Having  concluded  the  devotions  of  the  family,  he  told 
his  friend,  Mrs.  Smith,*  who  has  been  justly  styled 
"  a  mother  in  Israel,"  that  he  felt  extremely  weak, 
and  wished  he  might  have  time  afforded  him  to  settle 

•  It  would  be  almott  unpardonable  to  ipeak  or  write  of  Bethel*- 
dorp,  and  not  make  lionorablr  mention  of  that  venerable  woman, 
Mrt.  Matilda  Smith.  Tlio  reader  ii  referred  to  a  moat  intereiting 
biography  of  thia  eminentrhriitian,  written  by  the  Ke».  Dr.  I'hilip, 
and  publiahed  by  J.  Weatley,  London.  It  haa,  unfortunauly,  never 
been  reprinted  in  the  United  8UU-a.  A  review  of  the  work  ia  con- 
tained in  Oie.*m«r.Wm  Hapl,.^l  Magaiine  for  1890,  p  909.  Mra.  Smith 
eapouaed  the  niiiHinnary  came  when  othera  abandoned  it  Thua, 
when  Ur.  Vanderkemp  waa  exiled  by  the  Dutch  government,  aha 
felt  for  the  little  band  at  neth.ladorp,  left  her  comforUble  home  at 
the  Cape,  and  offired  her  aervicea,  to  lupply,  (afar  aa  poaaible,  the 
place  of  Uie  baniahed  miniaU-r.  Her  compaaaion  and  leal  embraced 
many  objecU.  She  op..ned  a  aabbalh  and  day  achool  for  the  Capo 
Town  •Uvea  ;  inatituled  an  African  Miaaionary  Society  auiiliary  to 
that  of  London ;  formed  a  bcIi.k)1  at  Betheladorp  for  tlie  Hottentot 
femalea,  which  waa  prcMluctive  of  tlie  moat  nappy  reaulU  ;  in  IHIO, 
•et  on  foot  the  Ca|>e  Ladiea'  Smiety  for  the  Relief  of  the  Poor ;' 
»nd,  in  IHI3,  iihe  commenced  a  Juvenile  Miaaionary  B.K-iety  ;  and 
*"r  itidrr-J  she  prnvrd  i  ,„.,IU,-,  ,„  i.raei.  Mra.  ttniith  died  16Ui 
November,  I*J1,  at  the  age  of  74. 


his  temporal  concerns.  This  desire,  however,  was 
not  granted.  He  was  immediately  seized  with  a  cold 
shivering,  succeeded  by  a  continued  and  fatal  fever,  by 
which  all  his  powers  were  so  completely  oppressed, 
that  he  was  scarcely  able  to  speak,  even  in  answer  to  a 
question.  About  two  days  before  his  death,  and  when 
that  event  was  fully  expected,  both  by  himself  and  his 
friends,  Mrs.  Smith  said  to  him,  "  My  dear  friend, 
what  is  the  present  state  of  your  mind  ?"  To  which, 
with  a  pleasing  smile  on  his  countenance,  he  replied, 
"  All  is  well !"  She  again  asked,  "  Is  it  light  or  dark- 
ness?" He  answered,  "Light !"  He  continued  sensi- 
ble to  the  last ;  but  extreme  weakness  disabled  him 
from  consoling  and  instructing  his  Christian  friends 
who  surrounded  him.  On  the  Lord's  day  morning, 
December  15,  he  closed  his  eyes  on  this  world,  and 
departed  to  the  realms  of  light,  to  behold  himj  in 
his  glory,  whom  he  had  so  faithfully  and  successfully 
preached  upon  earth. 

The  directors,  in  their  annual  report  for  1812,  dis- 
claim the  idea  of  attempting  to  eulogize  this  faithful 
and  devoted  servant  of  Jesus.  "  His  character,"  say 
they,  "  is  seen  and  read  of  all  men,  in  his  piety,  self- 
denial  and  apostolic  labors.  As  it  was  emphatically 
written,  by  way  of  epitaph,  on  the  tomb  of  a  cele- 
brated architect,  in  the  noble  edifice  which  he  had 
reared,  <  Cikcumspice'  {Look  around),  so,  when  it 
shall  be  inquired  by  the  world, '  What  was  the  charac- 
ter of  Dr.  Vanderkemp  ?'  the  Missionary  Society  will 
point  to  the  South  African  missions,  to  Bethelsdorp, 
and  to  a  church  of  the  living  God  erected  in  a  wilder- 
ness of  savages,  and  say,  'Behold  his  character; 
admire  and  imitate  !'  " 

In  consequence  of  the  death  of  Dr.  Vanderkemp, 
and  the  increasing  number  and  importance  of  th«ir 
missionary  stations  in  South  Africa,  the  directors  felt 
anxious  to  send  out  one  of  their  own  body,  to  regulato 
the  concerns  of  the  society  in  that  part  of  the  globe. 
After  some  time,  they  were  fortunate  enough  to  induce 
the  Rev.  John  Campbell,  of  Kingsland,  to  undertake 
this  labor  of  love  ;  and  on  the  24lh  of  October,  1812, 
that  faithful  servant  of  Christ  arrived  at  the  Cape, 
where  he  was  favored  with  the  most  friendly  inter- 
course with  the  colonial  government. 

On  the  20th  of  March,  in  the  ensuing  year,  he 
arrived  at  Betliulsdorp,  to  the  great  joy  both  of  the 
brethi-en  and  their  Hottentot  congregation ;  and  here 
he  witncs.s((l  a  nmch  greater  degree  of  civilization 
than  he  had  been  led  to  anticipate,  from  the  reports 
in  circulation,  on  his  arrival  at  Cnpe  Town.  The 
unfounded  and  cnlmnnious  representations  of  Liclifen- 
stein  were  in  fact  completely  disproved  ;  for,  instead 
as  -the  utiiiiy  of  the  institution  being  lost,  by  llio 
ot»fr  pioiu  spirit  and  prouil  humilily  of  its  head" 


BETHELSDORP. 


(Dr.  Vanderkemp),  and  instead  of  "no  attention  hav- 
ing been  paid  to  give  the  people  proper  occupations," 
Mr.  Campbell  found  many  of  the  natives  at  Bethels- 
dorp  exercising  the  businesses  of  smiths,  carpenters, 
sawyers,  basket-makers,  brick-makers,  thatchers,  coop- 
ers, lime-burners,  mat-manufacturers,  stocking-makers, 
tailors,  &c.  &c.    He  also  saw  cultivated  fields  extend- 
mg  two  miles  in  length,  on  both  sides  of  a  river,  and 
was  informed  that  their  cattle  had  increased  from  two 
hundred  and  eighteen  to  two  thousand  two  hundred 
and  SIX ;  and  that  from  three  to  four  hundred  calves 
had  been  produced  in  a  year,  of  which  not  more  than 
fifty  had  been  allowed  to  be  slaughtered  within  the 
sam-  space  of  time.     The  blessed  effects  of  religion 
were  likewise  displayed  at  this  grossly  slandered  set- 
tlement, in  a  variety  of  benevolent  institutions  formed 
among  the  Hottentots.   They  had  a  fund  for  the  relief 
of  the  sick  and  indigent,  which  amounted  to  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  rix  dollars,  and  they  had  recently  proposed 
erecting  a  house  for  the  reception  of  part  of  their  poor. 
They  had,  also,  a  common  fund,  for  the  purpose  of 
improving  the  settlement,  amounting  to  one  hundred 
and  thirty  dollars,  and  about  thirty  head  of  cattle  ; 
and,  in  addition  to  ail  this,  they  had  contributed,  dur- 
ing the  preceding  twelve  months,  the  sum  of  seventy- 
six  dollars  in  aid  of  the  London  Missionary  Society. 

To  prove  to  demonstration  that  this  picture  is  by 
no  means  overdrawn,  it  is  only  necessary  to  advert  to 
the  payment  of  two  years'  taxes,  demanded  by  the 
colonial  government,  and  paid  by  the  Hottentots;  of 
which  the  following  interesting  account  is  given  by 
Mr.  Read,  in  a  letter  dated  April  9,  1815. 

"  Remonstrances,"  says  this  missionary,  "  having 
proved  in  vain,  the  only  alternative  was  for  our  people 
to  exert  themselves  to  the  utmost,  in  order  to  raise  the 
money.     Accordingly,  they  dispersed  themselves,  and 
applied,  some  to  hewing  and  sawing  timber,  and  others 
to  beating  bark,  and  burning  charcoal.     The  smith, 
the  wheelwright,  the  carpenter,  &c.  all  exerted  them- 
selves to  comply  with  the  demand  made  on  them  and  on 
their  poorer  relations ;  so  that,  at  the  appointed  lime, 
the  tax  was  paid,  amounting  to  three  thousand  rix 
dollars,  or  about  seven  hundred  pounds.     And  on  the 
following  day,  a  regular  atixiliary  society  was  proposed 
and  established  for  this  settlement,  in  consequence 
of  many  of  the  natives  having  long  expressed  a  desire 
to  do  something  more  for  thecauseof  Christ  than  they 
had  hitherto  done      Twelve  of  the  members  were 
chosen  to  form  a  committee,  and  subscriptions  were 
immediately  made  to  the  amount  of  eight  hundred  rix 
dollars,  or  about  one  hundred  and  sixty  pounds !" 

In  the  iT.onth  of  Octnhor.    Iftl7    fli»  r„^.,:A~~.:.i 
-  — .   — .,   —  J ,.,.,^,j„, 

care  of  the  Almighty  over  some  of  the  Hottentots 

belonging  to  this  insthution  was  strikingly  displayed. 


415 

Three  soldiers  belonging  to  the  African  corps  had 
robbed  a  wagon  between  Algoa  bay  and  Bethelsdorp, 
and  afterwards  murdered  the  keeper  of  a  canteen,  or 
httle  public  house,  on  the  side  of  the  road.  The  latter 
wanton  and  cruel  outrage  was  reported  at  the  vUlage 
by  a  Hottentot ;  and  twelve  of  the  natives  wereirame- 
diately  ordered  to  accompany  him  to  the  canteen.    A 
company  of  fanners,  mistaking  these  men  for  the 
assassins,  endeavored  to  shoot  them ;  but  none  of  their 
pieces  would  go  off.     Immediately  after,  the  landrost 
arrived,  and  desired  that  some  of  the  Hottentots  might 
search  for  the  murderers.   They  did  so,  and,  after  some 
time,  found  them  concealed  in  a  bush.     "  When  the 
soldiers  saw  our  people,"  says  one  of  the  mission -.ries, 
"  they  attempted,  three  several  times,  to  fire  at  them,  but 
each  time  their  pieces  missed  fire.     Upon  this,' our 
men  told  them,  as  they  valued  their  lives,  to  lay  down 
their  arms ;  but  instead  of  doing  so,  they  immediately 
prepared  to  reload  their  muskets.     The  landrost  now 
ordered  our  people  to  fire,  when  a  young  man,  about 
nineteen  years  of  age,  was  killed,  and  another,  who 
proved  to  be  the  man  that  committed  the  murder 
was  severely  wounded.     Who  wUl  say  that  there  is 
not  a  God  who  ruleth  and  govemoth  all  things  ?  and 
who  would  not  put  their  trust  in  him  ?" 

In  the  beginning  of  June,  1819,  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Campbell  and  Dr.  Philip*  called  at  Bethelsdorp,  in 
their  road  to  Theopolis,  and  were  much  gratified  by 
finding  that  the  Hottentots  had  erected  a  substantial 
and  commodious  place  of  worship,  together  with  sev- 
eral good  houses  for  themselves.  And,  in  the  years 
1822  and  1823,  very  considerable  improvements  ap- 
pear to  have  been  made  at  this  settlement,  particularly 
in  the  erection  of  superior  habitations.  The  former 
reed  houses  were  removed,  and  streets  were  formed 
in  regular  rows.  A  public  store,  or  shop,  had  also 
been  opened,  to  preclude  the  necessity  of  the  natives 
going  to  distant  places  to  purchase  goods ;  and  many 
of  the  Hottentots  belonging  to  the  institution  had 
begun  to  evince  a  laudable  desire  to  rise  to  the  level  of 
civilized  society. 

In  the  annual  report,  communicated  to  the  general 
meeting  of  the  society,  in  May,  1824,  it  is  stated, 
that  in  proceeding  with  the  improvement  of  the  village, 
the  inhabitants  adhere  strictly  to  the  plan  agreed  upon 
with  Dr.  Philip.  "  Several  houses  of  brick  and  stone," 
say  the  directors,  "  have  been  built,  and  more  are 
building.  The  new  school-house  is  finished.  A  range 
of  alms-houses,  seventeen  in  number,  has  been  erected 


•  The  Rev.  John  Philip,  D.  D.,  WM  nutor  of  a  Ivire  church 


1 1 1       !._ 


. _ .  « ,^  „„.,  ,.-^„  r-TTtrt!  irmnj  jcars; 

but  at  the  call  of  the  London  MiHtonafj  Sooi*ty,  he  relinquiahed 
the  pleasures  of  home,  and  eacrificed  euae  and  honora  to  becomt 
the  fuperintendent  of  tlte  miaaionarj  atationa  in  Southern  Africa. 


416 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


•8  an  asylum  for  the  aged  and  infirm  members  of  the 
institution.  This  establishment,  which  was  raised  by 
the  labor  and  at  the  expense  of  »lie  Hottentots,  will 
be  supported  by  small  weekly  contributions.  The 
building  is  an  ornament  to  the  village ;  and  the  estab- 
lishment is  the  first  of  the  kind  in  the  colony. 

"  Betheisdorp  suffered,  in  common  with  other  sta- 
tions within  the  colony,  from  the  heavy  rains  which 
fell  during  the  autumn  of  1823.  Several  of  the  new 
buildings  ^vere  injured,  and  a  new  brick  house,  nearly 
finished,  was  greatly  damaged.  Such,  however,  had 
been  the  industry  of  the  people,  that  when  Dr.  Philip 
arrived  at  the  settlement,  in  December,  scarcely  any 
trace  of  these  injuries  was  to  bo  seen. 

"  Every  Monday,  by  unanimous  consent,  is  appro- 
priated by  the  people  for  public  labor,  when  all  the 
men  in  the  village  engage  in  the  execution  of  some 
Work  for  the  common  benefit ;  or,  if  any  one  be  absent, 
he  pays  an  equivalent,  which  is  expended  in  the  pay- 
ment of  others  who  perform  the  work  in  his  stead. 

"  By  this  means,  a  road,  of  half  a  mile  in  extent, 
has  been  made  around  part  of  the  ravine  where  the 
gardens  of  the  settlement  are  situated.  Contiguous 
to  the  gardens  it  is  in  contemplation  to  build  several 
cottages,  which  will  still  further  improve  the  appear- 
ance of  the  village. 

"  The  ministry  of  Mr.  Kitchingman  (the  present 
missionary)  is  acceptable  and  useful ;  and  the  attend- 
ance on  public  worship  is  good.  Several  of  the  peo- 
ple, also,  appear  to  be  under  serious  concern  for  the 
salvation  of  their  souls. 

"  The  progress  of  the  school,  under  the  superin- 
tendence of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Monro,  has  been  impeded 
during  the  last  year  by  the  want  of  elementary  books, 
&c.  This  impediment,  however,  there  is  reason  to 
believe,  has  been  removed.  An  English  class  has  been 
lately  formed  in  the  school  at  Betheisdorp ;  and  it  is 
intended  that  English  should  be  taugiit,  in  future,  at 
all  tile  society's  schools  within  the  colony." 

Of  the  sabbath  school,  which  is  chiefly  designed 
for  the  benefit  of  tlie  neighboring  people  not  belonging 
to  the  institution.  Dr.  Philip  observes  : — 

"  The  people  meet  at  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning, 
and  in  the  afternoon,  when  this  school  cxiiibits  a  most 
pleasing  spectacle.  Here  all  is  activity  :  tiie  wives 
of  the  missionaries,  and  the  daughters  of  otiiers,  be- 
longing to  the  institution,  with  the  Messrs.  Kemp,  the 
merchants,  are  all  engaged  ;  and  it  is  a  deiiH;htful  sight 
to  see  all  ages,  from  childhood  to  gray  hairs,  under 
such  superintendence,  conning  over  their  lessons,  from 
the  alphabet  to  the  most  advanced  classes,  reading 
the  most  diflicuit  parts  of  the  Sacred  Scriptures  witli- 
out  tiie  aid  of  spelling.  There  is  scarcely  any  thing 
at  Betheisdorp   I   take  more   pleasure  in    than    this 


school.  Here  we  see  all  the  energies  of  the  institution, 
all  the  talents  of  the  station,  in  full  exercise  ;  and  it 
is  truly  affecting  to  see  children  of  seven  and  ten 
years  of  age  (which  is  frequently  the  case)  acting  as 
monitors  to  classes  of  aged  people,  from  forty  to 
seventy  years  of  age." 

On  the  28th  of  December,  1823,  his  majesty's 
commissioners  of  inquiry  arrived  at  Betheisdorp,  ac- 
companied by  their  secretary,  and  a  gentleman  of  the 
colony.  They  attended  divine  service  at  the  mission- 
chapel,  when  Mr.  Kitchingman  preached  from  Psalm 
cxxvi.  3  :  The  Lord  hath  done  great  things  for  us, 
whereof  we  are  glad.  After  the  sermon,  about  twenty 
Hottentots  read  the  third  chapter  of  St.  John's  Gospel, 
and  were  examined  as  to  their  knowledge  of  the  Scrip- 
tures. The  children  afterwards  read  a  chapter  in  the 
Bible,  and  were  catechized.  The  English  class,  be- 
longing to  the  mission  school,  then  read  a  few  easy 
lessons.  When  all  was  finished,  the  object  of  the 
visitors  was  announced  ;  when  some  of  the  old  men 
of  the  institution  rose  up  and  replied,  thanking  the 
king  of  England,  and  thanking  them  for  the  interest 
they  took  in  the  Hottentots  of  Betheisdorp.  The 
honorable  commissioners  appeared  to  be  gratified 
with  what  they  had  witnessed  ;  and,  before  they  left 
the  settlement,  they  expressed  their  satisfaction  with 
the  progress  which  the  natives  had  made,  both  in 
civilization  and  in  their  knowledge  of  the  truths  of 
Christianity. 

In  1825,  the  society  reported  the  formation  of  an 
evening  school  for  the  benefit  of  adult  Hottentots, 
among  whom  there  is  a  great  thirst  for  knowledge. 
They  are  instructed  in  reading,  writing  and  arithmetic. 
The  sabbath  school  received  the  best  attention  of  the 
missionaries;  and  they  state  that,  "on  the  morning 
and  afternoon  of  every  sabbath,  nearly  the  whole 
adult  population  of  the  place  assembles,  arranged 
in  different  classes,  according  to  their  proficiency,  and 
including  all  ages  from  fifteen  to  eighty.  An  auxiliary 
Bible  society  was  formed  on  the  5th  of  January,  1826, 
under  interesting  circumstances."  During  the  year,  a 
number  of  Hottentot  families  joined  this  station  ;  and 
the  advance  of  civilization  was  manifested  by  many 
pleasing  improvements.  A  bridge  was  erected  at  the 
institution  by  the  free  labor  of  the  Hottentots,  which 
is  considered  superior  to  any  other  in  the  colony.  The 
blacksmith's  shop,  under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Arnot, 
was  very  usi-ful  to  the  settlement,  and  a  Hottentot 
youth,  who  was  formerly  an  apprentice  to  Mr.  Arnot, 
became  a  journeyman,  at  Graham's  Town,  with  several 
Europeans   working   under   his   direction.     In    1827, 

IVIr     AInni'rt     i.l.o     ff.-    r..™.,. ~— .     I.-.I    .1.-   -1,-- -f 

-.1 — ....   J,  .1,.     .,,„..^    ^.,.,,,^  tt^tt    ttf   »  imi^c  ui 

the  day  school,  removed  to  Graham's  Town,  to  be 
engaged  in  a  similar  occupation  ;  and  the  children  were 


BETHELSDORP. 


pitced  under  the  charge  of  Mr.  Cornelius  VandcN 
kemp,  the  elder  son  of  the  late  Dr.  Vanderkemp, 
who  conducts  the  institution  to  the  satisfaction  of  the 
missionaries.  Encouraged  by  success,  the  brethren 
determined  to  extend  their  labors,  and  commenced 
stated  services  and  a  sabbath  school  at  Port  Elizabeth, 
near  Algoa  bay.  Messrs.  Helme,  Robson  and  Foster 
alternately  preached  on  the  sabbath ;  and  it  appears 
fronri  the  testimony  of  respectable  individuals  resident 
at  the  place,  that  their  efforts  were  not  in  vain.  Mr. 
Helme,  having  completed  the  arrangements  of  a  small 
prmtmg-office,  commenced  the  printing  of  several 
elementary  books  for  the  use  of  the  mission. 

But  whilst  so  many  encouraging  appearances  pre- 
sented themselves  to  the  observer,  the  directors,  in 
1828,  lament,  "  that  the  state  of  this  important  station 
IS  not,  m  various  respects,  according  to  the  wishes 
and  feelmgs  of  the  directors.  The  progress  of  religion, 
durmg  the  past  year,  appeare  to  have  been  small,  only 
a  few  candidates  for  baptism  having  presented  them- 
selves ;  the  attendance  on  the  schools  seems  to  have 
been  irregular,  and  some  painful  instances  of  back- 
sliding have  occurred." 

The  report  continues:   "The  attendance  on  the 
preachmg  of  the  gospel  on  the  Lord's  day  is  good, 
and   the  place  of  worship  is  oAen  crowded.      The 
adult  Sunday  school  appears  to  be  in  a  flourishing 
Mate  :  one  hundred  and  fifty-six  men  and  one  hundred 
and  thirty-two  women  have  been  under  instruction 
the  past  year,  who  have  made  considerable  progress 
A  translation  of  the  Assembly's  Shorter  Catechism 
has    been   made    into   Dutch,   and   introduced    into 
the   schooL     Mai  y  of  the   scholars   have   got   into 
the  New  Testament  and  Bible  classes  ;  nor  are  the 
instructions  they  receive  altogether  unproductive  of 
spiritual  benefit :  some  of  the  women  appear  to  feel 
concern  for  the  salvation  of  their  souls.    It  is  pleasing 
to  know  that  the  Hottentots  who  can  read  the  Bible 
are  now  treated  with  respect  by  the  boors.     By  the 
removal  of  Mr.  Helme  to  Caledon,  Bethelsdorp  has 
sustained  a  temporary  loss;  but  this  will  be  repaired 
as  soon  as  possible." 

The  dealings  of  God  towards  his  church  afford 
mteresting  proof  of  the  truth  of  his  word,  that,  though 
"  weeping  may  endure  for  a  night,  joy  cometh  in  the 
morning."  Thus,  in  the  following  year,  the  directors 
express  their  pleasure  in  recording  the  much-improved 
condition  of  this  station.  "  The  power  of  the  word 
of  God  seems  to  be  felt  by  many  of  the  Hottentots. 
A  number  of  persons  are  under  serious  convictions  ; 
and  after  public  service,  the  inquirers  often  accompany 
tlieir  teachers  home,  to  seek  advice  in  nnv«t«  Ti.o=» 
who  have  been  led  to  the  knowledge  of  the  truth 
appear  to  experience  a  greater  degree  of  si.irituality 
Vol.  I.— Nos.  35  &  36.  -,-/ 


4n 

of  mind  than  formerly :  this  pleasing  aspect  of  things 
is  evinced  by  their  general  conversation  and  deport- 
ment.  During  last  year,  forty-five  children  and  t«h 
adults  were  baptized  j  thirteen  persons  were  admitted 
and  four  restored  to  church  fellowship,  and  two  were 
excluded.  More  gardens  have  been  cultivated  than 
formerly,  and  improvement  has  been  made  in  enclos- 
ing, fencing,  &c." 

The  new  chapel  at  the  ou^«/a<ion  of  Port  Elizabeth 
was  opened  on  the  14th  of  September,  1828,  and  the 
collection  amounted  to  one  hundred  and  sixty-eight  rix 
dollars.  The  local  authorities  testify  to  the  good  effects 
of  missionary  labor  at  this  place.  The  other  out- 
station,  Uitcnhagen,  enjoyed  the  privilege  of  the 
stated  ministry  in  consequence  of  the  settlement  of 
Mr.  Sass,  who  left  Griqua  Town  in  1827.  With  the 
concurrence  of  the  brethren,  he  has  retired  to  this 
station  on  account  of  his  advanced  age.  His  labors 
have  been  blessed,  and  many  young  persons  have 
received  serious  impressions. 

The  spiritual  concerns  of  the  mission  at  Bethelsdorp 
and  Its  out-stations  continued  to  be  superintended  by 
Messrs.  Robson  and  Foster,  till  October,  1829,  when 
the  latter  returned  to  England  in  consequence  of  the 
ill  state  of  Mrs.  Foster's  health. 

The  report  for   1830  mentions,  that,  "In  1829 
twenty-three  Bibles,  sixty-seven  Testaments,  seven 
hundred   tracts,  and  one  hundred  elementary  books 
were  distributed.     The  adult  Sunday  school  goes  on 
well.     The  total  who  have  been  taught  to  read  in  it, 
since  its  commencement,  is  five  hundred.     An  infani 
school  has  been  lately  formed,  in  which  thirty  children 
of  very  tender  age  are  taught  to  read.     The  inhab- 
itants of  Bethelsdorp   have   suffered   severely  from 
long-continued  droughts,  having  lost,  from  this  cause, 
one  hundred  and  twelve  oxen,  one  hundred  and  sixty- 
one  cows,  one  hundred  and  twenty-six  calves,  and  thir- 
teen horses ;  estimated  together  at  six  thousand  rix 
dollars.     And  this  is  not  all.     The  reduction  in  the 
number  of  cattle  has  led  to  a  diminution  of  the  popu- 
lation.    One   hundred  Hottentot  families  have  been 
compelled  to  remove  from  the  neighborhood,  and  have 
located  themselves  on  the  Neutral  Territory. 

Recent  intelligence  represents  this  station  as  still 
improving.  Mr.  Robson  has  continued  his  services  with 
prudent  zeal,  steadiness  and  perseverance,  and  much 
affection  to  his  interesting  charge.  Messrs.  Addison 
and  Baillie  continued  to  render  as  much  assistance  as 
their  limited  knowledge  of  the  Dutch  language  would 
admit  of,  till  the  month  of  May,  1830,  when  the  former 
was  appointed  to  take  charge  of  Port  Elizabeth  as  a 
ih~\;r,ri  jiaiioij,  a.ui  ihu  latter  procet'dt-d  (o  Lattakoo. 
The  impulation  resident  at  the  station  consists  of  two 
hundred  and  sixty-three  adults,  viz.  one  hundred  and 


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418 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


thirty  men  and  one  hundred  and  thirty-three  women, 
with  two  hundred  ar  d  one  children  ;  making  a  total 
of  four  hundred  and  sixty-four. 

There  are  three  services  on  the  Lord's  day,  and 
one  every  evening  in  the  week.     Those  on  Wednes- 
day and  Saturday  are  prayer  meetings ;  and  on  the 
other  evenings  Mr.  Robson  gives  an  exposition.     On 
Tuesday  evening,  after  the  public  service,  he  meets 
the  candidates  for  baptism  and  communion  ;  and  on 
Wednesday   afternoon   he   catechizes    the  children. 
Besides  these  exercises,  he  engages  in  conversation  oc 
spiritual  subjects  with  some  of  his  congregation  every 
day.     The  attendance  on  the  public  services,  both  on 
sabbath  and  week  days,  has  been  very  good,  the  for- 
mer amounting  to  three  hundred  and  fifty  or  four  hun- 
dred persons.    When  the  weaihei'  makes  it  practicable, 
some  of  the  Hottentots  come  u  distance  of  nine  or 
eleven  miles,  to  attend  worship  at  Bethelsdorp  ;  and 
there  are  others  who  have  removed  and  settled  at  the 
institution,  with  inconvenience  as  to  their  temporal 
affairs,  from  a  desire  to  enjoy  the  privileges  of  religious 
mstruction.     The  number  of  communicants  amounts 
to  two  hundred  and  forty.     Seven  were  received  into 
the  church,  four  were  excommunicated,  three  of  whom 
had  not  resided  at  Bethelsdorp,  since  Mr.  Robson 
came  there.     Of  the  new  converts,  Mr.  Robson  speaks 
with  satisfaction,  as  generally  conducting  themselves 
in  a  Christian  manner.     During  a  period  of  much 
sickness,  some  of  the  members  departed   this   life, 
cheered  and  supported  by  the  hopes  of  the  gospel. 
Others,  by  their  submission  and  patience  under  the 
severest  trials,  gave  evidence  of  the  genuineness  of 
their  faith. 

The  number  of  schools  is  five.  The  day  ichool 
contains  one  hundred  and  seven  children  on  the  books, 
and  the  average  attendance  is  between  sixty  and 
seventy.  Many  of  the  children  have  made  good 
progress  in  reading,  writing  and  arithmetic,  and  some 
evince  considerable  capacity  for  receiving  instruction  : 
several  of  the  children  can  translate  the  Dutch  Bible 
into  English  with  much  facility,  and  write  very  well. 
The  Sunday  ichool  for  adults  is  principally  conducted 
by  natives  belonging  to  the  institution.  The  attend- 
ance is  from  one  hundred  to  one  hundred  and  fifty  dur- 
ing the  winter  season  ;  but  in  the  summer  it  is  larger. 
The  average  attendance  in  the  infant  ichool  a  from 
eighteen  to  twenty-four.  This  school  has  excited 
considerable  interest,  and  promises  to  bo  productive 
of  much  good.  The  evening  adult  ichool  is  for  those 
adulu  and  youths  who  cannot  attend  a  regular  day 
school.  The  ichool  of  induitry  htn  been  attended  by 
seven  girls. 

The  institution  of  Bethelsdorp  has  five  buildincii 
belonging  to  the  society,  one  chapel,  two  school -liouses, 


one  alms-house,  nineteen  houses  built  of  brick  and 
stone,  and  forty  huts.  Two  hundred  morgens  (about 
four  hundred  acres)  of  land  are  cultivated  as  corn-fields, 
and  eight  morgens  as  gardens.  The  people  are  dili- 
gent in  endeavoring  to  obtain  the  means  of  subsistence 
by  their  labor.  Carrying  goods,  salt-boiling,  wood- 
cutting, and  Upping  of  aloes,  fiic,  furnish  employment 
to  many  of  them.  There  are  six  masons,  besides 
shoemakers,  carpenters,  blacksmiths  and  thatchers. 
Many  of  the  women  earn  nearly  as  much  as  the  men 
by  sewing,  washing  and  making  the  ropes  used  in 
thatching  with  rushes. 

At  Port  Elizabeth,  Mr.  Atkinson  was  introduced  to 
his  charge  by  Mr.  Robson  on  the  9th  May,  1830. 
The  chapel  is  neat  and  commodious,  and  will  hold 
about  four  hundred  persons.  The  English  congrega- 
tion averages  one  hundred  and  forty,  and  the  Dutch 
service,  which  at  first  was  thinly  attended,  has  since 
improved. 

Mr.  Sass  has  been  obliged  to  retire  from  Uitenhagen 
to  Theopolis,  on  account  of  ill  health.  The  number 
of  Hottentots  that  still  attend  divine  worship  amounts, 
on  sabbath  days,  to  from  eighty  to  one  hundred  and 
fifty.  The  communicants  are  united  with  the  church 
at  Bethelsdorp. 

It  is  gratifying  to  learn  the  sentiments  of  respectable 
individuals  who  have  visited  the  stations  in  Africa ; 
and  the  narrative  of  Bethelsdorp  will  close  with 
extracts  from  the  letter  of  an  English  gentleman 
addressed  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Philip  : — 

"  With  regard  to  the  progress  of  the  Hottentots  in 
civilization,  it  appears  to  me  that  an  unfair  estimate 
has  often  been  formed.  And  because,  living  among 
Europeans,  and  for  the  most  part  subject  to  their 
control,  they  stil<  retain  much  of  their  native  character 
and  habits,  and  do  not  at  once  adopt  the  manners  and 
customs  of  a  people  so  different  from  themselves 
they  are  hastily  pronounced  to  have  advanced  but 
little  beyond  the  savage  state. 

"  Civilization  is,  indeed,  the  handmaid  of  religion, 
and  invariably  has  followed  in  her  train ;  but  her  prog- 
ress has  in  general  been  but  very  gradual.  Yet,  with 
every  allowance  for  the  peculiarity  of  their  circum- 
stances, and  the  differences  in  national  character  and 
habiu,  I  have  no  hesitation  in  saying,  that  many  of 
the  Hotteniots  at  these  institutions  appeared  to  us 
fully  on  an  equality,  in  |x>int  of  civilization,  with  a 
great  portion  of  the  laboring  class  in  onr  country ; 
and  among  those  at  Bethelsdorp  particularly,  Eng- 
lish habits  and  English  feelings  seemed  to  be  rapidly 
gaining  ground.  Many  of  their  houses  were  exceed- 
ingly comfortable  and  clean  ;  and  in  this  respect  it  is 
father  remarkable  haw  A^  ihev  li£V£  nvsf^^runs  tha 
proverbial  filthinati  of  their  former  habiu.     Their 


^ 


public  spirit  and  disinterestedness  have  been  shown  in 
the  gratuitous  contribution  of  their  labors  to  works  of 
charity  and  general  utUity ;  such  as  the  churoh,  school- 
house,  road,  kraal,  tanke  and  poor-house  at  Bethels- 
dorp,  constructed  entirely  at  their  own  expense,  while 
the  voluntary  support  of  this  last-mentioned  asylum 
for  the  aged  and  infirm,  affords  also  a  strong  proof  of 
the  benevolence  of  their  dispositions,  and  the  influ- 
ence of  civilising  principles  of  the  best  kind  on  their 
general  conduct. 

"We  were  glad  to  find  that  the  industry  of  the 
people,  at  '.he  different  institutions,  was  fettered  by  no 
restrictions  on  the  part  of  the  missionaries,  and  that 
the  profits  of  it  were  entirely  their  own.     The  mis- 
sionaries assured  us  that  they  strictly  avoid  interfer- 
ing with  the  people  in  the  disposal  of  themselves,  and 
that  they  had   perfect  liberty  to  go  whenever  and 
wherever  they  pleased.  The  outward  circumstances  of 
many  of  them,  their  houses,  cattle,  wagons,  &c..  afford 
unquestionable    proof  of   their  industry,   while   the 
quantity  of  European  articles  sold  at  the  stations  of 
Bethelsdorp  and  Theopolis  also  shows  that  the  people 
in  gtneral  are  far  from  being  insensible  to  the  comforts 
of  civilized  life,  or  unwilling  to  labor  to  attain  them. 
Ihe  circumstances  of  the  country,  and  the  peculiar 
civil  restrictions  under  which  the  HottentoU  still  labor 
present  obstacles  to  their  improvement,  which  the 
missionaries  have  not  the  poww  of  removing ;  but 
when  they  are  placed  on  an  equality,  as  to  civil  rights, 
with   every  other  class  of  British  subjects   around 
them  ;  when  their  character  is  better  understood  by 
those  who  wish  for  their  services,  and  they  have  the 
power  of  becoming  individually  proprietors  of  the 
lands  which  they  now  cultivate  in  common  by  suffer- 
ance only,— they  will  possess  inducements  to  industry 
aad  intellectual  exertion  which  they  do  not  now  enjoy 
and,  I  am  persuaded,  will  show  themselves  well  worthy 
of  all  the  privileges  of  freemen,  and  rapidly  evince 
their  capacity  for  the  performance  of  every  necessary 
duty,  whether  as  servants,  masters,  or  citizens  of  a 
civilized  stale." 


ZAK  RIVER. 


4ld 


ZAK  RIVER. 

[Abont  (bar  haadnd  ■nd  My  niil«i  iiorth..ut  ofC.p.  Town] 

On  the  aad  of  May,  1799,  Mr.  Kicherer  and  his 
colleague,  Mr.  EJwards,  left  Cape  Town,  with  the 
design  of  establishing  a  mission  among  the  Bushmen  • 
nnd,  after  performing  a  journey  of  between  four  and 
nvc  nur.area  uulm,  during  which  they  were  kindly 
treated  by  the  cclonista,  and  mercifiilly  preserved  by 


t^^\  A'^'  "•"  ""'  ^"^  river,  whetB  they 
•greed  to  take  up  their  abode.  The  circumjacent 
countiy  was  barren  and  thinly  inhabited,  buUhTXe 
at  which  they  felt  inclined  to  settle  'was  e^dS 
adapted  for  cultivation,  and  was  contiguous  to  twj 
fine  springs  o  water.  Here,  thereforefthey  beg« 
hutTJ'  J  °'  °'  ?T'  '"'  "  garden,  and^o  eZ 

Happy  Prospect  Fountain,  and  solemnly  devoted 
both  the  place  and  themselves  to  the  se4e  ofte 

to  2!jl*'^M'"'ru""°"S  "^"^  '^^  '"«I"«n  were  now 
to  laljr,  Mr.  Kicherer  observes,  "  They  have  no  idea 
ot  a  Supreme  Being,  and  consequently  they  practise 

eLcT  h  "'"'';P-  "^'"^  '"'^^  "  4erstiZs  rev- 
erence,  however,  for  an  insect  known  by  the  name  of 

n'i27"Y' ''  ^'?  °'  ^''"'''  '"^^y  --"-  - 

an  indication  of  something  fortunate,  and  to  kill  it 
they  suppose     i„  t^ng  a  curse  upon  'the  perpetrato 
They  have  also,  some  notion  of  an  evil  spirit,  which 
occasions  diseases  and  other  mischief;  and,'to  Counter- 
act his  evil  purposes,  a  certain  description  of  men  are 

?^rurtrgi7''^^'~"«-^«--^-^^^ 

was     their  flesh,  but  suffer  the  dirt  to  'accumulate 
till,  in  some  instances,  it  literally  hangs  from  their 
elbows.     They  delight,  howeverf  in  smearing    he 
bo  .es  with  the  fat  of  animals,  mingled  with  a  powder 
will  h  gives  them  a  shining  appearance.     They  form 

l7,^     ,u^  J^^'"'^  "  ^°^'  '"'°"'  '''^««  f«et  deep, 
and  then  thatching  it  over  with  reeds,  which  are  not 

?oTh  or''"ir'.'°  '^'  '""•    "«'«  "'«y '-  <='-« 
tremely  indolent,  that  they  will  remain  for  days  togeth- 
er  wahout  food,  rather  than  take  the  pains  to  pr^ure 
It.     When  constrained,  by  extreme  hunger,  to  go  out 
.n  quest  of  provisions,  they  evince  much  d'ex.efhy  in 
destroying  the  various  animals  with  which  their  country 
«bo«nds  ;  or,  if  they  do  not  happen  to  procure  any 
of  these,  they  make  a  shift  ,o  live  upon  snakes,  mice^ 
and  almost  any  thing  they  can  find.     There  are  also 
some  productions  of  the  earth,  of  the  bulbous 'kind' 
which  they  occasionally  eat.  par.iculariy  the  cameron, 
winch  1,  as  large  as  a  child's  head,  and  the  baroo, 

L^,.  r  H    '.""'  "^  "".  "''»''"•      "^''"'^  "«•  likewise 
some  h„le  oemes,  which  are  edibie,  and  which  the 

women  go  out  to  gather;  but  the  men  are  too  idle 
to  CIO  thi*, 

"  ybe  men  have  several  wives,  but  conjugal  affec- 
tion IS  httle  known,  nnd  they  are  total  strangers  to 


4SQ 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


^qmestic  happin*».  Tl^ey  take  little  care  of  their 
childreq,  i^id  yf^pi^  thf  correct  tjiep),  thpy  almp«t  kill 
them  l^y  i^everitjr.  In  ff^ct,  tbiay  >vill  destroy  their 
ofispring  op  ^  v^ety  pf  opcasipqs,  as  when  they  are 
in  w^qt  of  food,  qr  obliged  to  flee  from  the  farmers,  or 
when  an  infant  happens  to  be  il|-shaped,  or  v^hen  the 
father  has  forsaken  the  mother.  \a  either  of  these 
cases,  they  will  strangle  them,  smpther  them,  bmy 
them  alive,  or  cast  them  away  in  the  desert.  There 
are  even  instances  of  parents  throwing  their  tender 
offspring  to  the  hungry  lion,  which  stands  roaring  be- 
fore their  cavern,  refusing  to  depart  till  some  peace- 
offering  be  given  to  him.  In  general,  the  children  cease 
to  be  the  object  of  maternal  care  as  soon  as  they  are 
able  to  crawl  in  the  field.  They  go  out  every  morning ; 
and  when  they  return  in  the  evening,  a  little  milk,  or 
a  piece  of  moat,  and  an  old  sheep's-skin  to  lie  upon,  are 
all  they  have  to  expect.  In  some  few  instances,  how- 
ever, a  spark  of  natural  affection  is  to  be  met  with, 
which  places  its  possessor  on  a  level  with  the  brute 
creation. 

"  The  Bushmen  frequently  forsake  their  aged  rela- 
tions, when  removing  from  place  to  place,  for  the  sake 
of  hunting.  In  this  case,  they  leave  the  old  person 
with  a  piece  of  meat  and  an  ostrich  egg-shell  full  of 
water.  As  soon  as  this  little  stock  is  exhausted,  the 
poor  devoted  creature  must  perish  by  hunger,  or  be- 
come a  prey  to  wild  beasts." 

Surely,  aAer  perusing  this  painful  account  of  a  tribe 
sunk  in  wretchedness  and  misery, — subsisting  too, 
occasionally,  by  plunder  and  murder^  and  habiturUy 
guilty  of  the  most  atrocious  actions, — the  reader  can- 
not feel  surprised  that  Mr.  Kicherer  felt  "  inexpressibly 
dejected"  when  the  kind  colonists  who  had  accompa- 
nied him  to  his  new  station  took  their  leave  of  him. 
"  My  r^ituation,"  says  this  excellent  man,  "  would  have 
proved  insupportable,  separated  as  I  then  found  my- 
self from  all  I  loved  in  the  world,  had  not  urgent  busi- 
ness dispersed  my  gloomy  reflections,  and  had  not  the 
Lord,  whom  I  served,  condescended  to  pacify  my 
troubled  heart  when  I  spread  my  complaint  before 
him." 

Soon  aAer  their  arrival  at  Zak  river,  our  missiona- 
ries were  visited  by  a  party  of  about  thirty  Bushmen, 
who  were  anxious  to  understand  the  object  of  their 
settlement.  At  first,  however,  they  were  extremely 
shy,  and,  in  consequence  of  some  base  slanders  which 
had  been  propagated  among  tliem,  they  were  induced 
to  fear  that  the  brethren  had  some  design  against  their 
liberty  or  their  lives.  As  a  proof  of  their  mistrust,  it  is 
stated  in  the  "  Missionary  Transactions,"  timt  on  a 
certain  occasion,  Mr.  Kirhoror,  hoping  to  conciliate  the 
affections  of  these  wild  Hottentots,  invited  a  miinher  of 
iham  to  psnake  of  a  iilile  r6p«si  wiiicii  he  had  provided. 


Having  cut  up  a  large  cake,  he  presented  a  piece  ta 
each  of  the  Bushmen  ;  but  not  an  bdividual  ventured 
to  taste  it.  On  perceiving  this,  and  guessing  that  they 
were  apprehensive  of  poison,  our  missionaiy  took  a 
slice  uf  the  cake  himself,  and  ate  it  before  them.  He 
then  stated,  that  he  had  called  them  together  to  assure 
them  of  his  friendship,  and  to  inform  them  that,  as 
they  were  all  invited  to  eat  of  one  cake,  there  was 
one  Saviour,  called  the  bread  of  life,  of  whom  Hotten- 
tots, as  well  as  others,  might  freely  partake  in  order  to 
obtain  eternal  life.  This  explanation  removed  every 
evil  surmise,  and  Mr.  Kicherer's  token  of  love  was  re- 
ceived, by  every  individual,  with  evident  satisfaction. 

It  is  worthy  of  remark,  that,  at  the  commencement 
of  his  missionary  labors,  the  mind  of  Mr.  Kicherer  was 
peculiarly  impressed  with  the  vast  importance  and 
absolute  indispensability  of  prayer  ;  and  the  spirit  of 
supplication  seems  to  have  been  poured  out  upon  him 
in  an  abundant  measure.  "  Prostrate,"  says  he,  "  at 
the  feet  of  him  who  has  promised  that  he  will  take  the 
heathen  for  his  inheritance,  I  was  peculiarly  assisted  in 
wrestling  earnestly  for  the  blessing,  and  felt  a  happy 
freedom  in  pleading  Christ's  own  words  in  this  case, 
and  in  relying  upon  his  faithfulness  to  fulfil  them.  It 
was  admirable,  indeed,  to  observe,  that  the  more  dark 
and  gloomy  my  prospects  were,  the  more  abundantly 
the  spirit  of  prayer  was  given  to  me ;  so  that  I  was 
enabled  to  shelter  myself  m  Jesus,  and  to  commend 
the  poor  savages  to  his  love  and  mercy." 

From  this  time  the  number  of  Bushmen  who  visited 
our  missionaries  increased  considerably,  and  Mr.  Kich- 
erer observes,  that  he  felt  inexpressible  pleasure  whilst 
attempting  to  explain  to  these  poor  and  perishing  crea- 
tures the  infinite  grace  of  the  Lord  J  jsus ;  so  that, 
though  he  began  his  work  with  a  heavy  heart,  he  fre- 
quently concluded  it  with  joy  and  exultation.     When 
the  Bushmen  were  first  told  of  a  God,  and  of  the  res- 
urrection of  the  dead,  they  knew  not  how  to  express 
their  astonishment  in  terms  sufficiently  strong,  that  they 
should  have  remained  such  a  length  of  time  without 
one  idea  of  the  Creator  and  Preserver  of  all  things. 
Some  of  the  people  now  began  to  pray,  with  apparent 
earnestness,  and  with  the  most  affecting  simplicity. 
"O  Lord  Jesus  Christ,"  they  would  say,  "  thou  hast 
made  the  sun,  the  moon,  the  hills,  the  rivers  and  the 
bushes ;  therefore  thou  hast  the  power  of  changing  my 
heart :    O  b«   pleased   to  make  it  entirely   new  1" 
Some  of  them  asfierted,  that  the  sorrow  which  they 
felt  on  account  of  their  sins  prevented  tJiem  from  sleep- 
ing at  night,  and  constrained  them  to  rise  and  pour  out 
their  souls  in  supplication  before  the  Ix>rd  ;  and  they 
declared  that  even  in  their  hunting  expeditions  they 
sometimes   felt   an   irresistible    impulse   to  prostrat* 
theraieives  belore  the  throne  of  grace,  and  to  pray  for 


ZAK   RIVER. 


a  renewed  heart.  Some  of  them,  indeed,  seem  to  have 
had  interested  views  in  their  professions,  and  to  have 
displayed,  as  Mr.  Kicherer  expresses  it,  "  much  Phari- 
saical ostentation  ;"  but  there  were  some  others  whose 
language  was  evidently  that  of  Christian  experience, 
and  who  manifested,  by  their  conduct  and  conversation, 
that  they  had  become  the  subjects  of  a  divine  change. 
In  the  month  of  October,  the  missionaries  found  their 
stock  of  provisions  almost  exhausted ;  but  after  spread- 
ing their  case  before  him  "  who  feedeth  the  young 
ravens  that  call  upon  him,  they  received  a  most  prov- 
idential supply  from  a  Dutch  farmer,  who  kindly  sent 
them  a  large  bullock,  and  thirty  sheep,  together  with  a 
quantity  of  flour,  salt,  inc.;  and  the  Hottentot  servants, 
who  brought  this  valuable  present,  cheerfully  added 
several  sheep  of  their  own  as  a  token  of  gratitude  to 
God,  for  the  communication  of  his  precious  gospel  to 
their  poor  benighted  countrymen. 

In  the  month  of  January,  1801,  Mr.  Kicherer  was 
under  the  necessity  of  going  to  Cape  Town,  in  order 
to  procure  a  supply  of  clothes  and  other  necessaries 
for  the  people  under  his  instruction.  On  this  occasion, 
several  of  the  Bushmen,  who  bad  never  been  at  the 
Cape,  offered  to  accompany  him,  and  thus  afforded 
the  most  satisfactory  proof  that  their  forme'  picions 
were  completely  annihilated.  As  the  whola  company, 
both  old  and  young,  were  obliged  to  walk  the  whole 
of  the  way,  their  journey  was  necessarily  slow.  Their 
time,  however,  appears  to  have  been  agreeably  and 
profltably  spent,  both  ..nong  themselves,  and  with 
some  of  the  colonists ;  and,  after  travelling  about  a 
month,  they  reached  their  place  of  destination  in  per- 
fect safety. 

"  When  approaching  the  Cape,"  says  Mr.  Kicherar, 
"  my  feelings  differed  widely  from  those  of  my  poor 
Bushmen ;  as  I  anticipated  with  delight  the  pleasing 
scenes  before  me,  whilst  they  were  struck  with  terror 
and  dismay.  Some  of  the  first  objects  which  presented 
themselves  to  their  affrighted  view  were  several  men 
hung  iw  chains,  for  atrocious  crimes ;  and  some  of  my 
people  were  conscious  of  having  deserved  the  same 
punishment,  In  a  few  days,  their  terror  w«.s  increased 
by  witnessing  the  public  execution  of  another  malefac- 
tor. On  my  explaining  to  them,  however,  the  nature 
and  excellence  of  European  justice,  as  an  ordinance 
of  God,  they  acknowledged  the  propriety  of  it,  and 
said  it  would  be  beneficial  to  our  settlement  in  the 
wilderness,  if  a  similar  order  of  things  could  be  estab- 
lished there." 

Soon  af\er  his  arrival  at  the  Cape,  our  missionary 
was  invited  to  preach  at  the  Calvinistic  church,  a  very 
spacious  edifice,  and  filled  with  ■»  numerous  and  genteel 
'^'"i'^"''''^'-  *'**  Dusnnicn,  who  accuinpanied  hitn, 
were  astonished  at  the  sight  of  such  ar  assemblage  of 


m 


well-dressed  people,  whom,  in  their  simpUcity,  they 
compared  to  a  nest  of  anU;  and  when  the  soft  tonM 
of  the  organ  first  vibrated  on  their  ears,  they  compared 
them  to  the  noise  of  a  swarming  bee-bive.  "  From 
that  time,  however,"  says  Mr.  K.,  « they  entertained  a 
higher  opinion  of  their  minister ;  for  before  this,  they 
had  been  tempted  to  consider  me  as  a  person  who  had 
come  among  them  merely  to  obtain  a  livelihood.  And, 
as  I  embraced  every  suitable  opportunity  of  introducing 
them  into  Christian  company  and  religious  meetings, 
they  were  convinced  of  two  things,  namely,  that  the 
doctrine  I  had  preached  among  them  was  agreeable  to 
the  common  creed  of  Christians,  and  that  Christians  in 
general  were  much  happier  than  Bushmen." 

"On  returning  to  their  settlement,  Mr.  Kicherer  and 
his  companions  were  greatly  inconvenienced,  in  conse- 
quence of  the  copious  rains  which  had  recently  fallen 
and  almost  inundated  the  country.  They  were  mer- 
cifully preserved,  however,  from  perils  of  every  de- 
scription ;  and  in  the  month  of  March,  they  had  th« 
pleasure  of  meeting  their  firiends  at  Happy  Prospect 
Fountain  in  good  health  and  spirits.  It  is  also  worthy 
of  notice,  that  though  our  excellent  missionary,  in  his 
journey  to  and  from  Cape  Town,  had  to  provide  thir- 
teen persons  with  food  every  day,  and  though  he  went 
out  almost  empty-handed,  he  not  only  obtained  suffi- 
cient supplies  by  the  way,  but,  in  consequence  of  the 
liberality  of  Christian  friends,  be  took  back  with  him 
four  cows  and  one  hundred  and  thirty-six  sheep. 

Shortly  after  his  return,  this  devoted  servant  of 
Jesus  experienced  a  signal  interposition  of  the  divine 
protection  on  his  behalf.  During  his  visit  to  the  Cape, 
a  Bushman  captain,  named  Vigilant,  had  come  to  the 
settlement,  with  the  design  of  carrying  away  a  sheep 
which  he  claimed  as  his  due.  The  missionary  Kramer, 
who  happened  to  be  there  at  the  time,  resisted  this 
attempt ;  in  consequence  of  which  the  savage  not  only 
stabbed  the  animal  ha  had  already  seized,  but  aimed  a 
second  thrust  with  his  murderous  weapon  at  Kramer ; 
but  the  blow  was  happily  warded  off  by  the  interposi- 
tion of  a  young  female.  Vigilant  was  now  seized  by 
his  intended  victim,  and  conveyed  to  o  neighboring 
farmer,  who  placed  him  in  confinement,  with  the  view 
of  sending  him  for  trial  to  the  Cape.  Unfortunately, 
iiowever,  he  contrived  to  regain  his  liberty,  and  soon 
after  Mr.  Kicherer  reached  home,  he  returned  to  the 
settlement,  burning  with  rage,  and  calling  upon  his 
numerous  horde  to  revenge  the  insult  he  had  received. 
"Our  situation,"  says  Mr.  K.,  "  was  now  extremely 
critical ;  but  we  looked  up  to  the  Lord,  who  sent  us,  that 
very  night,  my  friend  and  brother,  Mr.  Scholts,  from  the 
Cape,  together  with  a  fanner  and  his  servants ;  and 
iite  iiuieiy  arrtva!  of  these  persons  produced  the 
happy  affect  of  driving  this  infuriated  chief  from  our 


438 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


to  me.  anrl  sou]  that  K«  mi*-*  ....*  •!. 


i"»t  tiieiij  away.    I  asKea 


neighborhood.  On  this  occasion,  we  witnessed  the 
friendly  disposition  of  some  of  the  Bushmen  toward 
us;  for  whilst  our  lives  were  threatrned,  many  of 
them  kept  watch  around  our  habitation. 

Soon  after  this  occurrence,  Mr.  Kicherer  was  invited 
to  become  the  minister  of  the  Paarl,  a  rich  village 
near  the   Cape,  with  a  handsome  church.      After 
mature  deliberation  and  earnest  prayer,  however,  he 
was  led  to  consider  this  as  a  temptation  to  divert  him 
from  his  attention  to  the  heathen,  rather  than  a  provi- 
dential call  to  a  station  of  greater  usefulness.     And, 
from  this  time,  his  labors  among  the  Bushmen  were 
crowned  with  such  remarkable  success  that  he  observes 
— "  Many  persons,  whose  hearts  had  been  harder  than 
the  rocks  among  which  they  lived,  began  to  inqifre 
what  they  must  do  to  be  saved  ;  and  it  frequently 
happened  that  the  hills  literally  resounded  with  their 
loud  complaints." 

Among  the  persons  who  attended,  either  statedly 
or  occasionally,  on  the  instructions  of  the  missionaries 
•t  Happy  Prospect  Fountain,  there  were  some  Btutard 
Hottentots;  so  called,  not  from  the  illegitimacy  of 
Iheir  birth,  but  merely  to  denote  that  they  are  de- 
ucended  from  parents  of  different  nations,  and  thus 
distinguish  them  from  what  are  styled  the  pure  Hot- 
tentots.    A  native  of  thb  description,  named  John, 
who  had  formerly  been  an  atrocious  offender  against 
the  Majesty  of  heaven,  felt  an  irresistible  inclination 
to  visit  the  missionaries  ;  though  some  of  the  neigh- 
boring farmers  endeavored  to  terrify  him  with  the  idea 
that  he  would  either  be  killed  or  sold  for  a  slave,  if 
he  persisted  in  venturing  to  go  to  their  settlement. 
On  hearing  the  gospel  preached,  his  attention  was 
powerfully  excited,  his  conscience  was  seriously  alarm- 
ed, and  he  soon  began  to  mourn  bitterly  under  the 
burden  of  his  accumulated  sins,  which  he  compared, 
for  number,  to  the  sands  of  the  desert.     After  some 
time,  the  mercy  of  Christ  was  graciously  revealed  to 
his  soul ;  and  on  this  charming  subject  he  now  spoke 
to  his  fellow  sinners  with  the  most  tender  solicitude 
and  affection,  whilst  his  eyes  overflowed  with  tears  of 
joyful  gratitude  at  the  thought  of  his  own  deliverance, 
"  His  heart,"  says  Mr.  Kicherer,  "  was  now  so  entirely 
taken  up  with  the  love  of  God,  that  he  could  scarcely 
bear  to  speak  of  any  thing  else  ;  so  that  if  any  one 
addressed  him   on  woridly  business,  he  would  say, 
'  I  have  spoken  too  much  about  the  world  ;  let  me 
now  speak  of  Christ.'     Indeed,  he  did  speak  of  him, 
m  a  way  which  greatly  surprised  me,  and  proved  that 
he  was  eminently  taught  of  God ;  and  his  walk  and 
«)nvenation    were   such   as   became   his   profession. 
When  he  came  under  the  sound  of  the  gospel,  he  had 
two  wives  :  but  one  day,  after  his  conversion,  he  came 


the  cause,  and  he  immediately  replied,  'Because, 
when  I  go  to  God  in  prayer,  my  heart  teUs  roe  it  is 
bad,  and  Christ  is  nearer  to  me  than  ten  thousand 
wives.  I  will  cheerfully  work,'  he  added, « to  support 
them,  and  will  stay  till  the  Lord  renew  their  hearts : 
then  I  will  take  the  first  whose  heart  is  changed.'  " 

After  the  lapse  of  five  or  six  months,  John  was 
afflicted  with  a  disorder  fiwm  which  he  never  recover- 
ed ;  but  when  he  was  so  weak  as  to  be  altogether 
incapable  of  walkiag,  he  insisted  on  being  carried  to 
the  church ;   observing,  that  whilst  he  retained  the 
faculty  of  hearing,  he  must  endeavor  to  catch  some 
of  the  words  of  eternal  life.     Two  days  before  he 
expired,  he  complained  of  a  depression  of  spirits,  and 
said  to  his  beloved  instructer,  "  I  am  sure  that  I  sur- 
rendered myself  unreservedly  to  Christ  from  the  first 
moment  that  I  saw  his  loveliness ;  but  I  am  not  so 
certain,  at  present,  whether  he  has  accepted  of  that 
surrender."     This  doubt,  indeed,  continued  to  hang 
over  his  mind  till  the  day  of  his  departure,  when  he  ex- 
claimed, in  reply  to  Mr.  Kicherer's  questions, "Oh  !  sir, 
I  now  see  that  the  Lord  Jesus  has  loved  me  with  an 
everlasting  love ;  that  he  has  accepted  of  me  ;  and 
that  he  will  be  my  portion  for  ever.     Now,  therefore, 
though  I  am  the  vilest  sinner  upon  earth,  I  am  ready, 
in  humble  reliance  on  his  blood  and  righteousness,  to 
:!ie  and  go  to  Christ." 

At  this  solemn  and  deeply-interesting  moment, 
Cornelius,  the  eldest  son  of  the  expiring  convert, 
arrived  from  a  distance,  where  he  lived  in  servitude 
with  a  farmer,  to  take  his  last  farewell  of  a  beloved 
parent.  Deeply  affected  with  what  he  saw  and  heard, 
the  poor  fellow  burst  into  tears,  and  exclaimed,  "  Oh  1 
shall  my  father  die  so  happy  in  Jesus,  and  /  have  no 
opportunity  of  hearing  the  gospel  ?"  This  touching 
question  induced  Mr.  Kicherer  to  address  a  letter  to 
the  young  man's  master;  and  his  arguments  were 
crowned  with  such  success,  that  Cornelius  was  per- 
mitted to  join  the  institution,  and  happily  became  a 
recipient  of  that  divine  grace  which  is  the  infallible 
pledge  and  earnest  of  future  glory. 

Another  individual  to  whom  the  faithful  labors  of 
our  missionaries  were  abundantly  blessed,  was  a  fe- 
male Coranna,  named  Tray,  of  whom  Mr.  Kicherer 
observes— "  When  she  made  her  first  appearance 
among  us,  I  could  scarcely  perauade  myself  that  she 
was  of  the  human  species.  Her  kross,  or  sheep-skin 
garment,  was  the  most  filthy  I  had  ever  seen,  and  her 
whole  carriage  denoted  such  extreme  brutality,  that  I 
was  led  to  consider  the  conversion  of  such  a  being 
absolutely  impossible."  Where  sin  and  wretchedness 
abounded,  however,  grace  was  still  more  to  abound. 
Under  the  preaching  of  the  gospel,  she  soon  began  to 
biieii  Hoods  of  penitontiai  tears ;  and  when  hor  ttacher 


ZAK  RIVER. 


Mked  the  cause  of  her  weeping,  she  assigned  such 
pertinent  reasons  as  convinced  him  that  her  under- 
standing was  very  superior  to  the  estimate  he  had 
formed  of  it.  For  rather  more  than  twelve  months, 
she  continued  to  mourn  under  a  sense  of  guilt ;  but  her 
soul  was  afterwards  filled  with  joy  and  consolation  : 
she  was  baptized  by  the  name  of  Esther,  and  became 
one  of  the  most  active,  industrious  and  useful  mem- 
bers of  the  congregation. 

About  this  time,  the  preserving  care  of  the  Almigh- 
ty was  signally  displayed  in  respect  to  the  missionaries 
and  the  people  to  whom  they  had  devoted  their  pious 
labors.      A  runaway  slave  happened   to  make  his 
appearance  at  the  settlement,  when  several  of  the 
farmers  had  assembled,  for  the  purpose  of  partaking 
of  the  holy  sacrwment.    Some  of  them  having  dis- 
covered who  the  stranger  was,  the  brethren  determined 
to  send  him  back  to  his  master,  in  pursuance  of  the 
directions  they  had  received  from  government.     This 
intention  was  unfortunately  discovered  by  the  fugitive ; 
who,  resolving  to  take  an  ample  revenge,  poisoned 
the  well,  whilst  the  missionaries  and  their  friends  were 
engaged  in  the  public  worship  of  God.     "  Our  lives  " 
says  Mr.  Kicherer,  «  would  certainly  have  been  de- 
stroyed, had  not  a  little  giri  providentially  witnessed 
the  perpetration  of  this  atrocious  act.     She,  however, 
gave  us  timely  notice ;  and  on  the  slave  being  search- 
ed, the  remainder  of  the  poison— a  sort  of  moss, 
resembling  human  hair,  and  possessing  the  property 
of  constricting  the  bowels  in  a  convulsive  manner- 
was  found  in  his  clothes.     The  culprit  was,  therefore, 
sent  off  to  Cape  Town,  and  we  returned  thanks  to 
the  Lord  for  this  great  deliverance." 

Two  other  remarkable  deliverances,  of  a  personal 
nature,  are  recorded  by  Mr.  Kicherer,  which  it  would 
be  unpardonable  to  pass  over  in  silence. 

"  In  the  evening  of  a  day  which  had  been  uncom- 
monly sultry,"  says  our  author,  "  I  was  sitting  near 
an  open  window,  when  a  concealed  party  of  Bushmen 
were  just  about  to  discharge  a  volley  of  poisoned 
arrows  at  me  ;  but,  by  the  same  giri  who  had  saved 
tho  life  of  brother  Kramer  from  the  dagger  of  Vigilant, 
they  were  detected,  and  made  off  in  haste. 

"At  another  time,  the  good  providence  of  God 
delivered  me  from  the  hands  of  a  person  who  came  to 
our  settlement  under  the  fictitious  name  of  Stephanos. 
He  was  a  Greek  by  birth,  and,  for  making  base  coin 
at  Cape  Town,  had  been  sentenced  to  death,  but 
effected  his  escape  a  few  days  previous  to  that  which 
was  fixed  for  his  execution.  The  rumor  of  this  affair 
had  reached  my  ears,  and  when  he  came  to  my  house, 
in  the  absence  of  the  brethren  Kramer  and  Scholti,  who 

..- _  ^ — ,  .  ,,„_,_,,j  j5  pcrcctvca  loRcns  oi 

guilt  in  his  countenance  :  but  his  conversation  was  so 


4S8 


religious,  and  his  pretence  of  desiring  to  assist  us  in 
building  was  so  plausible,  that  I  blamed  myself  for 
harbonng  any  suspicion,  and  permitted  him  to  sleep 
in  the  room  next  to  my  own.     It  is  probable  that 
he  had  contrived  a  scheme  to  murder  me,  in  order 
that  he  might  seize  on  my  wagon  and  goods,  and 
then  depart  to  a  distant  horde ;  as  in  the  night  he 
actually  approached  my  bed.     The  Keeper  of  Israel, 
however,  who  never  slumbers  nor  sleeps,  was  pleased 
to  rouse  me  in  a  fit  of  terror,  in  which  I  cried  out  to 
the  intruder,  as  if  aware  of  his  sanguinary  design. 
He  was  evidently  disconcerted,  stammered  out  an 
excuse,  and  quitted  the  house.     In  the  morning,  I 
found  he  was  gone  off,  having  stolen  my  gun,  and 
having  taken  with  him  several  of  the  Bushmen,  whom 
he  had  seduced,  by  pretending  that  the  whites  were 
coming  to  be  revenged  upon  them.    My  Hottentots 
set  out  in  pursuit  of  the  fugitives,  and  overtook  them 
in  the  desert,  where  Stephanos  was  compelled  to  re- 
store my  fowling-piece  and  to  dismiss  our  Bushmen 
He  was  now  left  to  retire  from  the  country  \y  himself; 
but  being  met  by  the  brethren  Kramer  and  Scholtz, 
he  was  obliged  to  return  to  Zak  river.     This  involved 
me  in  a  fresh  difficulty,  au  I  was  now  certain  that  he 
was  the  identical  malefactor  who  had  broken  out  of 
prison  at  the  Cape.      I  begged,  however,  that  he 
might  be  kept  at  a  distance  from  our  premises,  in 
order  to  enable  him  to  make  his  escape  ;  and,  in  the 
course  of  the  night,  I  went  to  him  with  some  pro- 
visions, and,  after  giving  him  a  Bible  and  some  religious 
advice,  I  permitted  him  to  go  away." 

In  the  month  of  May,  1801,  our  missionaries  and 
the  whole  of  their  congregation  removed  to  the  Great 
or  Orange  river,  in  compliance  with  the  earnest  re- 
quest of  some  Corannas,  who  had  recently  visited  the 
settlement,  and  urged  the  importance  of  the  gospel 
being  promulgated  in  their  country.     In  the  course  of 
their  journey,  the  brethren  were  gratified  by  witness- 
ing  the  commencement  of  a  work  of  grace  upon  two 
individuals,  named  Koopman  and  Rocloph ;  and,  after 
crossing  the  river,  they  found  themselves  surrounded 
by  crowds  of  hearers  of  different  nations— Corannas, 
Namaquas,  Bushmen,  Hottentots,  and  Bastard  Hot- 
tentots.    With  the  latter  of  these,  the  Corannas  and 
Namaquas  lived  in  servitude,  having  been  reduced  to 
that  condition  by  a  Bastard  Hottentot  and  celebrated 
freebooter,  called  Africaner.     This  sanguinary  ruffian, 
having  murdered  his  master,  put  himself  at  the  head 
of  a  gang  of  robbers,  and  made  a  predatory  incur- 
sion into  the  Namaqua  and  Coranna  countries.     Some 
of  the  natives  sent  him  a  message,  entreating  him  to 
restore  a  little  of  their  property,  and  particularly  i 
few  of  their  cows ;    as  their  children  were  literally 
starvi.ig  for  want  of  milk.     The  unfeeling  monster 


flpi^ 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


prow'ised  to  grant  th«ir  request,  on  condition  that  they 
should  cross  the  river  and  fetch  away  the  animals 
whwh  they  had  solicited :  but,  on  their  arrival,  he 
paused  some  of  them  to  be  shot,  and  others  to  be 
fastened  to  trees,  where  their  tongues  were  cut  out, 
Of  thmr  limbs  cruelly  and  wantonly  maimed.  Being 
thus  reduced  to  the  most  pitiable  situation,  those  who 
escaped  or  survived  the  cruelties  inflicted  upon  their 
vnbappy  countrymen,  consented  to  became  servants 
to  the  Bastards,  who  treated  them  with  great  severity, 
^ad  aUowed  them  little  more  for  their  support  than 
the  wilk  of  the  sheep  which  they  kept. 

In  this  new  situation,  the  labors  of  the  brethren  ap- 
peared to  be  attended  with  considerable  success.  The 
people  among  whom  they  preached  expressed  an 
ardent  and  increasing  desire  to  understand  the  sublime 
truths  of  Christianity.  Such  a  powerful  impression 
was,  also,  made  upon  many  of  them,  when  listening 
to  the  things  connected  with  their  eternal  welfare, 
that  they  were  not  only  bathed  in  floods  of  tears,  but, 
in  some  instances,  actually  fainted,  under  the  over- 
powering sense  of  their  own  guilt  and  wretchedness  ; 
and  though  feelings  of  this  descrtptioi>.  were  not  always 
succeeded  by  genuine  conversion,  there  were  several 
instances  in  which  the  most  satisfactory  evidence  was 
aflforded  that  the  work  was  of  God.  The  pasturage 
in  that  part  of  the  country,  however,  proved  insuffi- 
cient for  the  support  of  the  flocks  and  herds  belonging 
to  the  congregation ;  and,  therefore,  at  the  expiration 
of  ten  months,  Messrs.  Kicherer  and  Scholtz  deter- 
mined to  return  to  Zak  river  with  part  of  the  people, 
whilst  the  bretliren  Kramer  and  Anderson  consented 
to  continue  with  the  remainder. 

In  March,  1809,  Mr.  Kicherer  and  his  colleague 
crossed  the  Orange  river,  which  happened,  at  that 
time,  to  be  very  low  ;  but  as  the  season  of  the  year 
was  unfavorable  for  traversing  the  desert,  they  erected 
sheds  of  branches  for  a  temporary  residence.  Here 
they  were  visited  by  some  Bushmen,  who  affirmed 
that  some  copious  showers  of  rain  had  fallen  in  the 
wilderness  ;  and,  in  consequence  of  this  intelligence, 
the  brethren  were  induced  tc  break  up  their  encamp- 
ment and  pursue  their  journey.  After  travelling  two 
entire  days,  however,  without  finding  a  drop  of  water, 
they  perceived  that  they  had  been  grossly  deceived, 
and  their  cattle  began  to  exhibit  symptoms  of  tlio 
most  piteous  distress.  After  some  timo,  they  found  a 
small  pool,  just  sufficient  to  allay  the  thirst  of  the 
people,  but  not  sufficient  tn  relieve  the  distress  of  the 
poor  animals  ;  but  just  as  an  individual  was  going  to 
drink,  they  had  the  mortification  to  perceive  that  the 
water  !iad  been  poisoned  by  the  Bushmen.     Destruc- 


tinn  nniv  annAapA^  tn  Ka  itt\ 


ilnKIa 


k..t   .»  >i.:. 


cal  juncture,  the  missionaries  cried  earr  cstly  to  God 


for  succor,  and,  in  the  course  of  a  few  hours,  an 
abundance  of  rain  descended,  and  obviated  all  their 
difficulties. 

Two  days  having  been  devoted  to  needful  repose 
and  refreshment,  the  brethren  prepared  to  resume 
their  journey  ;  but  on  the  morning  fixed  for  their 
departure,  one  of  their  cows  came  home  with  an  arrow 
sticking  in  her  flank.  It  was  now  conjectured  that 
part  of  the  herd  had  been  driven  away  by  the  Bush- 
men ;  who,  in  such  cases,  compel  the  aninsals  to  run 
as  fast  as  they  can,  and  when  one  of  them  is  unable 
to  keep  up  with  the  rest,  they  pierce  it  with  a  dart, 
in  consequence  of  which  it  generally  falls  on  the  roiad 
and  the  carcass  is  subsequently  taken  away  by  the 
rdsbers.  •'  The  cow  which  returned  to  us,"  says  Mr. 
Kicherer,  "  had  been  thus  treated,  and  now  served  as 
a  messenger  to  apprize  us  of  what  had  happened.  I 
therefore  despatched  some  Hottentots  with  fire-arms, 
in  pursuit  of  the  banditti,  and,  in  the  mean  time, 
travelled  on  with  the  remainder  of  our  little  caravan  ; 
and  on  the  next  day  our  people  rejoined  us,  with 
seventy-three  out  of  eighty  oxen  which  had  been 
stolen  fitim  us.  Shortly  after  this,  I  arrived  in  safety 
at  my  residence  near  Zak  river,  and  rejoiced  exceed- 
ingly when  I  regained  the  favored  spot  where  the 
Lord  had  shown  me  so  many  wonders  of  his  grace 
and  goodness." 

Mr.  Kicherer  had,  for  some  time,  entertained 
thoughts  of  visiting  Europe,  partly  with  a  view  to  the 
settlement  of  some  domestic  concerns,  and  also  with 
the  design  of  consulting  the  directors  of  the  London 
Missionary  Society  on  the  best  measures  to  be  adopted 
in  future.  Accordingly,  on  the  17th  of  January, 
1803,  he  took  leave  of  his  congregation  at  Zak  river, 
with  an  assurance  that  he  would  endeavor  to  return 
in  about  twelve  months.  The  scene  exhibited  on  this 
occasion  was  deeply  aflfecting.  Some  of  the  ptople 
expressed  an  apprehension  that  it  WPii  on  account 
of  their  guilt,  and  because  they  had  not  sufficiently 
prized  the  gospel,  that  their  beloved  minister  was  now 
to  be  removed  from  them  ;  others,  eagerly  grasping 
his  hands  and  weeping  bitterly,  declared  they  found  it 
impotsihle  to  consent  to  his  departure ;  and  those  who 
were,  in  some  degree,  enabled  to  restrain  the  external 
marks  of  their  grief,  declared  that  they  should  unre- 
mittingly pray  for  his  speedy  return,  under  a  convic- 
tion that  they  should  never  survive  the  total  loss  of 
such  a  friend  and  pastor. 

One  of  the  male  Hottentots,  named  John,  and  two 
females,  called  Mary  and  Martha,  were  permitted  to 
accompany  their  beloved  instructer  to  Europe  ;  and, 
on  tlieir  arrival  in  England,  they  aflforded  a  gratifica- 


.t.»  r.:„„j. 


.r  >!.« 


Redeemer,  in  various  congregations,  by  the  decided 


testimony  which  (through  the  medium  of  Mr.  Kicherer, 
as  their  mterpreter)  they  were  enabled  to  bear  to  the 
beneficial  effects  of  the  gospel  upon  their  own  hearte, 
and  upon  the  hearts  of  their  long-neglected  and  be- 
flighted  countrymen. 

On  one  of  these  occasions  an  incident  occurred 
which  at  once  evinced  the  pious  feelings  of  the  Afiican 
converts,  and  placed  m  striking  contrast  the  negligence 
and  guilt  of  those  who,  residing  in  a  country  abound- 
ing with  aU  the  means  of  grace,  are  alike  regardless 
ol  their  own  spiritual  interests,  and  of  the  eternal 
welfare  of  their  fellow  creatures. 

At  tlie  close  of  the  service  one  evening,  in  the 
Scots    church,   SwaUow  street,  the   Hottentots   had 
retired  with  their  minister  to  the  vestry  ;  when  a  negro 
boy,  anxious  to  see  the  converts  to  Christianity  from 
his  quarter  of  the  world,  pressed  through  the  crowd, 
in  order  to  satisfy  his  curiosity.     The  moment  that 
Mary  discovered  the  sable  countenance  of  this  lad 
she  flew  towards  him,  took  him  in  her  arms,  and 
fondled  him  with  all  the  affection  of  a  mother.   This  was 
perceived  by  Martha,  who  immediately  came  forward 
and  asked  him  a  question,  which  Mary  repeated  with 
gfeat  earnestness.     They  both  appeared  disappointed 

IL7T7^  T.  ''"'^'''  ^'"'  "  '«"«''''  ^collecting 
5   Jl     i^^.**'*^  ""'  understand  Dutch,  they  request- 
ed  Mr.  Kicherer  to  interrogate  him  in  English.     It 
now  appeared  that  the  question  which  they  had  asked 
with  such  anxious  earnestness  was,  "  Do  you  love  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ  ?"     This  was,  of  course,  repeated, 
as  they  had  requested;  but,  alas!  the  young  negro 
who  probably  had  beard  little  of  Christ,  except  in  the 
Dlaspheraies  of  nomi-na/  Christians,  looked  confused, 
and  returned  no  answer.   The  mortification  of  the  Hot- 
tentots was  extreme  ;  their  countenances  were  marked 
by  dejection ;  and  they  were  eridenUy  both  astonished 
and  grieved  to  find  a  native  of  Africa  surrounded  with 
all  the  privileges  of  the  gospel  in  England,  and  yet  an 
entire  stranger  to  the  Redeemer. 

Mr.  Kicherer  now  paid  a  visit  to  his  friends  in  Hol- 
land wi.ere  he  was  detained  a  considerable  time.  On 
the  8  St  of  October,  1804,  however,  be  sailed  from  the 
lexel,  with  the  Hottentot  converts,  and  some  new 
missionaries ;  and,  after  a  voyage,  in  which  they  were 
exposed  to  the  most  imminent  peril,  they  arrived  in 
safety  at  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  on  the  19th  of 
January,  1805. 

On  his  return  to  Znk  river,  our  excellent  missionary 
found  his  congregation  in  a  very  dejected  and  wretched 
situation,  in  consequence  of  a  long-continued  drought, 
and  the  robberies  committed  by  the  Bushmen.  «  mW 
of  t  le  people."  says  Mr.  K.,  «  had  been  already  com- 
pelled  to  take  refuge  in  another  nlac*.  s^.A  .k„  .„ 
niainder  seemed  ready  to  perish,  for  want  of  every 

Vol.  I.— Nos.  35  &  36.  gg    ^ 


GRKiUA  TOWN. 


m 

nBceu^  of  life.     We  usea  our  utmost  endeatoft 
to  keep  our  dear  coagregation  together,  on  a  sn«t 
which  had  formerly  been  so  muchlSe«ed';  Z  allS 
efforts  were  m  vain,  and  our  prospect,  be^une  ZZ 
and  darker;  so  that  neither  cattle  nor^^Jd  ^ 
procured  at  any  price,  and  it  was  impracticableT«nd 
1  ft  r'  '^'rr°"''°"  account  of  the  plunder 
ii'ptSdtLt.."^^  already  murdered  twJ  of  our 
Whilst  the  concerns  of  the  settlement  were  in  this 
situation,  Mr.  Kicherer  was  providentially  ap^inS 
to  the  hving  o    Graaf  Reinet,  which  he  LepZ^ 

of  the  London  society  ;  and  thither  he  was  followed 
by  the  greater  part  of  his  congregation,  who  either 

different  families  m  the  vicinity,  as  servants  or  laborers ; 
so  that  they  were  gradually  inured  to  habits  of  in' 
dustry,  whilst  tbey  retained  the  important  privilege 
of^U  hearing  the  gospel  from  the  lips  of  their  beloved 


GRIQUA  TOWN. 

[Five  hundred  u>d  thirty  nule.  north^eMt  of  C.pe  Town.] 

In  consequence  of  the  urgent  and  repeated  solicit., 
uons  of  some  of  the  Coranna  chiefs,  the  brethren  at 
Zak  river  resolved  to  visit  a  nation  which  was  repre 
J^nted  as  one  of  the  most  populous  in  the  vicinity' of 

Wnii        /'.,!      °"  'J'  ^^'^  '^f  ^"^h,  1801,  Mr. 
Willnim  Anderson,  who  had  recently  arrived   frem 
t^ape  Town,  commenced  his  journey  to  the  Oranee 
nver,  accompanied  by  a  number  of  Bastard  Hottentots 
This  expedition  was  attended  with  considerable  danRe 
on  account  of  the  plundering  Bushmen  who  occS 
the  country  through  which  our  travellers  were  com- 
pelled  ,0  pass      At  one  place,  towards  evening,  Mr 
Anderson  and  his  companions  fell  in  with  a  number  of 
hese  savages,  armed  with  bows  and  arrows,  who  fol- 

with  them  during  the  night.     Providentially,  however 
wo  wdd  horses  had  been  shot  the  day  before,  whTch 

with  food ;  and,  by  this  means,  their  friendship  was  so 
far  conciliated,  that  they  departed  the  next  morning 
without  committing  the  smallest  depredation.  After 
his  arrival  at  the  Great  river,  our  missionary  was  re- 
peatedly  visited  by  others  of  this  tribe  ;  and  on  one 
occasion,  a  little  boy  overheard  them  deliberating 
a^m  .n  intended  uu„ck  in  the  middle  of  the  night.' 
Their   audacious    behavior,"   says   Mr.    Anderson 


496 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


•<  gave  us  reason  to  credit  this  report,  and  our  situation 
was  very  critical,  as  most  of  the  Bastard  Hottentots 
bad  returned  to  Zak  river.  We  therefore  slept  out 
of  doors  that  night,  with  our  guns  loaded  ;  and  in  the 
morning,  the  conduct  of  the  Bushmen  was  so  materially 
altered,  that  we  willingly  gave  them  three  sheep,  with 
which  they  departed  in  the  course  of  the  day." 

Soon  aAer  he  had  reached  the  place  of  his  destina- 
tion, called  Riet's  Fountain,  Mr.  Anderson  was  joined 
by  the  brethren  from  Zak  river,  and  they  immediately 
commenced  their  evangelical  labors  among  heathens 
of  different  nations,  comprising  Corannas,  Namaquas, 
Hottentots,  Bastard  Hottentots  and  Bushmen.  To  those 
who  understood  the  Dutch  language  they  had  ready  ac- 
cess; and  toothers,they  were  enabled  to  communicate  the 
glad  tidings  of  salvation  through  the  medium  of  some 
mterpreters  whom  Providence  had  raised  up  for  their 
assistance.  Many  of  the  people  evinced  much  anxiety 
to  become  acquainted  with  the  truths  of  the  gospel ; 
and  not  only  listened  to  the  preaching  of  the  word 
with  tears  in  their  eyes,  but,  on  some  occasions,  they 
were  so  deeply  affected,  that  it  was  scarcely  practica- 
ble to  proceed  with  the  worship.  Numbers  of  them, 
also,  made  a  considerable  progress  in  learning  to  read, 
and  their  external  conduct  seems  to  have  been  uni- 
versally as  good,  or  better,  than  the  missionaries  had 
anticipated. 

The  moral  and  religious  improvements  of  the  people, 
however,  were  materially  impeded  by  the  circumstance 
of  their  being  compelled,  according  to  the  state  of  the 
season,  '.o  remove  from  spring  to  spring,  in  order  to 
obtain  sufficient  pasturage  for  their  flocks  and  herds, 
which  constitute  almost  the  whole  of  their  property. 
To  remedy,  as  far  as  possible,  this  evil,  and  its  attend- 
ant inconveniences,  Mr.  Anderson  endeavored  to  per- 
suade them  to  fix  themselves  at  different  suitable  sta- 
tions; the  principal  settlement,  called  Klaar  Water, 
but  afterwards  better  known  by  the  appellation  of 
Griqua  Town,  being  a  long  day's  journey  to  the  north 
of  the  Great  river. 

Early  in  1805,  the  small-pox  made  its  appearance 
in  each  of  the  new  stations ;  and,  in  the  month  of  April, 
it  took  such  an  unfavorable  turn,  that  almost  every 
other  day  there  was  a  burial.  Many  of  the  people  had, 
for  some  time  past,  been  very  remiss  in  their  attendance 
on  the  means  of  grace,  and  when  the  infection  first 
broke  out  among  them  they  seemed  but  little  alarmed. 
A  general  gloom,  however,  was  now  visible  in  every 
cobntenance,  and  the  fear  of  approaching  death  was 
widely  extended  and  deeply  felt.  Mr.  Anderson  was, 
at  this  time,  laboring  under  great  weakness  of  body, 
yet  he  observes,  "  I  was  every  day  employed  in  visit- 
ing the  abodes  of  the  sick,  the  wretchedness  of  which 
It  13  impossible  for  iiiu   tO   describe.      One  V>'Oman   ! 


heard  praying,  but  could  not  approach  near  enough  to 
hear  what  she  said,  on  account  of  the  disagreeable 
nature  of  her  disorder.  Her  husband  told  me,  how- 
ever, that  she  had  exhorted  her  family  to  attend  the 
preached  word,  which  she  had  found,  by  experience, 
to  be  the  truth.  The  situation  of  another  was  most 
distressing,  as  she  appeared  to  have  no  hope,  but 
rather  a  foretaste  of  eternal  misery.  She  screamed 
and  groaned,  indeed,  to  such  a  degree,  that  I  was  not 
able  to  rest  in  my  bed.  She  had  lived  a  life  of  licen- 
tiousness, and  her  agonies  might  probably  arise  from 
a  conviction  of  having  despised  our  faithful  warnings, 
and  those  of  a  brother,  who  is  one  of  our  interpreters. 
In  the  month  of  May,  most  of  the  people  were  recov- 
ered, but,  astonishing  to  tell !  having  escaped  danger, 
they  again  neglected  to  attend  the  worship  of  God." 
In  1807,  the  small-pox  was  again  introduced  among 
Mr.  Anderson's  people,  in  consequence  of  a  child 
having  been  brought  from  Griqua-land,  whilst  laboring 
under  that  disorder.  Much  alarm  was  consequently 
excited ;  but  at  this  juncture  the  practice  of  vaccination 
was  happily  adopted,  and  the  impending  calamity  was 
thus,  in  a  great  measure,  averted. 

In  the  month  of  April,  1810,  whilst  Mr.  Anderson 
was  absent  on  business  of  importance  at  Cape  Town, 
the  people  at  Griqua  Town  were  menaced  by  a  body 
of  Caffres,  whose  captain  was  heard  to  declare  that  he 
would  fight  with  them,  though  he  had,  on  the  pre- 
ceding day,  received,  with  apparent  thankfulness,  a 
present  of  corn  and  tobacco.  Conciliatory  measures, 
however,  were  adopted  by  the  resident  missionary,  Mr. 
Janz ;  and  these  were  so  far  successful,  that  though 
the  Caffres  did  not,  according  to  promise,  retire  im- 
mediately from  that  part  of  the  country,  they  ex- 
pressed their  conviction  that  the  brethren  were  well 
intentioned  persons,  and  the  threatened  hostilities  were 
laid  aside. 

In  1313,  the  Rev.  John  Campbell  visited  this  set- 
tlement, after  accomplishing  the  task  of  crossing  the 
Orange  river,  of  which  he  gives  the  following  account : 
— "  Soon  after  day-break,  one  of  our  people  Entered 
the  river  on  horseback,  to  ascertain  its  depth,  and  got 
across  without  much  difficulty.  Eleven  Griquas  re- 
turned with  our  Hottentot,  on  horseback,  to  assist  us 
in  crossing.  All  were  now  employed  in  elevating  the 
baggage  in  our  wagons  as  high  as  possible,  by  moans 
of  stones  and  timber  put  under  them,  to  prevent  the 
water  reaching  them.  At  ten  o'clock  in  the  forenoon, 
every  thing  being  in  readiness,  we  advanced  towards 
the  river,  and  went  over  in  the  following  order : — part 
of  our  loose  oxen,  driven  by  three  Hottentots  on  horse- 
back.— My  wagon,  with  three  mounted  Griquas  on 
each  side,  to  prevent  the  oxen  from  turning  out  of  the 
right  way. — More  loose  oxeii,  driven  by  two  niouuted 


ORIQUA  TOWN. 


OriquBS— The  leoond  wagon,  with  two  Griquas  on 
each  side.— The  baggago-wagon,  with  three  Griquas 
on  each  side.— A  Hottentot  on  horseback,  carrying  a 
parcel.— Four  of  our  dogs  driven  down  by  the  current. 
—Sheep  and  goats,  driven  by  three  Griquas,  swimming 
on  wooden  horses :  they  also  kept  up  the  heads  of 
three  goats  which  were  bad  swimmers.— More  oxen, 
driven  by  three  Griquas  on  wooden  horses. 

"  Nothing  now  was  left  behind  but  two  dogs,  which 
wore  too  timid  to  venture  over.  However,  in  about 
half  an  hour,  one  attempted,  and  succeeded  in  reaching 
us.  The  other  then  threw  himself  into  the  river,  and 
was  equally  successful ;  so  that,  by  two  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon,  all  were  safely  arrived  in  Griqua-land, 
where  we  received  a  hearty  welcome  to  the  country 
from  a  captain  or  chief  of  the  Griquas,  whose  oxen 
had  drawn  our  wagons  for  the  last  two  days." 

The  number  of  Griquas  residing  in  Griqua  Town 
and  the  outposts  connected  with  it,  at  the  time  of  Mr 
Campbell's  visit,  amounted  to  one  thousand  two  hun- 
dred  and   si»ty-six,  comprising    two    hundred    and 
nmety-one  men,  three  hundred  an? ninety-nme  women, 
and  five  hundred  and  seventy-six  children.     There 
were,  also,  as  nearly  as  could  be  ascertained,  one 
thousand  three  hundred  and  forty-one  Corannas,  who 
considered  themselves  connected  with  the  Griquas, 
for  the  sake  of  protection  ;  and  of  these  a  considerable 
number  attended,  either  statedly  or  occasionally,  on 
the  mstructions  of  the  brethren.      The  chunjh,  or 
Christian  society,  consisted  of  twenty-six  men  and 
sixteen  women,  and  a  considerable  number  of  pupils 
attended  the  schools. 

"Many  of  the  people,"  says  Mr.  Campbell,  "have 
gardens;  but  tobacco  holds  a  distinguished  place  in 
them  all.  Many  acres  of  land  around  the  settlement 
are  cultivated  ;  and  they  have  a  considerable  number 
of  cattle,  sheep  and  goats,  which  have  considerably 
increased  since  their  owners  became  a  stationary  peo- 
ple. Twenty-four  wagons  also  belong  to  the  people ; 
but  most  of  these  are  nearly  worn  out  by  use ;  as  the 
Griquas,  from  their  ignorance  and  simplicity,  are 
often  taken  in  by  the  boors  in  the  colony,  from  whom 
they  purchase  their  old  wagons.  The  boors  have  only 
to  cover  them  with  pitch  or  tar,  and,  though  rotten  to 
the  heart,  the  simple  Griquas  will  buy  them  as  good 
and  new.  And  in  this  manner,  many  a  veteran  wagon 
has  found  its  way  to  Griqua-land,  there  to  deposit  its 
dust." 

After  Mr.  Campbell's  departure,  a  remarkable 
awakening  seems  to  have  taken  place  among  the 
Griquas,  who,  for  some  time  past,  had  evinced  much 
lukewarmness  in  respect  to  the  things  of  God ;  and  at 

— .  " .!j.--,-3t3,  uaitcu   narucasue,  an    intense 

anxiety  respecting  their  eternal  salvation  appeared  not 


m 


only  m  the  Onquas,  but  among  the  Corannai  and 

Hushmen.     «  Under  my  preaching,"  says  Mr.  Andeiw 

son,  "many  testified  the  state  of  their  minds,  by  the 

tears  which  flowed  down  their  cheeks;  and  among 

these  were  some  characters  whose  former  lives  had 

been  sp  iniquitous,  that  little  hope  was  entertained  of 

their  recovery.     Since  our  brethren  left  us,  we  have 

received  fourteen  persons  into  our  church,  and  I  had 

the  happiness,  a  few  evenings  ago,  of  proposing  twenty. 

one  more  to  be  admitted  to  the  rite  of  baptism.   Many 

others  are  coming  daily  to  speak  with  us  about  the 

state  of  their  souls,  and   to  inquire  after  the  Lord 

Jesus ;  so  that,  though  we  have  been  long  walking 

in  a  sorrowful  manner,  our  sorrow  is  now  turned  into 

joy." 

In  1816,  a  refractory  spirit  unhappily  appeared  in 
some  who  had  formerly  made  a  profession  of  religion, 
and  a  few  individuals  even  threatened  the  life  of  the  faith- 
ful  missionary,  who  had  so  long  and  so  disinterestedly 
labored  among  them.  After  some  time,  however,  they 
appeared  to  be  convinced  of  their  error,  and  solicited 
pardon ;  and  in  a  letter  dated  January  15,  1817  Mr 
Anderson  observes,  that  he  had  recently  baptized 
"upwards  of  fifty  adults,  chiefly  young  people,  on 
whose  hearts  it  appears  the  Lord  had  powerfully 
wrought,  even  at  the  time  when  the  enemy  of  souls 
was  permitted  so  to  rage,  as  to  threaten  the  entire  ruin 
of  the  settlement." 

In  the  month  of  March,  1820,  the  Rev.  John  Camp- 
bell  paid  a  second  visit  to  Griqua  Town. 

"  The  attendance  at  the  school,"  soys  this  excellent 
man,  "  had  been  much  increased,  and  become  more 
punctual,  m  consequence  of  four  boys  being  appointed 
to  act  as  captains  or  monitors.  When  any  are  missing, 
one  of  the  young  captains,  in  whose  district  the  truant 
resides,  goes  in  search  of  him,  and  brings  him  to 
the  school.  When  I  visited  them  in  the  morninR. 
they  were  all  engaged  according  to  the  British 
system. 

"  I  walked  with  Mr.  Helme  (a  missionary)  to  call 
upon  some  of  the  people  in  their  own  houses.     And 
among  othei-s,  we  visited  a  little  cluster  of  huts  about 
a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  town.     They  have  many 
divelhngs  in  the  town,  which  are  called  round-houses, 
and  one  such  is  at  this  little  village.    It  is  built  of  stone 
about  the  height  of  five  feet,  and  fifteen  feet  in  diameter 
with  a  conical  roof,  a  door,  and  one  window.     The 
same  Griqua  who  inhabited  the  round-house,  was  also 
building  a  square  one  of  stone,  about  thirty  feet  by 
twelve,  with  a  door  and  three  windows.     When  com- 
pleted,  he  meant  to  use  the  round-house  as  a  store, 
lliree  Griqua  women,  dressed  intheEurnnfinp  fasi.-- 
were  sewmg  some  cotton  articles;  and  three  or  four 
others  camo   from   the  huts,   dressed   in   the   same 


498 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


manner ;  to  all  of  whom  I  made  presents  of  needles, 
thread,  tbimblea,  tao. 

"  In  the  evening,  boibre  the  prayer-meeting,  Mr. 
Helme  examined  the  young  people  from  a  Dutch  oate- 
ehism.  About  one  hundred  were  present ;  and  I  never 
heard  children  repeat  more  readily,  not  only  the 
answers,  but,  very  oAen,  the  proofs  from  the  Scriptures. 
The  next  evening,  Mr.  Helme  addressed  the  Bushmen 
residing  at  Griqua  Town,  through  an  interpieter,  who 
seemed  to  perform  his  part  very  well,  whilst  the  poor 
Bushmen  sat  on  the  front  benches  and  listened  with 
attention.  We  visited  some  of  their  families  in  their 
huts,  and  they  appeared  pleased  at  being  noticed. 

"  At  an  examination  of  the  school,  on  the  9th  of 
August,  there  were  about  thirty  children  who  read  the 
New  Testament  tolerably  well,  others  read  short 
words,  and  the  remainder  knew  the  letters.  One 
hundred  and  six  were  present,  and  this,  I  was  informed, 
B  the  average  number  of  scholars  who  attend  in  winter, 
when  many  of  the  inhabitants  have  removed  to  the 
banks  of  the  Great  river,  because  the  clunate  is 
warmer,  and  the  grass  more  plentiful.  In  summer, 
the  daily  attendance  is  about  one  hundred  and  sixty. 
"  The  auxiliary  missionary  society,  which  had  been 
formed  in  Griqua  Town  six  years  ago,  was  broken  up 
in  the  second  year,  owing  to  the  misrepresentations  of 
a  boor,  who  had  absconded  from  the  colony,  and  for 
want  of  proper  persons  to  collect  the  subscriptions. 
At  a  meeting  on  the  I2th  of  August,  however,  they 
determined  upon  its  reestablishment,  and  appointed 
collectors  for  Griqua  Town,  and  for  the  four  outposts, 
called  Chalmer's,  Hardcastle,  Daniel's  Den  and 
Campbell." 

In  January,  1821,  the  church  at  this  settlement 
consisted  of  about  two  hundred  members  ;  but  the 
directors,  in  stating  this  fact,  lament  the  prevalence  of 
a  Laodicean  spirit  among  the  greater  part  of  them. 
"  Others,  however,"  say  they,  "  evince  the  reality  of 
their  Christian  principles  by  a  correspondent  temper 
and  conduct.  Much  of  the  evil  which  has  crept  into 
the  church  may  be  ascribed  to  a  frequent  and  long 
absence  from  the  means  of  religious  edification,  occa- 
sioned  by  hunting  expeditions.  In  consequence  of  the 
predilection  of  the  natives  for  hunting,  the  cultivation 
of  the  ground  has  advanced  slowly  ;  but  as  it  is  now 
much  more  difficult  than  formerly  for  the  people  to 
obtain  gunpowder,  they  will  probably  be  compelled, 
in  future,  to  pay  greater  attention  to  agriculture. 
Should  this  be  the  case,  an  improvement  in  their  moral 
and  social  habits  may  reasonably  be  expected."  In 
consequence  of  the  removal  of  Mr.  Anderson  to  another 
station,  called  Caledon  Institution,  the  mission  at 
Griqua  Town  was,  at  this  time,  under  the  direction  of 
Messrs.  Hehne  an  J  Moffatt,  and  some  time  afterwards 


the  whole  superintendence  of  the  settlement  devolved 
on  Mr.  Helme,  assisted  by  a  pious  chief,  named  Andrew 
Waterboer. 

"  On  the  sabbath,"  say  the  directors,  "  there  are 
four  services,  and  meetings  lor  worship  and  catechetical 
exercises  are  held  every  evening  in  the  week.  And 
though  Mr.  Helme  deplores  the  lukewarmness  of  many 
of  his  people,  he  is  oheered  and  encouraged  by  the 
evidence  which  others  afford  that  he  does  not  labor  in 
vain." 

A  number  of  Griquas,  called  Bergenaars  (or  Moun- 
taineers), from  their  having  stationed  themselves 
among  the  mountains,  committed,  a  few  years  after, 
many  acts  of  depredation  and  violence.  The  Griqua 
chiefs  had,  on  several  occasions,  commendably  exerted 
themselves  to  disperse  and  reclaim  these  marauders, 
but  without  effect.  In  reference  to  one  of  their  prin- 
cipal efforts  made  with  that  view,  the  following  state- 
ment is  extracted  from  a  letter  from  John  Melville, 
Esq.,  government  agent  at  Griqua  Town,  to  the  editor 
of  the  South  Africc^  Chronicle  (writtea  for  the  pur- 
pose of  obviating  certain  misstatements  of  a  communi- 
cation inserted  in  a  preceding  number  of  that  paper), 
as  it  beautifully  illustrates  the  moral  and  civilizing 

tendency  of  Christianity  in  relation  to  the  Griquas : 

"  The  Griqua  chiefs  proceeded  to  the  station  of  the 
Bergenaars,  to  take  such  measures  as  might  put  a  stop 
to  the  system  of  depredation  they  were  carrying  on 
against  the  tribes  around  them.  Instead  of  showing 
any  disposition  to  alter  their  conduct,  they  set  the 
commando  at  defiance,  and  maintained  that  attitude 
till  night  came  on  with  rain,  when  they  made  their 
escape.  The  commando  returned  to  Griqua  Town 
with  4000  head  of  cattle,  followed  by  some  hundreds 
of  the  people  of  the  plundered  tribes,  to  whom  a  con- 
siderable part  of  these  cattle  belonged  ;  and,  contrary  to 
the  practice  ofsavage  tribes,  a  scene  of  justice  took  place 
which  would  have  done  credit  to  any  civilized  people. 
The  chiefs  restored  to  these  poor  people  all  their  cat- 
tle, without  reserving  a  single  hoof  to  themselves,  to 
which  any  one  of  those  people  could  establish  a  right. 
When  the  people  had  got  then-  cattle,  they  were  told 
that  they  might  go  to  their  own  place  of  abode  ;  but 
they  were  so  struck  with  the  justice  of  the  Griqua 
chiefs  that  they  begged  to  bealk>wed  to  put  themselves 
under  their  protection,  and  follow  them  to  Griqua 
Town." 

The  following  paragraphs  from  the  same  letter  ex- 
hibit pleasing  evidence  of  missionary  influence  in 
promoting  peace  and  security  among  uncivilized,  or 
partly  civilized  tribes  :— 

"  Finding  it  necessary  to  visit  Cape  Town  (says  Mr. 
Melville),  and  to  bring  the  chiefs  and  some  of  the 
leadiug  people  wilit  me,  la  our  absence  the  Bergenaars 


GRIQUA  TOWN. 


ctme  against  Oriqua  Town,  and  having  attacked  a 
place  in  the  vicinity,  they  killed  two  people,  and  burnt 
a  woman  in  a  house  to  which  they  sot  fire.  After 
this,  they  proceeded  to  attack  the  village,  but  hearing 
that  there  was  a  missionary  still  residing  there,  they 
retired  to  a  distance  and  sent  for  him,  and  he  brought 
them  to  terms  of  peace. 

"  Here  we  see  a  missionary,  so  far  from  being  the 
cause  of  war,  has  so  much  respect  attached  to  his 
character,  that  even  the  Bergenaars  would  not  attack 
Uie  place  because  he  was  there  :  the  pretetwe  of  Mr. 
Sass  afforded  a  protection  to  the  whole  people." 

Indeed,  there  is  good  reason  for  believing  that  the 
missionaries,  either  directly  or  indirectly,  have  been  for 
many  years  instrumental  in  the  preservation  of  peace 
between  the  colonists  and  the  tribes  beyond  them;  by 
promoting  in  the  former,  a  sense  of  justice ;  in  the  lat- 
ter, a  spirit  of  forgiveness,  when  the  former  have 
violated  that  principle. 

"  During  the  past  year,"  says  the  last  report, «  great 
improvement  has  taken  place  both  in  the  state  and 
prospects  of  this  mission.     The  religious  services  are 
more  numerously  and  more  regulariy  attended.     On 
the  sabbath,  the  place  of  worship,  which  is  large,  is 
well   filled.       While   the    missionaries   endeavor   to 
awaken  the  people  to  a  concern  for  their  own  salva- 
tion, they  are  careful  w  urge  upon  them  the  obligation 
they  are  under  to  promote  the  religious  instruction  of 
their  children ;  and  these  endeavors  have  not  been 
ineffectual.     A  sabbath  school,  devoted  entirely  to 
the  religious  instruction  of  the  children,  has  been  com- 
menced.    It  excites  considerable  interest  among  the 
people,  and  has  been  already  the  means  of  effecting 
great  good.     Many  of  the  parents  attend  the  school, 
and  one  of  the  missionaries  usually  gives  an  address 
on  the  occasion.     The  attendance  at  the  day  school, 
which  had  declined  to  about  forty,  is  now  increased  to 
one  hundred  and  eighty.     The  children  make  good 
progress. 

"  The  number  of  Bechuanas  who  have  settled  at 
Griqua  Town,  chiefly  in  consequence  of  the  Mantalee 
invasion,  is  upwards  of  three  hundred.  The  mission- 
aries are  active  in  promoting  their  religious  instruction, 
through  the  medium  of  an  interpreter,  whom  they 
have  engaged  for  the  purpose.  The  children  of  the 
Bechuanas  regularly  attend  the  school,  and  make  good 
progress.  The  missionaries  consider  it  not  improbable 
that  some  of  these  youths  may  be  the  first  to  convey 
the  gospel  to  their  own  countrymen. 

"  The  Bergenaars  are  desirous  to  share  again  in  the 
religious  and  civil  privileges  of  Griqua  Town,  and  many 
of  them  have  returned  there  for  that  purpose. 

"  The  Griquas  are  becoming  more  sensible  of  the 
advantages  of  procuring  the  means  of  their  subsistence 


on  the  spot,  and  are,  in  coniequence,  paying  tr«ater 
attention  to  agriculture,  which  will,  of  course,  be 
favorable  to  bdustry,  and  the  formation  of  settled 
habits." 

It  is  with  pain  that  we  record  that  the  interesting 
prospects  of  the  mission,  in  1827,  were  bluted  by  the 
consequences  of  a  destructive  attack  made  upon  the 
station  by  the  Bergenaars.  Mr.  Sass,  whose  age  has 
by  no  means  impaired  his  missionary  zeal,  was  com- 
pelled to  retire  to  Cape  Town,  while  Mr.  Wright,  to 
whom,  under  Divine  Providence,  the  preservation  of 
the  place  from  total  destruction  is  to  be  attributed, 
continues  to  labor  among  the  natives  with  unabated 
energy  and  zeal. 

In  1828,  Mr.  Hughes  removed  from  Lattakoo  to- 
Griqua  Town  to  assist  Mr.  Wright.  Another  attempt 
which  was  made  to  destroy  the  station  happily  proved 
abortive,  and  a  peace  was  concluded  between  the  chiefs 
and  the  Griqua  captains,  Andrew  Waterboer  and  Corne- 
lius Kok.  At  the  close  of  the  year  1828,  the  number 
of  native  converU  united  in  church  fellowship  was 
twenty-eight.  Intheco  j  of  that  year,  one  person  was 
admitted,  and  three  re-edmitted,  and  eleven  infants 
were  baptized.  Two  members  of  the  church  had 
died.  One  of  them  was  doacon  of  the  church ;  the 
other  an  aged  female,  formerly  a  member  of  the  church 
at  Bethesda :  they  were  both  of  them  spiritually-mind- 
ed and  consistent  Christians,  very  useful  in  the  sphere 
in  which  they  respectively  moved,  and  very  happy  in 
death.  In  August,  1829,  two  young  men  were  added 
to  the  church,  and  several  other  young  persons  were 
then  candidates  for  admission.  The  people's  attend- 
ance on  the  preaching  of  the  gospel,  and  other  means 
of  grace,  was  good,  both  as  to  numbers  and  regularity, 
on  the  sabbath  services  particularly. 

From  the  report  of  the  dwectors  for  1831,  we  learn 
that  "  this  station  has  continued  to  enjoy  peace  and 
tranquillity,  and,  through  the  divine  blessing,  prosper- 
ity and  success  have  accompanied  the  efforts  made 
for  the  spiritual  and  temporal  improvement  of  Its  in- 
habitants." 

The  number  of  persons  united  in  church-fellowship 

is  stated  to  be  forty.   The  public  services  are  attended 

by  from  three  hundred  to  four  hundred  persons,  and  the 

preaching  of  the  gospel  is  accompanied  with  the  divine 

blessing.     The  day  school  contains  one  hundred  and 

twenty  children,  the  majority  of  whom  can  read  and 

write.     The  number  of  Griquas  resident  on  the  spot 

amounts  to  about  one  thousand.     The  improvements 

at  Griqua  Town  are  carried  on  without  any  European 

assistance.     The  village  has  two  mission-houses,  and 

forty  good  dwelling-houses  belonging  to  the  natives. 

The  Griqua  caotain  Waterboer  is  a  man  of  simo. 
.  J    ^         •  --  -_j — 

nor  mind :  he  encourages  the  erection  of  substantial 


430 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


houses,  but  does  not  permit  the  erection  of  any 
huts. 

Of  the  out-stations,  the  latest  reports  of  the  society 
contain  little  information.  It  is  stated  that,  at  Camp- 
bell, there  are  nine  hundred  resident  Griquas.  The 
services  performed  by  the  catechist  are  attended  by 
two  hundred,  and  the  number  of  communicants  is 
twenty.  The  school  contains  fifty  children,  who  are 
making  good  progress. 


SOUTH    NAMAQUALAND. 
PELLA. 

[ThrM  hundred  and  trtnly  milei  northward  of  the  Orange  river.] 

On  the  22d  of  May,  1805,  two  brothers,  named 
Christian   and  Abraham  Albrecht,  accompanied   by 
Mr.  John  Sydenfaden,  set  out  from  Capo  Town  with 
the  view  of  introducing  the  gospel  among  the  Noma- 
quas,  a  remote  and  uninstructed  nation,  residing  about 
a  month's  journey  from  the  settlement  occupied  by 
Messrs.  Anderson  and  Kramer,  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
Orange  river.     In  the  course  of  their  journey,  they 
encountered  a  variety  of  difficulties,  being  sometimes 
m  danger  of  perishing  of  want,  and  occasionally  com- 
pelled to  lodge  in  places  which  were  either  infested 
with  wild  beasts,  or  depopulaied  by  the  murderous 
Bushmen.     The  Lord  of  missions,  however,  mercifully 
defended  them  in  every  hour  of  danger,  and  they  not 
only  arrived  in  safety  at  their  place  of  destination, 
but  were  favorably  received  by  the  inhabitants,  many 
of  whom  appeared  disposed  to  attend  to  that  word 
which  might  emphatically  be  styled,  in  respect  of  them, 
"  good  news  from  a  far  country." 

From  the  appearance  of  the  country,  our  missionaries 
were  apprehensive  that  it  was  too  dry  and  barren  for 
the  production  of  corn,  and  they  consequently  antici- 
pated that  they  must  live  entirely  without  broad  ;  but 
their  contiguity  to  two  large  fountains,  and  four  smaller 
ones,  excited  the  hojie  that  tliey  should  be  preserved 
from  the  effects  of  excessive  drought,  and  be  enabled 
to  maintain  iheir  cattle,  upon  which  they  must  princi- 
pally depend  for  their  subsistence.  In  October,  IBOO, 
ho.vcver,  they  removed  farther  into  the  interior,  to  a 
place  called  the  Warm  Bath  ;  but  even  here  it  was 
not  practicable  to  accommodate  the  wliolo  of  their 
hearers,  who  were  under  the  necessity  of  occasionally 
removing  in  quest  of  fresh  pasturage  for  their  cattle. 
Mr.  Christian  Albrecht,  therefore  consented  to  «c- 
eompany  sue'i  of  i':c  nativ.-:;  as  engsjed  in  tiioso 
Bicursions  ;  though  by  so  doing  he  exposed  himself 


to  much   inconvenience,  as  will   aopear   from   tJ^e 
following  observations,   extracted  from  one   of  hia 

letters  : — 

"  I  have  been,"  says  he,  "  in  a  dismal  wilderness, 
where  it  is  impossible,  on  account  of  the  mountains  and 
rocks,  to  pass  with  a. wagon,  or  even  on  horseback. 
I  was  also  obliged  to  seek  the  natives,  with  whom  I 
wished  to  converse,  in  the  most  frightful  holes  and 
dens ;  and  when  I  approached,  they  fled,  so  that  I 
found  it  necessary  to  send  a  messenger  before  me,  to 
tranquillize  them.  These  poor  people  concealed 
themselves,  from  a  dread  of  their  neighbors,  with 
whom  they  were  at  war.  I  believe,  however,  that  my 
arrival  among  them  tended  considerably  to  dissipate 
their  fears ;  and  they  evinced  their  friendly  disposition 
towards  me  by  stating  that,  in  the  event  of  my  re- 
visiting them,  they  would  show  me  more  attention 
than  they  could  do  at  present." 

In  the  month  of  July,  1810,  Mr.  Abraham  Albrecht 
was  called  to  the  enjoyment  of  eternal  rest,  after  stnig- 
gling  with  a  pulmonary  complaint  for  several  months. 
He  was  on  his  way  to  Cape  Town,  for  medical  advice, 
when  it  pleased  the  Sovereign  Disposer  of  all  events 
to  put  a  final  period  to  his  journey.,  and  his  suffer- 
ings. His  afflicted  widow,  soon  afterward,  returned 
to  the  missionary  station  among  the  Namaquas,  where 
she  ha  ".  previously  rendered  herself  extremely  useful 
to  the  institution,  by  instructing  the  female  natives  in 
knitting  and  sewing. 

In  the  month  of  January,  1811,  the  station  in  the 
Lesser  Namaqua  country,  occupied  by  Mr.  Sydenfaden, 
was  attacked,  during  the  absence  of  that  missionary, 
by  the  predatory  gang  of  Africaner,  who,  under  the 
pretence  of  recovering  some  entile  which   had  been 
takin  from  him  by  some  ill-disposed  persons,  wreaked 
his  vrngeance  on  the  persons  and  property  of  the  un- 
offending people,  and  occasioned  their  total  dispersion. 
Destruction  was   also   threatened    in   respect  to  the 
station  at  Warm  Bath,  so  that  Mr.  Albrecht  and  his 
friends  thoiiijlit   it  advisable  t.j  retire  from  the  fury  of 
the  barbarous  cliief,  whom  it  was  not  in  their  power 
to  oi)pose  with  success.     Arconlingly,  after  burying 
such  parts  of  th  -ir  property  as  they  couhl  not  carry 
with  them,  they  (piitted   their  beloved  residence,  in 
company  with   some  neighboring  clans,  whose   fears 
had  been  excited  by  the    mcnoces  of   the  bandi'li. 
"  For  a  short  tinu',"  say  the  directors,  in  their  report 
for  the  yeni  1812,  "their  numbers  secured  them  fmm 
tlie  threaltned  mischief;    but   the  want   of  food   for 
themselves,  pasturage  for  their  cattle,  oihI  esperiHJIy 
water,  of  which  they  were  sonielinirs  entirely  destitute, 
olilige<l  them  to  separate,  nnd  gnulually  exposed  them 
10  the  enemy.     Thus  situated,  they  were  reduced  to 
the  slate  of  some  ancient  worthies,  and  literally  wan- 


PELLA. 


dered  about  in  deserts,  and  in  mountains,  and  in  caves 
of  the  earth !  At  length,  after  enduring  inexpressible 
trouble  and  alarm  for  several  weeks,  the  missionaries 
were  obliged  to  leave  that  part  of  the  country,  and 
to  separate  from  most  of  the  people  whom  they  had 
instructed." 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Albrecht  now  proceeded  to  Cape 
Town,  with  the  hope  of  obtaining  some  assistance  from 
the  governor ;  and  having  obtained  a  small  supply  of 
arms,  they  set  out  on  their  return,  accompanied  by  the 
brethren  Schmolen,  Ebner,  Helme  and  Sass,  who  had 
recently  arrived  from  Europe.  In  travelling  through 
the  wilderness,  however,  their  labors,  perils  and  suf- 
ferings were  truly  affecting.  Their  oxen,  destitute  of 
water,  and  weakened  by  want  of  sustenance,  refused 
to  draw  their  wagons,  and  many  of  them  died  of  thirst ; 
some  of  their  sheep  were  destroyed  by  wild  beasts  ; 
and  the  travellers  themselves  were  without  bread  for 
nearly  a  month,  and  were  in  the  most  imminent  danger 
of  perishing  in  the  desert,  when  a  baptized  Hottentot, 
called  Cornelius  Kok,  residing  at  Silver  Fountain, 
providentially  heard  of  their  distress,  and  sent  both 
men  and  oxen  to  their  relief. 

In  the  month  of  August,  181 «,  some  of  the  brethren, 
attended  by  twelve  armed  men,  visited  the  Warm 
Bath,  and  examined  the  spot  where  Messrs.  Albrecht 
and  Sydcnfaden  had  buried  part  of  their  goods ;  but 
most  of  these  had  been  carried  off.  The  houses  and 
churnh  were  burnt  down,  a  few  walls  only  remaining  ; 
and  the  circ<nnjacent  country  was  almost  entirely  de- 
serted. Thus  a  station,  in  which  the  Lord  had  for- 
merly accompanied  his  word  with  a  divine  blessing, 
had  literally  become  a  heap  of  ruins,  and  the  resort 
of  wild  beasts. 

As  serious  apprehensions  were  entertained  of  a  re-' 
newcd  attack,  the  missionaries,  after  mature  delibera- 
tion, removed  with  their  people  across  the  Orange 
river,  to  a  station  about  three  days'  journey  nearer  the 
colony.  To  this  place  they  gave  the  nome  of  Pella, 
becouHC  it  was  an  asylum  to  them  from  the  vengeance 
of  Africaner,  as  ancient  Pella  iiad  \>wn  to  the  Jewish 
Christians,  when  the  Romans  besieged  Jerusalem. 
The  soil  in  tiie  vicinity ,  however,  was  extremely  steriio 
and  unfit  fur  agriculture  ;  the  aspect  of  the  country 
was,  also,  very  gloomy,  exhibiting  nothing  to  the  eye 
but  an  extended  waste  of  sand,  dotted  witli  a  few 
stunteu  hushes  ;  and  the  only  inducement  to  form 
a  settlement  on  such  a  spot,  was  a  good  supply  of 
water. 

In  the  month  of  September,  181.1,  the  Rev.  John 
Campbell  paid  a  visit  to  Pella  ;  and,  in  corroboration 
of  what  has  been  stated  respecting  the  sterility  of  the 
•oil,  he  says,  "  Tlio  sight  of  their  garden  cast  a  gloon> 
over  overy  countenance.     It  was  the  second  month 


431 


of  their  spring,  and  many  seeds  had  been  sown :  most 
of  them  had  perished,  however,  in  consequence  of  the 
saltpetre  with  which  the  earth  is  impregnated,  as  soon 
as  they  had  raised  their  heads  above  ground ;  and 
others  seemed  struggling  to  live.  I  do  not  recollect 
observing  a  single  smile  on  any  countenance,  while 
we  were  viewing  the  garden.  The  next  day  we  had 
uninterrupted  sunshine  ;  but  though  cheering  to  look 
upward,  it  was  gloomy  to  look  downward,  for  every 
thing  had  a  sickly,  dying  aspect.  At  dinner,  a  whirl- 
wind came,  which  filled  the  house  with  dust,  and 
obliged  us  to  spread  a  cloth  over  what  was  on  the  table, 
till  it  subsided. 

"  The  inhabitants  of  Pella,  living  entirely  on  their 
cattle,  and  having  no  trades  and  few  wants,  seem  to 
spend  most  of  their  time  in  little  groups,  conversing 
together ;  though,  with  the  exception  of  those  who 
know  and  love  tl  gospel,  their  conversation  must  be 
extremely  frivolous.  The  only  occurrence  I  observed, 
was  the  departure  of  their  cattle  in  the  morning, 
and  their  return  in  the  evening.  They  are,  how- 
ever, a  very  honest  people,  so  that  I  was  informed 
that  stealing  is  a  crime  little  known  among  them. 
The  missionaries  meet  with  the  people  twice  every 
day  for  instruction,  and  three  times  on  the  Lord's 
day." 

The  number  of  persons  belonging  to  the  settlement, 
at  this  time,  amounted  to  six  hundred  and  thirty-six, 
including  one  hundred  and  ninety-one  children.  The' 
school  contained  a  hundred  and  fifty  pupils,  and  twenty- 
five  girls  were  instructed  in  needle-work  by  the  wives 
of  the  missionaries.  The  church,  however,  consisted 
only  of  nineteen  members. 

Previous  to  his  quitting  this  settlement,  Mr.  Camp- 
bell hold  a  meeting  of  the  inhabitants,  for  the  purpose 
of  introducing  among  them  several  salutary  laws  and 
regulations  for  the  be.iefit  of  their  little  community. 
He  also  wrote  a  conciliatory  letter  to  Africaner,  to 
induce  him,  if  possible,  to  live  in  peace  with  the  mis- 
sioiinry  stations.  This  letter  was  accompanied  by  a 
present,  and  intrusted  to  the  core  of  two  Bushmen, 
who  promised  to  convey  it  to  the  chief  for  whom  it 
was  designed. 

After  Mr.  Campbell's  departure,  much  attention 
seems  to  have  been  excited  among  the  inhabitants  of 
Pelltt  with  regard  to  their  eternal  interests,  and  in  a 
letter  of  the  Rev.  C.  Albrecht,  dated  September  S, 
1814,  that  excellent  missionary  observes,  "  Wocannot 
sufliciently  thank  the  Lord  for  his  grace  and  goodness 
communicated  to  the  hearts  of  our  people.  Wo  per- 
ceive great  desires  among  both  young  and  old  to  be- 
come   true    Chrislianx.      .Sim.n   •)■«   .../...tl. 


^  Msnrh 


last,  forty-iix  have  been  baptized,  and  show  by  thei« 
conduct  that  they  are  true  converts.     Others,  who 


438 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


have  not  been  bapUzed,  are  constant  in  their  prayers, 
not  only-  in  private,  but  also  in  meetings  among  them- 
selres,  which  we  rejoice  to  see.  Even  children  of 
four  years  of  age  accompany  their  parents,  and  go 
early  in  the  morning  to  the  fields,  for  the  purpose  of 
praying  together." 

The  important  fact  of  peace  havmg  boen  concluded 
with  Africaner  was  communicated  to  the  directors  by 
Mr.  Ebner,  in  a  letter  dated  Pella,  May  24,  1815, 
of  which  the  following  is  an  extract ; — "  You  will 
rejoice  with  me  when  you  hair  of  the  conversion  of  so 
many  heathen,  who  fly  to  our  beloved  Jesus  like  doves 
to  their  windows ;  adoring  the  same  Lord,  and  praying 
to  the  same  Saviour,  who  shed  his  precious  blood  for 
vile  and  guilty  sinners  ;  for  it  may  now  be  said  to  the 
British  Jerusalem,  that  their  liberal  contributions,  their 
holy  seal,  tlieir  fervent  prayers,  and  their  laborious 
exertions,  have  not  been  in  vain  in  the  Lord.  Oh  ! 
could  you  witness  the  earnest  desires  of  these  poor 
people  to  be  saved  by  Christ,  and  how  they  long  to 
be  delivered  from  their  sins  ;  could  all  the  Christians 
of  England  see  and  hear  our  disciples  p*^(uring  out 
their  prayers  behind  the  bushes,  and  surrounding  our 
place  as  a  wall  of  fire, — you  would  be  ready  to  put 
your  hands  in  your  pockets,  and  give  your  bank-notes 
uncounted  to  the  Missionary  Society,  for  the  purpose 
of  extending  the  kingdom  of  Christ. 

"  In  a  short  time,  I  intend  to  go  beyond  the  Great 
river  to  the  kraal  of  Africaner,  who  was  once  our  bitter 
enemy  and  persecutor,  but  has  now  promised  to  be  at 
peace  with  us.  May  the  Lord  change  his  heart,  as 
he  did  that  of  Saul. 

"  Mr.  Albrecht  has  been  to  this  chief,  and  made 
peace  with  him.  He  remained  four  days  with  Afri- 
caner's people,  preaching  the  word  of  God  ;  and  they 
entreated  him  to  send  a  missionary,  as  soon  as  possi- 
ble, to  reside  among  them.  Mr.  Albrecht,  therefore, 
promised  that  I  should  come  and  instruct  them,  if  I 
felt  inclined  so  to  do  ;  and,  on  his  return,  I  consented 
to  go,  considering  that  this  would  bt  the  most  effectual 
method  of  maintaining  peace  throughout  Namnquo- 
land,  and  that,  by  the  preaching  of  the  gospel  there, 
many  [loor  sinners  might  be  turned  to  the  Lord,  and 
become  happy  to  ail  eternity." 

The  pious  anticipations  of  Mr.  Ebnor  were  not  un- 
founded. The  preaching  of  the  cross  at  AraicANER's 
Khaal*  was  crowned  with  abundant  success  ;  and 
even  the  chief,  whose  excesses  and  enormities  had  so 
long  spread  dismay  and  terror  through  the  country, 
was  not  only  induced  to  listen  with  attentive  serious- 
ness to  the  gospel  of  Christ,  but  found  it  to  bo  the 
power  of  God  to  his  own  salvation.     Shortly  after  the 

=  ArBMARta  I  Kbaai,  It*  bundrtd  uul  flfty  mlipi  nortk  of 
Cspt  Town. 


commencement  of  our  misnonary's  labors  on  this  spot, 
he  was  heard  to  say,  "I  am  glad  that  I  am  delivered. 
I  have  long  enough  been  engaged  in  the  service  of 'h© 
devil ;  but  now  I  am  freed  from  his  bondage ;  Jesus 
hath  delivered  me :  him,  therefore,  will  I  serve,  and 
with  him  will  I  abide." 

In  the  month  of  April,  1819,  this  celebrated  charac- 
ter visited  Cape  Town,  in  company  with  Mr.  Moffat, 
and  two  converted  natives,  a  Damara  and  a  Bechuana ; 
and  on  this  occasion  he  afforded  the  most  convincing 
proofs,  by  his  conduct  and  conversation,  that  he  had 
indeed  experienced  a  saving  change  of  heart,  and  had 
been  divinely  instructed  by  the  Holy  Spirit  in  the 
things  connected  with  his  eternal  welfare. 

"  Africaner,"  says  Dr.  Philip,  in  allusion  to  this 
visit,  "  is  a  judicious  and  excellent  Christian  ;  and  you 
would  have  been  astonished  to  have  heard  the  answers 
that  he  gave  to  the  questions  which  were  proposed  to 
him.  How  would  the  great  congregations  in  London 
have  been  filled  with  admiration  of  the  power  and 
grace  of  God,  had  they  seen  and  heard  that  man  who, 
some  years  ago,  burned  our  settlement  at  Warm  Bath, 
conversing  about  the  love  of  Christ,  whilst  the  tears 
ran  down  his  cheeks  !  Could  the  friends  of  the  Mis- 
sionary Society  *ee  what  their  labors,  under  the  bless- 
ing of  God,  have  effected  for  this  man,  they  would 
think  all  their  sacrifices  amply  repaid. 

"  To  form  a  proper  estimate  of  the  change  effected 
upon  Africaner,  his  former  character  and  circumstances 
must  be  taken  into  consideration.     A  few  years  since^ 
he  was  such  a  terror  to  the  colony,  that  a  thousand 
dollars  were  offered  to  any  man  who  would  shoot  him; 
and  when  Mr.  Campbell  crossed  Africa,  in  his  first 
journey,  he  was  more  alarmed  with  the  idea  of  meet- 
ing Africaner  than  with  all  the  other  dangers  to  which 
he  was  exposed.      What  a  change  has  now  taken 
place !    The  persecutor  is  turned  into  the  warm  friend 
of  missionaries : — the  savage  has  laid  aside  his  bar- 
barous habits,  and  has  become  docile  and  gentle  as  a 
child  ; — and  the  man  who  was  formeriy  the  plunderer 
and  terror  of  the  coii..iists,  is  now  a  friend  of  peace 
and  justice,  and  is  the  centre  of  union  and  the  bond 
of  harmony  between  the  subjects  of  the  British  gov- 
ernment and  the  savage  tribes  with  which  they  are 
surroimded,  and  even  among  those  tribes  themselves. 
In  proof  of   the  latter  assertion,  Mr.   Moffat  states, 
that,  in  travelling  along  the  banks  of  the  Orange  river, 
he  met  with  a  tribe  of  Bastard  Hottentots,  who  were 
removing  from  the  place  of  their  former  abod«.    Being 
asked  why  they  were  desirous  of  a  new  station,  they 
replied,  that  it  was  in  consequence  of  the  intended 
removal   of  Africaner   from    Namaqualand.      When 
Mr.   MoiTai    asked    why  that    circumsianrc,  if  tnie, 
should  induce  llicm  to  change  their  place  of  residence, 


tlN7  Mirind,  tlMl  if  Aftieuwr  Mnumd,  Hwy  ewiM 
M  Hw  M  tint  fM«v«r  tbAiRMMtty  i  fat  kwmMi 
^MBM  that  i^  aU  the  tribm  in  peace,  and  that  aa 
-ik«M»gaM».«i«f  araaUaU  bagiB  auidering 


^„^*  firfkHring  anecdotat  of  thin  eUef  to*  la^ 
■iiiMliatiraaniia  good  aaaat  and  theaubdued  eiiameter 
atbia  mind,  and  wilMi»d«ibt»  ba  jwraaad  witi»  aatia- 
"Mwa^  th»piaiwMacht3>~^ 

DMing  hit  wit  at  Gape  Town,  in  1819^  the  eolo- 
•u^  goveroraent  preaented  bhn  with  a  wagons  an 
■fWcle  of  coMideraUe  iraiH?  in  South  Africa.    •«  On 
^  ocnmm,"  Kiy.  ©,.  Philip,  ..|  „™„4„„,  ^  him 
that  he  must  be  v«iy  thaoitfui  to  government  for  such 
««arii  of  etteera  ;  and  I  shaU  never  forget  his  reply 
—'I  am,'  said  he,  'truly  tbanicfui ;  but  favors  of  this 
M^,  t»  panons  i»  my  eireunuunces,  are  heavy  to 
hew.    The  Gumers  between  thit  phne  and  Namaqua^ 
hnd  woaW  mueh  rather  have  hMid  that  I  had  been 
executed  at  Cape  Towni  than  that  I  had  received 
any  mari|  of  fayor  fttm  goremknent.    This  circum> 
stance,  Fam  apprehensive,  will  increase  their  hatred 
against  mo  j—under  the  influence  of  this  spirit,  every 
duttiibance  which  may  uke  plwe  on  the  borders 
of  th«  colony  will  be  ascribed  to  me  ;— and  there  is 
nothmg  I  more  dread  than  that  the  government  should 
suppose  me  capable  of  ingratitude !'    The  intimot« 
aequaimanoe  with  hnman  nature,  and  the  refinement 
displayed  m  this  remark  from  a  man  who  had  been, 
MX  years  before,  the  savage  leader  of  a  savage  tribe, 
added  much  to  the  favorable  opinion  I  bad  previously 
formed  both  of  his  talents  and  his  piety." 

On  another  occasion,  the  temper  of  Africaner  was 
exposed  to  a  trial  which  afforded  a  striking  proof  of 
that  meek  and  forgiving  temper  with  which  Jie  had 
been  imbued  by  the  gospel  of  Christ.   A  woman,  under 
the  mfluence  of  prejudice,  excited  by  his  former  char- 
acler,  meeting  him  one  day  in  the  public  street  at 
Tulbagh,  followed  him  lo  a  considerable  distance,'  vo- 
ciferating with  all  the  strength  of  her  lungs,  and  heap- 
ing upon  him  all  the  coarse  and  opprobrious  epithets 
which  her  vocabulary  cotild  supply.     He,  however, 
who,  in  the  days  of  his  pai^an  ignorance,  would  hove 
plunged  his  weapon  in  her  heart,  without  hesitation  or 
remorse,  listened  to  all  her  invectives  in  silence  ;  and 
when  he  reached  the  spot  where  his  people  were 
Standing  by  his  wagon,  followed  by  a  crowd  whom 
the  woman's  abuse  had  drawn  after  him,  he  merely 
observed,  "  This  is  hard  to  bear  ;  but  it  is  part  of  my 
croea,  and  I  must,  therefore,  uke  it  up." 

Th  a  letter  written  to  tlie  directors  of  the  London 

MItsionsry  Society,  aAer  the  death  of  this  cnnveslsd 

chier  had  been  announced,  Dr.  PhiHp  says,  •«  All  the 

accounts  I  ha.-e  received  of  Africaner,  since  the  mis- 

Vol.  I. — Nn«,  «7  «•  ■>"  g-j 


^j^  w  h»»mf  coiHtacled  hiiMrif,JB  hk  boMfm 
ttim#  bia  j^edple,  nvi  aoimir  mt mtvlmMMi  to 
J»JH«et.ift^.  «i  his  ikiiMMd  M  Meflkfmiid.  yt 
high  depw,  tfM  grace*  trf>  thaf  OIMitfaa  j^eriaf  ttM 
Wttier;  and  after  (heremova^ef  iis  teaftlMi',  he eeiu 
e»uetf ,  wKh  moefr  hitmiliCy,  weti  imr  dBigeiieeL  to 
""nW.  M  fer  is  in  hill  po#«r,  iliia  plaoe  of  a  mktitm>- 
«7 1  meetmg  with^  his  peopte  on  the  Lortft  igy'  est- 
PMimHng  to  them  the  woitl  of  Gorf,  and  eobdaetiiiK 
*e  puWic  aervicerof  religion.  Hiswhol*  KJe,  indw^ 
nwn  the  thtra  of  his  conversion,  was  marked  by  ha> 
mlHfy,  eonsisteney,  aiid  devotedness  to  God ;  and  th« 
manner  of  his  death  appears  to  have  been  wordiy  of 
the  profossion  he  harf  maintained. 

"  Hie  son  of  Christian  Africaner,  a  pious  yooA, 
wrote  to  Mr.  Bartlett  an  aeeoant  of  this  event  as  fo!-' 
lows  :— « My  dear  fcther,  I  have  very  unpleasant  news 
to  write  to  you  ;  as  we  heve  had  a  very  heavy  strdce 
which  is  much  lamented  by  us.  It  has  plettsed  the 
Lord  to  remove  fiom  this  worid  my  graadfiither,  and, 
seven  days  after,  my  father.  A  Aw  hours  befiire  the 
latter  died,  he  called  his  children  together,  and,  having 
exhorted  them  to  live  m  the  fear  of  die  Lord,  and 
ufoer  the  preaching  of  the  gospel,  he  died  triam^ 
phant.' " 

Circumstances  have  prevented  the  continuance  rf 
mitsionary  labor  at  Africaner's  Kraal  since  the  death 
of  this  extraordinary  man. 

SulJsequently  to  the  removal  of  Mr.  Ebner,  and  the 
lamented  death  of  Mi-.  C.  Albrecht,  the  instruction 
of  the  congregation  at  Pella  was  necessarily  confided 
to  a  catechist.  The  person  employed  on  that  occasion, 
h<wever,  appears  to  have  been  judiciously  chosen ; 
as  he,  in  a  short  time,  conciliated  the  esteem  of  the 
people,  and  his  labors  among  them  were  crowned  with 
considerable  success. 

In  a  letter  written  in  the  month  of  January,  1888 
Dr.  Philip  says, «'  We  had  lately  twelve  of  the  people 
from  Pella  together  at  Cape  Town.  They  had  among 
them  procured  a  wagon,  and  had  come  here  to  expend 
their  money,  and  to  carry  back  such  necessaries  as 
they  could  procure.  They  had  an  appearance  of 
gravity,  good  sense  and  cultivation  about  them— qual- 
ities for  which  nil  the  people  I  have  seen  from  the 
missionary  stations  in  that  country  are  remarkable. 
All  spoke  highly  of  their  teacher,  and  in  conversation 
they  discovered  a  considerable  knowledge  of  the  doc- 
trines of  the  gospel.  A  young  man,  the  son  of  a 
chief  at  Pella,  in  answer  to  some  questions,  said. 
'  I  am  not  baplixed,  nor  am  I  worthy  of  that  privilege  ; 

Kilt     I    jfcJi*y.y>yM>      ihSi    nrittUsiSiS.   £:f    7-1 7-?^--      .-;. ;     ^    1 t 

station,  where  I  can  hear  the  gospel,  avail  myself  of 
religious  instruction,  and  enjoy  the  society  of  those 


m 


LONDON  MISSiOlf  ART  flOCU&TT. 


wiiQ  bf*  Uw  goaptli  u  the  gamitest  t  .an  Mjoy  upon 

In  the  annual  report  oommunicaied  to  the  mcniberB 
of  the  •odetjr  on  the  13tb  of  May,  1894,  the  directora 
Obaenre  that  the  labors  of  the  catechist  at  Pella  had 
been  greatly  interrupted,  by  the  contentions  of  the 
Namaqua  chiefs,  and  the  frequent  removals  of  the 
people  in  search  of  pasturage.  The  distress  occasioned 
by  long-continued  droughts,  also,  had  been  so  severe 
as  to  compel  them  to  live  almost  entirely  on  the  gum  of 
the  thorn-tree ;  and  the  catechist  himself  occasionally 
founv^  it  difficult  to  procure  food  for  his  family.  One 
of  the  contending  chieis,  named  Fleumerius,  meditated 
the  capture  of  Pella,  in  revenge  for  a  refusal,  on  the 
part  of  the  catechist,  to  pennit  him  and  his  people  to 
settle  there.  With  this  view  he  commenced  ofiRsnsive 
measures ;  but  the  inhabitants  of  the  settlement, 
placing  their  trust  in  Ood,  opposed  the  enemy  with 
such  spirit  and  efiect,  as  to  compel  him  to  retire  from 
the  village ;  and  on  the  28th  August,  1883,  peace  was 
restored  among  the  contending  chieft. 

In  1825,  the  following  report  was  made  by  the  so- 
ciety :    "  The  congregation  on  the  sabbath  day  is  in  gen- 
eral very  good,  sometimes  amounting  to  between  three 
and  four  hundred  persons.     Many  of  them  af!brd  evi- 
dences of  real  piety.     A  man  who  was  reputed  to  prac- 
tise sorcery,  by  hearing  the  catechist  read  the  fourth 
chapter  of  Matthew's  Gospel,  has  been  convinced  that  li 
wu  under  the  influence  of  a  wicked  principle.     An 
evident  reformation  in  his  behavior  and  conversation  has 
since  taken  place,  and  he  now  constantly  attends  morn- 
ing and   evening    worship.       Two    pious    Namaqua 
women,  named  Rachel  and  Sophia,  who  were  baptized 
at  fFarm  Bath,  by  Mr.  Albrecht,  died  lately  at  Pella. 
Rachel,  during  her  illness,  ceased  not  to  exhort  all 
who  visited  her  to  seek  salvation  through  Jesus  Christ, 
and  not  to  live  the  life  of  the  heathen.     She  desired 
her  friends  to  sing     iih  her  till  she  should  enter  into 
eternity.     Rachel  used  to  affirm  that  the  preaching  of 
the  gospel  was  the  means  of  her  conversion  ;   adding 
that    '  she  could  not  be  sufficiently  thankful  to  those 
Christian  friends  on  the  other  side  of  the  great  sea  for 
sending  the  gospel  to  such  wicked  and  ignorant  people.' 
Sophia  was  exemplary  in  her  walk  and  conversation, 
and  died  happily  ;  but  a  disorder  in  her  throat  prevented 
her  from  speaking  in  her  last  sickness." 

The  long-continued  droughts  have  compelled  many 
of  the  people  to  depart  from  this  station  in  pursuit  of 
puturage.  Several  families  have  departed  to  Oriqua 
Town,  and  others  to  Great  Namaqualand.  In  con- 
•equence  of  this  calamity,  and  a  destructive  fever 
vhich  prevailed  for  a  considerable  time,  the  catechist 
removed  from  Pella  to  Campbell  in  the  cloae  of 
1^  jj 


CAPE  TOWN. 


■*; 


This  settlement  was  originally  founded  by  the  Duteb. 
It  •*"|**  o"  *'^*  '*«»*  »'^*  of  Table  bay,  and  is  a  town 
rising  in  the  midst  of  a  desert,  surrwmded  by  black 
and  dreary  mountains.  This  town,  with  its  extensira 
colony,  surrendered  to  the  British  in  1795,  ^nd  wm 
restored  in  1802,  by  the  treaty  of  Amiens :  it  again  sun 
rendered  to  the  British  in  1806,  and  was  finally  ceded 
to  them  at  the  peace  of  1814. 

In  181S,  when  the  I^v.  Mr.  Campbell  made  hia 
first  visit  to  this  place,  he  nnyt,  "  Mahometanism  is 
greatly  on  the  increase  at  Cape  Town.  They  have,  I 
believe,  five  mosques,  where  they  assemble  for 
their  worship.  About  twenty  free  MahomeUna 
club  together,  and  rent  «  large  house,  to  which  they 
invite  poor  ignorant  slaves,  to  gain  them  over  to  their 
party.  By  this  method  an  alarming  number  have  been 
persuaded  to  join  them,  and  rendered  ten  times  more 
prejudiced  against  truth,  and  against  all  white  people, 
or  Christians,  than  they  were  before."  * 

The  importance  of  this  station  as  a  key  to  the 
African  continent,  commended  itself  to  the  attention 
of  the  London  Missionary  Society,  and,  in  1819,  the 
Rev.  George  Thom  was  appointed  to  labor  at  this 
post  and  the  adjacent  settlement!!. 

Circumstances   induced  Mr.  Thom  to  accept  the 
office  of  minister  in  the  Dutch  church  at  Caledon, 
under  the  patronage  of  the  colonial  government.     In 
1818,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Philip,  who  had  been  appointed 
superintendent  of  the  society's  missions  in  Africa,  in- 
creased the  congregation  which  Mr.  Thom  had  collect- 
ed, and  obtained  permission  to  erect  a  chapel.      A 
commodious  place  of  worship  was  opened  December 
1,  1822.     Through  Dr.  Philip's  exertions,  premises 
have  also  been  purchased,  to  be  occupied  in  part  as  a 
dwelling-house  by  the  society's  resident  agent,  and  as 
a  temporary  abode  for  its  missionaries,  who  may  touch 
at  the  Cape,  disembark  there,  or  occasionally    visit  it 
from  the  stations  in  the  interior.     The  building  will 
also  afford  facilities  in  aid  of  plans  of  education,  which 
enter  into  the  measures  of  the  society  for  promoting 
tiie  dissemination  of  the  gospel  in  South  Africa.     The 
Rev.  Mr.  Beck,  who  labored  hero  for  many  years,  with 
considerable  effect,  was  at  this  time  an  important  and 
gratuitous  coadjutor.     Sixteen  heathen  were  united  in 
church-fello.irship,  and  under  his  pastoral  care.     Be- 
tween three  hundred  and  four  hundred,  chiefly  adulu, 
were  under  his  weekly  catechetical  instruction ;  and  the 
sabbath  school  consisted  of  about  one  hundred.   Through 
succeeding  years,  considerable  success  attended  th«, 
means  thus  employed.     It  being  deemed  necessary  for 
Dr.  Philip  to  visit  England,  his  place  was  supplied, 


fa  Lte«,ln.h.re.    la  1886.  Mr.  Siil«  vUited  the  «.,io2 
^tbeT.mbo«k.M     During  hi.  .b«,noe,  the  mi«ion 

fi«m  ^thel«dorp,  M„sted  by  M,.  Beck  and  Mr.Elliot. 
ofthe  South  African  «»iety.  On  his  return,  Mr.  Milei 
Wmmonced  a  periodical  publication  in  English  and 
Dutch,  entuled  "The  African  Herald,"  in  order  "o 

n    ».'?.''*='°"'  informttion  in  the  colony. 

Ur  Phil.p  returned  from  his  visit  to  England,  and 

resumed  the  duties  connected  with  the  oversight  ofthe 
called  to  defend  an  action  in  the  supreme  court  at  the 

JL.»  K      !?  ?"•     To  these  interesting  volumes  may 
be  aunbuted  the  a6o«Uo„  of  slavery  throughout  the 

of . Til!  ?"''"  "'" ""'  "°""'  '°8'"*'"  *^'«»'  "'«  «Pe»«s 
ot  the  action,  amounted  to  about  £  1 SOO.     The  directors 

.T.T.?  v^'^'P  "'^  "'«i"y"P»thy,  and  their  readiness 
to  aiford  him  every  requisite  assistance,  expressing,  at 
the  same  time,  their  conviction  that  so  soon  as  the  cir- 
cumstance  was  known,  a  sum  would  be  voluntarily 
furnished  equal  to  the  amount  required.  A  generous 
public  sustained  this  pledge,  and  not  only  was  the 
amount  collected,  but  a  surplus  remained  for  the  bene- 
fit of  the  family,  as  expressed  by  the  donors. 

in  1831,  Dr.  Philip  received  the  aid  of  the  Rev. 
J.  J.  Jreeman,  the  devoted  missionary  at  Madagascar, 
who  for  a  period,  has  had  to  retire  from  that  island. 

1  ^  ^'"?.r''*  "  "•*  "'"''°n  «hapel  is  from  one 
liundred  and  fifty  to  two  hundred.  The  weekly  prayor- 
meeting  IS  well  attended.  A  Bible  class  has  been 
formed,  and  is  held  once  a  fortnight.  Two  schools 
are  connected  with  the  Cape  station.  Dr.  Philip 
extmines  the  children  every  sabbath  afternoon.  The 
scliool  of  industry  contains  more  than  one  hundred 
children,  who  are  taught  by  a  daughter  of  Dr.  Philip 


PAARL..-«rELLEIfBOSCH. 


PAARL. 

[I.  th.  dltriolof  St.II.nb».h,  thlrty-ll,.  „i|„  north^i  fto« 
C«|i»  Town.] 

.Q?J*  ^''i  ^'  ^"^'^  <'°'"™e"ced  a  mission  here  in 
1819,  which  was  designed  more  particularly  for  the 
Hottentot  slaves.  Several  years  previous  to  ii.  .««. 
...enremeni,  a  chapel  had  been  built,  in   which  mis- 


01  Mr.  Evanrf,  an  auxiliary  miaalonary  aoeietv  waa 
formed  to  which  the  -lave.  contribu,^«>Z«IlyT 
to  requirt,  «.tr«„t  ra.h.,  than  inoit.m«.,     S,£,h 

Rev  M  2-  "'".;!!'**  "'"•'»  "•"  '"""^cted.  tZ 
Rev.  Mr.  Miles,  of  Cape  Town,  who  lately  visited  thS 
station,  say^  that  the  mission  school  here  i.  well  cc»" 

1J„    r^i!  "! '»^*"""8  "^f-ooJ.  held  on  two  day.  of 

hM  been  engaged,  at  a  small  stipend,  to  instruct  ihl 
female  .laves  and  their  children.     At  a  puirelJm 
.natK.n  which  took  place  during  the  y!^Tm"Sl 
progress  which  had  been  made  by  the  scho^'w.: 
ob«rved  with  great  satisfaction.    It  w*i  i„  con.eT 

atthe"li?  .'  '"  "^  ''"''••""'' '°  "P""  »<=hool.I 
all  the  surrounding  country  of  thi.  district,  as  a  mean. 

on  h?'T  ^^''**^'"'*''"8'"""''0'"in"«d  to  preach 
on  the  Lord's  day,  morning  and  evening,  to  a  con,S*^ 

free  clred'  "1""  ?«"-».  consistin^'of  slave^d 
nisu.  when  the  attendance  is  about  one  hundred  anS 
nity.  He  also  ifmerales,  at  stated  periods,  to  six  dif- 
ferent  places  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Paarl.     The  aver- 

.?L"„"'h     H    A  ''T"  "*"*  •"""''  «''"•  minLtration. 

year  1830.  The  present  number  of  chui^h  member. 
IS  fourteen  free  persons  and  seventeen  slaves. 


stellenbosch. 

[T»tiity-iU  milM  MM  of  Cape  Totm.] 


Mr.  J.  Bakker  commenced  a  mission  here  in  1801 
with  a  view  to  the  religious  instruction  of  the  Hottentot^ 
and  slaves,  by  many  of  whom  his  ministry  was  attended. 
Age  and  infirmities  compelled  him  to  abandon  the  la- 
boM  in  which  his  soul  delighted.     He  was  succeeded 
by  Mr.  Smithy  who  commenced  a  school  for  native  chil- 
dren.     Mr.  Bakker  was  the  only  missionary  who  was 
allowed  to  remain  in  the  colony  after  the  Dutch  took 
possession  of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  in  1802,  and  for 
many  years  he  was  not  allowed  to  baptiae  his  convert., 
nor  admit  them  to  the  Lord's  table.    Yet,  notwithstand' 
ing  those  and  many  other  embarrassments,  he  witneued 
many  pleasing  effects  of  his  labors.    In  181 6.  an  auxiliary 
missionary  society  was  formed,  which,  beside,  support- 
mg  Mr.  Bakker,  contributed  liberally  to  the  parent  »: 
Y  »»"  ^^^'  '="■""'«'  B^mmnr  school  was  opened, 
under  Mr.  Brown,  with  on.,  hundred  and  fifty  scholai.  j 


m  ^ 

a  saw  atmpti  wm  Iwilt,  4ad  vdl  stMiidad ;   ud  m 
nMMdi  whool  MtdblidMd  (at  tin  benefit  of  the  shvee. 


LONDON  IHSSimfARr  SOOIET7. 


TULBAGH. 
PrrwKHIv*  mlh»  iiMth-«Ml  •TCapa  Town.] 

Tiie  raisaionaiy  at  tbu  station  is  the  Rev.  Ariel 
Yob.  The  beneficial  effect  of  his  labors  here  and  in 
the  v-Icmity  have  been  very  apparent  among  the  Hot- 
tentota  and  others,  and  also  in  the  wide  extent  of 
country  which  forms  the  sphere  of  his  itinerant  visits. 
In  188S,  desolating  rains  and  gales  almost  entirely 
demolished  the  buildings  in  Tulbagh  ;  in  consequence 
of  which  the  progress  ol  the  mission  was  retarded.  On 
Mr.  Vos's  missionary  tours,  of  which  he  performed  six 
during  the  year  1806,  his  congregations  often  amounted 
to  between  one  hundred  and  fifty  and  two  hundred. 
Mr.  Vos  states  that,  to  the  best  of  his  knowledge,  all 
the  adults  who  have  been  baptized  by  him  adorn  their 
profession  by  an  irreproachable  conduct.  In  1896, 
baptism  was  administered  to  a  Mosambique  slave,  whose 
piety  has  proved  to  be  of  the  mont  decided  character. 
In  1898,'  two  converts  from  heathenism  were  bap- 
Uxed,  and  received  as  members  of  the  church.  The 
interests  of  the  school  having  suffered  from  the  fre- 
quent absence  of  Mr.  Vos  on  preaching  tours,  he  en- 
gaged a  young  man  as  his  assistant  in  this  department. 
From  the  annual  report  for  1831,  we  learn  that  this 
venerable  missionary  is  prosecuting  his  benevolent 
labors  with  ardor  and  success,  notwithstanding  the 
increase  of  bodily  infirmities  and  weakness  attending 
his  advanced  age.  He  has  recently  baptized  one 
youth  and  three  children,  and  there  are  three  adult 
candidates  for  baptism.  Mr.  Vos  is  principally  em- 
ployed in  visiting  the  different  villages  and  farms  within 
a  circuit  of  about  two  hundred  and  forty  miles.  He  is 
in  the  habit  of  making  two  tours  alternately,  and  visit- 
ing about  thirty-five  or  forty  different  places  each  tour, 
preaching  to  about  two  thousand  or  three  thousand  farm- 
ers, Hottentots  and  slaves.  Twice  a  year,  he  visits 
the  town  of  Worcester,  thirty-six  miles  from  Tulbagh, 
and  during  the  few  days  he  remains  each  time  in  that 
town,  he  preaches  to  the  Hottentots  and  slaves,  when 
about  ninety  attend.  On  these  occasions  he  also  has 
divine  worship  in  the  prison. 

Mr.  Vos  re.Tiark8,  that  he  formerly  met  with  much 
prejudice  against  his  instructing  the  heathen,  but  that 
now,  on  the  contrary,  he  experiences  great  kindness 
and  hospitality,  from  the  farmers  and  others  whom  he 
visits,  and  whose  slaves  he  endeavors  to  instruct :  and 
we  are  happy  to  add,  that  the  effects  of  his  labors,  in 


«  taoni  mi  rafifpous  point  of  vi«w,  am  ataled  t«  In 
obvioas  and  anoown^ing.  latoxioation,  to  whidi  th« 
Hottantota  and  slaves  in  that  quarter  were  greatly  ad- 
dicted, has  ceased  to  be  pravajent ;  and  it  is  stated  to 
be  a  rare  circumstance  to  see  a  person,  belonging  (O 
these  classes  of  society,  in  this  quarter,  in  a  statn  of 
intoxication. 

At  Tulbagh  there  are  ten  eommunicants,  whoao 
consistent  deportment  adorns  their  Christian  profession. 
The  jKshool  is  going  on  regularly,  and  some  of  the 
scholars  make  great  progress  in  reading.  Ice.  Their 
number  is  between  forty  and  fifty.  Forty  Bibles  and 
Testaments  have  been  distributed  among  the  slaves 
and  Hottentots  who  can  read. 


BOSCHESFELD.* 

[Forty  milu  ihun  Ctp*  Town.] 

Missionary  labors  at  this  station  commenced  in  1817, 
when  the  Rev.  Cornelius  Kramer  was  employed  in 
preaching  to  the  slaves,  Hottentots  and  colonists.  Mr. 
Kramer  is  the  only  survivor  of  the  firat  band  of  mis- 
sionaries sent  out  to  Africa  in  1799. 

The  report  of  the  mission,  for  1831,  states — "  The 
labors  of  our  excellent  missionary,  Mr.  Kramer,  being 
altogether  of  an  itinerant  nature,  do  not  admit  of  the 
same  mode  of  reporting  as  is  practicable  with  the  rest 
of  the  society's  stations."  Dr.  Philip  states  that  the 
favorable  change  that  has  been  effected  in  the  district 
in  which  Mr.  Kramer  labors  is  agreeably  surprising. 
This  region  is  a  cultivated  spot,  when  compared  with 
other  parts  of  the  colony  where  no  missionaries  reside. 
Mr.  K.  preaches  in  all  the  neighboring  teld-cometeietf 
and  instructs  the  inhabitants,  farmers,  Hottentots  and 
slaves. 


CALEDON  INSTITUTION. 

[One  handrtd  and  twenty  mnat  eut  of  Capo  Town.] 

The  Rev.  John  Seidenfaden  labored  here  for  seven 
years,  with  some  success.  Permanent  buildings  were 
erected  for  the  mission,  and  for  many  of  the  Hottentots ; 
and  enclosures  were  mode  for  cultivation,  suflicient  for 
the  subsistence  of  five  hundred  families. 

In  18S1,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Anderson  came  from  Griqua 
Town,  and  superintended  the  station ;  but  afterwards 
removed  to  Pacaltsdorp,  where  his  labors  were  likely 


t.    VB/llil t_    m«l 1 #1 AA^...^       -  -"''-r* 

hf  B.  B.  Edwftrdi,  Bottoa. 


^FACALTBDOBP.r 


to  piow  mora  umAiI.  The  minioa  wu  luspraded 
tiU  1897.  It  is  pieuiDg  to  Isorn  that  oo  rMuming 
miwioiuty  operatioos,  Mr.  Helme  found  sevwtJ  iiutbfiil 
(foeiplM,  wiw  bad  received  baptism  at  an  early  period 
oftbiiiniwion. 

,Tbe  latest  intelligence  states,  that  the  number  of 
persons  belonging  to  the  institution  is  five  hundred  and 
lorty.four.  Tlie  average  aUendanoe  at  public  worship, 
on  the  Lord's  day,  is  one  hundred  and  fifty  ;  and  on 
iwek  days,  fijrty-five.  At  Zwellendaro,  divine  service 
i«  pwformed  every  other  sabbath  for  the  benefit  of 
the  English  residents  at  that  place,  when  between 
twenty  and  thirty  attend.  The  number  in  church 
fellowship  u  nineteen,  of  whom  five  wore  added 
during  1830. 

Of  schools  there  are  two,  via.  one  Dutch  reading 
•olwol,  with  70  children,  and  one  English  reading  and 
writing  school,  with  twenty-four  children.  The  insti- 
tution consists  of  two  mission  houses,  and  sixty-one 
Hottentot  houses,  all  inhabited.  The  portion  of  cul- 
tivated land  is  seventy  morgent,  or  one  hundred  and 
fifty  acres.  Oak,  fir,  silver-tree,  poplar,  mulberry, 
and  fruit  trees,  have  been  planted,  and,  with  the  ex- 
oeption  of  the  fir,  appear  to  thrive.  Since  1887,  the 
population  has  quadrupled  ;  social  order  and  religious 
decency  distinguish  the  little  community  ;  and  seldom 
is  a  complaint  heard  of  any  depredation  on  the  prop- 
erty of  neighbors.  The  labors  of  Messrs.  Helme  and 
Elliot  have  been  most  commendable,  and  the  success 
that  has  attended  them  is  of  an  exceedingly  gratifying 
nature. 


PACALTSDORP,  formkhlt  HOOOE  KRAAL. 

[In  ilM  dUtriot  of  OMrge,  two  mil«i  ftom  the  ms.J 

This  mission  was  commenced  in  1813.    Mr.  Camp- 
bell gives  the  following  account  of  its  origin : 

"About  two  hundred  and  fifty  miles  from  Cape 
Town,  my  wagons  encamped  in  the  vicinity  of  George, 
a  town  then  just  commencing.  Soon  after  my  arrival 
there,  I  was  visited  by  Dikkop,  or  '  Thickhead,'  the 
Hottentot  chief  of  Hooge  Kraal,  situated  about  three 
miles  distant,  together  with  about  sixty  of  his  people, 
who  expressed  an  earnest  desire  that  a  missionary 
might  be  stationed  at  his  residence.  On  asking  his 
reason  for  desiring  a  missionary,  he  nnswered,  it  was 
that  he  and  his  people  might  be  taught  the  same  things 
that  were  taught  to  white  people,  but  he  could  not 
tell  what  things  these  were.  I  then  requested  him  to 
stay  with  us  until  sunset,  when  he  would  hear  sonse  of 
those  thing'  related  by  Cupido,  who  was  a  countryman 


of  bit,  wd  my  wngon^iiiver.  Dikkop  mm  all  hh 
people  readily  agreed  to  stay  till  evening.  1^  Cupi- 
do they  listened  also  with  much  attentioo  the  following 
morning.  I  inquired  whether  tbey  wet*  all  deiiroM 
of  having  a  missionary  to  settle  among  them,  whhill 
was  answered  unanimously  in  the  affirmative ;  but, 
like  their  chief,  they  could  not  assign  any  reason  ex- 
cept  to  be  taught  the  same  things  which  wet«  taught 
to  the  white  people.  A  very  aged,  miserable  looking 
man,  coming  into  the  hut  during  the  conference,  with 
scarcely  a  rag  to  cover  him,  excited  my  attention ;  ha 
came  and  took  a  seat  by  my  side,  kissed  my  hands 
and  legs,  and  by  most  significant  gestures,  expressed 
his  extreme  joy  in  the  prospect  of  a  missionary 
coming  among  them.  His  conduct  having  deeply 
interested  me,  I  asked  him  whether  he  knew  any 
thing  about  Jesus  Christ?  His  answer  was  truly 
aflfecting— « I  know  no  more  about  any  thing  than  a 
beast.' 

"  Every  eye  and  ear  were  directed  toward  me,  to 
learn  whether  a  missionary  would  be  sent  to  the  kraal  j 
and  when  1  told  them  that  an  excellent  missionary,  1 
had  no  doubt,  would  be  soon  with  them,  they  express- 
ed by  signs,  a  degree  of  joy  and  delight  which  1  cannot 
possibly  describe.  Mr.  Pacalt  arrived  soon  after  my 
departure." 

Mr.  Pacalt's  first  object  was  to  induce  these  wretch- 
ed creatures  to  erect  decent  and  commodious  houses, 
and  he  set  them  an  example  by  building  one  for  him- 
self. He  then  drew  out  a  ground  plan  for  the  intended 
settlement,  fixing  the  sites  for  the  respective  houses 
and  gardens ;  and,  notwithstanding  the  natural  apathy 
of  the  people,  and  their  aversion  to  labors,  they  were 
induced  by  the  persuasions  and  example  of  their 
teacher  to  build  for  themselves,  and  to  lay  out  the 
ground  according  to  his  directions.  The  town,  as  laid 
out  by  Mr.  Pacalt,  consisted  of  two  open  streets,  run- 
ning parallel  to  each  other,  surrounded  by  a  wall, 
which,  including  the  enclosures  for  the  cattle  and  gar- 
dens, measured  upwards  of  15,000  feet. 

There  is  one  circumstance  which  is  worthy  of  no- 
tice.    There  are  two  kinds  of  grass  in  the  colony, 
called  iweet  and  $our  grass,  the  produce  of  lands  of 
diflferent  qualities.     The  sour  grass,  at  certain  seasons 
of  the  year,  becomes  destructive  to  the  cattle,  which, 
if  not  removed  at  the  proper  time  into  the  sweet  grass 
pastures,  die  in  great  numbers.     The  farmers,  there- 
fore, find  it  necessary  to  have  two  farms,  perhaps 
many  miles  distant  from  each  other ;  which  is,  of  course, 
attended  with  expense  and  inconvenience.      It  has 
been  discovered,  however,  that  sour  gra^s  lends,  by 
proper  cultivation,  may  be  made  to  produce  sweet 
r*"*"*"!  "Ti?*?  tsrtr  t-'vivriim  Q"Ttmi2i2dit  uszicssizsv'  rcpcnSj 
that  "the  missionary   Pacalt  was  the  first  pertoo 


438 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


who  communicated  this  uaeful  secret  to  the  farmers  in 
the  colony." 

-  On  Mr.  Cami^beH's  second  voyage  to  South  Africa, 
he  again  visited  Hooge  Kraal,  in  June,  1819.  In  his 
account  of  this  visit,  he  thus  describes  the  striking 
change  which  had  been  effected  by  the  blessing  of 
God  on  the  J  ^bors  of  the  missionary,  who  had  been  a 
few  months  'tefore  removed  to  his  heavenly  rest : — 

"  As  we  advanced  toward  Hooge  Kraal,  the  boors, 
or  Dutch  farmers,  who  had  known  me  on  my  former 
journey  in  that  part  of  Africa,  would  frequently  assure 
me,  that  such  a  change  had  been  produced  on  the 
place  and  people  since  I  had  left  it,  that  I  should  not 
know  it  again.  The  nearer  we  approached  the  settle- 
ment, the  reports  concerning  its  rapid  improvement 
increased,  till  at  length  wa  arrived  on  the  spot,  on  the 
evening  of  June  2. 

"  Next  morning,  when  the  sun  arose,  I  viewed,  from 
my  wagon,  the  surrounding  scene  with  great  inter- 
est.    Instead  of  bare,  unproductive  ground,  I  saw  two 
long  streets  with  square-built   houses  on  each  side, 
placed  at  equal  distances  from  one  another,  so  as  to 
allow  sufficient  extent  of  ground  to  each  house  for  a 
good  garden  ;  a  well-built  wall,  six  feet  high,  was  in 
front  of  each  row  of  houses,  with  a  gate  to  each  house. 
On  approaching  one  of  them,  I  found  a    Hottentot 
dressed  like  a  European,  standing  at  his  door  to  re- 
ceive me  with  a  cheerful  smile.    '  This  house  is  mine  !' 
said  he, '  and  all  that  garden !'  in  which  1  observed 
there  were  peach  and  apricot  trees,  decked  with  their 
delightful    blossoms,    fig-trees,    cabbages,     potatoes, 
pumpkins,  water-melons,  &c.     I  then  went  across  the 
street,  to  the  house  of  a  person  known  by  the  name  of 
Old  Simeon — the  very  man  who  sat  in  such  a  wretched 
plight,  by  my  side,  in  the  hut,  when  I  first  visited  the 
place,  and  who  then  said  lie  knew  no  more  about  any 
thing  than  a  brute.    I  was  informed  that  he  had  become 
a  Christian,  had  been  baptized,  and  named  Simeon ;  and 
because  of  his  great  age,  they  called  him  Old  Simeon. 
I  found  him  sitting  alone  in  the  house,  deaf  and  blind 
with  age.    When  they  told  him  who  I  was,  he  instantly 
embraced  me  with  both  hands,  while  streams  of  tears  ran 
down  his  sable  cheeks.     '  I  have  done,'  said  he,'  with 
the  world  now !     I  have  done  with  the  world  now !    I 
am   waiting   till    Jesus   Christ  says   to  me.  Come! 
I   am  just   waiting   till   Jesus   Christ  says   to    me. 
Come  !'" 

The  case  of  this  singular  monument  of  the  grace 
of  God  was  very  well  described  by  a  missionary  who 
visited  Hooge  Kraal,  on  his  way  to  Bethelsdorp,  soon 
after  his  conversion.     He  relates  it  thus : 

"  On  Tuesday  evening,  April  8th,  1817,  before  we 
left  Hooge  Kraal,  an  old  man,  about  ninety  years  of 
age,  prayed.     He  expressed  great  cratitude  in  God  for 


sending  his  gospel  to  his  nation,  and  that  in  his  dayi, 
and  particularly  for  making  it  efficacious  to  his  own 
conversion. 

"  In  hb  youthful  days,  he  was  the  leader  of  every 
kind  of  iniquity.  He  was  a  great  elephant  and  bu&lo 
hunter,  and  had  some  wonderful  escapes  from  the  jam 
of  death.  Once,  while  hunting,  he  fell  under  an 
elephant,  who  endeavored  to  crush  him  to  death  ;  but 
he  escaped.  At  another  time,  he  was  tossed  into  the 
air  by  a  buffalo  several  times,  and  was  severely  bruised; 
the  animal  then  fell  down  upon  him ;  but  he  escaped 
with  Ufe.  A  few  years  ago,  he  was  for  some  time  to 
appearance  dead,  and  was  carried  to  his  grave  soon 
aAer,  as  is  the  custom  in  hot  climates ;  but,  while  the 
people  were  in  the  act  of  throwing  the  earth  over  him, 
he  revived,  and  soon  entirely  recovered.  The  second 
time  Mr.  Pacalt  preached  at  Hooge  Kraal,  he  went 
from  the  meeting  rejoicing  and  saying  that  the  Lord 
had  raised  him  from  the  dead  three  times,  that  he 
might  hear  the  word  of  God,  and  believe  in  Jesus 
Christ,  before  he  «died  the  fourth  time.' 

"  He  was  baptized  last  new  year's  day,  and  waa 
named  Simeon.  Mr.  Pacalt  told  us  that  it  was  im- 
possible to  describe  the  old  man's  happiness  on  that 
occasion.  Heavenly  joy  had  so  filled  his  heart,  and 
strengthened  his  weak  frame,  that  he  appeared  as  lively 
as  a  youth,  although  ninety  years  of  age.  He  said, '  Now 
I  am  willing  to  die  ;  yes,  I  would  rather  die  than  live, 
that  I  may  go  and  live,  for  ever  and  ever,  with  my 
precious  Saviour.  Before,  I  was  afraid  to  die.  Oh, 
yes !  the  thoughts  of  it  made  my  very  heart  to  tremble ; 
but  I  did  not  know  God  and  Jesus  Christ  then.  Now, 
I  have  no  desire  to  live  any  longer :  I  am  too  old  to  be 
able  to  do  any  thing  here  >>n  earth,  in  glorifying  God, 
my  Saviour,  or  doing  good  to  my  fellow  Hottentots. 
I  served  the  devil  upwards  of  eighty  years,  and  was 
ready  to  go  to  everlasting  fire ;  but,  though  a  black 
Hottentot,  through  infinite  mercy,  I  shall  go  to  ever- 
lasting happiness.  Wonderful  love !  Wonderful  grace ! 
Astonishing  mercy  !' 

"  The  next  thing  which  attracted  my  attention  was 
the  wall  which  surronnded  the  whole  settlement,  for  the 
protection  of  the  gardens  from  the  intrusions  of  their 
cattle  and  of  the  wild  beasts. 

"  A  place  of  worship  has  also  been  erected,  capable 
of  seating  two  hundred  persons.  On  the  Lord's  day, 
I  was  delighted  to  see  the  females  coming  into  it, 
ciothed  neatly  in  white  and  printed  cottons  ;  and  the 
men  dressed  like  Europeans,  and  carrying  their  Bibles 
or  Testaments  under  their  arms  ;  sitting  upon  benches 
instead  of  the  ground,  as  formerly,  and  singing  the  praises 
of  God  with  solemnity  and  harmony,  from  their  psalm- 
books,  turning  in  their  Bibles  to  the  text  that  was 


irtvmn     Oil* 


mnA    IItt*MMl»*.    »^    aU.-.      


rttmp.    xxT 


tixc    sr:i.iuvn   vrnti    sctxvu» 


■ttenuon.  I  also  found  a  church  of  Christ.  oonsistinK 
of  about  forty^ve  believing  Hottentots,  with  whom  I 
had  several  umes  an  opportunity  of  commemoratmg  the 
math  of  our  Lord. 

«On  the  week  days,  I  found  a  school,  consisting  of 
•eyenty  children,  regularly  taught  in  the  place  of  wor- 
■hip.  The  teacher  was  a  Hottentot  lad,  who  was 
actually  a  young  savage  when  I  first  visited  the  kraal. 

hU  III  '  r.  •*';  i*"*  "'"^'  "'"'"  »  P"°'«<J  ^o^  in 
i^h  f\K^,!r  ^  ^"'  '""•'•^  '"  «  «»'«  ''"O'of  the 
h^^U^u'  r  T  "••""*'"«  "  P""'  ''hich  a  girl  had 
brought  h.m  for  that  purpose;  this  action  was  such  a 
proof  of  civilization,  that,  reflecting  at  the  moment 
whefmed""""  ""'^''  condition,  I  was  almost  over- 

«..!1VT''  "considerable  extent  of  cultivated  land 
outside  the  wall,  which  the  Hottentots  plough  and  sow 
with  wheat  every  year,  though  a  portion  of  it  is  de- 
stioyed  annually  by  their  cattle  getting  into  it  while  the 
herd  boys  are  fast  asleep,  and  from  which  no  punish- 
ment  could  altogether  deter  them.  An  officer  of  the 
Hottentot  regiment  told  me  that,  had  they  shot  all  the 
Hottentot  soldiers  who  were  found  asleep  upon  their 
guard,  they  must  have  shot  tlie  whole  regiment  — 
♦and  what  would  have  been  the  use  of  officers  then  ?' 
said  he. 

"  The  Hottentots  were,  at  the  recommendation  of  the 
missionary,  about  to  surround  their  fields  with  a  wall 
like  the',  which  enclosed  their  houses  and  gardens  • 
but  wh<.iher  this  has  been  effected,  I  have  not  yet' 
learned.  ' 

"  Indolence,  and  procrastination  of  labor  from  indo- 
lence, IS  almost  universal  among  Hottentots.  At  all 
our  stations  they  endeavor  to  put  off  digging  their  gar- 
dens,  and  ploughing  their  fields,  as  long  as  possible, 
with  this  apology—'//  u  time  enough  yet.' 

"  Mr.  Pacalt  had  much  of  this  temper  to  contend 
with  ;  but  bis  fervent  zeal,  his  persevering  application, 
his  affectionate  counsels,  and  his  personal  example,  so 
powerfully  counteracted  this  prevailing  disposition,  that 
they  actually  performed  wonders.     All  the  Hottentots 
are  still  on  a  level  with  each  other;  there  are  yet  no 
distinctions  of  rank  amongst  them.     Some  dress  better 
than  others  ;  some  have  a  wagon  and  more  oxen  than 
others,  and  it  may  be,  a  better  house ;  but  these  things 
produce  no  elevation  of  rank ;  they  will  as  readily 
comply  with  the  advice  or  injunction  of  the  poorest  as 
the  richest.     The  operation  of  this  state  of  things  was 
severely  experienced  during  the  period  that  elapsod 
between  the  death  of  Mr.  Pacalt  and  the  arrival  of  his 
successor,  which  I  think  was  about  four  months.   The 
Hottentou  were  like  an  army  without  a  commander^ 
every  improvement  ceased.     Some  of  the  Hottentots 
wore  ior  ,joing  on  with  the  improvements  which  were 


PACALTSDORP. 


mcluded  m  the  plan  of  their  decea«,d  teacher  and 

their  advice,  but  desired  that  every  thing  should  re- 
mam  m  the  same  state  until  the'amvalof  anoth", 

TcSr^- js '-'-  •^«'"  ^°  '-^  -^'^  »»>«  -• 

The  wise  and  energetic  labors  of  Mr.  Pacalt  war. 

'p^SS"""h  n'^  '•'•  '^^  ye^whirhi,?:: 

rteworid  of  spirits;  and  when  he  was  called  to  etemS 
«.t  m  the  month  of  November,  he  was  succeeTd 
by  Mr.  George  Messer  from  Bethelsdorp. 

n.^'.^^^^A'  *''*  ''"*  ""^  **'•  P««»'t.  'he  govern- 
ment of  the  Cape  colony,  in  order  to  perpetuate  the 
memory  of  that  excellent  and  laborious  mlssionaiy! 
was  pieced  to  alter  the  name  of  the  settlement  fr^ 
Hooge  Kraalto  Pacalt*dorp  (or  Pacalfs  Town),which 
spontaneous  act  was  equally  creditable  to  the  govern- 
ment,  and  to  the  excellent  man  whose  memory  will 
thus  be  perpetuated. 

dead  before  my  return;  and  Paul  Dikkop  whom" 
brought  with  me  to  England,  and  who  lately  diedTwe 
hope  in  the  Lord),  was  a  son  of  his,  and  w^as  making 
considerable  progress  in  his  education,and  likely  tobf 
mstrumental  of  good  to  his  fellow  countrymen  oi  hU 
return  ;  but  God,  whose  thoughts  are  not  as  ours  saw 
fit  to  call  him  to  the  eternal  worid,  professing,  as  a 
sinner  his  sole  dependence  on  the  Saviour.  I  bow  to 
bis  holy  will,  saying.  Amen  ! 

•«  His  majesty's  '  commiuionert  of  inquiry'  have 
smce  visited  this  settlement.  They  were  p^ent  « 
divine  service  on  the  sabbath,  and  heard  the  children 
read  and  repeat  their  catechisms.  They  were  pleased 
to  express  their  satisfaction  at  the  general  appearance 
of  the  people,  with  their  knowledge  of  the  &riptu«! 

ir'v     '°  ^c  .""  '"  *'"'''•  P°''«'  *°  f^^"i  'ho 
,  laudable  objects  of  the  institution. 

"On  this  occasion,  a  scene  equally  unexpected  and 
affecting  presented   itself.     The  honorable  commis- 
sioners  having  briefly  stated  to  the  congregation  the 
object  of  the.r  visit,  a  respectable  Hottentot  rose  up. 
and  addressed  them  as  follows:— « I  thank  God  for 
putting  it  into  the  heart  of  the  king  of  England  to  pity 
us ;  and  I  thank  the  great  gentlemen  (groote  Aeecen)  for 
coming  so  far  to  inquire  into  our  state.'     He  was  fol- 
lowed  by  several  others;  then  by  all  the  men  in  the 
assembly  collectively,  who  stood  up  and  expressed 
their  gratitude  to  the  commissioners.     When  the  men 
sat  down,  the  women  rose  and  expressed  themselves 
in  a  similar  manner,  some  of  them  in  neat  and  appro- 
nriata  !«»«■•».>       1U.-..  ./•.■._.  ■  •   . 

'      ■"       ■=    s '~"j  '-"  ""  pccpio  were  seen  in 

tears.    The  satisfaoaon  expressed  by  the  honorable 


440 


LONDON  MlS8i(»IARY  SOCIETY. 


oonnuuKHien  oa  thi«  ooom'iob,  conveyed  to  then  n 
the  Dutch  language  by  Mr.  Andersoa  (tbe  missioBwry 
Own  there),  was  received  by  the  aasemUy  with  the 
moBt  lively  emotions  of  pleasure." 

Mr.  T.  Edwards,  of  Theopolis,  removed  to  this 
station  in  1827,  and  took  charge  of  the  school,  which 
had  beea  for  some  time  previously  superintended  by 
Mr>  Anderson,  assisted  by  his  daughters. 

The  Report  for  1827  states — "  The  number  under 
instructimi  is  sixty-three,  but  the  average  attendance 
does  not  exceed  forty.  The  introduction  of  English 
teaching  has  given  great  satisfaction  to  the  people. 
The  school-room  is  about  to  be  fitted  up  for  the  adop- 
Uon  of  the  Briush  system ;  towards  this  object  the 
committee  of  the  Cape  Auxiliary  Society  has  granted 
one  hundred  and  fifty  rix  dollars." 

The  congregation,  which  is  composed  of  Hottentots 
of  the  institution,  slaves  from  the  neighboring  village 
of  George  Town,  and  a  few  colonists,  usually  consists, 
on  the  sabbath  day,  of  about  two  hundred.  Their 
attention  and  behavior  are  commendable.  The  people 
are  frequently  catechized,  after  the  services,  on  the 
subjects  of  the  sermons  they  have  heard.  Meetings  for 
prayer  and  religious  edification  are  held  every  even- 
ning^.  Marriage  has  become  general  among  the  Hot- 
tentots at  this  station.  Several  new  houses  have  been 
built,  and  the  gardens  of  the  institution  are,  generally 
speaking,  better  cultivated.  About  four  hundred  shrubs 
have  been  planted  during  1826,  making  the  total 
number  eight  hundred.  A  farm  lately  purchased,  and 
which  has  received  the  name  of  Bvrder't  Place,  is 
likely  to  prove  a  great  acquisition  to  the  settlement. 

In  1882,  Mr.  Anderson  was  still  faithfully  discharg- 
ing his  missionary  duties.  The  population  consisted 
of  about  four  hundred  and  sixty  persons.  At  the 
circuit  in  1830,  held  at  George,  the  honorable  Mr. 
justice  Kekewich  attended  public  worship  at  Pacalts- 
dorp,  and  expressed  his  satisfaction  with  the  appear- 
ance of  the  congregation. 


HANKEY. 

[Between  Fackltadorp  and  Betbebdorp.] 

This  is  a  recently  formed  station,  and  takes  its  name 
from  William  Alers  Hankey,  Esq.,  the  treasurer  of  the 
London  Missionary  Society. 

The  Rev.  W.  Foster,  a  student  from  the  Hoxton 
college,  went  out  to  Africa,  to  take  charge  of  a  semi- 
nary for  the  education  of  the  children  of  the  mission- 
aries in  this  country ;  and  for  the  preparation  of  native 
converts   as   ministers    to   their  fellow  countrymen. 


Oa  arriving  at  Hankey,  Mi.  Postei  deemed  the  1oo»f 
tioB  unsuitable. 

The  population,  in  1831,  was  nearly  thwe  hundred. 
A  catechist  occupies  the  station,  who  perfbinns  publia 
services  on  the  sabbath.  The  number  of  communi- 
cants is  nineteen,  and  there  were  five  candidates  for 
baptism. 


GRAHAM'S  TOWN. 

[In  tlw  dirtriot  of  Albuijr.] 

The  situation  of  aflairs  at  this  station  is  subject  to 
constant  variation.  In  September,  1831,  the  popula- 
tion amounted  to  four  hundred.  The  usual  attendance 
on  the  sabbath  was  from  two  hundred  to  two  hundred 
and  fifty.     The  communicants  are  twenty-five. 


THEOPOLIS. 

[In  the  dirtrict  of  Albuijr ;  five  hundred  uid  fifty  milci  i 
Cape  Town,  sizty  norlh^eut  of  Betbeladorp.] 


tof 


This  spot  was  pointed  out,  and  land  granted  for  a 
mission,  by  his  excellency  sir  John  Cradock,  governor 
of  the  colony.  The  importance  of  the  station  was 
enhanced  by  its  contiguity  to  Cafiiraria.  At  some  future 
day,  Theopolis  may  prove  y  useful  link  to  a  chain  of 
missionary  stations,  which  shall  unite  Cape  Town 
with  CafTrario. 

The  mission  at  this  settlement  was  commenced  in 
1814,  by  Messrs.  Barker  and  Ulbricht ;  but,  on  the 
removal  of  the  former  to  Betholsdorp,  at  the  begin- 
ning of  1819,  his  colleague  was  left  to  labor  alone  for 
a  season.  Mr.  Barker  afterwards  returned  ;  and,  in 
1822,  he  observes  respecting  his  hearers,  "Though  I 
have  no  conversions  to  mention,  I  cannot  speak  or 
think  of  the  manifest  change  in  the  general  conduct 
of  the  people  here,  without  emotions  of  gratitude. 
I  trust  that  God  has  crowned  my  poor  attempts  ;  as 
great  seriousness  is  apparent  in  our  religious  assem- 
blies, and  great  attention  is  paid." 

In  the  year  1823,  in  consequence  of  the  violent 
rains,  which  fell  in  torrents,  and  the  overflowing  of  the 
river,  the  whole  of  this  settlement  was  unfortunately 
destroyed.  The  particulars  of  this  dreadful  visitation 
are  contained  in  the  following  extract  of  a  letter  writ- 
ten by  Mr.  Peter  Wright,  the  superintendent  of  the 
secular  concerns  of  the  institution  : — 

"  On  Saturday  last,  about  mid-day,  the  sky  began 
to  present  an  awful  appearance  ;  nothing  was  to  be 
seen  but   tremendous  black,  lowering  clouds,  which 


hMe^mwrfm^  nm  In  tt»  allMiMiif  tiM 
nln  bvgin  told], ■ad  ooMinued  Mond^tad  IWtdir 

22Sr"V"_J!*  !?**•'  ©»W«dilMAiy,tli^ 
WMftbtewi  iiwTieaii«  fna,  the  io*ih*«»t,  and  th6 
«»  dvsefended  in  tonmni^  lidi;  n  n^ere  mwr  trft- 
■«jl««r  br  my  of  the  pwpit  Hf  tMs  phea^  tad  wbicit 
oitntiDued  without  mtennigsion  till  Tharsday  M  twelve 
o'clock,  when  it  began  to  abate. 

"On  Friday  ftioniing,  a«  soon  as  it  was  light.  I 
looked  outi  and  saw  that  the  river  had  risen  io  an 
■taMting  height,  and  had  overdowed  the  ground  where 
we  had  made  bricks  for  the  new  village— all  of  which 
nave  been  swept  away. 

_  «<In  the  evening,  about  eight  o'clock,  I  was  sud- 
deiily  alarmed  by  a  great  crash.  I  immediately  took 
a  dandle,  to  go  out  and  discover  the  cause  ;  but  while 
I  was  preparing  so  to  do,  Mr;  Barker  cAme  in,  anrf, 
with  uplifted  handi,  and  a  eomtenance  bespeaking 
the  greatest  agitation  and  distress,  exclaimed,  '  We 
•K>  ail  completely  rumed I'  i  asked,  'What  is  the 
matter  ?  Surely  your  house  has  not  falien,  and  hurt 
any  of  your  ftraily?'  He  teplied,  «No:  but  our 
school,  our  noble  school,  is  destroyed,  and  is  com- 
pletely down  to  the  ground !'  I  immediatdy  went 
out,  and,  when  I  beheld  it,  I  received  such  a  shook  as 
I  nev«r  shall  forget. 

"  I  can  assure  you  that  never,  since  I  have  been  here, 
ktd  I  cast  my  eyes  on  that  building,  but  it  rejoiced  my 
heart  to  think  of  the  purpose  to  which  it  was  devoted, 
tod  what  4cilitles  ij  would  afford  to  the  rising  gen- 
ONtiM,  by  the  introduction  of  the  British  system  of 
teaching,  for  which  it  was  adapted  ;  and  also  that  it 
would  be  used  as  a  commodious  place  of  worship,  till 
the  people  should  be  ^ble  to  build  a  church. 

"  Hieagitatiwjand  dbtrcssof  ourown  minds,  and  the 
fearful  apprehensions  we  entertained  fiir  the  mission- 
house,  would  not  suffer  us  to  retire  for  rest  that  night. 
Reffeoting  on  the  circumstances  of  the  people  at  the 
Old  Village,  Mr.  Barker  and  I  concluded  to  go  over, 
though  in  a  midnight  rain,  to  examine  the  state  of 
things  there;  which,  you  will  not  be  surprised  to  hear. 
Were  in  a  dreadful  condition.     The  reed-houses  were 
drenched    through  with  rain,  the  water   streaming 
through  many  of  them  like  a  river ;  and  the  night 
was  so  excessively  cold,  that  one  man  was  with  difll. 
culty  preserved  from  being  starved  to  death.     TTie 
kraal  was  become  such  a  complete  bog,  that  the 
ctttle  wfere  not  able  to  stand  in  it,  and  were  permitted 
to  ranAle  where  they  would,  in  danger  of  being  stolen 
by  the  CaflTres,  who  are  just  now  very  troublesome  in 
our  neighborhood.     When  dayKght  returned,  it  pre^ 
sented  to  us  additional  cause  of  distress.       Every 
house  baildine  in  the  new  rWhva  »••  t«s!thf>.d  tUvtn^ 
m  that  not  *»ie  brtefc  mni  left  upxMi  another,  with  th* 
Vol.  1.— Nos.  37  &  38.  59 


^w3W9^ijmmfmm»jmmp^y 


aHM 


*i»ivAtmM  tiM  immmhiiA  *^4ef^m%^ihtiti^ 

MM^  inJnreA     #e  «MNtbdtft  ttM  iMiiiilhid  thSm 

Mtlumit^htthn  ♦aii8*,i»h»  afrU  tiiorturtit  ime 

eteept  «ne  striall  kilnf  «he«te  haWi^  ke*n  laid  2 

^M,  uium  eorttpietelf  fytttofM.  ^^ 

'•Ot«^T>rtsei»e«n8ternatioii  aftd  diil#«saig  cbtmi. 

stances  yod  iMy  Meie  eaatly  tautmi  than  I  t$k 

describe.  The  peepie'i  oM  hoiitiea  ai«  ill  gone  to  raM 

•nd  the  old  chtt^  is  hearty  ddwrt^l    What  we  iball 

do,  the  Lord  only  knows ;  and  it  is  otoly  the  exereiMof 

filith  In  the  providence  bf  God.  and  in  the  belief  of 

t»at  mfinite  wisdom,  goodness  and  rectittfde,  whicli 

directs  all  his  dispensations  towards  his  churoh  atid 

iwople,  that  can  support  our  minds  under  present 

ctreumstances !»  p»'=»ein 

Mr.  Barker  still  decuples  this  station,  and  is  assistM 
t>r  Mr.  Sass,  who  has  removed  from  Uitenha^. 
The  number  of  Hottentots  actually  residing  at  The- 
opolis  amounts  to  four  hundred.  On  the  "sabbath  the 
wngregation  is  from  tw6  hundred  to  three  hundred- 
the  number  in  chureh  fellowship  eighty-two.  In  the 
day  school  are  one  boAdred  and  fiAy  children,  who 
vttry  in  th^ir  attendMe^  fimu  forty  to  eighty 


'"  •■■'  I'll 


CAFFRARIA.  * 

BUFFALO  RIVER  STATION,  or  TZATZOe4 
KRAAL. 

CArriURiA  comrtjence*  at  the  Great  Pish  river 
which  divides  it  from  Albany  in  the  colony ;  and  runs 
along  the  Indian  ocean,  iri  a  north-east  direction,  to 
the  river  Bassee,  which  divides  it  ftorti  theTambookie 
country.     It  does  not  extend  more  than  seventy  mUes 
up  the  country  ;  or  to  the  West-^t  teast  at  the  south 
end  of  It— being  separated  from  the  colony  and  Bush- 
man country  on  that  side  by  a  chain  of  mounuina. 
It  abounds  with  mountains,  woods  and  water,  and  is 
for  more  populous  than  either  the  Bushman,  Coranna 
or  Namaqua  countries.     The  people  also  are  taller' 
more  robust,  and  more  industrious.     «« Better  shaped' 
men,"  says  Mr.  Campbell,  « I  never  saw."    They 
ai-e  a  wariike  nice,  and  ftiiAy  of  them  are  greatly 
addicted  to  plundering.    Like  the  Chinese,  they  con- 
sider  all  other  people  inferior  to  themselves,  and  su#. 
pose  that  Europeans  wear  clbtlies  merely  on  acoouS 
of  hav&g  feeble  and  sicWy  ^1**.    They  have  scarce- 
ly any  religion  ;  but  some  of  them  profess  to  believe 
that  some  great  beiiig  cime  ttom  above,  and  made  the 
world.  rffterwhiiSV  life  r^urtied,  and  cared  no  mow 
aosiii  It.     It  is  ,e,y  jiWuiili,  that  even  this  f^We 
ray  of  light  wilt  bbtaJtrid'fcylnkBs  6f  their  iritercouriio 


hOKOON  mnmmAKT  BOonmrr. 


irUjbt;  tb9  JXrtdi  jhoois  jdariog  Mvsnl  igM.    TIm^ 
|plHid«r  man  u  g«  ft  bvd  with  the  bnitat,  with  ragtnl 
^  the  diur«tioft  oT  hb  famog ;  m  that,  when  he  is  dead, 
thflie  is  an  end  of  bis  existence.     Like  the  Matohap- 
pees,  they  bare,  eiroumqision  aniong  them,  though 
ignoiant  <^  what  gave  rise  to  the  custom.    They  per- 
lorm^  this  ceremooy  on  their  young  men  at  the  age  of 
fcurteen  yean,  or  more.     Polygamy  is  very  general 
antoog  them.    The  common  people  liave  seldom  more 
Ihan  one  or  two  wives,  but  their  cbie6  generally  four 
«r  five.  When  a  Caffie  is  sick,  they  generally  send  for 
a  person  who  a  considered  a  physician,  who  pretends 
to  extract  from  the  body  of  the  sick,  serpents,  stones, 
bones,  &c.     At  other  times,  he  beats  them  on  the 
elbow,  knees,  and  ends  of  their  fingers,  till,  as  the 
Hottentots  express  it,  these  are  almost  rotten :  they 
sometimes,  also,  kill  cattle  in  the  way  of  sacrifice  for 
the  person :  and  at  others  the  doctor  pretends  »o  drive 
out  the  devil,  and  to  kill  him.     The  Cafires  have  a 
barbarous  custom  of  exposing  their  sick  friends,  who, 
m  their  opinion,  are  not  likely  to  recover.     They  bury 
none  but  their  chiefs  and  their  wives;    others  are 
thrown  out  to  be  devoured  by  the  wild  beasts.    Should 
a  person  die  accidentally  in  his  own  house,  the  whole 
kraal  is  deserted.     Many  of  them  are  very  hospitable 
to  strangers ;  not  waiting  till  they  ask  for  victuals,  but 
Mkging  it  of  their  own  accord,  and  setting  it  before 
them,  and  always  of  the  best  they  have.     The  riches 
of  a  Caffre  chiefly  consist  of  his  cattle,  of  which  he 
is  extravagantly  fond.     He  keeps  them  as  carefully  as 
the  miser  does  his  gold.     He  does  not  use  them  as 
beasts  of  burden,  except  when  he  is  removing  from 
one  place  to  another  along  with  his  kraal,  and  then 
they  carry  this  milk  bags,  or  skin  bags  which  contain 
milk.     He  is  never  more  gratified  than  when  running 
before  them  With  his  shield,  by  beating  on  which  the 
whole  are  taught  to.  gallop  after  him.     In  this  way  he 
leads  them  out  to  take  exercise,  and  those  oxen  which 
run  quickest  on  such  occasions  are  considered  his  best : 
of  these  he  boasts,  and  treau  them  with  peculiar  kind- 
ness.    The  Caflfres  chiefly  subsut  upon  milk ;  but  in 
part,  also,  by  hunting,  and  by  the  produce  of  their 
gardens.     They  sow  a  species  of  millet,  which  is 
known  in  the  colony  by  the  name  of  Caffre  corn. 
While  growing,  it  very  much  resembles  Indian  com, 
only  the  fruit  grows  in  clusters,  like  the  grape  ;  the 
grain  is  small  and  round,  and  when  boiled  is  very 
palatable.      Tliey  frequently  bruise  it  between  two 
stones,  and  make  a  kind  of  bread  from  it.     To  sow  it 
is  the  work  of  the  women.    They  reaUer  the  seed  on 
the  grass,  after  which  they  push  oit  the  K»iia  from 
the  surface,  by  means  of  a  kind  o/  .;/ -^wiui  spacf  % 
shaped  something  like  «  spoon  at  bof  i  flnr     Hy  --    ^oh 
operation  the  seed  G§§  upon  the  gi«  .'t:  1. ...  li  is  cor- 


erH  bj^th*  gnis;  llrom  ondenMth  which  witlimd 
ana  rotten  grass,  it  iAerwarda  springs  up.  They  alio 
sow  pumpkins,  water-melons,  kc,  and  use  various 
vegetables,  whieb  grow  wild.  They  onltivate  tobacco, 
and  smoke  it,  like  the  Matebappees,  through  water  m 
a  horn.  The  men  spend  their  days  in  idleness,  having 
no  employment  but  war,  hunting  and  milking  the 
cows.  The  women  construct  enclosures  for  the  cattle, 
utensils  and  clothes ;  they  also  till  the  ground  and 
cut  wood.  They  likewise  manufacture  mau  of  rushes, 
and  neat  baskets,  wrought  so  close  as  to  contain  milk, 
but  which  are  seldom  washed  or  cleaned,  except  by 
the  dogs'  tongues.  They,  moreover,  build  houses  in 
the  shape  of  a  dome,  formed  of  hmg  sticks  bent  into 
that  shape,  thatched  with  straw,  and  plastered  in  the 
inside  with  a  mixture  of  clay  and  cow-dung:  the 
entrance  is  low,  seldtMi  higher  than  two  or  three  feet; 
and,  having  no  chimney,  the  smoke  proceeding  from 
th*  fire,  which  is  placed  in  the  middle  of  the  hut, 
must  find  its  way  out  the  best  way  it  can,  through  the 
roof  or  by  the  door. 

Next  to  these  people  is  another  numerous  tribe, 
called  Tambookiet;  and  further  to  the  north-eut, 
near  Delagoa  bay,  are  the  Jlfom6ooibe«,  who  are  very 
numerous.  These  are  said  to  be  of  the  Cafl^  race, 
as  are  the  numerous  tribes  of  the  Bechuanas  to  the 
west. 

Dr.  Vanderkemp  attempted  an  establishment  on 
the  Keiskamma  river  in  1799 ;  but,  owing  to  the  dis- 
turbed state  of  the  country,  and  the  prejudices  of  the 
people,  he  removed  to  Graaf^Reinet,  within  the 
colony,  in  1801 ;  not,  however,  till  he  had  conciliated 
many  of  the  Cafires,  and  prepared  the  way  for  future 
labors. 

The  Rev.  Josiah  Williams,  accompanied  by  his 
wife,  Mr.  Read,  and  a  native  convert,  Tzatsoe,  arrived 
at  a  place  intended  for  a  station,  near  Cat  river,  in 
1816.  The  chiefs  of  this  country  wekomed  them 
with  the  greatest  kindness.  Several  of  them  remem- 
bered Dr.  Vanderkemp,  whom  they  called  Jankanna, 
and  for  whose  memory  they  entertained  a  high  vene- 
ration. One  of  the  chiefs  said,  "  You  t"ust  not  be 
tired  of  us,  though  we  are  perverse;  ■  i  >;eii,vi^ 
us.  Jankanni  '*  dead,  and  you  are  in'ti^t '  ■!  >•;•?,.*' 
T'Geika,  the  principal  chief,  appear  ?       .y 

convinced  of  his  sins  ;  which  he  comparea  one  night, 
after  the  public  service,  to  "the  stars,  then  glittering 
over  his  head.  He  lamented  bis  neglect  of  the  word 
formeriy  preached  by  Jankanna ;  but  said  that  God, 
who  wou' '  ot  suflTer  him  to  die  in  his  sins,  had  sent 
Jankanna  an  (for  so  he  and  the  people  styled  Mr. 
Read)  :  anu  now  he  declared,  that  if  God  would  be 
pleased  to  strengthen  him,  he  would  renounce  the 
world,  and    riya    hunaalf  wjiffjjy   to  Christ.  frUh^i^?* 


«bMi,,b«  Mid,  all  lUagf  are  nothing ;  adding,  that  if 
th«  Cafirw  rafused  to  hear  the  go,p,|,  he  would  leara 
them,  and  cleave  to  the  missionaries  and  their  friends 
M  Cape  Town,  that  he  might  enjoy  it.  He  also  de- 
nied that  his  thanks  might  be  given  to  the  governor, 
w»d  tothe  king  o£  Engknd,  for  sending  missionaries 
to  Oaffiana. 

Under  these  auspicious  circumstances,  Mr.  Williams 
commenced  his  labors.  He  built  a  bouse,  formed  a 
gMden,  enclosed  ground  for  com,  and  prepared  for 
oonduotmg  water  to  it  from  a  dbtance.  About  one 
Hundred  Caffres  attended  his  ministry  on  the  sabbath, 
and  about  seventy  on  other  days.  A  school  he  com- 
BA«aced,  contained  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  native 
flhdaren.  But  in  the  midst  of  his  efforu,Mr.  Williams 
was  called,  on  the  34th  of  August,1818,  to  his  reward. 
Obstacles  afteiwards  arose,  partly  from  the  existence 
of  a  Caffie  war,  which  prevented,  for  a  time,  the  es- 
teblishment  of  the  mission. 

In  1825,  the  Rev.  John  Brownlee,  who  had  been 
suocessfolly  engaged  at  Chumie,at  the  expense  of  the 
colonial  government,  agreed  to  attempt  its  revival 
r  ^"?«"'°**  ^^  "'■"  Taataoe,  who,  since  the  death 
of  Mr.  Williams,  had  been  a  teacher  at  Theopolis,  he 
proceeded  to  Tzatzoe's  Kraal,  on  the  Buffalo  river 
the  residence  of  his  assistant's  father,  who  is  a  Caffre 
chief  of  considerable  influence.    A  quantity  of  ground 
has  since  been  enclosed,  and  is  in  course  of  cultivation 
A  good  congregation  has  been  collected,  and  the  place 
of  worship  is,  at  times,  fall.     In  a  letter  dated  April 
16th,  1826,  Mr.  Brownlee  thus  states  the  claims  of 

CaHreland  to  missionary  efforts : - 

"A  dense  population,  living  in  the  vicinity  of  a 
Christian  Protestant  British  colony—the  Caffre  Ian- 
guage  perfectly  understood  and  spoken,  with  Uttle 
vanation,  for  five  hundred  miles  along  the  eastern 
coast— access  to  the  Caffre  country  from  the  colony 
and  a  daily  intercourse  maintained  between  theCafliBs 
and  the  colonial  frontiei^— a  weekly  market  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  frontier,  attended  by  the  Caffres  and 
other  tribes  beyond  them— the  superior  local  advan- 
tages of  theCafflro  country,  compared  with  other  tracts 
of  South  Africa,  and  a  free  and  uninterrupted  inter- 
course maintained  between  the  Caffres,  the  Tambookies 
and  some  of  the  Mombookie  tribes.     The  population 
of  the  Caffres  subject  to  T'Geika,  Hinza  and  Slambie 
does  not  probably  amount  to  less  than  one  hundred 
and  thirty  thousand  souls.      The  Tambookies  may 
amount  to  the  same  number ;  and  their  most  distant 
Jcraals  are  not  much  more  than  two  hundred  miles 
from  the  colonial  territory.     At  present  there  would 
be  no  objection  made  by  the  above-mentioned  tribes 
to  missionaries  settling  amongst  them. 
"Miasiofls  amone  tha  CaflV-M  i»a..M  r 


BUPrALO  mVfill  STATION, 


mg  libka  with  oth*.  tiMrt  toay  hi  fi<t„ft  W'wtAlhhed 
"»-g  th.  T«nbookl«.  Mombookie..  ««r  otCSS 
But  perhaps,  the  ttrongeM  Muon  that  ooald  b*  «dl 
du^  for  uiciw.tog  the  missionary  sutWn.  m  Cat 
frtria, «  the  suooesa  which  hu  attended  the  fMbM 
means  already  used."  " 

Pk^^.Tu*"."'"'™'' ''''''''  '^"  coBfimied  by  Dr. 
Philip,  led  the  director,  to  adopt  the  determination  of 

m  1827,  the  Rev.  Gottlieb  Fiederick  Kayser,  from 
the  university  at  Halle,  was  appointed  to  assist  Mr, 
Brownlee.  Mr.  Kayser  and  his  wife  embariced  for 
the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  on  the  Ist  of  Mareh,  1827 
at  which  place  they  arrived  on  the  2l8t  of  June' 
Having  remained  at  Cape  Town  about  a  month,  they 
sailed  for  Algoa  bay,  accompanied  by  four  emanci- 
pated Caffres,  who  had,  several  yeaw  before,  been  made 
prisoners  of  war,  at  an  attack  of  their  countrymen  on 
Graham  s  Town.  They  arrived  at  their  place  of  des- 
Unation  on  the  S6th  of  September.  In  1828,  Mr 
Brownlee  writes  that  the  number  of  his  hearers  is 

STwT^^""  "•!  ^"^'^  '•"y*  '"''  •'«>'«  tWrty  on 
the  Wednesday ;  that  two  men  have  been  received  as 
candidates  for  baptism,  of  whose  knowledge,  experi- 
ence  and  consistency  he  has  a  very  favorable  opinion. 
He  states  that  Jan  Taatzoe  proves  a  valuable  assistant 
in  the  work  of  translating,  and  that  the  whole  of  the 
Gospel  by  Mark  is  translated. 

In  182&_9,  the  labors  of  the  brethren  received 
some  check  in  consequence  of  the  invasion  of  Chaka 
a  powerful  chief  from  Port  Natal.  ' 

Voosanie,  a  CaflSre  chief,  expressed  his  desire  to 
have  a  musionary ;  and  the  brethren  remark,  that 
"It  is  not  unlikely,  in  consequence  of  recent  move- 
ments  in  that  quarter,  that  the  gospel  will  soon  find  ito 
way  to  Port  Natal." 

From  the  last  report  of  the  directors  we  learn,  that 
Mr.  Brownlee  and  Mr.  Kayser  continue  to  visit  the 
neighboring  kraab.  "  The  attention  of  the  people  is 
increasing,  and  the  interest  they  take  in  the  subjects 
of  religion  is  pleasing.  The  knowledge  of  the  word 
of  God  IS  extending.  Mr.  Kayser  has  finished  the 
translations  of  a  small  English  catechism  for  children 
and  several  parts  of  the  Gospels,  containing  our  Lord', 
miracles,  which  he  intends  to  get  printed  in  the  form 
of  tracts.  In  this  work  he  has  been  assisted  by  Jan 
Taat zoe.  When  he  visits  the  kraals,  sometimes  eight, 
ten  or  twelve  in  a  day,  he  reads  from  these  transla- 
tions, which  the  people  understand.  His  progress  in 
the  language  has  now  so  far  advanced,  a.  to  enable 
him  to  communicate  with  the  CaflTres  without  an  inter- 
preter.  Jan  Tzatioe  continues  a  valuable  assistant 
in  the  mission,  and  a  useful  laborer  among  his  co«n- 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


,  "  Tiie  cbildrm  in  Ibb  ^ooi  go  oo  well ;  «11  of  them 
possess  coDsidflniblfl  usquaiatanoe  witb  the  dcctriues 
ud  prac«pU  of  U>*risUanit>r. 

"  Two  Cii^  captains,  VVenna  and  Hinaa,  )l>rotben 
of  John  Taatao^,  and  two  other  chiels,  have,  with 
thefr  kraals,  removed  nearer  the  station.  The  former 
hM  heguD  to  denounce  the  errors  of  the  Caifre  doc- 
tor«.  The  commotions  which  have  lately  taken  place 
in  this  part  of  Africa,  have  brought  a  greater  number 
of  Caffres  mthin  the  sound  of  the  gospel.  Thus 
there  is  an  increasing  number  of  hearers,  affording  a 
larger  sphere  for  the  dissemination  of  the  gospel. 

"  Thirty  acres  of  ground  are  cultivated,  and  p|qnt«d 
with  millet,  maize,  French  beans,  pumpkins  and  water- 
melons." 


CAMPBELL. 

[SeTen  handred  milei  north-eut  of  Cape  Town,  forty  milei  cut  of 
'  Oriqok  Town.] 

J  The  Rev.  Mr.  Sass  reinovoa  irom  Bethesda  to  this 
place  in  1821,  and  divided  his  labors  between  the 
Griquas  and  several  kraals  of  Cornnnas  on  the  Great 
river.  Here,  however,  he  was  encompassed,  for  some 
years,  with  trials  and  discouragements ;  and,  in  1824, 
he  removed  to  Griqua  Town.  In  about  a  year  after- 
wards, a  gratifying  revival  took  place,  by  means  of  a 
catechist,  who  formed  a  sabbath  and  a  day  school,  in- 
structing, in  the  former,  about  one  hundred  -;hildren, 
and,  n  the  latter,  about  sixty.  He  still  coniinues  to 
bn  useful.  A  school-room  is  being  erected,  which  is 
designed  to  serve  also  as  a  chapel.  In  1831,  the 
congregation  was  two  hundred  ;  the  number  of  com- 
municants twenty,  of  scholars  about  one  hundred  and 
fifty,  who  are  re|)orted  to  make  good  progress. 


PHILIPPOUS. 

[On  lh«  Bortk  ude  oTCradoak  riwr.] 

This  settlement  is  named,  as  a  tribute  of  respect,  after 
Dr.  Philip,  and  was  formed  for  the  benefit  of  the  Hush- 
mon.  A  Hottentot  teacher,  Jan  Oooyman,  was  sent 
to  labor  here ;  but  no  apparent  success  followed  his 
endeavors. 

In  the  year  1 886.  a  party  of  plundering  rafTrt'S  attack- 
ed an  nut-station,  and  desimyod  no  less  than  ihiriy-nne 
Bush  people,  in  order  to  get  jwssession  of  (heir  cattle. 

Though  many  unfavorable  circumstances  have  tried 


nBtiAnnA  nnrl  fnith   of  the    ntissinnsr"  ~t 


he  aiiU  pmsevam  in  the  diwbarge  of  hii  intpoitnit 
and  arduous  duties.  Early  in  1830,  several  famiUa 
removed  nearer  to  the  station,  and  sent  their  children 
to  school.  The  attendance  on  the  services  of  the 
sabbath  began  tr  improve,  varying  from  eighty  to  two 
hundred.  The  spirit  of  the  people  appeared  generally 
improved,  and  Mr.  Melvill  indulges  the  hope  that  the 
Lord  will  yet  more  abundantly  bless  his  labors.  In 
the  report  of  this  mission  for  1830,  the  directors  say, 
"  We  are  concerned  to  have  to  record  the  death  of 
Cornelius  Kok,  the  Griqua  chief,  at  the  age  of  thirty* 
two  years.  .  He  had  left  Philippolis  for  the  purpoM 
of  going  to  Graham's  Town,  for  medical  advice,  but 
died  on  his  way  thither.  He  died  expressing  his  con- 
fidence in  Jesus  Christ  as  his  Saviour,  and  it  is  hoped 
he  has  entered  into  the  joy  of  the  Lord."  The  popu- 
lation  amounted,  in  1831,  to  one  thousand  eight  hun- 
dred and  sixty  persons,  of  whom  nine  hundred  are  Gri- 
quas, and  nine  hundred  and  sixty  Bechuanas.  These 
people  are  scattered  over  a  large  tract  of  country,  the 
land  being  chiefly  adapted  to  grazing.  The  number 
who  actually  reside  at  the  station  varies  considerably 
at  different  seasons  of  the  year. 

At  Philippo'is,  there  is  a  chapel,  a  mission-house, 
a  store-house  and  twelve  dwelling-houses.  The  land 
brought  under  cultivation  comprehends  about  two 
hundred  and  eighty  acres,  which  is  irrigated  from  fifty 
fountains. 


BUSHMEN  MISSION. 


In  1829,  the  directors  determined  to  recommence 
labors  among  the  wandering  Bushmen,  and  Mr.  Clark, 
who  preceded  Mr.  Melvill,  at  Philippolis,  removed  to 
this  new  field  of  labor  early  in  1 830,  assisted  by  Mr. 
G.  A.  Kolbe.  The  spot  which  the  brethren  selected 
for  their  station  is  situated  three  miles  from  the  Orange 
river,  and  five  miles  from  the  Caledon  ri.'i-.  The 
number  of  adults  of  the  Bushman  tribe,  who  :  ave 
settled  at  the  infant  station,  amounts  t<  one  hundred. 
Besides,  there  are  two  families  from  the  colony,  who 
have  arcontpanied  the  missionaries.  The  total  number 
of  children  is  twenty-six.  All  the  adults  attend  divine 
worship,  and  are  also  otherwise  instructed.  An  attempt 
has  been  made  to  establish  a  school  for  the  children, 
hut  it  has  proved  unsuccessful,  since  the  parents  em- 
ploy their  children  who  are  old  enough,  in  gather- 
ing the  roots  which  conmituio  their  principal  article 
of  food.  Tho  nussionaries  hope  to  be  able,  by  the 
blessing  of  God  on  their  labors,  to  overcome  the  formi- 
clnl)!o  difficulties  which  stand  in  the  way  of  the  improve- 
ment oi  iheiu  wfeiciiou  people.     Three  or  four  acres 


. Wm&m^.-  l^TTAK^Sa  ;  mu 


•f  itnd  IwvabMo  braaght  under  cultivation,  and  eleven 
pi'JM  of  ground  have  been  laid  out  aa  gardeos.  There 
Me  at  this  atatioo  four  dwelling-houses,  one  place  of 
liMwhip,  six  huts,  and  five  temporary  huts. 

**;■ _ 


BECHUANAS. 
LATTAKOO. 


^MISSION   TO   THE 

♦*t 

I*.       ■ 
*«' 

tictWMB  lU  and  wren  hundred  raiUi  north-aut  of  Cape  Town  1 

$•*■  -  «-  -J 

In  tbo  montli  of  June,  1813,  the  Rev.  John  Camp- 
bell, of  Kingsland,  visited  the  ciiy  of  Lattakoo,  witii 
the  hope  of  obtaining  permission  to  send  missionaries 
to  that  part  of  South  Africa.  After  waiting  a  consider- 
able  time  for  an  interview  with  the  king,  Mateebe,  he 
had,  at  length,  an  opportunity  of  explaining  tbj  ob- 
ject of  his  journey,  and  stated  that  tiie  teachers  who 
should  be  sent  would  convey  information  of  the  true 
God,  by  whom  all  things  were  created,— of  his  love 
to  mankind,— and  of  the  laws  which  he  has  given 
respecting  good  and  evil.  This  statement  seems  to 
have  made  but  little  impression  on  the  mind  of  the 
king ;  who  observed  that  his  people  were  loo  much 
occupied  in  the  avocations  of  sowing,  reaping  and 
tending  their  cattle,  to  have  any  leisure  for  attending 
to  instruction ;  and  in  addition  to  this  he  roi.iarked, 
that  they  would  never  be  willing  to  abandon  the  cus- 
toiiis  of  their  forefathers.  These  ami  some  otlier 
objections,  however,  were  so  satisfactorily  answered  by 
Mr.  Campbell,  that  i!io  king  said,  "  Send  inttrucUn, 
and  1  will  be  a  father  to  them." 

Encouraged  by  th^s  assurance,  the  directors  of  the 
liondon  Society  sent  out  four  missionaries,  Messrs. 
Evans,  Hamilton,  Williams  and  Barker,  in  the  month 
of  February,  1815.  After  spending  some  time  at  the 
Cape,  and  visiting  the  sellloments  of  IJetiielsdorp  and 
Oriqua  Town,  Messrs.  Evans  and  llmnilton,  accom- 
panied  by  a  number  of  the  Hottentots,  set  out  from  tlie 
latter  place  for  l^atlakoo,  where  they  arrived  in  safety, 
after  a  journey  of  eight  days.  On  their  arrival,  Ma- 
teebe and  several  of  his  people  shook  hands  with  them, 
with  great  cordiality,  supjiosing  them  to  have  been 
traders,  come  for  the  purpose  of  exchanging  goods ; 
but  on  finding  that  they  wore  the  missionaries  promised 
by  Mr.  Campbell,  the  king  appeared  nmch  chagrined, 
and  some  of  his  captains  sooiaed  to  express  their  dis- 
approbaiKm.  In  the  course  of  the  evening,  after  he 
iwd  received  some  presents  of  beads  and  tobacco, 
Mateebe  was  informed  that  the  brotliron  would  make 
him  a  variety  of  useful  articles  in  wood  and  iron  ;  but 
tiiougii  tliM  mlormation  evidouily  afforded  him  much 


446 

aatisfiiction,  he  still  remained  aveiae  to  •nstniotloa: 
and,  a  few  days  afterwards,  when  urged  to  give  a 
decisive  answer,  as  to  the  establishment  of  a  mission 
"•his  territories,  he  stated  that  ho  did  iwt  promise 
Mr.  Campbell  that  the  missionaries  should  preach  at 
instruct  his  subjects.  "  But,"  added  h^,  "  as  say  the 
people,  so  s«y  I ;  you  must  not  come  to  reside  among 
us.  \ou  may  reside  on  the  banks  of  the  Krooman, 
and  traffic  with  us  in  ivory,  skins,  and  other  articles; 
but  you  must  not  teach  the  people."  He  then  ad- 
dressed himself  to  the  persons  by  whom  he  was  sur. 
rounded,  urging  them  to  declare  their  mmds,  that  they 
might  not  again  impute  any  blame  to  him,  as  they  had 
done  after  the  departur;  of  Mr.  Campbell,  though 
during  his  residence  at  Lattakoo  they  had  remained 
silent.  Many  of  the  people  immediately  exclaimed, 
"  The  misjionaries  must  not  come  here ;"  and  the  king 
rejoined,  "  I  say  the  same  as  the  people." 

Severely  grieved  by  this  unexpected  disappointment, 
the  brethren  returned  to  GriquaTown,  mourning  over 
the  affecting  thought  that  so  many  thousands  of  peo- 
ple should  have  put  away  from  them   the  word  of 
eternal  life.   Sometimes,  indeed,  they  ventured  to  cher- 
ish the  hope  that  a  door  of  access  might  yet  be  opened ; 
and,  after  the  lapse  of  a  few  months,  they  determined 
to  set  out  once  more,  in  order,  if  possible,  to  induce 
Mateebe  to  fulfil  the  promise  which  he  gave  to  Mr. 
Campbell.   It  unfortunately  happened,  however,  at  the 
time  of  their  arrival,  that  the  king  had  just  gone  on  a 
hunting  expedition  with  some  hundreds  of  his  subjects ; 
and  they  were  consequently  under  the  painful   neces- 
sity of  retracing  tiieir  steps  without  an  opportunity  of 
oven  speaking  on  the  subject  which  lay  so  near  their 
hearts.     The  introduction  of  the  gospel  to  Lattakoo, 
however,  was  not  so  utterly  hopeless  as  it  appeared! 
Mr.  Read  was  still  resolved  to  attempt  the  establish- 
ment of  a  mission  on  thai  bouighied  spot ;  and  soon 
after  the  brethren  had  returned  the  second  time,  with- 
out effecting  their  purpose,  he  proceeded  thither  with 
seven  wagons  and  a  number  of  persons  of  diffeicnt 
nations.     On    their  arrival,  Mateebe  appeared   very 
cool,  and  repeated  his  former  observations  with  respect 
to  tlie  ancient  customs  of  the  Bechuanas,  and  their 
aversion  to  instruction.     '•  To  these  objections,"  says 
Mr.  Road,  "  I  gave  little  heed  ;  but  told  him  that,  io 
conformity  to  the  agreement  with  Mr.  Campbell,  the 
good  people  of  the  country  beyond  the  great  water 
had  sent  missionaries ;  that  they  had  rejoiced  at  his 
having  promised  to  receive  such ;  aud  had  sent,  by  them, 
a  variety  of  articles  to  make  him  and  his  people  happy. 
Mateebe    now   seemed  satisfied,  and  said  we  might 
unyoko  our  oxen  under  a  largo  tree  which  stands  near 
his  hgusa  :  and  two  duvs  after  ward,  on  Lis  hsin?  ssksH 
whore  wo  should  get  wood  and  roods  fur  budding,  ud 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


when  w»  should  build,  he  replied  that  wood  and  reeds 
were  at  haod,and  that  we  might  build  where  we  pleased. ' ' 
Towards  the  latter  end  of  March,  1817,  it  was 
rumored  that  Mateebe  was  preparing  a  commando, 
or  plundering  expedition,  against  the  Wanketzens,  a 
people  occupying  a  country  eastward  of  Lattakoo ; 
•ad  when  the  brethren  attempted  to  dissuade  him  from 
it,  he  endearored  to  excuse  himself,  by  saying  that 
he  was  merely  going  to  take  cattle  from  a  people  who 
had  previously  taken  cattle  from  him,  and  that  the 
missionaries  must  remain  and  take  charge  of  the  women 
and  of  the  city.      He  accordingly  commenced  his 
march,  on  the  last  day  of  the  month,  which  happened 
to  be  the  sabbath ;  but  the  issue  of  his  expedition  was 
truly  disastrous.     The  nation  whom  he  was  desirous 
of  plundering   had  wisely  driven  all  their  cattle  into 
the  town.     Upon  this,  therefore,  Mateebe  resolved  to 
make  an  attack,  and  placed  himself  in  the  centre  of  the 
invading  army  for  that  purpose.     The  warriors  form- 
ing the  right  wing,  however  (who  had   roost  strongly 
urged  this  predatory  expedition),  soon  gave  way,  and 
many  of  the  others  began  to  retreat.   The  enemy  then 
advanced  with  irresistible  fury,  and  compelled  their 
assailants  to  flee  for  their  lives  with  such  precipitation, 
that  many  of  them  were  literally  dashed  to  pieces  by 
falling  from  the  rocks,  and  Mateebe,  who  was  severely 
wounded  in  one  of  his  feet,  returned  home,  after  losing 
about  two  hundred  of  his  men.     His  mind  appeared 
to  be  deeply  aflfected  with  this  defeat,  and  he  not 
only  acknowledged  that  he  had  done  wrong  in  refus- 
ing to  listen  to  the  advice  of  the  missionaries,  but 
declared  that,  in  future,  he  would  be  guided  by  their 
directions. 

On  the  86th  of  April,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hamilton 
arrived  at  Lattakoo,  and  were  very  kindly  received  by 
the  king,  who  told  them  that  they  must  consider  his 
country  as  their  own,  and  spend  the  remainder  of  their 
lives  with  his  people.  Mr.  Hamillon'e  skill  in  hewing 
and  forming  a  mill-stone  excited  the  admiration  and 
astonishment  of  the  people ;  and  when  he  made  the 
hole  in  the  middle  of  it,  some  of  them  exclaimed,  "  Men 
who  can  do  such  things  as  thf.ie  must  have  certainly 
come  from  God !"— "  When  1  b^i^in  to  plane  wood," 
says  Mr.  Hamilton, "the  nativesexfiressed  their  surprise 
that  they  had  never  seen  it  done  before ;  but  that  which 
struck  them  as  the  greatest  wonder  of  all  wu  the 
chain  of  our  wagon,  of  which  (hey  observed,  that  a  god 
must  have  made  it !" 

On  the  4th  of  June,  the  missionaries,  in  compli- 
ance with  the  wish  of  the  king,  removed  to  the  Kroo- 
man  river,  and  on  the  8ih,  arrived  at  the  ;jince  of  their 
deslinalion,  which  appeared  to  be  well  situated  for  a 
permanent  settlement.     "  The  plain,"  says  one  of  the 


.1 :-_   _r 

3-.  tnt:  vity  oi 


k#Mwv,«y  Siiu  aut- 


rounded  i^  lofty  trees  which  afiiird  a  delightful  aluid* 
in  the  summer,  and  give  it  a  very  pleasing  appearauoe.'f 
On  this  occasion,  they  were  accompcnied  by  Mateebe 
and  several  of  his  chiefs,  who  went  with  them,  in  order 
to  determine  on  the  spot  where  the  new  town  should 
be  built.  Many  of  the  chieis  were  extremely  averse 
both  to  the  king's  removal,  and  to  his  protection  of 
the  missionaries.  Mateebe,  however,  declared  bis 
determination  of  acting  according  to  the  dictates  of 
his  own  judgment,  and  observed  that  the  brethren  had 
evinced  their  attachment  towards  him,  by  regularly 
attending  to  dress  his  wounds,  after  his  own  captains 
had  left  him  sick  and  wounded  in  the  field,  to  be  ipf 
vou.ud  by  the  birds  of  prey.  ^ 

In  a  letter  dated  New  Lattakoo,  March  9,  1818, 
one  of  the  missionaries  observes,  "  Things  are  going 
on  better  here  than  we  expected  in  so  short  a  time,  as 
we  have  no  longer  any  opposition  from  the  Bechuanas ; 
hut,  on  the  contrary,  some  of  them  are  thanking  God 
for  sending  his  word  among  them,  and  praying  that 
we  may  never  leave  them.  Some  of  them  begin  to 
see  the  vanity  of  their  fonner  ways,  and  to  entertain 
a  desire  for  the  '  one  thing  needful ;'  and  last  sabbath 
I  counted  fifty-two  in  attendance  on  the  preaching  of 
the  gospel. 

"  The   experience-meeting   which    is   held   every 
Wednesday  for  their  benefit,  I  enjoy  greatly  ;  and  it  is 
probable  that  some  of  the  simple  expressions  of  the 
people,  on  these  occasions,  may  be  interesting  to  you. 
One  of  them,  named  Momeits,  said,  '  Since  I  have 
heard  the  word  of  God,  I  daily  see  more  of  the  vanity 
of  dancit.g,  and  other  foolish  customs  in  which  I  used 
to  delight ;  and,  if  it  were  in  my  |)ower,  I  would  put  ■ 
stop  to  them  all.'     Another  observed,  <  I  do  not  know 
what  sort  of  hearts  other  people  have,  but  I  know  I 
have  a  very  bad  one.     And  as  a  person  goes  into  a 
dirty  house  witl)  a  broom,  and  sweeps  out  all  the  dirt, 
1  pray  that  God   will  make  his  word  instrumental  to 
the  removal  of  all  the  wickedness  that  is  in  my  heart.* 
One  poor  old   man  remarked, '  I  am  so  stupid  that! 
seem  to  understand  nothing,  but  I  pray  oonsuntly  that 
the  Lord  will  give  me  an  understanding.     The  world 
is  like  a  cover  on  my  heart,  and  I  wish  that  God  would 
take  it  off:    but   when  I  pray,  I  cannot  tell  God  ail 
that  is  in  my  heart,  for  want  of  words  to  describe  what 
I  feel.'     Another  said,    'Oh  that  I   had  wings,  and 
could  fly  to  heaven  ;  then  /should  understand.     I  am 
determined,  however,  to  go  forward ;  for  I  am  afraid 
of  that  great  fire,  and  I  see  no  way  of  escaping,  but 
by  eoming  to  Christ,  who  is  my  only  refuge!'  Such," 
adds  the  writer  of  the  letter,  "  is  the  language  of  soma 
of  these  people.     I  do  not  say  they  are  really  converted, 
for  that  is  only  known  to  God  ;  but  these  are  certainly 
pieasing  beginnings ;  and  when  i  hear  them  talk  thui, 


*  ^  »■"  **"*  *^'  "■*•  *^"''  *""8h  which  I  have 

#In  another  communication  from  the  nme  corre- 
jondent,  dated  September  84.  it  is  stated  tiiat  two  of 
the  natives  who  had  obtained  some  knowledge  of  the 
goapel,  had  recently  uken  a  long  journey,  and  in  every 
ptoce  through  whksh  they  passed,  they  told  all  they 
knew  of  Jesus  Christ  to  the  inhabitants,  who,  for  the 
most  part,  listened  to  them  with  attention  and  pleasure, 
luone  place,  indeed,  they  met  with  violent  opposition, 
jnd  their  hve,  appeared  to  be  in  danger.     Undismayed 
by  this   circumstance,    however,   they   continued    to 
-peak  on  therr  favorite  subject,  observing  to  their  per- 
.ecuton,.    <■  You  may  kill  us.  if  you  please  ;    but  we 
•re  determined  to  tell  you  all  that  we  know."     On  two 
occasions,  the  i.aerposition  of  God's  special  providence 
was  strikingly  manifested  on  their  behalf,  when  they 
were  almost  ready  to  perish  with  hunger.     Once  thtfy 
found  an  elk  which  had  been  killed  by  a  lion  ;  and  at 
•nother  time  a  knu,  which  had  been  caught  by  a  tiger 
Thus  they  obtained  a  supply  of  food  in  the  hour  of 
Mtremity.  and  thus  their  faith  in  the  providence  of 
Uod  was  abundantly  strengthened. 

In  the  month  of  March.  16.20,  the  Rev.  John 
Campbell  paid  a  visit  to  New  Lattakoo,  and  had  the 
satisfaction  of  finding  that  a  commodious  place  of  wor- 
•hip  had  been  erected,  capable  of  containing  about  four 
hundred  persons  ;  and  a  long  row  of  missionary  houses, 
with  excellent  gardens  behind.  A  neat  fence,  com- 
posed  of  reeds,  had  also  been  placed  in  front  of  the 
houses,  which  tended  to  improve  the  general  appear- 
ance ;  and  the  name  of  •<  Burder's  Row"  was  given 
to  the  new  buildings,  as  a  token  of  respect  to  the  ex- 
cellent  secretary  of  the  London  Missionary  Society. 

Among  other  improvements  effected  at  this  place,  by 
the  laborious  and  unwearied  exertions  of  the  mission- 
aries, we  must  notice  a  canal  which,  with  the  assistance 
of  the  few  Hottentots  attached  to  the  mission,  they  had 
dug  from  a  distance  of  three  miles  above  the  town,  for 
the  purpose  of  leading  the  waters  of  the  Krooman'into 
Ihoir  fields  and  gardens.  Mr.  Campbell  went,  one 
morning  after  breakfast,  to  view  this  useful  work,  and 
found  extensive  fields  of  Caffre  com  belonging  to  the 
natives  on  both  sides  of  tlie  canal,  whilst  similar  culti- 
vation extended  two  miles  higher  up  the  river,  in  the 
same  direction.  Though  the  Krooinan  be  emptied  by 
the  canai,  i<^oon  becomes  larger  than  before,  in  con- 
sequence of  twel /e  or  fourteen  fountains  issuing  from 
the  ground,  ai>out  a  quarter  of  a  milo  lower  down  than 
the  dam,  and  discharging  nearly  an  equal  quantity  of 
water  at  all  seasons  of  the  year. 

"Old  and    New  Utiakoo."    say.    Mr.  Campbell, 
'  are  about  fiAy  mijnB  distant  Cx 


'^^'^'i*^    LATTAKO^f^  ^%ftVf^t 


'~C-ji  wtiicr, 


sno 


eontam  marly  the  tame  number  of  inhabitants,  perhapa 


four^thoosMrreieT,.    The  houses  and  caltle-kraal  •« 
of  the  same  form,  and  airanged  in  asimUar  manner. 

We  visited  three  of  the  public  enclosures,  where 
the  men  usually  spend  the  day  together,  at  work  or 
m  conversation.      Each  enclosure  has  what  may  be 
called  aaummer-house,  which  is generaUy  in  the  eastern 
corner ;  and  to  this  they  retire  when  the  heat  of  the  sun 
becomes  oppressive.     It  is  composed  of  strong  branches 
of  trees  so  bent  as  to  form  a  roof,  which  rests  upon  a 
pillar  placed  in  the  middle  of  the  house ;  and  the  whole 
is  neatly  covered  with  thorn  branches  twisted  together." 
On  another  occasion,  our  author  vUited  a  smith,  who 
made  knives  and  assagays  or  spears.     His  implements 
were  few  and  vfiry  simple,  consisting  of  a  stone  for  an 
anvil,  a  rough-made  iron  hammer,  and  two  small  bellows 
made  of  skin,  with  part  of  a  cow's  horn  at  one  end 
through  which  the  blast  went,  the  other  end  being  open 
like  a  purse,  and  sewed  to  two  round  pieces  of  wood 
These  bellows  were  placed  upon  the  ground  opposite 
the  fire,  with  a  heavy  stone  to  keep  the  under  side 
steady.     The  blast  was  effected  by  quickly  raising  and 
depressing  the  upper  side  of  the  bellows,  and  both  were 
blown  at  the  same  time  with  great  facility. 

The  Matchappees,  who  constitute  one  of  the  most 
numerous  tribes  of  the  Bechuanas,  are  extremely  fond 
of  potatoes  ;  but  they  have  never  been  induced  to  plant 
any,  because  nothing  of  the  kind  appears  to  have  been 
cultivated  by  their  forefathers,  to  whose  customs  and 
manners  Ifiey  are  as  strongly  attached  as  the  Hindoos, 
or  the  disciples  of  Mahomet.  It  is  possible,  also,  in 
this  case,  that  indolence  may  be  united  with  a  bigoted 
adherence  to  ancient  practices;  as  Mr.  Campbell 
observes,  that  on  Mr.  Moftht  requesting  two  strong  Mat- 
chappees who  were  walking  with  him  in  Mr.  Hamilton's 
garden,  to  assist  in  gathering  some  kidney-beans,  they 
complied  with  his  solicitation,  but  in  less  than  ten  min- 
utes they  desisted,  and  complained  that  "  their  arms 
were  almost  broken  with  the  labor !" 

The  exertions  of  the  missionaries  to  form  a  school 
had  hitherto  been  attended  with  little  success;  as  the 
children  seemed  to  consider  that  they  were  conferring 
an  obligation  on  the    brethren  by- attending  to  their 
instructions,  and  that  their  attendance  ought  to  be  re- 
munerated every  day,  either  by  a  supply  of  victuals, 
or  presents  of  beads,  &c.     The  same  feeling  was,  also.' 
said  to  prevail  among  many  of  the  aduls,  with  respect 
to  coming  under  the  sound  of  the  gospel :  so  that  when 
a  captain  was  observed  to  attAid  regularly  for  a  short 
time,  who  had  not  previously  been  in  the  habit  of  hearing 
the  word,  the  missionaries  generally  anticipated  an  early 
application  for  the  loan  of  their  wagon,  or  their  plough, 
or  something  which  he  particularly  wished  to  obtain, 
riuiwiihiiiantling  these  discouragements,   however, 
Mr.  Campbell  found  that  some  of  the  young  people 


LONDON  BBEnK»NAfir  SOCIETY. 


Hid  pud  aearidenlilo  Btteadan  to  the  instraetiont  of 
the  miniimsries,  and  h&d  evidenftly  profited  by  them. 

"  One  evenii^,"  tays  that  intelligent  ami  hiborious 
''^Teller,  "  I  attended  a  meeting  of  young   people, 
among  whom  were  rix  Matchappee  females.    These 
leeollected  more  of  the  scnnons  they  had  been  hearing 
during  the  day  than  ail  the  others ;   or,  perhaps,  by 
not  feeling  the  least  abashed,  they  spoke  freely  what- 
erer  came  into  their  minds.    On  my  asking  one  of 
them,  if   she  were  afraid  of   death,    she  instantly 
answered  in  the  affirmative.     I  then  inquired  why  she 
was  afraid  of  it ;  and,  after  a  little  hesitation,  she  said, 
<  Because  it  is  a  very  bitter  thing — I  do  not  like  it.'  " 
There  was  present  on  this  occasion,  a  little  black  boy, 
who  could  read  and  write.     At  the  conclusion  <^  tiie 
meeting,  he  repeated  the  Lord's  prayer  in  Dutch,  the 
rest  of  the  young  people  (chiefly  Hottentots)  repeating 
it  after  him,  line  by  line.     This  lad,  whose  name  was 
April,  had,  for  some  time,  been  with  his  mother,  sister 
and  younger  brother,  on  a  distant  hill,  subsisting  upon 
loots.     At  length,  however,  when  they  were  almost 
reduced  to  absolute  starvntion,  they  were  brought  to 
Lattakoo  and  kindly  assisted  by  the  missionaries. 
»    Another  day,  after  the  conclusion  of  the  afternoon 
^iBrvice,  Mr.  Campbell  attended  the  meeting  of  young 
people,  in  order  to  ascertain  how  much  they  could 
recollect  of  the  discourses  upon  which  they  had  at- 
tended ;  and  he  considered  the  remarks  which  they 
made  as  a   satisfactory   specimen  of  thei^attentran. 
"  The  following,"  says  he,  "  were  some  of  the  ques- 
tions whwh  I  put  to  two  young  Matchappees,  who 
were  present  at  the  examination,   and  the  answers 
which  they   gave : — '  What   is   the   most   wonderful 
thi->5  yon  ever  saw  or  heard  of?'     After  a  pause,  she 
replied,  '  The  word  of  God.'— «  How  long  has  Got! 
lived  V    '  He  always  lived. '^ — «  Do  you  believe  that  the 
bodies  of  men  shall  rise  fmm  the   grave  ?'     *  Yes.' 
They  then  said,  apparently  wiih  great  ingenuousness, 
that  they  wished  God  wouii  give  titom  a  heart  to  un- 
derstand his  word,  lor  the>  ^ound  it  very  diflioult." 

During  the  residence  of  Mr.  Campbell  at  New  I^at- 
takoo,  he  had  repeated  interviews  with  Kossee,  the 
king  of  Mashow,  who  hap)  ened  to  be  on  a  visit  to 
Mateebe ;  and  as  that  persnnago  appeared  disposed  to 
countenance  the  Lntroduci  n  of  the  gospel  into  his 
territories,  our  pious  and  ct.ijfprising  traveller  resolved 
to  avail  himitif of  the  inforiTi.nion  he  had  obtained  rela- 
tive to  certtin  coimiri^  situated  on  the  north-east  o( 
Old  Lattakoo,  and  inhabite<^  by  different  tribes  of  Be- 
chuanss,  which  he  consider  1  as  likely  to  presmil  new 
and  extensive  fields  for  i  jsionary  exertiomr.  He 
accordingly  set  out  on  th(  lUh  of  April,  and  after 
auocessivi'ly  visiting  Old  I.1  ta'coo,  Meri-bohwhey,  the 
pijutipai  t^Tifn  01   iijc^  i-sn;    «&.  la  BSOOii^  aaa  UtM  oBy 


of  Mashow,  totwriHftiglfTiiftmiobdf  abMt  mtl^ 

thousand  souls,  he  iirrived  at  Kurreechane,  the  chklf 
town  of  the  Marootxee  tribe,  and  said  to  contain  siik 
teen  thousand  inhabitants. 

Speaking  of  his  approach  to  this  place,  Mr.  Cam^ 
bell  observes,  "  The  plain,  which  extended  betwa«fi 
the  hill  we  were  descending  and  that  on  which  the  city 
stood,  was  soon  covered  with  people ;  streams  of  th« 
population,  if  I  may  use  that  expression,  pouAngdosm 
from  the  heights  in  every  direction.  It  being  impassi- 
ble to  drag  the  wagons  up  the  hill  in  front,  they  were 
directed  to  go  round  another  way,  while  »ime  of  m 
ascended  straight  up  by  a  most  rocky  path,  amidst  a 
multitude  of  people  of  all  ages,  every  one  pushing  and 
striving  to  get  a  single  peep  at  us. 

"  On  arriving  at  Kurreechane,  we  were  first  conduct- 
ed to  an  open  part  of  the  town,  and  desired  10  rest 
upon  a  seat  made  of  clay,  raised  about  three  inches 
higher  than  the  ground.  After  sitting  there  a  few 
minutes,  surrounded  by  a  pressing  crowd  of  anxious 
spectators,  a  messenger  came  to  conduct  us  farther. 
The  street  through  which  we  went  was  crowded  with 
people,  and  many  hastened  to  their  doors  to  see  us 
pass.  The  sight  of  white  men  threw  them  into  fits  of 
convulsive  laughter ;  but  the  yoimg  were  more  seriously 
afl'iscted, — they  screamed,  and  in  thti  utmost  horror 
fled  to  the  (tftt  place  of  concealment  they  could  find. 
The  noise  was  tumultuous,  but  of  a  kind  peculiar  to 
such  an  occasion. 

"  Observing  an  eminence  whence  we  jvere  likely  to 
hare  a  good  view  of  the  town,  we  proposed  going 
thither,  and  a  person  was  immediately  appointed  to 
show  us  the  way.  From  this  spot  we  were  able  to 
obtain  n  good  view  of  the  place,  and  were  surprised  at  its 
extent.  Every  house  was  surrounded  at  a  convenient 
distnnrc  by  a  circular  stone  wall.  Some  of  them  were 
plastered  on  the  outride,  and  painted  yellow  ;  and  one 
we  observed  painted  red  and  yellow,  with  some  taste. 
Tlie  yard  wiiliin  the  enclosure  belonging  to  each  honae 
was  laid  with  clay,  made  as  level  as  a  Hoor,  and  swept 
denn,  which  made  it  look  nont  and  comfortable. 

"On  returning  to  the  wngons,  we  ftnind  them  siiN 
rotmdod  by  a  crowd  of  {teople,  while  others  were 
standing  on  walls,  houses  and  heights,  looking  lowarda 
them.  Every  tuni  i  took  in  the  vicinity  of  the  wag- 
ons, I  wnn  followed  by  at  least  a  hundred  persons. 
They  talked  much  about  tiie  blue  and  w)|ite  stripes  of 
my  Irowsers,  which  I  perceived  by  the  manner  of  their 
|K>inting  to  them  ;  and  I  afterwards  learned  that  they 
diii|)utnd  about  the  animal's  skin,  of  which  ihcy  tlioughi 
the  trowsers  were  composed.  At  length,  dvkness and 
their  eatirig-l!mi<  coming  on,  they  gradually  dispersed." 
Here  Mr.  Campbell  found  that  the  people  had 
■rriwfi  at  ■  degree  ol'  eiviiiaition,  and  poiKessed  1 


LATTAKOO. 


■nowledge  of  arts,  superior  to  any  of  th«  Bechuana 
tnbes   whook   he   had   pre^riously   seen.     "In   soitie 
housw,"  says  he,  "  there  were  figures,  pillars,  &c. 
Wved  or  moulded  in  hard  clay,  and  painted  with  dif- 
rerem  colors,  that  would  not  have  disgraced  European 
workmen.    We  saw  among  them  various  vessels  form- 
ed of  clay,  painted  and  glazed,  for  holding  food,  milk 
water,  and  a  kind  of  beer  made  from  corn.     They 
had,  also,  pots  of  clay,  of  all  sizes,  and  very  strong. 
Ihey  smelt  both  iron  and  copper,  and  wo  were  taken 
to  see  one  furnace,  in  which  they  smelted  the  iron. 
It  was  built  of  clay,  almost  equal  in  Imniness  to  stone. 
A  round  opening  was  lea  at  the  top,  for  receiving 
Ui8  ore  ;  and  underneath  was  an  oxcavntion  for  hold- 
mg  the  fire,  which  was  open  behind  and  before,  not 
only  for  admitting  the  fuel,  but  also  the  wind  from  the 
bellows." 

On  the  second  day  after  his  arrival,  Mr.  Campbell 
explamed  the  object  of  his  visit  to  Liqueling,  a  chief 
Who  had  been  appointed  to  act  as  regent  during  the 
minority  of  hie  nephew  ;    and  a  pittso,  or  general 
meetmg  of  the  captains,  was  accordingly  summoned, 
to  determine  whether  teuciiers  of  the  word  of  God 
should  be  sent  among  them.     At  this  meeting,  which 
was  held  on  the  10th  of  May,  about  three  hundred 
captauis    assembled,   in   a    public    place,  completely 
armed  with  shields,  spears,  battle-axes,  kc,  and  Mr. 
Campbell's  pro|K)sals  wore  unanimously  acceded  to, 
after  a  discussion  which  lasted  uiiout  three  hours.    An 
extensive   field  of  usefulness  appeared,  therefore,  to 
liave  opened  in  tiiis  interesting  spot,  for  the  exertions 
of  missionary  laborers.     In  a  subse.p.ent  irruption  of 
a   tribe  of  bmharians  called  Mantatees,   however,  a 
considerable  part  of  Kurreechane  was  destroyed  •  the 
regent  Liqueling  was  slain  ;  ami  the  commencement 
of  the   mtended  mission   has,   in  consequence,   been 
unavoidably  delayed. 

On  Mr.  Campbell's  return  to  Mashow,  in  his  way 
to  New  Lnttakoo,  some  rhinoceroses  were  killed  by 
the  inhabitants,  and  the  head  of  one  was  brought  in, 
which  was  very  dissimihir  from  nil  the  others.  "  The 
common  African  riiinoceros,"  says  our  author,  "  has  a 
crotiked  horn  resembling  a  cock's  spur,  which  rises 
about  nine  or  ton  inches  above  the  nose,  nndwiclines 
backward,  and  immediately  bc'luiul  this  is  a  short, 
thick  horn;  but  the  head  which  they  brought  imd 
a  straight  horn,  piojectiiig  three  feet  from  the  fore- 
head, or.l  resembling  that  of  the  fanciful  unicorn  in 
the  IJniish  arms.  It  had  a  thick,  horny  substance, 
eight  inches  long,  iininedialely  behind  it,  which  cfi 
hardly  bo  observed  on  the  aniiiud  at  the  distance  of  a 
hundred  yar.ls ;  so  that  this  species  of  rhinoceror 
must  appear  like  n  unirorM  when  r!!!!!!!!!:r  •:•.  !|:=5  c.^.iJ 
The  head  resembled  in  siao  a  nine  gaiion  cask,  and 
Vol..  I.— WoH.  ;37  «i  38.  sj) 


449 

measurtd  three  feet  from  the  mouth  totbe«ar;  id 
that  it  was  necessary  to  cut  off  the  under  jaw  and 
leave  it  behind.  Sincts  the  arrival  of  the  skull  in 
I^ndon,  the  ai.imal  to  which  k  belonged  is  considered 
by  naturalists  to  be  the  unicorn  of  the  ancients,  arid 
the  same  as  that  which  is  described  in  the  thirty-ninth 
chapter  of  the  book  of  Job."  The  part  of  the  head 
brought  to  England  may  be  seen  at  the  Missionary 
Museum,  in  Austin-Friars. 

Previous  to  Mr.  Campbell's  final  departure  from 
New  Lattakoo,  a  poor  female  Matchappee  called  on 
him  and  said,  that  when  she  first  heard  of  the  Biblo 
she  did  not  think  it  was  true,  but  when  she  found  it 
describe  her  heart  so  exactly,  she  could  not  but  believe 
what  it  said.  She  was  determined,  she  added,  always 
to  live  near  some  place  where  the  word  of  God  was 
preached,  and  where  she  might  hear  about  a  crucified 
Saviour,  even  though  she  sho\iI(l  starve. 

After  the  removal  of  Mr.  Campbell,  the  brethren 
Hamilton  and  Moffat  continued  their  labors  among  the 
Bechuanas,  preaching,  catechizing  and  conversing 
with  them.  The  attendance  on  public  worship,  how- 
ever, fiuctuated  extremely ;  the  number  of  hearers 
being  sometimes  very  considerable,  and  at  other  times 
very  small.  Mr.  Moffat  occasionally  itinerated  among 
the  neighboring  kraals,  whore,  as  in  the  town,  his 
congregations  varied  considerably  as  to  numbers,  and 
the  people  listened  to  his  message  with  more  or  loss 
attention. 

In  the  course  of  the  year  1822,  Tsousan,  son  of 
Makkubba,  king  of  the  Wankotzens,  who  bad  long 
promised  to  visit  the  Krooman,  arrived,  with  his  ret- 
inue, at  New  Lattakoo.  Mr.  Moffat  gives  the  fol- 
lowing account  of  him,  and  of  his  principal  communi- 
cations : — 

"On  Sunday,  the  19tli  of  April,  Mateebe  brought 
Tsousan  with   him   to  church.     It  was  probably  the 
first  time  the  sound  of  the  gospel  ever  saluted  his  car. 
His  countenance  expressed  sifrprise, .  After  the  ser- 
vice, he  came  in  to  us,  and  we  had  some  conversation. 
Ho  stated,  at  large,  what  were  his  circumstances,  and 
his  object  in  coming  hither.     Among  other  things  he 
said,  tiiut   he  had   been  driven  from  his  c  vn  country 
by  the  tyranny  of  his  father  ;  that  ho  had  visited  that 
of  king  Mateebe,   to  see  it,  with  its  inhabitants,  and 
to  make  known   his   intention  to  live  in   peace  with 
liiem.     He  observed,  that  the  report  which  he   had 
beard,  as  to  our  being  "  ..len  of  peace,"  was,  indeed, 
tnii!  ;  and   that  king  Mateebe  hud  also  given  him  an 
nrrounl  of  our  prot-eedings,  with  which  he  was  well 
pleased.     Ho  expressed  himself  much  interested  with 
tiic  various  articles  and  utensils  which  he  saw  in  our 
tr.vciiing. 
"On  the  afltli  of  April,  I  had  much  conversation 


450 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


with  Tsousan,  from  whom  I  derived  the  following 
particulars.     He  said  the  country  of  his  father,  to 
which  he  is  heir,  is  fruitful,  containing  many  fountains 
and  rivers,  the  latter  of  which  all  run  in  an  easterly 
direction,  except  two,  which  flow  towards  the  west. 
The  country  is  woody,  and  contains  abundance  of  fruit, 
of  various  descriptions.     In  winter,  he  said,  there  are 
much  ice  and  snow ;  in  summer,  dreadful  thunder  and 
lightning,  with  rains.     He  stated,  that  far  to  the  east- 
ward, near  the  coast,  a  very  blacic  nation  lives,  wiio 
wear  clothes,  and  wash  themselves  every  morning. 
He  had  not  visited  the  coast  himself,  but  had  heard 
from  persons  who  had  been  there,  and  with  whom  he 
had  spoken,  that  a  few  white  people  live  at  a  bay, 
and  that  they  barter  with  the  natives  in  the  interior 
in  beads,  linen,  6tc.     In  answer  to  inquiries,  he  said 
he  had  heard  nothing  of  God  or  religion,  or  any  tiling 
else  of  that  nature  existing  there ;  that  it  was  only 
from  this  quarter  (New  Lattakoo)  such  information 
was  obtained.     I  explained  to  him  the  object  which 
we,  as  missionaries,  had  in  view,  and  the  subjects  of 
our  preaching ;  but  to  all  this  he  listened  as  to  things 
in  which  he  had  no  concern." 

Some  time  after  the  visit  of  Tsousan,  Mr.  Moffat 
was  invited  to  visit  Makkabba,  king  of  the  Wanket- 
rens  ;  and  as  our  missionary  was  equally  desirous  of 
ascertaining  the  real  character  of  this  chief,  and  of 
interesting  him  in  favor  of  the  promulgation  of  divine 
truth,  he  resolved  to  accept  the  invitation.     With  this 
design  he  quitted  New  Lattakoo,  on  the  Nth  of  May, 
1823,  and,  on  the  30th,   ho  came  to  a  town  called 
Nucuning.    Immediately  after  his  arrival  at  that  place, 
however,  he  was  alarmed  by  a  report  of  the  approach 
of  the  Mantatees,  who  are  said  to  have  originally  in- 
habited Hambona,  a  place  on  the  south-east  coast  of 
Africa,  whence  they  were   driven  by  two   powerful 
chiefs,  whose  territories  extend  from   Port    Natal  to 
Delagoa  bay.      On  their   first    irruption,  they  were 
joined  by  a  tribe  called  the  Mopootas,  and,  after  de- 
stroying  the   Lahogas,  by  the  Muqueans,  and   many 
others,  belonging   to  the   various  conquered   nations 
through  which  they  passed   in  their  way  to  the  Be- 
chuana  country.      As  these  barbarians  had  already 
defeated  and  plundered  the  Barrolongs  and  several 
Bechuana   tribes,    Mr.   Moffat    d(>omed    it    advisable 
to  return  immediately  to  Lattakoo  ;  and,  after  giving 
the  alarm  there,  he  hastened  forward  toGriquaTown, 
in  order  to  concert  measures  with  the  native  chief, 
Waterboer,  and  another  person,  named   Melvill,  for 
averting  the  impending  danger.     It  was  dctcmiinnd 
immediately  to  despatch  some  troops  of  armed  Griqiias 
to  Lattakoo ;  and   from   that   town,  on   the  a6ih  of 
June,  this  force,  under  the  command  of  Waterboer, 
accumnanied  bv  Mr   MnfTnt    nFr>/«>o#to.i   :..  .„..-!.  ..f 


the  invaders.  They  were  found  encamped  beyond 
the  river  Maklareen,  to  the  number  (including  women 
an«i  children)  of  about  forty  thousand.  It  was  now 
attempted  to  induce  the  barbarians  to  retire  peaceably ; 
but,  persuasion  proving  totally  ineffectual,  a  battle 
ensued,  in  which  from  four  to  five  hundred  of  them 
were  slain,  together  with  their  two  kings  ;  whilst  on 
the  side  of  the  Griquas  no  one  was  killed,  and  only 
one  individual  appears  to  have  been  wounded.  The 
invaders,  in  their  retreat,  burned  the  town  of  Old  Lat- 
takoo, and  aAerwards  proceeded  in  an  easterly  and 
north-easterly  direction,  having  formed  themselves  into 
two  divisions.  One  of  these,  however,  sustained  a 
second  defeat  from  Makkabba,  king  of  the  Wan- 
ketzens. 

In  the  annual  report  for  1824,  communicated  to  the 
members  of  the  London  Missionary  Society,  the  di- 
rectors observe, "  The  expulsion  of  the  Mantatees  from 
the   Bechuana  country,  effected,  under  Providence, 
chiefly  by  the  courage  of  the  Griquas,  and  the  prompt- 
itude and  intrepidity  of  Messrs.  Moffat  and  Melvill, 
has  given  an  entirely  new  aspect  to  the  mission  at 
New  Lattakoo.     Mateebe  and  his  people,  aware  that 
they  owe  their  safety  to  the  missionaries,  are  far  more 
disposed  to  listen  to  their  counsel.     The  king  has 
consented  to  remove  the  town  to  a  neighboring  valley, 
where,  it  is  expected,  many  advantages  will  be  ob- 
tained, and  many  evils  obviated.     Of  this  valley  he 
has  formally  ceded  a  portion  for  the  exclusive  use  of 
the  mission.     The  chiefs,  who  formerly  revolj^d  from 
Mateebe,  observing  that  New  Lattakoo,  where  the 
missionaries  reside,  has  been  protected  from  the  in- 
vaders, while  the  Old  Town,  where  they  themselves 
remained,  has  been  destroyed  by  the  barbarians,  have 
again  submitted   to  his  authority,  and  engaged  to  re- 
move, with  their  people,  to  the  Krooman.     Thus  the 
inhabitants  of  Old  and   New   Lattakoo  will   be  re- 
united, under  the  same  government,  and  all  of  them, 
more  or  less,  with  impressions  favorable  to  the  mis- 
sionaries, naturally  resulting,  as  to  each  party,  from 
the  late  events. 

"  Subsequently,  Mr.  Moffat  visited  Cape  Town,  to 
obtain  professional  advice  for  Mrs.  Moffat,  who  had 
been,  for  a  considerable  time,  subject  to  serious  indis- 
position. He  was  accompanied  by  Peclu,  son  and  heir 
to  king  Mateebe,  and  Teyscho,  a  distinguished  Be- 
chuana chief  The  astonishment  manifested  by  these 
strangers,  while  surveying  the  works  of  ort  by  which 
they  were  surrounded  at  Cape  Town,  can  he  bettor  con- 
ceived than  described.  Being  persons  of  rank  and  in- 
fluence in  their  own  country,  it  may  he  hoped  that  the 
effect  of  their  visit  to  the  Cape  will  be  to  strengthen 
the  favorable  impressions  which  have  been  produced 
by  iho  rdcBnt  eronti  in  favor  of  lh«  missiunariia.'' 


Dunng  the  tune  that  Mr.  Maflkt  was  absent  in  the 
^lony,  report,  were  brought  to  Lattakoo  of  the  return 
of  the  Mantatees.  Mr.  Hamilton,  at  the  request  of 
Mateebe,  immediately  proceeded  to  Griqua  Town  to 
engage  the  assistance  of  Waterboer,  which  was  promised 
in  case  of  necessity.  On  his  return  to  Lattakoo,  a 
rtttn  (orgeneral  assembly)  was  held.  Mr.  Hamilton 
urged  the  expediency  of  sending  messengers  to  ascer- 

no  effect.    Observmg  the  indifference  of  the  king  and 
chiefs,  he  himself  resolved  to  volunteer  in  this  service. 
He  accordingly  left  Lattakoo  on  the  29th  February, 
and  proceeded,  accompanied  by  a  small  party,  in  the 
direction  of  the  Borolong  country.     On  the  25th  of 
March,  he  arrived  at  Peetsan,  a  principal  town  of  that 
nation,  but  was  unable  to  obtain  information  on  which 
dependence  could   be   placed.     He   was,   however, 
kind  y  and  hospitably  treated  by  Tawane^  the  pnn- 
cipal  chief,  who  expressed  an  earnest  desire  that  mis- 
sionaries  might  come  and  reside  with  him.     The  town 
.!!,h   K  "^"' "» ''"•8«  >«  Lattakoo,  is  situated  on  the 
Muth   bank  of  the  river   Molopo.  in  the  midst  of  a 
toie  plain  and  is  composed  of  twenty  divisions  or  wards 
During  the  few  days  Mr.  Hamilton  remained  there,  ho 
preached  several  times  to  congregations  of  upwards 
of  a  thousand  people.     He  believed  that  the  king  in 
expressing  a  desire  that  missionaries  might  be  sent'  to 
him,  was  mfluenceu  in  part  by  a  view  to  the  protection 
and  security  which  are  so  generally  associated,  among 
the  South   African  nations,  with  the  presence  of  a 
Macooa,  or  white  man,  and  the  superior  means  of 
defence  which  he  usually  possesses. 

In  relation  to  this  place,  Mr.  Hamilton  addressed 
the  society  as  follows : 

what  I  behold  here  (..  e.  at  Peetsan)  ;  and  when,  on 
the  sabbath  evening,  I  stood  amidst  the  heathen  multi- 
tude  preaching  the  ^rcfl<  .ahation,  andsaw  the  ianes 
of  the  town  thronged  with  crowds  coming  to  hear  the 
word  of  God,  I  was  ready  to  adopt  the  language  of  ' 
Jesus  at  Jacob's  well-L./t  up  your  eye,,  and  look 
on  the  field, ;  for  they  are  white  already  to  harvest! 
But  where  are  the  laborer,  7  Where  are  the  holy  men 
of  God,  in  Britain,  who  have  given  themselves,  soul 
and  body,  to  Christ  ?    The  princes  on  the  confines  of 
Ethiopia   are   crying,   like   the  men  of  Macedonia, 
Come  over,  and  help  tu  I   Let  the  cry  reverberate  from 
east  to  west,  and  from  north  to  south— let  it  reach 
England,  and  it  shall  not  be  heard  in  vain  ;  for  some 
will  come  to  the  help  of  the  Lord  against  the  mighty." 
Mr.  Hamilton  returned  to  Lattakoo  on  the  8th  of  April 
having  preached  to  the  several  wandering  tribes  which 

lie  met  witli  on  his  wnv  hnmn  )...>  ..,:.i _i..-!_. 

certain  information  as  to  the  approach  of  the  invaders. 


LATTAKOO. 


461 


Mr.  Moffat,  who,  with  Mrs.  Moflkt.  retired  in  lfl(M 
to  Griqua  Town,in  consequence  of  tC^^Vf^.' 
of  affairs  at  Lattakoo,  resumed  hU  .tatioTin  iSS! 
He  wa.  now  able  to  address  the  Bech«a„rn  thei,  o^ 
language.  The  number  who  attended  p"bll  wlZ 
varied  from  twenty  to  forty.     The  female  n.tl«  "to 

from  attending  the  mission  services.  The  missionaries 
therefore,  had  to  visit  the  Bechuanas  at  E  own 
dwelling-places  for  religious  conversation.  Acatechrt! 
ical  meetmg  was  also  held.  Although  no  spirituaTf™ 
appeared,  yet  the  missionaries  beheld,  for  their  encou 
agement,  the  decline  of  prejudice,  a.  evidenced  by  the 
abandonment,  from  time  to  time,  of  customs  inimical  il 
moral  and  social  improvement. 

During  this  year  (1826),  Mr.  Moffat  prepared  a 
translation  of  a  catechism  and  several  elementary  books 
n  the  BecA««n  language.  Two  thousand  copies  of 
the  spelhag-book  were  printed  in  London,  and  forward- 

After  J^""l,'"."t  """"^  P"'  °f  "'•'  '■°»°'^i"8  year. 
After   much    deliberation,  Mateebe   and   his  peopi; 

removed  to  the  spacious  valley  in  which  the  IS 

aries  reside,  and  commenced  the  erection  of  their  new 

r  Mni^'Tr""""",'''"'  '^'  ^''^'y'"  visionaries. 
Mr.  Moffttt  attempted  to  fix  the  orthography  of  the 

Bechuan  language;  and  heearnestlybesouglitthedirec- 
tors  to  send  out  a  missionary  to  assist  him  in  reducing  it 
o  grammatical  form,  and  ultimately  to  provide  a  trans- 
lation  of  the  Scriptures  in  that  tongue.  The  directors 
of  the  society,  in  their  notice  of  this  station,  at  the 
anniversary  in  May,  1830,  remark,— 

"Thirteen  years  have  now  elapsed  since  the  first 
missionary  arrived  at  Lattakoo;  and  the  brethren  who 
have  labored  among  the  Bechuanas  have  encountered 
and  endured  dangers  and  trials  of  no  ordinary  kind. 
VVe  trust  the  time  is  at  length  approaching,  when  they 
will  receive,  m  witnessing  the  triumphs  of  the  gospel 
among  the  aborigines  of  this  region,  a  rich  componsa- 
tion  for  all  their  sufferings  and  toils." 

The  missionaries  had  hitherto  called  upon  the  peo- 
ple to  repent  of  their  iniquities,  and  to  believe  tho 
gospel ;  they  had  set  before  them  the  holiness  of  God— 
the  evil  and  demerit  of  sin— the  obligation  of  tho  divine 
aw— the  joys  of  the  glorified,  and  the  miseries  of  the 
lost ;  they  were  now  called  to  engage,  for  the  first  time,  in 
the  performance  of  a  different  part  of  their  duty,— to 
offer  tho  consolations  and  encouragements  of  the  gospel 
to  persons  deeply  suffering  from  a  painful  conviction 
of  their  offences  against  God,  and  their  consequent 
exposedness  to  his  righteous  displeasure. 

In  1828,  tho  appearances  at  this  station  wore  of  a 
iiuly  onrouraging  (iescription.  The  missionary  writes, 
undor  date  of  May,  1829,— 


469 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


"From  fiuHMT  letters,  you  would  learn  that,  |br 
nearly  the  lasit  twelve  montbs,  the  attendance  of  the 
natives  on  divine  service  was  not  only  pretty  regular, 
but  continued  imperceptibly  to  increase ;  and  our 
hearts  were  often  gladdened  to  see  that  riveted  atten- 
tion to  the  speaker,  which  to  us  seemed  a  prelude  of 
something  real.  Our  congregations  also  began  to 
assume  that  decorum  and  solemnity  which  we  were 
wont  to  behold  in  our  native  land.  Whether  this  arose 
from  respect  to  their  teachers,  or  the  force  of  truth, 
we  were,  for  a  time,  at  a  loss  to  know.  A  few  months 
ago  we  saw,  for  the  first  time,  two  or  three  who  ap- 
peared to  exhibit  the  marks  of  an  awakened  conscience. 
This  feeling  became  gradually  more  general  (and  indi- 
viduals, too,  the  least  expected),  till  it  became  demon- 
strative that  the  divine  blessing  was  poured  out  on 
the  word  of  grace.  To  see  the  careless  and  the  wicked 
drowning  the  voice  of  the  missionary  with  their  cries, 
and  leaving  the  place  with  hearts  overwhelmed  with 
the  deepest  sorrow,  was  a  scene  truly  novel  to  the 
unthinking  heathen.  But  neither  scoffs  nor  jeers  could 
arrest  the  work  of  conviction.  Two  men  (natives), 
tne  most  sedate  in  the  station,  who  had  long  listened 
to  the  word  with  unabated  attention,  came  and  de- 
clared their  conviction  of  the  truth  of  the  gospel,  and 
professed  their  deep  sense  of  their  ruined  and  lost 
condition.  One  of  these  was  achief  of  the  Bashutas, 
a  tribe  which  was  first  driven  from  their  own  country 
by  the  Caffres,  and  afterwards  plundered  of  all  by  the 
mountaineers. 

"  About  eight  months  ago,  Aaron  Yasephs,  who  had 
removed  to  this  station  for  no  other  purpose  but  to  get 
his  children  educated,  and  to  acquire  for  himself  the 
knowledge  of  writing,  was  soon  afterwards  aroused  to 
a  sense  of  his  awful  state  by  nature.  Being  able  to 
read,  and  possessing  a  tolerably  extensive  knowledge 
of  divine  things,  it  was  tlie  more  easy  for  us  to  direct 
him  to  the  Lamb  of  God  who  taketli  away  the  sins  of 
the  world.  About  three  months  ago,  he  became  a 
candidate  for  baptism.  On  the  first  sabbath  in  May, 
he  and  his  throe  children  were  publicly  baptized.  The 
scene  was  very  impressive,  and  more  easily  conceived 
than  described.  Our  meeting-ltouse  was,  as  usual,  too 
small  for  the  congregation.  It  was  with  difficulty  that 
order  could  be  maintained,  owing  to  the  sobs  and  cries 
of  many  who  felt  the  deepest  interest  in  what  they 
saw  and  heard.  Aaron's  wife,  who  is  a  respectable 
and  industrious  woman,  and  who  had  for  a  long  time 
stifled  conviction,  could  now  no  longer  restrain  the 
pangs  of  a  guilty  conscience.  An  old  Hottentot 
(Yaunkee  Swartboy),  and  a  Mochuan,  who  had  apos- 
tatized, when  at  the  old  station,  saw  the  enormity  of 
their  guilt,  and  were  cut  to  the  heart.     The  former. 


in  particular,  for  a  time,  seemed  inconsolable.  On 
Monday,  the  second,  we  held  oar  missionary  prayer- 
meeting.  The  attendance  was  great,  and  the  whole 
presented  a  most  affecting  scene.  Many,  independent 
of  every  remonstrance,  were  unable  to  restrain  their 
feelings,  and  wept  aloud,  so  that  the  voice  of  prayer 
and  singing  was  lost  in  that  of  weeping.  It  became  im- 
possible for  us  to  refrain  from  tears  of  gratitude  to  our 
indulgent  Saviour,  for  having  thus  far  vouchsafed  some 
tokens  of  his  presence  and  blessing.  These  things 
are  not  confined  within  the  walls  of  the  sanctuary. 
The  hills  and  dales,  the  houses  and  lanes,  witness  the 
strange  scene.  Sometimes  three  or  four  at  a  time  are 
waiting  at  our  houses  for  counsel  and  instruction.  For 
some  time  past,  the  sounds  which  predominate  in  our 
village  are  those  of  singing,  prayer  and  weeping.  Many 
hold  prayer-meetings  from  house  to  house,  and  occa- 
sionally to  a  very  late  hour  ;  and  often  before  the  sun 
is  seen  to  gild  the  horizon,  they  will  assemble  at  some 
house  for  prayer,  and  continue  till  it  is  time  to  go  forth 
to  labor.  It  has  often  happened  lately,  that,  before 
the  bell  was  rung,  the  half  of  the  congregation  were 
assembled  at  the  doors. 

"  Reflecting  on  what  has  taken  place,  we  cannot  but 
feel  a  lively  sense  of  the  goodness  of  our  covenant 
God  and  Saviour.  To  pour  the  balm  of  consolation 
into  wounded  souls  has,  hitherto,  been  to  us  a 
strange  work ;  but  we  look  by  faith  and  prayer  to  him 
who  giveth  liberally,  and  upbraideth  not.  We  lay  our 
account  with  disappointments.  Satan,  our  adversary, 
who  has  hitherto  reigned  with  potent  sway,  seeing 
violence  done  to  what  he  deems  his  ancient  rights, 
will  attack  us  on  fresh  grounds.  But  the  Lord  om- 
nipotent reigneth  ;  the  Lamb  shall  overcome  ;  while 
the  prayer  of  the  church  is, 

'  Kingdom*  wide,  that  ait  in  darknen. 
Grant  them,  Lord,  the  glorioua  light.' 

"  The  experience  of  those  who  are  but  just  emerging 
from  heathenish  gloom  is,  of  course,  very  simple;  and 
great  discriujination  on  our  part  is  necessaryon  receiv- 
ing members  into  the  church,  at  a  season  when  there 
is  much  to  operate  on  the  feelings.  Some  describe 
their  state  to  be  like  that  of  one  who  knows  that  he  is 
walking  in  darkness,  and  tries  in  vain  to  find  the  road. 
Others  say  that  their  hearts  are  awakened  from  an 
awful  death,  and  broken  to  pieces  with  the  multitude 
of  their  sins.  Some  can  scarcely  find  words  to  describe 
tiieir  state.  A  young  man  of  volatile  disposition  came 
and  stated  that  he  knew  and  felt  that  all  was  wrong 
with  him ;  but  what  was  the  matter,  ho  could  not 
explain.  One  man  said  that  he  had  seen,  for  some 
time  past,  that  he  must  bo  the  greatest  sinner,  for  every 


vr-i'T-ii' 


*8TEIJIKOPPF. 


wnnoii  appUed  to  him,  and  brought  to  his  mind  sins 
which  he  thought  he  had  for  ever  forgotten.     While 
conversing  with  the  Bashuta  chief,  he  remarked,  with 
great  feehng,  that  wlien  he  reflected  on  hia  past  life, 
and  the  love  of  God  to  sinners,  his  head  flowed  waters, 
and  slumber  departed  from  his  eyes.      While  writing 
these  remarics,the  old  Hottentot, before  mentioned, sent 
Ins  son  with  a  Bible,  requesting  that  Mre.  Mofiat  might 
point  out  the  chapter  (Hosea  xiv.)  which  she  had  read 
to  him  the  day  before.     When  we  see  and  hear  these 
tilings,  we  cannot  but  recognize  the  workings  of  the 
Spirit  of  God.     Among  those  under  spiritual  concern, 
there  are  Batalapis,  Borolongs,  Mantatees,  Bakuens 
and  Bashutas.      Let  us   hope  and    pray   that    the 
present  may  be  but  the  beginning  of  a  glorious  day 
of  grace."  ' 

The  mission  to  the  Bechuanas  has  been  reinforced 
by  Mr.  John  Baillie  and  Mr.  Roger  Edwards,  who 
arrived  at  Lattakoo,  September  12, 1830.  The  foun- 
dation of  a  new  church  was  laid  at  about  this  period 
towards  the  erection  of  which  a  number  of  the  people 
subscribed,  principally  their  personal  labor ;  others  fur- 
nished  property,  consisting  of  goats,  oxen  and  money. 
Mr.  Mofiat  has  translated  the  Gospel  of  Luke  into 
^e  Sitchuana  language ;  historical  parts  of  the  Old 
Testament ;  and  has  also  composed  a  Sitcliuana  dic- 
tionary. 

The  latest  information  concerning  Lattakoo  is  con- 
tained in  the  directors'  report  for  1832.      They  say, 
that,  «  At  Lattakoo,  the  most  remote  from  the  Cape] 
where  the  missionary  lingered  long  in  hope,  almost 
against  hope,  and  where  it  has,  in  recent  years,  been  the 
privilege  of  the  directors  to  report  that  many  had  been 
delivered    from   the   powers  of   darkness,  a  gracious 
revival   has   been  experienced  during  the  past  year. 
The  preaching  of  the  gospel  is  well  attended,  and  an 
additional  service  is  often  held  with  those  who  cannot 
gain  admittance  to  a  place  of  worship.     A  new  church 
twice  the  size  of  the  former,  is  erecting ;    the  prayer- 
meeting  IS  crowded  to  excess.     The  voice  of  prayer 
at  morning,  evening  and  midnight,  has  been  frequently 
lieard  in  every  direction,  from  the  habitations  of  the 
natives  or  the  bushes  whither  they  have  retired  for  the 
purposes  of  devotion.      For  days  successively,  many 
flocked  to  the  habitations  of  the  missionaries,  under  the 
influence  of  feelings  that  urged  them  to  inquire  what 
they  must  do  to  be  saved  ;  some  speaking  of  nothing 
but  their  own  sinfulness  before  God,  others  of  the  love 
of  Christ. 

The  schools  are  well  attended  ;  the  press  is  establish- 
ed, and  in  active  operation  ;  civilization  and  industry 
are  advancing ;  the  wilderness  is  gladdened. 


4S$ 


NAMAQUALAND. 
KOMAGGAS. 

ifl^'^  r*'°"  '^^  commenced  by  Mr.  Schmelen  in 
ta^y.  Komaggas  is  situated  on  the  frontier  of  Little 
Naraaqualand,  within  .1«  colwiy.  about  twenty-two 
days  journey  from  the  Cape. 

Mr.  Schmelen  regards  this  port  as  an  eligible  loca- 
tion for  the  Namaqua  mission,  and  will  be  much  em- 
ployed in  making  missionary  itineracies.  At  the  com- 
mencement of  1829,  a  school  was  established,  contain- 
ing  about  seventy  children  ;  they  are  taught  both 
Dutch  and  English.  The  missionary  has  adopted  the 
plan  of  teaching  the  children,  as  soon  as  they  know 
the  alphabet,  to  write  on  boards,  in  which  exercise 
they  take  great  delight. 

Public  worship,  including  the  prayer-meetings,  is  weH 
attended ;  on  sabbaths  by  from  one  hundred  to  one 
hundred  and  fifty.  At  this  remote  station  in  Southern 
Alrica,  there  is,  on  Monday  evenings,  a  prayeNmeeting 
for  the  spread  of  the  gospel  and  the  outpouring  of 
the  Holy  Spirit.  The  number  of  communicants  is 
eighteen.  Those  natives  who  are  in  connection  with 
the  Mission,  and  receive  instruction  from  the  mission- 
aries, are  advancing  in  the  knowledge  of  the  word  of 
God,  and  manifest  a  disposition  to  act  according  to  its 
precepts. 

Mr.  Schmelen  has  visited  the  Orange  and  Great  river, 
and  found  the  people  anxious  to  receive  instruction. 
The  dispersed  state  in  which  the  inhabitants  of  South 
Africa  live,  renders  every  attempt  to  improve  them  very 
laborious.  The  missionary  remarks,—"  Whenever  we 
come  to  a  Hottentot  kraal,  we  preach  the  gospel  of  the 
Saviour.  Every  bush,  tree,  rock,  where  we  can  find 
shelter,  we  make  our  place  of  worship  ;  and  hope,  under 
these  circumstances,  sinners  have  been  turned  from 
darkness  to  the  knmvledge  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ." 


STEINKOPFF. 

This  is  an  out-station,  and  is  visited  by  the  catechist 
from  Komaggas.  The  present  number  of  communi- 
cants is  forty-two.  An  old  man,  of  the  name  of  Gerit 
Engelbrecht,  keeps  up  divine  worship,  and  attends  to 
the  school  when  the  missionary  or  catechist  are  not 
here.  Through  the  instrumentality  of  this  old  disciple, 
two  young  men  have  been  converted  to  God,  and  a  third 
seems  under  serious  impressions. 


^Wl 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


►<»*i3^t«;  fliflSlp^' 


CHAPTER    IV. 


MISSIONS   IN    THE   AFRICAN   ISLANDS. 


MAURITIUS. 


PORT  LOUIS. 


Maukitios,  or  Isle  of  France,  an  island  in  the 
Indian  ocean,  four  hundred  miles  east  of  Madagascar, 
was  discovered  by  the  Portuguese  ;  but  the  first  set- 
tlers were  the  Dutch,  in  1598.     They  called  it  Mau- 
ritius, in  honor  of  prince  Maurice,  their  stadtholder; 
but  on  their  acquisition  of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope, 
they  deserted  it,  and  it  continued  unsettled  till  the 
French  landed  in  1720,  and  gave  it  the  name  of  the 
Isle  of  France.     In  1810,  it  was  uken  from  them  by 
the  British,  to  whom  it  was  ceded  in   1814.     Jhe 
uland  is  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  in  circuit,  and  the 
climate  healthy,  but  the  soil  not  very  fertile.     There 
•re  many  mountains,  some  of  which  have  their  tops 
covered  with  snow  ;  but  they  produce  the  best  ebony 
m  the  world.     The  valleys  are  watered  by  rivers,  and 
made  productive  by  cultivation,of  which  coffee  and  indigo 
•re  the  principal  objects  ;  and  there  are  a  great  number 
of  catUe,  deer,  goats  and  sheep.     The  town  and  spa- 
cious harbor,  called  Port  Louis,  are  strongly  fortified ;  but 
m  the  hurricane  months  the  harbor  cannot  afford  shel- 
ter  for  more  than  eight  vessels.     In  1816,  a  fire  con- 
sumed one  thousand  five  hundred  and  seventeen  houses 
in  the  most  opulent  part  of  the  town  ;  and  in  1818,  the 
island  suffered  great  devastation  by  a  tremendous  hur- 
ricane.    Port  Louis  is  situate  on  the  east  coast.  E 
long.  57°  28',  S.  lat.  20°  10*. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Le  Brun  arrived  here  in  June, 
1814,  and  immediately  commenced  his  important 
work. 

In  1817,  governor  Farquhar,  in  addition  to  placing 
at  the  disposal  of  Mr.  Le  Brun  a  spacious  building, 
well  adapted  to  the  purpose  of  education,  wrote 
to  the  directors  in  terms  of  high  approbation  of  his 
labors. 

Twenty.five  persons  were  about  this  time  united  in 
a  Christian  society.  In  1821,  these  had  increased  to 
forty-three ;  the  congregation  was  considerable ;  one 
hundred  and  twelve  boys  and  eighty  girls  were  under  | 


instruction,  governor  Farquhar  ordering  an  allowance 
of  thirty  dollars  per  month  towards  the  support  of  the 
former ;  and  a  school  at  Belombre  continued  in  a  pros- 
perous state. 

Success   has   attended    missionary   efforts   to    the 
present  time. 

"  Mr.  Le  Brun,"  says  the  report  of  1827, "  still  con- 
tinues his  labors,  chiefly  among  the  colored  people,  of 
which  numerous  class  his  church  is  chiefly  composed. 
The  number  of  children  in  the  sabbath  school  is  in- 
creased to  one  hundred.  The  day  school  is  also  on 
the  increase  :  there  are  now  under  instruction  about 
one  hundred  ard  eighty  boys,  who  attend  with  tolera- 
ble regularity.  About  seventy  liberated  negroes  "id 
slaves  are  instructed  by  members  of  Mr.  Le  Brun's 
church  ;  some  of  them  have  expressed  a  desire  to  be 
baptized.  The  favorable  change  wrought  in  their 
character  by  the  instruction  imparted,  has  been  attested 
by  their  masters. 

"Mr.  Forgette,  in  April,  1826,  took  charge  of  the 
religious  instruction  of  the  slave  population  at  Riviere 
du  Rempart,  where  a  small  chapel  has  been  built.  A 
sabbath  school  has  been  commenced,  in  which  are 
I  about  twenty-five  children.  A  day  school  also  has 
been  established.  Mr.  Le  Brun  visits  Riviere  du 
Rempart  every  month,  when  he  preaches  to  about 
forty  or  fifty  colored  people,  A  few  French  families, 
resident  in  the  neighborhood,  usually  attend.  His 
excellency  sir  L.  G.  Cole  has  afforded  all  possible 
facilities  for  the  dissemination  of  Christian  instruction 
at  this  place. 

"  Mr.  Le  Brun  has  commenced  another  school,  at  a 
place  called  Camp  Yolofs,  inhabited  by  several  hun- 
dred negroes,  who  were  before  entirely  destitute  of  the 
means  of  religious  instruction.  From  twenty-five  to 
thirty  children  attend,  some  of  whom  are  able  to  read 
in  the  New  Testament.  Once  a  week,  Mr.  Le  Brun 
gives  an  address  to  the  people  there. 


The  population  of  the  Mauritius  is  estimated  at 
between  80  and  90.000,  of  whom  a  large  number  are 
colored.  In  November,  1829,  the  church  at  St.  Louis, 
Which  had  been  formed  eleven  years,  numbered  fifty- 
lour  members.  ^ 

In  forming  an  estimate  of  the  success  which  has 
attended  missionary  labors  at  this  station,  it  ought  to 
be  remembered  that  every  thing  hitherto  effected  has 
Deen  in  defiance  of  the  strenuous  opposition  of  the 
Catholic  church,  which  has  denounced  the  philan- 
tnropic  enterprise. 


MADAGASCAR. 


45< 


MADAGASCAR. 

[One  hnndnd  ud  twenty  milM  eut  of  the  African  continent.] 

This  island  was  discovered  by  the  Portuguese  in 
1492.     It  IS  separated  from  Africa  by  the  strait  of 
Mozambique.     It  extends  nine  hundred  miles  from 
north  to  south,   and  is  nearly  three    hundred  miles 
r^J^       inhabitants,   amounting  to  more    than 
4,000,000,  are  divided  into  a  number  of  tribes      They 
are  tall,  well-made,  of  an  olive  complexion,  and  some  of 
them  nearly  black.     Their  hair  is  black,  but  not  woolly, 
and,  for  the  most  part,  curls  naturally;  their  nose  is  small, 
though  not  flat ;  and  they  have  thin  lips.     They  have 
no  towns,  but  a  great  number  of  villages,  a  small  dis- 
tance from  each  other.     Their  houses  are  pitiful  huts 
without  windows  or  chimneys,  and  the  roofs  covered 
with  reeds  or  leaves.     Those  that  are  dressed  in  the 
best   manner,  have  a  piece  of  cotton  cloth  or  silk 
wrapped  round  their  middle ;  but  the  common  sort 
have  still  less  clothing.     Both  men  and  women  are 
fond  of  bracelets,  necklaces  and  ear-rings.    They  have 
little  knowledge  of  commerce,  and  exchange  among 
themselves   goods  for  goods:   gold  and  silver  coins, 
brought  by  Europeans,  are  immediately  melted  down 
for  ornaments,  and  no  currency  of  coin  is  established    ' 
There  are  a  great  many  petty  kings,  whose  riches 
consist  in  cattle  and  slaves,  and  they  are  always  at  war 
with  each  other.     There  are  only  some  parts  of  the 
coast  yet  known  ;  for  both  the  air  and  the  soil  are  de- 
structive to  strangers. 

The  Madagasses  believe  in  one  only  true  God.  the 
Creator  of  all  things,  and  the  Preserver  and  supreme 
Ruler  of  the  universe,  whom  they  call  Zangahara. 
When  they  speak  of  him,  they  do  it  with  the  greatest 
degree  of  solemnity  and  veneration.  Tho  ,gh  they 
consider  him  so  infinitely  exalted,  that  he  does  not 
stoop  to  notice  the  concerns  of  men ;  yet  he  has  dele- 
gated the  government  of  the  affairs  of  triis  world  to 
four  inferior  lords,  whom  tJiey  denominate  lor  is  of  tho 


north,  south,  east  and  wB«t  r»_  e  • 
.heyconsider\hedis;:l7o".heX:  :^^^^^^ 
of  mankind,  whUe  the  other  threr,r^eCe?  nT 
stowing  benefits.  The  «,ul.  of  all  go^Te„  tht 
beheve,  will,  after  death,  ascend  to  2a^«h« 
and  enjoy  perfect  happiness  in  hi.  presence,  wMe 
all  bad  men  will  be  tormented,  accordinrto  Th^r 
demerits,  by  the  evil  spirit,  which  they  call  AngZ 
The  four  great  lords  are  regarded  by  them  as  h.;: 
|ng  great  mfluence  with  Zangahara.  Each  family  his 
ts   guardian   angel,   who   convey,   their  prayer   " 

tJie  deity.  Some  appearances  of  Judaism  are  seen 
among  these  islanders.  They  practise  circumcision, 
and  offer  the  first-fruits  of  harvest.  Of  a  Saviour  thev 
have  no  knowledge.  The  language  of  the  Madagasses 
.  very  melodious,  and  is  said  to  be  copious ;  though 
It  had  never  been  reduced  to  a  written  form  till  since 
missionaries  resided  among  them.  In  the  mterior  are 
some  Arabs,  who  introduced  into  the  island  many  of 
he  arts  of  civilization.  It  is  probably  owing  to  the 
mfluence  of  these  emigrants  on  the  neighboring  tribes, 
that  many  of  them  exhibit  evident  marks  of  a  state  of 
improvement  considerably  removed  from  barbarism. 

In  the  summer  of  1818,  a  mission  was  commenced 
on  this  island  by  Messrs.  Sevan  and  Jones,  whoexpe- 
rienced  a  very  favorable  reception  from  the  natives, 
and  particularly  from  a  chief  named  Jean  R^n^      They 
opened  a  school  in  the  vicinity  of  Tamatave,  and  were 
intrusted  with  the  care  of  five  children  belonging  to  dif- 
ferent chiefs.     Their  pupils,  also,  made  considerable 
proficiency  in  their  learning;    and  a  piece  of  ground 
was  kindly  granted  for  the  use  of  the  mission;   whilst 
the  majority  of  the  people  seemed  delighted  with  the 
Idea  of  teachers  settling  among  them,  who  would  su- 
perintend   the   education  of  their  offspring.      Every 
thing,   indeed,  appeared   promising  and   auspicious ; 
but.  alas  !    m  the  space  of  a  few  months,  death  en- 
tered into  the  families  of  our  missionaries,  and  the 
prospect,  recently  so  bright   and   encouraging,    was 
suddenly  obscured  by  clouds  and  darkness.     The  first 
victim  was  the  infant  daughter  of  Mr.  Jones,  and.  about 
a  fortnight  after  this  removal,  her  mother  was  summoned 
out  of  time  into  eternity,  leaving  her  widowed  husband 
in  a  state  of  distressing  illness.     Mr.  Bevan.  who,  in  the 
mean  time,  had  visited  the  Mauritius,  resolved  on  return- 
ing to  Madagascar,  notwithstanding  the  insalubrious 
season  of  the  year,  and  the  remonstrances  of  his  friends, 
who  were  apprehensive  that  the  result  might  be  fatal! 
This  anticipation  was  too  well  founded,  as  Mr.  Bevan's 
child  lived  but  about  fourteen  days  after  his  amval ; 
eleven  days  after,  he  himself  breathed  his  last ;  and  only 
four  days  more  elapsed  before  his  wife  followed  him  intn 
the  worid  of  spirits.     Thus,  in  the  short  space  of  about 


LONDON  MIS6IONARY  SOCIETY. 


nvsB  weeks,  five  individuals  conneoted  with  the  mit- 
■imi  were  successively  carried  to  an  untimely  grave  ; 
aad  Mr.  Jones,  after  partially  recovering  from  the 
Ifailegache  fever,  was  compelled  to  return  to  the  Mau- 
riUus,  where  Charles  Telfair,  Esq.,  private  secretary  to 
the  governor,  treated  him  with  the  utmost  hospitality 
•nd  kindness,  and  not  only  exerted  himself  to  the 
utmost,  in  order  to  promote  his  perfect  restoration  to 
health,  but  also  furnished  him  with  books,  calculated 
to  facilitate  his  studies  in  reference  to  the  Madagascar 
mission,  which,  though  suspended  for  a  season,  was 
by  no  means  considered  as  totally  abandoned. 

In  the  month  of  September,  1820,  Mr.  Jones  return- 
ed to  Madagascar,  in  company  with  Mr.  Hastie,  a 
gentleman  sent  by  his  excellency  governor  Farqubar, 
from  the  Mauritius,  to  negotiate  with  king  Radama, 
for  the  abolition  of  the  slave-trade  within  his  dominions. 
Some  particulars  of  his  journey  to  Tananarive,  the 
capital  of  the  kingdom  of  Ova,  will  be  found  in  the  fol- 
lowing extracts  from  the  journal  of  this  valuable  and 
devoted  missionary : — 

"  After  a  pleasant  voyage,  upon  the  whole,  we 
arrived,  on  the  9th,  within  sight  of  Madagascar,  and 
the  next  day  anchored  in  the  harbor  of  Tamatave. 
After  dining  on  board,  Mr.  James  Hastie  (the  gov- 
ernment agent),  lieutenant  Hay  and  myself,  went  on 
shore,  and  visited  the  chief,  Jean  R£n^,  who  received 
us  very  courteously.  On  our  landing,  we  were  given 
to  understand  that  Madagascar  was  troubled  with 
war,  that  Radama  was  carrying  on  hostilities  against 
some  chiefs  in  the  south ;  and  that  Jean  Ren^  was  at 
war  both  in  the  south  and  in  the  north.  On  again  see- 
ing Tamatave,  I  could  not  but  reflect  with  gratitude,  on 
the  manner  in  which  the  Lord  had  protected  me,  both 
in  this  country,  and  subsequently  at  the  Mauritius, 
while  many  stronger  than  I  had  fallen  by  my  side. 

"  On  the  24th,  we  had  much  trouble  with  our  bearers, 
and  the  house  in  which  we  had  taken  up  our  abode, 
during  the  preceding  night,  was  filled  with  unruly 
people.  Proceeded  in  our  palanquins,  and  arrived, 
about  noon,at  Ranwmafan  (which  s'l^niiiea  hot  water), 
where  we  stopped  until  the  following  morning,  notwith- 
standing the  village  did  not  contain  houses  sufficient 
for  the  accommodation  of  our  party.  We  were  in- 
formed that,  in  the  hot  well,  from  which  tiie  village 
derives  its  name,  meat,  eggs,  vegetables,  &c.  may  be 
sufficiently  cooked  for  eating.  I  went  to  the  spot  and 
drank  of  the  water,  which  was  so  hot  that  I  could 
not  hold  the  cup,  containing  it,  in  my  hand  The 
Malegaches  greatly  venerate  this  well,  regarding  it 
with  a  sort  of  adoration,  as  being  a  peculiar  manifesta- 
tion of  divine  power. 

The  morning  of  the  26th  was  very  foggy,  inso- 


much tii 


ai  ive  Luuia  tioi  uiscovcr  tne  mountains  and 


trees  around  us.  At  sevea  o'clock,  however,  w«  set 
off,  in  the  midst  of  the  fog,  ascending  and  descending 
very  steep  hills,  and  pusing  through  much  wood. 
Over  some  of  the  mounuins,  which  were  crowded  with 
trees,  the  road  was  nearly  perpendicular.  In  no  part, 
even  of  North  Wales,  have  I  seen  roads  and  moun- 
tains so  difficult  to  pass,  as  those  we  travelled  over  this 
day.  We  also  crossed  a  serpentine  river  seven  times. 
"  The  next  day,  in  consequence  of  fatigue,  we  rested 
at  a  place  called  Buffore,  where  we  perceived  much 
ground  in  an  uncultivated  state.  While  we  were  here, 
a  person  passed  through  the  place  with  two  hundred 
slaves  from  Ova. 

"  On  the  28th,  our  road  lay  along  an  extensive  valley, 
over  high  mountains  and  through  rivers.  The  moun- 
tains were  every  where  thickly  covered  with  trees,  the 
loftiest  I  have  ever  seen,  having  their  roots,  to  a  great 
extent,  interwoven  one  within  another.  In  ascending 
the  mountains,  we  were  in  some  places  obliged  to  climb 
with  our  hands  and  feet,  grasping  hold  of  the  roots  of 
trees.  The  road  in  some  places  reminded  me  of  the 
ascent  up  a  steeple,  by  numerous  steps.  We  arrived 
in  the  evening  at  a  place  called  Elamaswt,  greatly 
fatigued.  Here  we  passed  the  night  in  a  hut,  built  on 
purpose  for  us,  while  ourmarmtVet,  or  hearers,  slept  in 
the  open  air. 

"  At  night  we  obtained  but  little  rest,  as  there  was  a 
very  heavy  fog,  with  which  all  the  place  around  us  was 
filled.  Our  beds,  both  above  and  below,  were  quite 
wet  with  the  dew.  I  arose  the  next  morning,  with  my 
feet  extremely  cold,  and  with  a  severe  head-ache. 

*'  We  quitted  our  hut  about  six  o'clock,  while  the 
fog  was  as  yet  thick  around  us.  In  the  course  of  the 
morning,  we  were  passed  by  about  one  thousand  slaves, 
who  were  proceeding  from  Ova  to  Tamatave  for  sale. 
How  dreadful  to  behold  such  a  number  of  human  be- 
ings bound  in  iron,  and  driven  from  their  native  coun- 
try to  be  sold  like  sheep  in  a  market ;  and  among  them 
a  number  of  children,  between  six  and  seven  years  of 
age,  taken  away  from  their  parents  forever  !  My  heart 
ached,  and  tears  gushed  from  my  eyes  at  the  inhuman 
spectacle.  Were  a  like  number  of  slaves  in  irons,  and 
carrying  burdens  on  their  heads,  to  he  driven  through 
the  streets  of  London  to  Smithfield,  to  be  sold  there  as 
cattle,  surely  the  scene  would  fill  the  eyes  of  both 
high  and  low  with  tears,  and  excite  them  to  the  great- 
est exertions  in  order  to  suppress  such  a  traffic. 

"  In  the  course  of  the  day  we  passed  through  nu- 
merous deep  bogs  (the  fording  of  which  we  found  very 
difficult,  especially  to  the  horses),  as  well  as  over  lofty 
mountains,  and  arrived,  late  in  the  evening,  at  Mwra- 
manga,  where  we  slept.  This  village,  the  first  we  had 
entered  within  the  dominions  of  Radama,  command- 
ed a  view  of  an  immense  extent  of  level  country. 


"  On  the  aoih,  we  set  off  at  about  htlfput  six  o'eloek 
■nd  arrired  at  half  past  twelTc  at  Ambwhitrim,  where' 
we  took  up  our  quaners  until  the  following  rooming. 
At  this  place,  Mr.  Hastie  received  an  answer  from  king 
Radama,  to  a  letter  which  he  had  written  to  him  while 
at  Tamatave,  manifesting  the  greatest  joy  on  his  arrival 
m  Madagascar,  and  requesting  him  to  expedite  his  jour- 
ney,  as  there  were  no  grounds  for  any  apprehensions  as 
to  his  personalsafety.     Ambwhitrim,  which  consists  of 
many  houses,  stands  on  the  top  of  a  high  hill ;  it  is  sur- 
rounded  Wrth  an  immense  fosse,  and  can  be  entered 
on  y  at  two  strong  gates.     It  is  a  well  fortified  village. 
In  the  morning  of  October  1,  which  proved  very 
foggy,  we  crossed  the  river  Mangwrw;    passed  over 
hills,  and  breakfasted,  at  noon,  on  the  margin  of  a 
small  n ver.     After  passing.ver  hills  and  through  much 
rice   ground,   we  ascended,  with  great  difficulty,  the 
mountam  Angiive.      The  height  of  this  mountain  is 
about  two  thousand  five  hundred  feet,  and  it  is  so  ex- 
tremely steep,  that  we  were  sometimes  compelled  to 
climb  with  our  hands  and  feet.      We  lodged,  during 
the  night,  at  a  village  situated  on  its  summit. 

"  The  following  day,  after  passing  over  some  very  high 
mountains,  we  entered  the  Ova  country.     As  we  de- 
scended  from  the  mountains,we  saw  before  us  an  immense 
extent  of  territory,  in  general  without  wood,  and  hilly 
We  stopped  to  breakfast  at  a  fortified  and  populous  village 
called  Fefeiran.     We  afterwards  passed  through  much 
nee  ground,  and  many  villages  surrounded  with  ditches, 
at  least  twenty  feet  in  depth.     Went  to  see  a  market 
which  was  situated  on  a  hill,  on  this  side  Ambatwmanga. 
We  had  scarcely  arrived  there,  when  we  were  surround- 
ed by  the  people,  who  flocked  about  us  in  hundreds,  inso- 
much that  we  were  obliged  to  use  means  to  clear  the  road. 
Here  we  saw  the  merchants,  the  sellers,  and  the  mon- 
ey-changers, sitting  and  weighing  with  scales,  &c.,  as  in 
any  well-regulated  market  in  England.    After  satisfying 
our  curiosity,  we  pursued  our  journey,  followed  by  the 
crowd,  and  at  seven  o'clock  arrived  at  Ambatwmanga 
which  IS  a  very  large  and  well  fortified,  but  dirty,  city! 
"  On  the  3d,  we  resumed  our  route  at  six  o'clock 
passing  over  hills  and  dales,  and  through  much  rice 
ground,  and  near  many  fortified  and  populous  villages. 
Mr.  Hastie,  with  a  number  of  the  marmitei,  went  on 
before,  and  arrived  at  the  foot  of  the  mountain  on 
which  Tananarive  is  situated.     Here  he  arrived  about 
noon,  and  was  ordered  to  wait  the  pleasure  of  Radama. 
In  about  half  an  hour  afterwards,  I  came  up  with  the 
rest  of  the  marmitei.     Shortly  after  our  arrival,  the 
cannon  on  the  hill  were  fired.     At  one  o'clock,  came 
down  from  the  hill  two  persons,  mounted  and  dressed 
as  field  officers,  and  informed  us  that  the  king  would 
be  ready  to  receive  us  at  four  o'clock,  in  a  public 
manner.     Soon  alter  these,  came  down  the  two  princes, 
Vol,.  I.— Nos.  39  &  40  60 


MADAGASCAR. 


4ft7 

who  mme  yean  ago  resided  at  the  Mauriiiut.  to  Me 
their  tutor,  Mr.  Hastie.     After  them  came  the  kin«'. 
secretary,  and  informed  u«,  that  his  majesty  ww  re- 
joicing exceedingly  at  the  news  of  our  arrival ;  that  his 
own  watch  was  regulated  by  that  of  the  king,  and  that 
we  were  to  mount  the  hill  exactly  at  four  o'clock 
The  hour  arrived,  and  a  messenger  was  sent  down  to 
mform  us,  that  his  majesty  was  ready  to  receive  us. 
We  immediately  began  to  ascend  the  hiU,  when  a 
cannon  at  the  top  was  fired.     After  we  had  ascended 
a  little  way,  we  observed  two  lines  of  soldiers  present- 
mg  arms      The  military  extended  to  the  royal  palace. 
Withm  the  court-yard  was  a  band  of  drums  beatine. 
shells  sounding,  people  dancing,  &c.     We  walked  up 
between  the  two  lines  of  soldiers,  accompanied  by 
some  field  officers,  until  we  arrived  in  the  court-yard 
before  the  royal  palace.     The  king  ran  to  receive  Mr. 
Hastie,  who  saluted  him,  according  to  the  usual  custom, 
by  bending  one  knee,  kissing  his  hand,  and  placing 
therein  a  piece  of  gold,  saying,  '  Token  of  respect  to 
you,  master.'     Mr.  Hastie  then  introduced  mffto  the 
king,  and  I  saluted  him  in  the  same  manner     His 
majesty  then  requested  us  to  enter  his  palace,  which 
we  did,  following  him.     I  was  struck  with  astonish- 
ment at  the  beauty  and  splendor  of  the  apartment  into 
which  we  were  introduced.     On  entering,  the  king  re- 
quested us  to  take  our  seats,  Mr.  Hastie  on  his  right 
hand,  and  myself  on  his  left.     Before  us  was  a  well- 
spread  table,  at  the  head  of  which  the  king  sat;  many 
of  his  officers  also  sat  at  the  table.     After  we  had 
taken  our  places,  the  king  manifested  such  ecstasies  of 
joy,  as  surpassed  all  I  ever  before  witnessed.     While 
we  sat  at  table,  he  inquired  concerning  his  pres'^nt 
majesty,  king  George  the  fourth,  and  his  exceJlunrr 
governor  Farquhar  and  family.     On  leaving  the  king, 
who  seemed  to  part  with  us  unwillingly,  we  were  led 
into  a  large  well-built  house,  situated  near  the  palate, 
which  had  been  prepared  for  our  reception,  and  where' 
we  slept.     The  cannon  continued  to  fire  from  the  hill 
for  a  long  time,  while  we  sat  at  dinner,  and  the  music 
lasted  until  we  left  the  palace. 

"In  the  course  of  the  next  morning,  the  king  came 
to  the  house  where  Mr.  Hastie  and  myself  abode. 
He  was  accompanied  by  his  ministers  and  body  guards. 
Mr.  Hastie,  soon  after  his  entrance,  presented  to  his 
majesty  a  letter  and  present  from  governor  Farquhar ; 
also  letters  and  p.csents  from  his  excellency  to  the 
two  princes.  The  king  then  inspected  the  plate,  the 
workmanship  of  which  he  much  admired.  The  king's 
secretary  read  and  explained  the  three  letters.  Ra- 
dama afterwards  proceeded  to  view  the  horses  which 
had  been  brought  for  him,  and  was  particulariy  pleased 
with  an  Arahliin  hnrss       Hn  »l.^o..n«  J...  u: : 

paid  us  another  visit,  and  sat  a  long  time  inspecting  a 


418 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


chart  of  Madagtscar.  which  had  been  presented  to  him 
by  Mr.  Hastie,  in  the  name  of  his  excellency.  In  the 
evening,  the  king  took  an  airing.  Mr.  Hastie,  myself, 
and  some  of  his  maje&iy's  officers,  rode  behind  him, 
surrounded  by  the  life-guards,  and  hundreds  of  people 
running  along  by  the  side  of  us.  On  our  return,  we 
went  to  the  palace  to  dine  with  his  majesty.  There 
sat  at  table  with  us  some  of  the  royal  family  and 
several  officers. 

"  On  the  7lh,  Mr.  Hastie  had  a  long  conversation 
with  the  king  on  the  subject  of  a  renewal  of  the  treaty ; 
but  noihing  was  decided  upon.  The  next  day,  how- 
ever, his  majesty  held  a  great  kabarre,  or  council,  with 
his  ministers,  respecting  the  treaty.  At  about  three 
o'clock,  the  king  sent  for  Mr.  Hastie,  and,  in  a  short 
time  afterwards,  for  me.  He  was  surrounded  by  his 
ministers,  &c.  Mr.  Hastie  first  explained  the  nature 
of  his  own  mission,  and  afterwards,  at  the  request  of 
the  king,  the  object  of  mine.  Mr.  Haatie  distinctly 
stated,  that  I  had  nothing  to  do  in  political  affairs,  and 
that  my  mission  was  of  a  religious  nature.  He  then, 
among  other  things,  expatiated  on  the  disinterested  con- 
duct of  the  English,  in  seeking  an  alliance  with  him, 
the  advantages  he  had  formerly  derived,  and  would 
in  future  derive,  from  their  friendship,  and  the  evils 
which,  if  he  refused  to  cement  it,  must  unavoidably 
ensue  from  the  prosecution  of  a  traffic  so  disgraceful 
and  inhuman  as  the  slave-trade,  carried  on  as  it  was, 
in  a  country  naturally  so  rich  in  resources,  which,  with 
the  amity  proposed,  would  render  him  |H>werful,  and 
his  people  happy,  and  would  cause  his  name  to  live 
for  ever. 

"  The  king  having  pointed  out  the  great  importance 
of  instniction  to  his  people,  in  order  that  they  might 
see,  as  he  did,  the  advantages  of  the  proposed  treaty, 
Mr.  Hastie,  among  other  things,  observed,  that  as  long 
as  slavery  was  permitted  in  his  country,  it  could  not 
reasonably  be  expected,  that  persons  capable  of  in- 
structing his  people  would  settle  in  it,  at  the  risk  of 
their  own  oflTspring  becoming  the  property,  perhaps, 
of  their  next  neighbor.  •  Stop  the  slave-trade,'  said 
Mr.  Hastie, '  and  you  will  have  people  of  every  nation 
visiting  your  country.  The  Isle  of  France  is  not  peopled 
by  French  or  English  only.  On  the  contrary,  you 
there  find  people  from  every  quarter  of  the  globe, 
because  our  king  and  our  constitution  protect  all 
equally.'  Radama  admitted  all  that  Mr.  Hastie  ad- 
vanced, and  commented  oi  every  article.  A  long 
silence  ensued  ;  Mr.  Hastie  then  begged  leave  to  state 
that  governor  Farquhar  would  receive  Radaina's  free 
subjects  for  instruction,  and  send  him  some  good  artif- 
icers, together  with  the  requisite  implements  ;  but  that 
it  must   be  his    (the  king's)   own   act   alone    which 


llfl  inHii 


u^m  mjkn 


»r  •.!. 


country,  and  improve  his  people  ;  and  observed,  that 
the  Missionary  Society  had  sent  me  out  to  instruct 
them  in  religion  and  useful  learning.  He  mentioned 
also  the  improvements  which,  by  means  of  that  society, 
had  taken  place  among  people  more  ignorant  than  his 
own,  particularly  those  of  the  South  Sea  islands. 

"  On  the  9th,  the  king,  who  had  been  in  consulta- 
tion from  day-light  with  his  ministers,  sent  round  to 
the  principal  chiefs  of  the  districts,  and  to  his  grand- 
father. At  four  o'clock,  he  sent  for  Mr.  Hastie  and 
myself  to  attend  him  at  the  palace,  where  a  multitude 
of  persons  were  assembled.  His  majesty  appeared 
very  much  fatigued.  He  said,  that  he  had  maturely 
considered  all  that  had  been  said  on  the  subject  of  the 
treaty ;  repeated  what  he  had  formerly  expressed  on 
the  importance  of  giving  his  people  instruction ; 
and  requested  permission  to  send  some  of  them  to 
England,  for  that  purpose.  Mr.  Hastie  promised,  that 
every  means  should  be  taken  to  promote  the  instruc- 
tion of  his  people,  again  adverting  to  me  and  my 
object,  and  to  the  great  improvements  in  the  South 
Sea  islands,  in  civilization  as  well  as  in  Christianity. 
He  stated,  also,  that  a  ship  had  been  built  at  Otaheite, 
and  added,  that  the  society  sent  out  artificers,  as  well 
as  persons  lep.;ned  in  ili6  hnguages. 

"  The  npxt  day,  the  king  stnt  a  letter  to  Mr.  Hastie, 
addresse('  to  governor  Farquhar,  stating  that  he  was 
anxious  to  cement  the  proposed  alliance,  but  as  nothing 
but  instruction  could  alleviate  the  misery  of  his  sub- 
jects, he  could  agree  to  the  treaty  only  on  condition 
that  he  should  be  allowed  to  send  some  of  his  people 
to  the  Mauritius  and  England  for  instruction,  and  that 
artificers  should  be  sent  to  him.  Mr.  Hastie  said  that 
he  was  authorized  by  his  excellency  to  promise  artifi- 
cers, and  to  take  bank  some  of  his  people  for  instruc- 
tion ;  but  beyond  this  he  had  no  authority.  The  king 
sent  again,  requiring  that  twenty  persons  should  be 
sent  to  England  for  instruction,  as  he  was  persuaded 
nothing  but  instruction  could  reconcile  his  people  to 
the  abandonment  of  tlie  slave  traffic.  In  this  dilemma, 
Mr.  Hastie  consulted  with  me.  I  observed,  that  as 
the  treaty  would  tend  to  open  a  door  for  the  sccurs 
residence  of  missionaries  in  Madagascar,  I  thought  it 
probable  the  Missionary  Society  itself  would  not  object 
to  lake  some  of  the  islanders  under  its  care,  fur  educa- 
tion. It  was  now  agreed  by  Mr.  Hastie,  that  six  of 
the  free  subjects  of  Radama  should  be  sent  t«  England 
for  education.  This  proposal  was  sent  to  tlui  king, 
and  his  reply  was,  that  he  would  again  see  Mr.  Hastio 
in  the  evening.  In  the  interval,  we  prepared  a  paper, 
containing  translations  into  French  of  what  the  society 
has  published  relative  to  Madagascar  in  its  annual 
re))orts,  and  stating,  that  I  was  sent  by  the  Missiona 


for  ibusionaries  to  settle  in  his  country,  and  tbat  if  he 
consented  to  grant  these,  I  was  authorized  to  prombe 
that  the  society  would  send  out  more  missionaries  to 
civihze,  as  well  as  to  Christianize  bis  people.  I  sent 
•iK),  with  this  document,  a  copy  of  the  society's  report 
for  1819,  and  the  Missionary  Sketch,  which  represents 
U.e  people  of  Otaheite  destroying  their  idols,  and 
budding  a  chapel.  I  requested  the  king's  secretary  to 
exp  am  these  to  his  majesty,  in  like  manner  a.  I  had 
explamed  them  to  Am. 

"In  the  evening  the  king  camo,  with  many  of  his 
mmuitew,  to  our  hcuse,  and    the   conferences  were 

whtrK    K  ^'\  ^T'^  '^capitulated  the  arguments 

which  he  had  already  employed,  and  placed  them  in 

the  clearest  I.ght  possible.     On  this  occasion,  he  told 

his  majesty,  that  he  was  a  king  set  over  his  people  to 

govern  them,  and  to  do  every  thing  to  promote  their 

welfare  ;  that  he  was  responsible  to  the  divine  Being 

for  what  he  did  ;  that  that  Being  was  able  to  remove 

bim  from  his  throne,  as  he  had  done  in  the  case  of 

Bonaparte,  and  to  give  it  to  another,  who  should  rule 

his  people  with  wisdom,  so  as  to  alleviate  their  misery, 

and  to  make  them  possess  happiness,  like  the  people' 

of  Britam,  who   have    their   teachers,  artificers,  &c. 

ihe  kmg  listened  attentively  to  all  that  was  said,  ap- 

peared  to  be  convinced  by  it,  and  promised  to  give  his 

final  determination  on  the  morrow. 

"  The  next  morning,  at  eleven  o'clock,  his  majesty 
sent   to  communicate  his  final   determination,  which 
was,  that   the   treaty  should  be  signed  this  day,  and 
that  he  would  republish  his  former  proclamation,  re- 
quiring  the  immediate  cessation  of  the  slave  traffic 
provided  Mr.  Hastie  would  agree  to  take  twenty  of 
his  subjects  for   instruction,   ten   to   proceed  to    the 
Mauritius,  and  the  other  ten  to  England.    The  moment 
wa?  now  arrived  when  the  welfare  of  millions  was  to 
be  decided.     Mr.  Hastie  came  to  me  and  asked  what 
was  to  bo  done,  and  whether  the  Missionary  Society 
would  take  some  of  them  under  their  charge.     Having 
no  authority,  I  could  not  go  beyond  what  I  bad  said 
yesterday  ;  on  which  Mr.  Hastio  said,  that  he  would 
agree  to  the  king's  proposal,  even  if  he  himself  should 
bear  the  expenses  of  the  ten  youths  who  were  to  bo 
Mnt  to  England.      The  agreement  was  accordingly 
made,  a  kabarre  held,  and  a  proclamation  published, 
of  which  the  following  is  a  translatio..  :— 

"Inhabitants  of  Madagascar, 

"  You  are  none  of  you  ignorant  of  the  friendship 
we  enjoy  with  the  goveriioi  of  the  Mauritius,  and  the 
devoted  aitnchment  we  have  avow.ul  to  hiin~his  at- 
tention, unlike  that  of  all  other  foreign  nations  that 
have  visited  our  shorn*.  Iiim  l.o»„  .1: .„,i  ._  : 

-.-....,    ,,.    ,j,.-jj-jj-5- 

oiv  happmess  and  prosperity— ho  has  never  deprived 


MADAGASCAR. 


459 

L°/  T  '?"  **'  °"'  P«>pe»t5e»-he  has  not  suf- 

Srv  brh""  """•  '°  '"^°*  *»"'  <=Mdren  into 
slavery-he  has  sent  us  people  to  teach  us  arts  and 
industry  unknown  .0  us  before,  to  defend  us  agafnst 
our  enemies,  and  to  prevent  famine  by  more  extensive 
cultivation.  We  are  happier  and  safer  since  he  es- 
tablishment of  British  dommion  in  our  neighborhood  • 
and  we  are  grateful  to  our  good  father  who  has  pro^ 
cured  for  us  these  blessings. 

"His  nation  and  king  have  made  laws  to  prevent 
you  from  being  carried  out  of  your  island  into  slavery  • 
and  he  has  punished  such  of  the  whites  as  have  pre- 
sumed to  violate  this  law. 

«  He  has  called  on  us  to  assist  him  in  this  work 
for  our  own  benefit,  and  he  has  promised  his  power- 

Si!oS:r " ''"""'  ""=' " """'  "^  '^'•""-y  - 

"  We  willingly  agree  to  this  proposal  of  our  father^ 
and  we  hereby  declare,  that  if  any  of  our  suSV 

warriT'^'u'''?^',"?  °"  °"'  power,  shall  hencefor' 
ward  be  guilty  of  selling  any  slave,  or  other  person,  for 
U^e  purpose  of  being  transported  from  the  island  of 
Madagascar,  the  person  guilty  shall  be  punished  by 
being  reduced  to  slavery  himself,  and  his  property  shall 
be  forfeited  to  me.  , 

"Let  my  subjects,  then,  who  have  slaves,  employ 
them  in  planting  rice,  and  other  provisions,  and  in  taking 
care  of  their  flocks-in  collecting  bees-wax  and  gums! 
and  in  manufacturing  cloths  and  other  articles  which 
they  can  sell.  I  set  them  the  first  example  myself,  by 
abandoning  the  tax  payable  to  me  upon  the  sale  of 
slaves  for  exportation.  _, 

"  I  direct  my  brother,  Jean  R6n.S  and  other  chiefs 
upon  the  sea-coast,  to  seize,  for  their  own  use  and  profit 
all  such  slaves  as  maybe  attempted  to  be  exported  in 
their  respective  provinces ;  they  will  also  give  every 
support  and  assistance  to  the  government  agent  of  Mau- 
ritius in  the  execution  of  his  duties. 

"I  command  all  my  subjects  and  dependants,  and 
invite  all  my  allies,  to  abstain  from  any  maritime 
predatory  excursion  whatever,  and  more  particularly 
neither  to  practise  nor  allow  of  any  attack  or  attempt 
upon  the  friends  of  our  ally  the  British  nation. 

"  It  has  been  usual  to  make  an  annual  attack  upon 
the  sultan  of  Johanna  and  the  Comoro  islands— our 
good  friend  the  governor  of  Mauritius  dissolved  the 
meditated  attack  of  last  year,  and  we  now  join  with 
him  in  forbidding  any  further  enmity  to  the  king  or 
inhabitants  of  the  Comoro  Archipelago,  or  other  islands 
on  the  coast  of  Africa,  or  North  Archipelago,  under 
the  pain  of  our  most  severe  displeasure,  and  of  incur- 
ring the  punishment  due  to  pirates,  of  whatever  nation 
cr  pcopic  jney  iimy  00. 

"  Such  is  my  will ;  let  it  be  known  to  every  inhab- 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


ilant  of  thk  island ;  it  ia  for  their  own  happineu,  uid 
their  own  Mfety,  to  pa/  obedience  to  this  procla- 
uation. 

(Signed)         <<  Radama." 
«  93d  Ootober,  1817. 
"  ReiMWMt  nth  Oetotor,  1890." 

In  allusion  to  the  promulgation  of  this  important 
document,  Mr.  Jones  observes,  in  a  letter  addressed 
to  his  kind  friend,  Mr.  Telfair,— «« Had  bis  excellency 
governor  Farquhar  witnessed  the  transports  of  joy 
exhibited  in  the  countenances  of  thousands  around  us, 
on  the  1 1  th  instant,  when  the  treaty  was  agreed  upon — 
the  proclamation  issued — the  British  flag,  in  union 
with  that  of  Madagascar,  hoisted — freedom  hailed  by 
thousands  as  the  glA  of  the  British  nation — the  guns 
firing  a  salute  of  liberty  and  joy — the  music  playing, 
and  the  people  rejoicing — the  scone  would,  1  think, 
have  filled  his  mind  with  greater  pleasure  than  any  he 
ever  before  witnessed — being  himself  the  author  of  a 
treaty  pregnant  with  so  many  blessings.  When  I  went 
out  to  see  the  union  flag,  and  all  the  people  looking 
at  it,  with  smiles  in  their  countenances,  my  heart  was 
filled  with  joy,  and  my  eyes  with  tears. 

"  And  now,  my  dear  sir,  a  wide  door  for  Christianity 
and  civilization  has  been  opened  in  Madagascar,  and 
that  of  slavery,  I  trust,  bolted  for  ever.  A  powerful 
monarch  has  become  the  patron  of  Christian  mission- 
aries and  of  artificers,  instead  of  dealers  in  slaves, 
who  were  to  be  dragged  out  of  their  native  country. 
Methinks  I  hear  the  voices  of  infants  crying  out,  and 
hailing  the  day  as  loud  as  any,  saying,  '  We  shall  not 
bo  snatched  from  our  parent's  bosom,  and  be  forced 
away  from  our  native  country,  to  serve  a  strange 
|)«opln,  in  slavery.' " 

in  another  communication  to  the  same  gentleman, 
our  missionary  observes, — "  Having  filled  up  my  sheet 
on  the  11th  instant,!  begin  another,  for  the  purpose  of 
writing  what  will  show  the  anxiety  of  the  Malegaches 
to  have  their  children  instructed.  The  mother  of  his 
majesty  Kadama  came  into  our  dwelling-house  last 
Saturday  morning  ;  and,  on  conversing  with  her  u|>on 
the  advanuges  to  be  derived  from  instructing  the 
jieople,  slie  remarked,  very  sensibly,  that  she  would 
never  agree  to  a  treaty  where  money  was  to  be  the 
main  object,  but  that  she  would  sup|>ort  the  plan  pro- 
|)08od  with  all  her  might. 

"  A  selection  of  young  persons  for  England,  and 
others  for  the  Mauritius,  was  made  to-day  ;  and  the 
people  entered  into  a  high  discussion  as  to  who  should 
haT«  the  king's  permission,  bihI  !l>r.  honor,  to  soiid 
their  children  to  be  instructed.  One  man  said  that  he 
would  give  three  thousand  dollars  for  |>ermission  to 
send  his  child.     •  Well,'  said  the  king,  '  give  me  one 


Iftniiaan 


inn 


hesitated  a  little,  and  then  answered  that  he 
would  give  that  sum.  •  Well,'  rejoined  the  king,  « as 
you  are  in  earnest,  ha  shall  go  for  nothing.'  The 
place  was,  on  Saturday,  crowded  by  the  richest  and 
most  respectable  people  in  the  capital,  firom  among 
whose  children  a  selection  has  been  made  for  in- 
struction. 

"  I  have  also  to  inform  you,  that  the  Roman  Catholic 
priest  at  St.  Denis,  in  the  island  of  Bourbon,  has 
written  a  very  flattering  letter  to  the  king,  asking  his 
permission  to  send  missionaries  to  teach  his  subjects 
the  Roman  Catholic  religion,  and  informing  him  that 
some  were  at  Bourbon,  ready  to  come  over,  provided 
his  majesty  would  give  them  his  royal  permission. 
The  king  wrote  an  answer,  refusing  his  permission, 
in  the  strongest  terms  ;  saying,  that  he  had  entered 
into  an  alliance  with  the  British  nation,  and  conse- 
quently  wished  to  have  British  Protestant  missionaries 
to  instruct  his  subjects,  to  whom  he  would  give  his 
permission,  as  well  as  protection,  throughout  his  do- 
minions. 

"  The  king  then  requested  me  to  explain  to  him 
the  difference  between  the  Roman  Catholic  and  Prot- 
estant religions,  which  I  did,  as  comprehensively  as  I 
could,  and,  at  the  same  time,  described  the  liberal 
principles  upon  which  the  Missionary  Society  is  O'  tab- 
lished ;    observing,  that  it  sends  out  missionaries  to 
Christianize  people  by  persuasion  and  conviction,  and 
not  by  any  compulsion,  contrary  to  the  light  of  their 
own  understandings  ;  and,  moreover,  that  its  mission- 
aries do  not  desire  any  to  adopt  the  religion  they  pro- 
fess and  teach,  unless  the  persons  instructed  be  first 
convinced,  in  their  own  minds,  of  the  reasonableness 
and  superiority  of  it  to  their  natural  and  heathenish 
religion.     I  also  stated,  that  the  Missionary  Society 
sends  out  missionaries  to  civilize  the  heathen,  as  well 
as  to  Christianise  them,  and  mentioned  Otaheite  and 
Africa,  as  examples  of  what  I  said.     Upon  which  the 
king  said,  '  Ay,  ay,  very  well   indeed ;    1  wish   they 
would  send  many  to  teach  these  people  (mesning  his 
own   subjects)   in  the  same  mnnnor.'     'Well,'  Ire- 
plied,  '  the  best  plan  will  |je  for  your  majesty  to  write 
1  letter  to  the  society  to  that  eflfect,  staling  your  real 
sentiments  to  the  directors,  and  promising,  at  the  same 
time,  your  majesty's  permission  and  protection  to  their 
missionaries  ;  as  I  am  persuaded  that  the  receipt  of 
such  a  li'ttcr  from  your  majesty  would  give  them  much 
more  encouragement  and  confidence  to  send  teachers 
than  any  letters  from  me  ;  and  as  I  have  already  ex- 
plained to  your  majesty  the  principles  upon  which  the 
society  is  founded— what  it  is  that  their  missionaries 
teach  the  people,  Ixith  at  to  religion  and  civilisntion^- 
and  that   they  do  nothing  by  force  or  constraint,— 
youf  Hiajesiy  cannot  be  deceived.     But  should  any 


minionkrias  belonging  to  our  lociety  be  found  making 
lue  of  any  force  or  constraint,  in  making  your  people 
conferts  to  religion,!  am  willing  that  you  should  send 
them  out  of  your  country,  or  compel  them  to  desist 
from  such  a  mode  of  Christianiiing  ;  and,  indeed,  I 
should  wish  that  you  should  thus  act,  such  a  procedure 
being  contrary  to  the  rules  of  our  society.'  " 

In  compliance  with  the  advice  of  Mr.  Jones,  his 
majesty  addressed  a  letter  to  the  directors  of  the 
London  Missionary  Society,  of  whksh  the  following  is 
a  correct  translation  :— 

"Radama,  King  of  Madagascar,  to  the  Mtiionary 
&,cU?'  ""^""^  '"""^  '**   ^'**''^  Mmionaty 

"Gentlemen,_When  the  treaty  was  concluded 
bet^veen  me  and  governor  Farquhar.  which  has  for  its 
object  the  cessation  of  the  exportation  of  slave,  from 
the  island  of  Madagascar,  the  missionory,  Mr.  David 
Jones,  accompanied  the  commissioner  from  the  British 
government,  and  arrived  at  Tananarive,  the  capital  of 
my  kingdom,  with  the  intention  of  paying  me  a  visit, 
to  solicit  from  me  leave  to  settle,  with  other  mission- 
aries, in  my  dominions.  Having  informed  myself  of 
his  profession  and  mission,  I  acquiesced  with  much 
pleasure  in  his  request. 

"  Mr.  Jones,  your  missionary,  having  satisfied  me 
that  those  sent  out  by  your  society  have  no  other 
object  than  to  enlighten  the  people  by  persuasion  and 
conviction,  and  to  discover  to  them  the  means  of  be- 
coming happy  by  evangelizing  and  civilizing  them, 
after  the  manner  of  European  nations,  and  this  not 
by  force,  or  contrary  to  the  light  of  their  under- 
«tandings, — 

"  Therefore,  gentlemen,  I  request  you  to  send  mo, 
if  convenient,  as  many  missionaries  as  you  may  deem 
proper,  together  with  their  families,  if  they  desire  it  ; 
provided  you  send  skilful  artisans  to  make  my  people 
workmen,  as  well  as  good  Christians. 

"  I  avail  myself  of  (his  opportunity,  gentlemen,  to 
promise  all  the  protection,  the  safety,  the  respect,  and 
the  tranquillity,  which  missionaries  may  require  from 
my  subjects. 

"  The  missionaries,  who  are  particularly  needed  at 
present,  are  persons  who  are  able  to  instruct  my  people 
in  the  Christian  religion,  and  in  various  trades,  such 
as  weaving,  carpentering,  Hic.  8ic. 

"  I  shall  expect,  gentlemen,  from  you,  a  satisfactory 
answer  by  an  early  opportunity. 

•*  Accept,  gentlemen,  the  assurance  of  my  esteem 
■nd  alfection. 

(Signed)        "  Raoama  Maneaka." 
In  addition  to  the  pleasure  resulting  from  the  oon- 


MADAOASCAR. 


Ml 

tents  of  this  letter,  the  directors  and  membm  of  the 
London  Missionary  Society  had  the  high  gratifcation, 
at  their  annual  meeting,  in  May,  1881,  of  seeing  emon. 
them  pnnce  Rataffe,  the  brothernn-law  and  prime 
minister  of  Radama ;  who,  a  few  days  before;  had 
been  presented  to  his  Britannic  majesty  at  the  draw- 
ing-room ;  and  who,  on  this  occasion,  was  attended  by 
his  secretary,  his  interpreter,  and  a  gentleman  named 
Marnson,  who  had  accompanied  him  from  the  Mauri- 
tius, together  with  four  of  the  youths  who  had  been 
sent  to  Englapd  for  instruction.     An  address  was  do- 
hvered  to  him  by  the  chairman,  W.  A.  Hankey,  Esq., 
m  French,  and  a  vote  of  thanks,  unanimously  passed, 
for  the  honor  of  his  visit,  was  delivered  to  him  by  that 
venerable  and  amiable  apostle  of  Christ,  the  Rev. 
Rowland  Hill,  whose  name  must  ever  be  dear  to  the 
heart  of  the  editor,  as  that  of  a  faithful  guide  and 
affectionate  teacher,  to  whose  blessed  instrumentality 
he  was  indebted,  in  early  youth,  for  a  discovery  of  his 
own  depravity  as  a  sinner,  and  of  the  suitability  and 
prociousness  of  Christ  as  a  Saviour.     After  remaining 
in  the  assembly  about  half  an  hour,  the  prince  with- 
drew, evidently  gratified  with  the  attentions  which  he 
had  received,  and  the  spectacle  he  had  witnessed. 

The  youths,  who  were  brought  from  Madagascar, 
for  the  purpose  of  being  instructed  in  some  useful  arts, 
were  placed,  at  the  expense  of  government,  in  the 
British  and  Foreign  School,  in  the  Borough-road, 
Southwark,  with  a  view  to  their  learning  to  read  and 
write  the  English  language  ;  and  it  is  pleasing  to  odd, 
that  they  not  only  applied  themselves  to  their  literary 
pursuits  with  commendable  assiduity,  but  some  of 
them  soon  began  to  exhibit  pleasing  indications  of 
early  piety. 

On  the  6th  of  August,  in  the  same  year,  prince 
Rataffe,  accompanied  by  the  Rev.  John  Jeffreys  and 
four  artisans,  sailed  from  Gravesend  for  Madagascar  • 
and,  after  remaining  a  short  time  at  the  Mauritius,  his 
highness  returned  to  Tananarive,  where  he  arrived 
safely  on  the  18th  of  January,  182«,  much  pleaded  with 
the  reception  which  ho  had  met  with  in  England,  and 
anxious  to  detail  the  interesting  particulars  of  his  visit 
wh'ch  were  listened  to  by  the  king  and  the  resident 
missionaries  with  sensations  of  admiration  and  delight. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jeffreys,  with  the  four  missionary 
artisans,  Messrs.  Brookes,  Canham,  Chick  and  Row- 
land,  remained  at  the  Mauritius  till  the  1st  of  May, 
when  his  excellency  governor  Farquhar  kindly  granted' 
them  B  free  pas-sage  to  Ma(laga.=icar,  in  his  majesty's 
ship  the  Menai,  commanded  by  captain  Moresby,  who 
spared  no  pains  Jo  render  their  passage  comfortable. 
On  the  6th,  they  landed  at  Tamatave  ;  and  on  the 
-i:-!,  t::c;-  :ci;  ;:!a;  piacG  lor  trie  ifiCcriur,  nccompamed 

by  J.  Hastie,  Esq.,  the  British  agent.     Their  journey 


463 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


wa9  extreiuel/  difficuU  and  laborious,  owing  to  the 
bad  state  or  Uie  road-^  the  steepness  of  the  hills,  the 
breadtli  of  tlie  riverSj  lakes,  &ic.,  which  lay  between 
them  and  the  place  of  their  destination.  The  same 
divine  and  infallible  Guide,  however,  who  conducted 
Israel  through  the  wildumess,  mercifully  watched  over 
and  protected  them,  and,  on  the  9th  of  June,  they 
reached  Tananarive  in  health  and  safety. 

"  When  we  arrived,"  says  Mr.  Jeffreys,  "  at  the 
bottom  of  the  high  hill  on  which  the  city  is  built,  we 
were  met  by  prince  Rataffe  and  the  English  officer, 
Mr.  Brady,  in  their  military  uniforms,  'accompanied 
by  the  two  missionaries,  Messrs.  Jones  and  Griffiths. 
When  we  began  to  sscead  the  hill,  the  guns  at  the 
top  were  fired.  The  streets,  which  are  very  narrow 
and  irregular,  were  crowded  by  spectators.  Some 
disciplined  troops,  dressed  in  the  European  style,  had 
been  drawn  up  in  the  oourt-yard  of  the  king's  house. 
When  we  entered,  tl;-;  drums  beat,  the  soldiers  pre- 
sented arms,  and  we  hastened  to  meet  king  Radama, 
who  was  waiting  to  rt  ccive  us.  As  we  advanced,  my 
Attention  was  directrd  to  two  alligators,  which  had 
been  recently  taken,  and  were  placed  one  on  each 
side  the  flight  of  steps  that  led  to  the  palace. 

"  Tlie  king  received  us  in  the  most  gracious  man- 
ner, and  we  sat  down  to  a  sumptuous  dinner,  served 
up  in  the  European  manner.  Mrs.  Jeffreys  and  my- 
self were  afterwards  conducted  to  a  house  appointed 
for  us  by  his  majesty.  The  next  morning,  the  king 
sent  us  a  present,  consisting  of  a  sheep,  a  goose  and 
a  duck,  with  fifty  eggs. 

"  On  the  14th  of  June,  the  four  artisans  were  pre- 
sented to  the  king,  who  directed  that  a  piece  of  land, 
eligibly  situated,  should  be  allotted  to  their  use,  on 
which  they  might  erect  houses  and  workshops  ;  and 
that  each  of  them  should  have  two  apprentices,  and  a 
boy  to  serve  them." 

The  following  particulars  arc  extracted  fVom  a  letter 
written  by  one  of  the  artisans  to  the  secretary,  and 
dated  June  30,  1822: — 

"  Our  reception  by  the  king  was  highly  gratifying, 
and  the  kindness  of  the  principal  men  and  the  people 
in  general,  makes  us,  in  a  great  measure,  to  forget  that 
we  are  '  strangers  in  a  strange  land.' 

"  The  presents  which  you  sent  from  England  were 
presented  by  us,  in  a  body,  to  his  majesty.  He  appear- 
ed to  be  much  pleased  with  them  ;  especially  with 
the  Bible  and  portrait.  Afterwards  bis  majesty  pro- 
posed that  each  of  the  ortisans  should  instruct  two  of 
his  boys  in  his  respective  trade,  as  a  remuneration  for 
which,  he  would  give  ua  a  servant  each.  As  the 
motives  by  which  we  were  induced  to  devote  ourselves 
lo  the  work  were  not,  I  trust,  those  of  a  secular  kind, 
a  premium  with  them  was  but  of  small  consideration 


to  us.  His  majesty  also  gave  us  about  two  acras 
of  ground,  bearing  north-west  of  the  city,  and  well 
supplied  with  water.  At  the  commencement,  we  had 
at  least  two  thousand  men  employed  in  levelling  the 
ground  for  the  houses  ;  and  it  is  really  astonishing  to 
see  the  cheerfulness  with  which  they  work  for  us. 
We  daily  expect  the  arrival  of  the  rest  of  our  pack- 
ages from  Tamatave,  when  we  hope  to  pursue  with 
diligence  and  assiduity  the  different  objects  for  which 
we  are  come.  I  have  the  satisfaction  to  inform  you 
that  the  boys  are  tractable  and  obedient,  doing  all 
they  can  to  please  us.  But  while  we  are  diligent  in 
instructing  them  in  things  pertaining  to  this  life,  wo 
hope  to  lead  their  young  minds  to  higher  and  nobler 
objects,  and  remember  that,  while  we  administer  to 
the  body,  'we  must  watch  for  their  souls  as  those 
who  must  give  an  account.'  " 

But,  whilst  the  general  aspect  of  the  mission  was 
thus  bright  and  animating,  a  circumstance  occurred 
which  threw  a  temporary  cloud  over  the  pleasing 
prospect,  and  deeply  depressed  the  spirits  of  our  mis- 
sionaries. This  was  the  unexpected  death  of  Mr. 
Brookes,  who,  on  the  very  day  of  his  arrival  at 
Tananarive,  exhibited  symptoms  of  a  fever,  the  prog- 
ress of  which  baffled  all  the  effects  of  medicine,  and 
in  about  a  fortnight  removed  him  from  the  new  and 
interesting  field  of  labor  which  had  just  opened  to  his 
view.  His  last  days  were  soothed  by  the  affectionate 
and  unremitting  attentions  of  his  brethren  and  their 
kind  patron,  Mr.  Hasiie,  and  his  soul  was  supported 
and  animated  by  a  hope  full  of  immortality.  Ho 
expired  on  the  24th  of  June,  and  his  remains  w<  re 
interred,  the  following  day,  in  a  spot  of  ground  given 
to  the  brethren  for  a  cemetery,  and  ordered  to  be 
enclosed  for  that  purpose. 

"  Ho  was  carried  to  the  grave,"  says  Mr.  Canham, 
"  by  natives.  Messrs.  Jones,  Griffiths  and  Jeffreys 
went  before  with  white  scarfs  and  hat-bands  ;  Mr.  Chick 
and  myself  met  the  corpse  with  hat-bands  and  gloves  ; 
and  the  two  German  botanists  followed  us.  After 
them  came  the  various  artisans ;  and  lastly,  the  children 
of  the  school." 

Thousands  of  the  inhabitants  from  all  parts  of  the 
town  crowded  to  behold  the  spectacle,  and  it  was  un- 
derstood that  they  were  much  struck  wi'h  the  solem- 
nity with  which  the  funeral  was  conducted.  At  the 
grave,  Mr.  Jones  read  some  portio.ns  of  Scripture,  and 
gave  out  two  hynms,  one  at  the  commencement,  and 
the  other  at  the  close  of  the  service.  Mr.  Griffiths 
prayed,  and  Mr.  Jeffreys  gave  a  short  address  from 
Job  xxxvii.  23,  and  concluded  with  prayer. 

This  mournful  event  excited  great  lamentation,  not 
only  amongst  the  missionaries,  but  also  amongst  the 
natives,  even  of  the  highest  ranks.     When  the  kina's 


MAUAttASCAR.    J'JrWM 


mother  was  informed  of  it,  she  burst  into  tears,  and  the 
king's  ministers  also  manifested  much  sorrow. 

In  the  month  of  September,   1823,  the  brethren 
performed  a  tour  in  a  part  of  the  country  situated  in 
the  south-east  of  Tananarive,  in  order  to  fix  on  eligible 
stations  for  the  fom,ation  of  schools,  and,  eventually, 
for  the  preaching  of  the  gospel.     On  the  first  day  of 
their  journey,  they  ascended  a  hill  in  the  vicinity  of  a 
place  called  Alasoura,  from  which  they  counted,  with- 
in  the  compass  of  two  or  three  miles,  twenty  villages, 
most  of  them  large  and  populous ;  and,  as  many  of  thei^ 
elder  pup.ls  at  Tananarive  were,  at  this  time,  qualified 
for  the  office  of  school-master,  they  were  naturally  led 
to  cherish  the  pleasing  anticipation  that  they  might 
soon  be  enabled  to  establish  schools  in  some  of  the 
circumjacent  villages;  particularly  as,  in  the  course 
of  this  tour,  many  of  the  natives  expressed  a  desire 
that  thei-  children  might  be  instnicted,  and  without 
contending  for  their  own  superstitions,  admitted  the 
superiority  of  the  religion  promulgated  by  the  mis- 
sionaries. 

On  the  23d  of  May,  1824,  the  infant  son  of  the 
Itev   D.  Jones  was  dedicated  to  God  in  baptism  ;  and 
as  this  was  the  first  time  that  the  ordinance  had  been 
solemnized,  in  the  native  language,  at  Tananarive,  the 
place  was  excessively  crowded,  and  even  the  doors 
and  windows  were  completely  lined  with  people.    Mr 
Jones  having  first  preached  in  English  on  the  subject 
of  mfant  baptism,  from  Luke  xviii.  16,  Mr.  Griffiths 
delivered  a  discourse  in  Malegache,  on  the  divine  in- 
stitution of  the  ordinance,  and  the  mode  of  its  admin- 
istration   from  Matt,  xxviii.  19.     He  then  took  the 
child  m  his  arms,  and  baptized  it  with  the  words  pre- 
scribed by  our  blessed  Redeemer,  first  in  the  English 
and  afterwards  in  the  native  language.     His  majesty 
Radama  was  present,  and  appeared  to  pay  the  grcntest 
attention  to  every  thing  that  was  said  on  this  interest- 
ing occasion. 

In  a  communication  addressed,  about  this  time,  to 
the  friends  of  one  of  the  missionary  artisans,  the  writer 
observes  that  the  prejudices  of  the  natives  of  Madagas- 
car  are  stronger,  and  their  superstitious  observances 
more  numerous,  than  many  persons  in  England  are 
a^^re  of,  though  they  are  perceptibly  losing  ground. 
"  There  are  here,"  says  he,  "  many  diviners,  or  per- 
sons who  pretend  to  foretell  future  events ;  but  though 
their  influence  over  the  minds  of  the  people,  in 
general,  is  still  great,  it  is  not  so  absolute  as  it  for- 
meriy  was. 

"  Infanticide  has  been  here  carried  on  to  an  awful 
extent,  from  time  immemorial ;  and  the  country  has 
been  drenched  with  the  blood  of  thousands  of  innocent 
babes,  who  happened  to  bo  born  on  what  their  sunar- 
■titious  parents  considered  as  unlucky  days.      This 


463 

cruel  and  unnatural  practice  i,  „ow  discountenanced 

dl^ye^''  "  "  ''PP"'''««'«d  -"-"y  are  stHI 

"  Anoth  r  most  destructive  a^d  depopulating  prac 
tice,  not  yet  extinguished,  is  that  of  trial  by  polon  ■ 
which  19  somewhat  similar  to  the  ordeal  formerly  re- 
sorted to  in  Britain,  in  doubtful  cases.  If  a  person  be 
suspected  of  a  crime,  his  judges  order  poison  to  be 
given  to  him,  which,  if  innocent,  he  readily  drinks, 
believing  that  it  will  not  kill  him.  Many  persons 
indeed,  conscious  of  their  own  innocence,  have  request- 
ed permission  to  swallow  the  deleterious  draught,  under 
this  persuasion,  and  have  consequently  fallen  sacrifices 
to  the  sad  delusion. 

"  There  are  many  idols,  holy  places  and  sacred 
stones  in  the  country.  At  the  foot  of  the  hill  to  the 
westward,  on  which  Tananarive  is  built,  is  a  holy 
stone,  covered  with  bits  of  old  robes,  fastened  to  it  by 
the  poor  natives,  who  verily  imagine  that  by  this  act 
they  shall  be  so  fortunate  as  to  obtain  new  ones. 
Have  respect  unto  thy  covenant,  O  Lord  ;  for  the 
dark  places  of  the  earth  are  full  of  the  habitations  of 
cruelty  and  superstition.'  "  » 

The  following  extract  of  a  letter  from  the  Rev.  Mr 
Griffiths  to  a  missionary  at  the  Mauritius,  and  dated 
Septembers,  1824,  contains  such  important  and  picas- 
1%  information  as  cannot  fail  of  proving  acceptable  to 
the  pious  reader  :— 

"  I  have  the  pleasure  to  inform  yon,  that  this  mis- 
sion  has  never  worn  a  more  promising  aspect,  than  it 
has  since  last  May.     The  king  continues  his  protec- 
tion to  us,  and  gives  us  encouragement  to  labor  with 
assiduity.     We  have  twenty-two  schools  established 
since  last  April,  under  his  majesty's  patronage,  wherein 
more  than  two  thousand  children  are  instructed     Our 
first  scholars,  who  teach  at  the  diflerent  villages,  are 
much  more  capable  of  teaching  than  I  expected  ;  their 
ardent  pursuit  after  knowledge,  and  their  unceasing 
assiduity  in  communicating  instruction  to  others,  afford 
us  great  satisfaction  and  encouragement.     Those  vil- 
lages  that    have    above   eighty    scholars,    have    four 
teachers,  two  to  teach  every  other  week  by  turns, 
while  the  other  two  are  learning  in  town  ;  so  that  tliey 
are  one  week  learning,  and  the  other  teaching.     The 
scholars,  both  in  town  and  the  country,  have  learnt 
almost  the  whole  of  a  large  catechism  of  Dr.  Brown's, 
which  I  have  translated,  and  formed  for  the  use  of  the' 
schools,  and  to  which  I  have  added  several  questions 
and  replies  concerning  the  creation,  the  inorul  law,  the 
Saviour,  and  the  future  state.     The  progress  of  our 
pupils  ii  very  encouraging,  in  the  knowledge  of  the 
word  of  salvation. 

I  uarc  a  ciiapci  cuiit,  aiinc-Aou  to  my  iiuuse,  with 
a  gallery  which  will  cwi^in  mnro  than  one  thousand 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


iMMuraiB.  Mr.  JoBW  and  nqrielf  prMoh  by  tuoM  whm 
w«  sfe  in  town,  od«  m  Engluh,  and  tb*  other  in 
Madagasse.  About  two  montha  ago,  Mr.  Jones  and 
I  commenced  visitii^  tfae  villages  where  schools  are 
established,  to  preach  and  catechise ;  we  go  by  turns 
every  Sunday,  and  have  thronged  congregations.  Our 
chapel  in  town  is  crowded,  and  the  doors  and  windows 
on  the  sabbath  are  lined.  We  have  three  or  four, 
and  sometimes  five  thousand  hearers  in  town,  and 
often  two  or  three  thousand  in  the  country,  besides  the 
assembling  of  three  or  four  schools.  We  catechize 
them  first,  and  then  we  sing,  and  pray,  and  pieaoh, 
often  in  the  open  air.  We  ask  them  to  repeat  what 
they  remember  of  the  sermon,  and  we  propose  to  them 
any  question  that  may  occur  to  us.  The  talents  they 
display  on  these  occasions  would  put  many  a  one  in 
Elngland,  who  has  been  hearing  the  gospel  for  twenty 
years,  to  the  blush. 

"  Mr.  JeflTreys  is  settled  at  a  village  in  a  populous 
district,  about  twenty  miles  to  the  east  of  us,  and  has 
about  sixty  scholars  under  his  tuition.  We  have 
furnished  him  with  the  catechism,  and  portions  of  the 
Scriptures  translated,  as  wn  have  also  Mr.  Canham  and 
Mr.  Rowland. 

"  Mr.  Canham  is  settled  at  a  village  in  a  populous 
district,  about  twelve  miles  to  the  west  of  us,  and  has 
about  one  hundred  and  ten  scholars  under  tuition,  be- 
sides the  superintendence  of  his  apprentices  to  carry 
on  his  trade.  Mr.  Rowland  is  settled  about  fifteen 
miles  to  the  southward,  in  another  populous  village, 
and  has  more  than  one  hundred  scholars,  together  with 
a  few  apprentices  to  teach  his  trade. 

"  As  to  the  translation  of  the  Scriptures,  I  have 
translated  the  book  of  Exodus,  and  the  Gospels  by 
Mark  and  Luke,  and  also  of  the  Psalms,  as  far  as  the 
50th,  and  the  first  three  chapters  of  the  Epistle  to  the 
Romans.     I  have  also  prepared  a  series  of  plain  dis- 
courses on  the  ten  commandments,  on  the  birth  and 
sufllerings  of  Jesus  Christ,  the  day  of  judgment,  and 
the  future   state  of  the   righteous   and  the  wicked ; 
and  I  am  forming  a  course  of  plain  sermons  on  prayer, 
&c.     Mr.  Jones  has  finished  translating  the  book  of 
Genesis,  and  the  Gospel  by  Matthew,  and  is  far  ad- 
vanced with  the  Gospel  by  John,  and  the  AcU,  and 
with  the  first  book  of  Samuel,  tic.     He  has  prepared 
a  series  of  discourses  on  the  work  of  creation,  and  is 
also  preparing  discourses  on  the  divine  attributes.    You 
see,  by  all  this,  that  we  stand  in  the  greatest  need  of 
a  printer  and  a  priniing-press.    Mr.  Chick  is  employed 
every  Sunday  in  catechising  the  children,  and  every 
week-day  busily  engaged  in  his  trade.     Every  thing  is 
going  on  at  present  in  union  and  peace.     Notwith- 
standing, however,  the  pleasing  aspect  the  mission  wears, 
we  have  great  prejudices  and  superstitions  to  encounter. 


The  tenacity  of  the  natives  to  rank  and  caste,  and  the 
manners  and  customs  of  their  forefetbers;  their  nuroeioiw 
idols,  which  we  did  not  know  much  of  till  lately,  when 
we  began  to  preach  against  them ;  their  mode  of  sacri- 
ficing to  obtain  good  and  take  away  evil ;  ^H  these 
prejudices  and  superstitions  (though  the  youths  who 
are  instructed  laugh  at  them)  present  formidable  obsM- 
cles  to  our  efibrts.  We  are  convinced  more  and  more 
of  the  necessity  there  is  of  divine  influence,  to  bring 
sinners  to  the  knowledge  of  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus. 
May  the  breath  come,  and  breathe  upon  these  slain, 
that  they  may  Uve  I" 

Of  the  youths  who,  under  the  auspices  of  the 
British  government,  were  first  placed  under  the  British 
and  Foreign  School,  to  which  we  have  already  alluded, 
and  were  afterwards  put  under  the  care  of  suitable 
masters,  in  diflferent  places,  for  the  purpose  of  learning 
the  trades  assigned  them,  the  directors  observed,  in 
their  annual  report.  May,  1825,  that  "one  of  them, 
during  the  past  year,  has  departed  this  life,  leaving 
behind    him   pleasing  evidence   of   real   conversion. 
Three  liave  left  England,  for  their  own  country,  of 
whom  two  were  in  a  state  of  health  that  rendered  their 
return  indispensable.     The  other,  named  Joseph  Ver- 
key,  having  given  proof  of  his  sincere  belief  in  Chris- 
tianity, was  baptised,  at  his  own  earnest  request,  prior 
to  embarkation.     The  remaining  three  are  diligently 
employed  m  acquiring  a  knowledge  of  their  respective 
trades,  and   afford   proof,  in    their  conduct,  of  the 
benefit  they  have  derived  from  Christian  instruction." 
Messrs.  Jones  and  Griffiths  commenced  preaching  in 
Madagasse  in   February,  1826 ;   their  congregations 
consisting  usually  of  about  one  thousand,  but  occasion- 
ally of  as  many  as  three,  and  even  five  thousand. 
Several  parts  of  the  Scriptures  had  also  been  translated, 
and  some  books  were  prepared  and  preparing  for  pub- 
lication.    On  the  21st  of  April,  Mr.  JeflVeys  removed 
to   Amhaloumanga,   a    large    village   situated   aboMt 
twenty  miles  from  Tananarive,  where  he  commenced  a 
school  for  boys,  and  Mrs.  Jeffreys  another  for  girls,  and 
conducted  stated  services  in  Madagasse.     It  having 
been  judged  expedient  that  tlie  artisans  should  super- 
intend the  schoolji,  Mr.  Canham  removed  to  a  village 
about  twelve  miles  from  the  capital,  where  he  had  a 
school  of  one  hundred  and  ten  boys  ;  and  Mr.  Rowland  to 
another  village,  about  fifteen  miles  distant  from  the  same, 
where  he  had  a  school  containing  one  hundred  boys. 
Each  of  them  superintended  apprentices,  who  learned 
their  respective  trades ;  and  Mr.  Chick  was  diligently 
empWyed   on    the   sabbath  in   catechising  children ; 
■nil  on  the  week-days  in  his  trade.     In  the  following 
year,  the  labors  of  the  missionaries  were  continued  ; 
the  translation  of  the  Madagasse  New  Testampnt  was 
completed ;  a  printer,  a  cotton  spinner  and  a  carpenter 


■n 


Twre  Wiit«at;  «d  tb«  nissioii  was  deprived  of  a  v^ 
MWe  agent  by  the  death  of  Mr.  Jeffi«yi.  About  tfaw 
tone,  aoine  of  the  Madagaste  youth.,  one  of  whom  bad 
l»een,«t  ha  own  earnest  re^oeat,  baptised,  aitived  at 
the  capital. 

The  report  for  the  year  1827  says,— «  The  Rev. 
«r.  Johns,  and  Messrs.  Cameron  and  Cummings,  mis- 
wonary  artisans,  with  their  wives,  accompanied   by 
Koloun  Boloun,  another  of  the  Madagasse  youths  who 
had  also  been  baptized,  arrived  at  Tananarive  on  the 
nth  of  September.     Mr.  Johns  will  reside  for  a  time 
m  the  capital      During  a  part  of  the  day,  he  wiU  in- 
ftruct  some  of  the  boys  in  the  school  in  English,  and 
in  the  other  apply  himself  to  the  study  of  Madagasse. 
with  the  assistance  of  Mr.  Griffiths.     He  takes  his 
turn  in  English  preaching  with  the  other  missionaries." 
Native  Schools.-"  The  number  of  these  is  twenty- 
eight,  containing  one  thousand  five  hundred  boys  and 
foor  hundred  and  fifty  girls,  making  a  total  of  nearly 
two  thousand;  of  whom,  on  an  average,  about  one 
Jwusand  seven  hundred  are  regular  in  their  attendance. 
These  schools  are  scattered  over  the  country,  within 
a  circuit  of  thirty  miles  around  the  capital.     His  ma- 
jesty  Kadama  has  signified  his  pleasure  that  twelve  of 
the  more  promising  boys  in  the  central  school   for 
royal  college)  should   be   instructed  in  Greek   and 
Latin.     In  this  school  there  are  about  one  hundred  and 
sixty  boys. 

"  Two  of  the  best  instructed  boys  assist  as  ushers  in 
the  central  school,  and  another  has  the  sole  charge  of 
a  large  school  in  the  country,  with  some  of  his  late 
schoo  .fellows  for  assistants.     Many  more  boys  are 
capable  of  taking  a  similar  charge,  should  the  enlarge- 
ment of  the  school-fund  enable  the  missionaries  to 
increase  the  number  of  schools. 
•    "  The  result  of  the  public  examination  of  the  schools 
for  1825—6,  which  took  place  at  Tananarive,  in  March 
of  the  latter  year,  was  highly  satisfactory.    His  majesty 
Kadama  was  present,  and  personally  engaged  in  the  ex- 
Vnination.     The  missionaries  exercise  a  general  super- 
intendence  over  the  schools,  and  occasionally  visit 
them,  for  the  purpose  of  inspecting  the.  \  an<{  examin- 
mg  the  scholars.     They  state  that  the  progress  made 
by  the  children  in  the  knowledge  of  the  Christian 
religion  is  truly  gratifying.   The  number  of  Madagasses 
who  attend  the  native  lervicei  is  not  large.       The 
missionaries  remark  that  the  adults,  generally  speaking, 
evince  little  desire  to  hear  the  gospel ;  but  many  young 
persons,  belonging  to  the  schools",  appear  very  atten- 
tive, and  afford  ground  for  the  hope  of  better  things  in 
reference  to  the  rising  generation.     Mr.  Hovendon,  it 
was    hoped,  would   commence    the    printing   of  the 
Madagasse  translallon  of  the  New  Testamont,  but  his 
life  was  sud.ieniy  lorminated.     The  rapidly  advancing 
Vol.  I.— Nos.  39  «fe  40.  d 


MADAGASCAR. 


r^Mj^iXj 


^^© 


mmster,  4br  the  dissemimrtion  at  Ae  «o«p«f  in  Madk. 

died.     Bytheintnguesofoneofhi.queens,a  number 
of  men  of  the  highest  rank  were  put  to  death,  and 
among  the  rest,  the  heir  presumptive  to  the  throne! 
the  amiable,  pious  and  intelligent  prince  Rakatobi.  a 
youth  about  fifteen  years  of  age. 

The  deputation,  on  their  return  from  India,  visited 

Madagascar,  and  made  very  interesting  tours  through 

this  romantic  island.     They  arrived  at  Tananariv^ 

on  the  2l8t  July,  and  at  the  close  of  the  day  Mr 

Tyerman  entered   the  following  record  of  mercies:' 

Hitherto  the  Lord  hath  helped  us.     O  what  grati- 

tude  we  owe  to  God  for  preserving  us  from  all  acci- 

dents,  and  allowing  us  to  reach  this  city  tn  the  enjoy. 

"^'nt  of  the  best  health,  after  traversing  a  oountry 

which,  at  certain  seasons,  is  so  subject  to  feven  and 

dMease      We  are  in  the  heart  of  this  heathen  land, 

b«  under  the  kmd  protecting  wing  of  its  sovereign. 

!"  I,  *"""  ■""*  Snttefel  for  favors  so  many  and 

great !     To  God  be  all  the  gloiy !»    July  80th,  Mr. 

1  yerman  expired  suddenly.   His  attack  was  apoplexy. 

The  last  words  which  could  be  understood,  as  they 

escaped  bis  lips,  were,  "AH  u  right  :-tht  eovenoHt, 

-the  covenant  of  grace  /»  The  death  of  Radama  was 

a  distressing  event  to  the   missionaries.      Life   and 

property  were,  for  a  period,  insecure.  At  a  kabarre,  or 

national  assembly,  allegiance  was  sworn  to  Ranavalona 

Manjaka,  one  of  the  queens  of  Radama's  father,  and 

she  continued  to  countenance  the  missionaries. 

It  would  be  Improper  to  pass  over  the  death  of  Ra- 
dama without  further  notice.     It  was  a  circumstance 
deeply  to  be  deplored.    He  was  enlightened,  sagacious 
and  liberal ;  animated  by  a  strong  desire  to  promote 
the  improvempnt  of  his  country,  and  encourage  its 
advancement  in  literature,  science  and  art.     He  had 
abolished  the  slave-trade,  and  put  down  many  of  the 
superstitions  of  the  country.      He  on   all  occasions 
evinced  his  friendship  for  the  brethren,  and  his  readi- 
ness to  protect  and  encourage  them  in  their  labors. 
Mr.  Baker  printer  to  the  mission,  arrived  at  the  capi- 
tal in  1828.     The  schools  in  existence  at  the  death 
of  the  king,  and   established   under   his   immediate 
auspices,  were  ninety-three,  containing  four  thousand 
scholars.     It  is  painful  to  state  that  the  idolatrous 
superstitions  of  the  country,  which  had,  under  the  late 
reign,  lost  much  of  their  credit,  regained,  under  the 
sanction  of  the  new  government,  a  portion  of  their 
ancient  authority  and  dominion  over  the  minds  of  th« 
people.     The  systems  of  idolatrv  and  divuist'nr.  trs;^ 
restored  through  Imerina  by  official  decrees. 


LONDON  MISSIONAirr  SOCIETY. 


lu  1830,  Mr.  Fraeinan  repaired  to  the  Cape,  in- 
teadiog  to  assist  Dr.  Philip ;  but  he  was  soon  bvited 
to  return,  with  friendly  assurances  of  patronage. 
Hr.  Freeman  has  since  informed  the  directors,  that 
the  disposition  of  the  queen  to  encourage  the  mission 


has  been  rteenily  proved  bejrond  suspicion,  and  the 
dark  cloud  seems  rapidly  passing  over  this  interesting 
land.  Mr.  Freeman,  on  his  return,  was  accompanied 
by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Atkinson. 


CHAPTER    V. 


MISSIONS   IN   THE   EAST   INDIES. 


India,  among  the  most  remote,  and,  in  many  points 
of  view,  the  most  important  of  the  London  Missionary 
Society's  spheres  of  labor,  excites  every  year  a  deeper 
sympathy  in  the  spiritual  state  of  its  inhabitants,  and 
a  stronger  and  livelier  interest  in  the  developement 
of  that  certain  progress  with  which  the  Redeemer  is, 
by  his  almighty  power,  advancing  his  kingdom  among 
its  numerous  and  varied  tribes.  Towards  India  the 
society  directed,  not  indeed  iu  first,  but  its  earlier, 
efforts.  Here  iu  operations  take  the  widest  range, 
and  its  missionaries  come  into  contact  with  the  largest 
masses  of  mankind.  Here  superstition  pervades  every 
scene,  and  exhibits  its  lineamenu  and  form,  upon 
almost  every  object  of  vision,  while  idolatry  the  most 


organized  and  complete,  a  system  which  is  the  master- 
piece of  Satanic  wisdom,  is  inwrought  with  the  texture 
and  framework  of  society.  The  chain  of  e<ute,  alone, 
seems  designed,  and  until  destroyed  by  the  power  of 
God,  is  adapted  to  render  idolatry,  in  spite  of  all  that 
man  can  devise  or  employ,  perpetual  and  supreme. 
In  India  the  society  has  expended  a  large  portion  of 
its  resources,  and  employed  a  number  of  its  devoted 
agents  ;  and  here,  too,  it  has  been  called  to  make  the 
costliest  sacrifice  of  holy  life.  These  circumstances 
invest  India  with  peculiar  interest. 

We  shall  divide  India  into— 1.  Northern  India; 
2.  Penmsular  India;  3.  Travancore;  and  4.  Ultra 
Ganges. 


I.    NORTHERN    INDIA. 


CAtCCTTi. 
BCRHAMPORS. 


CALCUTTA  DISTRICT. 
Statiom, 

KiDDERPORE. 

Benares. 


Chinsurah. 

SURAT. 


CALCUTTA. 


CALCtTTTA,  the  capital  of  British  India,  stands  on  the 
etstem  bank  of  the  river  Hoogley,  about  one  hundred 
miles  from  the  sea.  The  approach  to  the  city  is  mag- 
nificent.  The  river,  at  high  tide,  is  one  mile  broad. 
Although  the  marshes  have  been  drained,  yet  the  air 
is  rendered  at  periods  very  unhealthy  in  consequence 


of  the  vicinity  of  th«  jungles  called  the  Sunderbundi. 
The  city  extends  six  miles  along  the  river.  Fort 
William  stands  one  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  city. 
The  number  of  houses,  in  1830,  was  97,500 ;  the 
population,  600,000. 
In  the  year  1798,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Forsyth  was  sent 


to  Calcutta.  He  preached  for  several  years  every 
Su  jay  at  Chinsurah,  where  he  resided,  and  also  at 
Caicutta,  where  be  had  the  uueof  a  large  chapel  open 
to  aU  denominations  of  Christians. 

The  Rev.  Messrs.  Townley  and  Keith  arrived  at 
Calcutta  in  September,  1816,  and,  at  an  early  period, 
began  to  preach,  in  Bengalee,  the  gospel  of  God. 
To  their  own  countrymen,  also,  they  proclaimed  the 
truth  with  acceptance  and  success.    They  likewise 
opened  a  place  for  preaching  at  Howrah,  on  the  other 
side  the  nver  Hoogley,  where  the  attendance  was 
good.      Agreeably  to  their  instructions,  they  were 
active  m  the  establishment  of  schools.     Mr.  Townley 
built  a  school-room  at  Calcutta,  capable  of  accommo- 
datmg  about  one  hundred  children,  and  Mr.  Koith 
engaged  a  poojah-house  (a  place  for  pagan  worship) 
for  another     A  Sunday  school  was  also  commenced, 
in  which  the  children  learnt  the  catechism,  and  at 
Which  some  of  their  parents  attended. 

In    1817,  a  school  book  society  was  established, 
principally  for  the  supply  of  native  schools,  as  was 
also  the  Calcutta  School  Society,  the  design  of  which 
IS  to  improve  existing  schools,  and  to  establish  and 
support  any  further  schools  and  seminaries  which  may 
be  requisite  ;.  with  a  view  to  a  more  general  diffusion 
of  knowledge  among  the  inhabitants  of  India,  of  every 
description,  especially  within  the  provinces  subject  to 
the  presidency  of  Fort  William.     The  missionaries 
were  exceedingly  active  in  distributing  Scripture  and 
evangelical  tracts  among  the  people ;  and  to  assist 
them  in  doing  this,  a  printer  (Mr.  Gogeriy)  and  print- 
ing materials  wore  sent  to  Calcutta. 

The  erection  of  a  spacious  and  commodious  chapel, 
to  be  called  Union  ckapel,v/tia  contemplated  in  1818 
towards  which  the  sum  of  14,000  sicca  rupees  (about 
£1750  steriing)  had  been  subscribed  ;  exclusive  of 
which,  the  sum  of  2200  sicca  rupees  (or  £275) 
had  been  contributed  in  support  of  public  worship. 
The  Bengal  Auxiliary  Missionary  Society  produced, 
in  two  years,  2400  sicca  rupees  (or  about  £300). 
The  total  sum,  in  steriing  money,  contributed  at  Cal- 
cutta for  religious  purposes,  and  received  by  Messrs. 
Townley  and  Keith,  up  to  August,  1818  (i.  e.  in  less 
than  two  years),  amounted  to  upwards  of  £-2300. 

The  Rev.  Messrs.  Hampson  and  Trawin  arrived, 
with  their  wives,  at  Calcutta,  February  8th,  1819 ;  but, 
a  few  months  after,  Mrs.  Hampson  was  removed  by 
death.  In  the  decline  of  the  previous  year,  Messrs. 
Townley  and  Keith  occupied  a  new  station,  called 
Tally  Ounge,  situated  about  four  miles  from  the 
southern  boundary  of  the  city,  in  the  midst  of  an  ex- 
tremely populous  neighborhood.  In  a  circuit  of  about 
twenty  miles,  reckoning  throe  miles  from  Tally  Gunge 
sr.  a,,  vsreclions,  it  is  eaJcuiatcsd  that  iheie  are  not  less 


CALCUTTA. 


m 


than  100000  souls.  Me«m,.  Townley  and  Keith  had 
eontinued  to  visit  this  place  untU  th.  Jain,  sefi  Ld 
to  pre«h  ahemately.  sometimes  not  only  tZZZt 
but  to  largo  congregation.  ;  .vailing  th.,Llv«  o?  thJ 
opportumty  of  distributing  tract,  m  they  pa«ed  alone 
the  road.  A  school-room  was  built  here.  Jd  S 
or  forty  chddren  attended,  who  were  taught  to  ri"d 
the  Scriptures.  A  gentleman  of  Calcutta  kindly  ac- 
commodated the  brethren  with  a  substantial  brick 
house,  which  they  were  permitted  to  occupy  for  three 
years,  without  payment  of  rent.  , 

In  consequence  of  the  arrival  of  Messrs.  Hampson 
and  Trawin  religious  services  had  again  been  estab- 
ished  at  the  Howrah,  where,  for  want  of  assistance, 
they  had  been  reluctantly  discontinued.  The  breth 
ren  had  obtained  two  plots  of  ground  on  the  north- 
east  side  of  the  city,  for  the  erection  of  two  bunga- 
lows, to  be  used  as  native  chapels. 

On  the  21st  September,  1820,  the  mission  sustained 

a  heavy  loss,  by  the  dissolution  of  Mr.  Hampson. 

Uunng  that  year,  the  missionaries  had  devoted  them- 

selves  more  exclusively  to  the  preaching  of  the  Kosnel 

among  the  heathen.   They  established  for  that  purple 

twenty-one  stations,  at  each  of  which  they  preached 

in  Bengalee  once  every  week.     The  largest  bungalow 

chapel  for  native  worship,  erected  by  a  member  of  the 

English  congregation,  and  presented  by  him  to  the 

Bengal- Auxiliary  Missionary  Society,  for  the  use  of 

tile   mission,    is   situated    at    Kidderpore.       It    was 

opened   on  the  5th   of  March,    1820,   when   about 

one  hundred  and  fifty  natives  attended  the  service 

throughout. 

For  the  spot  of  ground  on  which  another  bungalow 
chapel  was  built,  the  brethren  were  indebted  to  the 
kind  influence  of  a  very  eminent  native,  a  Braroin 
The  proprietor  of  the  ground,  who  was  also  a  Bramin 
had  more  than  once  attended  the  chapel,  and,  at  the 
conclusion  of  one  of  the  services,  so  far  expressed  his 
approbation  as  to  say,  "  that  he  deemed  it  a  good 
work  to  point  out  to  his  countrymen  the  delusion  of 
worshipping  idols,  and  bowing  down  to  gods  which 
cannot  save." 

Divine  worship,  in  English,  was  regularly  held  at 
the  Freemasons'  Lodge,  which  continued  to  be  gratu- 
itously  afforded  to  the  mission,  twice  every  sabbath 
day.  In  the  morning,  about  one  hundred  and  twenty 
assembled  ;  in  the  evening,  about  one  hundred  and 
forty.  The  church  consisted  of  about  thirty  membere, 
who  walked  worthy  of  their  holy  vocation.  Every 
sabbath  morning,  children  of  all  denominations,  whose 
parents  were  disposed  to  send  them,  were,  at  the  same 
place,  instructed  in  the  principles  of  Christianity. 

A  printing-press  was  established  in  connection  with 
the  mission  at  this  station,  and  was  placed  under  th»^ 


408 


LONDON  MISSIONART  SOCIETY. 


m&n  immedMite  MperntendeBoe  of  tfa«  Beagal  Ainil- 
iaxy  Society. 

The  Rev>  Mesvs.  James  Hill,  Mieaiab  Hill  and 
J.  B.  Warden  arrived,  with  their  wives,  at  Calcutu, 
March  6th,  1828.  Mr.  Trawin,  diortly  after,  removed 
to  Kidderpoie  with  his  family.  The  native  schools 
gradaally  increased,  and  one  for  native  females,  which 
had  been  under  the  care  of  Mrs.  Trawin,  was  in  a 
floarisbing  state.  It  was  ascertained,  that-  female 
education  was  anciently  prevalent  among  the  Hindoos, 
notwithstanding  it  is,  at  present,  so  much  discounte- 
nanced by  the  Bramins,  as  being  contrary  to  the  in- 
stitutes of  Menou.  To  assist  in  furthering  this  object, 
the  Missionary  Society  placed  at  the  disposal  of  Mr. 
Townley  the  sum  of  1000  sicca  rupees. 

An  institution,  called  the  Christian  School  Society, 
was  also  formed  at  Calcutta,  the  object  of  which  is 
to  introduce  Christian  instruction  into  the  indigenous, 
or  nativ6  schools,  under  the  entire  management  of 
native  school-masters. 

A  Bethel  society  was  established  at  Calcutta,  in 
connection  with  the  Baptist  brethren  who  reside  at 
Serampore  and  Calcutta,  in  the  same  year ;  as  was 
also  an  auxiliary  Bethel  association.  The  station, 
however,  was  called  to  suffer  a  severe  loss  in  the  re- 
moval of  Mr.  Townley,  on  account  of  health,  first  to 
Chinsurah,  and  afterwards  to  England. 

In  1823  and  1824,  success  accompanied  the  various 
efforts  of  the  missionaries.  Union  chapel  was  well 
attended,  and  Mr.  Hill  was  diligent  in  the  discharge 
of  his  duties  as  pastor  of  the  infant  church.  The 
sabbath  school  was  in  a  prosperous  state.  Bengalee 
preaching  was  continued  at  the  bungalow  chapel, 
Mirzapore,  opened  some  time  before,  and  the  school 
at  that  place  was  under  the  superintendence  of  Mrs. 
Warden.  A  bungalow  chapel  had  been  erected  for 
divine  worship  in  the  native  language,  on  the  main 
road  of  Bhopanipore.  The  station  at  Tally  Gunge 
was  occupied  for  some  time,  but  was  afterwards  va- 
cated at  the  request,  and  h  favor  of,  (he  diocesan  com- 
mittee. At  Kidderpore,  Mr.  Trawin's  prospects  were 
becoming  daily  more  interesting  and  encouraging.  A 
chapel  had  been  erected,  nearly  the  whole  sum  for 
which  (about  £400)  had  been  subscribed.  A  sabbath 
adult  school  had  been  commenced,  composed  of  the 
workmen  of  a  gentleman  at  Kidderpore.  A  native 
school  for  boys,  and  another  for  girls,  had  been  com- 
menced at  Chittah,  a  few  miles  from  Kidderpore.  At 
Howalee,  a  village  near  Chittah,  a  native  girls'  school 
had  been  commenced,  called  ihe  Irvine  Female  School. 
A  native  boys'  school  had  been  opened  at  Bealbab,  a 
large  village  situated  about  three  miles  south  of  Kid- 
derpore, under  circumstances  of  extraordinary  promise. 
The  villace.  which  is  verv  nonnlniin.  !■  aiiiin»o<i  :«  tu^ 


midst  of  several  other  village*,  and  is  inhabited  chiefly 
by  Bramins.  One  of  these,  a  respectable  and  wealthy 
individual,  named  Haldam,  publicly  countenanced  the 
school ;  and  of  the  one  hundred  boys  which  composed 
it,  he  waa  instrumental  in  placing  eighty  under  in- 
struction. 

Ir.  the  summer  of  18S3,  Mr.  Trawin  performed  a 
tour  in  Bengal,  for  the  purpose  of  conversing  with  the 
natives  on  religious  subjects,  preaching  and  distrib- 
uting tracts.  And  in  December  of  the  same  year,  Mr. 
Trawin,  accompanied  by  Messrs.  Hill  and  Warden, 
proceeded  as  far  as  Gour,  the  ancient  capital  of  Ben- 
gal. At  some  of  the  places  visited  in  the  course  of 
the  journey,  the  people  remembered  the  illustrations 
used  by  the  brethren  in  conversations  on  a  former  tour, 
and  requested  that  one  of  their  number  might  remain 
among  them  as  a  missionary. 

The  proceeds  of  the  Bengal  Auxiliary  Missionary 
Society,  for  the  year  ending  31  st  December,  1823,  were, 

S.  R.  3313  8  6 

Calcutta  Ladies'  Br.  Society 818  4  0 

Chinsurah  do.  557  0  0 

-The  Rev.  Mr.  and  Miss  Fiflard  reached  Calcutta 
at  the  close  of  1825,  and  found  the  various  means  of 
religious  instruction  vigorously  employed.  In  addition 
to  those  already  mentioned,  a  new  station  at  Wellesley 
street  had  been  taken,  a  bungalow  had  been  erected, 
and  a  school  commenced  for  both  sexes.  The  bun- 
galow was  opened  for  worship  in  Bengalee,  on  the 
27th  January,  1825,  and  the  natives  listened  to  the 
gospel  with  attention,  and  the  appearance,  at  least, 
of  approbation.  Mr.  and  Miss  Piffard  took  up  their 
residence  at  Kidderpore,  and  proceeded  to  establish 
additional  schools  for  the  benefit  of  the  native  popula- 
tion. The  total  number  of  native  converts  baptized 
at  Kidderpore,  all  of  them  fruits  of  Mr.  Trawin's 
ministry,  was  eight.  The  native  convert  Ramhurree 
had  also  entered  into  regular  employ  at  this  station. 

On  the  8th  January,  1826,  Mr.  Warden  departed 
this  life.  It  being  his  earnest  desire  that  Mrs.  Warden 
might,  after  his  decease,  continue  in  India,  and  exert 
herself  in  promoting  native  female  education,  she  re- 
moved, shortly  after  the  melancholy  event,  to  Ber- 
hampore,  to  assist  Mrs.  Micaiah  Hill.  Mr.  Ray,  who 
had,  soon  after  his  return  to  India,  joined  Mr.  M.  Hill, 
settled  at  Calcutta. 

The  schools  in  Wellesley  square,  formerly  superin- 
tended by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Warden,  were,  after  Mr. 
Warden's  decease,  placed  under  the  direction  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Gogeriy.  The  former  had  commenced  a 
school  in  the  bungalow  chapel  at  Miraapore,  in  which 
were  forty-five  scholars ;  the  latter  had  opened  a  school 
5n  Sooty  Bnpn  Jaun  Bazaar,  in  which  were  twelve 


KIDDERPQRE. 


^.  These  schools  had,  however,  been  suspended, 
in  consequence  of  the  necessity  for  Mr.  Ck>gerl7 
faking  a  royage  to  Ceylon  for  the  recovery  of  his 
health. 
The  report  for  1827  states  as  follows  :— 
£7n»on  Otapel.— Mr.  James  Hill  preaches  at  this 
chapel  every  sabbath  day,  alternately  with  one  or 
other  of  his  colleagues,  to  the  European  congregation ; 
and  in  the  morning  meets  the  young  people  belonging 
to  it,  as  formerly,  to  instruct  them  in  the  principles 
and  duties  of  Christianity.  Additions  are,  from  time 
to  time,  made  to  the  church. 

Kidderpore  iSio<»on.— Beside  occasionally  preach- 
ing in  the  streets  and  market-places,  the  following 
stated  services  are  performed  in  the  chapel  :—5a6AarA 
tnoming,  Bengalee  worship ;  afternoon,  reading  the 
sacred  Scriptures,  and  sometimes  preaching ;  evening 
English  worship.— TVetrfay  ewentng-, native  worship.— 
Friday  evening,  ditto,  reading  the  Scriptures,  conver- 
sation and  prayer.  Large  congregations  are  occasion- 
ally  collected  at  the  school  bungalow,  when  the  boys 
are  catechized.  By  these  various  means  the  gospel 
has  been  proclaimed  to  multitudes,  and  there  is  reason 
to  believe  not  without  good  effect. 

Mr.  Piffard  assists  Mr.  Trawin  in  the  English 
services,  and  expects  to  be  soon  able  to  preach  in 
Bengalee. 

Christian  Seminary.— The  missionaries  have  de- 
termined to  receive  into  this  institution,  which  is 
designed  to  provide  a  supply  of  native  preachers  and 
school-masters,  the  descendants  of  native  Christians 
only,  unless  others  should  offer  of  unquestionable  piety. 
They  regard  themselves  under  an  indispensable  obli- 
gation  to  furnish  the  means  of  a  good  education,  con- 
ducted on  Christian  principles,  to  the  sons  of  their 
native  converts ;  and  they  trust  this  important  object 
will  not  be  retarded  by  the  want  of  funds.  The  num- 
ber of  native  Christian  youths  at  present  in  the  semi- 
nary  is  three ;  but  the  missionaries  are  looking  forward 
to  a  speedy  enlargement  of  it.  Mr.  Piffard  has,  in 
connection  with  this  institution,  rendered  valuable  aid 
to  Mr.  Trawin,  in  the  work  both  of  tuition  and  su- 
perintendence. 

The  year  1827  was  marked  by  the  baptism  of  a 
native  female,  who  had  been  under  serious  impressions 
for  years.  These,  under  the  blessing  of  God,  were 
produced  by  the  happy  death  of  her  daughter,  who  was 
a  Christian,  and  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church  at 
Bow-Bazaar.  The  ordinance  was  administered  in 
Union  chapel  by  Mr.  Ray,  in  the  Hindoostanee  lan- 
guage. The  directors  promptly  supplied  the  place  of 
Mr.  Trawin  by  sending  out  Mr.  -John  Adam,  who 
arrived  on  the  4th  September,  1828. 
The  year  1«30  was  rendered  memorable  in  the 


460 


annals  of  Christian  missions  in  India  by  the  abolitioo 
of  StJTTM  in  Bengal.  This  event  must  be  regarded 
as  the  harbinger  of  a  brighter  day  for  India.  Under 
the  benign  influence  of  this  salutary  law,  the  Hoodey 
will  soon  furnish  inqairers  for  truth,  and  the  daughten 
of  India  will  rise  up  in  a  long  line  of  ages  to  bless  the 
name  of  lord  William  Bentinck,  the  govemor-general 
of  India. 

The  Rev.  George  Christie  arrived  at  Calcutta,  and 
entered  on  missionary  labors,  24th  October,  1830. 
Ihe  last  report  of  the  society  states,  that  "the  engage- 
ments of  our  brethren  are  varied  and  interesting. 
The  work  of  the  Lord  in  Calcutta  and  its  vicinity  b 
advancing."  ' 

It  is  delightful  to  notice  the  various  agencies  for 
doing  good,  which  are  now  at  work  in  this  great 
metropolis  of  the  east.  More  than  forty  ministers  A 
the  gospel  preach  the  words  of  life  to  the  swarming 
population  of  Calcutta.  Eighteen  thousand  copies  of 
the  Scriptures,  entire  or  in  part,  were  circulated  in 
1830.  There  are  now  published  in  this  city  seven 
Bengalee  newspapers,  and  two  Persian,  edited  by 
natives.  It  is  probable  that  more  than  one  thousand 
eight  hundred  and  fifty  female  native  children  are 
receiving  instruction  in  missionary  schools. 


KIDDERPQRE. 

Tlie  eariy  labors  of  Mr.  Trawin  at  this  place  have 
already  been  alluded  to  ;  and  so  great  was  the  bless- 
ing upon  his  faithful  preaching,  that,  in  1826,  it  was 
regarded  as  a  regular  station.  A  chapel  was  opened 
for  stated  worship  in  1825,  and  Bengalee  services 
were  performed  twice  a  week.  In  October,  Mr. 
Trawin  baptized  five  Hindoo  converts,  on  an  avowal 
of  their  abandonment  of  idolatry.  Mr.  Piffard  end  his 
sister  joined  Mr.  Trawin  for  the  purpose  of  estab- 
lishing schools  for  the  native  population.  The  mis- 
sionaries from  this  station  have  also  labored  with 
success  in  several  populous  villages  in  their  vicinity, 
among  which  may  be  mentioned  Bhowaneepore,  Chit- 
lali,  Bealla,  Ram-makal-choke.  This  last  place  is 
distant  eight  miles  from  Kidderpore,  and  stands  in  the 
centre  of  a  number  of  villages,  the  aggregate  popula- 
tion of  which  is  at  least  20,000. 

The  death  of  Mr.  Trawin,  on  the  3d  of  August,  1827, 
was  a  serious  loss  to  the  society's  operations  at  Calcutta 
and  Kidderpore,  where  his  labors  were  abundant,  and 
his  character  universally  respected.  In  October,  1827, 
Mr.  Piffard  was  ordained  to  the  pastoral  charne  of 
Mr.  Tr 


,.<.  ^u. 


I.  ..  tr:jJ _-j  •--  ry.  ■ 

M  n:  liittticrpurc,  aiiu  in  uccciaaOT, 

Mr.  Ray  removed  from  Calcutta  to  assist  him  in  his 


410 


LONDON  MSSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


mbisterial  and  missrontry  duties.  In  1828,  the  brethren 
wrote  from  CalcutU, — "  We  have  great  aatisfaotion 
that  the  work  of  conversion  is  silently  going  on.  Indi- 
viduals do,  from  time  to  time,  emerge  from  the  awful 
darkness  or  heathenism  into  the  glorious  light  of  the 
gospel." 

The  fatigues  of  the  station,  and  the  effects  of  the 
climate  on  Mrs.  Piffard's  health,  reluctantly  compelled 
Mr.  Pifiard  to  visit  England,  where  he  arrived  in  1830. 
That  a  proper  estimate  may  be  formed  of  the  work  of 
grace  at  this  station,  and  iu  adjacent  villages,  it  is 
proper  to  refer  to  the  report  of  the  Bengal  Auxiliary 
Missionary  Society,  the  committee  of  which  are  on 
the  spot  where  the  transactions  recorded  are  affirmed 
to  have  occurred. 

"  Notwithstanding  the  enfeebled  sUte  of  the  mission, 
the  work  is  progressive  ;  and  the  lively  concern  for  its 
advancement  manifested  by  the  converts  themselves, 
together  with  the  disinterested  efforts  which  they  make 
in  order  to  accomplish  this  object,  is  not  amongst  the 
least  conclusive  evidences  of  its  genuine  character. 
It  will,  no  doubt,  be  remembered,  that  one  peculiar 
feature  of  primitive  Christianity  was,  that  every  disci- 
ple of  it  made  the  interests  of  the  church  his  own ; 
in  other  words,  that  every  man  merged  his  own  inter- 
ests in  its  welfare,  considering  himself  as  possessed 
of  no  interest  separate  from  that  of  his  common  Lord. 
When  dispersed  by  the  persecution  in  Jerusalem,  *  they 
went  every  where,  preaching  the  word.' 

"  Something  analogous  has  been  exhibited  by  the 
native  converts  at  this  station  ;  for,  though  none  of 
them  has  been  officially  set  apart  to  the  office  of  a 
missionary,  they  are  in  reality  a  church  of  missionaries ; 
and,  whether  at  home   or  abroad,  whether  in  their 
own   or  amongst  the  families  of  their  relatives  and 
neighbors,  one  object  seems  to  fill  every  mind,  one 
subject  to  employ  every  tongue.     Many  instances  of 
this  nature  might  be  recorded,  in  which  friends  have 
met  together,  and  spent  the  greater  part  of  the  night 
in  prayer,  in  singing  hymns,  and  conversing  about  the 
things  which  relate  to  their  everlasting  peace  ;  so  that, 
from  that  village,  a  general  impression  of  tiie  nature 
and  importance  of  Christianity  has  gone  forth  over  a 
thickly-populated  country  of  many  miles  in  extent : 
and  although  the  missionaries  have  frequently  advanced 
upon  the  villages  beyond  Ram-makal-choke,  they  have 
invariably  found  that  the  report  of  the  gospel  had 
preceded  them  ;  that  the  fields  were  ripe  unto  the  har- 
vest, the  general  voice  of  the  people  being, « Come 
over  and  help  us.'     And  it  is  by  no  means  a  rare  or 
unfrequent  occurrence  for  persons,  and  even  families, 
to  be  in  the  congregations  on  the  sabbath,  at  Ram-ma- 
kal-choke, from  villages  of  ton,  twelve,  and  even  four- 
teen milrs'  distance,  who  have  come  for  the  sole  pur- 


pose of  hearing  the  gospel,  and  inquiring  '  what  they 
must  do  to  be  saved.' 

"  With  a  view  to  the  disparagement  of  missionary 
efforts,  much  has  been  said  of  the  sordid  motives  which 
have  induced  persons  to  apply  for  Christian  baptism. 
That  some  persons  have  applied  from  unworthy  mo- 
tives, few,  at  all  acquainted  with  the  subject,  wilt  b« 
disposed  to  deny :  this,  however,  though  to  every 
friend  of  such  institutions  a  source  of  regret,  ought 
to  be  none  of  disappointment ;  it  is  only  what  might 
naturally  be  expected.  Amongst'the  multitudes  which 
followed  our  Lord,  were  some  who  went, '  not  because 
they  saw  his  miracles,  hut  because  they  did  eat  of  the 
loaves,  and  were  filled.'  Nor  ought  such  instances  to 
diminish  our  attachment  to  the  cause  itself,  which  is 
chargeable  neither  with  the  errors  of  its  friends,  the 
weakness  of  its  advocates,  nor  the  wickedness  of  its 
insincere  adherents. 

"  In  the  instance,  however,  of  the  converts  at  Ram- 
makal-clioke,  so  far  has  the  profession  of  Chri.stianity 
been  from  holding  out  prospects  of  worldly  emolument, 
that  it  has  been  attended  with  severe  personal  injury 
and  secular  loss :  almost  every  individual  having  em- 
braced it  in  thefaceof  oppression,  insult  and  obloquy. 
And  it  will  be  gratifying  to  the  friends  of  this  society 
to  learn,  that  not  an  individual  of  these  converts  has 
received,  nor  does  receive,  the  slightest  pecuniary  aid 
from  its  funds.  With  the  duties  of  their  callings  as 
men,  the  missionaries  have  not  interfered ;  by  the 
honest  employments  in  which  they  were  brought  up, 
they  continue  to  support  their  families;  and  many 
of  them,  while  '  fervent  in  spirit,'  are  '  diligent  in 
business,  serving  the  Lord.' 

"  Towards  the  funds  of  this  society,  some  of  them 
have  directly  contributed,  and,  considering  their  means, 
contributed  liberally,  as  may  be  seen  in  the  case  of 
the  temple  :  whilst  others,  by  rendering  to  the  mission- 
aries every  facility  within  their  power  for  diffusing  the 
gospel  more  around  them,  are  indirectly  contributing 
daily ;  some,  for  example,  convey  them  from  village 
to  village  in  their  boats ;  some  attend  them,  to  assist 
in  different  parts  of  the  service  ;  more  especially  are 
they  useful  in  inviting  the  villagers  to  come  and  hear, 
and  afterwards  conversing  with  them  on  the  sub- 
jects which  have  been  treated ;  others  entertain  at 
their  own  charge  inquirers  who  come  from  remote 
places  to  hear  the  gospel ;  in  a  word,  they  do  for  the 
cause,  with  cheerfulness  and  readiness,  nny  thing,  and 
every  thing,  within  the  limits  of  their  ability. 

"  On  the  other  hand,  many  of  them  have  suffered 
severely  for  their  adherence  to  Christianity  from  the 
Zemindari,  or  landholders.  Their  houses  have  been 
destroyed,  some  of  their  gardens  pillaged,  their  grana- 
ries plundered,  and  even  their  rice  cut  down  in  the 


CHINSURAH. 


i.'M\'Jii  'k 


fields.     An  attack  was  recently  made  upon  them  by  a 
band  of  armed  men,  in  which  several  of  the  Chris- 
tians were  severely  wounded ;  and  though  the  alleged 
cause  was  of  a  secular  nature,  the  real  one,  there  con 
be  little  doubt,  was  their  profession  of  Christianity. 
In  the  assault,  the  arm  of  one  of  the  Christians  was 
broken  at  the  wrist,  besides  receiving  a  deep  cut  from 
a  sabre,  winch  extended  across  his  right  breast :  three 
others,  though  not  injured  to  an  equal  degree,  received 
wounds,  which,  for  some  time,  disabled  them  from  fol- 
^wmg  the  duties  of  their  vocation.     Measures  have 
been  taken  for  bringing  the  offenders  to  justice  :  nine 
were  apprehended,  and  the  magistrate  has  given  the 
case  the  most  prompt  and  vigorous  attention 

"A  system,  if  not  equally  violent,  scarcely  less 
oppressive,  is  now  resorted  to  by  some  of  the  Zemin- 
dars  who  declare  that  they  will  renew  no  leases  to 
the  Christians;  by  which  means,  should  the  threat  be 
carried  into  execution,  many  will  be  deprived  of  their 
scanty  and  hard-earned  livelihood.  Yet,  amidst  cir- 
cumstances of  this  nature,  apparently  so  uncongenial 
to  the  growth  of  any  cause,  has  the  gospel  advanced 
among  them,  affording  the  most  indubitable  evidence 
of  the  energy  of  Christian  principles  to  subdue  the 
heart,  and  of  the  purity  of  motive  from  which  these 
converts  have  received  the  truth." 

Tlie  foregoing  recital  cannot  fail  to  aford  a  high 
degree  of  satisfaction,  and  especially  as  it  tends  to 
show  that  the  profession  of  Christianity  had  not  been 
taken  up  from  merely  temporal  considerations,  on  the 
part  of  the  natives  in  question,  but  on  the  full  convic- 
tion  of  the  truth,  and  with  a  resolute  determination  to 
adhere  to  it,  whatever  consequences  might  ensue. 

At  the  latest  accounts,  this  station  had  become  so 
important,  that  it  had  been  divided  into  three,  viz. 

1 .  Kidderpore.  Mr.  Piffard,  who  had  arrived  from 
England  in  health. 

2.  Ram-makal-choke  and  villages.     Mr.  Lacroix 

3.  Oungrce.     Mr.  Ray. 
At  all  these  stations  the  triumphs  of  grace  were 

visible,  and  hopes  were  entertained  that  the  set  time 
to  favor  these  dark  regions  had  arrived. 


471 


CHINSURAH. 

[Twenty-two  milei  north  of  CaloulU.] 

Chinsurah  was  a  Dutch  colony,  and  was  ceded  to 
the  British  in  1825. 

The  Rev.  Robert  May,  who  was  sent  out  by  the 
London  Missionary  Society,  with  a  view  of  aiding  the 
mission  at  Viaigapatam.  especially  in  the  tuition  of 


children  for  which  he  had  a  p«uli.r  talent,  wm  ea- 
abled  after  a  long  detention  in  America,  to  proceed 

W.I  I  A,'  ^  '  f ""''"  <'«"e""-«"ce  of  circumstancei 

Th    f  ^  "u"'  "  ^'•'"'""'''-     Soon  after  enterij 
on  his  labors,  he  was  bereaved  of  Mrs.  May  ^ 

Pol"  ^®*^' ♦'"'  ""mber  of  schools  under  Mr.  May's 
care  was  thirty,  in  which  there  were  more  than  11 
thousand  six  hundred  children.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Pearson^ 
who  was  highly  qualified  for  the  work,  was  afterwards 
sent  out  to  his  assistance ;  and  he  was  also  joined  by 
a  European,  Mr.  Harie,  who  was  fully  approved  by 
Mr.  Townley  and  himself,  to  assist  in  the  superintend- 
ence  of  these  seminaries.    In  the  benevolent  effort  still 
further  to  extend  the  means  of  instruction,  Mr.  May 
finished  his  earthly  career.    Mr.  Pearson  received  from 
the  inaabitants  a  written  request  to  perform  the  duties 
oJ  the  settlement  church,  which  he  accepted.     With 
vigor  and  success,  he,  with  his  colleague,  Mr.  Harle 
carried  on  the  schools ;  and  into  one  or  two  of  them' 
the  British  system  was  mtroduced,  in  which  it  ap- 
proached the  perfection  exhibited  in  England  in  schools 
conducted  on  the  same  principle. 

Messrs.  Townley  and  Hampson,  who  visited  the 
schools  at  Chinsurah  and  its  vicinity  in  1819,  reported 
that  they  were  in  the  most  prosperous  state;  and,  of 
the  schools  at  Bankeepoor,  under  the  particular  su- 
penntendenceof  Mr.  Harle,  their  account  was  equally 
favorable.  ^      ' 

In  addition  to  these  engagements,  the  missionaries 
were  variously  occupied. 

Mr.   Pearson   established   a   printing-press,  partly 
under  the  patronage  of  the  Calcutta  School  Society 
the  profits  of  which  he  designed  to  devote  to  the  Ben- 
gal  Auxiliary  Missionary  Society.     During  the  sum- 
merof  1821,  his  health  suffered  interruption:  but  a 
short  voyage  in  the  bay  of  Bengal  was  the  means  of 
his  restoration.     During  his  absence,  his  place  was 
filled  by  Mr.  Trawin,  of  Calcutta.     In  the  previous 
spring,  Mr.  George  Mundy  arrived  at  this  station. 
At  this  period,  the  Bengalee  boys  in  the  school  mani- 
fested a  laudable  and  highly  useful  spirit  of  emulation 
There  was  also  prevalent  among  them  a. strong  desire 
to  learn  English ;  and,  in  order  to  attain  this  object 
they  appeared  to  be  willing  to  read  the  Scriptures,  or 
any  other  book.    Mr.  Pearson,  aware  of  the  impor- 
tance of  meeting  this  disposition,  compiled  a  grammar 
and  vocabulary,  in  Bengalee  and  English,  with  a  view, 
when  they  were  printed,  to  open  an  English  school,  in 
which  the  reading  of  the  Scriptures  should  be  indis- 
pensable ;  and,  by  this  method,  he  hoped  to  pave  the 
way  for  their  introduction  into  all  the  native  schools. 
The  native  !u<.linn)a  a»   tdia   at«>:^n  .— —    ..■_•._  i    ■ 

many  respectable  •n'<Jv!H..«l«  of  intelligence  and  dis- 


418 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


camment,  who  highly  admired  their  economy,  and 
regarded  them  as  modeb  for  all  schools  of  thb  de- 
scription. The  manner  in  which  they  were  conducted 
met  also  with  the  entire  approbation  of  his  excellency 
Mr.  Overbeck,  the  Dutch  governor  of  Chinsurah,  by 
whose  liberality,  on  the  part  of  his  government,  Uiey 
were  supported. 

The  Chinsurah  schools  were  gratuitously  supplied 
with  books  by  the  CakutU  School  Book  Society,  who 
ordered  one  thousand  copies  of  Mr.  Pearson's  Ben- 
galee and  E^iglish  grammar  to  be  printed  at  their  sole 
expense. 

Religious  books,  in  Bengalee,  were  extensively  cir- 
culated, and  scarcely  a  day  passed  without  numerous 
applications  for  them  at  the  mission-house.  Connected 
with  the  circulation  of  religious  tracts,  the  brethren 
sent  copies  of  the  "  Gospel  Magasine,"  pubiishod  at 
Calcutta,  to  between  two  hundred  and  three  hundred 
respectable  natives  of  the  town ;  and  they  intended 
to  pursue  the  same  plan  every  month.  It  was  under- 
stood the  magazines  were  very  generally  read. 

In  1820,  a  bungalow  chapel  was  erected  on  the 
outside  of  one  of  the  gates  of  the  town.     Here,  or  on 
the  road-side,  the  missionaries  daily  took  their  stand. 
Mr.  Pearson  thus  describes  the  plan  pursued  in  the 
evening  native  service  at  the  bungalow  chapel,  which 
he  considered  as  replete  with  important  advantages :— i 
"  On  a  raised  part  of  the  floor  we  place  a  table,  a 
stool  and  a  candlestick ;  one  of  us  sits  down,  and  the 
people  coining  in,  take  their  seats  also  on  stools  and 
benches,  in  front,  and  on  either  side.   The  missionary 
opens  the  Bible,  reads,  expounds  and  prays ;  then, 
sitting  down  again,  converses  with  his  hearers  on  what 
has  been  considered.     Afterwards,  tracts  are  distrib- 
uted an  .ng  those  who  can  road.     OAen,"  continues 
Mr.  Pearson,  "  do  I  think  I  could  sit  and  converse 
thus  night  and  day !     All  is,  as  it  were,  clear  gain. 
Independently  of  the  good  which,  by  the  blessing  of 
God,  we  may  expect  will  accrue  to  the  people,  liere 
is  rapid  improvement  in  the  language  ;  in  the  knowl- 
edge of  popular  objections,  with  the  mode  of  refuting 
them  ;  and,  best  of  all,  in  the  exercise  of  faith  and  love  ; 
for  we  find  that  hard  words,  or  hard  arguments,  if 
alone,  will  do  just  as  much  as  hard  stones  towards 
making  men  Christians."     Mr.  Pearson  adds,  "  Mr. 
Townley  is  now  looking  out  for  another  spot  of  ground 
within  the  gates,  wlu>re  it  is  intended  to  pursue  the 
same  plan  of  native  instruction." 

In  1881,  an  additional  native  schf  ol  commenced  at 
a  village  called  Khonnian,  the  expense  of  which  was 
defrayed  by  his  highness  the  rajah  of  Burdwan.  The 
active  exertions  of  Mr.  Pearson,  in  this  department, 
also  received  the  expresi  apprnhalion  of  his  exrellcnry 
die  marquis  of  llasting<«.      Mr.  Townley,   who  had 


renioved  from  CakutU  in  consequence  of  illness,  iKftr 
assisted  the  missionaries  ui  their  labors,  and  a  natiw 
female  school  was  opened  in  a  room  of  the  fort,  kindly 
assigned  by  the  Dutch  governor  for  the  purpose,  und«r 
the  superintendence  of  Mrs.  Townley  and  Mra.  Mundy. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Townley,  in  consequence  of  the  very 
unfavorable  state  of  Mre.  Townley's  health,  were,  how^ 
ever,  soon  afler  compelled  to  leave  India,  and  arrived 
in  England,  April  17th,  1823.  In  1824,  the  mission 
was  prospering — the  schools  were  well  attended — th« 
preaching  of  the  gospel  was  continued  in  four  bunga* 
low  chapels,  and  the  number  of  school  publications  in 
Bengalee,  prepared  by  Mr.  Pearson,  had  increased  to 
twelve.  The  contributions  of  the  Chinsurah  branch 
of  the  Calcutta  Auxiliary  Missionary  Society,  for  one 
year,  amounted  to  rupees  773.  3.  3. 

The  indifferent  state  of  Mr.  Pearson's  health  nnv 
dered  a  visit  to  this  country  necessary,  where  b* 
arrived  on  the  8th  April,  1824. 

At  the  close  of  the  year,  the  Rev.  John  Edmomh 
and  Mrs.  Edmonds  arrived  at  Chinsurah,  to  the  joy  of 
Mr.  Mundy,  who  greatly  required  aid  in  the  business 
of  the  mission,  and  was  deeply  sufllering  from  the  loss 
of  Mrs.  Mundy,  who  departed  this  life  after  a  short 
illness,  on  the  30th  of  the  preceding  July.  This 
pleasure  was,  unhappily,  of  short  duration.  Mrs.  Ed- 
monds being  incapable  of  bearing  the  climate,  Mr. 
Edmonds  was  reluctantly  obliged  to  return  with  her  to 
England,  which  they  reached,  March  29,  1827.  Mr. 
Pearson,  who  embarked  on  his  return  to  India  on  the 
20th  of  June,  arrived  safe  at  Chinsurah,  and  re;.umed 
the  superintendence  of  the  native  schools. 

During  the  year  1826,  great  success  attended  tha 
preaching  of  the  gospel  to  the  Europeans  at  this  station, 
a  considerable  number  of  whom  appear  to  be  decid> 
ediy  pious.  A  church  was  formed,  consisting  of  about 
twenty  members.  Mr.  Mundy  was  ordained  to  the 
office  of  Christian  minister  in  November,  18»5,  on 
which  occasion  the  Rev.  Dr.  Carey  gave  the  charge. 
The  following  observations  are  extracted  from  the 
printed  report  of  the  Bengal  Auxiliary  Society  for  1826: 
"  In  this  branch  of  labor  the  exertions  of  the  mis- 
sionaries (at  Chinsurah)  have  been  rendered  peculiariy 
useful ;  and  we  are  convinced  that  it  will  be  consid- 
ered as  a  great  honor  conferred  on  the  society,  that 
its  missionaries  have  been  uselVil  in  preserving  the 
influence  of  real  religion  during  the  last  twenty  years, 
in  this  place  ;  the  inhabitants  of  which,  without  their 
gratuitous  labors,  would  have  been  destitute  of  the 
ordinances  of  public  worship,  and  would,  doubtless, 
rescinhio  others  who,  in  similar  circumstances,  have 
manifested  a  fearful  indifference  to  pure  and  unde- 
filed  religion." 

The    Rev.    A.    V.   T.nrmiv      fiirmnrlv  <>r  tlija    IVoili 


erfands  Society,  the  committee  of  which  had  deem- 
ed it  expedient  to  relinquish  their  missions  in  this  part 
of  the  world,  was  received  into  connection  with  the 
London  Missionary  Society,  and  will  act  in  concert 
with  its  missionaries  at  this  station,  where  he  had  for 
•ereral  years  previously  labored. 

The  report  for  1828  informs  us,  that  "  the  present 
number  of  the  schools  supported  by  the  Bengal  gov- 
ernment is  sixteen  ;  and  that  of  the  boys  instructed  in 
them  upwards  of  two  thousand.  They  are  in  a  state 
of  great  efficiency.  The  mission  schools,  which  are 
three  in  number,  contain  two  hundred  and  ninety-five 
boys,  who  make  encouraging  progress. 

"  Besides  the  preaching  in  the  mission  school-rooms 
(of  which  another  very  commodious  one,  eligibly  sit- 
uated, was  lately  built,  and  opened  for  that  purpose), 
the  people  still  con'inue  to  be  addressed  whenever 
congregations  can  be  collected.  During  the  cold 
season,  numerous  visits  are  made  to  the  surrounding 
villages  by  the  missionaries,  who  on  these  tours  preach 
to  the  natives  and  distribute  tracts.  The  people  listen 
With  apparent  attention;  sometimes  propose  serious 
inquiries,  and  even  manifest  much  earnestness  in  the 
uivestigation  of  truth  ;  but  in  general,  they  evince  an 
awful  indifference  to  the  claims  of  Christianity  and  the 
welfare  of  their  souls. 

"  Every  sabbath  morning,  the  children  of  the  mis- 
sion schools  are  collected  in  one  of  the  school-rooms, 
when  they  read  the  Scriptures,  which  are  explained  to 
them  m  a  course  of  catechetical  instruction  A  con- 
siderable numberof  the  natives  attend  on  those  occasions, 
and  listen  with  surprise  to  the  definitions  (freqLent- 
ly  expressed  in  an  admirable  manner)  which  the  boys 
give  of  the  doctrines  of  the  Christian  faith.  This  mode 
of  communicating  instruction  is  fre(iiiently  employed 
when  the  schools  are  visited  by  the  missionary,  who  usu- 
ally addresses  the  people  that  assemble  at  such  times." 
In  consequence  of  the  removal  of  Mr.  Lacroix  to 
Kidderpore,  Mr.  Pearson  was,  in  1830.  loft  alone,  and 
his  duties  were  so  laborious  that  the  suspension  of 
some  of  the  schools  was  unavoidable.  The  number  of 
schools  supported  by  the  government  was  fourteen,  and 
these  contained,  ut  the  last-mentioned  period,  one  thou- 
sand five  hundred  children.  In  order  to  strengthen 
this  mipsion  the  directors,  in  18.11,  sunt  out  Mr. 
Higgs,  who  is  now  actively  supporting  Mr.  Pearson. 


BERHAMPORE-BENARES. 


HERHAMPORE. 

»*»n  mlln  aoulh  of  MoorahcdalMd.] 


Tl 


flia  Itntinn    tva« 


M.-„_ I     !_ 


■■''  t"c  year  ifs5-1,  by 
Mr.  Hill,  who  removed  from  Calcutta.     It  is  calcu- 
VoL.  1.— Nos.  :j»  &(  40.  oi 


478 

lated  that  the  population  of  this  place  and  its  subnrin 
is  twenty  thousand.  Mr.*  Hill  encountered  consider*, 
ble  opposition  from  the  natives,  arising  from  a  peculiar 
attachment  to  the  superstitions  of  their  forefathers  ;  but 
he  succeeded  in  establishing  schools  for  the  children  of 
the  Hindoos  and  Mahometans,  the  latter  conducted 
by  Persian  moonshees.  In  1828,  a  chapel  and  mis- 
sion house  were  erected  ;  and  the  female  schools,  un- 
der  the  care  of  Mrs.  Hill  and  another  lady,  were  pros- 
pering.  The  distribution  of  tracts  has  been  carried  on 
with  success,  and  more  than  fourteen  thousand  were 
circulated  among  the  natives,  during  this  year.  The 
last  intelligence  of  this  station  reports  that  Mr.  Hill 
continues  to  preach  daily  "in  Bengalee  and  Hindoos- 
tanee,  and  meets  the  native  Christians  two  evenings  in 
the  week.  On  Lord's  day  evenings,  he  preaches  in 
English  ;  on  which  occasions,  the  chapel  is  often  found 
toosmall.  The  native  congregation  has  hadanaddition 
of  four  adults.  A  Malabar  woman  had  united  with  the 
church,  and  the  English  church  has  been  increased 
by  the  admission  of  twenty-seven  members. 


BENARES. 

[Four  hundred  and  aizty  milei  wnt-north-weit  ftom  Calcutta.] 

Benares  is  the  most  populous  city  in  India.  This 
place  bas  in  all  ages  been  a  celebrated  city  of  Bra- 
minical  learning.  In  the  estimation  of  the  Hindoos, 
Benares  is  emphatically  the  Holy  City.  Such  sanc- 
tity is  attached  to  this  metropolis,  that  eight  thousand 
houses  are  said  to  be  inhabited  by  Bramins,  who  are 
chiefly  supported  by  alms.  During  the  annual  festi- 
vals, the  influx  of  pilgrims  is  immense.  Multitudes 
from  all  parts  of  India  resort  hither  to  end  their  days, 
under  the  confident  i  nrsuasion  that  all  who  die  in 
Benares  attain  eternal  felicity. 

This  city  and  region  came  into  the  possession  of  the 
British  in  1781. 

The  London  Missionary  Society,  in  1820,  sent  out  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Adam.  In  1821 ,  Mr.  Adam  opened  a  native 
school, and  availed  himself  of  all  opportunities  to  distrib- 
ute religious  tracts,  particularly  at  the  great  public  fes- 
tivals. In  1823,  the  school  had  prospered  so  as  to  jus- 
tify the  fiirmation  of  another.  One  school  now  contain- 
ed thirty-five  and  the  other  thirty  boys.  A  neat  chapel 
was  erected  in  1824,  through  the  exertions  of  privates 
in  the  arlillor)!.  Concerning  this  station,  Mr.  Adam 
forcibly  remarks— "  Benares  exhibits,  in  full  opera- 
tion, some  of  the  worst  principles  of  Hindoo  superstition. 
The  gospel  offers  its  invniuuble  blessings  to  the  •  poor 
ill  spiiii  ;•  but  these  people  I'Hnry  themsejves  '  rich,  anU 
increased   in   goods,   and 


"g 


of    nothing. 


ift 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


The  Saviour  is  a  Saviour  to  them  who  feel  themselves 
lost ;  but  they  fancy  themselves  already  at  the  '  gate  of 
heaven,'  and  certain  of  obtaining  an  easy  admission 
through  it.  Add  to  this,  the  awful  wickedness  of  their 
lives,  occasioned  or  fostered  by  the  local  superstitions, 
and  it  will  easily  be  perceived  that  Benares  presents 
many  and  peculiar  obstacles,  both  to  the  missionary  ex- 
ertions and  to  the  reception  of  the  Saviour.  Amid 
such  a  population,  it  is  a  great  blessing  to  dwell  in 
peace  and  safety,  and  to  do  any  thing  that  may  lead, 
though  the  effects  may  be  remote,  to  the  important  and 
happy  object  we  have  in  view." 

In  1826,  Mr.  James  Robertson  arrived  at  Benares 
to  aid  the  mission.  The  report  for  1827  states  that 
the  native  schools,  three  in  number,  contain  one  hun- 
dred and  seventy  pupils.  In  all  these  schools  Chris- 
tian books  are  taught.  Mr.  Adam  prepared  a  cate- 
chism, and  Hindawee  translation  of  scriptural  lessons, 
for  the  use  of  the  schools.  In  addition  to  this,  he  also 
printed  one  thousand  copies  of  his  tract  on  the  ten 
commandments,  and  was  also  engaged  on  a  tract  enti- 
tled "Jesus  the  Deliverer  from  the  Wrath  of  God." 

A  Hindoostanee  service  was  occasionally  held  at  the 
mission  chapel,  which  was  sometimes  performed  by  Mr. 
Smith,  the  Baptist  missionary.    Services  iii  English  were 
performed  at  the  chapel,  every  Simday,  and  Wednesday 
evening,  and  murligood  has  been  done  among  the  men  in 
acompany  of  British  artillery  stationed  there.    Thecon- 
nection  between  Mr.  Adam  and  the  society  beingdissolv- 
cd,  the  mission  devolved  on  Mr.  Robertson.     In  1830, 
eight  thousand  one  hundred  and  fifty  copies  of  tracts 
and  books  by  Mr.  Aiiam  were  printed  at  this  station,  and 
two  thousand  copies  of  Mr.  Robertson's  comparison  be- 
tween the  Christian  system  and  the  religion  of  tlie  Koran. 
In   lan,  the  directors,  desirous  to  reinforce    this 
highly-important  station,  ap|x)inted  Mr.  Williiun  Buy- 
ers to  Benares,  who  sailed  for  Calcutta  in  June.     It 
is  pleasing  to  know  that  the  work  of  translation  is  in 
steady  progress.      Mr.  Robertson  is  proceeding  with  the 
Scri()tures    in    the    Urdu,    the    Rev.    Mr.    Crawford, 
chaplain  at  Allahabad,  having  agreed  to  join  him  in 
the  important  work.     Mr.  Crawford  has  translated  the 
minor  prophets.     A  consecutive  version  of  the  btx)ks 
of  the  Old  Testament  has  been  finished,  as  fur  os  to  the 
Second  Book  of  Kings  and  B<K)k  of  Job.     The  Psalmi, 
Proverbs  and  fsaiah  are  already  printed. 


SURAT. 

[Ont  hun<in>d  md  finjp.*lght  milim  north  of  UomlMy.] 
Sunt  is  one  of  the  most  populous  and  commercial 


JtaltAa    ia»    ln«41« 


•  T  r-r  ^ifjatcu  vu   lire  SUUtZJ  DSHK  Oi   WIC 


river  T^ptee,  which  falls  into  the  gulf  of  Cambay, 
twenty  miles  below  the  city.  It  is  surrounded  by  an 
outer  wall,  which  is  nearly  seven  miles  in  circumfer- 
ence. The  population  is  computed  at  450,000  ;  but 
nothing  like  an  actual  enumeration  has  ever  taken 
place.  Surat  is  the  capital  of  Gujerat  (or  Goojuratt), 
the  most  fertile  and  best  cultivated  province  in  Hin- 
doostan  belonging  to  the  British. 

At  Surat  is  the  celebrated  Banyan  hospital,  which 
is  a  large  space,  enclosed  by  high  walls,  and  divided 
into  numerous  courts  or  wards  for  the  reception  of  sick 
and  lame  animals  of  all  kinds,  which  are  attended  with 
care  by  persons  appointed  for  the  purpose.  A  peace- 
ful asylum  is  also  afforded  to  such  as  are  old.  When 
an  animal  breaks  a  limb,  or  meets  with  any  accident, 
the  owner  brings  it  to  this  hospital,  and  it  is  received 
without  any  regard  to  the  caste  or  country  of  its  owner. 
Not  only  quadrupeds,  but  birds,  insects,  and  even  vari- 
ous reptiles,  are  admitted  and  fed  during  the  remainder 
of  their  existence.  In  1772,  an  aged  tortoise  was 
known  to  have  been  there  seventy-five  years.  (See 
Myer's  Geography,  vol.  2,  pages  199, 200,  London  ed.) 
In  1815,  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Skinner  and  W.  Fyvie 
commenced  a  mission  in  this  populous  city.  These  gen- 
tlemen were  notives  of  Scotland,  and,  together  with 
Mr.  Dawson,  who  was  sent  to  Vizagapatam,  were  ed- 
ucated at  the  missionary  academy  at  Gosport,  under 
Dr.  Bogue.  These  excellent  men  were  brought  to 
an  acquaintance  with  divine  things  in  the  sabbath 
school.  At  their  ordination,  which  took  place  in  Bris- 
tol, while  relating  the  outlines  of  their  Christian 
experience,  and  gratefully  mentioning  the  instrumen- 
tality of  sabbath  school  instruction,  an  eminent  minis- 
ter who  wos  present  ond  had  been  a  student  of  theology 
in  Scotland .eauie  forward .und,  in  the  unknown  person  of 
one  of  these  devoted  missionaries,  recognized  his  pupil 
of  former  days,  and  found  the  truth  of  the  text,  that 
bread  cast  upon  the  waters  shall  be  found  after  many 
days. 

From  1815  to  1821,  these  brethren  lalwred  assidu- 
ously among  the  natives  in  Sural  and  the  vicinity, 
and  among  the  British  soldiery.  The  work  of  transia 
tion  was  also  carried  on  in  the  (lujrrat.  Mr.  Skinner, 
after  lulwrious  and  devoted  efforts  for  the  salvation  of 
India,  died  October  ."JO,  1821,  the  very  day  on  which 
Mr.  Alexander  Fyvie  (the  brother  of  William)  sailed 
from  Graves'uid  to  join  the  mission. 

In  1828,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  W.  Fyvie  visited  England, 
in  consequonro  of  indisposition,  and  returned  in  safety 
to  Surat  in  January,  18;K),  with  confirmed  health.  In 
1826,  Mr.  Fyvie  was  engaged  in  revising  his  English 
and  Gujerat  dictionary. 

!n  18i'M,  the  report  of  the  printing-office  conducted 
ay  »ir.  saiiiion,  was  iweniy-oight  thousand  tracts,  one 


SURAT. 


thousand  copies  of  a  book  of  prayers,  and  four  thou- 
•and  copies  of  Matthew.  Mr.  William  Fyvie  also 
purposes  to  print  thirty  tracts  on  the  Lord's  sermon  on 
(he  mount. 

The  deputation,aftermakingareport  of  the  state  ofthe 
mission  in  the  places  which  are  included  in  this  chapter, 
remark,—"  The  expectations  we  had  raised  as  to  the 
effects  actually  produced  by  past  missionary  labors, 
have  been  greatly  exceeded  by  what  we  have  found 
Our  confidence  as  to  the  conversion  of  the  Hindoos 
has  been  much  increased  by  what  we  have  seen.     We 
think  we  see  the  fetters  of  caste  very  much  weakerted. 
and  we  do  cheerfully  hope,  that  the  whole  series  of  the 
links  of  this  cruel  chain  will  be  for  ever  broken,  under  the 
oommendable  moderation  and  prudence  of  an  enlighten- 
ed government,  and  especially  by  the  blessiiig  „(  God  on 
Uie  efforts  of  prudent  Christian  ministers  and  mission- 
anes,  who,  while  they  preach  the    gospel,  exhibit  a 
scriptural    temper  and  conduct    towards  each  other 
towards  the    European  inhabitants,  and  towards  the 
heathen  population." 

Before  we  leave  this  part  of  India,  we  would  nar- 
rate a  few  remarkable  circumstances  which  loudly  pro- 
claim the  state  of  its  population,  and  which  are  too 
replete  with  interest  to  be  passed  over  in  silence. 

The  first  relates  to  the  death  of  a  yogec,  and  the 
burying  of  his  widow  alive  with  the  corpse.      One 
rooming,  in  the  month  of  March,  a  sick  man,  of  the 
sect  called  yogea,  xvas  brought  by  his  relatives  to  the 
nver  side  aliout  nine  o'clock,  and  was  laid  on  the  wet 
mud,  in  expectation  of  his  soon  expiring.    In  this  situa- 
tion he  remained  exposed  to  the  scorching  rays  ofthe 
sun  till  aliout  four  in  the  afternoon,  when  he  was  im- 
mersed  up  to  the  breast  in  the  river ;  and,  whilst  in  this 
position,  one  of  his  relatives  vociferated  in  his  curs  the 
names  of  some  of  the  Hindoo  deities.     AAer  some 
lime,  on  finding  the  poor  creature  was  not  so  near 
death    as    they  antiripated,    he    was   again    replaced 
on  the  wet  beach.     The  next  morning,  the  same  cere- 
mony  commenced  of  immersing  the  invalid,  and  repeat- 
ing the  names  of  their  idols  ;  and  this  was  continued 
till  five  o'clock  in  the  aficrnoon,  when  the  iii.Imppy 
man  breathed  his  last,  having  been  literally  murdered 
by  his  near  relations. 

It  being  the  custom  of  this  sect  to  bury  their  dead, 
preparations  were  now  made  for  the  iiilennont  of  the 
deceased,  as  also  of  his  wife,  who  was  not  above  sixteen 
years  of  age  ;  she  having  signified  her  intention  of  being 
burled  alive  with  the  corpse  of  her  la.,hnnd.  "  At 
nine  o'clock,"  says  the  missionary  to  whom  we  are 
indebted  for  this  affecting  relation,  "  I  went  to  the 
place  of^interment,  and   found  a  large  concourse  of 

Idoyed  m  digging  a  circular  grave,  which,  when  finisliod. 


47f 


was  thirteen  or  fourteen  feet  in  circumference,  and 
about  five  feet  and  a  half  in  depth. 

"I  could  scarcely  believe  that  persons  in  their  senses 
could  voluntarily  consent  to  terminate  their  existence 
in  such  a  horrid  manner,  and  had  supposed  that,  on 
these  occasions,  something  of  a  narcotic  nature  was 
used,  to  deprive  the  victims  of  thdir  reason  ;  but  on 
conversing  with  the  widow,  I  found  her  free  from  anr 
such  effects.  All  efforts  to  dissuade  her  from  the 
desperate  purpose  of  rushing,  as  a  suicide,  into  the 
presence  of  her  Creator,  were  entirely  unavailing. 
And  when  I  asked  her  mother,  who  stood  by,  how  she 
could  divest  herself  of  that  feeling  which  is  discernible 
even  among  the  most  ferocious  inhabitants  of  the 
jungles,  which  risk  their  own  lives  to  save  their  off- 
sprwg  she  replied, '  It  is  my  daughter's  determination, 
and  what  can  I'dc  ?'  Perceiving  that  all  remonstrances 
were  ineffectual,  I  remained  a  silent  spectator  of  this 
horrid  scene. 

"The  dead  body  was  now  placed  in  a  sitting  posture 
at  the  bottom  ofthe  grave,  and  the  young  woman  was 
brought  forward.     She  held  a  small  basket,  havihe 
betel  leaves  in  it,  with  one  hand,  and  with  the  other, 
whilst  walking  seven  times  round  the  grave,  she  dis- 
tributed  sugar-plums,  and  shells,  called  cowries,  among 
the  crowd,  who  appeared  extremely  anxious  to  catch 
these  consecrated  donations.     After  walking  round  the 
sepulchre  the  seventh  time,  she  stopped,  and  was  ad- 
dressed  in  a  few  words  by  one  of  the  Bramins.   She  then 
lifted  up  her  right  hand  above  her  head,  with  her  fore- 
finger erect,  waving  it  in  a  circular  manner,  and  pro- 
nouncing  the  words  Hurre  bol,  in  which  she  was  joined 
by  the  surrounding  multitude.     She  now  descended, 
without  any  apparent  dismay  or  reluctance,  to  the 
bottom  of  the  grave,  and  placed  herself  behind  the 
dead  body  of  her  husband  ;  her  left  arm  encircling  his 
waist,  and  the  other  resting  on  her  own  head,  which 
she  reclined  between  his  shoulders.     The  mother  was 
next  called  (as  I  suppose)  to  resign  her  daughter,  of 
to  sanction  her  conduct,  by  aj)plying  a  wisp  of  lighted 
straw,  to  (he  crown  of  her  head.     An«l,  on  this  being 
done,  the  grave  was  gradually  filled  up  by  the  by- 
standers, whilst  two  men  Irod  the  falling  earth  around 
the  living  and  the  dead  ;  and  thus  deliberately  proceed- 
ed,  till    the  earth  rose   to   the   surface,  leaving  the 
bodies  about  three  feet  beneath ;  when  the  multitude 
dispersed." 

The  same  species  of  fanaticism  which  unlmppily 
influenced  this  young  widow,  has,  on  some  occasion^ 
induced  the  native  females  of  India  to  rush  into  the 
devouring  flames,  instead  of  submitting,  as  is  usual,  to 
ho  placed  on  the  funornj  nilo,  and  covers:!  •.•A-M  .-.-.rr;H;-=- 
tiblo  materials  before  the  fire  is  kindled.  This  was  iUus- 
trnled,  on  one  occasion,  in  Bengal,  by  the  two  wives  of 


47« 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


•  physician  nuMd  Nilloo,  one  aged  twentj-thred,  and 
the  other  only  seventeen.    Before  any  sacrifices  of 
this  kind  can  take  place,  notice  must  be  given  to  the 
police;  and  in  the  present  instance,  the  ofiicers  of  that 
establishment  humanely  attempted   to  dissuade  the 
females  from  their  determination.    As  all  their  endeav- 
ors, however,  proveu  unavailing,  it  was  suggested,  by 
a  converted  native,  that  in  the  actual  mode  in  which 
widows  were  burnt  with  the  bodies  of  their  husbands, 
there  was  a  wide  departure  from  the  method  prescribed 
by  the  holy  books  of  the  Hindoos,  and  that  the  cor- 
rection of  this  irregularity  might  not  only  lead  to  the 
saving  of  the  intended  victims,  but,  also,  many  others 
on  future  occasions.     According  to  the  usual  method, 
the  widow  not  only  lies  down  by  the  corpse  before  fire 
is  set  to  the  pile,  but,  as  we  have  already  stated,  in  a 
preceding  part  of  this  work,  she  is  held  forcibly  down 
with  strong  bamboos,  to  prevent  her  from  attempting 
to  escape  when  the  flames  reach  her.     It  seems,  how- 
ever, that,  according  to  the  directions  in  the  shasters, 
fire  is  first  to  be  applied  to  the  pile  on  which  the  body  is 
laid,  and  while  it  is  in  a  state  of  ignition,  the  wife,  if 
she  thinks  proper,  shall  go  and  lay  herself  down  upon 
it.     A  gleam  of  humanity,  altogether  uncongenial  with 
the  ritual  itself,  is  discernible  in  this  regulation  ;  as  it 
is  evident  the  Hindoo  legislator  intended  that  the  fe- 
male should  have,  as  it  were,  a  foretaste  of  the  horrid 
sufferings  she  was  about  to  undergo,  and,  if  intimidated, 
she  might  have  the  power  to  recede. 

Agreeably  to  this  view  of  the  law,  it  was  determined 
that  the  wives  of  Nilloo  should  have  the  full  benefit 
of  this  latter  mode  of  sacrifice ;  and,  after  some  time, 
the  Bramins  were  persuaded  to  give  their  consent. 
The  hopes,  however,  which  were  entertained  from  the 
experiment,  in  respect  to  a  change  of  determination 
on  the  part  of  the  victims,  were  allogether  disappointed. 
The  flames  had  no  sooner  begun  to  rise,  than  the 
senior  female  walked  into  the  midst  of  tl"":^.  The 
other,  with  great  animation,  addressed  the  spectators 
to  the  following  effect : — "  You  have  just  seen  my 
husband's  firsr  wife  perform  the  duty  incumbent  on 
her,  and  you  will  now  see  me  follow  lier  example.  1 
beg,  therefon  ,  ihat  you  will  not,  in  future,  endeavor 
to  prevent  Hindoo  women  from  burning;  nther^vise 
our  ''ursc  will  be  upon  you."  This  deluded  young 
creature  then  flung  herself  into  the  flames,  apparently 
with  the  same  unconcern  as  she  had  been  accustomed 
to  plunge  info  the  Hoogley,  in  order  to  perform  her 
looming  ablutions  and  devotions. 

A  striking  contrast  to  this  remarkable  instance  of 
infatuation  app(!ars  in  the  following  account  of  a  most 
cruel  and  alrmious  murder,  cominilttMl  under  tlio  name  of 
a  religious  sacrifice,  about  a  day's  journey  to  the  south 
of  Calcuiia,  and  rciaisd  in  Dr.  Bucihanan's  Ap«ii>gy  fuf 


promoting  Christianity  in  India.      ''A  Bramin  of 
Mujilupoor  dying," says  our  author,"  hb  wife  went  to 
he  burned  with  the  body ;  and  the  previous  ceremonies 
having  been  performed,  she  was  fastened  on  the  pile, 
and  the  fire  was  kindled.     The  funeral  pile  was  by 
the  side  of  some  brushwood,  near  a  river ;  the  hour 
was  late,  and  the  evening  was  dark  and  rainy.     When 
the  fire  began  to  scorch  the  poor  woman,  she  contrived 
to  disentangle  herself  from  the  dead  body,  and,  creep, 
ing  from  under  the  pile,  concealed  herself  among  tha 
brushwood.     In  a  little  time,  it  was  discovered  that 
only  one  body  was  on  the  pile.     The  relations  imme- 
diately took  the  alarm,  and  began  to  hunt  for  the 
victim,  who  had  made  her  escape.     After  they  had 
found  her,  the  ion  dragged  her  forth,  and   insisted 
upon  her  throwing  herself  upon  the  pile    again,  ot 
that  she  should  either  hang  or  drown  hers^f     She 
pleaded  for  her  life  at  the  hands  of  her  own  child, 
and  declared    that   she  could    net    embrace  so   hot- 
rid   a   death.      She  pleaded,  however,   in  vain ;   aa 
the   son   urged  that  he  should  lose  his  caste;    and, 
therefore,  he  said,  he  was  determined  that  she  should 
die,  or  he  would   terminate  his  own  existence.     At 
length,  finding  it  impossible  to  persuade  the  unhappy 
woman  either  to  hang  or  drown  herself,  her  unnatural 
son  and  his  companions  tied  her  hands  and  feet,  and 
threw  her  on   the  funeral   pile,  where   she   quickly 
perished !" 

From  these  painful  and  heart-rending  scenes  we 
now  turn  to  a  circumstance  which  was  noticed,  some 
time  ago,  in  the  Bengal  Government  Gazette  ;  and 
which  exhibits,  in  a  striking  point  of  view,  the  arts  by 
which  the  poor  Hindoos  are  deluded  by  the  crafty 
Bramins,  and  the  facility  with  which  their  pagan  im- 
postures may  be  detected  and  exposed. 

"  The  papers  of  the  week,"  says  the  editor,  "  have 
already  described  the  monstrous  stratagem  of  the 
Bramins  in  Calcutta,  to  impose  upon  the  people  anew 
deity,  for  the  purpose  of  filling  the  coffers  of  the  vota- 
ries of  Kali ;  and  all  who  refused  to  propitiate  the 
offended  goddess,  were  threatened  to  bo  afllicted  with 
the  prevailing  disease.  The  circulation  of  the  procla- 
mation, on  the  part  of  Kalima,  which  enjoined  this 
observance,  was  ingeniously  provided  for.  It  was  the 
express  duty  of  each  individual  who  received  it  to  write 
three  copies,  and  distribute  them  in  three  different 
places.  A  subsidiary  experiment  was  then  resorted 
to,  and  a  cowrie  was  left  at  the  doors  of  several  of  the 
inlintiitants,  in  different  quarters  of  the  town,  by  some 
unknown  agents  of  the  goddess,  with  written  directions 
to  convey  it,  with  suitable  donations,  to  the  temple  at 
Knliijhauf,  and  to  distribute  three  other  cowries,  with 
similar  instructions.  Thus  had  the  Bramins  formed  a 
ftjgiilar  uuiuynniiun  of  devices  to  secure  the  success 


MADRAS. 


of  their  tmicKNU  views ;  and  the  whole  scheme  »p- 
pears  to  ha^e  been  conducted  with  admirable  cunning 
«nd  vigilance.  The  name  which  has  been  given  to 
the  newly^rected  divinity  is  Ola  Bebee,  and  the  fol- 
lowing  account  of  her  appearance  in  a  human  form  is 

copied  from  the  India  Gazette : 

"Ola  Bebee  and  her  priests  have  not  failed  to 
adopt  the  boldest  measures  to  mainuin  her  influence 
on  the  minds  of  the  terrified  and  distracted  population ; 
•nd,  a  few  days  ago,  a  pretended  incarnation  of  this 
deity  appeared  at  the  village  of  Sulkeah.     There  she 
•at  for  two  days,  in  all  the  state  of  a  Hindoo  goddess, 
havmg  a  young  Braminee  to  attend  on  her  as  priestess ; 
and  she  was  reaping  a  rich  harvest  from  the  terror  she 
had  mfused  into  the  minds  of  the  people,  when,  un- 
fortunately, her  fame  reached  the  ears  of  our  indefati- 
gable first  magistrate.     That  gentleman  gave  orders  to 
his  native  officen  4o  seize  her,  and  bring  her,  with 
her  coadjutor,  to  his  residence.     This  command  they 
obeyed,  but  not  without  much  fear  and  trembling,  and 


477 

KWM  Mtifice.  They  took  it  upon  themselves  to  pr«. 
sent  the  magistrate's  respecu  to  the  goddess,  and  to 
request  the  honor  of  an  interview.  As  she  had  not 
sufficient  confidence  in  her  own  power  to  offer  any 
resistance,  she  affected  a  ready  acquiescence.  The 
moment  she  rose  up  to  depart,  the  crowd,  who  had  as- 
sembled to  worship  her,  fled  in  terror  in  all  directions : 
and  not  a  little  astonished  were  the  native  officers  of 
the  court  to  hoar  the  worthy  magistrate  accuse  her  of 
vnpotture ;  and  after  listening  to  all  she  had  to  say  for 
herself,— commit  her  to  the  house  of  correction  for  six 
months !— Not  perceiving,  however,  any  marks  of  her 
vengeance  for  such  an  indignity,  but  hearihg  her,  on 
the  contrary,  sue  for  mercy  like  any  common  criminal, 
the  peons  at  length  gathered  courage  to  lay  hands  on 
her,  and  conveyed  her  to  the  place  of  punishment, 
where  she  is,  at  present,  employed  in  pounding  bricks 
for-the  benefit  of  the  public,  from  whom  she  was  lately 
receiving  peace-offerings  I" 


II.     PENINSULAR    INDIA. 


MADRAS  DISTRICT. 


Madras. 

Chiltoor. 

Banoalou:-,. 


Stationi. 

Visaoapatam. 

Beloaum. 

SALcar. 


CuDDAPAH. 

Bellart. 

CoMBACONUM. 


MADRAS. 


[On*  thounnd  and  twenty  mil«  (Vom  C»loutU.] 


Madras  is  the  capital  of  the  British  possessions  in 
the  Deccan  and  south  of  India.  It  is  situated  on  the 
Coromandel  coast.  The  foundation  of  the  city  took 
place  in  1639,  and  tiie  place  originully  had  the  name 
of  Fort  George.  Madras  has  no  European  town  ;  and 
only  a  few  houses  near  the  forts  are  inhabited  by 

Ev   opean  residents.    Its  entire  population,  in  1828 9 

was  469,690.  ' 

Mr.  Loveless  commenced  a  mission  hero  in  1805, 
and,  in  1816,  was  joined  by  Mr.  Richard  Knill.  Two 
years  after,  one  hundred  and  forty-seven  names  wore 
on  the  books  of  the  schools  for  boys,  and  a  school  was 
commenced  for  girls,  with  about  forty.  The  schools 
•oon  increased  to  eleven ;  and  there  wore  four  con- 
gregations, throe  English  and  one  Tamu!  or  nstiva. 


In  1818,  Mr.  Knill's  declining  health  indicated  the 
propriety  of  his  seeking  a  colder  climate,  and  ho  was 
appointed  to  labor  in  Russia,  while  others  entered 
upon  his  Indian  labors.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Crisp  were  set 
apart  to  this  service,  and  have  been  very  successful  in 
ti-e  conduct  of  schools.  Hero,  also,  have  subsequently 
entered  upon  missionary  duties,  Mr.  Taylor  and  Mr. 
Smith,  and  Mr.  Nimno  as  an  assistant.  Mr.  Smith 
was  able  to  preach  in  Tamul  in  November,  1829,  and 
has  since  performed  three  services  weekly  in  that 
language. 

The  mission  is  divided  into  the  following  districts :— . 
Black  Town,  or  eastern  division  ;  Pureewaukum,  or 
western,  and  Tripassoor  (out-station).  In  all  these, 
there  are  about  one  hundieU  and  ten  communicant*. 


478 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


From  the  annual  reports,  it  is  evident,  that  the  general 
aspect  of  the  mission  at  Madras  is  improving.  Prayer 
meetings  are  held  by  the  missionaries  of  three  denom- 
inations. An  attention  to  spiritual  things  has  been 
excited  amongst  the  Indo-British  population,  and 
there  is  a  confident  waiting  for  the  outpouring  of  the 
Spirit  on  the  word  preached,  that  it  may  prove  to 
multitudes  a  savor  of  life  unto  life. 


VIZAGAPATAM. 
[Fire  hundred  and  fifty-aeren  milet  Math-weit  of  Calcutta.] 

In  the  month  of  February,  1804,  the  Rev.  Messrs. 
Ringeltaube,  Cran  and  Des  Granges  sailed  from 
England,  with  the  intention  of  commencing  a  mission 
among  the  beniglited  heathen  on  the  coast  of  Coro- 
mandel.  On  their  arrival  at  Tranquebar,  however, 
some  difference  of  opinion  prevailed  with  respect  to 
the  station  which  they  should  occupy  ;  and,  after  re- 
peated conferences  on  this  subject,  Mr.  Ringeltaube 
determined  on  directing  his  labors  to  the  southern 
part  of  the  peninsula,  whilst  Messrs.  Cran  and  Des 
Granges  thought  proper  to  fix  themselves  in  Vizaga- 
patam,  the  capital  of  one  of  the  five  districts  into 
which  the  nortiiern  circars  are  divided. 

At  this  place  the  nibsionaries  were  received  with 
every  marlc  of  kindness  by  the  commander-in-ciiief 
of  the  forces  in  the  northern  circars,  and  by  the  judge 
of  Vizagapatam  ;  the  latter  of  whom  had  been,  for 
some  time,  in  the  habit  of  personally  conducting 
divine  worship  in  the  fort,  on  the  Lord's  day,  with 
the  soldiers  of  the  garrison,  and  such  other  persons  as 
chose  to  attend.  This  service,  however,  he  now 
committed  to  the  brethren  ;  and,  at  his  instigation, 
the  governor-in-council  was  pleased  to  allow  them  ten 
pagodas  a  month,  as  a  remuneration  for  their  labors. 
They  were,  also,  encouraged,  by  the  liberal  contribu- 
tions of  many  ladies  and  gentlemen  in  the  town,  to 
make  a  weekly  distribution  of  rice  among  the  poor 
natives,  in  consequence  of  the  high  price  of  grain,  and 
the  prospect  of  an  approaching  famine. 

Having  expressed  a  wish  to  obtain  a  piece  of  ground, 
about  a  mile  distant  from  the  town,  the  missionaries 
received  a  grant  of  between  nine  and  ten  acres,  in  a 
pleasant  and  salubrious  situation.  Here,  therefore, 
they  erected  a  house  and  laid  out  a  garden  ;  and  this 
gave  rise  to  the  idea  of  founding  a  charity  school. 
They,  accordingly,  drew  up  and  circulated  a  prospec- 
tus  of  their  plan,  and  soon  received  between  twelve 
and  thirteen  hundred  rupees  towards  tlie  building, 
besides  j-ome  monthly  subscriptions  for  the  support  of 


the  scholars.  In  allusion  to  this  subject,  Mr.  Ci«ii 
observes,  in  a  letter  dated  October  1,  )806,  "I  hav» 
now  between  thirty  and  forty  young  persons  uader 
my  instruction,  and  some  of  them  live  in  the  garden, 
and  are  entirely  committed  to  my  care.  Ten  OT 
twelve  are  children  of  caste  ;  the  rest  are  children  of 
color.  The  latter,  being  acquainted  with  the  English 
language,  have  made  some  progress  ;  and  I  consider 
it  one  of  the  chief  blessings  of  my  life  to  hear  them 
repeating  their  catechism,  and  afterwards  joining  in  a 
song  of  praise  to  the  blessed  Saviour  in  this  foreign 
land." — "  The  good  design  of  the  mission,"  says  the 
same  writer,  "will  be  best  answered  by  instructmg 
the  natives  gratuitously  in  the  English  language,  fof 
which  purpose  alone  they  attend  the  school.  Though 
they  are  all  professed  heathens,  yet  they  willingly 
hear  the  truths  of  the  gospel,  and  have  requested 
permission  to  form  a  class,  to  read  the  Bible  and 
Testament.  Among  our  native  scholars  we  have  all 
castes,  from  the  Bramin  to  the  Soodra ;  and  several 
of  them  have  come  from  a  distance  of  ten,  twenty, 
and  even  thirty  miles.  They  are  instructed  by  a 
native  school-master,  of  Christian  parents,  whom  we 
brought  with  us  from  Madras." 

In  the  month  of  May,  1808,  the  missionaries  were 
joined  by  a  converted  Bramin,  named  Ananderayer, 
of  whom   the   following   interesting  particulars  have 
been  related  : — This  person  was  formerly  an  account- 
ant in  a  regiment  belonging  to  Tippoo  Saib,  and,  after 
the  death  of  that  usurper,  he  obtained  a  similar  em- 
ployment under  a  British  officer.     Having  expressed 
an  earnest  desire  to  obtain  eternal  happiness,  he  was 
advised  by  an  elder  Bramin  to  repeat  a  certain  prayer 
four  hundred  thoxuand  timet.     This  task  he  willingly 
undertook,  and  performed  it  in  a  pagoda,  with  many 
fatiguing  ceremonies,  taking  care  to  exceed  the  number 
prescribed.    These  laborious  exercises,  however,  were 
productive  of  no  comfort,  nnd  the  disappointed  devo- 
tee resolved  to  return  to  his  family.     In  his  way  homo, 
he  met  with  a  Roman  Catholic,  who  conversed  with  him 
on  religious  subjects,  and  gave  him  two  books  in  the 
Telinga  language,  which  is  spoken  by  all  the  Hindoos 
in  the  five  northern  circars,  and  in  many  other  parta 
of  the  country.     These  he  perused  with  great  atten- 
tion, and  was  so  well  pleased  with  their  contents,  that 
he  began  to  entertain  some  thoughts  of  embracing  the 
Christian  religion.     This  was  no  sooner  discovered  by 
his  friends  than  they  were  extremely  alarmed  at  the 
idea  of  his  bringing  a  reproach  upon  his  caste  ;  and, 
in  order  to  avert  s-ch  a  circumstance,  they  offered  him 
a  considerable  suh.  of  money,  together  with  the  entire 
management  of  his  own  estate.     Those  templiitions, 
however,  made  no  impression  on  his  mind  ;  as  he  ob- 
served that  the  salvation  of  his  soul  must  be  nrcfarrod 


to  all  worldly  considerations.  Regardless,  therefore, 
Of  all  the  arguments  and  enticements  of  his  relatives, 
be  went  to  a  Romish  priest,  and  received  the  rite 
Of  baptism,  after  voluntarily  offering  to  prove  the 
wncenty  of  his  convictions,  by  delivering  up  his  Bra- 
mmjcal  thread,  and  to  cut  off  his  hair,  which  would 
render  it  impracticable  for  him  ever  to  resume  his 
caste. 

A  few  months  after  his  baptism,  he  was  sent  by  the 
priest  to  Pondicherry,  where  one  of  the  padres  was 
m  want  of  a  Telinga  Bramin.  There  he  met  with  his 
w^fe  who,  after  suffering  much  persecution  from  her 

Ter  rV.  !'''™'"''^  °"  J°'"'"S  l-'-"  ■'  «"d  with 

her  he  afterwards  removed  to  Tranquebar,  where  he 

was  much  gratified  to  find  that  the  Bible  was  trans- 

churo'h'l  \"  ™'""''"  ^"'^  ""  ^'""Ses  in  their 

churches,  as  this  was  a  subject  on  which  he  had 
ventured  to  argue  with  the  Romish  priests.  The 
mmisters  of  Travancore  were,  at  first,  suspicious  of 
hi^  'rn  .h '  f  "';,.'-«P\«'«''  conversations,  they  admitted 
h.m  to  the  Lord's  table.  From  this  time,  he  diligently 
studied  the  Holy  Scriptures,  which  he  had  never  seen 
before  and  began  to  make  some  translations  from  the 
Tamul  into  the  Telinga  language,  xvhich  ho  wrote 
elegantly,  as  well  as  the  Mahratta.  His  friends  would 
now  have  recommended  liim  to  sonic  secular  employ- 
ment in  Madras  or  Tanjore ;  but  he  declined  their 
offers,  being  earnestly  desirous  of  devoting  his  services 
to  the  cause  of  God. 

Having  heard  of  the  missionaries  at  Vizagapatam,  ' 
he  expressed  a  strong  desire  to  visit  them,  under  the 
pleasing  idea  that  he  might  be  useful  among  the  Te- 
linga nation,  either  in  the  church  or  in  the  school 
And  on  this  desire  being  communicated  to  the  directors 
of  the  London  Society,  together  with  the  most  satis- 
factory testimonials  in  respect  to  his  character,  Messrs. 
Cran  and  Des  Granges  were  authorized  to  take  him 
into  their  employment,  and  to  allow  him  a  competent 
salary.      This  was  accordingly  done  ;    and  the  first 
evening  that  Anandcrayer  spent  with  the  brethren,  he 
offered  up  a  solemn  thanksgiving  to  God.  before  sup- 
per, and  prayed  most  fervently  that  the  distinction  of 
caste  might  be  universally  abolished,  and  that  all  the 
heathen  might  be  brought  with  one  henit  to  glorify 
the  Lord  JesUs.     In  the  month  of  October  following, 
he  wont  on  a  missionary  tour  to  the  southward,  and 
preached  the  gospel  with  great  zeal  and  acceptance 
to  many  hundreds  of  his  countrymen  ;  and  about  the 
same  time,  his  wife,  having  been  satisfactorily  con- 
vmced  of  the  truth  of  the  Christian  religion,  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  rite  of  baptism. 

On  the  6th  of  January.  1809.  the  mission  sustained 
a  Nvere  loss  in  the  death  of  the  Rev.  George  Cran. 
*a  !hc  preceding  November,  he  tiad  experienced  an 


VIZAGAPATAM. 


479 


attack  of  bihous  fever,  which,  in  a  few  day,,  reduced 
hun  to  a  very  weak  and  low  state  of  body.  By  the 
advice  of  his  physician,  he  undertook  a  jouVney  to  he 
northward  and  appeared,  for  a  short  time,  L  have 
been  benefited  by  that  excursion.  On  his  arriva?,  how! 
ever,  at  a  town  called  Chicacoli,  about  seventyl^r 
miles  from  Vizagapatam,  he  became  so  much  worse' 
that  It  was  deemed  advisable  to  acquaint  Mr.  Des 
Granges  with  his  danger;  and  before  that  excellent 
minister  could  arrive,  the  soul  of  his  beloved  colleague 
had  bidden  an  everlasting  adieu  to  all  the  things  of 
time  and  sense.  ° 

Two  new  missionaries,  Messrs.  Gordon  and  Lee. 
who  had  been  sent  out  to  India  by  way  of  America, 
land  who  had  been  long  detained  in  the  latter  country 
m  consequence  of  the  hostilities  between  England  and 
the  United  States,  arrived  at  Calcutta  on  the  9th  of 
beptembor,  and  soon  afterwards  proceeded  to  Viza- 
gapatam  to  the  great  joy  of  Mr.  Des  Granges,  who, 
by  the  death  of  his  former  coadjutor,  had  been  left 
alone  in  his  important  work. 

The  next  year,  1810,  was  marked  by  the  removal 
of  that   faithful  and  devoted  laborer,  who,  during  a 
residence   of  five    years   in    India,   had,  with   much 
patience  and  diligence,  acquired  the  Telinga  language 
and  had  translated  the  Gospels  of  Matthew,  Mark  and 
Luke.     On  the  4th  of  July,  he  was  attacked  with  a 
bilious  disorder,  which  produced  violent  retchings,  and 
severe  pains  in  his  head,  accompanied  by  extreme  heat 
and  thirst.     At  the  same  time,  Mrs.  Des  Granges  wn-, 
lying  ill  in  an  adjoining  apartment ;  but,  a  few  hours 
before  the  death  of  her  husband,  the  physicians  desired 
that  she  might  be  removed  to  another  house.     She 
was  accordingly  carried  through  the  chamber  of  our 
dying  missionary ;  and  here  the  faithful  pair,  who  had 
naturally  felt  desirous  of  seeing  each  other  once  more 
on  earth,  took  their  last  farewell  of  each  other  till 
they  should  meet  beyond  the  grave.     The  dear  chil- 
dren were,  also,  brought  to  receive  the  benediction  of 
their  departing  parent ;  and  the  scene  which  ensued 
was  more  affecting  ihon  can  he  easily  described. 

"The  state  of  our  brother's  mind,"  say  his  sur- 
viving colleagues,  "  was  calm  and  serene  from  first  to 
last,  though  his  words  were  few,  owing  to  his  great 
pain  and  weakness.     When  asked  what  he  was  most 
anxious  about,  he  replied.  '  The  concerns  of  the  mis-     • 
sion,  and  particularly  the  tranalation  of  the  Scrip- 
turei ;  but.'  he  added.  '  God  can  carry  on  this  without 
my  service  ;  so  that  my  life  is  not  necessary  on  that 
account.'  "     On  the  12th  of  August,  he  entered  into 
eternal  rest ;  and  his  remains  wore  attended  to  the 
European  burial-ground  in  Vizagapatam  by  most  of 
,    the  gentlemen  in  thn  settlensent,  and  a  vast  n'.-.mhsr 
"  of  natives  of  every  caste,  together  with  the  scholars 


48D 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


and  servants  belonging  to  the  mission.  The  corpse 
was  carried  in  a  palanquin,  and  Mr.  Lee,  with  the 
little  son  of  the  deceased,  followed  in  another ;  but 
Bir.  Gordon  was  incapacitated  from  attending  by  severe 
illness,  and  had  for  some  days  been  prohibited,  by  the 
physician,  from  visiting  his  beloved  friend. 

In  the  year  1812,  the  three  Gospels  which  had 
been  translated  by  Mr.  Des  Granges  were  printed  at 
Serampore  by  the  Baptist  brethren,  and  the  surviving 
missionaries  undertook  to  go,  by  rotation,  thrice  a  week 
into  the  populous  villages  around  them,  in  order  to 
read  the  blessed  words  of  truth  to  the  inhabitants  in 
their  vernacular  language,  to  converse  with  them  on 
the  subjects  read,  and  to  distribute  copies  to  those 
who  were  capable  of  reading,  and  inclined  to  accept 
of  them.  They  also  employed  a  Bramin  in  the  same 
important  work ;  and  it  is  a  remarkable  fact,  that,  not- 
withstanding the  professed  attachment  of  this  man  to 
the  Hindoo  religion,  he  not  only  read  among  his 
countrymen  that  part  of  the  sacred  volume  which  had 
been  placed  in  his  hands,  but  even  attempted,  accord- 
ing to  the  best  of  his  ability,  to  explain  its  meaning. 
Some  of  the  people,  indeed,  ventured  to  remonstrate 
with  him  on  the  inconsistency  of  his  reading  in  public 
•  book  so  subversive  of  the  faith  of  his  forefathers  ; 
but  he  vindicated  his  conduct,  by  observing  that  he 
had  undertaken  a  specific  service,  and  that  he  merely 
executed  the  orders  of  his  oTiployer. 

In  the  month  of  May,  1814,  the  brethren  were,  one 
day,  induced  to  visit  the  garden  of  the  goddess  Ellama ; 
and  here  the  absurdity  of  idolatrous  worship  was  made 
apparent  indeed.  "  We  found  her  and  her  brother," 
say  the  missionaries,  "  placed  on  a  seat  in  front  of  a 
house  ;  and,  on  our  asking  the  people  who  they  were, 
they  replied, '  Ellama  and  Potana.'  On  being  assured 
they  were  deities,  we  took  up  the  images,  and  ex- 
amined them  very  minutely,  turning  them  about,  and 
tapping  them  with  a  stick,  as  if  to  ascertain  of  what 
materials  they  were  made.  When  we  again  asked, 
'  Are  tiiese  really  gods  ?'  the  people  appeared  con- 
founded, and  acknowledged  that  they  were  wood.  We 
gave  them  suitable  advice,  and  departed  ;  but,  on 
meeting  a  Bramin,  we  entered  into  conversation  with 
him  respecting  the  images.  He  confessed  they  were 
formed  of  wood,  but  insisted  that,  by  the  power 
of  the  muntra,  they  were  made  to  possess  the 
divine  essence.  We  then  requested  him  to  return 
with  us,  in  order  to  assist  us  in  ascertaining  the  truth 
of  this.  He  complied,  and  we  examined  the  images 
as  before.  He  seemed  ashamed,  yet  said  he  could 
make  the  goddess  speak.  We  challenged  him  to  do 
as  he  said,  assuring  hirii  that  we  would  then  worship 
the  images,  and  remunerate  him  handsomely  besides." 
This,  of  course,  set  the  matter  at  rent,  nnd  thn  irlnlu. 


trous  heathen  retired  with  the  blush  of  confusion  upoD 
his  cheek,  but  without  the  force  of  divine  conviction 
in  his  heart. 

In  1815,  the  Rev.  James  Dawson,  from  the  mis- 
sionary seminary  at  Gosport,  was  sent  out  to  reinfore* 
the  station. 

In  a  letter  dated  January  88,  1817,  Mr.  Gordon 
says,  "  The  last  year  has  been  better  to  me  than  any 
former  one,  and  I  have  been  enabled  to  enter  fully 
into  my  labors.  We  are  out  every  day  among  the 
people,  who  are  evidently  more  disposed  to  makw 
inquiries  after  the  truth.  I  have  lately  held  conversa- 
tions with  some  singularly  interesting  characters,  whose 
questions  were  uncommonly  striking.  The  children 
in  the  schools,  also,  perform  wonders,  and  by  interro- 
gating them,  independently  of  the  questions  in  their 
catechisms,  we  obtain  satisfactory  evidence  that  they 
make  an  actual  progress  in  the  knowledge  of  divine 
things.  Our  principal  school  is  in  the  very  heart  of 
the  town,  and  open  to  any  person  who  passes  by.  The 
novelty  of  catechizing  the  children,  and  the  prompti- 
tude of  their  answers,  never  fail  to  bring  numbers  to 
hear  them  ;  and  the  questions  afford  a  series  of  subjects 
for  inquiry  and  conversation.  In  this  way,  both  the 
youth  and  those  of  advanced  years  have  an  opportu- 
nity of  receiving  instruction." 

Mr.  Pritcliett,oneof  the  missionaries  at  this  station, 
devoted  a  considerable  portion  of  his  time  to  the 
translation  of  the  New  Testament  into  Telinga  ;  and 
in  1819,  his  version  was  published  at  Madras,  at  the 
expense  of  the  Calcutta  Bible  Society.  He  also 
translated  several  parts  of  the  Old  Testament,  and 
indulged  the  hope  of  giving  to  the  heathen,  by  whom 
he  was  surrounded,  the  whole  of  "  the  oracles  of  God" 
in  their  vernacular  language.  In  this  pleasing  antici- 
pation, however,  he  was  disappointed,  being  called 
to  rest  from  all  his  labors  after  an  illness  of  short 
duration. 

"On  the  second  of  June,  1820,  Mr.  Pritchett  felt 
indisposed,  and  complained  of  the  strong  winds  affect- 
ing him  more  than  usually.  On  Sunday  morning,  the 
4th,  he  arose  very  unwell,  and,  without  being  able  to 
take  any  thing  more  than  a  cup  of  tea,  went  into  the 
town  to  preach  ;  but,  tow  rds  the  latter  part  of  the 
service,  he  was  obliged  to  conclude  rather  abruptly, 
and  returned  home  very  ill.  During  the  week,  though 
in  great  bodily  pain,  and  burning  with  fever,  he  man- 
ifested the  most  patient  resignation  ;  and  several  times 
he  said,  '  I  do  not  know  why  a  Christian,  who  lives, 
and  has  lived  to  God,  should  wish  to  .stay  here.'  On 
Sunday,  the  fever  was  very  high,  and  his  agony  was 
so  great  that  he  was  not  able  to  say  much  ;  but  while 
Mr.  Gordon  was  standing  by  his  bed,  he  said  in  a  very 


'  xrty  iiiiicS  arc  iii  iny  nan 


d.' 


Monday  he  was  thought  to  be  rather  better,  and  at 
night  he  appeared  more  composed  than  he  had  been 
for  some  nights  past ;  but  about  three  o'clock  the  foUow- 
ing  morning  he  expired." 

.u'"  ^ll^JT'^  °^  "'^  ^'"^^"^  f"'  1824  it  is  stated, 
that    "the  hopes  of  the  brethren  (Messrs.  Gordon 
and  Dawson),  as  to  the  introduction  of  Christianity  into 
th.8  part  of  India,  are  chiefly  founded  on  the  effect  of 
the  schools  gradually  preparing,  by  the  divine  blessing, 
a  race  who  wdl  more  readily  yield  to  the  force  of  ils 
obl.gat.ons     There  are,  at  present,  five  native  schools, 
all  of  which  are  conducted  with  a  strict  regard  to  order 
and  discipline.     The  aggregate  number  of  boys  under 
instruction  is  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  ;   but  the 
average  attendance  is  not  more  than  one  hundred  and 
Wty.     The  pupils  have,  in  general,  excellent  memo- 
ries, seldom  requiring  to  be  told   the  same  thing  a 
second  time ;  and  many  of  them  evince  a  strong  desire 
to  understand  the  Scriptures.     Ttie  principal  part  of 
Mr.  Gordons  time  is  employed  in  the  Telinga  trans- 
lation of  the  Old  Testament;  but  in  the  evening  he 
usually  visits  the  schools  and  the  neighboring  villages, 
where  he  reads  to  the  natives,  and  converses  with  them 
on  the  Christian  religion." 

In  1825,  the  mission  sustained  a  heavy  loss  in  the 
death  of  Mrs.  Dawson,  who  was  removed  from  this 
mortal  scene  on  the  28th  of  February.  Mrs.  Dawson 
took  a  lively  interest  in  the  orphan  and  native  female 
schools  at  the  station,  and  was  assiduously  engaged 
in  the  latter  as  long  as  her  strength  permitted. 

The  report  of  the  society  for  1827  states  that    the 
native  schools  bad  increased  to  twelve,  and  the  schol- 
ars amounted  to  five  hundred  and  twenty-five.     "  They 
continue  to  inspire  in  the  missionaries  a  lively  hope  of 
many,  among  the  now  rising  generation  at  Vizagapatam, 
eventually  becoming  Christians.      The   progress  of 
the  scholars  is  very  encouraging,  their  prejudices,  gen- 
erally speaking,  are   abating,  and  their  acquaintance 
with  Christianity  increasing.     Scarcely  a  day  passes  in 
which  some  circumstance  does  not  transpire  indicative 
of  the  beneficial  influence  of  religious  instruction  upon 
their  hearts ;  and  the  elder  boys  not  unfrequently  ask 
questions  which  the  most  sagacious  Braniins  find  them- 
selves unable  to  answer." 

During  this  period  of  the  mission,  the  missionaries 
attended  to  a  daily  native  service  in  one  of  the  school- 
rooms ;  the  audience  sometimes  amounting  to  one  hun- 
dred ;  but  the  versatility  of  the  natives,  the  missionary 
writes,  "  renders  it  impossible  to  observe  the  desirable 
order  of  Christian  services."  Six  English  services 
were  hold  weekly ;  and  in  1826,  two  members  were 

»"»»•  M  i\s  tut:  t;iiurcn. 

In  1828,  the  deputation  presented  the  following 
account  of  the  mission  at  Vizagapatam :— "  The  mis- 
VoL.  I.— Nos.  41  &  42,  (33 


VIZAGAPATAM. 


481 

sionaries,  Messw.  Gordon  and  Dawson,  appear  to  be 
diligently  employed  in  their  several  departments,  and 
to  the  extent  of  their  strength.     Mr.  Gordon  is  em- 

f^u'^.'^V°'^  '''■  *'""«'''''°».  ""d  has  got  the  whole 
o    the  Old  Testament  in  a  state  of  forwardness.     He 
also  takes  part  in  the  English  services,  and  every  even- 
ing  visits  some  of  the  schools.     He  is  highly  esteem- 
ed by  tl|e  people,  and  appears  to  be  a  truly  excellent 
man.     He  is  said  to  have  a  very  extensive  acquaint- 
ance with  the  Teloogoo  language.     The  school  depart- 
ment is  immediately  under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Dawson 
The  schools  are  in  excellent  condition.     There  are  at 
this  time  twelve  in  connection  with  this  mission  in  the 
town  and  neighborhood.    One  of  these  is  a  school  of  girls 
under  the  kind  careof  Mrs.  Vaughan.    Besides  the  girls' 
school  there  are  several  girls  at  the  boys' schools,  both 
m  the  town  and  villages.     This  appears  abetter  plan, 
in  this  place,  than  to  have  the   females  in  separate 
schools,  at  which  their  parents  look  with  suspicion. 
All  these  schools  are  conducted  entirely  on  Christian 
principles ;  the  Scriptures  are  read.  Dr.  Watts's  cate- 
chisms are  taught,  &c.     The  scholars  also  learn  writing 
and  ciphering.     The  masters  appear  to  be  situable  and 
well  selected  men.     In  examining  the  schools,  both  in 
reading  and  also  as  to  their  knowledge  of  the  princi- 
pies  of  Christianity,  we  had  every  reason  to  be  well 
satisfied.     No  schools  in  India,  as  far  as  we  have  yet 
gone,  are  m  a  better  state.     When  we  were  at  Madras 
we  attended  a  meeting  of  the  committee  of  the  Bible' 
Society,  and  were  highly  gratified  on  hearing  from  the 
report  which  was  read,  so  favorable  a  testimony  given 
to  Mr.  Gordon's  translation  of  the  Scriptures.     It  was 
spoken  of  in  the  highest  language  by  the  committee  of 
translations." 

But  whilst  his  brethren  were  thus  testifying  to  his 
faithfulness  and  ability,  Mr.  Gordon  was  receiving  a  far 
higher  plaudit.  The  great  Master  of  assemblies  need- 
ed  him  in  the  upper  sanctuary,  and  on  the  17th  of 
January,  1828,  the  message  came  to  him,  •<  Enter  tliou 
into  the  joy  of  thy  Lord."  He  had  labored  in  India 
with  diligence  and  fidelity  for  nineteen  years.  In  con- 
sequence of  this  event,  the  superintendence  of  this 
mission  devolved  on  Mr.  Dawson,  assisted  by  Mr. 
James  Gordon,  son  of  the  deceased  missionary. 

In  1831,  the  prospect  of  usefulness  at  this  station 
seemed  to  brighten.  The  Scriptures  are  read  with 
more  interest ;  and  among  such  as  attend  to  hear  them 
explained,  many  inquiries  are  made  as  to  their  true 
meaning.  The  attention  of  the  natives  is  particularly 
attracted  by  the  parables  of  the  New  Testament,  which 
may  be  accounted  for  not  onlv  on  the  sennra!  ".r:r,.-i-,!e 
of  the  parable  being,  in  itself^  naturally  adapted  toln- 
terest  the  human  mind,  but  from  the  fact  that  their 
own  Hindoo  books  abound  in  allegory. 


488 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


The  latest  intelligence  from  this  station  states,  that 
the  church  has  increased  to  twenty  members. 


CUDDAPAH. 

To  this  place,  Mr.  Howell,  late  superintendent  of 
the  native  schools  in  connection  with  the  Bellary  mis- 
sion, removed,  in  November,  1822.    At  the  request  of 
T.  Lascelles,  Esq.,  registrar  of  the  Ziilah  court,  lie  took 
charge  of  two  native   schools,  previously  established 
by   that   gentleman ;  and,  having  united    them,  they 
soon  increased.      A  native   female  school   was   also 
established,  and  schools  were  opened  at  the  follow- 
ing villages,  situated  within  a  distance  of  ten  miles  from 
Cuddapah,  viz.  Sharpett,  Ootoor,  Chinmaar  and  Gun- 
ganpally.     The  aggregate  number  of  native  children 
in  the  several  schools,  into  all  of  which  Christian  in- 
struction was  introduced,  was  about  one  hundred  and 
fifty,  and  their  progress  was  very  encouraging.     Be- 
sides these  engagements,  Mr.  Howell  preached  in  the 
school-room  to  a  congregation  of  natives,  fluctuating 
between  forty  and  fifty  ;  translated  the  catechisms  used 
at  Chinsurah  and  Bellary,  into  Teloogoo,  examined 
the  Canara  version  of  the  Old  Testament,  and  dis- 
tributed numerous  copies  of  the  Teloogoo  New  Tes- 
tament. 

In  the  following  year,  the  success  of  his  labors  was 
apparent.  He  says, — "  In  my  last  communication  I 
stated  my  intention  to  baptize  two  or  three  adults  ;  but 
since  then  the  Lord  has  so  disposed  the  hearts  of  the 
people  (who,  it  would  appear,  were  for  a  long  season 
'  halting  between  two  opinions'),  as  to  cause  house liolds 
to  forsake  their  lying  vanities,  by  turning  from  darkness 
to  light,  and  from  the  kingdom  of  Satan  to  tlio  kingdom 
of  his  dear  Son,  as  will  appear  from  the  list  of  baptisms  [ 
have  the  pleasure  to  transmit.  The  number  baptized  by 
me  is  seventy-four  men,  twenty-five  women,  forty  boys 
and  twenty-one  girls ;  and,  with  those  baptized  previous- 
ly to  my  coming  iiere,make  a  total  of  one  hundred  and 
nineteen  adults  and  sixty-seven  children."  All  of  these 
had  nominally  embraced  Christianity,  while  a  regular 
church  had  been  formed  of  ten  members,  in  which 
three  pious  natives  were  appointed  deacons. 

Mr.  Howell  made  a  tour  of  about  one  hundred  miles, 
preached  to  great  nuiltitudes,  and  distributed  tracts 
very  extensively.  Although  his  health  suffered  much 
from  excessive  heat,  his  labors,  twice  suspended 
through  the  two  succeeding  years,  were  resume<l,  and 
that  with  the  most  happy  results.  In  1826,  the 
schools,  previously  increased,  had  been  reduced  to  four, 
and  the  time  thus  gained  was  devoted  to  importaiii 
purposes.     The  native  church,  augmented  to  twenty- 


one  members,  had  diminished,  in  consequence  of  re- 
movals, to  nine  ;  and  a  prayer-meeting  was  held  every 
Friday  morning.  A  Hindoo,  about  twenty-five  years 
of  age,  of  the  Sanessi  sect  (or  caste),  who  came  to  Cud- 
dapah in  the  month  of  October,  1825,  unattired,  with 
long  clotted  hair,  and  his  body  besmeared  with  ashes, 
had  embraced  Christianity,  had  been  baptized,  and 
prayed,  when  called  upon  in  the  social  meeting,  with 
much  propriety.  A  chapel  had  been  completed  and 
opened  on  the  11th  of  October,  the  expense  of  which 
was  defrayed  by  subscriptions  on  the  spot.  By  the 
aid  of  respectable  Euro))ean  residents,  a  workshop  was 
established  for  native  Christians  who  had  not  the 
means  of  supporting  themselves.  A  selection  of 
psalms  and  hymns  in  Teloogoo  had  been  revised,  and 
the  book  of  Psalms  and  the  history  of  Joseph  had 
been  translated  into  the  same  language.  About  one 
thousand  two  hundred  Teloogoo  tracts  had  been  cir- 
culated, principally  at  Hindoo  festivals.  Copies  of 
portions  of  the  Scriptures  in  the  same  language  had 
been  distributed  among  respectable  natives  and  chil- 
dren in  the  schools;  and  English  tracts  had  been 
occasionally  given  to  travellers  and  to  individuals  in 
the  cantonment. 

The  latest  accounts,  in  January,  1832,  represent  this 
mission  as  making  gradual  progress.  The  schools  are 
evidently  gaining  ground,  and  afford  pleasing  promise 
of  a  fruitful  harvest.  Veerpah,  a  Bramin  convert, 
makes  encouraging  progress  in  divine  things,  and  con- 
ducts family  worship  with  great  propriety. 

The  schools  are  seven  in  number  ;  church  members 
nineteen ;  and  the  candidates  for  baptism  are  nearly 
fifty. 


CHITTOOR. 

[Eighty-two  milei  we»t  by  north  from  Muiru.] 

The  population  of  Chittoor  is  variously  estimated  ; 
probably  it  is  not  far  from  13,000. 

The  importance  of  Chittoor  as  a  station  arises  from 
the  vicinity  of  three  towns,  viz.  Vellore,  with  30,000, 
Arcot  and  Wallajapetfah,  with  at  least  60,000  inhab- 
itants.  The  Rev.  Robert  Jennings  and  his  lady  ar- 
rived at  this  place,  August  4,  1827,  and  were  cordially 
received.  Mr.  Jennings  found  many  European  Chris- 
tian friends,  and  a  church  of  about  seventy  members 
regularly  organized. 

The  deputation  reported  Chittoor  as  a  most  impor- 
tant post  for  future  and  extensive  operations.  Till 
tiie  urrivai  of  the  missionory,  Messrs.  Crisp  and  Taylor 
had  visited  Chittoor  alternately,  spending  four  months 


18^'!!!!!;  ^'  ^1"^  <'«n"nenced  hi,  visits  early  in 
1826,  Md.  m  complmnco  with  their  request,  he  formed 

I'csrhrh/'^""'™'"^^''^"--"'--" 

Mr.  Jennings  applied  himself  to  all  his  duties  with 

XJTTu     f''^"'''"""^  assiduity,  and  hopes  were 
Cher  shed  that  he  would,  for  years  to  come,  prove  a 

.'^rnV';'"  T""""  "'*''"'"""•  "^  '"«  "-'-d  n! 

h^Z  r        '"''''^'  '°  ''""8  in»o  h'"»  fold ;  but  these 

r      ,f  J'"^«""«'"  «"d  I'oly  servant  of  God.     He 
was  called  toh.s  eternal  reward  on  the  1st  June,  1831 

hs  conversion,  l„s  heart  was  melted  with  tender  com 
passion  for  the  heathen  world. 


BELOAUM. 


488 


BELGAUM. 

[Two  hundred  milei  north-weit  from  Bollary] 

This  is  a  military  post  between  Bombay  and  Bellary. 
1  Ije  language  chiefly  used  is  the  Canarese. 

Ihe  mission  was  commenced  in  1820,  by  the  Rev. 

Mr.Taylorand  the  native  teacher,  Ryndass,  who  came 

1  rllT -^r""^:.    '^'"'^"^'•°  '''"^'>'  -«-ved  by 
genera   PrUzler  and  other  respectable  characters.  The 

sE    ''t"',   '"'  ""'""'•'"  '■°^'"°™ing  service  on  the 
sabbath,  wh.ch  was  well  attended  by  the  military. 

th«  n„    f  '  Tk  """''"  '"'"^'^  '"'''  established,  and 
the  numberof  boys  was  one  hundred  and  twenty.     At 

Shawpore    a  convenient  school-house  was  provided, 
and  Christian  instruction  introduced 

The  children  not  only  committed  to  memory  large 

portions  of  the  Scriptures,  catechisms,  &c.,  but  el 

deavored  to   understand  what    they   learned.      Mr. 

Taylor  devoted  two  evenings  in  each  week  to  convcr- 

sations  with  the  heathen.      These  meetings,  which 

were  held  in  the  school-house  at  Shawpore,  and  Tn 

duce    in  theCanara  language,  were  ocLio'naUy  well 

attended       On  the  sabbath,  Mr.  Taylor  conducted 

three  public  services  in  English,  two  of  then,  in  the 

camp,  and  one  at  the  commanding  officer's  quarters. 

A  temporary  building,  capable  of  holding  from  two 

hundred  and  fifty  to  three  hundred  persons,  had  been 

erected  in  the  camp,  where  divine  worship  was  regu- 

arly  per  ormed  ;  and  on  the  Sunday  morning,  all  fhe 

soldiers  then  off  duty  were  marched  down.     The  rest 

together  with  volunteers.  aUBnd«H  .h-  n-, ;-~  • ' 

the  evening.     The  service  at  the  commandin,^  officer's 
quarters,  was  attended  by  a  '  the  staff  officers,  and 


others  residing  in  the  fort,  and  also  by  the  soldiers  of 

T«  rt  u  ""''^- .  ^"  WednesdaJ  evenings,  Mr. 
Taylor  held  a  service  in  the  campi  and  on  Friday 
evenings,  at  his  own  house,  in  the  fort.  All  the 
so  d,e«  who  assembled  for  worship  on  these  occasion.. 

Toll  ;t"'u"'^-  ^''  '^"y'°'-  ^««  encouraged  to 
hope  that  the  above-mentioned  services  which  he  de- 

LnoJ  H  "?  uT  '"  ""'"•  ^'"^  "f  »"^  ''e-rers  ac- 
knowledged the  benefit  derived  from  his  public  minis- 
ry,  and  confirmed  this  acknowledgment,  while  they 

:otTs:eVs.'''°^^^^'°"^^»''°'^^ 

Through  succeeding  years,  the  mission  was  blessed 
with  prosperity ;  and,  in  November,  1825,  two  Bra- 
m.ns  and  a    .Jpoot,  the  first  fruits  of  the  mission  at 

avofZ^r'  Tr'^  "'  ^'"'^'y'  ''^'^  »  '"i^f-'^tory 
amval  of  their  faith  in  Christianity,  in  the  presence 
of  about  three  hundred  natives.  Various  reasons  in! 
duced  Mr.  Taylor  to  fix  on  Bombay  as  the  place 
where  te  rite  should  be  administered.'  Rev.  Mr'and 

The  climate  of  India  not  agreeing  with  Mr.  Lillie. 
and  the  physicians  assuring  him  that  his  life  could  no 

honSS.  '  "  "''^'""  '"  '"^  ^'''''  ''^  -'--^ 

TaTbr  '  T?   '.?'"'  ^T  '^'''"''^  °-«  '°  M'- 

faithful  ■  A  f  ■■"'"'"'  ''''"  '''""  ^»P''^'"'  proved 
ftithful.   and   others   were   full   of  anxious   inquiry 

Trac  s  and  portions  of  the  Scriptures  were  widely 
circulated.  I„  ,828,  Mr.  Beynon  removed  to  BeN 
gaim,,  where  his  health  is  better  than  in  Bellary 

rhe  latest  accounts  of  this  place  mention  that  the 
missionaries  have  three  able  native  assistants.     There 
,  are   between   thirty   and   forty   communicants.      Of 
Dhondapah,  one  of  the  assistants,  Mr.  Beynon  writes, 
He  IS  the  most  sp.ritually-minded  native  Christian  I 
Jmve  ever  conversed  with.     I  have  never  heard  him 
speak  upon  any  subject  but  which  was,  more  or  less 
connected  with  the  salvation  of  his  own  soul  or  the 
cause  of  Christ  in  general.     His  trials  and  sufferings 
have  been  many  and  severe,  and  the  sacrifices  he  has 
made  are  of  the  most  painful  nature  ;  and,  amidst  all. 
l.e  has  been  supported  and  has  sustained  a  most  con- 
sistent character.     He  has  literally,  for  the  sake  of 
Christ,  forsaken  wife  and  children,  and  brethren  and 
lands      I„  a  conversation  I  had  with  him,  when  pass- 
mg  through  Darwar,  on  adverting  to  his  sufferings,  he 
modestly   observed,   <  Yes,    I    have   been   called   to 
endure  a  few  trials,  and  my  friends  frequentiv  tell  m« 
oi  «ij^  fo^e,;   but  it  is  not  always  they  ask  me  what 
1  have  gained  by  them.'     As  the  general  result  of 
missionary  labor  at  Belgaum,  the  brethren  find  Bra- 


484 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


mins  and  Gooroos  shrinking  from  argument,  ceasing  to 
defend  tlieir  systems,  acknowledging  that  the  Hindoo 
is  not  adapted  to  become  a  universal  religion,  and 
that  it  cannot  show  by  what  means  sin  may  be  par- 
doned. The  mass  of  the  population  are  beginning  to 
inquire,  and  compare  systems,  and  are  not  insensible 
to  the  doctrines  aad  duties,  effects  and  advantages,  of 
the  gospel  of  Christ." 


BELLARY. 

In  the  spring  of  1810,  the  Rev.  John  Hands 
arrived  in  India,  with  the  hope  of  commencing  a 
mission  in  liie  city  of  Seringapatmn  ;  but  as  no  access 
could  then  be  had  to  that  place,  he  was  induced  by 
the  brethren  at  Aladras  to  direct  his  attention  to  Bel- 
lary,  situated  in  tlie  most  northern  part  of  the  province 
of  Mysore,  and  surrounded  by  numerous  populous 
towns  and  villages.  He  accordingly  set  out  on  the 
26th  of  April,  and  on  his  arrival  was  treated  with 
great  respect  by  the  European  residents,  among  whom 
he  soon  began  to  celebrate  divine  service.  He  had, 
at  first,  some  great  difficulties  to  contend  with,  in 
acquiring  the  language  of  the  natives,  called  the 
Canara,  which  is  spoken  from  the  borders  of  the 
Mahratta  nearly  to  the  bottom  of  the  Mysore.  He 
applied  himself,  however,  so  patiently  and  perseverina;- 
ly  to  this  study,  that  he  not  only  soon  collected  several 
thousands  of  words,  which  he  formed  into  a  vocabu- 
lary, but  also  began  preparing  a  grammar,  with  tiio 
assistance  of  his  moonshee,  who  appeared  to  be  avry 
learned  man. 

The  Bramins  in  this  place  are  said  to  be  compara- 
tively few  in  number.  Some  of  these,  however,  visited 
our  missionary  in  a  friendly  nianner  ;  and  a  consider- 
able number  of  country  poor,  or  "  half-caste"  persons, 
attended  his  ministry  ;  and,  in  some  instances,  his  la- 
bors appear  to  have  been  blessed  among  ihem.  One 
man,  in  particular,  informed  liim  that  lie  had  been 
constrained  to  commence  family  worsliip,  both  morning 
and  evening. 

In  a  letter,  dated  January  15,  181 1 ,  Mr.  Hands 
observes,  "  I  now  preach  tiirice  every  Lord's  day,  lo 
my  countrymen  and  the  Portuguese  half-caste — in 
the  morning,  at  the  Kutcheree,  to  the  soldiers  and 
inhabitants  ;  in  the  afternoon,  at  the  hospital  ;  and  in 
the  evening,  at  my  own  house.  A  considerable  stir 
begins  to  appear  among  the  soldiers,  and  eight  or  ton 
of  the  young  Portuguese  seem  very  serious  and  prom- 
ising. Much  good  is  also  done  by  distributing  tracts 
and  lending  books,  which  are  read  with  great  avidity. 
Previous  to  my  arrival,  a  religious  book  was  seldom 


seen,  the  poor  soldiers  being  entirely  dectitute,  and  the 
respectable  inhahitaits  little  better.  I  have  given  a 
Bible  and  Baxter's  Call,  for  the  use  of  the  convales- 
cents in  the  hospital,  and  their  appearance  demon- 
strates that  they  are  in  common  use. 

"  God  has  been  pleased  to  give  me  favor  in  the 
eyes  of  the  principal  people  here.  One  officer,  high 
in  the  civil  department,  condescends  to  visit  me  and 
attend  divine  service,  and  has  invited  me  to  take  a 
short  journey,  to  the  great  feast  held  by  the  natives, 
near  Bisnagur,  the  ancient  capital  of  the  Hindoo  em- 
pire. Another  gentleman  has  given  me  a  useful  little 
horse, — a  very  welcome  present  in  a  hot  country, 
which  will  not  admit  of  much  walking  ;  and  several 
of  the  nfitives,  on  certain  festival  days,  have  sent  me 
presents  of  fruit  sufficient  for  a  fruiterer's  shop.  Mjr 
residence  was  formerly  a  pagoda  ;  but  part  of  it  will 
be  now  devoted  to  the  public  worship  of  the  ever 
blessed  God.  O  that  many  of  Satan's  temples  may 
be  thus  consecrated  !  Several  huge  gods  of  stone  are 
lying  about  the  promises,  like  Dagon  before  the  ark. 
I  purpose  digging  large  holes  near  them  and  rolling 
them  in,  as  they  are  too  unwieldy  to  be  dragged 
away." 

In  the  spring  of  1812,  with  the  assistance  of  a  young 
friend  from  Madras,  Mr.  Hands  opened  a  native 
school,  which  was  soon  attended  by  about  fifty  chil- 
dren. Speaking  of  this  institution,  he  says,  "  As  the 
school  is  yet  in  its  infancy,  and  many  of  the  parents 
of  the  children  are  rather  suspicious,  I  have  hitherto 
done  little  more  among  them  than  occasionally  talk  to 
them  in  a  familiar  manner  about  the  works  of  God, 
their  obligations  to  him,  and  the  sin  and  folly  of  giving 
worship  to  stones,  &tc.  If  I  take  a  walk  in  the  even- 
ing, when  the  school  is  over,  I  am  almost  sure  of 
being  found  by  some  of  the  children,  who  always 
seem  pleased  to  accompany  me  ;  and  some  of  them 
occasionally  put  in  a  word  to  help  me.  I  hope  soon 
to  be  able  to  introduce  Christian  instruction  more 
openly  ;  but  it  requires  much  prudence,  and,  in  the 
beginning,  the  work  must  be  gradual." 

At  this  time,  our  missionary  preached  every  sabbath 
evening,  and  once  in  the  week  in  the  school-room, 
which  was  fitted  up  with  lamps  and  other  conveniences 
by  an  unsolicited  subscription  among  the  hearers,  who 
also  kindly  agreed  to  defray  the  expenses  of  lighting, 
&ic.  Many  of  tlicse,  indeed,  appear  to  have  known 
and  loved  the  truth  ;  and  of  the  soldiers  belonging  to 
one  regiment,  upwards  of  twenty  professed  to  have 
been  made  acquainted  with  the  things  pertaining  to 
their  eternal  salvation,  since  they  attended  the  ministry 
of  Mr.  Hands.  These,  with  a  few  others,  were  form- 
ed into  a  society,  which  met  weekly  lor  Christian 
conference ;  and  the  accounts  which  most  of  them 


BELLARY. 


gave,  on  their  admission,  relative  to  a  work  of  grace 
upon  their  hearts,  were  highly  pleasing  and  satisfac- 
tory. Several  of  them,  also,  were  able  to  engage  in 
prayer  at  the  public  prayer-meetings,  and  one  indi- 
vidual appeared  to  possess  a  considerable  talent  for 
exhortation. 

In  1816,  Mr.  Hands  was  joined  by  the  Rev.  William 
Reeve,  who  preached  his  first  sermon  on  the  29th  of 
September,  to  a  very  crowded  and  attentive  congreea- 
tion,  from  Romans  i.  14,  15,  <«  I  am  a  debtor  both  to 
the  Greeks  and   to   the  Barbarians,  &c."     Several 
schools  had,  by  this  time,  been  established  ;  and  this 
missionary  states  that  he  felt  great  pleasure  in  seeing 
the  children  come  and  sit  on  the  floor  in  the  virandas, 
to  repeat  various  catechisms  which  they  had  previously 
committed  to  memory.     He  also  observes   that   he 
was  much  impressed  and  profited  whilst  listening  to 
the  experience  of  a  number  of  soldiers,  who  were 
admitted  into  church  fellowship  shortly  after  his  arrival, 
and  of  whom  several  appeared  to  have  been  brought 
to  the  knowledge  of  the  ^ruth,  under  the  ministry  of  a 
pious  and  faithful  clergyman  at  Tiiciiinopoly.     "  The 
interesting  scene,"  says  Mr.  Reeve,  "  was  closed  by 
my  being  chosen  co-pastor  with  my  dear  brother  Hands, 
who  has  long  been  a  solitary  but  not  unsuccessful  mis- 
sionary." 

In  the  month  of  March,  1817,  Messrs.  Hands  and 
Reeve  took  a  journey  to  visit  the  spot  once  occupied 
by  the  famous  city  of  Bisnagur.  From  the  top  of  a 
pagoda  on  a  high  mountain,  and  with  the  aid  of  a  good 
telescope,  they  had  a  fine  view  of  the  extensive  scene 
of  desolation,  comprising  the  ruins  of  palaces,  pagodas 
and  other  public  buildings,  the  architecture  of  which 
appeared  to  have  been  of  a  very  superior  kind.  This 
city,  when  in  its  glory,  must  have  been  extremely 
large;  as  it  is  said,  that  if  all  the  buildings  which  now 
remain  were  placed  close  together,  they  would  occupy 
a  greater  extent  of  ground  than  that  on  which  London 
now  stands. 

"Here,"  says  Mr.  Reeve,  "we  met  with  many 
people  who  had  visited  the  mission-house  at  Bellary, 
for  the  purpose  of  receiving  religious  instruction  ;  and 
we  were  mucii  pleased  with  one  man,  who  told  us 
that  he  had  been  with  some  of  our  books  into  the 
Mysore  country  ;  that  he  had  written  twenty  copies 
of  them,  and  distributed  them  among  his  friends,  who 
appeared  much  interested  in  their  contents  ;  and  that 
our  Saviour's  sermon  on  the  mount  had  been  turned 
into  poetry,  part  of  which  he  repeated  to  us  with 
much  animation." 

The  same  evening,  they  paid  a  visit  to  the  aged 
rajah  of  Anagoody,  who  seemed  to  be  about  ninety 
years  of  age,  and  was  undergoing  a  severe  course  of 
penance,  to  propitiate  his  deity,  whom  he  conceived 


485 

to  be  angry  with  him.  "  We  found  him,"  says  Mr. 
Reeve,  "  at  a  short  distance  from  the  city,  performing 
his  devotions  in  one  of  his  pagodas,  surrounded  by 
servants,  musicians  and  Bramins  in  abundance.  He 
had  already  fasted  nine  days,  besides  undergoing  other 
mortifications  ;  and,  from  what  we  saw  and  heard,  we 
considered  him  as  a  complete  devotee.  Brother  Hands 
spoke  to  him  for  a  considerable  time  on  the  inefficiency 
of  his  penances  to  obtain  the  favor  of  Heaven ;  but  he 
seemed  to  hear  with  reluctance  what  was  advanced 
against  his  infatuating  idolatry." 

At  Bisnagur,  on  the  last  day  of  the  annual  festival, 
our  missionaries  beheld  a  grand  religious  procession, 
in  which  two  ponderous  cars  of  the  idols  were  dragged 
along  by  the  multitude.  "  I  counted  nearly  a  thousand 
people,"  says  Mr.  Reeve,  "  who  were  drawing  one 
of  them  ;  and  on  measuring  one  of  the  wheels,  I  found 
it  to  be  fourteen  feet  in  diameter.  The  height  of  ihe 
car,  including  its  trappings  and  ornaments,  was,  I  sup- 
pose, not  less  than  two  hundred  feet ;  so  that  it  was 
very  fatiguing  work  to  make  it  move  at  all.  Indeed, 
I  believe,  that  if  the  peons  and  soldiers  had  not  come 
with  their  swords  and  spears,  the  poor  god  would  have 
been  forsaken,  and  loft  in  the  road." 

After  their  return  to  Bellary,  the  brethren  had  the 
satisfaction  of  adding  to  their  little  church  ten  candi- 
dates,  who  had  been  previously  proposed  and  exam 
incd;  and  they  were  particularly  gratified  with  the 
experience  of  one  individual,  who  stated  that  he  was 
the  son  of  an  aged  Moravian  missionary,  still  laboring 
in  the  West  Indies.  It  seems  he  had  run  away  from 
a  boarding-school,  and  enlisted  for  a  soldier,  by  which 
means  he  had  been  brought  to  India ;  and  under  a 
sermon  at  Bellary,  he  was  led  to  discover  his  own 
vileness  and  helplessness  as  a  sinner,  and  the  suita- 
bility and  preciousness  of  Jesus  as  a  Saviour. 

In  the  course  of  the  summer,  Mr.  Hands  was  induced, 
by  the  unfavorable  state  of  iiis  health,  to  take  a  journey 
to  Madras ;  and  after  an  absence  of  some  weeks,  he  found 
himself  considerably  benefited  by  his  excursion.  He 
accordingly  set  out  on  his  return  in  the  commencement 
of  September ;  and  wliilst  proceeding  homewards,  he 
embraced  every  opportunity  of  attempting  to  enlighten 
the  minds  of  the  heathen  population  through  which  he 
passed,  by  distributing  among  them  religious  tracts  and 
portions  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  by  occasionally 
reading  and  speaking  to  the  people  respecting  the  way 
of  salvation.  He  also  embraced  every  opportunity 
of  preaching  to  the  soldiers,  among  whom  his  labors 
appear  to  have  been  peculiarly  acceptable. 

One  evening,  after  addressing  a  considerable  number 
of  the  troops  at  Bangalore,  a  West  Indiau,  named 
Roger,  said,  with  a  flood  of  tears,  "  O,  sir,  when  I  was 
at  Bellary,  you  do  much  good  for  my  soul.     Now,  sir, 


486 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


what  can  I  do  for  you  ?  Is  there  any  thing  I  can  get 
for  you  ?"  On  Mr.  Hands  replying  in  the  negative, 
he  earnestly  aslted,  "  Is  there  nothing  1  can  do  for 
you  ?"  "  Nothing,  Roger,  but  to  pray  for  me."  "  O, 
sir,  I  never  forget  to  do  that ;  but  I  must  give  you 
tomething."  The  poor  fellow  then  ran  off,  and  soon 
returned  with  a  large  cake,  which  he  had  purchased  as 
provision  for  OMr  missionary  by  the  way.  His  heart, 
indeed,  appeared  to  overflow  with  gratitude  for  the 
mercies  he  had  received  under  the  sound  of  the  gos- 
pel, and  he  expressed  an  ardent  desire,  in  the  course  of 
conversation,  to  love  the  Redeemer  more,  and  to  serve 
him  better. 

At  a  place  called  Hossa-pettih,  the  attention  of  Mr. 
Hands  was  excited  by  a  circumstance,  which,  occurring 
shortly  after  this  interview  villi  the  pious  West  Indian, 
seemed  to  place  in  a  striking  contrast  the  eft-jcts  pro- 
duced by  an  acquaintance  with  Jesus,  and  tiiose  re- 
sulting from  obedience  to  the  will  of  Satan.—"  Ob- 
;«erving  a  great  crowd  before  one  of  the  houses,"  says 
this  gentleman,  "  I  was  informed  that  the  owner  had  just 
Htabbed  himself,  after  murdering  a  wretched  woman 
with  whom  he  had   cohabited.     On    going   into   the 
house,  I  found  the  principal  men  of  the  house  assem- 
bled, and  several  native  surgeons  sewing  up  a  large 
;»nd  d'eep  wound,  which  the  unhappy  man  had  inflicted 
upon  himself.     1  was  then  shown  into  the  place  where 
the  murder  had  been  committed.     It  was  a  little  close 
room,  in  the  interior  of  the  house,  nito  which  a  ray  of 
light  could  scarcely  enter;  and  here  lay  the  mangled 
body  of  the  woman,  covered  with  blood,  her  throat 
being  cut  almost  from  car  to  ear.     So  shocking  a  sight  I 
never  before  beheld,  and  shall  not  soon  forget.     Before 
I  left  the  house,  I  addressed  the  dying  murderer,  who 
appeared  to  be  in  great  agony,  and  asked  him  how  he 
came  to  conunit  such  an  atrocious  deed.      He  just 
opened    his  eyes,  and  looking  at  me,  put  his  flnger 
upon  his  forehead,  to  intimate  that  it  was  his  destiny  ; 
as  the  Hindoos  imagine  that  all  which  befalls  them  is 
written  by  the  hand  of  Fate  uj)on  their  forehead.     I 
endeavored  to  impress  his  mind  with  the  dreadful  na- 
ture of  the  crime  l.y  had  connnitted,  and  the  danger  to 
which  it  exposed  hicn ;  ai.d  then  spoke  of  that  Redeem- 
er whose  blood  cleunsetli  from  all  sin,  and  can  wash 
•way  Ihu  foulest  stains  ;    but  the  poor  wretch  was  in 
loo  groat  puin  to  pay  nmch  attention  to  my  discourse. 
I  then  ap|)roaclied  the  door,  where  a  groat  crowd  of 
people  had  assembled,  and  addressed  them  for  some 
time,  endeavoring  to  iinjirove  the  awful  circumstance 
which  had  just  occurred.     After  I  had  concluded  my 
address,  I  distributed  among  the  people  several  copies 
of  our  lord's  sermon  on  the  mount,  and  other  tracts, 
which  were  eagerly  and  thnnkrullv  received." 
Ou  the  iih  of  October,  just  before  our  missionary 


entered  the  island  of  Seringapatam,  his  attention  was 
directed  to  a  spot  where,  about  fourteen  months  before, 
the  wife  of  a  native  oflicer  had  burned  hereelf  with  part 
of  the  body  of  her  deceased  husband.     When  her  de- 
termination  was   made   known,  a  British  magistrate 
resolved,  if  possible,  to  prevent  it ;  and  as  he  conceived 
he  had  not  sufficient  authority  positively  to  prohibit  it, 
he  endeavored  to  gain  his  purpose  by  delay,  hoping 
that  time  would  assuage  the  woman's  grief,  and  recon- 
cile her  to  life.     Unfortunately,  however,  her  inten- 
tion  had   been  communicated  to  the  Bramins,   who 
would  by  no  means  suffer  her  to  break  her  engagement. 
They,  therefore,  preserved  one  of  her  husband's  fingers ; 
and  with  this  she  was,  some  months  afterward,  burned,* 
on  a  spot  of  ground  to  which  the  magistrate's  authority 
did  not  extend.     A  hole,  five  or  six  feet  deep,  was  dug 
on  this  occasion,  and  a  .Srge  fire  kept  burning  from  the 
morning  until  the  evening,  when  the  hole  was  nearly 
filled  with  embers.     The  widow,  after  walking  round  it 
a  certain  number  of  times,  and  performing  other  pre- 
scribed ceremonies,  thre^  herself  into  it ;    and  imme- 
diately  a  quantity  of  combustible  matter,  which  instant- 
ly flamed  up,  was  thrown  in  upon  her.     For  a  short 
time,  she  was  seen  to  struggle  in  the  flames,  but  was 
soon  consumed.      "  I  saw  several  f.entleinen,"  says 
Mr.  Hands,  '<  who  witnessed  this  horrid  sacrifice,  and 
who  described  the  shock  which  their  feelings  received 
from  such  a  spectacle.     It  seems  that  the  poorcreature 
was  not  in  readiness  quite  so  soon  as  the  Bramins  de- 
sired, in  consequence  of  which  they  hurried  her ;  and 
one  of  them  actually,  with  a  harsh  voice,  bade  her  be 
quick,  or  the  European  gentlemen  would  be  obliged  to 
return  home  in  the  dark !      Such  are  these  kumant 
and   harmless  f,eings,  who,  while   they  consider  it  a 
heinous  sin  to  destroy  an  ant  or  a  fly,  can  thus  inhu- 
manly  trifle  with  the  lives  of  their  fellow-creatures  !" 

The  day  after  he  quitted  Seringapatam,  Mr.  Hands 
arrived  on  the  hanks  of  a  broad  and  very  rapid  river 
which  had  been  much  swollen  by  the  rains ;  and,  for 
some  time,  he  almost  despaired  of  getting  across.  At 
I'-'iigth,  however,  several  of  the  villagers  offered  to 
swim  across  with  his  palanquin  on  their  heads,  and  then 
pafMIe  him  over  in  a  large  chattce,  or  earthen  pan, 
which  they  hod  brought  with  them.  "  As  they  told 
me,"  says  our  missionary,  "  that  they  had  conveyed 
over  others  in  the  same  way,  and  no  acfident  lind  'iver 
occurred,  I  committed  myself  into  the  hands  of  him 
who  was  able  to  preserve  me,  and  determined  to  ven- 
ture.  After  fastening  n  number  of  dried  gourds  about 
their  bodies,  ten  or  twelve  of  them  descended  into  the 
river,  an<l  the  empty  pnhuupiin  being  put  upon  their 
lieadH,  they  launched,  and,  for  a  time,  proceeded  favor- 
""iy ;  btit  when  ihey  arrived  in  the  middio  of  iho  sCicHiii, 
ihcy  were  carried  down  with  such  rapidity  as  to  ho 


•Imost  overpowered,  and  I  feared  that  the  palanquin, 
at  least,  would  be  lost.     However,  at  last,  though  a 
great  distance  down  the  river,  they  gained  the  opposite 
«.de.   The  poor  fellows,  having  rested  themselves  now 
retumed  to  convey  me  over.     After  fastening  several 
short  bamboos  and  a  few  gourds  round  the  chattee,  thev 
lifted  me  mto  it,  and,  four  of  them  swimming  alongside 
safely  conveyed  me  over,  and  afterwards  transported 
my  palanqum  bearers  across,  in  the  same  manner.     I 
deeply  felt  my  obligations  to  these  poor  men,  who 
w».en  they  understood  that  I  was  a  goroo  or  teacher 
and  heard  me  speak  m  their  own  language,  were  ready 
to  do  or  venture  any  thing  for  me.     As,  in  paddling 
me  across,  they  frequently  invoked  several  of  their 
.lelpless  de.t.es,  I  embraced  that  opport.mity  of  telling 
them  of  the  true  God,  who  alone  could  assist  them 
and  to  whom  I  was  myself  looking  and  praying  for 
help,  whilst  crossing  the  river." 

About  a   week  after  this  occurrence,  Rlr.  Hands 
arrived  at  a  village  called  Holgoor,  where  he  to.'     ,n 
his  abode  in  the  temple  of  the  monkey  Hanamunta, 
whose  gigantic  figure,  six  or  seven  feet  high,  carved 
on  a  stone,  was  standing  in  a  little  *«c«rf  place  within 
the  temple.     "  Soon  after  I  arrived,"  says  Mr.  Hands, 
a  Bramin  came  up  with  holy  water,  paint  and  flow- 
ers, to  wash  and  decorate  his  god.     During  the  cere- 
mony,  which   took   up  half  an   hour,  he  continued 
repeating  his  muntrat,  or  prayers,  with  a  rapidity  that 
scarcely  allowed  him  time   to  breathe,  until,  at  last, 
he  appeared  completely  exhausted.     When  the  cere- 
mony was  finished,  and  he  had  locked  up  this  uncouth 
monster  in  his  den,  I  askad  him  what  advantage  could 
arise  from  worshipping  such  a  lifeless  block  of  .tone 
as  that,  and  said  I  was  surprised  that  a  sensible  man, 
as  he  appeared  to  be,  could  be  capable  of  such  folly 
He  confessed  that  he  knew  it  was  no  god,  and  that  no 
spiritual  advantage  could  be  derived  from  the  worship 
of  It;  but  as  he  was  the  officiating  Braininof  the  tem- 
ple, he  did  It  for  the  supportof  himself  and  his  familv 
I  then  warned  him  of  the  misery  ho  was  bringing  upon 
himself  by  deluding  the   poor  villagers,  and  t.a.hing 
them  to  believe  that  to  bo  a  god,  wliicli  lin   know  to 
bo  nothing  but  a  senseless  block.     I  aftorwnrds  spoke 
to   hiin,  and   to  several  others  who  had  ass,.  .|,|o,| 
round  us,  of  the  true  God,  and  of  his  Son  Jesus  (     ,ist  • 
apprizing  them  of  the  awful  consequences  of  perse- 
vering in  idolatry,  and  beseeching  thorn  to  seek  after 
O-xl,  and  to  worship  him  in  spirit  and  in  truth." 

On  the  83(1  of  October,  mir  missionary  returned  to 
Bdlary  with  his  health  happily  recruited ;  but,  on  his 
arrival,  ho  found  that  of  his  beloved  wife  on  the  decline. 
_  ..  ..._  _,„^  pcnois  oi  liii  aswuiico,  she  ha<t 
suffered  severely  from  bilious  obstructions,  and  about 
tour  months  after  his  return,  these  produced  tho  yellow 


BELLARY.      ' 


487 


jaundice.  The  medicines  that  were  deemed  necessary 
to  remove  this  complaint  reduced  her  to  a  state  of 
extreme  debility ;  but,  in  the  month  of  May,  she  was 
so  far  restored  as  to  be  able  to  accompany  her  hu,. 
band  to  a  celebrated  Hindoo  festival,  which  was  held 
at  a  place  about  forty  miles  distant  from  Bellarv 
I-rom  this  journey  she  derived  so  much  benefit,  that 
Uie  reestablishmentof  her  health  was  now  anticipated. 

Scarcely,however,hadil,atpleasinghope  been  indulged, 
when  the  fatigue  and  anxiety  occasioned  by  the  illness 
of  heryoungest  child,  together  with  the  excessive  heat 
of   he  weather,  occasioned  a  relapse;   and.  in  the 
month  of  July,  she  was  confined  entirely  to  her  bed. 
l-rom  this  time  she  continued  gradually  to  decline, 
imtil  the  1st  of  August.  1818.  when  her  disembodied 
spirit  entered  into  "the  house  not  made  with  hands, 
eternal  in  the  heavens."     She  was  one  of  the  oldest 
missionaries  connected  with    the   London  society  in 
India  ;  having  been  employed  in  the  work  twelve  years, 
first  as  the  wife  of  the  excellent  Des  Granges,  and 
afterwards  as  the  beloved  partner  of  Mr.  Hands     Her 
remains  were  interred  in  the  burial-ground  belongine 
to  the  garrison  at  Bellary  ;  and  the  high  estimation  ij 
which  she  was  held  by  all  who  knew  her  in  life  was 
particularly  manifested  at  her  funeral 

snnt  ""  T'^  ^^  ^T""'^'  '^^^'  "  J"^e"i'e  Bible 
society  w^s  formed  at  Bellary,  principally  through  the 
zeal  of  the  master  of  the   charity  school,  and    the 
activity  of  one  of  the  scholars,  who  was  formerly  noto 
nous  for  his  wickedness   and  audacity.     About  tho 
sametime,  the  missionaries  prevailed  on  a  native  mer- 
chant  to  sell  them  a  house  situated  at  the  confluenro 
of  several  streets,  and  likely  to  collect  pretty  large 
congregations,  to  whom  it  was  intended,  on  the  even- 
ings  of  the  week-days,  to  read  and  expound  various 
portions  of  Scripture,  in  connection  with  the  catechisms 
and  religious  tracts.     In  the  same  month,  also,  the 
attendance  at  the  mission  chapel  became  so  numerous, 
Uiat  an    enlargement   was   considered    indispensable. 
1  he  expense  of  this,  together  with   additional  seats 
and   lamps,  was  computed  at  fifty  pounds ;  but  the 
pious  soldiers  and  other  friends,    who   wore  in    tho 
habit  of  attending  on  tho  means  of  grace,  felt  so  deeply 
iixeresfed  in  tho  object,  that  they  collected  nearly  the 
whole  sum  III  the  course  of  twenty-four  hours. 

On  the  2d  of  March,  tho  missionaries  received  a 
visit  from  the  rajah  of  JIarponully,  who  had  arrived 
at  Bellary,  on  the  preceding  evening,  seated  upon  a 
very  large  elephant,  and  followed  by  throe  others, 
amidst  an  immense  concmirse  of  people.  «'  He  came 
to  us,"  says  Mr.  Heove,  "  with  all  the  "uitn".  sj-.J 
pai.de  of  tho  oriental  princes,  and  our  garden  wm 
almost  filled  with  his  splendid  retinue.  Ho  requested 
to  see  the  different      ru  of  tho  mission-house,  but 


488 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


showed  DO  disposition  to  enter  into  any  particular  con- 
versation. As  he  entered  one  of  the  studies,  he  was 
much  struck  with  the  number  and  bindings  of  the 
books,  and  expressed  great  admiration  at  tiieir  exter- 
nal appearance ;  but  this  was  all.  He  took  his  leave 
in  a  very  condescending  manner,  and  expressed  him- 
self highly  gratified  with  the  attention  which  had  been 
shown  to  him." 

About  four  months  after  the  rajah's  visit,  a  person 
of  very  plausible  character  called  upon  the  missionaries, 
stating  that  his  parents  had  renounced  heathenism,  and 
were  employed  in  the  mission  at  Tanjore,  and  that  he 
himself  had  been  baptized  in  his  infancy.     He  also 
said  that  he  had  been  appointed  to  assist  in  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  school  at  Poonah,  where  some  persons 
were  in  connection  with  the  mission  at  Tanjore,  and 
that,  on  setting  out  for  the  scene  of  his  intended  labors, 
he  had  been  well  furnislied  with  clothes,  books  and 
testimonials  ;  but  whilst  sleeping  in  a  lodging  on  the 
road,  some  persons  had  stripped  him  of  every  thing, 
and  he  was  now  in  the  greatest  distress,  not  having 
tasted    food    for   several    days.      He    requested    the 
brethren  to  let  him  have  some  largo  books  in  the  Ta- 
mul  language,  such  as  the  Old  and  New  Testament, 
and  also  solicited  a  few  pence,  to  purchase  a  little 
rice ;  but  as  his  story  did  not  appear  credible,  he  ob- 
Uined  only  a  few  tracts,  and  was  dismissed.     "  He 
afterwards,"  says  Mr.  Reeve,  "  paid  us  another  visit ; 
but  it  was  at  midnight,  when  we  were  all  asleep.     He 
entered  the  house,  proceeded  up  stairs,  brokn  info  the 
upper  hall,  ami  took  away  a  very  largo  English  Bible, 
two  large  New  Testaments,  and  two  copies  of  the  Te- 
linga  Gospels ;  but  just  as  ho  was  slinking  away  with 
his  booty,  our  watchful  dog   raised  an   alann.     This 
led  fo  the  dctcx-tion  of  the  ihiof ;  who,  the  instant  he 
perceived  that  he  was  observed,  threw  away  the  books 
among  the  buslies  in  the  garden,  and  said  that  he  had 
merely  come  there  to  gather  a  few  flowers.     He  was 
kept  in  close  confinement  till  the  morning,  when  ho 
appeared  lM?fore  us  again,  not  a  litlio  chagrined  and 
aslimned.     After  breakfast,  on  our  pointing  out  to  him 
his  awful  character  and  wretched  condition,  he  wept 
raucli,  and,  in  a  variety  of  particulars,  contradicted  his 
fornicr  statements.     Indeed,  he  appeared  an  affecting 
coiiipoimd  of  hy|)ocrisy  and  wickedness.     We  did  all 
we  could,  however,  in  the  wiiy  of  faithful  admonition, 
and  the  impostor  was  sent  about  his  business." 

At  the  close  of  1H19,  Mr.  Reeve  observes, '<  Dur- 
ing the  progreis  nf  this  vosr,  the  gospel  has  l>pen  car- 
ried severol  liundred  miles  through  the  dark  villages, 
and  several  thousands  of  tracts  have  been  distributed. 
The    translation   and    revision    of  the   Scriptures   in 

■•- tir'nra    ::3rr,  a:..u,  DCCIJ    |/>\n>uCui>tg.       rV    now  oiiiiiwi 

of  Dr.  Woits's  First  Catechism,  in  that  language,  with 


numerous  improvements  and  corrections,  has  boen  pre- 
pared for  the  press,  A  copy  of  the  same  has  also 
been  prepared  in  the  Tamul.  The  progress  of  the 
native  schools  has  been  favorable,  and  several  hun- 
dreds of  the  p'pils  know  perfectly  the  First  Cate- 
chism, and  the  greater  part  of  our  Lord's  sermon  on 
the  mount." 

Towards  the  latter  end  of  the  following  year,  Mr. 
Hands  determined  to  commence  a  missionary  tour 
through  the  Balaghaut  ceded  districts  and  Mysore  to 
Seringapatam,  and  to  return  by  the  way  of  Sera  and 
Chitteldroog.  He  accordingly  set  out  on  the  15th  of 
November,  well  furnished  with  religious  tracts  and 
small  jiortions  of  the  Scriptures  in  the  Telinga  and 
Canara  languages ;  and  in  upwards  of  twenty  large 
towns,  in  most  of  which  a  missionary  had  never  been 
previously  seen,  he  and  a  native  assistant  proclaimed 
the  glad  tidings  of  salvation,  and  distributed  the  Iwoks 
with  which  they  were  provided.  "  In  almost  every 
place,"  says  he,  "we  were  heard  with  great  attention, 
and  our  tracts,  &ic.  were  received  with  the  greatest 
eagerness.  It  was  highly  gratifying  to  see  the  poor 
people  coming  to  us  with  the  books  in  their  hands, 
requesting  explanations  of  some  things  they  could  not 
understand,  and  sometimes  entreating  us  to  stay  longer, 
that  they  might  hear  more  of  the  new  and  important 
things  which  we  brought  to  their  notice." 

On  his  return  from  Bombay,  where  he  had  entered 
a  second  time  into  the  marriage  state,  Mr.  Hands  de- 
termined on  spending  a  few  days  at  Gon,  where  he 
saw  mucli  that  surprised  and  much  that  distressed  him. 
"The  magnitude  and  splendor  of  the  churches,"  says 
he,  "  very  far  surpassed  nil  that  1  had  anticipated  ;  and 
those  who  have  seen  the  spacious  and  glittering  tem- 
ples of  (Joa,  the  gaudy  vestments  of  its  priests,  and 
the  pomp  and  parade  of  its  worship,  cannot  feel  sur- 
prised that  such  numbers  of  the  poor  Hindoos,  who 
are  so  fond  of  noise  and  show,  should  have  been 
brought  over  so  quickly  from  paganism  to  popery. 
But,  alas!  they  seem  to  have  gained  little  by  the 
change,  ns  fow  pagans  are  more  ignorant  or  more  su- 
perstitious than  the  greater  port  of  the  native  Christians 
at  Goa. 

"  The  ancient  city,  containing  most  of  the  churches 
and  monasteries,  with  the  lute  prison  of  the  inquisition, 
is  now  almost  deserted,  except  by  the  ecclesiastics } 
and  we  were  obliged  to  reside,  ihrr-  mir  stay,  at  the 
new  town,  which  is  built  near  the  entrance  of  the 
river,  about  throe  miles  from  the  old  one,  and  contains 
a  very  large  population.  We  s|)cnt  the  greater  part 
of  one  day,  however,  in  the  old  city  ;  and,  on  observ- 
ing one  of  the  out-houses  of  the  inquisition  open,  where 
Mime  workmen  were  employed,  I  obtained  an  entrance, 
and,  with  eonsideiable  difticidty,  found  my  way  from 


BELLARY. 


one  apartment  to  another,  and  through  several  courts, 
till  I  reached  the  interior  of  the  prison,  and  discovered 
a  staircase  leading  down  to  the  dungeons.  Here  I  had  a 
serious  difficulty  to  encounter,  the  staircase  being  broken, 
evidently  to  deter  persons  who  visited  the  place  from  see- 
ing the  cells.     By  a  little  contrivance,  however,  I  man- 
aged  to  lower  myself  down,  and  proceeded  to  explore 
those  dreary  ceils  where  hundreds  have  probably  groaned 
out  a  miserable  life.     They  consist  of  two  stories,  built 
one  upon  the  other,  and  are  all  about  nine  feet  square. 
The  upper  cells  have  a  small  opening  in  the  roof, 
which  admits  a  little  light  and  air;  and  the  lower  ones 
have  an  opening  over  the  door  in  front.     I  suppose  I 
looked  into  about  forty  or  fifty  cells,  all  of  which  were 
open,  except  one,  where  the  instruments  of  torture 
were  probably  locked  up.     I„  the  lower  part  of  the 
prison,  I  observed  a  dark,  narrow  staircase,  wiiich  I  had 
not  courage  sufficient  to  explore,  and  near  it  I  observed 
a  larger  cell,  which  probably  was  the  usual  place  of 
torture.    I  was  afterwards  told  that  this  secret  passage 
led  up  to  the  chamber  of  the  resident  in.iuisitor,  and 
that  when  the  torture  was  inflicted  on  the  wretched 
victims,  he  came  down  to  listen  to  their  confessions. 
In  the  passages  of  the  prison  I  observed  several  very 
deep  walls,  and  could  not  help  thinking  that  some  of 
these  were  the  receptacles  of  those  who  had  died  in 
this   place  of  coiifineiiient.     Whilst   traversing  these 
gloomy  passages,  exploring  the  dungeons,  and  recol- 
lecting the  cruellies  and  murders  which  had  been  there 
committed,  my  feelings  may  bo  much  better  conceived 
than  described.     I  had  no  small  difficulty  in  finding 
my  way  back  again,  and  getting  up  the  broken  staircase 
already  mentioned ;  and  I  loft  the  prison  with  a  heart 
full  of  gratitude  to  God,  for  elfecting  the  destruction 
of  the  inquisition  at  Ooa." 

On  the  Mth  of  Mareh,  1822,  our  missionary  and 
his  wife,  accompanied  by  their  relative,  Mrs.  Skinner 
left  Bombay  for  Bellary.  ()„  their  journey,  Mrs.' 
Hands  became  seriously  indisjiosed,  and  after  her  arrival 
at  her  husband's  residence,  she  grew  much  worse,  and 
gradually  declined  till  the  25th  of  May,  when  she  bade 
an  everlasting  farewell  to  the  partner  of  her  affijctions, 
to  the  mission,  and  to  the  world.  Mr.  Hands,  while 
sufTering  under  this  afflicting  bereavement,  wrote  to 
the  directors  as  follows  : — 

"  I  had  just  entered  anew  into  the  marriage  state, 
and  was  fonuly  anticipating  much  comfort  to  myself, 
and  great  advantage  to  my  dear  family,  am!  the  mission 
in  general,  fixmi  the  society  and  aid  of  my  beloved 
partner,  and  her  sister,  Mrs.  Skinner ;  but  alas !  how 
uncertain  are  all  earthly  comforts !  What  a  painful 
reverse  have  I  experienced !  He  who  is  infinite  in 
wisdom  and  goodness  has  seen  it  necessary,  in  this  re- 
spect, to  disappoint  all  my  expectatioui. 

Vol.  I.— Not.  41  k  42.  (54 


489 


"This  mysterious  dispensation  has  been  to  mc  a 
most  severe  trial ;  but  blessed  be  God,  he  has  not  for- 
saken  me;  while  in  the  furnace  he  has  stood  by  me  • 
and,  while  with  one  hand  he  has  corrected,  with  the 
other  he  has  graciously  comforted  and  upheld  me- 
May  this  correction  be  greatly  sanctified,  so  as  to  ren- 
der me  more  meet  for  my  Master's  service,  and  more 
like  him  who  was  made  perfect  through  sufferings." 

The  precarious  state  of  Mrs.  Skinner's  health  requir- 
ing  the  benefit  of  the  sea  air,  she  proceeded,  shortly 
after  the  death  of  her  sister,  to  Vizagapatam.     Her 
brother-in-law,  Mr.  Hands,  accompanied  her  part  of 
the  way  ;  and,  in  order  to  improve  this  journey  to 
missionary  purposes,  he  took  with  him  a  catechist  and 
two  men  well  supplied  with  tracts,  &c.  for  distribution 
by  the  way.     At  one  place  they  met  with  a  Eramin, 
who  stated  that  he  had  renounced  the  Hindoo  religion 
about  fifteen  years  before,  and   that,  having  recently 
perused  a  New  Testament  in  the  Telinga  language, 
he  was  desirous  of  becoming  a   follower  of  Christ. 
This  person  accompanied  the  travellers  a  considerable 
part  of  the  way,  and  attended,  with  much  apparent 
devotion,  on  their  Canaiese  services,  as  if  really  de- 
sirous  of  receiving  further  instruction.     Mr.  Hands,  in 
allusion  to  this  journey,  says,  "  I  have  lately  expe- 
rience.l  much  dciiglit  among  the  poor  Hindoos.     In- 
deed,  1  know  not  that  on  any  jirevious  occasion  I  ever 
fell  such  enlargement  and  affection  in  praying  for  them, 
or  so  great  liberty  and  comfort  in  speaking  to  them  • 
while  the  attention  with  which,  in  many  places,  they  . 
heard  the  word,  and  their  eagerness  to  obtain  books,  ex- 
ceeded any  thing  1  had  ever  before  seen." 

In  the  annual  report  of  tl.r  directors,  communicated 
to  the  society  in  1H21,  it  is  stated,  that  the  services, 
both  in  the  Tamul  and  Canara  languages,  are  continued 
at  Bellary  with  a  prospect  of  success  ;  and  that  the 
enmity  formerly  manifested  against  the  converts  from 
heathenism,  at  this  station,  by  their  relations  and 
fiieniis,  has,  in  a  great  degree,  subsided.  Ii  ,s  also 
said,  in  regard  to  the  English  services  at  the  fot^  that 
instances  of  conversion  occur  from  time  to  time,  and 
that  those  who  are  united  in  Christian  communion 
affiird  pleasing  evidence  ."..at  they  are  advancing  both 
in  knowledge  and  grace.  The  schools  are  said  to  be 
fifteen  in  lumiber,  and  to  comprise  about  five  hundred 
scholars;  and  the  tracts  issued  from  the  Bellary  Aux- 
iliaiy  Tract  Society,  from  its  establishment  in  1817,  to 
the  month  of  September,  182-1,  arc  said  to  have  ox- 
coeded  twenty-seven  thousand  six  hundred.  It  like- 
wise ajipears  that  those  little  messengers  of  mercy  wore 
not  only  cinulaled  with  zeal,  but  received  with  pleas- 

1  1*1  ...  _         .      .  • 


iirn     anrl 


\tmt%A 


VHiity,  ti-atrz  hy  Kuropcans  and 
the  heathen.  "  We  know  several  officers,"  says  Mr. 
Ueevoj^ "  who  have  been  brought  to  the  saving  knowl- 


490 


edge  of  the  truth,  by  means  of  the  books  we  have  put 
into  their  hands;  and  we  have  been  much  gratified  by 
receiving  very  pleasing  accounts  of  the  eager  and  dili- 
gent  manner  in  which  the  natives,  in  the  neighboring 
towns  and  villages,  are  studying  the  tracts  and  the 
Sacred  Scriptures.     A  gentleman,  passing  through  a 
large  town,  saw  the  natives  sitting  in  groups,  and  read- 
ing to  one  another.     And  some  of  them  are  known 
after  the  toils  of  the  day  are  ended,  and  the  shadows  of 
the  evenmg  have  closed  in  upon  them,  to  light  up 
their  lamps,  and  consume  the  midnight  oil  in  studying 
the  glorious  gospel  of  the  blessed  God." 

"Beside  the  ordinary  opportunities,"  say  the  direc- 
tors, «  which  occur  for  putting  into  circulation  religious 
tracts  and  portions  of  tlie  Holy  Scriptures,  the  brethren 
avail  themselves  of  those  which  periodically  offer  at 
Bellary,  when  the  ryots  or  landholders  assemble  from  ' 
various  and  distant  parts  of  the  coimtry  to  pay  their 
rents  to  the  government  collector  ;  and,  on  the  last  oc- 
casion  of  this  kind,  they  not  only  engaged  in  the  dis- 
•  tnbutmn  of  books,  but  were  enabled  to  preach  to  the 
strangers  the  word  of  eternal  life." 

On  the  29th  of  January,  1824,' Mr.  Reeve  left 
Uellary,  for  Madras,  to  make  arrangements  for  the 
pnnting  of  his  Canarcse  and  English  Dicttonary. 
While  at  that  presidency,  he  received  letters  from  the 
directors,  authorizing  him  to  visit  England,  where  he 
arrived  in  January,  1825. 

During  1825,  the  native  schools  increased  to  seven- 
teen, and  the  average  attendanceof  boys  was  reported 
as  SIX   hundred   and   eighty-five.      I„   Mr.    Reeve's 
absence,  the  Canarese  services   were  conducted   by 
Mr.  Hands,  assisted  by  Mr.  Walton.     At  this  time 
llie  number  of  Hindoos  who  had  cordially  embraced 
Christianity    was  estimated    at   six;    and    hope    wa. 
entertained  that  others,  who  have  not  ma.le  an  open 
profession  of  the  Christian  fuitli,  are  convinced  of  the 
sm  and  folly  of  idolatry,  and  abstain  from  its  riles  and 
ceremonies.  The  missionary  writes,—*'  The  aged  Goo 
rapnh  continues  steadfast  in  the  faith,  and  displays  ereat 
solicitude  to  bring  others  under  the  sound  of  the  gospel 

Thew.feofGoorapoh.having.forseveralmontlis.nrtoid. 
ed  what  appeared  to  the  bn.thren  unequivocal  evidence 
of  decided  piety,  was  admitted  to  baptism  on  the  1st  of 
September.  The  baptized  received  thj  name  of  Mnry  " 
A  new  chapel   for  Englinh  worship  was  opened  in 
October,  1821.    The  total  cost  of  this  building,  wl.irh 
was  more  than  seven  thousand  niptos,  was  sustained 
by  the  liberality  of  friends  i„   |„,|ia.     I„  iHOf,    M^ 
Hands  was  glad.i.  „ed  by  receivii...  as  feUow-laborers! 
Mr.   and   Mrs.  U.ynon.  who  were  -c;..  out   by  the 
directors  to  take  the  place  of  Mr.  Reeve,  who  was 

prevented  bv  his  wif«».  I.o.i.i.  r ^.       _ ._  . 

In  the  rejwrt  made  by  Mr.  Hand,  to  the  directors  in 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


Sr  .     ^'     ^l  "o'*8'"^'  ^-^'^  preaching,  our 
former  services  in  the  Canarese  and  tLuI  lang6a«s 
are  continued,  and  three  additional  places  haTbee; 
recently  opened  for  the  same  purpose,  so  that  w!  have 
.n  some  part  or  other,  a  native  s'ervice  every  ev  11' 
n  the  week  except  on  the    abbath.     These  service" 
00  we  are    appy  to  state,  hove  been  better  attended 
than   formerly.     During  the  past  year,  a   few  have 
joined  us,  mostly  from  the  Romish  church.     Long 
.^^ese  IS  one  who,  for  many  years,  has  been  a  leS 
man  among  the  Roman  Catholics.     He  ascribes  thf 
change  wrought  in  his  views  to  a  careful  reading  of 
the  Holy  Scriptures.     When  he  was  received  among 
our  p^p  e,  he  publicly  renounced  the  errors  of  popery^ 
Our  Bible,  tract  and  missionary  societies  continue  to 
receive  v^ery  liberal  support.     Great  numbe.s  of  tracts 
and  the  Scriptures  in  Canarese,  Teloogoo,  &c.  have 
been  circulated,  and  we  trust  not  In  vain." 
In  1829,  the  rapidly  declining  health  of  Mr.  Hands 

[he  S    "f  TTs   '"'"f''^"^^''''/  -'^-^^-y,  and  on 
the  18th  of  April  he  arrived  in  England 

The  report  of  the  society  for  1829  mentions  that, 
'•during  the  las,  year,  there  have  been   prepared  in 
Canarcu,  the  '  Warning  Voice,'  revised  and  very  con" 
siderab^y  enlarged  ;  a  •  Dialogue  between  a  Shastree 
and  a  Christian  Missionary,'  in  which  all  the  gre     d^! 
trines  of  the  gospel  are  explained  an.I  enforced,  pri 
cipa  ly  l^.  quotations  from  Scripture ;  an  «  Explanation 
'fJ     1    .    . "  Commandments;'    the    'Excellence  of 
rru  h  ;.  „.e  '  -True  Wisdom  ;'  •  On  Idolatry,'  contain- 
...g  the  third  chapter  of  Daniel,  with  some  remarks 
prefatory  and  concluding,  and  on  idolairy  in  general  • 
on  the  .  Spirituality  of  God,'  and  on  the  <  Eternity  of 
God ;    and  in  Canarese  and  Tcloogoo,  '  First  Lessons 
lor  Children,  containing  easy  sentences  on   the  first 
principles  of  religion  and  morality  ;  ■  Secon.l  Lessons.' 
oitio,  ditto.  * 

The  interesting  prospects  of  this  station  led  the 
society  to  strengthen  their  interests  at  Bellary  by  send- 

.1  e  1st  o  March.  I„  ,831,  the  mission  consis.e.l  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs  Beynon,  Mr.  aiul  Mrs.  Reid,  missionaries ; 
Messrs,  Walton  and  Flavel,  assistants  ;  and  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  1  aino,  engaged  in  printing  and  the  schools.  Be- 
si.les  these,  are  many  valuable  native  assistants.  The 
church  consists  of  sixteen  members :  there  are  also 
nineteen  can.lidates  for  fellowship,  twelve  of  whom 
Jiave  received  baptism. 

The  following  works  have  issued  from  the  mission 
press  during  the  past  year,  vir,. 

Of  1st  and  ad  Books  of  SamueK  _  _  .  q"^ 

I  St  and  2d  ditto  of  Kings 8,000 

1st  and  2d  ditto  of  Chronicles  ....  2,000 


BANGALORE. 


Of  Epistle  to  the  Romans I'ooo 

1st  and  2d  to  the  Corinthians  .....  I'.OOO 


26  different  Tracts  in  Canarese  28,000 
2  Tracts,  2d  edition a,000 

Teloogoo  Hymn-book 

Introductory  Discourse  at  Mr.  Smith's) 
recognition  ns  Pastor  of  the  Church  at  { 
Black-Town,  Madras ) 

Miller's  Catechism  on  the  Nature  of  a  ) 
Christian  Church C 


8,000 


30,000 
100 

300 
300 


BANGALORE. 

[Seventy  milei  north-eut  of  8cringap«tam.] 

This  is  a  Strongly-fortified  town.  I,s  situation  is 
elevated,  and  as  climate  temperate.  ]„  ,his  dimato 
he  cypress  and  vine,  the  apple  and  peach,  mingle 
the.r  varied  foliage  ;  and  most  of  the  fruits  of  Europe 
may  be  raised  in  perfection,  as  its  elevation  is  three 
thousand  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea 

The  inhabitants  arc  far  less  attached  to'their  religious 
system  than  m  most  other  parts  of  India.     The  Rev 

in  ;Sn  t'  ""''  ^"""^  '^"•"•"^"ced  the  mission 
m  iH^o.  l-or  some  months  they  were  wholly  en- 
gaged m  acquiring  the  language,  and  in  other  pre- 

Macrworth,  a  cimpel  was  built  on  land  gken  by  the 
commanding  officer.  ' 

Mr.  Laidler  brought  with  him  from  Madras,  in  the  ca- 
pacity of  servant,  a  native  who  had  received  Christian 
.nstr.icf.on  under  the  Di.ni.h  missiondries  at  Trnnnue- 
bar,  who    understands    ,1,,.   Cnnarn  as   well   as   the 
lam.il.     Twice  a  week,  he  visited  n  neighboring  vil- 
Inge,  to  read  the  Scriptures,  and  to  give  an  exhortation. 
When,  on    his  first  embracing  Christianity,  he  was 
baptized  by  the  Rev,  Mr.  Spring,  he  rw-eived  the 
name  of  Snmurl ;  and,  on  account  of  his  piety,  his 
disinterestedness,  the  mildness  of  his  disposition,  and 
his  being  n„  attentive  observer  of  the  providence  of 
1.0(1.  Mr.  Laidler  subsequently  added  that  of  Flavcl 
Some  translations  and  schools  were  commenced     Con- 
pregntio,,,  fV,r  K.igli.h  worship  o„  the  sabbath  ovenings 
nearly  fdled  the  chapel.      A.  Christian  church  was 
formed   m   April,   1821,  when   thirty-one  members, 
chiefly  soldiers,  were  admitted  to  communion,  some 
rrnt-iii   uau  provioiisij,   rt-ntmnced  popery;  and  a 
small  society  was  instituted  among  the  soldiers,  for 
the  joint  support  of  the  missionary,  Bible  and  tract 


46i 

societies.  In  the  course  of  the  next  year,  a  friend  of 
the  mission  opened  a  house  in  the  bazaar,  both  a. 
a  chtjpel  and  a  depository  for  the  sale  of  the  Scriptures, 
rehgtous  books,  tracts,  &c.  in  the  vernacular  languages 

lll^"  Tri  'f'  '"'^'  '"'»"'"  ""^  converse%„ 
the  subjects  of  the  books  on  sale;  from  which  much 

frneAT'P"'!'';,  '"  '^*^'""'  '"'^^ionaries  were 
joined  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Chambers ;  and  in  addition  to 

was   opened   for   preparing  native  youths,  of  pious 

haracter  and   promising  talents,  for  preaching' "he 

gospel  to  their  countrymen.    Six  students  were  at  that 

-me  going  through  a  course  of  theological  study ,  under 

e  direction  of  Mr.  Laidler.       They  were''n„i 

aac,  Joshua    Peter,  Shadrach,  Jacob  a„d  Moses. 

Isaac  and  Joshua  had  been  for  some  considerable  time 

i^ngaged  in  addressing  their  countrymen.     Peter  read 

S    \rl    '"."^  ''"'   '''""""P  ^^^^"^   "■»'  Latin, 
bhadrach  had  made  good  proficiency  in  Ta.nul.     Jacob 

IM.'lTXr  ^""'"'  »'""■'"'  '^'  -^«  -"P"--'vely 
On  the  27ih  of  June,  1824.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Camp- 
,  bell  joined  those  who  had  been  thus  successfully  la- 
boring. Of  U,e  first  native  service  at  which  ho  was 
present,  Mr.  Campbell  gives  the  following  acrount  — 

Fllrr  V"  "'"  """:."  '"'■"'"''  "•'"''"''"^''  •'3'  Samuel 
Flavel.  It  IS  no  small  matter  to  hear  a  converted 
heathen  a.ldress  Ins  countrymen  with  so  much  fluency 
and  cnrncstness  as  was  then  done.     It  is  a  great  mat- 

word  ofhfo.  and  to  witness  two  from  among  tlinn,  re- 
ceiving the  ordinance  of  baptism,  as  followers  of  Christ 
as  was  then  done.     But  it  is  a  gren..-r  matter  still,  to' 
sit  down  to  the  table  of  the  Lord,  and  comme.norate 
Ins  d..atl.  with  twenty  who  were  once  idolaters,  now 
no    onger  heirs  of  wrath,  but  children  of  the  living 
God    and  see  them  give  evidence  of  their  conversion 
o  Christ    as  I  then  did.     Long  shall  I  remember  the 
loelings  I  then  experienced,  and  wisli  that  tlu.s,.  „ho 
pray  for  the  cause,  and  support  its  interests  at  home 
could  witness  such  a  scene.     Nor  does  Samuel  labo^ 
alone;  two  other  youths,  endued,  I  trust,  with  fervent 
P'cty  labor  assiduously,  as  far  ns  their  ability  extends  • 
and  should  the  Urd  God  of  Israel  give  sue^ss  to  otir' 
plans,  tlu,ro  will,  |  h„pe,  so^v,  g„  forth  a  host  of  war- 
nors  to  fight  the  battles  of  .!.,■  Lor.l,  and  to  .,„„  ,heir 
countrymen  of  the  danger  am!  .Icstruction  to  -a  hich  thev 
are  exposed."  ' 

Mr.  Chnn.bers,  unable  to  boar  the  <  i.mnte,  even  at 
tins  comparatively  sahibrious  station,  was  recommend- 

en    to    reliirn    in    P.. .......        it-     i     ^  ... 

on  the  7th  of  January,  182fi,  the  day  after  his  em- 
harkation ;  but  Mrs.  Chambers  and  hor  two  children 
arrived  safely  in  this  country.  '■"nuroa 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


In  1827,  Mr.  Campbell  made  a  tour  of  one  hun- 
dred miles,  in  which  he  engaged  in  public  discussions 
with  the  Bramins  and  others,  on  Hindooism  and  Chris- 
tianity. This  mission  receives  great  encouragement 
from  several  pious  officers  and  their  ladies.  The  na- 
tive seminary  appears  to  bo  producing  the  happiest 
results ;  and  in  1829,  we  find  six  of  these  students 
laboring  with  success  in  other  stations. 

The  directors,  in  their  latest  report  of  this  mission, 
give  the  following  pleasing  statement : — "  On  sabbath 
morning,  there  is  a  native  service  in  the  mission  chapel, 
at  which  from  forty  to  sixty  persons  usually  attend ; 
and  in  the  afternoon  another  alternately  in  the  Choola 
and  at  the  barracks  of  the  native  artillery.  Through 
the  week,  there  is  preaching  once  or  twice  every  day 
excepting  Saturday.  The  members  of  the  native 
church  are  eighteen.  The  English  church  has  thirty- 
three  communicants.  The  Canarese  school  has  eleven 
lads,  who  are  represented  as  promising,  nnd  who  are 
regarded  as  likely  to  become  students  in  liio  native 
seminary.  There  are  at  present  eighty-nine  boys  in 
Bangalore  receiving  instruction,  five  girls  and  six 
women.  Thirty  thousand  copies  of  Mr.  Carr.j  ^il's 
tracts  on  "  the  doctrines  of  the  gospel,"  in  the  native 
tongue,  are  now  in  circulation  ;  and  it  is  to  be  hoped 
that  the  truth  of  the  gospel  will  soon  be  the  power  of 
God  to  the  salvation  of  multitudes  in  this  city. 


SALEM. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henry  Crisp  arrived  at  this  new  sta- 
tion in  October,  1827.  This  town  is  said  to  contain 
60,000  inhabitants,  who  are  remarkably  free  from 
Braminical  influence.  Schools  were  immediately 
opened,  and  but  little  opposition  was  offered.  The 
missionary  career  of  Mrs.  Crisp  was  short,  but  marked 
by  eminent  piety  and  diligence.  Mr.  Crisp,  in  1831, 
was  assisted  by  Isaac  David,  a  native  convert,  who 
prosecutes  his  labors  with  prudence  and  devotedness. 
There  are  eight  schools,  confnininjj  two  hundred  and 
sixty-one  pupils.  Three  Tainul  services  are  performed 
every  sabbath,  at  the  mission  premises.  Tiie  after- 
noon congregation  consists  of  two  Inmdred  poor  persons, 
who  come  to  receive  ainn. 


COMB  ACON  I'M. 

[Tw»nty  miloi  (Vom  "(njorv] 


which  led  the  London  Society  to  establish  a  station 
hero,  was  a  visit  which  was  made  by  Mr.  Mead,  who, 
in  1825,  came  hither  for  his  health.  He  gathered  an 
English  congregation,  preached  in  many  of  the  villages, 
and  put  into  circulation  several  thousand  tracts. 

It  will  be  seen  under  the  head  of  TVavancore,  that 
this  town  was  formerly  an  out-station;  but,  in  1830, 
the  directors  annexed  it  to  the  Muui'is  district,  it  hav- 
ing become  the  residence  of  the  Rev.  Edmund  Crisp, 
from  Madras,  who  is  assisted  by  four  native  readers. 
The  population  of  this  place  is  42,000.  Several 
villages  are  connected  with  this  station.  In  addition 
to  eleven  schools,  containing  three  hundred  and  seven- 
t}-seven  boys,  Mr.  Crisp  has  a  class  of  twelve  Bra- 
min  youths,  who  attend  him  every  Saturday  to  read 
the  Scriptures  in  Tamul.  The  numb'-r  of  native 
Christians  under  the  wing  of  this  mission  is  eighty, 
viz.  thirty-four  males  and  forty-six  females,  of  whom 
a  large  number  are  converts  from  popery. 


Vlarlv    in    tlin     Iflili 


nontiiru 


i?i?rT:t-*tta- 


ries  labored  here  with  success.      The  circumstance 


TRAVANCORE. 

Travancore  is  the  name  of  a  populous  region  on  the 
south-west  coast  of  Hindoostan,  separated  from  the 
southern  Camatic  by  the  Ghaut  mountains,  and  ex- 
tending from  cape  Comorin  about  one  hundred  and 
fifty  miles  to  Cochin.  The  country  is  divided  into 
thirty  districts,  in  only  two  of  which  the  Tamul  lan- 
guage is  known.  The  Malayim  is  gener&ily  spoken. 
The  population  is  nearly  a  million. 

Christianity  was  early  introduced  into  Travancore, 
and  its  doctrines  are  still  professed  by  about  90,000 
native  Christians.  The  profession,  in  too  many  in- 
stances, however,  is  but  nominal. 

The  Rev.  W.  Ringeltaube  sailed  for  India,  in  1804, 
in  company  with  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Cran  and  Des 
Granges ;  but  as,  sid)sequently,  he  did  not  approve  of 
that  part  of  the  country  which  they  chose  as  the  scene 
of  their  labors,  ho  resolved  to  direct  his  attention  to 
the  southern  part  of  the  peninsula,  whilst  they  were 
attempting  to  erect  the  standard  of  the  Redeemer's 
cross  in  the  Northern  Circars.  For  some  time  he 
remained  undecided  with  respect  to  the  particular  spot 
where  he  should  commcnro  his  missionary  work ;  but 
he  was  at  length  inducoi  to  fix  on  the  Tine velly  coun- 
try, in  consequence  of  the  affecting  no  'nts  which  he 
received  of  the  pcrswutions  recentlv  ,  i  ired  by  the 
Christian  converts  in  that  part  of  Irv!  a.  "This  dis- 
trict, called  l\nevt!ly"  says  M'  Ringeltaube,  in  a 
letter  to  the  directors,  "is  abu  .^  u-v  days' journey  in 
eifcumibrcnco ;  and  is  guppOi«u  i  'oritain  ncsriy  nvs 
thousand  Christians,  under  the  Cft,  i   >'•'  catechistt.  AU 


these,  it  may  easily  be  conceived,  are  not  what  we 
would  wish  them  to  be;  but  sincerity  is  said  to  be  a 
leading  feature  among  them.  Most  of  them  live  in 
immense  woods,  unacquainted  with  the  corruptions  of 
the  world,  except  what  they  feel  from  their  oppress- 
ors. They  meet  on  a  Sunday  afternoon  for  instruc- 
tion and  worship,  and  conclude  with  a  contribution  for 
the  poor  among  them  ;  not  in  money,  for  this  they  do 
not  possess,  but  in  su^ar,  eatables,  and  other  trifling 
articles."  ° 

Alluding  to  the  persecutions  of  these  people,  Mr 
Ringeltaube  observes,  in  another  part  of  his  letter 
"By  the  black  underlings  of  the  collectors  they  are 
frequently  driven  from  their  houses,  put  in  the  stocks, 
and  exposed  for  a  fortnight  together  to  the  heat  of  the 
rising  sun  and  the  chilling  dews  of  the  night ;  merely 
because  there  is  no  European  missionary  to  lay  their 
complamts  before  the  government.    In  some  instances, 
Christians  have  been  severely  flogged  till  they  con- 
sented to  hold   the  torch  to  an  idol  and  to  sweep  a 
heathen  temple  ;  and,   one  day,   at    a  place   called 
Hickadoe,  a  heathen  mob  surrounded  the  village  and 
not  only  plundered  the  houses  of  the  Christians'  but 
ill  treated  their   families,  by  kicking,  flogging,  and 
other  cruel  usage.     Even  the  catechist,  who,  partly 
through  Illness,  and  partly  from  timidity,  had   shut 
hunself  up  ,n  his  house,  was  stripped,  robbed  and  miser- 
ably beaten;  and  fmm  his  account  it  seems  (hat  the 
manikar  (a  black  peace-oflicer  of  the  place)  had  con- 
trived the  whole  affair,with  a  view  to  vex  the  Christians." 
Wotwithstanding  the  strong  desire  which  our  mission- 
ary felt  to  hasten  to  the  district  of  Tinevelly,  a  variety 
of  circumstances   precluded    the  possibility  of  goiiiR 
tuther  till  themomh  of  February,  1806;  and  he  was 
then  equally  grieved  and  disappointed  to  find  that  the 
persons,  on  whose  behalf  such  a  lively  interest  had 
been  excited  in  his  bosom,  were  merely  Christians  in 
name,  bemg  evidently  unacquainted  will,   the  nature 
of  personal  religion,  and  incapable  of  answering  the 
most  simple  questions   on   the  great  subject  of  their 
eternal  salvation.   Considerable  numbers  were  anxious 
to  be  baptized  ;  but  when  Mr.  Ringeltaube  inquired 
wh;,  they  preferred  such  a  request,. he  best  instructed 
among  them  could  only  reply,  '<  For  the  goo«l  of  my 
•oul.       At  one  place  an  applicant  said,  "  My  two 
brothers    while  coming  down  from  a  palmyra-tree, 
received  a  mortal  blow  on  their  chests,  from  the  devil ; 
and  I  wish  to  be  baptized,  in  order  to  escape  a  similar 
late.      And  on  another  occasion,  a  pei-son  ingenuously 
acknowledged  that  his  object  in  embracing  Christianity 
was  to  obtain  relief  from  a  trifling  tax  which  he  paid 
to  tlie  government. 

One  day,  a  Mahometan  weaver  in  the  neighborhood 
of  PaUmcotta  applied  to  Mr.  Ringeltaube  to  be  admit- 


TRAVANCORE. 


493 


ted  mto  the  church  by  baptism.  «  I  liked  his  hone:t 
thoughtful  face,"  says  our  missionary,  "and  hoped  for 
a  true  convert;  but  on  further  inquiry,  he  acknowl- 
edged  that  his  aim  was  to  get  a  trifling  sum  of  money 
in  Ins  present  distress.  I  advised  him  to  desist  from 
his  intention,  as  his  desire  could  not  be  gratified  •  but 
at  the  same  time,  I  preached  to  him  Christ  crucified' 
the  stumbling  block  of  the  Mahometans  as  well  as  of 
the  Jews." 

After  some  time,  Mr.  Ringeltaube  was  permitted  to 
extend  his  labors  into  Travancore,  and  that  kingdom 
now  became  the  principal  seat  of  the  mission.  Here 
several  congregations  were  formed,  and  great  numbers 
ol  the  inhabitants  were  baptized ;  but  too  many  of 
them,  like  those  in  the  Tinevelly  country,  seem  to 
have  been  actuated  by  an  expectation  of  some  immu- 
nities  or  worldly  advantage.  Many  persons,  indeed,  of 
liigh  caste,  both  Hindoos  and  Mahometans,  intimated 
their  readiness  to  embrace  Christianity,  provided  their 
debts  were  to  be  paid,  as  a  remuneration  for  the  change 
of  their  religion.  «  For  two  hundred  rupees,"  says 
Mr  Ringeltaube,  "  I  could  have  bought  them  all ;  but 
as  I  declined  to  pay  their  debts,  they  never  called  on 
me  again." 

After  laboring  faithfully  and  assiduously  at  this  sta- 
tion  for  several  years,  Mr.  Ringeltaube  was  compelled, 
by  III  health,  to  relinquish  it,  in  1816,  and  from'  that 
nme  till  the.close  of  the  following  year,  the  London 
Society  had  no  missionary  in  Travancore.    In  Decern- 
ber,  1817,  however,  Mr.  Charles  Mead  arrived  at  this 
station,  and  found  no  fewer  than  ten  congregations  of 
professed  Christians,   with  as  many  schools  for  the 
instruction  of  the  children.     And  in  September,  1818 
he  was  joined  by  Mr.  Richard  Knill,  whose  health 
required  that  he  should  quit  Madras  for  a  more  tem- 
perate climate. 

The  former  of  these  brethren,  in   a  letter  dated 
October  26,  1818,  cays,  "  My  time  has  been  occupied, 
during  the   present  year,  in  acquiring  the  language, 
travelling  to  the  churches,  inspecting  the  schools,  and 
occasionally  giving  such  instructions  as  my  present 
progress   in  Tamul   enables   me ;  and,  also,   in   the 
admmistration  of  justice   among   all   classes  of  the 
natives,  to  which  oflice  I  have  been  nominated  by  the 
rajah  s  government.  The  natives  are  so  fully  sensible  of 
the  advantages  now  enjoyed  by  them,  in  the  impartial 
admm.strat.on  of  justice,  that  Bramins  and  sooders, 
high  caste  and  low,  como  forward,  exclaiming,  '  You 
are  our  father,— our  saviour,— our  only  protection  !' 
Ihey  sometimes  bring  their  children  and  throw  them 

rlT.  -!V  "^i"^'  '  '^''''"'  "«"o  longer  our  children, 
•  -  - •-„,  ij:c3c  cxpresiioMs  of  obligation  certainly 
far  exceed  their  weight,  being  couched  in  the  impas- 
«.oned  language  of  the  East ;  yet  they  are  calculated 


4M 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


to  show  how  this  people  would  admire  the  gospel 
merely  for  the  temporal  blessings  which  it  brings  with 
it,  were  they  but  acquainted  with  iu  nature,  influence 
and  tendency." 

About  the  same  time,  there  seem  to  have  been  some 
pleasing  evidences  that  the  gospel  of  Christ  had  not 
been  preached,  in  this  part  of  India,  altogether  in  vain. 
"When  conversing  with  the  people,"  says  Mr.  Knill, 
"on  the  importance  of  being  prepared  to  die,  one  man 
said,  «  My  father  was  prepared.'  By  what  means  ? 
'  Through  the  merits  of  my  Saviour.'  Did  he  live  a 
good  life  ?  '  Yes,  after  he  knew  the  good  way.'  Who 
made  him  good?  'It  was  God.'  Did  your  father 
say  much  when  he  was  dying  ?  '  One  sentence  I 
remember !'  What  ?  '  He  said,  O  Jesus,  receive  my 
spirit !' 

"  Another  evening,  when  conversing  with  the  peo- 
ple, a  man  said,  <  I  frequently  used  to  beat  my  idol, 
when  matters  did  not  go  well  with  me ;  but  it  was  very 
foolish,  as  the  idol  could  neither  do  me  good  nor  harm.' 
'  No,'  said  I,  '  that  is  true  ;  but  what  have  you  done 
with  your  idol?'  '0,'said  he,  '  I  have  beaten  it  to 
pieces,  and  God  shall  bruise  Satan  under  our  feet 
shortly.'  These  sayings,"  Mr.  Knill  observes,  "  did 
me  more  good  than  thousands  of  gold  and  silver  would 
have  done  ;  and  it  is  only  from  such  things  that  mis- 
sionaries must  look  for  comfort  and  delight." 

During  the  years  1818  and  1819,  nearly  three 
thousand  of  the  natives  of  Travancore  placed  them- 
selves under  religious  instruction,  in  addition  to 
about  nine  hundred  formerly  connected  with  the  mis- 
sion, wiien  under  the  superintendence  of  Mr.  Ringel- 
taiibe  ;  and  though,  in  respect  to  many  of  these,  it 
cannot  be  said  that  they  were,  at  this  time,  the  genu- 
ine disciples  of  Christ,  it  seems  evident  from  their 
conduct,  that  none  of  them  had  renounced  their  ancient 
superstitions  from  selfish  considerations. 

In  the  annual  report  of  the  directors,  for  1824, 
it  is  stated,  on  a  general  survey  of  the  Travancore 
mission,  that  the  native  congregations,  though  not  so 
large,  are  more  select  than  formerly,  and  that  these 
contain  persons,  though  their  number  be  not  great, 
whoso  attendance  on  the  means  of  (;raco  is  regular, 
and  who  appear  to  be  growing  in  the  kiiowledge  of  the 
gospel,  and  in  the  fear  of  God.  It  is  also  stated,  that, 
in  consequence  of  the  establishment  of  a  printing-office, 
and  the  formation  of  a  Travancore  religious  tract 
society,  the  schools  are  much  better  supplied  with 
books  than  formerly,  and  the  tracts  are  generally  pe- 
rused with  attention  by  such  persons  in  the  congrega- 
tions as  are  capable  of  reading.  Besides  the  two 
principal  stations  of  Nagercoil  and  Quilon,  there  are, 
at  present,  no  less  than  itofntu.flakt  out-stetions.  in 
most  of  which  schools  are  established,  for  the  instruc- 


tion of  the  rising  generation ;  and  public  readers  of  the 
Scriptures  dispense,  either  statedly  or  occasionally,  the 
word  of  life. 

In  the  same  interesting  document  it  is  stated  that 
an  English  and  Tamul  spelling-book  has  been  com- 
piled, for  the  use  of  those  schools  in  which  the  English 
language  is  taught;  that  several  useful  theological 
treatises  are  in  a  state  of  forwardness ;  and  that  the 
brethren  devote  two  hours  daily  to  a  careful  examina- 
tion  of  the  new  Tamul  version  of  the  Holy  Scriptures. 
The  progress  of  truth  was  steady  and  encouraging 
through  the  years  1825,  6  and  7.  The  attention  of 
the  missionaries  was  directed  to  the  native  schools ; 
and  the  Bramins  appeared  not  only  friendly,  but  they 
subscribed  to  the  schools.  In  no  part  of  India  has  the 
circuiation  of  tracts  been  attended  with  greater  success. 
By  the  perusal  of  these  silent  preachers,  several  na- 
tives were  induced  to  cast  away  their  idols,  and  to 
inquire  after  a  more  excellent  way.  In  1825,  several 
very  valuable  presents  were  received  of  paper  and 
books  from  the  tract  and  Sunday  school  societies  in 
London. 

In  1828,  the  annual  report  stales, — "  To  no  part  of 
the  great  field  of  labor,  do  the  directors  turn  with 
greater  satisfaction  and  interest  than  to  Travancore, 
where  a  wide  door  and  effectual  has  been  opened,  which, 
they  trust,  no  one  shall  be  able  to  shut."  The  follow- 
ing is  the  report  of  the  deputation  respecting  xhe 
Travancore  mission,  and  which  influenced  the  directors 
in  their  determination  to  divide  this  field  into  two 
parts:— - 

"  Tlie  residence  of  the  missionaries  is  pretty  central, 
with  the  Eastern  Division  on  the  one  side,  lying  east- 
ward and  southward  of  the  settlement,  stretching  down 
to  cape  Coniorin,  which  is  distant  fourteen  iviles ;  and 
the  Western  lying  on  the  opposite  side,  str  *cning  to 
the  westward  and  northward  towards  Trevanderam. 
The  present  residence  of  the  missionaries  at  Nagercoil 
is  very  suitable  to  the  Eastern  Division.     But  having 
ourselves  traversed  the  whole  district,  and  both  divis- 
ions of  the  mission,  we  are  convinced,  that  tiie  fVeat- 
cm  labors  under  great  disadvantages,  in  consequence 
of  being  so  reniote  from  both  the  missionaries.     Con- 
vinced that  both  the  objects  of  the  mission  would  be 
greatly  promoted  by  one  of  the  brethren  residing  in  a 
place  more  in  the  centre  of  this  part  of  the  district,  we 
proposed  to  have  a  separation,  and  to  form  the  two 
divisions  into  two  distinct  missions ;   that  Mr.  Mault 
should  remain  in  charge  of  the  Eastern  at  N.ngercoil, 
with  the  seminary,  all  the  congregations  and  schools, 
and  the  native  teachers  belonging  to  that  part — now 
to  be  regarded  as  a  distinct  mission ;  and  that  Mr. 
.-"s-j  SiiOUiu  remove,  and  take  up   h\z  residence  in 
some  central  spot  in  the  Western  Division,  about  ten 


or  waive  m.le,  from  Nagercoil.  with  the  printing  es- 
tablishment,  and  to  take  under  his  charge  all  the  con- 

rT!'u'  '^!  '^^°°^'''  ""^  "«''«  t^'^hers  belonginK 
to  that  branch  of  the  mission,  which  should  also  be 
^nsidered  a,  a  distinct  mission.     We  proposed,  also, 

S^piT  Tr?  ?"""  ^  '"PP°"«''  «"»  fro-"  the 
proceeds  of  the  landed  property  which  belongs  to  this 

».8s.on,  as  .t  has  been,  both  the  missions  derivbg  equal 
clTTuT   '''    -""^   ^«'   'he   surplus   of^n- 

Hsnl  f  ^  ''^"''"^  ^'''"^''^'  «'"'  be'at  the  sole 
d^jK^sal  of  each  missionary  for  the  support  of  schools, 
and  the  promotion  of  the  general  cause ;  each  giving  an 
account  of  the  manner  in  which  it  has  been  expended 

!^chers.t"'''   ^'"^^'   "'   ^°"«^^S«*'°-'   -'•- 

h.fl-"''' i"r  'u  ^""^  '^"  arrangement  to  a  conclusion 
before  we  left,  bemg  very  deeply  convinced  of  its  impor- 
tance, and  as  .t  met  with  the  entire  and  cordial  appro- 
bation of  both  the  brethren,  they  accompanied  us  with 
a  view  to  the  selecting  of  a  suitable  situation  and  spot 
of  ground  on  wl.ich  to  build  a  house  for  the  accommo- 
dation of  Mr  Mead.  The  ancient  town  of  Travancore 
(from  which  the  kingdom  takes  its  name),  about  eleven 
miles  from  ^agercoil,  near  the  main  road  which  leads 
to  Trevanderam,  was  deemed  the  most  suitable  ;  and 
a  spot  of  ground  near  that  place,  and  in  the  heart  of 
an  immense  population,  was  fixed  upon  as  being  suita- 

1  M  \^u!^  '"PP"'"''  '^''  °»«  hundred  pounds 
would  enable  him  to  build  a  house  here  of  sufficient 
size;  and  something  more  being  necessary  for  the 
erecting  of  a  printing-office,  we  gave  him  a  check  on 

PolTr?K  .''"^^  '■"P^^"-  This  house  will  be 
completed  by  the  beginning  of  the  next  year,  when 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mead  and  family  will  immediately  re- 
move  thither.  ^ 

"By  this  arrangement,  while  we  doubt  not  that  (he 
cause  will  be  greatly  benefited,  all  the  advantages  of 
mutual  counsel  between  the  missionaries  will  be  allow- 
ed, and  each  be  more  at  liberty  ,o  exert   his  own 
talents  m  the  cultivation  of  his  own  field  of  labor      As 
great  objects  .„«  gained  by  this  new  arrangement,  and 
but  a  trifling  cKpense  incurred,  we  cannot  but  hone 
hat  It  will  meet  with  the  cordial  approbation  of  our 
friends  m  t.e  direction.     If  so,  you  will  i„  future  con- 
sider this  mission  at  Nagercoil  as  two;  and  each  mis- 
sionary will  send  in  his  own  report  distinct  from  the 
other,  to  the  directors  annually.    The  Eastern  mission 
r„H  ^^     ^  !  '^°"°min«tion  of  the  Nagercoil  mission ; 
and  the  fVestem,hy  that  of  the  totvn  of  Travancore 
mwnon.    '1  bus  a  chain  of  missionary  stations  is  formed, 

running  through  the  kinedom  of  T"u„„ 

mencmg  at  JNagercoil ;  eleven  miles  to  the  north  and 
west,  the  town  of  Travancore;  twenty-ni.e  miles  farther 


TRAVANCORE. 


495 
northward,  Trevanderain;  and  forty  miles  beyond  that 
Qu.lon;-every  station  most  highly  impoJam,  a^d 
every  ™„s.o„,  we  doubt  not.  in  a  short  ti^e^w  11  Se 
highly  efficient.  By  one  day's  journey  all  th^Ieth! 
en  can  meet  at  Trevanderam,  whenever  the  niest 
W^the  whole  Travancore  mission  may  render  "t 

at  ''^*'°"8h  we  spent  but  a  little  more  than  a  fortnight 
at   this   most   interesting  station,  we    visited   nearly 

ellll  S  "?".' j''^  P-P'"  --hied  at  Z2 
every  chapel,  and  had  an  opportunity  of  examining 
and  converging  with  them.  In  order  to  accompi  sh 
this,  we  were  obliged  to  separate;  one  of  us  was  ac- 
companied  through  the  Eastern  Division  by  Mr.  Mault 
he  other  through  the  Western  by  Mr.  Mead.     In  Jhe 

caTZ  T-T  ''"'P''''  '^°  "f  ^hioh  are  good  and 
comfortable  buildings,  and  one  more  is  to  be  imme- 
Jatel,  erected  by  the  funds  from   St.  Pete  s  :^h 
Here  are  also  thirty-six  schools,  containing  one  thoul 
sand  tree  hundred  and  four  children,  some  of  wh"h 
are  g.rls,  besides  the  girls'  school  at  Nagercoil,  TnTer 
he  care  of  Mrs.  Mault,  in  which  are  ffrty  fine  "rfs 
twelve  of  whom  learn  to  make  lace,-making  in  a  i 
one  thousand  three  hundred  and  forty-four  children  ; 
one  school-master  to  each  school.     In  this  division  are 
one  thousand  four  hundred  and  ten  professing  ChS 
nan.  „,e„    women  and  children ;  four  hundfed  and 
D  lln   T  ?•"  '"''  ''''"  '^''P"^^^-     To  this  Eastern 
c^r     T.  °"^  '•''""'''"  ""'"'"  '^'^''hers  and  cate- 
cnists.     The  seminary  contains  thirty-one  boys  and 
youths,  who  belong  to  the  same  division.     These  are 
to  be  added  to  the  former  amount,  making  a  total  of 
one  thousand  three  hundred  and  seventy-five  children 
and  youths  under  constant  religious  instruction.     The 
central  chapel  at  Nagercoil,  not  finished,  belongs  to 
the  eastern  mission.  ° 

r^r/"  ."'^^W^tern  Division  are  twenty-one  schools, 
contaming  five  hundred  and  forty-one  children,  some 
of  whom  are  girls  ;  one  school-master  to  each  school. 
lo  tins  division  sixteen  native  teachers  are  attached 
Here  are  one  thousand  four  hundred  and  forty-one 
native   Christians,    ninety-five   of   whom    have    been 
baptized.       Here   are    also  twelve   chapels,  ten  of 
which  are  good  buildings;  the  other  two  are  under 
■mprovements  and  enlargement.      One  more  chapel 
js  to   he  erected  at   the   town  of  Travancore,  near 
Mr^Mead  s  house,  uy  the  money  sent  from  Russia. 

The  Eastern  and  Western  Divisions  contain   to- 
gether, 

26  chapels. 

59  schools,  including  seminary  and  girls'  school. 

vo  scnooi-iimslers,  and    Mr.  Uumberland,  who 

IS  over  the  seminary,  with  some  moni< 

tors. 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


1,891  children  under  Christian  instruction. 

34  native  teachers. 
2,850  native  Christians,  five  hundred  and  thirty- 
five  of  whom  have  been  baptized  ;  about 
one  hundred  of  whom  appear  to  be  truly 
pious  characters. 
"  So  soon  as  Mr.  Mead  removes  into  his  newhous..-, 
and  the  two  missions  are  formed,  it  is  the  inten;  Jou  oi 
the  brethren  to  form  two  churches  of  native  conveits 
who  belong  to  each  mission. 

"  We  had  several  opportunities  of  seeing  all  the 
native  teachers,  as  they  assemble  once  a  week  at  Na- 
gercoil  to  report  to  the  brethren  their  labors,  to  receive 
instruction,  and  seek  encouragement  and  admonition, 
such  as  it  may  be  deemed  necessary  to  give.  Nearly 
the  whole,  it  is  hoped,  are  pious  and  consistent  men 
and  efficient  laborers,  possessed  of  good  common  sense 
and  a  competent  knowledge  of  theology.  They  appear 
to  be  much  devoted  to  their  work,  and  we  had  every 
reason  to  be  satisfied  with  their  qupJiifications  and  their 
labors.  They  are  essential  auxiliaries  to  this  vast  and 
extended  mission.  With  them  is  the  superintendence 
of  the  schools,  which  they  visit  several  times  every 
week,  and  this  they  are  enabled  to  do,  as  they  all  re- 
side in  the  villages  at  which  they  labor,  and  where 
the  schools  are.  They  likewise  assemble  the  people 
m  the  chapels  on  Lord's  day.s,  and  other  occasions, 
and  read  and  explain  to  them  the  word  of  God,  and 
go  from  house  to  house,  catechizing  men,  women  and 
children ;  a  goodly  number  having  turned  from  their 
dumb  idols  to  serve  the  living  God.  This  is  indeed, 
generally  speaking,  but  in  profession,  yet  a  considera- 
ble number,  it  is  hoped,  with  the  whole  heart.  We 
were  delighted,  on  several  occasions,  to  see  congrega- 
tions of  five  hundred  persons  assembled  in  some  of 
the  chapels,  decently  clad,  and  conducting  themselves 
in  the  house  of  God  with  the  greatest  decorum  and 
propriety.  The  schools  we  found,  in  general,  in  good 
condition,  the  children  making  rapid  progress,  as  well 
the  children  of  the  heathen  as  those  of  Christian 
parents.  On  the  average,  five  or  six  in  each  school 
read  the  Scriptures  in  the  Tamul  language,  about  fifteen 
or  twenty  repeat  catechisms,  and  answered  such  plain 
questions  as  we  proposed  to  them  on  the  meaning  of 
Scripture,  and  the  general  principles  of  Christianity.  The 
girls'  school,  under  the  care  of  Mrs.  Mault  (of  whom 
we  cannot  speak  too  highly),  is  in  an  excellent  state, 
and  does  her  exertions  much  credit.  Twelve  of  these 
girls  learn  to  make  lace,  some  of  which  is  exceedingly 
well  done.  The  children  isi  this  school  and  that  called 
the  seminary,  both  on  the  premises,  are  entirely  sup- 
ported, clothed,  fed  and  educated  from  the  proceeds 
ot  iBiid  giveii  lui  liiis  purpose,  aiiu  iti6  sale  01  me  iace 
made  by  the  girls.     The  seminary  contains  (as  men- 


tioned above)  thirty-one  boys,  mostly  small,  a  few 
approaching  manhood.  These  latter  may  soon  be 
useful  to  the  mission,  as  readers  or  school-masters. 
Two  or  three  know  English  pretty  well.  This  insti- 
tution is  in  a  good  state.  The  printing  establishment 
■ipp'j'ji^  to  be  conducted  with  efficiency.  Some  native 
;  iiiirh:  at    employed  in  it. 

'  vV^j  are  most  highly  gratified  with  the  state  of  the 
general  aspect  of  this  mission.  The  whole  is  exceed- 
ingly encouraging,  and  ought  to  awaken  our  most  fer- 
vent gratitude  and  praise  to  a  gracious  God.  There 
is  nothing,  as  far  as  we  have  seen,  equal  to  it,  in  all 
India,  and  we  were  strone^ly  reminded  of  what  we  had 
so  often  witn'i'scd  itu  the  South  sea." 

From  the  time  of  the  deputation's  visit  to  Nagercoil, 
the  mission  continued  to  prosper.  In  1829,  the  ag- 
gregate number  of  congregations  in  the  Eastern  Di- 
vision (Nagercoil)  was  thirty-four.  Out  of  twenty 
seven  of  these  societies,  one  thousand  nine  hundred 
and  sixty-seven  professed  Christianity.  The  native 
scliools  amounted  to  twenty-nine,  containing  one 
thousand  and  eighty-four  pupils.  The  mission  also 
engaged  the  services  of  eighteen  readers  and  five 
assistant  readers.  In  the  Western  Division,  the  num- 
ber of  congregations  was  twenty-eight,  and  in  twenty 
of  these  the  membei's  amounted  to  one  thousand  three 
hundred  and  forty.  The  schools  at  this  time  were 
twenty-threo,  and  twenty  readers  are  emploj  •  d  at 
various  stations.  At  Quilon,  Mr.  Thompson  labored 
with  much  promise  of  success,  and  distributed  many 
parts  of  the  Scriptures  in  Tamul,  Syriac,  Arabic, 
Portuguese  and  English.  Pleasing  accounts  were 
also  received  from  the  out-station  of  Combaconum. 

The  most  recent  accounts  from  the  Travancore 
mission  are  contained  in  the  report  of  1831,  which 
describes  the  stations  as  follows  : — 

Eastern  Division. 
Nagercoil. — Charles  Mault,  W.  B.  Addis. 

Western  Division. 

Neooor. — Charles  Mead,  Wiiiiam  Miller,  Mr.  Ash- 
ton,  assistant. 

QuiLON. — J.  C.  Thompson,  W.  Harris,  Mr.  Cum- 
berland, assistant. 

There  is  a  seminary  at  Nagercoil,  which  sup- 
plies the  mission  with  readers,  assistants  and  native 
preachers.  The  schools  throughout  Travancore  pro- 
duce very  desirable  results.  Not  only  have  the  chil- 
dren manifested  an  advance  in  attainments  and  good 
conduct,  but  the  people  generally  begin  to  appreciate 
the  euuuuiiOu  ol  iiie  risiug  geiioiadoii.  ApphealiOH 
for  schools  are  more  frequent  and  urgent  than  at  any 


^  penod,  .nd  the  school,  now  contain  pupiU 
of  <U1  the  several  castes.  This  latter  cireumstance 
javasts  the  schools  with  deep  importance.  ChristianlJ; 
SS  «"  P"'""'^"'?"*  of  the  instruction  given  to  the 
^dren;  and,  as  the  parents  now  take  interest  in  the 
progress  of  the.r  offspring,  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  the 
perpetration  of  idolatry  will  soon  come  to  an  end. 
Before  we  pass  from  this  interesting  field  of  Chris- 

TJ^^''  'i  °"^J'  i°  ^  ™«"»'°"«'»  'hat  the  readers 
are  employed  at  the  following  oW-,toaon.  .-Tamara- 


CHINA. 


lum,Cov.lv.lly,Aut.caudu,An.„danadan-Kudyi,app«. 
Vjragoody-Irappu    Etambally,  Amaudavilly,  Cotaa 

v^  y.  Colache.  Mathavelley,  Alaganparry,  Natat«;, 
Etaviliy  Pdiardy,  Killyoor.  Atnmasee,  Pattenum 
Taveyodu.  Manalekaudu,  Mattiodu,  Valeaturrey  E 
nantury  Coolyturry,  Trevanderum.Tittevelly;Tin^ 
vd  ey,  Vadakan-Kollum,  Pichakudy-Irappuf  W 
kuUum  and  Kudankullum.  ^'^  ' 


IV.    ULTRA    GANGES. 

Stations. 
China.— Canton.  «..  /      .      ,  , 

Singapore  (island). -Singapore  P  „        /  (pe^^ns" la).-Malacca. 

Java  (island).  BaUvia        ^  WnI*^"""'    ^^"~^'°'^^  '^°'™- 


CHINA. 


Th,8  country  is  the  south-east  portion  of  the  Asiatic 
wntment.     It  derives  its  name  from  the  dynasty  of 
Inn.     The  most   ancient  name   for  this  empire  is 
IUn.,ha,  which  signifies  under  heaven,  and  implies  that 
It  IS  only  inferior  to  heaven.     The  extent  from  north 
to  south  IS  about  one  thousand  four  hundred  and  fifty 
miles,  and  from  east  to  west,  one  thousand  two  hun- 
dred and  sixty.      Sir  George  Staunton  states,  upon 
what  he  conceived  to  be  good  authority,  that  the  popu- 
lauon  withm  the  great  wall,  amounted  to  333,000,000 
The  Rev.  Dr.  Morrison,  whose  long  residence  in  Can- 
ton  entitles  him  to  an  opinion,  asserts  from  what  ought 

.dZmw'Ir'"?  intere.U„g  vi.wof  the  Chinese  n.U„„  is  extract- 
ed  from  W.lh«„.'.  MiMionary  Oa,ett.er,  London  edition,  1828-- 
The  language  .,  not  only  one  of  the  most  ancient  in  the  world 

th.  i  Jk     *;    ^i'""'PP°""'  '^  ^  "•«<l  by  about  one  third  part  of 

which  ha.  been  for  .nany  cenlurie.  the  constant  study  of  the  liter 
aU  of  Chma,  who  have  Hi«hed  it  to  a  high  degree  of  what  the. 
doem  an  elegant  conciseness  and  richness  o'f  clasfical  «  n Id 

Zm  tl  "'IP'"'" '""^'"^  "f  the  people,  as  that  of  ancLt  Home 
from  U.e  modern  dialects  of  Europe.    This  language,  the  mo    Tn 

St  anT."  uJ"  't"-*"""'"".  --i  ."PPo'edf^'be  so  difficult 
tliat  any  knowledge  of  ,t  was  limited,  amon„  European,  to  the  !  ' 
nosuy  of  aftw  learned  men,  and  to  the  impeHou.  neS.  Jj  om 
mercal  mtercourse  ha.  been  conquered  by  Christian  missionarreT; 
and  .  now  »nde,ed  tributary  to  the  diffusion  of  gospel  light  .mon„ 
thi.immen«.  portion  of  mankind,  notwithstanding  tl^  viol  mtZ 
Wtion  that  IS  made  to  Chri.Usnitv  PP^ 

JZlfT,""'"^  "  Patriarchal.    The  emperor  is  absolute ;  but 

'Tot  LXiTrK." " " " '-— ^ - 


o  be  a  complete  authority,  "A  statistical  Account  of 
«ie  empire,  &c.,  that  it  does  not  exceed  150,000,000 
1- or  the  purposes  of  government,  the  empire  is  di- 
vided  into  eighteen  provinces.  Respecting  the  history 
manners  and  religion  of  this  singular  country,  little' 
can  be  ascertained  which  will  prove  satisfactory  Vol- 
umes of  conjecture  and  ill-founded  conclusions  have 
been  written;  yet  very  few  writers  ugree  upon  these 
points.  Very  respectable  authors  assert  that  "reli- 
gion has  scarcely  any  external  form  in  China;"  and 
othe^  declare,  that  they  have   "  gods  many  and  lords 


Kr  ''".'"■.■''''^"'""Inota.slaves.   The  first  principle  insUlled 

=i^s-2k-rs:^i--£^ 
;2^z""^  •='"-"' '"""  ^«  ^^'^  "^ '"« vinage  i:t 

Chi  J.»  r'-""^  ^"^"'"""^  "°'""'''''  ''""«  »»  preeminence,  of  tha 
Chmese  der.ve  most  powerful  support  from  the  vain  id.,  that  thdr 

of  the  nobles  of  it.  visible  parts,  viz.  the  heaUns.  TfaeTrm  of 
lhe.r  c.t.e.-the  regulation  of  the  pal.ce-the  duUe.  of  prince  and 
people-lhe  evolutions  of  their  armies-the  order  of  their  .ta"d 
arda-the  make  of  their  chariot.-tho  ascent  and  descent-thrat 
rangementsof  Uu>ir  foa.t.-and  even  the  very  shape.nd  fa.Mon  of 
t her  garraenu,  &c.  &c.-were  all  anciently,  and  still  are  in  ^1^ 
<leg,.e,  supposed  to  bear  a  resemblance  to  ^mething  in  the  vi^ 

heavens-to  some  star  or  constell.t! 1^ ,*__  „'.■"" 

real-to  some  grand  terrestrial  objecU,  or  to  somerecondrt^Vhi^! 
^iT"!.;  .J'"'  "ft™  J"«igeof  the  intenUonsof  Provide^e 
wuh  regard  to  the  event,  of  war,  and  the  de.Uny  of  n.Uons,  JVo" 


496 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


CANTON. 


This  is  the  principal  seaport  in  China,  and  the  only 
one  to  which  Europeans  are  permitted  to  trade.  The 
wall  that  surrounds  the  city  is  five  miles  in  circuit. 
The  factories  of  the  different  nations  who  carry  on  a 
trade  here,  are  situated  on  the  banks  of  the  river.  The 
population  of  this  city  is  variously  estimated  at  from 
800,000  to  1,500,000. 

The  attentive  regards  of  the  London  Missionary  Soci- 
ety were  early  directed  to  China,  and  as  soort  as  a  suit- 
able agent  could  be  obtained,  the  directors  determined 
to  make  an  effort  for  the  salvation  of  the  millions 
who  occupy  this  wide  region  of  spiritual  death,  and 
around  whom  Satan  has  reared  a  barrier  more  impreg- 
'  nable  to  human  assault,  than  the  massy  wall  that  defends 
their  frontier. 

The  person  deemed  most  adapted  to  this  station  was 
the  Rev.  Robert  Morrison,  whose  studies  at  Gosport 

the  appearances  in  tlie  heavens.  Of  old,  they  sent  forth  their 
armies— they  overturned  thrones— they  punished  oppressors— they 
seized  on  territory ;  all  in  obedience,  as  they  supposed,  to  the  aspects 
of  celestial  phenomena.  If  to  these  erroneous  conceptions  be  joined 
their  antiquity,  their  vast  population,  their  immense  riches,  their 
defect  in  scientific  improvements,  their  want  of  sound  principles, 
and  especially  the  depravity  of  the  human  heart,  which  they  have 
in  common  with  others, — we  can  hardly  wonder  at  the  high  and  ex- 
clusive tone  which  they  assume,  or  at  their  extravagant  claims  to 
superiority  over  the  nations  of  the  earth. 

"  The  rtiigUm  of  China  is  a  strange  mixture  of  superstitions,  of 
which  every  one  receives  or  rejects  as  much  as  he  pleases.  From 
time  immemorial,  peculiar  homage  has  been  paid  to  the  memory  of 
the  dead  by  the  Chinese.  What  is  known  of  their  religion,  previ- 
ous to  the  lime  of  Confucius,  is  fabulous  and  uncertain.  This  most 
celebrated  ancient  philosopher  of  China  was  born  about  four  hun- 
dred and  fifty  years  before  the  Christian  era,  and  seemed  designed 
to  reform,  in  some  measure,  the  corruptions  which  prevailed  in  the 
civil  and  religious  establishments  of  his  country.  He  condemned 
the  idolatry  practised  by  his  countrymen,  and  maintained  that  Deity 
was  the  most  pure  and  perfect  principle,— eternal,  infinite,  inde- 
structible, omnipotent  and  omnipresent.  He  considered  the  sun, 
moon,&c.  the  immediate  agents  of  Deity,  inseparably  connected  with 
him,  and,  as  such,  objects  of  worship.  Many  parts  of  his  doctrine 
were  calculated  to  preserve  the  superstitious  notions  still  prevalent. 
By  his  sage  counsels,  his  moral  doctrine,  and  exemplary  conduct,  he 
obtained  an  immortal  name,  as  tlic  reformer  of  hia  country  ;  and, 
from  respect  to  his  memory,  his  descendants  enjoy,  by  inheritance, 
the  title  and  oiHce  of  mandarins. 

"  Soon  after  his  death,  a  species  of  Lamanism  was  introduced  into 
China  from  Thibet ;  and  ibout  the  year  GT),  the  stct  of  Fo  was  intro- 
duced from  India.  The  name  was  derived  from  the  idol  Fo,supposed  to 
be  the  Budhuof  Hindooatari.  About  the  fifteenth  century,  many  of 
the  literati  embraced  a  new  system,  nearly  allied  to  atheism  ;  but  this 
is  confined  to  a  few.  The  Chinese,  in  general,  arc  so  far  from  being 
atheists,  that  they  go  into  the  opposite  extremes  of  polytheism.  In 
China,  no  religion  is  preierred  or  encouraged  by  government.  At 
the  present  time,  its  gods  are,  to  use  an  e/pression  of  the  sect  of 
Fuh,  Ilaagbo-tka-too,  i.  e.  "  }n  number  like  the  sands  of  Hang 
river."  Most  of  the  forms  of  mythology,  which  make  any  figure  in 
the  page  of  historv,  now  exist  in  China,  except  that  their  indecent  i 
parts,  and  their  direct  tendency  to  injure  human  life,  have  been  cut 
off.    The  idoUtry  of  ancient  Canaan,  of  Egypt,  of  Greece,  of  Rome, 


had  been  peculiarly  directed  to  a  preparation  for  such 
an  important  undertaking,  and  who  was  subsequently 
assisted  in  London,  by  a  native  of  China,  in  learning 
the  language,  and  in  transcribing  a  Harmony  of  the  Gos- 
pels, and  other  parts  of  the  New  Testament,  from  a 
manuscript  in  the  British  Museum.  His  attention 
was  also  directed,  under  a  qualified  professor,  to  math- 
ematics and  astronomy,  and  he  attended  the  lectures 
at  the  Royal  Institution. 

In  the  month  of  January,  1807,  Mr.  Morrison  sailed 
from  England,  and  under  the  gracious  protection  of 
that  Being  who  holds  the  winds  in  his  hand,  and  re- 
strains the  waves  within  their  prescribed  limits,  he  ar- 
rived in  safety  at  Canton,  where  he  applied  himself  with 
unwearied  assiduity  to  the  study  of  the  language ; 
though,  in  doing  this,  he  was  obliged  to  observe  the 
greatest  secrecy,  and  the  persons  who  assisted  him  inti- 
mated that  they  trembled  for  their  own  safety,  under 
the  anticipation  of  being  discovered. 

Besides  reading  the  Scriptures  with  his  inmates,  and 

of  Chaldea,  and  of  India,  are  all  to  be  found  here,  though  with  some 
slight  variations.  China  has  her  Diana,  her  .£olus,  her  Ceres,  her 
Esculapius,  her  Mars,  her  Mercury,  her  Neptune  and  her  Pluto,  as 
v/ell  as  the  western  pagans  had.  She  has  gods  celestial,  terrestrial 
and  subterraneous  ;  gods  of  the  hills,  of  the  valleys,  of  the  woods,  of 
the  districts,  of  the  family,  of  the  shop,  and  of  the  kitchen  !  She 
adores  the  gods  who  are  supposed  to  preside  over  the  thunder,  the 
rain  and  the  fire ;  over  the  grain,  over  births  and  deaths,  and  over 
the  small-pox.  She  worships  "  the  host  of  heaven— the  sun,  the 
moon  and  the  stars."  She  also  worships  the  gonii  of  the  mountains 
rivers,  lakes  and  seas,  together  witli  birds,  beasts  and  fishes.  Sho 
addresses  prayers,  and  offers  sacrifices,  to  the  spirits  of  departed 
kings,  sages,  heroes  and  parents,  whether  good  or  bad.  Her  idols 
are  silver  and  gold,  wood,  and  stone,  and  clay,  carved  or  molten,  the 
work  of  men's  hands.  Her  altars  are  on  tlie  high  hills,  in  the 
groves,  under  the  green  trees.  She  has  set  up  her  idols  at  the  cor- 
ners of  the  streets,  on  the  sides  of  the  highways,  on  the  banks 
of  canals,  in  boats,  and  in  ships.  Astrology,  divination,  geomancy 
and  necromancy  every  where  prevail.  Spells  and  charms  every 
one  possesses :  they  are  hung  about  the  neck,  or  stitched  up  in  their 
clothes,  or  tied  to  the  bed-posts,  or  written  on  the  doors ;  and  few 
men  think  their  persons,  children,  shops,  boats  or  goods  safe  with- 
out them.  The  emperors  of  China,  her  statesmen,  her  merchants, 
her  people  and  her  philosophers,  also,  arc  all  idolaters. 

"  With  regard  to  firture  retributions,  thoseof  the  sect  of  Confucius 
profess  to  know  no  life  to  came,  but  that  which  their  children  and 
posterity  shall  enjoy  on  earth  :  hence  their  views  rise  no  higher ;  in 
tliis  their  fears  and  hopes  seem  to  terminate. 

"  The  Elysium  of  the  West,  which  the  followers  of  f«A  look  for,  is 
such  as  the  deluded  imagination  of  an  .\siatic  would  naturally  paint : 
fortified  palaces — groves  of  trees  producing  gems— ^ponls  of  fragrant 
water,  yielding  the  lotus  flower  as  large  us  the  wheel  of  a  cart — 
showers  of  sweet  odors,  faUing  on  a  land  the  dust  of  which  is  yellow 
gold — myriads  of  birds,  of  tlic  most  exquisite  plumage,  singing' on 
trees  of  gold,  with  the  most  harmonious  and  ravishing  notes,  of  a 
hundred  thousand  kinds,  &c.  &c.  Such  is  their  paradise ;  but,  in 
conformity  with  the  comparative  contempt  in  which  the  female  char- 
acter is  held  throughout  the  East,  they  exclude  all  viomen,  as  suck 
from  a  participation  therein.  Those  females  who  have  acted  well 
on  earth,  are  first  transformed  into  men,  and  then  admitted  into  that 
palace  of  delights. 

"  The  sufferings  of  the  Tartarus,  which  their  terrified  imagination! 
have  figured,  are  represented  in  pictures,  as  the  punishment!  io 


CHINA. 


engaging  with  some  of  them  in  prayer,  Mr.  Morrison 
endeavored,  under   the   pretence  of  explaining  the 
words  law,  promite,  threatening,  remrrection,  &c.,  to 
<K.mmunicate   the   important   truths   connected   with 
these ;  as  tlie  luw  of  God  contained  in  the  decaloeue ; 
the  promise  of  life  ;  the  threatening  of  death  ;  man's 
violation  of  the  divine  law,  and  the  consequent  intro- 
duction of  human  wo  ;   the  promise  of  forgiveness  : 
t^ie  resurrection  and  eternal  life  through  Jesus  Christ! 
I  was,  at  first,  perplexed,"  says  he,  "what  words  to 
make  use  of  to  express,  to  the  Chinese  with  whom  I 
conversed,  the  Supreme  Being ;  whether  to  adopt  the 
l^en-chu  of  the  Romish  missionaries,  or  to  make  use 
of  words  which   are  commonly  understood   by   the 
heathen  to  denote  spiritual  and  superior  beings.     I.  at 
length    resolved  to  use  both  modes  of  expression, 
generally  g,v,„g  the  preference,  however,  to  their  own 
vtr  xm,  which  is  the  most  generally  understood.  When 
I  make  use  of  other  names,  they  imagine  that  I  bring 
to  them  a  new  deity-the  god  of  my  own  country- 


499 


purgatory  and  Tartarus  were  exhibited  in  the  Eleusinian  and  other 
heathen  myteries:  with  this  difference,  however,   that  the«  are 

rtd  hn.  ;     "  "^^'"^  '*°""'"  ^^"^''^  i"  child-bed  are  plunged 

red  hot  ,0,.  p,l  ars,  which  the  wicked  are  cau«.d  to  embrace  de-' 
vouring  hon.,  tigers,  snakes,  Ac. ,  mounUin.  stack  aU  over  'wth 
knives,  on  the  poinU  of  which  the  condemned  are  cast  down  "nd 

^e^LolT"    "-"'"f  *""r'"'   ''"'  -ndemned  creeping  2 
theskin.  of  tho«,  anmialc  m  the  form  of  which  they  aro  desUned  to 
.p,H,ar  agamon  earth;    boiling  of  the  wicked  in  caldrons  ;    the 
v^he.1,  or  apparatus,  by  mean,  of  which  all  the  operations  of  the 
metempsycho...  a.e  performed ;  horneddemons,  with  swords  spla™ 
hatchet,  and  hooks;  wretched  mortals,  alternately  slZl^T^H 
.nde.cr.baWe  cold,  and  burnt  to  coals  with  devouring  fir^  ^*h^^ 
with  numberless  other  .uch  thing,,  are  represented  liU.   '  o«  a^d' 
i.gu.hng  mmutcne...    Instead  of  producing  any  salutary  ffaHntSe 
m.nd,U,ey  fil  the  imaginaUon  with  horrid  figure;  1  rea  e" Ut! 
ence  of  wh.ch  the  better  informed  surely  cannot  bel  eve  ;  or  wh"  h 
.f  behaved  muste  thor  totally  weaken  the  spring,  of  actio"  r^t' 

Their  system  ofmoraJs,  a.  explained  by  U«  sect  of  the  learned 

^ttrth  ZhT'  ,'"'''•  ^'""^  "'■""'  •'""'"'  "f-'-tive  rs 

■et  forth  with  as  much  clearness  as  could  be  eiuectprf  «■„..,  .         i 
Who  know  not  the  true  G.«,.     r^.i io  tUo^ZZnJ^Z^:^^ 
tte  system  of  Christian  ethics  contained  in  the  New  Te'LmenT  U 
mu.t,  in  all  particular,,  appear  defective,  and  in  many  exceedinriv 
erroneous;  especially  if  the  motive.andend.of  humaVacUon.  £ 

count  Some  m.porUr.t  duties  are  also  entirely  left  out ,  and  other, 
earned  to  «ich  extravagant  lengths,  a,  to  render  them  i^ot  only  irk 
•oroe,  but  oppressive.  ' 

"Female  infanticide,  which  still  prevail,  in  China, if h  had  not 
originally  sprang  from  their  doctrine  of  VIN  and  yAng  which 
^U  every  thing  masculine  in  so  exalted,  and  every  thing  femtS 

ie.2Z^T  belief  m  the  metempsychosis,  and  in  the  ineviUble 
Ueo.  ons  of  a  numerical  fate,  prcvenU  th.  cordial  exerciw  of  be- 
navolence  and  beneficence.  "xerciw  oi  De- 

"Their  cold.he„ted  philosophy,  indeed,  teache.  and  applaud,  the 
practice  oi  ilma./laxdo      r"!...:.-  ivn-  -.  rr-""""  ""> 

:.      ,,  .   .        " J  ""■=  »;!=ar  aatno  desv-drop  from 

^i  %.rj:  ''^"""f  ;T''  »""  onenfreexesereitrerchth" 
round.    Even  the  natural  deaire  which  M  men,  m  human  boing., 


and  from  this  notion,  which  is  perfectly  in  unison  with 
an  heathen  ideas  of  gods.  I  keep  as  far  distant  as  po.. 
sible.     I  do  not  bring  to  them  another  god,  but  en- 
deavor  to  convince  them  that  their  ideas  of  x.n  are 
erroneous  ;  as  there  are  not  many  but  one,  and  he  is 
tfte  same  to  every  nation  under  heaven.     I  even  let 
them  retain  the  word  tien,  or  heaven,  but  attempt  to 
engraft  upon  it  proper  ideas,  as  we  do  in  our  own 
language.     It  is  of  small  importance  to  give  to  the 
heathen  new  words  without  correct  ideas  of  things. 
Ihe  Koman  missionaries  have  made  much  noise  about 
torcing  the  Chinese  to  receive  the  term  Tien-chu,  the 
U)rd  of  heaven,  which  is  certainly  a  good  expression : 
but  then  they  have  presented  to  them,  at  the  same 
time,  numerous  objects  of  worship  (saints  and  martyrs) 
perfectly  .„  consonance  with  their  old  heathen  ideas 
01  the  semi-deified  spirits  of  departed  good  men.     I 
was  looking,  the  other  day,  into  the  prayer-books  of 
the   missionaries,   translated   into  Chinese,  and  was 
gneved  to  find  that  they  had  been  at  so  much  labor 


Se^^  ?  «"t'relycounteracted_by  fear  of  oppoaing  the  will  of 
Uie  gods,  who  .end  men  bock  to  endure  poverty  Jnd  n^«,y  i„  th  . 

thati'^ff'T  ."T  '':""'  ""'"'" °f  "«>"""  life;  orby  abelief 
that  all  efforu  which  tend  to  counteract  the  decrees  of  fate  are  not 
on  y  fruitles,  but  wrong;  or  by  a  criminal  «>lfi,hne,s,  hardness  of 

ilowL 'tiler"!""'  '"  ?:!''"  '^''P'*''  ''"PP'"«»''>  '*''''=''  "<»"««■»" 
allows  them  even  to  sit  sUll  at  ease,  and  suffer  another  man,  clo«, 

in  ami"  'ff  ?  ""-"."hi,  property  to  consume  in  the  fiame., 
When  a  little  effort  on  their  part  might  save  both. 

«ii.  "IT'  '"''**'''"«'*  """«  of 'he  more  rational  condemn  these 
evi  s,  and  have  written  against  them,  especially  against  female  in. 

™:b^  T  •'•?''"  ""''  ""'  «""•  '^' ■-"  wen'meant  eSs  to 
correc  the  horrid  crime  be,  while  the  principles  which  gave  it  birth 
are  held  m  honor !  They  are  inconsistent  with  themselves.  In 
one  part  of  their  wriUngs,  they  deplore  the  bitter  consequences,  and 
warn  men  against  them;  while,  in  the  other,  they  inadvertently 
magnify  the  causes  from  which  they  rise,  a,  the  only  source  of  ex- 
cellence  and  perfection  in  the  universe.  They  deprecate  the  mor- 
tal  stream  and  yet  feed  the  impoisoned  fountain;  they  strive  to  lop 
thebrancli..,  and  yet  manure  the  root!  ' 

"Though  vice,  in  all  iu  diversified  forms,  exisu  in  China  still  wr 
,    haps,  lU  external  feature,  do  not  at  first  sight  appear  so  gross  'aHn 
oiiic  other  countries.     But  it  is  not  to  be  concluded  from  hence" 
Uiat  the  degreeof  It  is  less  than  in  other  parts  of  the  heathen  worW 
I  or  the  opinions  and  customs  of  all  ranks  of  society  not  only  furnish 
»..fl.cic„   excuse  for  the  commission  of  many  .ins  against  iL  law  of 
0<»l   but  have  even  raised  them  to  a  certain  degree  of  respectability 
and  honor  ;  and  hence  it  become,  very  difficult  to  convince  them  of 
he  moral  turpitude  of  those  evils  in  which  their  parents,  and  their 
be,t  and  wisest  men,  have,  from  age  to  age,  indulged.    Chinese  man! 
ne  ,  and  customs  are  thrown  into  so  regular  and  digested  a  form . 
«sthata,tranger,but  superficially  acquainted  with  the  language 
and  real  spirit  of  the  Chinew  people,  .eem,  to  «,«  much  to  p™W 
^ad,  comparatively,  little  to  blame ;  while,  at  the  «.me  Ume,  the  na- 
tion groans  under  oppression  and  violence;   their  courto  are  filled 
with  bribery  and  injustice  ;  their  markeU  with  coxening  and  deceit ; 
their  ho««,s  with  concubine, ;  their  monaaterie.  with  ignorant,  filthy 
and  indolent  asceUcs, '  who,'  to  u«j  the  word,  of  a  Chinese  writer 

' are  not  worth  the  down  nf  .  ft.u,-.  . : j"       .    T"**'.' 

„„.,„.„        .,,,.,       .     ,     ' "-J  J     tiirir  3C1100JS  anj 

colleges  with  high-minded,  self-sufficient  literati,  to  who«=  proud  and 
ophisticated  mind,  the  humbling  doctrines  of  the  gospel  will  be  "o 
le»  obnoxiou.  than  they  were  to  the  sarewtio  pride  Pfa  Cel.ut  " 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


to  render  all  the  unscriptiiral  jargon  which  is  address- 
ed to  the  mother  of  our  Lord,  together  with  prayers 
to  holy  men  and  holy  women,  and  for  the  souls  in 
purgatory." 

Toward  the  latter  end  of  January,  1808,  Mr.  Mor- 
rison paid  a  visit  to  the  temple  of  Pak-ti-pu-saat,  or 
the  great  northern  deity.  Here  he  found  a  large  con- 
course of  worshippers,  who  brought,  in  small  baskets, 
fowls,  pork,  fish  and  vegetables,  which,  after  the 
prostrations  were  over,  they  took  away  with  them. 
Their  offerings  of  candles,  paper  and  fragrant  matches, 
however,  were  all  consumed,  and  pan  of  the  wine 
with  which  thry  were  provided,  was  eitiier  poured  into 
a  '.lOugh  before  the  altar,  or  thrown  on  the  ground. 
When  the  worshippers  threw  their  flaming  paper  on 
the  metal  altar,  one  of  the  attendants  began  beating  a 
large  drum  and  s'riking  a  bell,  as  if  to  draw  the  at- 
tention of  the  god  to  the  presentation  of  the  offering. 
This  ceremony,  however,  was  omitted  when  one 
poor  woman  came,  with  an  offering  of  pork  and  green 
peas,  but  without  cither  fowl  or  fish.  Several  of  the 
worshippers  nuittered  a  prayer  i  tlieir  knees,  and 
afterwards  took  up  a  crooked  piece  of  wood,  like  a 
cow's  horn  divided  lengthwise,  which  thc)  threw  down 
again  and  again,  till  it  full  in  a  postme  which  they 
considered  to  be  ominous  of  good. 

When  inquiring  their  fate  in  the  temples,  the  Chi- 
nese, among  other  methods,  have  in  a  box  a  few  slips 
of  wood  numbered.  On  their  knees  tiiey  shake  the 
box  in  their  hands,  till  one  of  the  slips  fall  out,  and 
after  ascertaining  the  number,  they  receive,  in  the 
temple,  a  paper  with  a  corresponding  mark,  and  in 
this  their  future  fortune  is  written.  Mr.  Morrison 
remarked  that  here,  as  in  ah  other  idolatrous  countries, 
there  a|)pearcd  to  b<!  favoi-iio  deities,  as  well  as  par- 
ticular limes  for  the  worship  of  one  in  preference  to 
another.  "Hence,"  says  he,  "  many  of  the  temples 
were  now  quite  deserted,  while  that  of  Pak-ti-pu-saat 
was  crowded  with  worshippers,  and  Huiulted  witii  the 
smoke  of  their  offerings,  till  the  god  was  almost  burnt 
out  of  his  dwelling." 

The  next  morning,  about  two  o'clock,  the  noise  of 
fire-works  announced  tiie  romnu-ncement  of  the  new 
year.  The  Cliiurse  had  dressed  tliemsehes  for  the 
occasion,  on  tlie  preceding  evening,  and  wailed  for  its 
approach  ;  and  between  two  and  three  o'<l<Hk,  the 
suburlis  were  ihroneed  by  persons  carrying  various 
offerings,  and  repairing  to  the  temples. 

Fn  llie  course  of  the  same  monih,  our  missionary 
ha<l  an  ojiportunily  of  witnessing  the  Chiiu'se  mode 
of  attesting  the  treth  of  an  assertion,  by  cutting  off  the 
head  of  a  fowl.  This  they  consider  as  a  very  solemn 
rrrciiiony,  rtnn  do  not  UKg  to  no  u  uiu  on  sp«^riai  oc- 
caiioni.     There  is  nothing  similar  to  an  oith  exacted 


by  the  magistrates  when  they  take  evidence.  Appeals 
to  the  gods  are  only  made  among  private  individuals, 
when  they  question  each  other's  veracity  ;  and  this  is 
done  not  only  in  the  manner  already  stated,  but  also 
by  dashing  an  earthen  vessel  to  pieces,  and  wishing 
that,  if  they  speak  falsely,  they  may  be  destroyed  in  a 
similar  manner ;  or  by  blowing  out  a  candle,  and  wish- 
ing that  their  life  may  also  be  extinguished.  On  some 
occasions,  they  go  to  the  temple  and  utter  impreca- 
tions befdre  their  idols.  But  Mr.  Morrison  observes, 
there  is  nothing  here  among  the  heathen  that  is  a 
thousandth  part  so  bad  as  the  constant  and  irrational 
profanation  of  the  names  of  the  divine  Being,  and 
of  sacred  things,  so  common  in  Europe.  "  They  do 
not,"  says  he,  "  whether  in  good  or  bad  humor,  in 
jes*  or  earnest,  call  upon  Heaven  to  render  them 
miserable  in  time  and  eternity,  as  wicked  men,  in- 
formed, but  not  influenced,  by  the  gospel,  do,  in 
countries  which  are  called  Christian." 

In  a  conversation  which  Mr.  Morrison  held,  one 
evening,  with  his  assistants,  relative  to  the  nature  of 
the  .soul,  it   appeared   that  the  Chinese  scarcely  dis- 
tinguish it  from   the  body  till  the  period  of  death, 
when  they  suppose  that  a  kind  of  manes  passes  into 
anotlier  state,  and   is  united   cither  to  good   men  or 
beasts,  as  the  deceased  person  has  acted  virtuously  or 
viciously  whilst  on  earth.     They  also  observed,  with 
respect   to  the    paper,  with   gold  and  silver  leaf  on 
it,  which  is  burnt  on  the  altars  of  their  deities,  that 
the    paper    is    designed    to    represent    raiment,    and 
the  gold  and  silver  leaf,  nmney  ;  and  that  all  these, 
when    sent    up    in    flames,  are   caught    by   the  .sur- 
rounding spirits.     Ow    Mr.    Morrison    asking  if  ihey 
imagined    the  spirits   had   need  of  clothes,  or  were 
gratified     by    such    offerings,    they    replied,    with    a 
laugh,  that  they  could  not  tell ;  but  they  observed  it 
was    tl'o    prevailing   cisfom,   and  that  not  only    the 
magistrates,  but    the    emperor     himself,  attended    to 
it.     With   resi)cct   to   the  contempt  of  the   Chinese 
toward  foreigners,  and  their  aversion  to  infonn  them- 
selves respecting  them,  they  stated  that  it  was  alto- 
gether useless  to  desire  information  beyond  the  boun- 
daries of  their  own  country.      "  The  colostipl  and 
central   empire,"   said   they,    '  contains    every  thing 
within  itself  that  it  is  desirable  either  to  possess  or  to 
know.     The  most  hmrned   persons  never  acquire  the 
whole  of  the  literature  of  China.     Why,  then,  should 
they  concern  iheuiselves  about  that  which  is  exotic  ? 
.\nd  as  to  re  ligiim  and  morality,  the  depths  of  knowl- 
edge contained  in  thc  Iwioks  of  Kung-fu-tsi  have  never 
been  fathomed  ;  and,  until  that  be  done,  it  is  folly  to 
attend  to  any  other." 

in   rorinsqufiice   uT  a   loinponiry  miiumiorstanuing 
between  the  European  rokidenti  at  Cantoa  and  the 


Chinese  government,  the  latter  prohibited  all  inter- 
courae  with   foreigners,  and   the  commencement  of 
hosnlmes  was  seriously  anticipated.     Mr.  Morrison 
therefore,  retired,  in  the  beginning  of  November,  to 
Macao,  where  he  applied  himself  unremittingly  to  the 
study  of  the  language.     Mattera,  however,  were  soon 
anucably  arranged,  and  our  missionary  returned   to 
Canton,  where,  in  1809,  he  was  appointed  Chinese 
translator  to  the  English  factory.      Alluding  to  this 
circumstance  in  a  letter  to  the  directors,  he  says,  "My 
reasons  for  accepting  this  situation  were,  briefly,— that 
It  secured  my  residence  ;-that  its  duties  cc.tributed 
to  my  nnprovement  in  the  language  ;_a„d  that  the 
salary  attached  to  it  would  enable  me  to  make  my 
kbor  m  the  gospel  less  chargeable  to  the  churches  of 
Groat  Bniam.     The  situation,  however,  whilst  it  has 
he  advantages  which  I  state,  has  also  its  disadvantages 
It  occupies  a  great  part  of  my  short  life  in  that  which 
does  not  refer  to  n.y  first  object.     Whilst  I  am  trans- 
lating ofticial  papers,  I  could  be  compiling  my  diction- 
ary, which  I  hope  will  be  of  essential  service  to  future 
missionaries." 

In  the  same  letter  which  contains  those  remarks 
Mr  Morrison  say.   there  has  been,  during  the  whole' 
of  tins  summer,  a  fleet  of  Chinese  pirates  on  the  coast 
soniel.mos   ten,  twenty   or  forty  miles  from  Canton' 
conmm.mg  tl.o  most  cruel  depredations  ;  and.  when 
they  land,  if  the  villagers  refuse  to  comply  with  their 
demands,  the  pirates  proceed  to  murder  them.   Several 
thousands  have  been  put  to  death  on  diflercnt  occa- 
sions, and.  in  one  instance,  their  firing  could  be  heard 
from  the  viceroy's  palace  in  the  city.    I„  autumn  they 
went  on  shire,  and  cut  .town  the  ripe  grain      They 
liave  al)out  seven  hu  uired  vessels,  and  whenever  they 
see  .  hope  of  plunder,  they  invarSblymak.-  u„  attack. 
1  his  year  .hey  succeeded  in  taki.ig  u  small  American 
ves.el  and  a   I  'or.uguose  brig  ;  and   the   boat  of  the 
honorable  c.m.pnny's  ship   Ely,  wiu.  an   o/Iicrr  and 
eight    seamen,    unfortunately    feil    i„,o    their    hands 
These  p.rates  .,re  not   properly  insurgents,  disaffected 
to  the  government,  but  a  banditti  of  wicked  and  cruel 
men,  who  threaten  tim  destruction  of  commerce,  and 
every  llrng  beside. 

"  All  pirates  taken  priso.  ers  are  beheaded,  and,  in 
some  instances,  instead  of  being  liand-cuire.l  their 
liunds  are  nailed  to^relln.r.  In  return  for  these  severi- 
ties,  they  generally  put  to  death  those  whom  they 
take,  particulaily  the  o/licers,  whom  ibey  cut  to 
I." 


CHINA. 


pwcen. 

In  the  course  of  his  reading  wiih  lil.^  assiMants  our 
nmsionary  embraced  every  opportunity  „f  M,e,,kinK 
oi  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  salvation  tliro..,ri.  i,: _._.. 

Ood.       On  thi.  Utter  .ubject,"  say.  he,  "  their  ideas 


are  exceedingly  obscure.     The  Chinese  people,  ao- 
cording  to  what  I  have  seen,  have  no  idea  of  one  in- 
telhgent,  independent  and  perfect  Being,  the  Creator 
and  Governor  of  the  world.     They  have,  however 
lords  many  and  gods  many,  before  whose  images  they 
worship,  and  to  whom  they  offer  sacrifice.     The  word 
heaven,  in  their  language,  is  exceedingly  vague,  and 
It  seems  impossible  to  determine  its  precise  significa- 
tion, as  they  ever  vary  in  their  definition  of  it      An 
atonement  my  people  do  not  think  necessary,  at  least 
for  small  sins  ;  and  of  the  pardon  of  great  sins  they 
have  no  hope."  ^ 

In  September,  1810,  Mr.  Morrison  sent  the  Acts  of 
the  Apostles,  carefully  revised  with  the  Greek  text 
corrected  and  pointed,  to  a  Chinese  printer;  and,  after 
seeing  a  specimen  of  his  workmanship,  agreed  to  pay 
him  five  hundred  and  twenty-one  dollars  for  a  thousand 
copies,  including  the  cutting  of  thirty  thousand  char- 
acters, the  wood  on  which  they  were  to  be  cut  th« 
paper,  printing,  binding,  &c.  Thi.  charge  subsequent 
ly  appeared  to  have  been  very  enorn.ous  ;  b.It  our 
missionary  knew  that,  in  consequence  of  his  being  a 
foro,gner>  the  risk,  both  ,o  himself  and  the  workman 
whon,  he  employed,  was  extremely  great,  and  he  had. 
tnerctore,  no  alternative. 

It  was  a  pleasing  circumstance,  when  this  little  work 
^vas  completed,  that  three  ambassadors  from  the  Le 
ki-yo  islands,  who  had  come  with   tribute  to  China 
«rnved  just  in  .i,„e  to  be  presented  with  some  copies 
1  he  vernacular  tongue  of  these  islands  is  a  dialect  of 
the  Cnnese  language,  which  is  read  by  all  their  lite 
rati  ;    ind  our  missionary  observes,  "  I  couldcommuni 
cnte  will,  the  ambassadors  by  wri.ing  Chinese,  though 
lr.,Mdn«.  understand   ihei,   spoken  language.     The 
IH'iH.  a.ion  of  the  islands  I  could  not  ascer.nin.as  ,hey 
•nerely  sa.d  that  it  consisted  of  a  few  times  ten  thou- 
sand.     Iheir  women  are  employed  in  weaving,  and 
tlioir  pre.se„,  kmg  is  about  twen.y-five  years  of  ago 
Onmyaskmg  if  he  allowed  foreigners  to  ira.le   the 
nmhasMidor,  wrote  in  reply,  •  ()„r  territory  is  ,,,,.11 
an.)  our  produce  poor  ;  we  cannot  trade.'     They  have 
Kung.fu-tsi,  and  all  the  gods  of  China  ;  hut  I  coul.I 
""'  "hinin  a  .sight  of  any  of  their  books,  as  the  ambas- 
sadors hiid  none  with  them." 

In  a  letter  addressed  to  the  directors,  and  dated 
Apr  «,  1818  Mr.  Morrison  .,ays..vny  , he  last  flee.: 
which  sailed  about  a  month  ago.  I  wrote  and  enclosed 
you  a  copy  of  my  translation  of  the  (Jospel  by  L.-Ve 
and  n  Chinese  tract  on  the  Way  of  Salvation,  which 
I  hope  would  reach  you  in  safety,  I  now  enclose  you 
a  trnnsla<„m  of  a  Chinese  edict,  by  which  you  will  ,p„ 
tn-i  ;,.,,„„,  IHK.KS  on  the  Christian  religion  in  Chinee 
IS  rendered  a  capital  crime.  I  „,„„,  h„,vover.  go 
forward,  trusting  in  the  Ua\,  though  I  will  }«,  careful 


608 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY, 


■ 


not  to  invite  tiie  notice  of  ^orernmenl.  Indeed,  not- 
withstanding my  consciousness  of  my  own  weakness, 
I  am  not  discouraged,  but  am  thankful  that  my  most 
sanguine  hopes  liave  been  more  than  realized  ;  as  the 
practicability  of  acquiring  the  language  in  no  great 
length  of  time,— of  translating  the  Scriptures, — and 
of  having  them  printed  in  China,  has  been  demon- 
strated. I  am  grateful  to  the  divine  Being  for  having 
employed  me  in  this  good  work,  and  should  1  die  soon, 
it  will  afford  me  pleasure  in  my  last  mo-nents." 

The  Chinese  edict  against  Christianity,  to  which 
the  undismayed  and  laborious  missionary  alludes,  will, 
no  doubt,  be  perused  with  interest,  and  is  to  the  fol- 
lowing effect  : — 

"  The  Criminal  Tribunal,  by  order  of  the  emperor, 
conformably  to  a  representation  made  by  Han,  the 
imperial  secretary  (in  which  he  desired  tiiat  tiie  pro- 
mulgation of  the  Christian  religion  might  be  obviated), 
decrees  as  follows  : — 

"The  Europeans  worship  God,  because  in  their 
own  country  tliey  are  used  to  do  so  ;  and  it  is  quite 
unnecessary  to  inquire  into  the  motive.  But  why  do 
they  disturb  the  common  people  of  the  interior,  un- 
authorizediy  appointing  priests  and  other  functionaries, 
who  spread  tiiis  througii  all  the  provinces,  in  obvious 
infraction  of  the  law  ?  The  common  people,  deceived 
by  tiiein,  succeed  each  other  from  generation  to  gone- 
ration,  unwilling  to  depart  from  their  delusion.  This 
may  approach  very  near  to  a  rebellion  ;  for  ns  the  said 
religion  neither  holds  spirits  in  veneration,  nor  ances- 
tors in  reverence,  this  is  evidently  to  walk  contrary  to 
sound  doctrine  ;  and  the  connnon  people,  who  follow 
and  familiarize  themselves  with  such  delusions,  in  what 
resjiect  do  thoy  differ  from  a  rebel  mob  ?  If  some 
punishment  be  not  decreed,  how  shall  the  evil  be 
eradicated  ?  and  how  shall  the  human  heart  bo  rec- 
tifi'Ml  ? 

"  From  this  time  fonvard,  such  F^uropcan  as  sliall 
privately  print  Inioks  an<l  establish  preacliers,  in  order 
to  pervert  the  multilude, — and  tiie  Tartars  and  Chi- 
nese, who,  deputed  by  Kiiropeans,  shall  propagate 
their  religion,  bestowing  names,  iind  dis()uieting  num- 
bers, shall  have  this  to  look  to : — The  chief  or  prin- 
cipal one  shall  be  executed  ; — whoever  shall  spread 
their  religion,  not  making  much  disturbance,  nor  to 
many  men,  and  without  giving  names,  shall  be  im- 
prisoned, waiting  the  time  of  execution  ; — and  those 
wIk  shall  con'cnt  themselves  widi  following  such  re- 
ligion, without  wishing  to  reform  themselves,  shall  bo 
exiUd.  As  for  Tartars,  they  shall  bo  deprived  of 
their  pay. 

"  With  respect  to  Europeans  at  present  in  Pekin, 
if  thoy  ire  mathematicians,  without  hiving  other  of- 
fice or  occupation,  this  Buflices  to  tlnir  being  kept  in 


their  employments  ;  but  those  who  do  not  understand 
mathematics,  what  motive  is  there  for  acquiescing  in 
their  idleness,  whilst  they  are  exciting  irregularities  ? 
Let  the  mandarins,  in  charge  of  the  Europeans,  in- 
quire and  act.  Excepting  the  mathematicians,  who 
arc  to  be  retained  in  their  employment,  the  other 
Europeans  shall  be  sent  to  the  viceroy  of  Canton,  to 
wait  there,  that  when  ships  arrive  from  their  respec- 
tive countries,  they  may  be  sent  back.  The  Europeans 
in  actual  service  at  the  capital  are  forbidden  to  inter- 
meddle with  the  Tartars  and  Chinese,  in  order  to  strike 
at  the  root  of  the  absurdities  which  have  been  propa- 
gated. In  Pekin,  where  there  are  no  more  Europeans 
than  those  employed  in  mathematics,  they  will  not  be 
able  clandestinely  to  spread  false  religion.  The  vice- 
roys and  other  magistrates  of  the  other  provinces  shall 
be  careful  and  diligent.  If  they  find  Europeans  within 
their  territories,  they  shall  seize  them,  and  act  accord- 
ing to  justice  ;  in  order,  by  si  -h  means,  to  extermi- 
nate both  root  and  trunk. — You  shall  conform  to  this 
decision  of  the  Criminal  Tribunal." 

In  laying  this  edict  before  the  religious  public,  the 
directors  of  the  I^ndon  Missionary  Society  express 
their  satisfaction  with  the  firmness  and  intrepidity 
evinced  by  their  missionary.  "He  is  resolved,"  say 
they,  "  to  go  on  in  the  strength  of  the  Lord,  to  whos3 
omnipotent  care  we  cheerfully  commit  him  ;  assured 
that  the  set  time  to  favor  China  is  approaching,  when 
this  edict  (which  will  act,  at  present,  as  a  most  exten- 
sive proclamation  of  the  publication  of  the  Scriptures, 
and  thereby  excite  the  curiosity  of  the  millions  of 
China  to  peruse  them)  shall  be  not  only  revoked,  but 
followed  by  another  in  favor  of  Christianity  ;  and  it  is 
phasing  to  perceive  that,  while  the  translator  is  pro- 
ceeding in  his  important  labors,  the  conquest  of  Java 
has  opened  a  wide  door  for  the  circulation  of  the 
Script'ires  among  thousands  of  native  Chinese,  who 
are  thus,  in  the  arrangements  of  Divine  Providence, 
and,  perhaps,  principally  for  this  purpose,  i)rought 
under  British  dominion." 

In  the  summer  of  1814,  Mr.  Morrison  irnvelled  in 
the  suite  of  the  British  embassy,  through  six  provinces 
of  China,  and  some  of  the  circumstances  whicli  oc- 
curred in  the  course  of  that  journey  we  shall  take 
the  liberty  of  transcribing,  for  the  infonnation  of  our 
rcoders. 

"On  the  !hh  of  July,  I  emlmrkeil,  with  several 
other  English  gentlemen,  at  Macao,  and  the  next 
day  his  majesty's  ship  the  Alceste,  having  on  lioard 
his  excellency  the  right  honorable  lord  Amherst,  am- 
bassador from  the  prince  rogc  it  to  the  emperor  of 
China,  arrived  off  the  I  .reward  i  Un:!*.  There  I  left 
the  honorable  coniuany'f  cruisfi  '  ^ f^i>^t>TV -.  in  whieh 
I  had  embarked,  and  wont  on  board  the  frigate. 


rw^,^  t     W,  '''^''™"'  P'^^'g^  '»  'he  gulf  of 
Ch.h-Ie,  by  which  latter  term  the  Chinese  denon.inate 
^at   province  in  which  Pekin  is  situated.      On  the 
88th,  the  five  vessels  of  which   the  squadron  was 
composed  were  safely  anchored  off  the  mouth  of  the 
nver  called  Pei-ho,  or  the  North  river,  on  which,  at 
he  distance  of  two  days'  journey  by  water,  the  famous 
town  cal  ed  Teen-tsin,  or  '  the  heavenly  confluence  of 
streams,  is  situated.     The  village  which  stands  at  the 
mouth  of  the  river  is  called  Takoo.     The  land  all 
around  <s  a  perfect  plain,  and  so  low  as  to  be  scarcely 
distinguishable  from  the  anchorage,  which,  owing  to 

"On  the  1st  of  August,  I  went  on  shore,  at  the 

request  of  the  ambassador,  to  s.e  an  imperial  commis- 

loner,  appointed  to  receive  the  embassy.     And  in  a 

temple  dedicated  to  Fuh-too,  which  is  the  Chinese 

pronuncation  of  IJuddah,  I  found  a  European  print 

thorns   and  held  a  reed  in  his  hand.     Tins  print  was 
pasted  on  a  large  scroll  of  paper,  which  was  huns  u„ 
in  one  of  the  rooms  of  the  priests,  and  incense  vessels 
were  placed  before  it.     Observing  some  Chinese  writ- 
ing on  the  scroll,  I  was  anxious  to  read  it ;  but  the 
priest  said  the  picture  was  there  dedicated,  and  he 
couhl  not  take  it  down.     He  showed  me  a  book  con- 
taining the  service,  ui.icli  he  said  was  used  when  ihev 
worshipped  this  picture  ;  but  it  was  in  such  a  mystical 
style,  that  I  could  not  make  out  the  scope  of  it     This 
picture,  ami  the  name  Tcen-clioo-Keaou,  by  which 
the  Komish  religion  is  known,  were  the  only  vestiges 
of  Christianity  that  occurred  to  me  during  the  whole 
ol  our  journey." 

After  n.entioniuK  a  banquet,  given  by  two  imperial 
commissioners,  at  Tecn-tsin,  „„  the   i:Uh  of  August, 
Mr.  Morrison  observes.   "The  gcMu-ral  principles  of 
our  religum  give  a  tone  of  elevation  and  dignity  to  the 
liumuu  mind  which  h  not  felt  here.     Associating  at 
Mate.l   periods   for  worship,  and   to  receive   religious 
instruction,  when  tlie  infinite  greatness  of  the  Deity  is 
lield  up  to  the   view  of  princes,  nobles   and   people, 
and   li.o  Idea  is  often  suggested  that  all  earthly  dis- 
•  uictmns  must  s,K.n  terminate-naturally  moderates  a 
tendency  to  domii,.„i„„  „,„„„,.  ,|,p  |,i^|,er  Masses,  and 
at  the  same  time,  n.ises  to  a  manly  feeling  the  hearts 
of  the  poorest  and  most  abje,-t.     In  China  the  people 
never  meet  under  similar  circumstances,  nor  do  they 
assorinte  under  something  approaching  to  e,|m,|i,y  f,,,. 
the  worship  of  their  gods.     The   priests  o,c.,sion»||y 
incul<-ato   the   practice  of  morality,  and  piety  to  the 
gods,  by  means  of  the  pros,  ;  but  they  never  preach 
"".  7    -■'       '  =""  "°*^  WTituig  III  a  temple,  con- 
taining upwards  of  «  hundred  priests  and  as  many 


CHINA. 


508 


^ols.     About  fifty  priests  worship  images  of  Buadah, 
with  morning    and   evening   prayers,  which  occupy 
nearly  forty  minutes.     There  are  three  JmagesXed 
in  a  line  ;  and,  before  these,  the  priests  bum  tape„ 
offer  mcense,  and  recite  prayers ;  sometimes  kn  E' 
and  repeating  over  and  over  again  the  same  invocaZ! 
and  sometimes  putting  their  foreheads  on  the  ground' 
in  token  of  adoration,  submission   and  supplication 
Day  after  day,  and  year  after  year,  this  is  gone'tr 
but  they  never  associate  the  people  of  any  ,  .  k  or 

1  ot  mill  fi  H 'k  '."^•••"'=*'°"«  '^  'hem.  Indeed,  they  are 
not  qualified,  being  generally  illiterate  and  uni^structed 
themselves  They  are  the  mere  performers  of  cere- 
monies and  should  never  be  denominated  by  the    ame 

reXU      TV'''"r'  '."  '''  """'^•''"  '''  •'''^'^S^n 
e  gion.     The  multitudes  of  people  in  this  country  are 
truly,  in  a  moral  and  religious  point  of  view,  '  as  sheeo 
without  a  shepherd.'  '  ^P 

"  Without  referring  to  the  peculiar  and  important 
.ioctrmes  of  Christianity,  but  s'peaking  mer Zof  i^s 
general  aspect  in  Protestant  countries,  with  the  n  a  ! 
fictions  -md  duties  of  its  ministers,  bow  va  ,lv  s^pe 

ZJ   T,;:  ""  '''"'"'  °^P^S--"'  which  pre  al 
'ere !     The  contrast  struck  me  very  forciblv  during 

;'--•  service  in  this  very  temple,  L  pe/flTf 
1.0  chaplain  of  the  embassy.     VVe  have  hea  ^0'^ 

::. :;::  T^cr- ""  -''-' '- "-  p--"-' 

f,reat  men  The  Chinese  carry  their  objections  to  n 
mhculous  height  in  respect  to  persons  sitt  ng  who  ar 
o  a  r  n,  „  certain  degree  inferior  to  tliemsej;es  ;  Z 
on  no  occasion,  religious  or  ceremonial,  do  sup;rio« 
ispense  with  this  usage.  Hence,  when  iookingTnd 
tf"^^  congregation,  during  sermon,  and  seeing  English 
"obleinen,  gentlemen  of  inferior  titles,  officers  in  i^ 
"'aje'^.y's  servic.,.,  merchants,  mecliani  s,  sob  iVrs  and 
-vants,  all  .i.ing  in  the  same  room,  and  listen  g  ,0 
tlie  same  instruction,  the  idea  which  I  |,„ve  nireadv 
."ontioned  of  the  general  administration  of  t L  S 

r;:r;o::v"-^^^-"p-'o^  occurred:-:; 

The  real  cause  of  the  failure  of  the  embassy,  „nd 
of   the  „b„,,,t  d,smi.ssion   of   l.,nl   Ai.ihe.st  nndZ 

.    "  Having  arrived  at  Tnng-ehow.  whiel.  i,  one  dav's 

<M,n,c,v  ^om  the  capital,  we  remain.,  the::  S. 
,  discussing  with  a  person  of  the  rank  of  a  die 
(  o  whom  I  shall  give  that  name)  a  que.tion  considered 
o  vital  importance  by  both  parties.'.hough  it  all  m^. 
-1  on  a  oer.m.ony.  High  officers  of  sta.o  „  China  d 
^.-  .en  en,  Tartar  Idngs  and  princes,  at.  submit  to  t  e 
great  emperor  B  rrnunn!,y  ...!?L--!-.  ^ -■ 
ll^rnal  expression  of  .levo,;dness  ami  XS'wlS; 
this  people,  who  abound  in  extern-.l  forms  of  submis- 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


sion,  have  been  able  to  invent.  To  kneel  on  the 
ground, — to  place  the  hands  on  the  floor,  whilst  bowing 
forwards, — and  to  strike  the  forehead  against  tlie  earth 
once, — seems  an  abundantly  apparent  mark  of  vene- 
ration, devotion  or  submission.  They,  however,  re- 
quire the  person  to  strike  his  head  against  the  eartli 
thrice  ;  and  they  increase  this  as  Europeans  do  their 
three  cheers,  by  three  times  three ;  the  worsliipper 
rising  and  standing  erect  between  each  three,  and 
then  kiKeling  down  again.  This  ceremony  is  called 
by  a  name  which  signifies  '  three  kneelings,  and  nine 
knocks;'  and, by  tributary  princes  and  foreign  ambas- 
sadors, it  is  performed  to  the  emperor  as  an  expression 
of  homage.  This,  which  byway  of  eminence  is  called 
the  ceremony,  was  what  the  Tartar  negotiators  required 
from  the  British  ambassador.  That  he  should  hesitate, 
few  persons  will  wonder. 

*'  The  duke,  at  last,  pretended  to  give  way,  and  on 
the  afternoon  of  the  28th  of  August  we  set  off  to  the 
palace  of  Yuen-ming-yucn,  and,  after  travelling  all 
night,  arrived  at  day-break  the  next  morning.  The 
Tartars  rise  very  early,  and  the  hour  appointed  by 
\he  emperor  for  giving  audience  to  the  anibs^ssador 
liad  already  elapsed.  We  were,  tiierefore,  hurried, 
•fter  travelling  the  whole  of  the  night,  unwashed  and 
undressed,  to  the  door  of  the  palace.  A  British 
nobleman  representing  his  sovereign,  and  who  had 
come  many  thousand  miles  to  the  court  of  China,  de- 
murred, as  was  natural,  to  enter  thus  into  the  imperial 
presence,  and  pleaded  with  the  duke,  who  came  out  to 
urge  him  into  the  hail  of  audience,  that  the  fatigue 
of  tiio  night  had  made  him  unwell  ;  at  tiie  same  time 
intimating  a  hope  that  his  majesty  would  graciously 
defor  seeing  him  that  morning.  The  duke  immedi- 
ately wr>nt  in,  and  said  the  ambassador  was  so  ill,  tiiut 
he  could  not  stir  a  step.  This  produced  a  gracious 
order  tliut  lord  Amherst  should  retire  to  the  house 
provided  for  him,  with  nn  intimation  that  his  majesty's 
physician  would  attend  u|)on  him.  He  did  atiend 
accordingly,  hut  what  report  he  made  is  nor  known  ; 
thounh  he  ceruiinly  could  not  say,  with  tru'li,  that 
the  Hinbussador  was  dangerously  ill.  The  emperor, 
however,  thought  lie  was  imposed  upon,  and  called  a 
apecial  iiieetini^  of  his  cabinet ;  and  as  no  one  apprized 
him  ol  tliL'  fuet  of  our  travelling  all  night,  till  two  or 
three  'l.iys  afterward,  whrm  ii  was  too  latf!,  his  ini- 
perial  majesty,  in  the  heat  of  his  displeasure,  decreed 
that  the  ambassador  should  l>e  required  to  depart 
immediately.  This  decree  wsss  cariied  into  effect  the 
Mine  day  At  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  we  left 
Yuen-miiig-yuen.  and,  after  travelling  all  night  a 
second  lime,  arrived  at  Tung-chow  on  the  30th,  by 
break  of  day. 

'■  The  em|>oror  aiicrwsrds  diicorer«d  tiie  real  state 


of  the  case;  and,  though  ths  duke  is  brother  to 
the  empress,  he  removed  him  from  some  high  situt< 
tions  of  trust  which  he  had  previously  held.  Three 
other  persons  of  the  first  rank  wore  also  removed 
from  their  offices  ;  and  an  edict  was  published,  chid- 
ing the  courtiers  for  their  indifference  to  the  public 
welfare,  and  lamenting  that  selfishness  should  be 
carried  to  such  a  degree,  as  could  hardly  have  been 
supposed  possible.  The  duke's  most  intimate  friends 
(as  his  majesty  stated  it  himself),  who,  in  ordinary 
cases,  professed  the  utmost  attachment  and  cordiality, 
smiling  and  fawning  upon  him,  when  they  saw  him  per- 
plexed and  embarrassed  by  the  questions  put  to  hira, 
would  not,  though  it  was  fully  in  their  power,  set  him 
right,  or  state  the  truth  for  him ;  every  one  observing, 
'  It  is  not  mtf  business.'  '  Alas !'  said  the  emperor  in 
his  edict,  '  on  what  a  dangerous  rocky  eminence  does 
a  statesman  tread  !'  And,  in  the  next  line,  he  asks, 
'  If  you  had  no  regar''  .  the  duke,  had  you  none  for 
your  country  ?' 

"  Notwithstanding  all  this,  the  emperor's  notions  of 
dignity  would  not  allow  him  to  give  an  explanation  to 
the  British  ambassador.  He  ordered  his  officers,  how- 
ever, to  treat  him  with  politeness  whilst  passing  through 
the  country  ;  and,  the  night  after  our  departure,  he 
sent  three  articles  as  a  donation  to  the  king  of  Eng- 
land, and  took  from  our  presents  three  articles  under 
the  name  of  tribute." 

On  the  6th  of  October,  the  missionary  and  his  com- 
panions crossed  the  Yellow  river,  which,  however,  at 
that  time,  did  not  present  so  magnificent  a  spectacle 
as  had  been  anticipated.  Its  width  was  not  so  great, 
nor  its  current  so  rapid,  as  most  of  the  party  had  sup- 
posed, nor  were  its  waters  so  yellow.  Still  it  had  a 
fine  appearance  ;  and  the  rccollcctit!!!  of  the  groat 
length  of  its  course,  and  the  frequent  ravages  made 
at  certain  seasons,  by  its  impetuous  waters  overflowing 
or  washing  away  its  soft  alluvial  hanks,  gt.ve  consider- 
able dignity  and  importance  to  the  prospect. 

At  a  place  called  Kwa-chow,  Mr.  Morrison  entered 
into  conversation  with  a  Mahometan  gentleman,  who 
was  lodging  for  a  day  or  two  in  one  of  the  temples  of 
Buddali;  those  sacred  placosbeing  often  used,  in  China, 
as  temporary  inns  for  trovellers.  From  this  person 
our  missionary  learned,  that  there  are  ecmsiderahle 
immbeis  of  Mussulmen  hi  different  parts  of  China, 
and  that  they  are  not  only  tolerated  in  the  exercise  of 
their  religion,  hut  are,  also,  admitted  into  the  service 
of  the  government.  In  Kenng-nan,  they  have  thirty- 
six  mosques,  which,  in  the  Chinese  language,  they  call 
"  temples  of  worship ;"  all  of  them,  however,  are 
general!)  locked  up,  except  on  Friday,  which  is  the 
Mahometan  sabbath.  They  have  a  teacher,  wlio 
recites  their  service  in  Arabic ;    but  it   is  said  that 


By  tbe  same  person,  who  proved  to  be  an  officer 
of  government,  Mr.  Morrison  was  informed,  th.tl 
K.efung.«,,  „  the  P~vince  of  Ho-„an,  th;rwe™ 
•  few  families  designated  as  "  the  sect  which  plucks 
but  the  ^new,"  from  all  the  meat  which  they  eat,  and 
«ud  to  observe  the  eighth  day  as  a  sabbath     "  Th"s 

«dered  Jews;  and  I  think  the  account  here  riven 
•trengthens  the  probability  that  they  are  so 

Jewish  Ti  °^  '  "'^'^  '^««^'  ««"'  «>"'  V  some 
Jewish  gentlemen  m  London,  was,  last  season,  for! 

J^ctSd  J  V"'"^  '°  **"-"""'  '^''''  »  P'^'^i^e.  that  f 
he  could  find  any  person  capable  of  reading  ,1,;  lette 

««e7r"K'"  'r  '""^'"««'  "e' should  b 
remunemed  for  h.s  trouble.  He,  accordingly,  went 
o  Kao-fung-foo,  and.  as  he  stated,  found  a  pe«^o„  who 
«a.d  he  understood  the  letter,  and  undertook  to  prrure 
an  an,,er.n  afew  days;  but  the  times  were  so  tCble! 
some  in  consequence  of  various  rumors  of  rebellion, 
dl  h  r"\"^''"  ^'"""'  "PPrehensive,  and  left  the 

£h    'k        u  't'  P'"''"  ^'"^  ^'^  "'ken  the  Hebrew 
letter  brought  him  any  answer  "  "eurew 

nla!"«^?°r '"r^'*''-  *'"'"'''"  P*'^^'''^  "«"  «'•«  birth- 
pace  of  Confucius  ;  and,  in  a  most  romantic  spot  on 
l.e  Po-yang  lake,  he  had  an  opportunity  of  seeing  J 
^ollege.  at  which  Choo-foo-tsze,  a  highly  es,.  "Ld 
commentator  among  the  Chinese,  taught  about  sk 
hundred  years  ago.     <-  This  colleg;,"  says  Mr    Mor 

Near  th.  '""•'''  .'"  ""^  "^«^  "  ^o^ky  bottom. 

We  r  the  .ream  are  cultivated  spots,  and  up  the  sides 
of  the  h.ll  a  vonety  of  timber  grows.  At  l.e  top  of 
the  glen,  the  •  Mountain  of  Retreat'  liAs  its  dark  rLky 
summu  and  defends  the  -  College  of  ,ho  White  Stag 
y  aly  from  the  northerly  blast.  HereChoo-foo-tszf 
taught,    riiey  show  the  rock  on  which  he  sat  to  angle  • 

On  the  Ist  of  January.  Ifll7,  the  embassy  arrived 

servn,"'"  N  "7'  ""  ""'  ""''''''""  ^^'-  ^""*«°"  oh. 
h  T;l  T^  "V."""""  '""^  «'«P««'«fronHhetime 
that  I  embarked  at  Macao.  In  the  courseof  my  jour- 
ney, I  y.s.ted  tt  «,ea.-  ..any  temples;  but  they  were 
generally  in  bi,.|  u ..air,  and  some  were  in  ruins  These 
rehgious  strur.re      ,vhich   Europeans  call  pagodas. 

chicfiy  l.„, ,  dunng  ,|,„  |„M  dynasty.  Priests  do  not 
esKlom  tlu,m,but  idols  are  placed  in  the  dilToZ 
•fanes,  and  from  an  msiripiion  which  I  s«.v  nn  „- 
lau.  mcimed  to  suppose  that  an  ido«  of  placing  the 
.dH  a,  near  .ohnaven  as  possible,  was  part  of  the  m  o- 
Vour.~IVos.43  4,44.  gg 


CHINA. 


them  must'  have  be^^imX:^'  gTe'a""  °'  '"^'''^ 
tered,  ,„  a  similar  manner,  within  four  days  afterward 

excite  them  to  repentance.  '  moments,  to 

The  posture  of  execution  is  very  singular  Th« 
crimina  ,s  obliged  to  kneel,  with  hisVeCardThe 
mpenal  residence,  and  bending  forward  in  ThTatd 

The  prison  in  IhlVmSl^Lraris^^^^^^^^^ 
fined,  IS  such  a  loathsome  and  horrible  place  Z 
■t  IS  called /«-y„A,  or  hell;  and  from  their  suffer^nt 
during  the  period  of  their  incarcemtion,  or  f  om  excef, 
of  fear,  it  sometimes  happens  that  the  culpritTcanno 
support  themselves  in  the  position  required  Othe"' 
however  evince  a  dauntless  effrontery,  „„d  go  outTf 

cutors  in  the  life  to  come ;  that  is,  when  having  under- 
gone  their  destined  transmigrations,  they  shalMive  a. 
before  in  this  worid. 

''  It  has  been  generally  thought."  says  the  editor  of 

tl      Anglo-Chinese  Gleaner,  "that,  considering  thl 

s  population  of  China,  few  criminal  executions'. „ke 

hanon«rAo„,a„rf  criminals  suffer  death  annually,  in 
he  province  of  Canton  alone!  A  learned  Cl.in'ee 
asserts  thnt,  on  an  average,  one  hundred  are  pu"  to . 
death  m  th.s  province  every  month  !"  Justly  indeed 
has  It  been  remarked,  that  "paganism  is  not'adap  ed 
to  cherish  the  nobler  foolings  of  the  human  heart  " 

In  the  following  month  (April),  an  alarming  earth- 
quake happened  at  a  place  called  Chang-kuh,  on  the 
western  Irontier  of  China,  where  a  persfcutio;,  of 
Christians  had  occurred  about  two  years  before.     On 

^.«  Ismontahe  occasion,  .bout  eleven  hundred  houses 
fell  and  crushed  to  death  benea.h  their  ruins  upwards 
«f  mo  thousand  eight  hundred  persons,  inrh.ding 
Chineseand  foreigners, old  and  young,  „,en  and  women 
nnu  r.  nu...nor..i  ii.e  iama  priests.  In  .n  edict  n  lating 
'«  'MS  sad  event,  h.s  imperial  innjesty  expressed  the 
."on  hvely  foehngo  of  commiseration  for  the  stiffercrs 


I 


506 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


and  granted  a  sum  of  money,  in  addition  to  that  already 
given  by  the  viceroy  of  the  province,  to  ho.  distributed 
among  the  houseless  survivors;  peremptorily  enjoining 
that  it  might  be  applied  to  the  relief  of  the  people, 
instead  of  being  embeEzled  to  a  certain  extent,  as 
had  sometimes  been  the  case.  About  three  months 
afterward,  the  river  Pih-Keang,  in  the  neighborhood 
of  Canton,  overflowed  its  banks  in  the  night,  and  in- 
undated the  land,  to  the  west  and  the  southv»'E>rd,  so 
completely,  that  about  nine  hundred  persons  were 
unfortunately  drowned,  and  a  considerable  number  of 
houses  were  destroyed. 

In  a  letter  from  our  excellent  missionary  (now  Dr. 
Morrison),  dated  September  4,  1817,  he  says,  "I 
have  translated  the  Morning  and  Evening  Prayers, 
just  as  they  stand  in  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer, 
altering  only  those  which  refer  to  the  rulers  of  the 
land.  These  I  am  printing,  together  with  the  Psalter, 
divided  for  the  thirty  days  of  the  month.  I  intend 
them  as  a  help  to  social  worship,  and  as  affording 
excellent  and  suitable  expressions  for  individual  devo- 
tion. Mr.  Milne  wished  to  modify  them,  so  as  to 
render  them  more  suitable  to  our  peculiar  circum- 
stances ;  but  as  tiiey  possess  here  no  authority  but 
their  own  general  excellence,  and  are  not  binding  on 
the  practice  or  conscience  of  any ;  and  as  they  are 
not  excliuive,  I  judged  it  better  to  preserve  them  as  they 
ut.  Additional  helps  may  be  afforded,  if  they  shall  not 
be  fully  adequate.  The  heathen,  at  fn-st,  require  helps 
for  social  devotion  ;  and  to  me  it  appeared,  that  tiie 
richness  of  devotional  phraseology,  tiie  elevated  views 
of  the  Deity,  and  the  explicit  and  full  recognition  of 
the  work  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  were  so  many 
excellencies,  that  a  version  of  them  into  Chinese,  as 
they  were,  was  better  tl)in  for  me  to  new  r.iodel  them. 
The  church  of  Scotland  supplied  us  with  a  catechism  ; 
the  congregational  churches  afforded  us  a  form  for  a 
Christian  assembly ;  and  the  church  of  England  has 
supplied  us  with  a  manual  of  devotion,  as  a  help  to 
those  who  are  not  sufficiently  instructed  to  conduct 
social  worship  without  such  aid.  We  are  of  no  party. 
We  recognize  but  two  divisionsof  our  fellow  creatures, 
— tha  righteous  and  the  wicked — those  ".ho  love  our 
Ijord  Jesus  Christ,  and  those  who  do  not." 

On  the  lUth  of  May,  1818,  a  storm  suddenly  arose 
at  Pekin,  which  almost  darkened  the  heavens,  and 
filled  lh(>  air  with  clouds  cf  sand  and  dust.  The  cm- 
pe'.or,  conceiving  this  occurrence  to  be  an  indication 
of  divine  displeasure,  was  naturnlly  much  alarmed, 
and  convened  his  ministers  of  state,  to  endeavor  to 
discover,  if  possible,  the  cause  and  real  meaning  of  so 
terrific  a  phenomenon. 

In  a  niihlic  document-.  Dubliih^d  on  tha  nccacinn. 
his  imperial  majesty  reprimanded  his  astronomers  for  11 


not  having  previously  informed  him  when  the  hurricaiM 
was  to  take  place ;  and  for  having  stated  to  him,  but 
three  days  before,  that  the  most  benignant  stars  were 
shedding  their  felicitous  influence  around  his  person, 
and  indicating  the  enjoyment  of  long  life  and  uninter* 
rupted  prosperity.  "  All  this,  however,"  the  emperor 
judiciously  observes,  "  was  evidently  the  language  of 
flattery ;  as  they  either  could  not  or  would  not  tell 
him  what  evils  were  about  to  happen." 

In  the  course  of  the  preceding  year,  his  imperial 
majesty  had  displaced  and  degraded  Sung  Ta-jin,  his 
prime  minister,  for  having  presumed  to  advise  him  not 
to  visit  certain  tombs  of  his  ancestors.  Three  of  the 
astronomers,  who  were  now  consulted,  gave  their  opin* 
ion  that  the  cause  of  the  hurricane  was  the  dismissal 
of  the  late  premier,  and  suggested  the  expediency  of 
recalling  him ;  but  this  suggestion  was  by  no  means 
agreeable  to  the  emperor,  who  reproved  his  advisers 
for  their  presumption  in  daring  to  interfere  with  the 
exercise  of  his  royal  prerogative. 

Another  opinion  was  presented  by  the  Mathematical 
Board,  who  intimated,  that  if  this  kind  of  hurricane, 
accompanied  by  a  descent  of  dust,  continue  a  whole 
day,  it  indicates  perverse  behavior,  and  discordant 
counsels  between  the  sovereign  and  his  ministers, 
together  with  great  drought  and  scarcity  of  grain.  If 
the  wind  blow  up  the  sand,  move  the  stones,  and  be 
accompanied  by  a  noise,  inundations  may  be  expected. 
If  the  descent  of  dust  continue  but  an  hour,  pestilence 
may  be  anticipated  in  the  south-west  regions ;  and  in 
the  south-east,  half  the  population  will  be  diseased. 

The  Gazette  published  on  this  occasion  expresses 
the  emperor's  painful  anxiety  on  account  of  the  long 
drought  which  had  been  experienced,  and  states  that 
he  had  appointed  his  sons  to  fast,  to  pray,  and  to 
offer  sacrifices  to  heaven,  to  earth,  and  to  the  god  of 
the  wind. 

The  20th  of  May  was  to  be  observed  as  a  solenui 
fast ;  and  on  the  day  of  sacrifice,  the  princes,  nobles 
and  ministers  of  state  were  to  appear  in  a  peculiar  cap 
and  upper  garment,  indicating  <leep  contrition. 

From  these  facts  it  is  obvious  that  the  minds  of  the 
highest  classes  of  the  comnumity  in  China  are  exer- 
cised on  the  important  subjects  of  sin,  and  Providence, 
and  puniihrnent ;  and,  as  the  light  of  unassisted  reason 
is  too  feeble  to  conduct  them  into  the,  paUts  of  truth, 
how  desirable  is  it  that  the  truths  of  the  {.-ospel  should 
be  intrutiuced  into  their  country,  which  are  alone 
capable  of  rendering  the  inhabit  tits  "  wi«e  unto  sal- 
vation !" 

Ill  a  letter  dated  March  IH,  1819,  Dr.  Morrison 
observes,  that  he  had  recently  written  a  small  book 
cfi|!ed  >  "  VovaEQ  rouiid  the  World/'  with  the  dcii»n 
of  enlarging  the  minds  of  the  Chinese  poor,  in  reipoot 


CHINA. 


L^^nu^*"'""^''""'  "*  •''^"<'«'  the  essential 
truth,  of  Chnstianity.  "  To  this,"  says  he,  "  I  added 
t  map  of  the  world,  which  so  greatly  delighted  the 
Chinese  printer,  that  he  made  some  copies  for  him- 
■elt;  but  m  copying  that  part  in  which  I  mentioned 
/«*«,  where  Jesus,  the  Saviour  of  the  world,  was 

t^^ihfe;'"^^^^^ 

.n  J^k'TT  *^"  ^'-  ^°"^'°^''  idea  '^as  well  founded, 
and  that  the  pnnter  had  catue  of  apprehension,  it  may 
be  proper  to  glance  at  the  persecutions  which  were 
experienced  by  the  Roman  Catholic  converts,  in  the 
course  of  the  same  year. 

"  Every  European  priest  whom  they  discover." 
•ays  one  of  the  Catholic  missionaries,  "is  arrested 
and  put  to  death  on  the  spot ;  and  a  similar  fate  is 
reserved  for  the  Chinese  Christian  priests.     The  other 

2;rr''.rl''"  "'^^  ^'"  "°'  apostatize,  suffer  the 
most  dreadful  torments,  and  are  afterwards  banished 
to  Tartary      I„  this  year  (1819)  there  are  in  the 
prisons  m  the  province  of  Sutcuen  alone,  two  hundred 
persons,  who  wait  the  moment  of  exile.     A  Chinese 
priest  has  been  strangled,  and  two  others  are  to  die  in 
the  same  manner.     In  the  whole  empire  there  are  but 
ten  missionaries,  five  of  whom  are  at  Pekin,  where 
they  can  have  no  correspondence  with  the  inhabitants 
but  in  secret.     The  emperor  has  declared  that  he  will 
Have  no  more  printers,  watch-makers,  nor  even  math- 
ematicians.   The  bishop  of  Pekin  has  in  vain  attempt- 
ed to  introduce  himself  into  his  diocese,  under  that 
title.     The  only  means  of  penetrating  into  the  country, 
of  which  the  missionaries  can  avail  themselves,  is  to 
join  the  couriers,  who  go  from  Pekin  to  Macao;  but 
II  this  be  discovered,  both  the  missionary  and  the 
courier  are  put  to  death  on  the  spot," 

On  the  25th  of  November  in  the  same  year,  the 
translation  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  into  tho  Chinese 
language  was  happily  brought  to  a  complete  termina- 
tion.    And  on  this  interesiing  occasion  Dr.  Morrison 
wrote  to  the  directors  as  follows :— "To  have  Moses 
David  and  the  prophets.-Jesus  Christ  and  his  anos' 
ties,— using  their  own  words,  and  thereby  decIarinR 
to  the  inhabitants  of  this  land  the  wonderful  works  of 
God,  indicates,  I  hope,  the  speedy  introduction  of  a 
happier  era  in  these  parts  of  the  world  ;  and  I  trust 
that  the  gloomy  darkness  of  pagan  skepticism  will  be 
dispelled  by  the  day-spring  from  on  high  ;  and  that 
the  glided  idolsoi  Uuddah,and  the  numberless  images 
which  fill  this  land,  will  one  day  assuredly  fall  to  the 
ground,  before  the  p.,wcr  of  God's  word,  as  the  idol 
Dagon  fell  before  the  ark. 

"  These  are  my  anticipations,  although  there  appears 
nw  liio  ie-asj  uponing  „,  presen,.  a  bitter  avVrsion 
»«  the  name  of  our  blessed  Saviour,  and  to  any  book 


507 


which  containa  his  name  or  his  doctrines,  i,  feU  and 
cher»hed.  This,  however,  does  not  induce  me  to 
despa,r  j  „„,„ber  5nr«„,-what  she  was,  J 
what  she  now  is,  ,„  respect  of  religion.  Three  hun- 
dred years  have  not  yet  elapsed  since  national  author- 
ity said,  that  'the  Bible  should  not  be  read  opedy 
•n  any  church,  by  ,he  people,  nor  privately  by  the 
poorj-that  only  noblemen  and  gentlemen,  and  noble 
adies  and  gentlewomen,  might  have  the  Bible  in 
the^r^houses.'-!  remember  thi,,  and  cherish  hope  for 

"Tyndal  whilst  being  fastened  to  the  stake,  ex- 

E„rJ"  '.^u°"^'°P'"  ""^  'y''  °f 'he  king  of 
England  !'  and  his  prayer  seems  to  have  been  heard 
and  answered  Let  «,  be  as  fervent  in  a  similar 
petition,  in  reference  to  the  sovereign  of  this  empire." 
During  the  summer  of  1820,  Dr.  Morrison  opened, 
at  Macao  a  dispensary  for  the  Chinese  sick  poor,  and 
continued  It  till  what  is  called  the  close  of  the  Macao 
season.  It  became  very  popular  j  but  after  the  return 
of  his  family  from  Europe,  our  missionary  found  his 
time  inadequate  to  its  continuance. 

f  ll^i^^r^  ^"'^  """^  ^^"'^^  «""»<J  ""'"  says  this 
faithful  laborer    "which  have  shocked  the  minds  of 
those  who  reside  on  the  spot.     A  Chinese  magistrate 
m  Macao,  who  had  attacked  the  press,  died  miserably 
m  August ;  and  in  the  northern  part  of  this  province 
and  the  adjoining  one,  an  epidemic  is  prevalent,  which 
has  carried  off  some  thousands  of  the  Chinese.     In 
the  spring  of  the  year,  the  Yellow  river  overflowed 
US  banks,  and  deluged  the  country  ;  and  on  the  4th 
of  August,  an  earthquake  took  place  in  the  province 
of  Ho-nan,  which  threw  down  twenty  thousand  houses 
and  cottages,  and  crushed  a  great  number  of  per.ons 
to  death.     The  government  Gazette  reckons  them  at 
about  four  hundred  ;  but  they  always  underrate  these 
calamities.    Upwards  of  five  hundred  were  also  bruised 
or  otherwise  injured." 

The  2d  of  September  was  marked  by  the  death  of 
the  emperor  Kea  King,  who  expired  suddenly,  in  the 
sixty.first  year  of  his  age.  This  event  was  succeeded 
by  a  contest  between  two  of  his  sons  for  the  imperial 
diadem,  and  several  of  the  provinces  were,  for  some 
time,  in  a  state  of  revolt,  in  consequence  of  the  dig-  ' 
puto  rolative  to  the  succession.  At  length,  however, 
the  emperor's  second  son  (the  eldest  living)  ascended 
the  vacant  throne,  under  ihfi  title  of  Taoukvvang,  or 
"  Heason's  glory,"  by  which  he  designed  to  intimate 
that  bis  reign  would  be  a  glorious  age  o)  reason  m 
China. 


Aiiionv  inniiv  £ithr 


instSJicca  oi 


uupigviiy 


Which  have  induced  our  missionary  in  C  hina  to  remark, 
in  some  of  his  coiniiumicatious  to  the  direclds,  that 


308 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


"  iniquity  abounds"  in  that  extensive  but  benighted 
empire,  the  following  are  particularly  calculated  to 
excite  every  pious  reader  to  importunate  prayer  and 
unremitting  exertion,  on  behalf  of  a  people,  whom 
nothing  but  the  gospel  of  Christ  can  render  amiable 
in  this  life,  and  completely  blessed  in  that  which  is 
to  come. 

At  Canton,  in  the  spring  of  182i2,  two  cases  oc- 
curred of  children  murdering  their  parents.  When 
seized  by  the  officers  of  government,  botli  the  wretched 
criminals  refused  all  sustenance,  with  the  design  of 
starving  themselves  to  death.  Being  at  a  considerable 
distance  from  the  residence  of  the  governor,  (where, 
according  to  law,  they  should  have  suffered  a  slow 
and  ignominious  death,  by  being  bound  to  a  cross  and 
cut  to  pieces,)  they  would  certainly  have  died  of  want, 
before  they  could  have  reached  the  place.  The  local 
magistrates,  therefore,  ordered  them  to  be  bastinadoed 
till  they  expired. 

In  the  course  of  the  same  year,  a  young  woman  at 
Pekin  murdered  the  father  of  her  husband  ;  but  it 
appears  that  the  victim  of  her  fury  had  for  some  time 
cohabited  with  his  son's  wife,  and  had  at  length  mur- 
dered his  son,  to  facilitate  this  adulterous  intercourse. 
The  incestuous  widow,  to  avenge  this  action,  then 
killed  her  own  paramour,  the  parent  and  assassin  of 
her  unfortunate  husband  ! 

In  the  annual  report  communicated  to  the  general 
meeting  of  the  I»ndon  Missionary  Society,  in  1823, 
the  directors  observe  : — "  The  completion  of  Dr.  Mor- 
rison's Chinese  and  English  Dictionary,  (which  has 
occupied  more  or  less  of  his  time  during  a  period  of 
fifteen  years,)  as  well  as  that  of  the  Chinese  version 
of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  forms  a  kind  of  epoch  in  the 
history  of  the  mission,  and  seems  to  present  a  suitable 
occasion  for  taking  a  brief  retrospect  of  what  has  been 
accomplished  in  this  interesting  section  of  the  society's 
operations. 

"  The  important  part  taken  by  Dr.  Morrison  in  the 
Chinese  version  of  the  Scriptures,  had  he  been  able 
to  accomplish  nothing  more  in  furtherance  of  the 
society's  designs  in  the  East,  would  have  amply  com- 
pensated for  whatever  expenditure  of  lalwr,  time,  or 
money  has  taken  place  in  this  department.  And 
elthough  we  cannot  but  place  a  high  value  on  his 
philological  labors,  it  is  unq  lestionably  on  his  services 
as  a  translator  of  the  sacred  records,  that  we  are 
rompelled  to  rest  his  strongest  claims  to  the  esteem 
of  the  Christian  world  and  the  gratitude  of  future 
ages. 

"  It  is,  however,  due  to  Dr.  Morrison  to  observe, 
that  by  means  of  his  Chinese  and  English  dictionary, 


in    f^nniiiriAf  inn     aL'itlft      *li< 


nu:- 


by  him,  and  published  about  twelve  years  ago,  he  has 


furnished,  for  the  use  of  English  students  of  Chinese, 
highly  valuable  facilities  for  attaining  a  knowledge 
of  this  very  difficult  language ;  and,  at  the  same  thne, 
he  has  contributed  to  open  more  widely  the  door 
of  access  to  the  stores  of  Chinese  literature  and  phi-" 
losophy.  But  his  labors  in  this  department  are  chiefly 
important,  as  they  supply  the  Christian  missionary 
with  the  means  of  attaining  with  accuracy,  and,  as  far 
as  possible,  with  ease,  the  language  of  a  people  who 
compose  about  a  fourth  part  of  the  entire  population 
of  the  globe. 

"  It  may  further  be  observed,  in  reference  to  the 
philological  labors  of  Dr.  Morrison,  that  they  have  also 
contributed  to  prepare  the  way  for  the  future  dissemi- 
nation of  European  learning  and  science,  through  the 
medium  of  the  English  language,  among  the  natives 
of  China.  The  introduction  of  these  into  the  empirte, 
as  objects  of  study,  in  the  first  place  to  the  more 
learned,  and  gradually  of  education  to  others,  would 
naturally  tend  to  loosen  the  fetters  of  superstition  and 
prejudice  ;  to  substitute  for  a  contempt,  perhaps  more 
feigned  than  real,  a  degree  of  respect  and  veneration 
for  the  inhabitants  of  Europe  ;  and  thus,  at  length,  to 
procure  a  candid  attention  on  the  part  of  the  more 
inquisitive  Chinese  at  least,  to  the  doctrines  and  evi- 
dences of  Christianity. 

"  Ever  since  the  year  1813,  the  gospel  has  been 
more  or  less  regularly  preached,  both  in  English  and 
Chinese,  either  at  Macao  or  Canton.  Nor  has  this 
small  portion  of  the  Christian  ministry,  thus  insulated 
as  it  were,  and  conducted  almost  to  the  extremities 
of  the  eastern  world,  been  wholly  destitute  of  effect. 
Besides  the  advantages  derived  from  these  religious 
services,  by  European  and  American  residents,  '  there 
are  some  Chinese,'  to  use  the  language  of  Dr.  Morri- 
son, '  on  whose  consciences  divine  truth  has  made  an 
impression.'  " 

On  the  9th  of  December,  1823,  Dr.  Morrison 
embarked  in  the  Waterloo,  captain  Alsager,  for  Eng- 
land, where  he  arrived  in  safety,  on  the  20th  of  March, 
in  the  ensuing  year.  Previous  to  his  departure  from 
China,  however,  he  dedicated,  by  prayer  and  imposi- 
tion of  hands,  a  native  convert  to  the  work  of  an 
evangelist  among  his  own  countrymen  ;  securing  to 
him  a  small  annual  stipen<l,  for  the  duties  to  be  per- 
formed in  discharge  of  liis  sacred  obligations  ;  and, 
at  the  same  time,  permitting  him  to  pursue  his  secular 
calling,  as  the  principal  means  of  his  support. 

Shortly  after  our  excellent  missionary's  arrival  in 
England,  he  had  the  honor  to  be  introduced  at  court, 
by  sir  George  Staunton,  hart.,  as  the  first  Protestant 
missionary  to  China  ;  and  was  presented  to  the  king 


••-    ;Tt--    j-i-rhrrr;-. 

honorable  Charles  Wynn. 


Dr.  Morrison  was  permitted 


ol.y  before  h,s  majesty  a  copy  of  the  Chinese  ver- 

late  Dr.  M.lne;  and  also,  to  present  to  the  king  an 
account  of  the  Anglo-Chinese  college  and  Singapore 

CTT!,"''"'.''''  ««-tiono/our  readeS^m 
hereafter  be  directed. 

In  an  official  communication  to  sir  George  Staunton 

J;i  d'"'  '*' '""''  ""'■  ^''''  ^'"'  «--'-y  fo"  the' 

BSll7r"u'. '"""'*  "'«''"  '"y'-'S  the  Chinese 
Bble  before  the  kmg,  he  had  mentioned  the  ve.y  sin- 
g«.lar  and  mentonous  exertions  made  by  Dr.  Morrison 

matstvsl  I  /'  '"  ^"""""'^  '^^  communicate  hi 
majesty  s  marl-  ,d  approbation  of  that  gentleman's  dis- 
tmgujshed  and  useful  labors. 

Another  letter  was  subsequently  addressed  to  Dr 

Mornson  h.mself,  by  his  majesty's  librarian  ;  in  wh^h 

the  wnter  observes,"!  have  received  his  majesty's 

commands  to  convey  to  you  his  acknowledgment, Tnd 

0  express  h.s  sense  of  your  attention  in  presenting 

hrough  Mr.  Peel  a  copy  of  your  Chinese  Bible.  And 

l"s  majesty  has  been  pleased  to  direct  me  to  take  it 

mto  my  part.cularcare,  as  an  important  and  vrable 

addition  to  Ins  library."  "«uaoie 

ca.u^'f""''"""^  """"^  invaluable  services   to   the 

ause  of  m,ss.ons.  and  to  that  of  China  in  par.icu! 

lar^  Dr.  Mornson  left   England   in    1826,    with    his 

famdy,  and  arnved  at  Macao  on  the  lOt'h  of  Sep- 

The  first  sabbath  after  his  arrival,  he  resumed  the 
re  .g.ous  servces  he  had  been  accustomed  to  perfonn 

Cchta  I  "^"A"  ^""P"  ^"""S  his  absen™ 
from  Chma  Leang-a-la  composed,  among  other  works 
a  mall  volume  in  Chinese,  containing  explanatory 
notes  on  the  Epistle  to  the  Hebrews.  Of  ,1,1^1 
considenng  the  few  advantages  APa  possessed  Dr' 
Mornson  speaks  favorably.     A(a  had  also  written  a 

inwhlh  ^f''"'"P'«^  of  the  World's  Salvation;" 

in  «h.ch  ho  pomts  out  the  necessity  of  a  Saviour  and 
sows  that  Jesus  Christ  has  made'an  atonement  f:' 
i.tS'^^r^-^^h.count^men.o 


CHINA. 


509 


sm. 


•  l.«  n:Ki„  1  •  1  V  .•,""""  "'  "'s  countrymen  t( 
he  Bible,  which,  he  informs  them,  European  Chris- 
mns  have.  a.  «  great  expense,  caused  to  be  translated 
nto  Chmese,  pnnte.1,  and  given  to  the  people.  He 
had  likewise  drawn  up  a  short  account  of  several  in- 
.ere«,.„g  conversation .,  held  at  different  times,  with 

r  nlhl  I  '^""""■y"'""'  *ho  had  casually  taken  up 
the  Bible  when  ha  was  himself  present.  Since  Dr 
Morrison  s  return,  APa  .as  drawn  up  a  brief  statemeni 
of  the  religious  progress  of  his  own  mind  while  under 
Jhejuition  of  tho  late  Dr.  Milne  at  Malacca,  whi.h  II 
^;^j-^  in  hi,  dotermination  (ully  to  emb^c^ 


The  above  accounts  relative  to  Leang-a-fS,  however, 
n  themselves  pleasing,  derive  additional  interest  fh.m 
the  almost  universil  rejection  of  the  gospel  by  the 
mhabitants  of  China,  with  which  they  sta^d  contr^ted 
An  empire  is  here  presented  to  our  view,  containing  one 
hundred  and  fifty  millions  of  souls,  involved  in  gwss 
spintual  darkness ;  while,  standing,  as  it  were,  on  ite  ut- 
most  verge,  we  behold  a  single  individual  of  that  empire 
defending  the  existence  and  perfections  of  the  true 
l^od,  the  necessity  and  efficacy  of  our  Lord's  atone- 
ment for  the  sin  of  the  world,  and  inviting  his  coun- 
rymen   to  read   the  Scriptures,  which   have  been 
translated  for  their  use,  as  containing  words  by  which 
they  may  be  saved.     May  this  light-^mall,  indeed, 
and    comparatively   dim-increase   more   and   more 
until  It  shall  at  length  break  forth  in  all  the  brightness 
of  mendian  day ! 

So  fully  persuaded  is  Dr.  Morrison  of  the  import- 
ance  and  utility  of  comments  on  the  Scriptures,  in 
reference  to  converted  and  inquiring  heathens,  that, 
while  the  present  obstacles  to  preaching  the  gospel  in 
China  continue,  he  conceives  he  cannot  more  profita- 
biy  employ  his  time  than  in  composing  explanatory 
notes  on  the  Chinese  Bible. 

It  is  gratifying  to  learn  that  Ala's  labore  have  been 
successful.     Two  young  men,  who  had  listened  at- 
tentively  to   his  instructions,  were  converted  to  the 
truth;  and  one  of  them,  of  the  learned  profession,  re- 
ce.ved  the  rite  of  baptism.     In  1829,  Ala  composed 
some  Chnstian  essays  explanatory  of  the  gospel  of 
Christ,  and  addressed  them  to  his  countrymen ;  also 
ifloT'Jl^"^"^'''"''  Idolatry."     In  the  early  part  of 
laJO,  Dr.  Morrison,  at  Macao,  baptized  a  Chinese  of 
the  name  of  Kew-ha-gang,  who,  it  was  intended,  should 
assist  Ala  in  the  distribution  of  tracts.     Dr.  Morrison 
describes  Leang-a-la,  his  first  convert,  as  dead  to  the 
world,  and  living  to  Christ.      Afa,  accompanied  by 
Agong,  Itinerated  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  miles  in 
the  interior  of  China,  to  instruct  their  countrymen,  and 
distnbute  tract..     On  the  25th  of  February,  1830, 
Dr.  Mornson   had   the   pleasure   of  welcoming  two 
young  Amencan  missionaries,  Messrs.  Bridgman  and 
Abeel.     His  heart  xvas  cheered  by  their  arrival,  and 
to  them  he  surrendered  the  services  which  he  had  so 
long  performed  for  the  Americans  upon  the  sabbath, 
and  devoted  himself  exclusively  to  the  best  interests 
of  the  Chinese. 

In  a  letter  under  date  of  January  lOth,  1831,  Dr 
Mornson  writes,  in  reference  to  the  circulation  of  parts 
of  God  s  word, "  I  have  a  confidence  and  a  hope  in  the 
pure  text  of  Holy  Scripture,  as  derived  from  divine  inspi- 
rsuon,  lar  Superior  to  any  iiuman  composition,  for  the 
sake  of  the  heathen.  Yesterday,  Leang-a-fa  wrote 
out,  for  a  sheet-tract,  that  inimitable  exhibition  of  the 


SIO 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


vanity  of  idols  contained  in  Isaiah,  chap.  zl.  which 
happened  to  be  the  lesson  of  the  day,  and  was  read 
by  us  in  our  little  native  congregation.  Afi  (as  we 
abbreviate  his  name)  explained  the  Scriptures  in  the 
morning  to  his  aged  pagan  father,  and  mentioned  with 
grateful  hope,  that  the  old  man's  heart  was  somewhat 
softened.  He  listened  to  the  word,  and  knelt  down 
to  join  in  prayer  to  the  living  and  true  God,  through 
Jesus  Christ." 

Thus  stationed  at  the  only  point  on  which  a  nation, 
unequalled  for  the  rigor  and  exclusiveness  of  its  policy, 
allows  Christendom  to  come  in  contact  with  China, 
and  at  tlie  avenue  through  which  Europe  and  America 
for  their  commerce  penetrate  the  empire,  the  devoted 
Morrison  pursues  his  unostentatious  yet  important 
work,  presenting,  as  opportunity  admits,  the  peail  of 
great  price — the  gospel  of  salvation.  And  thoup;')  his 
spirit  be  stirred  within  him,  on  beholding  the  whole 
nation  given  to  idolatry,  and  his  soul  at  times  depress- 
ed by  the  obstructions  which  ignorance  and  atheism, 
tlie  fear  of  man,  the  love  of  the  present  world,  and 
prejudice,  arising  from  the  natives  confounding  the 
religion  of  the  New  Testament,  with  that  system  of 
corrupted  Christianity  which  popery  has  presented, 
he  is  nevertheless  clieered  by  the  success  that  hos 
attended  his  labors  He  is  also  encouraged  to  per- 
severe by  the  assurance,  drawn  from  no  uncertain 
aources,  that  China,  in  common  with  the  rest  of  the 
world,  shall  ultimately  be  given  to  Christ  for  his  in- 
heritance, and  her  millions  be  subdued  in  the  day  of 
his  power. 


MALACCA. 

This  peninsula  stretches  from  the  southern  part  of 
the  Siamese  territories  to  within  about  two  degrees 
of  the  equator.  Malacca  was  the  Golden  Chersonese 
of  the  ancients.  It  was  discovered  by  the  Portuguese, 
very  early  in  the  sixteenth  century.  Heat  and  mois- 
ture are  the  chaiactcristics  of  the  climate,  which  is 
fittal  to  the  European  constitution.  Malacca  is  the 
capital  of  the  country,  and  is  situated  on  the  western 
coast,  op]x>site  the  strait  of  that  name.  The  religion 
of  the  country  has  been  taken  from  the  Arabian 
impostor.  Tlie  city  has  been  under  British  authority 
since  1825. 

In  the  autumn  of  1812,  the  Rev.  William  Milne 
sailed  from  England,  with  the  design  of  assisting  Dr. 
Morrison  in  his  missionary  labors  in  China.  On  his 
arrival,  however,  at  Macao,  which  belongs  to  the  Por- 
tuguese, the  Roman  Catholic  priests  exerted  their  in- 
fluence with  the  governor,  to  effect  his  removal ;  and 


he  was  ordered  to  quit  the  island  within  eight  days. 
He  accordingly  retired  for  the  present  to  Canton, 
whilst  the  European  vessels  were  taking  in  their 
cargoes ;  and  ho  afterwards  visited  Java,  with  the 
design  of  circulating  the  New  Testament,  and  difibrent 
religious  tracts,  among  the  Chinese  emigrants  residing 
there  and  in  the  adjacent  islands.  AAer  distributing 
great  numbers  of  books  in  Datavia  and  the  vicinity, 
he  made  an  extensive  tour  through  the  eastern  parts 
of  Java  and  the  island  of  Madura,  to  which  he  al- 
ludes in  the  following  extract  of  a  letter,  dated  July 
1,  1814:— 

"  During  this  journey,  I  have  travelled  about  four- 
teen hundred  miles  over  land,  without  injury  ; — have 
visited  Bencoolen,  the  seat  of  the  sultan  of  Madura, 
and  slept  a  night  in  the  palace  ; — also  Solo,  the 
metropolis  of  the  emperor  of  Java,  to  whom  I  was 
introduced.  I  have,  also,  visited  all  the  towns  and 
villages  of  importance  where  there  are  Chinese,  from 
Batavia,  near  the  west  end  of  Java,  to  Sumanap,  on 
the  farther  extremity  of  the  island  of  Madura.  At  all 
those  places  I  have  distributed  Chinese  New  Testa- 
ments, catechisms,  tracts,  £tc.  to  a  considerable 
amount,  and  have  made  arrangements  for  sending  some 
to  the  Chinese  residents  in  the  island  of  Borneo." 

After  his  return  to  China,  Mr.  Milne  determined, 
with  the  concurrence  of  his  excellent  colleague,  to 
settle  at  Malacca,  as  the  seat  of  a  branch  of  the  Chi- 
nese mission.  Accordingly,  on  the  15th  of  April, 
1815,  ho  and  Mrs.  Milne  embarked  in  the  Lady  Bar- 
low, and  on  the  2i2d  of  May  they  arrived  safely  at 
their  place  of  destination  ;  where  they  were  received 
with  every  mark  of  kindness  and  attention  by  major 
Farquhar,  the  resident  and  commandant,  who,  having 
previously  heard  of  their  intended  visit,  ordered  a 
house  to  be  prepared  for  their  accommodation.  He, 
also,  expressed  his  entire  approbation  of  the  objects 
of  the  proposed  mission,  and  generously  allotted 
eighty  dollars  per  month  to  Mr.  Milne,  for  such  ser- 
vices as  his  missionary  engagements  might  permit  him 
to  perform  in  the  Dutch  church,  which  happened,  at 
that  time  to  be  destitute  of  a  minister. 

Shortly  after  his  arrival,  the  missionary  intimated 
to  the  resident  that  he  felt  anxious  to  establish  a 
charity  school  for  poor  Chinese  boys ;  and,  having 
obtained  the  approbation  of  that  gentleman,  ho  fitted 
up  an  apartment  in  his  own  garden  for  the  purpose 
of  a  school-room.  A  notice  of  iiis  design  having  been 
circulated  among  the  Chinese  in  their  own  language, 
fifteen  boys  were  induced  to  give  in  tiieir  names,  most 
of  whom  had  never  read  a  word  before.  These  were 
instructed  in  the  elementary  books  common  in  China, 
togetlier  with  writing  and  arithmetic,  according  to  th« 
Chinese  method. 


Speaking  of  his  different  avocations,  at  this  time, 
M  .  M.h„i  observes-.;' My  daily  engagements  exhibit 
but  httle  variety ;  being  chiefly  confined  to  learninit 

f*.u    f^,'!?^~^°"'P°''"S'~«"''  translating  passages 
of  the  Old  Testament.  hy,n„s.  anecdotes  and  misceU 
Uneous  pieces.     Part  of  every  day  is  spent  in  reading 
Uio  Scnpiuros  and  prayer,  with  the  Chinese  domestics 
rhis  exercise  is  now  held  in  the  school.  a„d  a  few 
pi^cticaJ  remarKs  aremadeon  thochapteror  paragraph 
read.     Few  days  occur  in  which  some  Chinese  do  not 
call,  either  to  ask  for  tracts,  or  to  converse  ;  and  this 
affords  frequent  opportunities  of  speaking   to  them 
respecting   the  things  of  God.      Convinced  of  the 
importance  of  frequent  intercourse  with  them,  I  have 
had  a  httle  room  fitted  up.  in  tlie  Chinese  style,  with 
Beats,  small  tables,  roll*  of  characters  hung  up,  &c. 
Hero  those  that  come  sit  down,  and  we  converse  to- 
gether ;  and  this  apartment  answers,  also,  as  a  chapel. 
In  tins  way,  one  day  is  spent  after  another,  except  that 
now  and  then  a  visit  is  paid  to  the  Chinese  in  their  own 
houses.  ' 

In  describing  his  mode  of  spending  the  sabbath, 
Mr.  Mdne  says,  "At  ten  o'clock,  I  preach  a  short 
discourse  m  English,  in  the  church,  to  a  congregation 
of  from  thirty  to  fifty  peopie.-At  one,  I  pray'.ith 
my  Chinese  domestics,  read  a  portion  of  the  Scriptures 
and  give  a  short  discourse  on  the  passage  rea.l._At 
half-past  throe.  I   examine  the  boys   in  the  Chinese 
school,  and  hear  thecl.ler  pupils  repent  Mr.  Morrison's 
catechism.-In  the  course  of  tiie  afternoon,  I  gene- 
rally go  in.o  the  town,  and  talk  with  any  China-men 
whom  I  happen  to  meet ;  so,:,etimes  sitting  down  in 
their  shops,  and  conversing  with  eight  or  ten  at  one 
place,  and  then  going  on  to  another.      Sometimes 
I  give  thorn  a  tract  to  read,  and  endeavor  to  explain 
It ;  and  with  those  with  whoso  dialect  I  am  but  im- 
perfectly acquuinted,  I  converse  by  writing,  and.  in 
this  way,  introduce  to  their  notice  some  of  tlio  most 
important  do<Urines  of  Christianity.-I,,  the  evcniuK 
about  eight  o'clock,  we  read  a  chapter  in  Mr  Morri^ 
son's  translation  of  Genesis,  upon  which  a  few  remarks 
are  made  ;  and  then  my  teacher  and   printer  bring 
forward  a  few  verses  of  a  hymn,  which  they  have 
composed  during  the  day,  on  some  passage  of  the  New 
Testament,  pointed  out  by  nie  for  that  purpose.    Their 
poetical  performances  are  often  very  imperfect ;  but  I 
hope  good  will  result  from  tlioir  attention  being  thus 
directed  to  the  words  of  eternal  life." 

In  January,  1916,  Mr.  Milne  paid'a  visit  to  Pinane 
or  Pnnce  of  Wales's  Island,  where  he  was  received 
with  equal  kindness  and  urbanity  by  several  gentlemen 
connected  with  the  government.  And  he  embraced 
every  Oi>poriu...iy,  during  iiis  stay,  of  distributing 
tracts,  Testaments,  &c.  among  the  Chinese,  and  of  I 


MALACCA. 


611 


explaining  their  contents  to  all  who  were  inclined  to 
give  him  their  attention. 

Arab?»?  f*"'^'".  '"^''  '"'  "'  ""''  *'">  Sabat,  the 
Arabian  formerly  a  convert  to  Christianity,  under  the 
abors  of  the  Rev^  H„„ry  Martyn.  and  subsequenoJ 
employed  by  the  Bible  Society  in  Bengal.  His  aspect 
appeared  interesting  in  the  highest  degree,  an7S 
conversation  discovered  a  very  acute  intellect  I  had 
previously  heard  of  his  conversion  and  labors  Tut 
knewnothmg  of  his  apostasy,  till  he  himself  mentioned 

a  ondn°  '"T  "''""'•  '"'*  '"  """  ""hallowed  step 
he  endeavored  to  explain;  but  I  could  not  clearly 

omprehend  him.  The  fact  of  his  apostasy,  and  of 
J^«  baving  written  a  book  professedly  in  fovor  of 
Mahometamsm,  he  did  not  attempt  tJ  conceal;  but 
appeared  to  be  deeply  affected  with  the  sin  and  folly 

1^1^.        ;     ^".'."yP"»-S  »«'"o  pointed  ques. 
I'ons  to  him,  he  replied.  '  I  am  unhappy  I  I  have  a 
mountain  of  burning  sand  on  my  head  !    And  when 
Ko  about.  1  know  not  what  I  am  doing  !'    Ho  then 
added.  .What  I  did  in  renouncing  Christianity    nj 
writing  my  book,  (which  I  call  my  evil  v^orkj)  Z 
J«"c  in  that  heat  of  passion  which  is  so  natural  to  an 
Arab;  and  my  chief  wish  now  is,  that  God  may  spare 
.no  to  refute  that  book,  page  by  page.     I  know  it  con 
tains  all  that  can  be  sai.l  in  favor  of  Mahometanism  , 
and  should  I  live  to  refute  it.  I  shall  render  n  grente. 
service  to  the  gospel  than  if  it  had  not  been  written  ^ 
•'  He  spoke  with  rapture  of  the  Rev.  H.  Martyn 
and  said  that  if  every  hair  on  his  body  were  a  tongue.' 
he  could  not  fully  describe  the  worth  of  that  cxcelLl 
man.     He  also  alluded  to  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Cran  and 
IJes  Granges  as  amiable  and  lovely  characters  ;  and 
observed  that  the  Baptists  at  Seramporo  were  very 
worthy  men.  ' 

"The  case  of  this  ,>oor  man,"  says  Mr.  Milne, 

deeply  affected  me  and  captain  M'Innes.  who  was 

also  present.     We  afterwards  visited  and  conversed 

wall  him,  and.  as  ho  understood  English,  I  wrote  a 

etter  to  l„m.  previously  to  my  leaving  Pinang,  ex- 

tlH  Lord    "  '°  "  ''""■"''^  "-epentancc  and  turning  to 

"  After  a  little  time,  he  went  over  to  Acheen,  with 
the  ex-king ;  but  for  what  purpose  I  know  not.     On 
his  way  back  to  Pinang.  he  unfortunately  fell  into 
the  hands  of  the  usurper,  who  seized  all  his  property, 
and  put  him  in  irons.     A  few  days  ago.  I  received 
a  letter  from  him,  from  which  it  appears  that  he  is 
confined  day  and  night  in  the  gun-room  of  a  ..iratical 
hrig  belonging  to  the  usurper,  and  that,  during  the 
I'lght,  ho  IS  always  put  in  irons.     He  says,  '  When 
-  ..a_  nr-  ..,„t,g„i  uciorc  inc  usurp,,,  ii6  examined 
me,  and  found  no  fault ;  but  he  afterwards  asked, 
What  is  thy  religion  ?'_I  replied,  '  My  parents  were 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


33  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WRISTBII,N.Y    14SS0 

(716)  •73-4S03 


■<^,>** 


^ 


'  *\^ 


LONDON  MUi^QNAJHT  SOCIETY. 


ll«b(»nt«iu.'— '  But  w^»t  »  <A|ri«li|M?'  To  tfui 
t  mttely  aiuwered,  «God  k<M>in.V '  Th6n»^  yaid  tbe 
nsurper,  'thy  parents  were  Mahometan?,  btit  tbe«  art 
a  iStraiiM  (a  Chrittiaq),  and  SHUt  be  piit  to  death.' 
Since  that  tune  l^e  bu  b«eii  incewfineiqeoti  nor  does 
U  appeal  that  be  deoied  hn  bMa|  sUU  a  Chria^an. 
I  inunediateljr  d«spatobed  the  letter  to^ptain  M'times, 
eotreatmg  luin  to  eodearor  to  procure  &bat's  release, 
and  earnestly  prayed  tbe  Lord  to  grant  that  in  his 
eaptivity  his  backsUdinga  might  be  healed." 

On  his  return  to  Malacca,  b  the  month  ot  February, 
tbu  devoted  missionary  opened  two  new  schools,  con- 
tuning  rixiut  forty  boys,  and,  m  a  short  time,  the 
number  increased  to  eighty.  On  removing,  however, 
to  the  mbsion-house,  without  the  western  gate  of  the 
town,  the  pupils  began  to  diicrease ;  partly  in  con- 
sequence of  the  augmented  distance,  and  partly  from 
tbe  prevalence  of  the  measles  in  the  neighborhood. 
The  method  of  writing  in  sand  was  now  first  introduced 
among  the  lower  classes,  and  a  number  of  painted 
boards  were  prepared,  instead  of  slates,  for  those  boys 
who  were  further  advanced.  It  was  with  considerable 
difficulty  that  the  Chinese  teachers,  accustomed  so 
long  to  their  own  mode,  could  be  brought  to  adopt  this 
new  plan.  They  were  gradually  convinced,  however, 
of  its  utility,  and  when  the  scholars  were  brought  on 
■0  far  that  one  whole  school,  consisting  of  nearly 
sixty  boys,  could  all  write  tbe  same  characters  at 
once,  they  seemed  completely  overwhelmed  with  as- 
tonishment. 

In  tbe  beginning  of  April,  Mr.  Milne  had  a  favor- 
able opportunity  of  distributing  some  tracts  and  New 
Testaments  on  board  some  junks  from  Siam  and 
Cochin-China,  the  crews  of  which  were  almost  entirely 
Chinese.  He  had,  indeed,  considerable  difficulty  in 
making  himself  understood,  in  consequence  of  the 
difference  of  their  dialect ;  but  when  he  wrote,  they 
easily  comprehended  his  meaning.  Some  of  them 
never  having  heard  of  such  a  thing  w  the  gratuitous  dis- 
tribution of  books  (0  strangerr,  at  first  could  scarcely 
believe  that  the  tracts,  be.  were  really  designed  for 
their  acceptance;  and  when  convinced  of  tbe  (act, 
they  received  them  with  evident  symptoms  of  aston- 
ishment. It  after^vards  appeared  that  some  of  these 
men,  in  compliance  with  our  missionary's  request,  had 
circulated  some  copies  of  the  New  Testament  in 
Cochin-China ;  and,  though  a  Romish  priest  had 
earnestly  endeavored  to  diinuBde  the  people  firom 
receiving  them,  the  curiosity  of  many  had  been  excited 
to  know  what  the  prohibited  contents  were,  and  an 
anxious  inquiry  after  the  bocks  had  taken  place. 

On  the  first  sabbath  in  November,  a  Chinese,  named 


t..^. 


..I... e.k 


.  k...'....J  !. 


Ktf  iKa  mAj%m- 


able  Trinity.  The  servioe  was  performed  privately,  hi 


a  room  to  the  BMW9»4Kpa9i  all  posnble  caitB  hafbi| 
been  previoualy  talMn,by  eonvenatioB  imd  instiuc^, 
to  prepare  him  Amt  this  aacrad  orpliaance. 

"He  belongs,"  says  Mr.  Milae," to  tbf  piovinR* 
of  Canton ;,  is  a  single  man,  about  thirty  yeava  of  aga  |^ 
and  has  no  relations  living,  except  a  fktber  aod  ,§, 
brother.  He  can  read  a  plain  hock  with  eaaoi  j^t  hwi 
received  only  a  common  education.  He  it  of  a  ^  ^adjr 
character  and  frugal  habits ;  but  his  temper  is  less  socii^ 
ble  and  engaging  than  that  of  many  of  hb  countrymen. 
He  wu  formerly  very  obstiuate,  and  occasionally  trou- 
blesome ;  but,  of  late,  there  has  been  scarcely  any  thing 
of  this  kind  to  complain  of.  He  told  me,  some  daya 
«ince,  that  he  was  employed  in  perusing  my  IVeatise 
on  the  Life  of  Christ ;  but  whether  he  had  been  serious- 
ly impressed  with  the  contents  of  that  book,  I  am  not 
able  to  say. 

"  With  respect  to  his  former  lifa,  he  observed,  <  I 
was  never  much  given  to  idolatry,  and  seldom  went 
to  the  temples.  I  sometirass  prayed  towards  heaven, 
but  lived  in  careless  indifference.  Although  I  rarely 
went  to  excess  in  sin,  yet  I  have  been  occasionally 
guilty  of  drunkenness  and  other  vices.  Before  I  came 
hither,  I  knew  not  Cod ;  but  now  I  desire  to  serve 
him.'  He  wished'  to  be  baptized  exactly  at  twelve 
o'clock, '  when,'  to  use  his  Own  words, '  the  shadow 
inclinos  neither  the  one  way  nor  the  other.'  What 
his  view  was  in  fixing  on  that  precise  time  I  cannot 
tell ;  but  I  suppose  it  trose  from  the  remains  of  that 
superstitious  regard  to  <  times,'  which  prevails  so  gen- 
erally among  the  Chinese.  I  told  him  that  God  had 
not  distinguished  one  hour  from  another,  and  that  ho, 
as  a  disciple  of  Christ,  must,  in  future,  regard  every 
hour  and  day  alike,  except  the  sabbath,  which  is  to 
be  specially  devoted  to  the  service  of  God.  Aware, 
however,  that  some  superstitious  attachments  mav,  for 
a  considerable  time,  hang  about  the  first  convert*  from 
paganhm,  and  that  it  is  in  the  church  and  under  the 
ordinances  thereof,  that  these  attachments  are  to  be 
entirely  destroyed,  I  did  not  think  it  advisable  to 
delay  administering  the  initiatory  ordinance." 

In  the  course  of  thp  same  month,  our  missionary 
opened  a  Thursday  evening  lecture  in  the  temple  of 
Ta-poh-kung,  to  which  he  gained  admission  through 
(he  influence  of  two  of  his  most  regular  hearon. 
"  Being  a  public  place,"  says  he,  "  though  small,  it 
seemed  better  adapted  to  my  purpose  than  a  private 
house,  though  larger ;  because  quarrels  and  contentions, 
which  often  prevent  neighbors  who  do  not  agree  froL- 
going  to  a  private  house,  do  not  prevent  them  fro^ 
visiting  the  temple.  The  pir-oa  is  sometimes  fu!'  I 
sit  down  before  the  altar,  preach  tbe  jospe!  of  the  Son 
sf  Gsd.  ssd  sflaa  ssndessa  IdolfitPV  in  lb*  Qf Mence  of 
the  idoi  and  its  vouri'n.    On  great  days,  I  am  obliged 


to  «i  before  pot.  of  smoking  incense,  cup.  of  tea:  «nd 
iHiroliig  candle,  of  an  immense  siie,  placed  on  the 
■lur.  m  honor  of  the  deity  who«>  wor8h;p  it  is  my  aim 
to  overthrow.     I  wUl  not  presume  to  say  a  single 
word,  which  may  lead  to  a  supposition  that  great  things 
•re  doug ;  but  I  think  it  would  not  be  a  Uttle  gratify, 
mg  to  the  members  of  the  Bible  Society,  to  see  half 
t  dojen  NewTesUments  taken  out  and  opened  in  this 
Idol  s  temple  by  the  heathen,  in  order  to  search  for 
the  text,  or  to  look  over  the  passage  explained.     The 
people  bnng  their  books  from  their  houses,  and  carry 
them  back  when  the  service  is  over.     How  great  a 
blessmg  will  the  Bible  Society,  which  furnishes  this 
precrous  volume,  prove  to  the  world,  and  how  impor- 
tant IS  Its  assistance  to  Christian  missionaries '" 
I  .^V^l  l*'^°'"  ^°''"»'«'-.  »8I8,  major  Farquhar, 
late  Juiglish  resident  and  commandant  of  Malacca,  laid 
the  foundation-stone  of  an  institution  called  the  Anglo- 
Chinese  College,  in  the  presence  of  the  Hon.  J.  S. 
Thyssus,  governor  of  the  colony,  since  its  restoration 
to  the  king  of  the  Netherlands.     Several  medical  gen- 
Uemen  belonging  to  the  honorable  East  India  Com- 
pany's establishments  in  Bengal,  Pinang.and  Bombay, 
also  attended  on  this  occasion,  together  with  the  com- 
mandant of  the  Dutch  troops,  the  membeni  of  the 
college  of  Justice,  and  the  principal  Dutch  inhabitants 
of  Malacca. 

This  institution,  the  chief  objects  of  which  are  the 
cultivation  of  Chinese  and  English  literature,  and  the 
diffusion  of  Christianity  in  the  countries  and  islands 
Which  he  to  the  eastward  of  Pinang.  owes  its  origin  to 
tne  Kev.  Dr.  Morrison,  who  generously  devoted  the 
sum  of  one  thousand  pounds  sterling  to  the  erection 
of  the  building,  and  promised  an  additional  sum  of  one 
hundred  pounds  annually,  for  the  fi-st  five  years,  com- 
mencing from  the  opening  of  the  college. 

In  reference  to  this  establishment,  Dr.  Morrison 
thus  writes  to  the  directors  of  the  London  Missionary 
Society : —  ' 

"  It  is  my  anxious  wish  to  see  the  Ultra  Ganges 
mission  well  arranged  and  consolidated,  or  that  there 
may  be  a  succession  of  co-operation  in  the  same  line, 
and  directed  to  the  same  point.  The  desirable  thing 
IS  so  to  arrange  matters,  that  there  shall  be  present 
oo-operation  and  continued  effort.  The  work  is  too 
great  for  much  to  be  done  in  a  single  life-time.  May 
our  blessed  Saviour  direct  to  such  plans  as  he  will 
eventually  own  and  bless.  The  Anglo-Chinese  col- 
lege appears  to  be  a  very  important  mean ;  as  I  am 
persuaded  that  the  more  we  can  bring  Chistendom 
and  China  in  contact  with  each  other,  the  more  prob- 
able is  the  diffusion  of  divine  ravalaiics  in  «h!.f...--»-r 
Of  the  vTorld.  I^t  me  beseech  you.  therefore,  by  the 
tender  mercies  of  God  our  Saviour,  to  continue  your 
Vol,  I.— -Nos.  43  k  44.  Q^ 


MALACCA. 


paternal  care  of  these  mission.,  and  particulariy  ta 
deal  kindly  with  thu.  infant  seminary.  It  i,  the  off- 
spnngof  the  Missionary  Society;  and  its  ultimate  end» 
•nd  the  ultimate  end  of  .11  connected  with  it,  is  the 

ZKu  i"^\  "P°".  *"'''•  I^'»«n«"«'  »  the  means, 
not  the  end.  (ts  principle  is  borrowed  from  that  of 
the  Missionary  Society,  as  it  is  devoted  to  the  cause 
of  one  common  Christianity,  and  not  to  the  interest  of 
a  party.  God  grant  that  it  may  prosper ;  that  it  may 
be  an  honor  to  my  country,  and  a  blessing  to  China ; 

fit",  .K  w  """??  T''""  '*'  "•""«  "«*  '^^  "»  bene- 
fits, the  West  and  the  East ;  and  finally  blend  in  peaceful 

intercourse  the  extremities  of  the  world,  the  islands  of 
iintam  and  Japan."* 

In  the  month  of  March,  1819,  Mr.  Milne  was  be- 
reaved  of  his  pious  and  affectionate  wife,  in  whom  he 

•  The  importancof  thi.  in.Utution,  in  .lile«ry,  monU  .nd  «o. 

.""'•The  college  will  be  flimiibed,  5 

«.el.  hTkf  '""•*■"''?  Chine*  library,  „d  .  aolleotion  of  .11 
■«eh  book.  ..  be„  upon  iu  object.,  W,.,  book.  ofjenerU  Utermtw. 
»d  ^..nce,  w,th  ,uch  «  tr..,  of  th.  Lngu.,,,  hLto.;,  „^^"^, 
&c.  of  the  nation,  above  .peoitied.  ^  "•  '  j',  iimiibi., 

"8.  European  profc»or.  of  the  Chine*  languafe,  caprf,!,  .Uo 
of  con.™„„.c.u„g  European  learning:  and  naUve  Chine*  tuC 
The  European  profewor.  will  be  ProtertanU 

"3.  Accommodat'on.  in  the  college  for  a  iimited  number  of  .tu- 

■' 4.  A  fund  will  be  formed  for  th.  maintenance  of  poor  .tud.nto. 
fi,  .;;  1  *''"°P«""  ■*"•'''"«•.  'he  Chine*  language  will  h.  Uught 
fcr  .uch  purpo...  a.  the  .tudenU  ohoo*  to  appl^.,_,o  ren2„. 
to  literature  or  to  commerce.  ^'^•'poa, 

"0.  To  native  .tudenta,  the  English  luiguage  will  be  Uugbt- 
geography,  arithmetic,  hi.tory,  and  .ueh  other  branche.  of  learniu* 

o  oTlnH  '  T""'  ""^  "°'"'  PWh-ophy,  ChriaUu.  thj! 

oiogy  and  their  own  clanic 

literwy  .tudenU  may  avail  th.m.elve.  of;  and  it  i.  intended  o  form. 
on  the  ground,  of  the  college,  a  boUnical  garden,  to  collect  und.; 
one  view  the  t«,picd  pl«,t.  of  the  ...tern  Archipilago.'f 

Amel.  l?'"i°'"  '"'  "'^""  "'■  ^"^^^  "'  "^  "«'  continent  of 
America,  belonging  to  any  Chri.tian  communion,  or  bringi,,,,  with 

tlT  .TT  '•"»"""••"«•"<"'•  •"  «o  their  moral  habiu,  and  the  oh- 
..«!!!  >7  T  '."  "'""•  "'"  "*  "•™"«ed.-P.r«,mi  from  European 
un.ver.ltie.,  having  travelling  follow.hip.,  ChrtaUan  mi«ion.ri.., 
•nd  peraon.  belonging  to  commercial  oompanie.,  or  attached  to 
naUonal  con.ul,,  will  be  wlmitted.-Natlve  youth,  of  any  of  the 
tbove-menuoned  countrie.,  who  either  .npport  them*lve.,  or  who 
may  be  maintained  by  ChtiaUan  *«letie..  or  by  private  genUemei 
.Tl    ri^      "T  ""'"'  y-"".  by  giving  U,cm  an  Engll.h  educ^ 

,7  T,.!"  "  .'"  '"'"""  •'■•"  "°»  ^  "*«''«'  '<•  Pf""""  'he  Chri^ 
U.n  religion  i  they  will,  however,  b.  in,iud  to  do  «,,  uid  the  good 
ofdsr  of  the  in.l,»uUon  will  r«,uir,  Uieir  aU.ndanoe  on  all  leoturM 
given  publicly."  ">""■ 

t  A  "•'»«'k«M.  iniiane.  of  tropical  vegetation  I.  now  to  he  «.n  in  the  eol. 
Iegrg«d«|,  Theral.a.,,e,,alM  .he prtrf. ./ A«hv,,  wWeh be„. . ItJII 
.        .        ""\     ' "-,  -H*'  ""•"  '""•  "  '"'"7  we'  ftiffH,  with  m«uv  rracelkii 

Janrmil,  London  eilUion,  1831 ,  p*|«  fTt,  vol.  I. 


514 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


h&d  found  a  "  help  meet,"  in  the  strictest  sense  of  that 
expression.  About  two  years  before  this  trying  event, 
she  had  been  visited  by  a  very  serious  illness,  during 
which  her  life  was  despaired  of  At  that  time  she 
made  a  solemn  surrender  of  herself,  her  husband,  and 
her  beloved  children,  to  God  her  Saviour,  and  her  en- 
joyment of  the  consolations  of  the  gospel  was  so  great, 
that  she  afterwards  said,  in  reference  to  her  recovery, 
"  Your  intimation  that  my  complaint  had  taken  a  favor- 
able turn  filled  me  with  sorrow,  and  I  felt  an  unspeak- 
able disappointment  in  being  sent  back  again,  as  it  were, 
from  the  gates  of  heaven,  to  spend  a  little  more  time 
iu  this  sinful  and  dreary  state." 

A  voyage  to  China,  and  the  kind  attentions  of  friends 
in  that  country,  were,  under  the  divine  blessing,  the 
means  of  restoring  her  to  such  a  measure  of  health  as 
enabled  her  to  resume  the  duties  of  her  family.  She 
did  not,  however,  recover  her  former  strength ;  but 
though  her  life  was  spared,  she  had  a  presentiment  that 
it  would  only  be  for  a  short  period. 

She  was  present  at  the  commemoration  of  her  Re- 
deemer's death,  on  the  first  sabbath  of  January,  1819; 
and  it  proved  to  be  a  season  of  peculiar  interest  and 
edification,  not  only  to  herself,  but  to  all  with  whom 
sLe  united  on  that  occasion.  She  afterwards  observed 
with  tears,  to  some  of  her  female  friends,  that  "  she 
thought  it  was  very  likely  to  be  the  last  time  she 
should  paruke  of  the  fruit  of  the  vine  w-th  them  at  the 
table  of  the  Lord  ;"  and  this  remark  proved  prophetic, 
as  some  circumstances  prevented  the  public  celebra- 
tion of  that  ordinance  again,  whilst  she  was  yet  in  the 
body. 

On  the  sixth  of  February,  she  gave  birth  to  a  son, 
and,  for  nearly  a  fortnight,  she  seemed  to  be  going  on 
so  well,  that  she  began  to  anticipate  the  pleasure  of 
soon  carrying  her  little  one  to  the  house  of  God.  An 
alarming  relapse,  however,  having  occurred,  she  re- 
quested that  her  child  might  be  baptized  in  her  cham- 
ber. When  she  had  thus  devoted  him  to  the  Lord, 
she  expressed  her  satisfaction  with  the  performance  of 
a  duty  which  she  considered  as  imperative  on  a  Chris- 
tian parent.  As  her  weakness  now  rapidly  increased, 
and  the  hour  of  her  dissolution  evidently  drew  near, 
she  employed  every  interval  of  exemption  from  pain 
in  commending  herself  and  her  family  to  God.  She 
did  not  now  experience  any  of  those  rapturous  and 
oyful  emotions  which  she  had  felt  in  her  former  illness ; 
but  her  hope  of  salvation  was  steady  and  immovalle, 
being  fixed  upon  the  eternal  Rock  of  ages. 

On  the  nth  of  March,  she  removed  to  the  country- 
house  of  a  gentleman  of  Malacca  ;  and  in  this  peaceful 
retreat  she  could  enjoy  the  attentions  and  prayers  of 
her  husband,  without  those  mterrupiions  which  were 
unavoidable  in  the  town.     She  repeatedly  called  her 


children  tQ.  her  bedside,  that  she  might  see  and  bless 
them ;  and  two  days  after  her  removal,  she  took  an 
aitectionate  leave  of  several  friends,  and  gave  them 
he>'  parting  benediction.  The  next  morning,  when  a 
friend  engaged  in  prayer,  she  manifested  evident  symp- 
toms of  pleasure,  but  was  able  to  say  little ;  and  after- 
wards, when  her  children  were  introduced  for  the  last 
time,  she  was  no  longer  able  to  speak.  It  was  now 
obvious  that  the  time  of  her  departure  was  at  hand, 
and,  about  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning,  she  exchanged 
the  sorrows  and  infirmities  of  life  for  the  joys  and 
glories  of  the  upper  and  better  world.  This  event  oc- 
curred in  the  thirty-sixth  year  of  her  age ;  and  her 
remains  were  interred  in  the  Dutch  burial-ground  at 
Malacca. 

In  the  autumn  of  1820,  the  building  of  the  Anglo- 
Chinese  College  was  finished,  and  the  important  work 
of  tuition  commenced.  Seven  persons  were  now  ad- 
mitted for  the  purpose  of  studying  the  Chinese  lan- 
guage, but  only  five  were  considered  as  regular  students. 
Of  these,  one  was  a  missionary  belonging  to  the  society, 
and  two  others  were  designed  to  act  as  native  teachers 
or  school-masters,  in  subserviency  to  the  great  object 
of  the  mission. 

In  the  beginning  of  1822,  the  mission  at  Malacca 
and  the  London  Missionary  Society  sustained  a  severe 
loss  in  the  death  of  Dr.  Milne,  of  which  the  following 
account  is  given  in  the  report  for  1823 : — 

"  Dr.  Milne  had  for  several  years  suffered  much 
from  occasional  indisposition  ;  and  the  directors  had, 
in  consequence,  given  him  permission  to  visit  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope,  or  his  native  country,  with  a 
view  to  his  restoration  ;  but  a  temy  irary  improvement 
in  his  health,  and  his  earnest  desire  to  ^jromote  the 
interests  of  the  mission,  and  particularly  to  complete 
his  portion  of  the  Chinese  version  of  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures, induced  him,  from  time  to  time,  to  decline  the 
proposal. 

"  In  the  beginning,  however,  of  last  year,  the  symp- 
toms of  his  disorder  returned  with  so  much  violence 
as  to  render  it  advisable  that  he  should  immediately 
take  the  benefit  of  a  sea-voyage.  He  therefore  pro- 
ceeded about  the  end  of  February,  to  Singapore,  in 
the  Margaret,  captain  Allan,  who  kindly  gave  him  a 
free  passage,  and  who,  as  well  as  the  passengers  on 
hoard,  not  only  manifested  towards  him  the  most 
friendly  disposition,  but  made  the  greatest  possible 
sacrifices  in  order  to  promote  his  accommodation  and 
comfort.  At  Singapore  he  enjoyed,  at  the  house  of 
his  friend  colonel  Farquhar,  the  resident  of  the  Hon. 
Elast  India  Company,  every  advantage  that  coiild  tend 
to  promote  his  recovery  ;  and  it  appears  that,  during 
this  visit,  he  ibund  himself,  in  some  r«sp«cw,  uviiwff 
than  he  wai  on  his  arrival  at  the  island. 


_  AlUr  remuniog  a  few  weeks  at  Singapore,  Dr. 
Milne  proceeded  to  Pinang,in  the  ship  Jemima,  com- 
manded by  Lieut.  Watt,  R.  N.,  who  also  kindly  gave 
him  a  free  passage.     He  arrived  at  Pinang  on  the 
llih  of  April,  but  without  having  experienced  any 
sensible  benefit  from  the  voyage.   After  residing  about 
a  fortnight  with  the  brethren  at  George  Town,  he  was 
mvited  to  the  country-house  of  David  Brown,  Esq., 
where  he  received  the  most  kind  and  hospitable  atten-' 
tions.     Finding,  however,  that  he  did  not  ^et  better, 
but  rather  grew  worse,  he  signified  his  wish  to  return  to 
Malacca,  with  the  intention,  after  arranging  the  affairs 
of  the  mission  there,  to  proceed  on  a  voyage  to  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope,  in  conformity  to  the  recommen- 
dation of  Dr.  Alexander,  of  Pinang. 

"  As  no  immediate  conveyance  offered,  Mr.  Brown 
applied  to  his  excellency  governor  Phillips,  who,  with 
the  greatest  kindness  and  promptitude,  gave  orders  that 
the  Nautdus,  government  cruiser,  should  proceed  with 
Dr.  Milne  to  Malacca,  and  that  Mr.  Beighton,  one  of 
the  society's  missionaries  at  Pinang,  should  be  permitted 
to  accompany  his  friend  and  fellow-laborer  thither. 

"  Every  possible  attention  was  paid  to  Dr.  Milne 
during  the  passage  by  Mr.  Boyd,  the  sur^f-H  o'  the 
Nautilus,  as  well  as  by  Mr.  Beighton;  hi.  it  was 
apprehended  that  he  would  not  be  able  to  survive  the 
voyage.  Happily,  however,  he  Was  spared  for  a  few 
days.  He  was  landed  at  Malacca,  on  the  24th  of 
May,  in  a  state  of  extreme  weakness ;  and  eariy  on 
the  morning  of  the  <zi  of  June,  he  calmly  resigned 
his  happy  spirit  into  the  hands  of  his  Redeemer." 

The  following  additional  particulars  are  extracted 
from  a  letter  written  by  Mr.  Beighton,  and  dated  June 
10,  1822 :— '<  On  the  sabbath  we  spent  at  sea.  Dr. 
Milne  appeared  to  be  a  little  more  composed  than 
usual.  I  was  near  his  couch,  and  he  appeared  to  be 
frequently  engaged  in  prayer.  On  one  occasion,  his 
petition  was,  '  O  God,  prepare  me  for  life  or  death  ;' 
adding,  with  peculiar  emphasis,  '  but  death— death  ! 
that  is  the  thing  !'  Many  expressions  droppwl  from 
his  lips,  intimating  that  li.  thought  his  esrtlilfcourse 
was  nearly  finished.  The  Lord,  however,  was  pleased 
to  spare  his  dying  servant  to  see  his  family  at  Malacca, 
where  we  arrived  on  the  24«h. 

"  Dr.  Milne  had  previously  made  his  will,  so  that 
his  woHdIy  affairs  were  speedily  settled.  It  soon 
became  apparent  that  the  time  of  his  departure  was 
at  hand.  The  Dutch  physician  attended  him,  and 
pursued  the  same  course  of  medicine  which  had  been 
commenced  by  Mr.  Boyd.  The  hiccough  come  on, 
and  continued  several  days.  Dr.  Milne  did  not  ap- 
pear to  experience  those  raptures  with  which  Ecms 
are  favored  on  the  near  approach  of  death  ;  but  his 
confidence  in  Christ  was  thus  expressed  : 


MALACCA. 


516 


'  If  I  am  fooad  ia  Jesoi'  handa, 
My  aoul  can  ne'er  be  lost' 

"About  five  o'clock  on  Saturday  afternoon,  June  1. 
he  was  m  extreme  pain,  and  exclaimed,  'My  God 
•ny  God.  help  me !'  He  was  afterwards  somewhat 
more  easy  but  became  gradually  weaker ;  at  half-past 
two  o  clock  on  Sunday  morning  (June  2),  our  highly 
respected  fnend  and  brother  was  released  from  all  his 
suffenngs  ;  and  his  happy  spirit  fled  to  enjoy  a  glorious 
sabbath  m  the  paradise  of  God. 

"Thus  has  the  society  lost  a  faithful  and  laborious 
missionary,  and  four  dear  children  are  deprived  of  a 
tender  father. 

"Upon  the  inspection  of  the  body,  it  was  found  that 
his  disease  was  wholly  pulmonary,  and  not  that  of  the 
livor  He  had  attained  his  37th  year,  on  the  27th  of 
Aprd  last." 

"By  the  death  of  Dr.  Milne,"  say  the  directors, 
the  society  sustains  no  ordinary  loss.  The  firmness 
and  decision  of  his  character;  his  intellectual  energy; 
his  enlarged  views ;  his  habits  of  application ;  his 
devotion  to  the  cause  of  the  heathen,  and  his  enlight. 
ened  and  fervent  piety,  constituted  him  a  most  valuable 
and  efficient  missionary.  If  we  are  compelled  to 
lament  that  his  course  of  service  was  short,  we  would, 
at  the  same  time,  remember  with  gratitude  that  his 
labors  were  abundant,  and  that  his  life  was  spared 
until  the  plans  for  giving  effect  to  the  important  mis- 
sion at  Malacca,  were  in  a  great  measure  consolidated, 
and  carried  out  into  vigorous  and  extensive  opera- 
tion." 

In  consequence  of  the  decease  of  Dr.  Milne,  the 
Chinese  services  at  Malacca  were,  for  a  short  time, 
necessarily  suspended  ;   as  neither  Mr.   Humphreys 
nor  Mr.  Collie,  who  had  been  sent  out  as  missionaries 
to  that  station,  were  then  sufficiently   familiar  with 
the  language  to  qualify  them  for  delivering  public 
addresses.     On  the  arrival  of  Dr.  Morrison,  however, 
who  came  over  from  Canton  in  the  beginning  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1823,  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  a  monument 
to  the  memory  of  his  beloved  colleaguo,  and  of  ren- 
dering vorious  services  to  the  mission,  the  Chinese 
congregation  were  privileged  with  the  dispensation  of 
the  gospel  as  formerly ;  and,  after  that  gentleman's 
departure,  Mr.  Collie  was  enabled  to  deliver  a  short 
discourse  to  them  every  sabbath. 

Numerous  copies  of  the  Chinese  scriptures  and 
religious  tracts  were,  about  the  same  time,  put  into 
circulation  ;  and  at  the  celebration  of  a  Chinese  fes- 
tival, the  brethren  were  invited  into  the  principal 
'^"i*'?'  ''^  '''^  ""*"*  ""espectable  residents  of  that  nation 
ai  iTia:acc3,  ann  pormiUoti  io  ^ive  tiieir  Ciiinese  books 
10  every  one  in  the  assembly  who  could  road.  The 
priests  alone  refused  to  accept  of  them, 


•16 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


Speaking  of  the  youths  admitted  on  the  ibundation 
of  the  Anglo-Chinese  College,  amounting  to  fifteen, 
who  had  professedly  embraced  Christianity,  and  enter- 
ed with  cheerfulness  upon  their  religious  exercises,  Mr. 
Collie  observes,  "  We  are  reading  regularly  through 
the  Old  and  New  TesUments,  and  I  am  happy 
to  say  tliat  the  students  sometimes  appear  much 
interested  in  the  truths  of  this  blessed  hook.  The 
knowledge  of  the  great  fundamental  truths  of  Chris- 
tianity, which  they  manifest  in  conversation,  and  in 
their  essays,  often  astonishes  and  delights  us ;  and, 
although  we  cannot  say  that  any  of  them  have  as  yet 
manifested  decisive  evidence  of  conversion  -  to  God, 
yet  there  is  much  heavenly  tiruth  lodged  in  their  minds, 
and  they  are  so  far  cast  into  the  Christian  mould,  as 
eqtirely  to  have  given  up  idol  worship,  and  have 
externally  become  the  daily  worshippers  of  the  living 
and  true  God.  We  have  not,  for  a  considerable  period, 
observed  one  of  them  join  in  the  religious  ceremonies 
of  their  nation  ;  and  though  we  have  heard,  that,  in 
consequence  of  the  circulation  ol  some  sheet-tracts  in 
Malacca,  some  of  the  Ciiinese  have  attempted  to  hold 
up  our  religion  to  ridicule ;  yet  our  students,  to  a 
man,  most  cheerfully  assist  us  in  the  distribution  of 
tracts,  sometimes  travelling  for  hours  together,  under 
a  burning  sun,  in  order  to  put  the  bread  of  life  into  tin 
hands  of  their  countrymen.  Almost  evary  week,  also, 
some  of  them  ask  for  tracts,  to  give  to  their  parents 
and  relations." 

The  records  of  the  printing  establishment  furnish 
the  following  statement,  under  date  of  20th  May, 
1893  : — "  This  day  was  finished  the  printing  of  the 
whole  Chinese  version  of  the  Scriptures.  Ala,  Dr. 
Morrismi's  convert,  had  the  honor  to  commence  and 
complete  this  work,  having  arrived  from  China  ex- 
pressly for  the  undertaking." 

In  ISiiM,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kidd  arrive<l  at  Malacca, 
and  commenced  the  study  of  the  Fokeen  dialect. 
In  18S6,  Mr.  John  Smith,  A.  M.  of  the  university 
of  Glasgow,  and  Mr.  Jacob  Tomlin,  B.  A.,  fellow  of 
St.  John's  college,  Cambridge,  were  appointed  to  this 
mission.  Mr.  Collie,  liie  principal  of  tlie  college,  who 
devotes  his  time  wholly  to  (he  institution,  has  generously 
declined  any  remuneration  for  his  services.  In  June, 
1837,  twenty-four  Chinese  students  were  on  the  foun- 
dation. The  senior  class  had  read  the  book  of  Daniel, 
the  Gospel  by  John,  and  the  Epistles  of  James  and 
Peter,  beside  other  portions  of  Scripture.  The  mission 
and  college  sustained  a  heavy  loss  in  the  death  of  the 
Rev.  David  Collie,  who,  in  the  most  laborious  and 
efficient  manner,  had  devoted  himself  to  the  cause  of 
the  gospel  in  the  Ultra  Ganges  mission  for  nearly  six 
years.  By  this  mournful  event.  Mr.  Ki'M  wn*  !«ft  tn 
labor  alone  in  the  Chinese  department  of  the  mission. 


In  1830,  Mr.  Humphrey*  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith 
returned  to  England,  and  Mr.  Humphceys  di^sdved 
his  connection  with  the  society.  In  this  weakened 
state  of  the  mission,  the  directors  immediately  de- 
spatched the  Rev.  Josiah  Hughes,  whose  labors  were 
to  be  given  to  the  Malays.  On  the  6th  of  April, 
Mr.  Kidd  baptized  a  Chinese  youth,  named  Ttxe-Hea, 
who  was  educated  in  the  college,  and  who  exhibits 
great  d«!sire  to  engage  in  the  mission. 

Among  other  works  which  have  appeared  iirom  the 
Chinese  press  at  Malacca,  are  the  following : — a  trans- 
lation of  Joyce's  Scientific  Dialc^ues ;  an  abridged 
edition  of  Stockius's  Hebrew  Lexicon  ;  a  complete 
version  of  the  Old  and  New  Testat.^ents  ;  Dr.  Milne's 
exposition  of  the  Epistle  to  the  Epheaians ;  Dr.  Milne's 
Elssay  on  the  Soul,  a  work  which  is  intended  to  remove 
the  philosophical  as  well  as  religious  errors  of  the 
Chinese  on  that  subject.  A  weekly  piper  in  Chinese 
is  also  published,  to  give  a  wider  circulation  to  Chris- 
tian instruction,  and  excite  general  attention  to  the 
claims  of  the  gospel. 


SINGAPORE. 

This  island  is  situated  at  the  southern  extremity  of 
the  Malayan  peninsula,  and  is  between  eighty  and 
ninety  miles  in  circumference.  Thute  are  several  vil- 
lages on  the  island,  inhabited  by  Malays;  but  the 
principal  town  is  Singapore,  facing  which  is  a  good 
road-stead  for  shipping. 

In  the  month  of  October,  1819,  the  Rev.  Samuel 
Milton  removed  from  Malacca  to  Singapore,  the  town 
and  principality  of  which  were  originally  founded  by 
some  adventurers  from  the  island  of  Sumatra ;  but 
which  had  been  recently  ceded  to  the  English,  and 
had  increased  so  rapidly  in  respect  to  its  population, 
that,  in  the  course  of  a  few  months,  its  inhabitants 
amounted  to  nearly  five  thousand,  of  whom  about  two 
thousand  five  hundred  were  Chinese,  and  the  remain- 
der chiefly  Malays,  Bugis,  &c. 

In  this  new  and  promising  settlement,  Mr.  Milton 
resolved  to  attempt  establishing  a  Christian  mission ; 
and  his  design  was  cordially  approved  and  kindly  pa- 
tronized, both  by  his  excellency  sir  Stamford  Raffles, 
(then  lieutenant-governor  of  Bencoolen,)  and  the  resi- 
dent, W.  Farquhar,  EJsq.  who  granted  a  piece  of  land 
for  the  object.  A  temporary  building  was,  according- 
ly,  erected,  which  served  as  a  residence,  a  school-house 
and  a  chapel ;  and  Mr.  Milton  immediately  commenced 
the  work  of  religious  instruction,  delivering  two  dii- 

anu  as  thought  proper  to  attend ;  one  in  the  Mandarin, 


ff'f 


and  the  other  m  the  Fo-keen  dialect,  besides  preachinr 
ereiy  Lord  ,  day  in  the  morning,  in  English,  for  the 
benefit  of  the  European  residents.  He  also  established 
two  schools  for  the  children  of  the  Chinese  and  Ma- 
lays;  and  though  the  number  of  scholars,  at  first,  was 
•mall,  the  diligence  with  which  they  applied  them, 
selves  to  their  studies  was  highly  encouraging;  and 
m  a  comparatively  short  time,  some  of  the  boys  be- 
longing to  the  Malay  school  were  able  to  read  in  the 
Wew  Testament. 

In  the  summer  of  1828,  Mr.  Claudius  Thomsen 
removed  to  this  station,  in  order  to  take  charge  of  the 
Malay  department  of  the  mission;  and  a  place  of  wor- 
•hip  for  regular  services,  both  in  the  Chinese  and 
Malay  languages,  was  commenced.  Meetings  for 
morning  and  evening  prayer  were,  also,  regularly  held 
wuh  the  ..atives,  of  whom,  including  boys  instructed  in 
the  schools,  about  thirty  were  generally  in  the  habit 
01  attending. 

About  the  same  time,  a  line  of  buildings,  ninety  feet 
by  eighteen,  was  erected  for  the  accommodation  of  the 
school-masters,  teachers,  fac.  connected  with  the 
Chinese  department  of  the  mission  ;  Mr.  Milton  hi  nself 
having  generously  engaged  to  defray  the  whole  expense 
ol  the  building. 

Towards  the  latter  end  of  January,  1823,  Dr  Mor- 
rison  paid  a  visit  to  this  station,  in  his  way  to  Malacca, 
and  was  favored  with  several  interviews  with  sir  Stam- 
ford Raflles ;  who  expressed  an  earnest  desire  that 
the  Anglo-Chinese  college  should  be  removed  to  Sin- 
gapore,  and  united  with  a  Malayan  college  to  be  found- 
ed in  that  settlement ;  adding  that  he  must  look  for 
persons  to  fill  up  the  several  ofRces  of  the  institution 
chiefly  among  Christian  misaionaries. 

On   this  occasion,  nothing  appears   to  have  been 
definitively  settled ;  but  on  the  return  of  Dr.  Morrison 
from  Malacca,  the  subject  was  renewed,  and  it  was 
finally  arranged  with  sir  Stamford  Raffles,  colonel  Far- 
quhar,  and  the  other  principal  gentlemen  of  the  settle- 
ment,  that  the  Anglo-Chinese  college  should  be  re- 
moved  to  Singapore,  and  associated  with  the  proposed 
Malayan  college.     Accordingly,  on  the  first  of  April 
a  meeting  of  the  principal  inhabitants  of  the  settlement 
was  held  at  the  rosidency-house  ;  and,  after  sir  Stam- 
ford  Raffles,  who  presided  on  this  occasion,  had  sub- 
mitted   his  ideas   on  the   advantages  of  a  Malayan 
college,  together  with  the  suggestions  of  Dr.  Morrison 
foi  uniting  the  two  colleges  in  one  general  institution 
It  was  resolved  that  the  proposed  Singapore  imtUu- 
Uon  should   consist    of  the   following   departments: 
First,  a  scientific  department  for  the  common  advan- 
tage of  the  several  colleges  that  may  be  established. 
_.._..  g..„   jjjc,^.   aepariiiiciu  For  the 
Chinese,  which  the  Anglo-Chinese  college  aflbrds. 


SINGAPORE. 


iit 


And,  thirdly  a  literary  uid  moral  department  for  the 
-ollTT'  **"■  ***  ^  P™'^®^  <<»  V  »»»•  Malayan 

The  ultimate  object  of  both  the  colleges  was  .fated 
to  be  the  same,  viz.  the  propagation  of  the  Christian 
religion,  and  it  was  satisfactorily  shown,  that  the  prin- 
ciples on  which  the  Anglo-Chine«,  college  was  origin- 
ally  founded,  would  remain  unaltered,  whilst  iu 
usefulness  and  sfficiency  might  be  reasonably  expected 
to  be  increased  by  the  benefits  of  reciprocal  com- 
munication. 

In  the  course  of  the  same  year  (1823)  Mr.  Milton 
went  to  Calcutta,  in  order  to  purchase  presses  and 
other  articles  for  a  printing-office  recently  established 
m  connection  with  the  mission,  and  under  the  sanction 
of  the  local  government.     On  his  return,  he  was  ac- 
companied by  a  compositor,  and  the  printing  of  a 
Siamese  version  of  the  book  of  Genesis  was  imme- 
diately commenced.     Five  Malay  youths,  attached  to 
the  mission,  were  now  employed  in  the  office ;  and  m 
consequence  of  a  liberal  donation  for  that  purpose  from 
ur.  Morrison,  arrangements  were  made  for  building  a 
bookseller's  shop,  with  a  school-room  adjoining ;  where 
the  Chinese  version  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  and  religioui 
tracts  might  be  exhibited  for  sale.     About  the  same 
time,  the  government  ordered  two  hundred  acres  of 
land  to  be  enclosed,  for  settling  and  employing  such 
persons  as  might  be  desirous  of  receiving  Christian 
instruction,  and  also  directed  that  converts  tb  Chris- 
tianity  should  be  admitted  to  burial  in  the  European 
cemetery.  '^ 

The  deputation  visited  the  station  in  1826,  and 
though  they  regaroed  it  as  an  important  field  o( 
labor,  they  gave  a  discouraging  report  of  its  existint 
condition.  ^ 

In  1 829,the  missionary  reports  three  baptized  Malays, 
two  of  whom  aflbrd  increasingevidenceof  theirsincerity. 
While  It  is  to  be  lamented  that  so  little  success  has  yet 
attended  the  endeavors  to  make  the  Malays  acquainted 
with  the  goipel,  there  are  some  causes  which  partly 
account  for  it.     The  Mahometans  of  Singapore  are 
of  the  most  violent  class  called  Sonnite$,  or  tradition- 
ists.     They  are  followers  of  Iman  Shafei,  who  is  said 
to  have  raised  to  lifo  again  all  the  sayings  of  their 
prophet,  after  they  had  been  lost  one  hundred  and 
fifty  years.     One  of  their  notions  is,  that  to  reason 
whether  their  system  be  true  or  false,  is  meuUl  apos- 
tasy.    This  naturally  leads  them  to  resist  all  inquiry. 
In  182&— 30,  there  was  an  encouraging  demand  for 
tracts  and  portions  of  the  Scriptures. 

The  latest  accounts  from  Singapore  relate  the 
entire  failure  of  the  Malay  school,  in  consequence  of 
ilie  wretched  dependence  of  the  lower  clanes  upon 
the  chieA.   But  the  distribution  of  Malay  books  is  sue- 


S18 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


cessfuUy  pursued,  tod  thera  is  reason  to  hope  that  this 
will  be  among  the  means  of  rousing  the  attention  of 
the  natives  to  a  sense  of  the  importance  and  advantage 
of  Christianity.  Booics  are  given  away  at  the  door  of 
the  school  and  chapel ;  they  are  accepted  thankfully 
by  the  people,  and  even  by  pilgrims  and  Uajeei 
(devotees)  to  Mecca. 


PULO  PINANG,  oB  PRINCE  OF   WALES'S 
ISLAND. 

This  island  lies  near  the  entrance  of  the  straits  of 
Malacca,  off  the  west  coast  of  the  Malay  peninsula, 
from  which  it  is  separated  by  a  channel  two  miles 
wide,  which  forms  the  outer  harbor,  and  affords  good 
anchorage  for  large  ships.  It  is  a  place  of  growing 
mercantile  importance,  and  its  population  has  increas- 
ed with  astonishing  rapidity  since  its  transfer  to  the 
British  East  India  Company,  in  1786. 

In  the  month  of  January,  1819,  Mr.  Medhurst,who 
had  previously  assisted  Dr.  Milne,  at  Malacca,  em- 
barked for  Pinang,  with  the  design  of  commencing  a 
Chinese  and  Malay  mission  in  that  island.  Having 
explained  his  object  to  the  governor  in  council,  he 
was  kindly  encouraged  to  commence  his  operations, 
and  was  informed  that  he  might  expect  from  govern- 
ment an  allowance  of  twenty  dollars  monthly,  towards 
the  expense  of  the  Chinese  schools,  and  half  that  sum 
towards  the  support  of  a  Malay  seminary.  The 
Chinese  residents,  also,  cheerfully  granted  the  gratui- 
tous use  of  one  of  their  temples  as  a  school-room  ; 
and  a  considerable  number  of  religious  tracts  were 
accepted  by  them  with  readiness,  and  perused  with 
attention. 

Mr.  Medhurst  having  thus,  as  the  directors  ex- 
press it,  broken  the  ground,  returned  to  Malacca ; 
and,  in  the  beginning  of  April,  was  succeeded  by  Mr. 
Thomas  Beighton,  who  had,  for  several  months,  been 
prosecuting  the  study  of  the  Malay  language  at  that 
station.  This  missionary  and  his  wife  had  a  free  pas~ 
sage  granted  them  by  captain  Snowball  of  the  Bri- 
tannia ;  and,  on  their  arrival,  they  were  hospitably 
received  into  the  house  of  W.  J.  Cricroft,  Esq.  assistant 
secretary  to  the  government.  Tiiey  also  experienced 
the  kindest  treatment  from  the  governor,  colonel 
Bannerman,  who  promised  to  do  all  that  lay  in  his 
power  to  promote  the  objects  of  the  mission.  Mr. 
Beighton  now  erected,  among  the  dwellings  of  the 
Malay  inhabitants,  a  shed,  as  a  school  for  their  children ; 
and  though  the  parents  were  evidently  apprehensive 
that  the  ultimate  design  of  this  was  to  induce  them  to 
change  their  religion,  they  were  much  pleased  with 


4h«  idea  of  persona  voluatarily  seeking  their  wel&ie, 
and  instructing  their  offipring  free  of  expense.  Another 
Malay  school  was  subsequently  commenced  in  a  Ma- 
hometan mosque ;  and  in  each  of  these  places  Mr. 
Beighton  intended  *o  introduce  the  reading  of  the 
Holy  Scriptures,  in  conjunction  with  other  books  in 
the  Malay  language. 

Mr.  John  Ince,  the  associate  of  Mr.  Beighton  in 
this  mission,  remained  at  Malacca  a  few  months  after 
the  departure  of  the  latter,  in  order  to  prosecute  the 
study  of  the  Chinese  language,  under  the  peculiar 
advantages  enjoyed  at  that  station.  Towards  the  lat- 
ter end  of  July,  however,  he  embarked  for  Pinang ; 
and,  on  his  arrival,  undertook  the  charge  of  the  Chinese 
schools  commenced  by  Mr.  Medhurst,  into  which  the 
national  system  of  education  was  aov,  introduced  on 
a  limited  scale. 

Shortly  after  the  arrival  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.,Ince,  the 
mission  was  deprived  of  the  valuable  patronage  of  the 
highly  respected  governor,  colonel  Bannerman.  Ten 
days  before  this  event,  he  had  attended  the  funeral 
of  a  European  gentleman,  who  died  after  a  very  short 
illness.  Upon  his  return  from  the  funeral,  he  com- 
plained of  a  pain  in  his  chest,  and  though  all  was 
done  that  the  skill  of  his  medical  attendants  could 
devise,  his  indisposition  increased,  till,  at  length,  on  the 
9th  of  August,  death  put  a  period  to  his  mor.al  ex- 
istence. He  was  attended  to  the  grave  by  an  immense 
multitude  of  pensive  followers,  deeply  regretted  by  all, 
and  by  none  more  than  the  missionaries  whom  he  had 
so  kindly  patronized. 

The  first  time  Mr.  Ince  went  out,  at  Pinang,  for 
the  purpose  of  distributing  religious  tracts,  the  Chi- 
nese, to  whom  he  introduced  himself,  expressed  much 
surprise  on  hearing  him  address  them  in  the  mandarin 
dialect.  "  Their  usual  salutation,"  says  he,  "  was, 
'  From  what  place  have  you  come,  sir  ? — from  Macao  ?' 
They  then  received  the  books  with  apparent  pleasure, 
returned  me  thanks,  and  requested  that  I  would  sit 
down  with  them,  to  drink  tea  and  partake  of  their 
betel  nut.  May  the  silent  messengers  thus  sent 
forth,  be  the  means  of  leading  many  to  inquire  con- 
cerning the  truths  which  they  contain,  and,  finally, 
may  they  he  brought  to  know  the  Saviour,  and  to 
renounce  their  false  systems  of  religion  1" 

On  the  4th  of  September,  this  missionary  went  to 
witness  the  great  idolatrous  festival  of  Shaou  and 
Tseaou,  which  a  considered  as  a  feast  of  pure  be- 
nevolence ;  being  celebrated  on  the  behalf  of  those 
poor  bereaved  spirits  who  have  no  relations  to  mourn 
for  them, — to  supply  them  with  clothes,  money  and 
other  necessaries, — to  rescue  them  from  Tartarus,— 
and  to  exalt  them  to  higher  and  more  felicitous  regions. 
ii  On  Mr.  Ince's  arrival  at  the  temple,  he  wuini  il  out- 


rounded  by  a  vast  concourse  of  people,  whose  genenl 
appemuce  reminded  him  of  the  crowrds  which  usuaiiy 
attend  a  fair  in  England.     On  one  side  of  the  temple 
was  a  large  paper  idol  of  a  most  uncouth  form,  and 
•bout  fourteen  feet  in  height,  with  uncommonly  large 
glass  eyes,  and  painted  with  various  colors.    Immedi- 
ately before  this  hideous  deity,  was  a  long  table,  set 
out  with  all  kinds  of  provisions,  interspersed  with 
small  paper  idols.     At  one  end  of  the  table  were  a 
number  of  carpets  spread  on  the  ground,  on  which  sat 
.„  L'  .  »•  "uf "^"'  ^""hipping  their  god,  chanting 
an  unrntelhgible  jargon,  and  bowing  themselves  to  the 
ground.     There  were  many  other  smaller  paper  idols, 
represented  as  nding  on  animals  of  the  same  material 
and  the  whole  scene  was  illuminated  by  a  profusion 
of  lanterns  and  candles.     Behind  the  great  idol  was 
a  large  quantity  of  pieces  of  paper,  many  of  which 
were  covered  with  gold  leaf.     These  papers  were 
burned  by  the  idolaters,  under  a  firm  persuasion  that 
tney  are  transformed   into  money  iu  the  world  of 
spirits. 

.hnt?r  "'""■'V"S  '°  "«'"«  of«he  persons  around  him 
tha  there  was  but  one  true  God,  and  that  such  things 
as  these  were  displeasing  in  his  sight,  Mr.  Inoe  i„. 
quired  what  their  god  was  made  of.     Without  hesita- 
tion,  they  replied,  «  paper."     He,  of  course,  expressed 
his  astonwhment  at  the  folly  of  worshipping  a  piece 
of  painted  paper  ;  adding,  that  the  deity  they  were 
woMhippmg  had  eyes,  but  could  not  see.-ears,  but 
could  not  hear,-hands,  but  could  not  handle,-and 
feet,  but  could  not  walk.     The  truth  of  these  remarks 
they  candidly  acknowledged,  and  as  ingenuously  con- 
fessed,  that  when  the  feast  Was  over,  their  idol  would 

?.?  "Z"'!,"!''."*  "'*  """"''•     Y«*  »  completely  were 
they  blinded  by  the  power  of  Satan,  that  they  were 
unable  to  discover  the  absurdity  of  idolatrous  wonihin 
and  incapable  of  asking,   "I,  there  not  a  lie  in  our 
right  hand  ?"     On  a  second  visit  to  the  same  festival, 
Mr  Ince  observes,  "Thousands  of  people  were  as- 
sembled.and  the  noises  made  by  the  beating  of  drums 
gongs,  iic.  were  of  such  a  horrid  description,  that  it 
appeared  as  if  the  gates  of  the  lower  regions  had  been 
thro>ffn  open,  and  all  the  infernals  had  issued  forth  at 
once,  to  terrify  mankind.     These  people  spare  no 
pains  nor  cost  in  the  worship  of  their  idols ;  but  if 
thet,  are  so  sealous  in  the  cause  of  error,  what  ought 
Christians  to  be,  in  the  glorious  cause  of  truth  ?" 

About  this  time,  the  choUra  morlm  made  its  ap- 
pearance in  the  island,  and  many  of  the  boys  were  in 
consequence  detained  from  the  schools  ;  sa  their  pa- 
rents, considering  this  disease  as  resulting  from  the 
resentment  of  devils,  were  fearful  they  would  be  af- 
flicted for  reading  in  the  Scriptures. 
One  morning,  aAer  catechising  such  of  the  pupiSs 


PULOPINANG. 


Slf^ 


L!Z  ^™""*"'  ***  «««d.  Mr.  k.e  made  some 
inquiries  respectmg  a  man  who  had  died,  the  precedin* 

the  te«:her  to  point  out  the  spot  where  the  poor 
creature  had  expired.  It  was  «„idst  the  ruiiSTI 
house  whKh  formerly  stood  u.  the  jungle,  and  sur" 
funded  by  trees,  which  had  grown  to  a  co^sider^l 

b  ckness.     In  answer  to  some  questions  relative  to 
this  sad  event,  the  teacher  stated,  with  the  greatest 
unconcern,  that  the  man  had  been  sick,  and  the  pet 
sons  with  whom  he  had  lived,  had  turned  him  ouf  of 
their  house,  lest  they  should  catch  the  disease  :-that 
bemg  unprotected,  he  had  retired  to  this  spot,  wher! 
dunng  the  day,  he  cut  a  little  fire-wood  f^  hb  sul' 
istence,  and  slept  as  well  as  he  could  at  night ;  but 
that  bemg,  at  length,  seized  with  the  cholera,  he  had 
aied,  no  one  knowing  of  the  circumstance,  till  his 
corpse  wasdiscovered  in  the  jungle. 

"  While  I  was  talking  with  the  teacher,"  says  Mr 
Ince,  "some  of  the  boys  belonging  to  the  sch  Jcame 
up,  and  pointed  to  another  poor  creature,  who  lay 

stood,  but  whom  the  jungle  had  prevented  us  from 
seeing.     I  immediately  went  to  the  spot,  when  an 
object  presented  itself  which  chilled  my  blood  ;  the 
body  of  the  man  being  completely  covered  with  sores. 
I  asked  him  whence  he  came,  why  he  remained  in 
that  place,  and  why  he  did  not  go  to  the  general 
hospital  ?    He  said  he  felt  himself  fold,  and  thIX 
had  come  thither,  that  he  might  lie  and  warm  himself 
m  the  sun.     I  offered  to  send  him  to  the  hospital ;  but 
he  said  he  had  a  home,  and  had  only  come  out  for 
fresh  air.     What  a  miserable  wretch  was  here !— a 
man  with  his  body  eaten  up  by  disease,-only  a  step 
between  him  and  death,-a„d  no  hope  beyond  the 
grave  !    I  was  obliged  to  leave  him  lying  on  a  broken 
pillar  of  the  ruined  fabric,  and  returned  home  affected 
to  Illness  with  the  sight." 

On  the  27th  of  December,  1820,  Mr.  Medhurst. 
who  was  then  at  Pinang,  went  to  the  house  of  an  old 
man,  who  had  recently  died,  with  the  design  of  im- 
proving  the  solemn  event,  by  addressing  the  surviving 
relations.     None  of  these,  however,  could  find  leisure 
to  attend  to  him  ;  and  his  mind  was  deeply  affected 
by  the  shocking  carelessness  which  they  evinced  re- 
specting the  things  of  eternity,  notwithstanding  the 
forced  and  mechanical  kind  of  sorrow  and  weeping  in 
which,  at   times,  they   appeared   to   indulge.      The 
body,  when  laid  in  the  coffin,  wax  dressed  in  a  com- 
plete  suit  of  new  clothes,  though  the  relatives  were 
very  poor,  and  an  abundance  of  gilt  paper  was  kept 
continually  burning  near  the  corpse.     After  the  coffin 

T  ?!.'"?  ""**"'  ""  '""'""*  P°''  ^'"'  e«t»b:es,  was 
placed  before  it;  and  the  relations, beginning  with  the 


6S0 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


eldest  son,  bowed  down  nine  times,  with  their  faces 
toward  the  earth,  before  the  deceased.  The  mat  and 
pillows  belonging  to  the  late  occupier  of  the  house 
were  then  taken  out,  to  be  thrown  away  ;  and  all  the 
friends,  who  had  assisted  in  the  ceremonies,  washed 
their  hands  in  oil,  in  order,  as  they  said,  to  prevent 
any  noxious  influence  from  adhering  to  them. 

Early  in  the  ensuing  month  (January,  1821,)  Mr. 
Medhurst  paid  a  visit  to  a  dilapidated  temple,  where 
he  found  the  altar  neglected  and  the  idol  removed. 
On  inquiring  why  this  sacred  place  had  been  de- 
serted, he  was  told  that  the  god  had  selected  another 
spot  for  his  residence  ;  and  when  he  urged  the  impos- 
sibility of  a  log  of  wood  exercising  any  choice,  or 
expressing  his  desire  to  others,  his  informant  stated, 
that  there  was  no  difficulty  in  the  case ;  for  when  they 
were  carrying  the  deity  round  the  village,  in  his  chair 
of  state,  which  was  usually  borne  by  four  persons  only, 
h  suddenly  became  so  heavy,  that  twenty  men  could 
oot  have  removed  it  from  the  spot  which  the  idol  had 
«vidently  selected  as  the  place  of  his  future  residence  ! 
'Hie  person  who  made  this  assertion  did  not  pretend 
to  have  witnessed  the  fact,  but  he  evidently  believed 
what  he  related,  notwithstanding  its  monstrous  ab- 
surdity. 

A  few  days  after  this  conversation,  a  person  applied 
to  our  missionary  for  some  medicine  ;  and,  on  being 
isked  whether  he  ever  thought  upon  the  family  which 
he  had  left  in  China,  he  replied  in  the  affirmative, 
•nd  added,  that  he  intended,  in  the  course  of  the 
ensuing  year,  to  return  and  visit  them ;  as  he 
bad  three  sons,  and  one  daughter  who  was  married. 
"  I  had  another  daughter,"  he  observed ;  "  but  I  did 
not  bring  her  up."  "  Not  bring  her  up !"  exclaimed 
Mr.  Medhurst ;  "  what  then  did  you  do  with  her  ?" 
"  I  smothered  her,"  he  replied  ;  "  and  on  hearing,  by 
letter,  that  another  daughter  was  bom,  I  sent  word  to 
have  that  smothered  also ;  but  the  mother  has  pre- 
served it  alive."  "  I  was  shocked  at  this  speech,"  says 
Mr.  Medhurst,  "  and  still  more  at  the  horrid  indiffer- 
ence with  which  he  uttered  it.  '  What,'  said  I, '  murder 
your  own  children  !  Do  not  you  shudder  at  such  an 
act  ?'  < O  no !'  he  replied,  'it  is  a  very  common 
thing  in  China.  We  put  the  female  children  out  of 
the  way,  to  save  the  trouble  of  bringing  them  up  : — 
some  people  smother  five  or  six  daughters.'  My  hor- 
ror was  increased  by  his  continued  indifference,  and 
the  lightness  with  which  such  crimes  are  perpetrated 
in  China  with  impunity,  which  must  be  the  case 
when  they  are  related  without  fear  of  detection,  as  the 
common  occurrences  of  life.  I  felt  that  I  had  a  mur- 
derer by  my  side,  who,  without  repentance,  must 
inevitably  perish  ;  and  I  told  him  plainly,  that  he  had 
euininiticd  a  most  drcadnii  sin,  and  ws3  in  danger  of 


utemal  wrath.  But  though  I  said  this  with  the  greatest 
seriousness  and  earnestness,  he,  at  first  only  laughed, 
and  it  was  some  time  before  he  would  acknowledge 
that  he  had  done  wrong :  however,  afterwards  he 
seemed  to  feel  a  little  concerned,  and  I  hope  affect- 
ed." What  an  awful  view  does  this  present  of  the 
celestial  empire,  loaded  with  crime,  deluged  with  blood, 
and  ripe  for  destruction  !  O  that  God  would  translate 
them  from  darkness  to  light,  and  from  the  power  of 
sin  and  Satan  unto  himself! 

During  the  year  1823,  the  brethren  at  Pinang  issued 
proposals  for  erecting  a  chapel  by  subscription,  to  be 
used  indiscriminately  for  Chinese,  Malay,  and  English 
worsliip.  The  expense  was  estimated  at  six  thousand 
Spanish  dollars,  and,  in  consequence  of  this  applica- 
tion, nearly  half  that  sum  was  soon  raised  on  the  spot, 
including  a  donation  of  four  hundred  dollars  from  his 
excellency,  govsmor  Phillips.  Tlie  directors,  also, 
voted  two  hundred  pounds  in  aid  of  this  object,  on 
condition  that  the  building  should  be  regularly  vested 
in  the  society.  The  foundation-stone  was  accordingly 
laid  on  the  11th  of  June,  and  in  the  course  of  the 
ensuing  summer  the  chapel  was  opened,  and  attended 
by  large  and  respectable  congregations. 

On  the  24th  April,  1825,  aftera  tedious  illness,  Mr. 
Ince  was  called  to  the  rewards  which  await  the  faithful. 
Mr.  Ince  was  a  valuable  and  devoted  missionary.  He 
was  held  in  high  esteem  by  all  classes  in  Pinang.  The 
increased  weight  of  missionary  labor,  which  devolved 
upon  Mr.  Beighton,  after  the  decease  of  his  late  col- 
league, was  greater  than  his  strength  could  bear.  Se- 
rious indisposition  was  the  result,  and  he  was  compelled 
to  take  a  voyage  to  Singapore,  committing  the  schools 
to  David,  a  native  assistant,  whose  services  in  the  Ma- 
lay department  are  invaluable.  In  1826,  with  im- 
proved health,  we  find  Mr.  Beighton  at  his  post.  A 
church  was  formed  on  the  11th  July,  1826,  and  a  lady 
and  gentleman,  residents  in  Pinang,  united  with  it,  after 
a  renunciation  of  popery.  "  This  year  the  state  of 
religion,"  the  directors  say,  "  among  the  European 
residents,  when  compared  with  what  it  was  seven  years 
ago,  exhibits  gratifying  improvement." 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dyer  arrived  at  Pinang  in  1827 ;  and 
Mr.  Beighton,  in  consequence  of  this  aid,  devoted  his 
labors  to  the  Malay  department.  The  report  of  the 
directors  for  1830  affords  the  following  view  of  the 
mission  : 

"  Chinese  Branch. — ^The  habits  and  prejudices  of 
the  Chinese,  as  well  as  the  apathy  which  men  naturally 
feel  as  to  spiritual  things,  prove  most  formidable  obsta- 
cles to  the  introduction  of  stated  preaching  among  them. 

"  Mr.  Dyer,  however,  indefatigably  labors,  by  all  the 
means  in  his  power,  (such  as  conversing  almost  daily 
iti  iiic  bazaars,  attd  other  places  of  public  rczOft,  anu 


JAVA. 


the  distribution  among  such  as  desire  to  read  and  exam- 
ine for  themselves,  of  Christian  tracts  and  copies  of 
the  Scriptures),  to  disseminate  the  gospel  among  that 
people ;  and  we  trust  that  the  seed  thus  sown  will, 
through  the  divine  blessing,  at  length  spring  up  and 
yield  an  abundant  harvest. 

"^^',\^hooU.-.Tbe  boys'  school,  established 
on  the  British  system,  affords  Mr.  Dyer  increasing  sat- 
isfaction. The  girls'  school,  under  the  care  of  Mrs 
Uyer,  was  in  a  flourishing  state  in  the  early  part  of  last 
year,-but  had  been  unavoidably  suspended.  It  was 
Mrs.  Dyer's  intention  to  resume  it  as  soon  as  possible. 
The  school-room  in  which  this  school  is  held,  erected 
a17'7»  l"'  ^'"""S,  at  the  expense  offourhun- 
Cbed^  dollars,   has  besn  presented   by   them   to   th? 

"Froma  set  of  wooden  blocks,  prepared  at  Pinane 
under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Dyer,  a  sm'all  fount  ofS 

S;  Mr"  WatU. '"''"'  '''"  '"  '^^"  '^'^  "  ^"''-' 
"Malay  Branch.-Mr.  Beighton, notwithstanding  a 
feeble  state  of  health,  continues  with  his  usual  zeal  and 
deyotedness  to  labor  among  the  Malays,  and  preaches 
to  them,  as  formerly,  in  the  mission  chapel.      During 
the  past  year,  he  visited  several  places  in  the  island,  for 
the  purpose  of  distributing  the  Scriptures  and  religious 
tracts  among  the  Malays,  whom,  however,  he  found  in 
general  so  extremely  ignorant,  and  incapable  of  reading 
that  to  have  distributed  books  among  them  would  have 
been   useless.     He,  therefore,  left  copies   with  such 
persons  as  were  able  to  read,  requesting  them  to  col- 
lect their  neighbors  once  every   day,  and  read  the 
books  to  them.     In  some  places,  the  people  desired 
him  to  send  them  teachers,  and  to  establish  schools  in 
their  villages.    The  Chinese  with  whom  he  met,  eagerly 
received  some  books  in  their  language,  with  which 
he  bad  been  previously  furnished  by  Mr.  Dyer 

"In  the  month  of  June,  Mr.  Beighton,  accompanied 
by  Mr.   Dyer,  performed  a  missionary  tour  on  the 
western  coast  of  the  Malayan  peninsula,  where  an 
artap  house  has  been  erected  for  their  accommodation, 
whenever  they  visit  that  country.     During  their  tour, 
«iey  distributed  four  hundred  and  eighty-four  Bibles  and 
1  estaments,  and  three  hundred  and  eighty-five  tracts. 
Our  brethren  were  much  surprised  and  gratified  at  the 
eager  demand  for  books  by  the  Malays,  and  to  find 
that  so  many  of  them  were  able  to  read.    The  total 
number  of  copies  of  the  Scriptures  distributed  by  Mr 
Beighton,  in   18S9,  was  eight  hundred  and  fifty,  and 
of  tracts,  one  thousand  and  eighty-five. 
"  The  number  of  Malay  schools  has'been  reduced  to 

five,  in  consequence  of  a  aeneral  md-ic*:"-  :-  •»• 

emment  establishment  of  Pinang,  which  has  been^'ex- 

tended  to  the  allowances  made  in  support  of  native 

Vol.  I.— Nos.  43  &  44.  gg 


581 


schools  in  that  island.  It  is,  however,  gratifybg  to 
know,  that  education  is  beginning  to  be  viewed  as  hn- 
portant  by  the  people  themselves;  in  proof  of  which 
It  may  be  mentioned,  that  Mr.  Beighton  has  lately  had 
four  applications  for  Malay  schools,  and  he  feels  per^ 
suaded  that  a  considerable  number  of  such  schools 
might  be  established,  were  adequate  funds  provided  for 
the  purpose. 

«  Mrs.  Beighton  has  succeeded  in  gaining  the  confi- 
dence of  a  number  of  Malay  females,  who  are  under 
her  immediate  and  constant  instruction.  She  teaches 
them  to  read  the  Scriptures  and  other  Christian  books, 
borne  of  her  pupils  can  read  well,  and  most  of  them, 
have  made  progress  in  needle-work.  As,  however* 
they  cannot  be  persuaded  to  leave  their  own  compounds^ 
Mrs.  Beighton  is  obliged  to  go  to  them,  or  the  good 
work  would  not  be  performed. 

«  English  Services.— The  lecture  on  sabbath  even- 
ings 13  not  so  well  attended,  as  formerly,  in  conse- 
quence  of  the  government  chaplain  having  commenced 
a  service  in  the  church  on  that  evening.  The  Wednes- 
day  evening  prayer-meeting  is  well  attended." 

The  latest  accounts  from  this  field  of  labor  are  con- 
tained in  a  letter  from  Mr.  Dyer,  under  date  of  Au- 
gust7,  1830:— 

"Concerning  the  Chinese  mission  at  Pinang,  I  write 
with  more  pleasure,  as  things  have  with  me  taken  a 
more  interesting  turn.     The  small  house,  or  bungafow 
m  the  bazaar,  has  been  opened  for  some  time,  and  I 
make  it  my  daily  practice,  if  possible,  to  go,  and  sit 
there  some  hours.      I  generally  go  in  the  morning: 
immediately  on  my  arrival,  I  am  surrounded  by  a  group 
of  patients,  whom  I  supply  with  medicines.     These 
medicines   were   granted  by  the  government  on  my 
application.     I  perceive  that  this  has  already  had  some 
influence  upon  the  minds  of  the  people,  as  many  of  them 
now  believe  I  have  no  sinister  end  in  view."—"  After 
distributing  medicines  for  a  limited  time  in  the  morning, 
I  remain  to  converse  with  the  Chinese,  and  for  this 
purpose  I  go  again  in  the  evening.     Some  of  these  sea- 
sons  have  refreshed  me  much,  and  my  mind  has  been 
comforted  and  encouraged  ui  this  interestuig  work." 


JAVA. 

This  island  is  separated  from  the  south-eastern  ex- 
tremity  of  Sumatra  by  the  strait  of  Sunda.  Its  length 
IS  six  hundred  and  sixty  English  miles;  its  breadth  va- 
nes from  sixty  to  a  hundred  and  forty.    The  popula- 

i'"iln"^  ^^""*"'"*^  ^y  governor  Raffles  at  about 
4,000,000.  Batavia  is  the  metropolis  of  this  most  fer- 
tile island.     I  was  built  by  the  Dutch,  in  1619,  upon 


8M 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


the  plan  of  the  towns  in  Holland.  But  the  canals 
were  ill  adapted  to  salubrity  in  such  a  climate.  The 
population  of  Batavia  has  dwindled  from  nearly 
175,000  to  about  50,000,  and  other  towns  have  arisen 
into  importance.  Surabaya,  Samarang,  Solo  and 
Djaijaieuta,  are  all  as  populous  as  Batavia. 

In  the  year  1812,  the  directors  of  the  London  Mis- 
sionary Society  felt  a  strong  desire  to  communicate 
the  blessings  of  the  gospel  to  the  inhabitants  of  the 
great  and  populous  island  of  Java  ;  especially  as  there 
were  said  to  be  not  less  than  a  hundred  thousand  Chi- 
nese residing  there,  among  whom  it  seemed  probable 
that  the  Holy  Scriptures,  translated  into  their  language 
by  Dr.  Morrison,  might  be  freely  circulated.  And  for 
the  accomplishment  of  this  pious  desire,  suitable  in- 
struments were  soon  and  providentially  furnished. 
Joseph  Kam,  a  native  of  Holland,  John  Christopher 
Supper,  and  Gotlob  Bruckner,*  natives  of  Germany, 
had  been  educated  as  Christian  missionaries  at  Berlin 
and  at  Rotterdam,  and  were  intended  to  have  been 
sent  out  by  the  Netherland  Missionary  Society  to 
India ;  but  obstacles,  occasioned  by  the  war,  prevented 
this  design  from  being  carried  into  execution.  They 
came  over  to  England,  therefore,  and  were  gladly 
received  by  the  directors  of  the  London  society ;  and, 
after  spending  some  time  very  advantageously  in  the 
seminary  at  Gosport,  it  was  determined  that  they  should 
proceed  to  Batavia,  the  principal  city  of  Java ;  where 
they  might  be  usefully  employed  in  preaching  to  the 
Dutch  residents,  while  preparing  to  evangelize  the 
native  heathen.  They  were,  accordingly,  ordained  at 
the  Dutch  church  in  London,  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Wer- 
ninck,  on  the  14th  of  November,  1813,  and  embarked 
for  Java,  on  the  31st  of  the  ensuing  month. 

It  is  particularly  worthy  of  notice,  that  whilst  the 
directors  were  employed  in  preparing  this  mission,  two 
gentlemen  of  fortune,  who  were  on  a  visit,  for  their 
health,  to  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  called  on  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Thom,  at  that  place,  and  expressed  an  earnest 
desire  that  some  missionaries  might  be  sent  out  to 
Batavia.  One  of  these  gentlemen  even  offered  six 
thousand  rix  dollars  for  this  purpose,  and  a  bill  to  that 
amount  was  actually  transmitted,  by  Mr.  Thom,  to  the 
directors.  Thus  the  Lord  of  mission»was  graciously 
pleased  both  to  raise  up  laborers  for  the  intended  sta- 
tion, and  a  handsome  donation  towards  the  expense 
which  would  be  necessarily  incurred. 

By  the  good  providence  of  their  God,  the  brethren 
were  favored  with  a  safe  voyage  across  the  great  deep ; 
and,  on  reaching  their  place  of  destination,  they  were 

•  Thif  la»t-mentioned  miasionary  afterwards  became  convinced 
of  the  propriety  of  tlie  peculiar  views  which  distinguiih  the  Bap- 
Uste,  and  was  immeraed.  Hit  conneciiun  wiiii  iiiia  Mxiialy  wiu 
diMolved,  and  he  wai  received  under  the  patronage  of  the  English 
B«ptif  t  mission. 


received  in  the  kindest  manner,  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Rosi, 
the  only  surviving  minister  of  the  Dutch  in  Batavia. 
This  pious  man  evinced  the  utmost  joy  at  their  arrlTal, 
and  immediately  made  arrangements  for  placing  them 
in  such  situations  as  he  considered  would  be  most  luie- 
ful,  and  most  congenial  with  the  views  of  thedirecton. 

It  was,  accordingly,  determined  that  Mr.  Kaih 
should  go  to  Amboyna,  to  take  charga  of  the  Dutch 
church  there,  and  to  apply  himself  to  the  study  of  the 
Malay  language  ; — that  Mr.  Bruckner  should  officiate 
at  Samarang,  the  minister  of  that  place  being  incapaci- 
tated for  labor  by  age ; — and  that  Mr.  Supper  should 
remain  at  Batavia,  as  the  colleague  of  Dr.  Ross.  All 
these  appointments  were  authorized  by  his  excellency, 
governor  Raffles,by  whom  the  missionaries  were  treated 
with  every  mark  of  urbanity  and  kindness. 

In  a  letter  dated  November,  1814,  Mr.  Supper 
speaks  of  an  increase  in  his  congregation,  and  states 
that  several  persons  had  appeared  to  be  convinced  of 
their  sins  under  the  ministry  of  the  word  ;  but  they  had 
encountered  much  opposition  from  theur  gay  connec- 
tions, and  many  others  were  offended  with  the  faithful- 
ness of  the  discourses  which  had  been  delivered  in  the 
church.  In' the  same  communication  he  observes, 
that  the  books  which  Dr.  Milne  had  distributed  among 
the  Chinese  in  this  island,  seemed  to  have  produced 
a  good  effect.  "  I  now  and  then  take  a  morning  ride," 
says  he,  "  on  purpose  to  inquire  whether  the  Chinese 
read  their  Testaments  and  tracts,  and  I  find  that  they 
not  only  do  so,  but  are  pleased  with  what  they  read. 
They  are  desirous,  however,  of  having  a  living  inter- 
preter ;  and  indeed  I  earnestly  wish  that  some  feithful 
missionaries  might  come  hither,  and  attend  solely  to 
the  Chinese  language ;  as,  in  that  case,  they  wculd 
soon  be  able  to  preach  to  the  people.  It  is  true 
that  this  would  prove  exceedingly  expensive  to  the 
society  ;  yet,  without  this,  1  think  that  much  cannot 
be  done." 

In  another  letter,  dated  August  12,  1816,  and  ad- 
dressed to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Steinkopff,  Mr.  Supper  says, 
"The  German,  French,  Dutch  ard  English  Bibles 
and  Testaments,  as  well  as  the  Portuguese  New  Tes- 
taments, which,  through  your  goodness,  I  carried  out 
with  me,  or  received  from  you  afterwards,  have  almost 
all  -been  expended,  and  I  can  assure  you,  that  they 
have  fallen  into  hands  where  they  are  daily  made  use 
of  The  Ciiinese  New  Testament,  which  the  zealous 
missionary,  Mr.  Milne,  distributed  among  the  Chinese, 
and  those  which  I  had  the  means  of  distributing,  have 
been  visibly  attended  with  blessed  effects.  I  mention 
only  a  few  instances :  A  member  of  my  Portuguese 
congregation  came  to  me  last  week,  and  said, '  I  am 
acquainted  with  some  Chinese  who  generally  come  10 
me  twice  a  week,  when  the  word  of  God  is  the  theme 


JAVA. 


of  our  convemtion  5  diey  hare  read  the  Chinese  New 
Testament,  and  find  tlie  contenu  of  it  of  far  greater 
excellence  than  that  of  any  other  book  they  have  ever 
readrbut  yet  they  do  not  understand  every  thmg  that 
i«  said  in  It,  and  consequently  apply  to  me  to  explain 
■nd  clear  up  some  passages  which  they  cannot  com- 
prehend.   I  then  give  them  such  Ulustrations  on  the 
u'^l^J  *'"'°  remembered  from  your  discourses.' 
u    /J,"'/°«"g"ese  is  one  of  my  pupils,  and  thanks 
be  to  God,  I  may  truly  say,  that  he  is  my  crown  and 
the  first  frwt  of  my  labors  among  the  nominal  Chris- 
tians  here.     The  Chinese  have  already  turned  their 
Idols  out  of  their  houses,  and  are  desirous  of  becomine 
Chnstians.  ° 

"Another  of  my  Portuguese  pupils,  a  man  of  fifty- 
eight,  carne  to  me  a  few  days  ago,  and  told  me  that 
a  certain  Chinese,  who  had  read  the  New  Testament 
m  his  mother  tongue,  visits  him  three  times  a  week, 
to  converse  about  the  doctrines  of  Christianity ;  he 
seems  to  love  Jesus  Christ  better  than  Confucius,  and 
expressed  a  wish  for  a  few  more  books  in  the  Chinese 
language.  He  likewise  turned  his  paper  idols  out  of 
his  house,  and  is  ardently  desirous  of  becomine  a 
Christian.  ° 

"I  was  lately  on  a  visit  to  a  certain  gentleman, 
where  one  of  the  richest  Chinese  in  this  country  was 
also  a  guest.     He  spoke  to  me  in  Dutch,  and  said,— 
•I  have  read  Mr.  Morrison's  New  Testament  with 
pleasur:^.   It  is  very  fine,  and  it  would  be  well  if  every 
one  led  such  a  life  as  Jesus  Christ  has  taught  people 
to  lead.      I  cannot  describe  to  you  what  effect  these 
words,  spoken  by  the  mouth  of  a  Chinese,  had  upon 
me.     I  commenced  a  discourse  with  him  about  his 
idols,  and  said,— « You  believe,  according  to  the  doc- 
trines of  Confucius,  that  thero  is  but  one  God,  who 
made  heaven,  the  earth,  man  and  every  living  crea- 
ture ?'     '  Yes,'  he  replied  ; « but  God  is  so  far  above 
us,  that  we  dare  not  address  ourselves  to  hira,  without 
the  intervention  of  the  demi-gods.'     I  then  said,  'As 
God  is  the  Creator  of  mankind,  should  we  not  call 
him  our  common  Father  ?'      «  Yes,  certainly,'  was  his 
reply.     « Well,  if  this  be  admitted,  are  not  children 
obliged  to  place  confidence  in  their  father  ?'    «  Most 
assuredly.'    '  In  what  consists  this  confidence  and 
trust  ?'     No  answer.     'Are  not  you  the  father  of  five 
sons  ?'     '  Yes.'     '  Now,  what  would  you  think  or  do, 
if  three  of  your  sons  took  it  into  their  heads  to  paint 
images  upon  paper,  or  carve  them  upon  wood  ;  and, 
when  finished,  pay  them  all  the  veneration,  and  put 
that  confidence  in  tiiem,  which  is  justly  due  to  you  as 
their  father  ?     Would  you  quietly  submit  to  such  con- 
duct in  your  sons  ?'     '  No,  I  would  certainly  chastise 
them,  and  place  them  in  a  mad-house,  as  laboring 
under  a  fit  of  insanity.'    '  But  if  they  stated,  by  way 


9S8 


of  exculpation,  that  from  the  great  veneration  they 
had  for  you,  as  their  father,  they  could  not  venture  to 
approach  you,  but  through  the  intercession  of  imagu 
which  they  themselves  had  made,  what  would  you  say 
then  ?      '  I  should  answer,  I  have  chastised  you  for 
your  want  of  confidence  in  me,  and  on  account  of  your 
conduct  in  preparing  images,  and  paying  them  the 
respect  which  is  alone  due  to  me,  they  being  unable 
to  hear,  move,  or  help  themselves,  I  pronounce  you 
to  be  out  of  your  senses.'    '  But,'  said  I, '  do  you  act 
more  wisely,  on  this  supposition,  than  your  children 
would  have  acted,  when  you  worship  the  idols  in  youi 
temples,  and  pay  every  honor  to  them  in  your  houses, 
which  IS  only  due  to  your  heavenly  Father  ?'    «Ah  1' 
replied   the  Chinese,  'we  have  never  directed  our 
view  so  far;  but  I  am  convinced,  that  our  idola. 
try  can  never  be  pleasing  to  the  only  and  true  God 
and  that  by  so  doing  we  provoke  his   vengeance 
upon  us.'  ° 

"The  conversation  being  ended,  he  went  home, 
seemingly  dissatisfied      ,n  himself;  and  on  his  arrival 
there,  tore  all  the  painted  images  from  the  walk,  and 
threw  them  into  the  fire.   He  has  never  since  frequent- 
ed the  Chinese  temples,  and  contents  himself  with 
reading    the    New   Testament,   and  other  religious 
writings,  with  which  I  supply  him  from  time  to  time. 
Is  it  unlikely  that  this  Chinese  is  far  from  the  kingdom 
of  God  ?   Is  not  the  grace  of  God  and  the  power  of  the 
Holy  Spirit  able  to  convert  even  the  Chinese  to  the  true 
Chnstian  faith  ?     Many  of  the  Europeans  here  are  in- 
clined  to  doubt  this,  and  therefore  look  upon  my  labor  aa 
an  unnecessary  waste  of  time ;  but  their  seemingly  repul- 
sive doubts  animate  me  to  greater  Keal,  and  strengthen 
my  faith  and  hope  that  God  will  convince  such  unbe- 
lievers by  the  evidence  of  facts,  that  the  labors  of  his 
servants  among  the  Chinese  will  not  be  'in  vain  in 
the  Lord.' 

"  You  will  rejoice  with  me  when  I  tell  you,  that  the 
Lord  has  signally  blessed  the  labors  of  my  catechu- 
mens. Four  of  them  have  solemnly  made  a  confession 
of  their  faith,  and  have  been  accepted  as  members  of 
our  community ;  as  their  conduct  is  a  sure  testimony 
of  the  true  Christian  life  they  lead,  and  they  continue 
to  give  proofs,  that  they  act  under  the  influence  of  the 
Holy  Spirit  and  the  gospel  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
the  power  of  which  unto  salvation  they  have  already 
an  experience  of.  One  of  my  catechists  reads  the 
Holy  Scriptures  with  some  Mahometans  three  times  a 
week,  converses  with  them  upon  what  they  have  read, 
and  they  join  in  prayer  in  his  house  afterwards.  One 
of  the  upper  servants  of  a  Mahometan  mosque  told 
•'ttsi  t!ic  utiicr  uay,  •  i  nave  soived  many  years  in  our 
temples,  but  have  never  yet  heard  so  many  agreeable 
truths  from  the  priests,  as  are  contained  in  your  Chris- 


6U 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


tian  koran.  I  look  upon  the  Christinn  worship  as  the 
best  and  most  intelligible ;  and  since  you  have  taught 
roe  to  pray,  I  always  feel  a  peculiarly  agreeable  repose 
to  my  mind,  when  I  have  offered  up  my  murning  and 
evening  prayers,  such  as  I  never  experienced  before.* 
Some  of  the  p.iests  have  applied  to  me.  through  this 
my  beloved  pupil,  for  an  Arabic  Bible,  which,  after 
repeated  requests,  I  shall  send  them.  I  do  not,  in 
general,  give  the  Bible,  particularly  to  people  of  that 
class,  on  their  first  application,  nor  on  the  second,  or 
even  third  ;  and  1  hope  that  my  plan  cf  proceeding  will 
be  approved  of  by  those,  who  have  been  attentive  to 
the  way  in  which  God  deals  with  his  children.  God 
does  not  give  us  in  an  instant  what  we  desire  or  pray 
for,  but  wisely  exercises  us  in  the  duty  of  patient  wait- 
ing, until  the  time  arrives  when  we  are  prepared  to 
set  the  proper  value  upon  the  gifts  he  in  his  mercy 
bestows  upon  us.  I  consider  it  my  duty,  in  imitation 
of  the  example  which  the  Lord  has  set  before  me,  to 
act  in  this  manner;  particularly  when  I  reflect,  that  I 
have  buen  thought  worthy  of  being  his  steward  and  the 
dispenser  of  the  Bible  Society's  most  precious  gifts  ; 
which  are  of  infinitely  greater  value  than  all  earthly 
kingdoms,  for  the  Bible  is  the  key  to  the  kingdom  of 
eternal  felicity." 

The  faithful  and  excellent  servant  of  Christ,  by 
whom  this  interesting  communication  was  penned,  was, 
in  the  course  of  the  same  year,  summoned  from  the 
scene  of  his  labors  to  the  mansions  of  eternal  rest. 
And  from  the  period  of  his  decease,  the  liondon  so- 
ciety had  no  missionary  in  Java  until  the  summer  of 
18! 9,  when  Mr.  John  Slater,  who  had  been  for  a  con- 
siderable time  occupied  in  the  study  of  the  Chinese 
language  at  Canton  and  Malacca,  arrived  there.  On 
his  landing,  he  was  much  indebted  to  the  friendly 
attentions  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Robinson,  the  Baptist 
missionary,  who  kindly  received  him  into  his  house. 
He  also  received  much  kindness  from  the  Dutch  clergy 
in  Batnvia,  and  his  reception  among  the  people  was 
more  favorable  than  he  had  anticipated.  They  listened 
to  him  with  attention,  though,  perhaps,  rather  from 
raoliviof  curiosity  than  a  desire  for  religious  improve- 
ment. The  following  extracts  of  a  letter  from  this 
missionary,  dated  29lh  of  July,  containing  some  ac- 
count of  his  voyage,  cannot  fail  to  be  gratifying  to  the 
Christian  reader: — 

"  We  left  Malacca  on  the  27th  of  April,  with  the 
instructions,  prayers  an.l  tears  of  our  brethren.  Our 
principal  baggage  consisted  of  Chinese  tracts,  New 
Testaments,  and  such  parts  of  the  Old  Testament  as 
were  printed,  to  the  amour  of  1 1 ,999  hooks.  Our 
brother  Thomsen  iumished  me  witli  Malay  tracts  in 
the  Roman  character,  and  Malay  tracts,  ratcchisms 
•nd  spelling-books  in  the  Arabic  cbartcter,  jirinted  by 


himself,  which  increased  my  sstock  to  about  15,000 
books.     These,  I  I.  >pe,  it  will  be  my  happiness  to  dis- 
tribute among  the  heathen,  and  that  they  will  afford 
me  many  opportunities  of  preaching  the  gospel  amongst 
them.     Perhaps  an  account  of  my  voyage  mcy  not 
be  uninteresting,  as  we  touched  at  several  places  on 
the  way.     The  first  was  Singapore,  an  English  settle- 
ment newly  formed,  and  at  present  in  a  very  prosper- 
ous state.     Here  I  spent  a  day  on  shore  with  major 
Farquhar.  the  late  English  governor  of  Malacca,  who 
has  always  been  our  patron  and  friend  ;  and  had  thus 
an  opportunity  of  distributing  a  box  of  Chinese  tracts 
among  the  new  settlers.     Major  Farquhar  received 
me  with  his  usual  kindness,  and  expressed  a  hope  that 
iie  should  soon  see  a  Malay  and  Chinese  missionary 
settled  there,  and  assured  me  that  he  felt  much  inter- 
ested in  the  Ultra  Ganges  mission.     We  next  touched 
at  Rhio,  a   Dutch  settlement,  where  I  went  on  shore 
to  inquire  into  the  number  and  state  of  the  Chinese, 
taking  with  me  several  hundred  tracts  and  Testaments. 
These  I  soon  found  an  opportunity  of  putting  into  the 
hands  of  the  people,  who  were  all  assembled  at  the 
Pasar;  and  within  an  hour  th'-ir  attention  seemed  to 
be  drawn  from  their  merchandise  to  my  tracts.     As  I 
returned,  1  felt  unspeakable  pleasure  in  seeing  3 very 
jne  reading  the  word  of  God,  either  in  a  tract,  or  in  its 
pure  state.     I  suppose  the  number  of  Chinese  here 
to  be  about  the  same  as  at  Malacca.     We  came  next 
to  Lingen,  an  independent  settlement  near  the  straits 
of  Banca.     Here  also  I  went  on  shore,  and  spent  two 
days  in  disiributing  tracts  and  conversing  with  the  people. 
As  I  supposed  no  Christian  missionary  had  ever  been 
here  before,  I  endeavored,  as  far  as  possible,  to  furnish 
every  family  with  a  New  Testament,  and  such  parts 
of  the  Old  as  I  had  with  me.     I  likewise  wont  on 
board  three  Chinese  junks,  lying  in  the  harbor,  and 
gave  the  seamen  a  few  tracts  and  several  Testaments 
for  each  vessel      I  also  sent  by  each  vessel  three  New 
Testaments,  and  tracts  in   proportion,  for  their  frietids 
in  China,  with  a  promise  on  their  part  that  they  would 
deliver  'hem.     It  is  in  this  way  that  the  Sacred  Scrip- 
tures must  enter  China ;   and   I  hope  the  numerous 
copies  that  we  have  already  sent  will  be  like  leaven 
hid   in    meal,  gradually  leavening    the  whole  mass. 
Leaving  Lingen,  we  sailed  for  the  island  of  Borneo, 
and  touched  at  Pontiana.     Here  I  foimd  much  diffi- 
culty  in  getting  on  shore,  as  we  were  lying  at  anchor 
sixteen  miles  off.     At  length,  however,  I  succeeded  ; 
and   taking  with  me  two  hundred   New  Testaments, 
three  hundred  catechisms,  which  contain  the  substance 
of  the  Christian  religion,  and   a  number  of  tracts,  I 
committed  myself  and  cargo  to  a  native  boat,  which, 
after  pulling  nearly  twelve  hours,  bro«ight  mo  safe  to 
land.     I  felt  very  anxious  to  visit  th«  people  at  Sam- 


JAVA. 


bass ;  but  I  found  it  impracticable,  and  I  could  only 
spend  two  days  on  shore  among  the  people  at  Pon- 
tiana.     1  followed  my  usual  plan  of  giving  the  Scrip- 
tures to  those  who  have  families,  that  every  house 
might  pos:ess  the  word  of  God.    During  my  stay  here, 
1  was  entertained  at  the  house  of  a  respectable  China- 
man, who  had,  by  some  means,  obtained  a  Chinese 
New  Testament ;  and,  from  the  many  questions  he 
asked   respecting  it,    I  inferred  that  he   must  have 
read  it  with  some  attention.     He  inquired  particularly 
concerning  Adam's  sin,  and  all  men  being  sinners  in 
consequence  of  it ;  also,  whether  all  the  nations  of  the 
west  worship  Jesus.     He  was  much  pleased  with  the 
objects  of  the  society,  and  assured  me,  if  the  directors 
would  send  one  of  those  good  men,  as  he  expressed 
It,  to  Pontiana,  he  would  give  him  a  house  to  live  in. 
My  host  also  took  me  with  him  to  visit  thesuhan,  with 
whom  he  is   very  ii.timate,   who   also  made   many 
mquiries  respecting  the  Christian  religion,  and  approved 
much  of  the  proposal  the  other  had  made  to  obtain 
a  missionary,  to  be  settled  among  them.     I  inquired  of 
them  concerning  the  people  of  Sambass,  who  work  in  the 
goldmines,  and  others  who  dwell  among  the  mountains 
of  the  interior,  and  who  are  employed   in   obtaining 
diamonds,  and  was  informed  by  them,  that  at  the  for- 
mer place,  which  lies  near  them,  there  were  at  least 
fifty  thousand  Chinese ;  the  others,  they  said,  were 
very  numerous,  but  they  could  not  exactly  say  how 
many  ;  they  might,  however,  amount  to  twenty  thou- 
sand.    I  regretted  much  that  I  could  not  visit  them. 
I,   however,  sent  them  some  tracts  and  catechisms. 
Thus,  during  my  voyage  to  Batavia,  I  distributed 
several  thousand  tracts  and  Testaments ;  and  I  hope 
the  seed  sown  will  bo  '  as  bread  cast  upon  the  waters, 
to  be  seen  after  many  days.'  " 

Shortly  after  his  arrival  in  Java,  Mr.  Slater  took 
under  his  instruction  four  Chinese  children,  as    the 
commencement  of  a  school  designed  to  be  conducted, 
as  far  as  circumstances  would  permit,  on  the  Lancas- 
terian   plan.     He,  also,  employed  himself  sedulously 
in  circulating  copies  of  the  New  Testament  and  re- 
ligious tracts  among  the  heathen  ;  and,  with  the  assist- 
ance of  B  native  teacher,  devoted  a  considerable  por- 
tion of  his  time  to  the  study  of  the  Chinese  language. 
A  few  months  only  had  elapsed,  however,  when  his 
labors  were  suspended  by  a  calamity  at  once  alarming 
and   destructive.     On  the  «^d  of  October,  1819,  his 
housn  was  burnt  down,  when  his  Chinese  books,  with 
various  articles  of  furniture,  were  consumed.     This 
calamity,  however,  was  considerably  alleviated  by  (he 
kindness  of  several  friends,  and   particularly  by  tliat 
o!  one  family  with  whom  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Slater  found 
a  hospitable  asylum  for  several  wec^s. 
After  this  accident,  a  piece  of  ground  was  purchased, 


525 


on  account  of  the  society,  for  a  mission-house  and 
garden;  and  by  the  liberal  subscriptions  of  such  of 
the  inhabitants  as  appeared  to  take  an  interest  in  his 
object,  Mr.  Slater  was  enabled  to  build  a  convenient 
habitation,  capable  of  accommodating  two  or  three 
missionaries  besides  his  own  family.  On  the  adjoining 
premises  a  school  was  afterwards  erected,  and  opened 
with  twenty-six  pupils.  The  situation  appears  to  have 
been  judiciously  chosen,  being  about  half  way  between 
Batavia  and  the  village  Comelis,  and  nearly  in  the 
centre  of  three  other  villages,  one  of  which  contains  a 
very  numerous  population. 

In  the  course  of  his  endeavors  todiffiisethe  light  of 
divine  truth,  our  missionary  paid  a  visit,  one  day  in 
the  month  of  December,  to  one  of  the  Chinese  tem- 
ples, and,  taking  his  stand  as  near  to  the  idol  as  possible, 
commenced  riding  a  tract,  in  Chinese,  on  the  subject 
of  idolatry.  Some  of  his  auditors  appeared  willing  to 
acknowledge  the  truth  of  what  they  heard,  but  seemed 
to  think  that  the  custom  of  their  country  was  an  all 
sufticient  reason  for  continuing  their  observance  of 
ceremonies,  which,  in  reality,  they  know  to  be  un- 
availing. 

Of  the  various  idolatrous  ceremonies  which  were 
performed  in  this  place,  at  the  time  of  his  visit,  Mr. 
Slater  has  given  the  following  description  :— 

"  Within  the  temple  yard,  which  prevents  the  idol 
from  being  seen  from  without,  is  an  elevated  stage,  on 
which  the  Chinese  players  perform  their  exploits,  to 
the  astonishment  of  the  crowd  below.     On  passing 
this,  the  attention  is  excited  by  the  gaudy  appearance 
of  golden  ornaments,  and  various  colored  paper  cut  in 
shreds ;    but  principally  by  the  quantity  of  painted 
candles  burning  in  front  of  the  idols,  the  smoke  of 
which,  together  with  the    incense,  is  intolerable  at 
first  entering.     The  candles  are  about  a  hundred  in 
number,  and  of  various  sizes,  from  one  foot  to  three 
feet  in  height,  and  measuring  from  two  to  six  inches 
in  circumference.     These  are  kept  burning  during  the 
whole   time  of  worship;    but,  as  every  worshipper 
brings  two  candles,  they  are  constantly  changing  them, 
so  that  I  suppose  the  entire  number  is  changed  every 
twenty  minutes.     Two  men  are  employed  to  keep  a 
few  places  vacant,  that  no  one  may  be  prevented  from 
placing  his  candles,  and  that  the  worship  may  go  on 
without  interruption.   The  candles  which  are  removed 
are  for  the  benefit  of  the  temple,  and  they  must  amount 
to  a  considerable  sum,  as  the  smallest  of  them  cost 
about  two  dollars  a  piece. 

"  On  entering  the  temple,  every  worshipper  presents 

••,-,"i-j  tttitt  ic-ceivc3  uiK  "pngs  of  iiiOoUse.    Throe 

of  them,  after  bowing  to  the  imaginary  deity,  as  an 

intimation  that  he  is  about  to  worship,  he  places  close 

to  the  imago,  and  the  other  at  a  short  distance :  then 


$M 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


{retiring  to  a  cushion  in  front  of  the  idol,  he  pays  his 
homage,  which  consists  in  Icneeiing  down,  and  bowing 
thf  head  thrice  to  the  ground,  and  this  is  repeated 
ihree  times.  He  then  goes  to  a  large  table  on  the  left 
side  of  the  idol,  where  there  are  persona  to  enrol  his 
name  and  recciye  his  contribution  ;  and  here  the  devo- 
tees appeal  anxious  to  exceed  each  other  in  the  sums 
which  they  give  toward  the  support  of  this  abominable 
worship. 

"  Durmg  all  this  time,  one's  ears  are  stunned  by  a 
large  drum,  and  a  gong,  used  to  rouse  the  idol ;  and 
these  are  beaten  with  increased  vehemence  when  any 
person  of  note  comes  to  worship.  Several  females, 
most  richly  dressed,  brought  offerings  of  fruit  and 
sweetmeats.  These,  I  am  informed,  were  the  wives 
of  the  rich  Chinese,  who  were  glad  to  embrace  such 
an  opportunity  of  appearing  abroad ;  as  probably  they 
had  not  seen  any  man,  nor  been  seen  by  any  but  their 
own  husbands,  since  they  visited  this  temple,  on  a 
similar  occasion,  in  the  preceding  year. 

"  Another  part  of  this  scene  is  performed  by  about 
a  dozen  cooks,  chopping  up  pork  for  dmner,  and  I  had 
many  pressing  invitations  to  sit  down  and  dine  with 
the  worshippers,  many  of  whom  appeared  astonished 
at  my  refusal ;  as,  on  other  occasions,  whilst  distribut- 
ing tracts  from  house  to  house,  I  readily  ate  and  drank 
with  them,  for  the  sake  of  an  opportunity  to  discourse 
with  them  respecting  Christ  and  his  gospel.  In  the 
temple  yard  there  were  as  many  gaming  tables  as  could 
be  conveniently  placed." 

On  the  7th  of  January,  1822,  Mr.  Medliurst  and 
his  family  arrived  at  Bntavia,  where  they  were  received 
with  great  cordiality  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Slater;  and 
shortly  aller  their  arrival,  a  dwelling-house  was  built 
for  them  on  the  mission  premises.  The  contiguous 
land  belonging  to  the  society  was,  also,  brought  from 
the  wildness  of  nature  to  resemble  the  cultivated 
grounds  in  the  neighborhood. 

Mr.  Medhurst  now  commenced  preaching  in  Chinese 
four  times  a  week ;  on  the  sabhnth  morning,  at  seven 
o'clock,  in  the  mission-chapel  ;  on  Tuesday  evening, 
at  a  dwelling-house  in  Batavia  ;  and  on  the  evenings 
of  Thursday  and  Friday,  at  livo  other-  "jces.  It  seldom 
happened,  however,  that  either  of  the  congregations 
exceeded  thirty  persons,  and  the  only  apparent  effect 
produced,  at  this  time,  by  the  public  didpensation  of 
the  truth,  consisted  in  the  temporary  conviction  of 
gainsayers,  and  in  the  extended  concessions  of  the 
heathen  to  the  veracity,  consistency  and  consequent 
obligations  of  what  was  advanced  on  moral  and  re- 
ligious subjects.  Still  the  brethren  were  not  discour- 
aged, but  resolved  to  go  on  in  their  important  work, 
leaving  the  restilt  to  the  great  Head  of  the  church : 
and,  in  addition  to  their  other  labors,  they  established 


a  Malay  service,  in  which  tb«jr  preaehed  alternatelf 
every  sabbath  evening.  A  few  Mahometans  attended 
on  these  occasions,  and  our  missionaries  were  conse- 
quently led  to  pray  that  these  deluded  followers  of  the 
Arabian  impostor  might  be  speedily  and  savingly  kd 
to  him  who  unites  in  his  own  person  the  important 
characters  of  Prophet,  Priest  and  King. 

Towards  the  autumn  of  this  year  (1822),  the  health 
of  Mr.  Slater  was  so  much  impaired  as  to  render  it 
necessary  that  he  should  take  a  voyage  for  his  recov- 
ery. This  he  accordingly  did,  with  the  desired  effect ; 
but  as  he  afterwards  thought  proper  to  dissolve  ^is 
connection  with  the  society,  the  entire  weight  of  the 
mission  at  Batavia  was  thrown  upon  Mr.  Medhurst 
That  valuable  missionary,  however,  continued  to  labor 
with  unremitting  assiduity  and  unabated  zeal  in  the 
cause  of  his  Divine  Master;  and,  during  the  year 
1823,  he  established  a  printing-office,  which  will,  no 
doubt,  prove  of  essential  benefit  to  the  mission  at  this 
station.  The  necessary  supply  of  paper  and  printing 
materials  was  obtained  from  Canton,  through  the  kind 
intervention  of  Dr.  Morrison ;  and  type-cutters  were 
procured  from  Singapore. 

The  report  of  1625  speaks  favorably  of  two  Chinese 
schools,  one  at  Batavia  and  one  at  Tanabang ;  and  also 
of  a  third  school  in  the  town,  not  entirely  under  the 
direction  of  the  mission.  Worship  in  Chinese  and 
Malay  was  also  statedly  performed.  In  the  Malayan 
service,  Mr.  Medhurst  received  the  friendly  assistance 
of  Mr.  Diering.  Each  person  in  the  congregation 
had  a  copy  of  the  Scriptures  before  him,  to  refer  to 
during  the  sermon.  A  bungalow  chapel  had  been  built 
by  a  European  gentleman  at  Batavia,  in  one  of  the 
native  Kampongs,  chiefly  inhabited  by  natives  of  the 
island  of  Bali,  originally  heathens,  but  recent  con  verts 
to  Mahometanism.  The  people  had  attended  more  than 
twelve  months,  and  the  congregation  was  increasing. 
Mr.  Medhurst  statedly  visited  two  villages  inhabited  by 
Malays  professing  the  Christian  religion:  one  of  them, 
called  Depok,  s'*"ited  about  twenty  miles  to  the  south  ; 
the  other,  nan-ed  Tugot,  situated  about  twelve  miles 
east  of  Batavia.  Attendance  on  an  average,  thirty ; 
sometimes  from  fifty  to  sixty.  No  small  encourage- 
ment attended  the  English  preaching.  Mr.  Medhurst 
speaks  of  the  regular  attendance  of  the  congregation, 
the  marked  seriousness  of  a  considerable  part  of  it, 
and  of  clearer  and  more  enlarged  views  which  many 
had  acquired  of  divine  truth.  A  dispensary  had  been 
opened  for  the  purpose  of  gratuitously  supplying  med- 
icines, and  communicating  religious  instruction  to  the 
Chinese.      Several   works  had   been    prepared    and 


nrintmrl. 


ITn  in  Jflnyarv  1. 1  ^2&.  ths  Rumhfimf  iKsnks 


and  tracts  printed  exceeded  60,000.     In  diilriLuting 
tracts,  Mr.  Medhurst  had  also  been  active. 


JAVA. 


In  October,  1826,  Mr.  Medhunt  performed  a  mis- 
sionar}'  to»  r  along  the  eastern  coast  of  Java,  during 
which  he  visited  Sourabaya,  Taggal,  and  Samarang. 
Sourabaya  he  considers  as  in  many  respects  eligible  for 
a  missionary  station.     The  Chinese  there  are  a  more 
respectable  and  more  intelligent  class  of  men  than  at 
many  other  places,  and  have  more  leisure,  as  well  as 
more  inclination,  for  religious  inquiry.    One  family  of 
considerable  influence  has,  for  six  generations,  ab- 
stained  from  the  worship  of  images,  and  has  renounced, 
generally,  the  grosser  parts  of  Buddhism.    There  is 
also  here  a  small  body  of  Christians  belonging  to  the 
Dutch  church,  who  manifest  a  truly  missionary  spirit, 
and  are  dUposed  to  further,  to  the  utmost  of  their 
power,  missionary  objects  in  this  quarter.     They  have 
employed  a  person  to  translate  the  New  Testament, 
(W>m  the  Dutch  version,  into  the  low,  or  vernacular, 
Malay.     Mr.  Medhurst  has  engaged  to  interest  himself 
m  furthering  this  design,  and  has  accordingly  written 
to  the  missionaries,  at  different  stations,  who  have 
made  pro§ciency  in  Malay,  to  lend  their  aid  for  its 
accomplishment. 

Willie  in  this  part  of  Java,  Mr.  Medhurst  visited 
the  aborigines  in  the  mountains  of  Tengger,  who  prefer 
the  original  religion  of  Java ;  and  have  never  been 
induced,  either  by  faar  or  persuasion,  to  embrace 
Mahometanism.* 

In  1827,  10,000  copies  of  religious  tracts  were 
printed,  and  10,000  copies  of  tFacU  and  parts  of  the 
Scriptures  were  furnished  from  the  press  of  Malacca ; 
and  with  these  Mr.  Medhurst  felt  furnished  for  success- 
ful tours  in  Slam  and  Borneo, but  was  for  awhile  pre- 
vented by  the  sickness  of  his  family.  The  annals  of 
missionary  enterprise  furnish  few  instances  of  more 
patient  self-denying  labor  than  is  to  be  found  in  the 
persevering  endeavors  of  Mr.   Medhurst.     In  1829, 

the  directors,  in  their  annual  report,  say  : 

"  Mr.  Medhurst  deeply  laments  the  want  of  success 
in  the  conversion  of  the  heathen.  He  states  that  his 
labors  among  the  Chinese,  which  were  formerly  de- 
spised, are  now  systematically  opposed  by  their  priests, 
their  rulers,  and  the  wealthy  class  among  them.  There 
is  difficulty  in  gaining  access  to  the  rich,  and  the  poor 
are  prevented  by  them  from  listening  to  the  gospel. 
Persons  would  not  be  able  to  borrow  money,  or  keep 
what  they  have  borrowed,  if  they  had  not  an  idol  set 
up  in  their  house,  and  did  not  openly  profess  idolatry. 
The  Mahometant  oppMo  him  still  more  steadily  and 
systematically  than  the  Chinese.  His  movements  are 
perpetually  watched  by  their  priests,  and  his  labors 
•  Thta  nMafmounUliiecri  !■  mtntioMd  io  the  lata  lir  Suii^ 

Pafll      »*■  JJIm...-.-   -^J  t ■     -_  .    >.  ..    .    .     .    .  ;.-_- 

lN(»n  rmomraeiiifeii  by  th«  l*Ut  goTrrnorgtmcrel,  Uie  buon  V»n  d«r 
Cipdllcii,  u  Um  rooit  oliglblf  Add  rormlnionary  Itbor  In  thaliUnd 
«  Jhs. 


697 


counteracted  by  every  means  in  their  power.  Tht^ 
bookahe  has  given  to  the  people,  have  been  taken 
from  them  by  the  priesu.  He  has  not,  however,  re- 
laxed his  exertions :  his  chief  object  being  to  convince 
them  of  sin,  and  direct  them  to  the  Saviour,  he  dwells 
less  upon  their  idolatrous  errors,  than  upon  their  reigning 
vices,  and  on  the  gracious  doctrines  of  the  cross.  These 
doctrines  must  finally  prevail  in  spite  of  all  opposition." 
The  latest  accounU  of  this  station  are  very  encour- 
aging. In  1831,  the  directors,  in  their  annual  report, 
mention, — 

"  It  has  pleased  the  Lord  to  smile  upon  the  efforts 
of  Mr.  Medhurst  and  Mr.  Young.  One  of  the  pris- 
oners, or  convicts,  has  died  professing  his  faith  in  the 
Lord  Jesus.  This  man  was  originally  a  Mahometan. 
An  Amboynese,  also,  who  has  long  attended  the 
preaching,  has  manifested  great  desire  for  salvation, 
and  has  given  evidence  of  sincerity. 

"  The  Lord  appears  about  to  bless  this  mission.  The 
Malay  congregation,  meeting  for  worship  on  sabbath 
noon,  has  greatly  increased,  and  two  individuals  from 
among  them  have  come  forward  to  declare  what  the 
Ix)rd  has  done  for  their  souls,  while  another  has  suddenly 
been  translated  to  glory.  One  of  the  former  is  a  man 
who  possesses  an  excellent  gift  in  prayer,  an  extensive 
and  accurate  acquaintance  with  the  Scriptures,  with  a 
zeal  for  the  diffusion  of  divine  truth  rarely  witnessed 
in  those  countries.  He  visits  the  Malays  at  theij 
houses  in  town  and  in  the  villages,  distributing  books 
among  them,  and  teaching  and  preaching  the  Lord 
Jesus.  The  Malays  converse  more  freely  with  him 
than  with  a  European.  The  other  is  an  elderly  woman, 
who  has  been  instrumentol  in  the  conversion  of  anothei 
of  her  own  sex. 

"  Two  afternoons  every  week  are  devoted  to  tht» 
preparation  of  candidates  for  the  Lord'a  supper ;  and 
once  a  day,  when  illness  does  not  prevent,  the  mis- 
sionary visits  the  Chinese  and  Malays.  There  are 
three  schools,  containing  fifty  children,  whose  progress 
IS  encouraging  and  satisfactory.  During  the  first  half 
of  1830,  they  were  superintended  by  Mr.  Young. 
Mrs.  Medhurst,  whose  health  is  good,  catechises  the 
women  and  children  on  sabbath  mornings,  and  has 
undertaken  to  educate  two  native  children,  one  a  Ma- 
lay, and  the  other  a  Chinese. 

"  Engliih  Service,  ^c— This  is  held  at  nine  o'clock 
on  sabbath  morning.  Instead  of  the  old  bamboo 
chajwl,  a  new  one  of  brick,  comnuidious  and  neat,  has 
been  built  on  the  society's  ground.  This  has  been 
accomplished  by  the  liberality  of  the  Dutch  govern- 
ment and  the  inhabitants  of  Batavia,  who,  for  the  obiect. 
subscribed  with  groat  cheerfulness  nearly  six  thousand 
rupees ;  besides  some  building  materials  granted  from 
the  government  stores.    The  Kev,  Mr.  Lenting  had 


tm 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


greatly  promoted  this  underta'  ,  which,  it  a  hoped, 
will  be  the  means  of  reviving  die  interests  of  religioa 
\o  Batavta. 

"  The  directors  gratefully  ecknowledge  the  kindness 
of  his  exceilency,  the  prraent  governor-general,  Van 
den  Bosch,  who  has  shown  himself  particularly  favora- 
ble to  the  mission,  and  has  rendered  it  a  degree  of  as- 
sistance beyond  what  it  has  enjoyed  at  any  former  period. 
"  Tran*lation$,  Printing,  fyc.—tit.  Medhurst's 
translation  of  Mr.  Lloyd's  Scripture  Catechism  is 
finished,  but  remains  unprinted. 

"  A  Japanese  and  English  Vocabulary,  composed 
by  Mr.  Medhurst,  has  been  issued  from  the  litho- 
graphic press,  and  copies  for  sale  have  been  received 
in  this  country. 

"At  the  requestof  his  brethren  of  the  Ultra  Ganges 
mission,  Mr.  Medhurst  has  undertaken  to  revise  and 
enlarge  his  Fokeen  Vocabulary.  He  has  also  con- 
sented to  revise  the  translation  of  the  New  Testament 
in  low  Malay,  at  the  request  and  for  the  benefit  of  the 
people  at  Sourabaya.  This  translation  will  be  printed 
at  the  government  press." 


AMBOYNA. 

It  has  been  already  stated,  that  the  Rev.  Joseph  Kam, 
who  accompanied  two  other  missionaries  to  Java,  was 
induced,  in  the  year  1814,  to  fix  upon  the  island  of  Am- 
boyna  as  the  scene  of  his  ministerial  labors.  And,  in 
this  station,  after  a  short  time,  his  pious  exertions  were 
crowned  with  considerable  success.  Early  in  1816, 
indeed,  his  congregation  in  the  Dutch  church,  on  the 
Lord's-day,  amounted,  in  general,  to  eight  hundred  or 
a  thousand  persons ;  and  when  he  preached  in  the 
Malay  langua^  ,  he  had  usually  from  five  to  six 
hundred  hearers. 

Speaking  of  the  inhabiUnts  of  Amboyna,  this  mis- 
sionary says,  "  The  great  body  of  Christians  residing 
here  are  not  Europeans,  or  half  castes,  but  persons 
whose  ancestors  have  resided  here  from  generation  to 
generation.  Among  them  I  will  venture  to  say  there 
are  thousand^^  who  would  part  with  every  thing  they 
possesfi  to  obtain  a  copy  of  the  Bible  in  their  own 
tongue  ;  and  if  they  hear  that  I  am  to  preach  in  the 
Malay  language,  which  is,  at  present,  more  my  business 
than  preaching  in  Dutch,  many  collect  together  two 
lioUfs  before  ih«  cervice  cumraences." 

in  respect  i^j  the  slaves,  he  says,  "  Many  of  their  mas- 
ters did  not,  formerly,  approve  of  their  coming  to  re- 
ceive mstruction,  and  some  came  to  me  without  having 
previously  obtained  permission ;  but  now,  several  of  the 
masters  request  me  to  teach  their  slaves,  having  found  by 


experience,  tbM  those  wbo  are  religiously  instniefif 
are  more  fitithful  and  diligent  than  others." 

In  the  same  communication  Mr.  Kam  states,  that  he 
had  paid  a  visit  to  the  island  of  Banda,  upwards  of  a 
hundred  and  twenty  miles  distant  from  Amboyna ;  and  ~ 
here  he  continued  about  a  month,  preaching  twice  eve. 
ry  sabbath,  and  every  other  day  in  the  week,  he  also 
held  a  regular  pray ...  meeting,  and  frequentlycatechised 
the  people,  who  had  among  them  some  places  of  Chris- 
tian worship,  but  who,  (or  a  considerable  time  past,  had 
been  sadly  neglected,  in  respect  to  religious  instruction. 
In  the  month  of  September,  in  the  same  year,  (1816,) 
Mr.  Kam  visited  tho  island  of  Harucko,  where  he  found 
the  people  very  desirous  of  hearing  the  gospel ;  and 
the  word  of  God  was  so  abundantly  blessed  to  them, 
that  ft  ecnsiderable  number  made  a  solemn  profession 
of  the  faith  of  Christ  by  baptism,  and  were  admitted 
as  communicants  at  the  table  of  the  Lord. 

Our  missionary  next  went  to  the  island  of  Seram, 
where  he  found  many  of  the  inhabitants  literally  hun- 
gering and  thirsting  after  righteousness ;  and  it  is  prob- 
able that  the  seriousness  with  which  his  message  was 
heard  by  others,  was  considerably  augmented  by  an 
alarming  earthquake  occurring  a  few  minutes  after  he 
reached  one  of  the  negeriei,  or  villages.  Previous  to 
his  quitting  this  island,  a  person  came  to  him  from  Nal- 
aliwu,  a  place  to  the  north  of  Karuko,  containing  about 
four  hundred  inhabitants,  earnestly  entreating  him  to  go 
thither,  and  preach  the  gospel  among  them.  It  seems 
that  these  people  had,  in  former  times,  been  pro- 
fessedly Christian  ;  but,  having  been  long  since  con- 
quered by  their  Mahometan  neighbors;  who  had  burnt 
their  church  and  destroyed  their  Bibles,  they  had  sub- 
sequently lived  in  a  wretched  state  of  ignorance  and 
idolatry.  With  this  request  Mr.  Kam  readily  complied, 
and,  on  his  arrival,  he  was  received  with  the  greatest 
demonstrations  of  joy.  Such  an  effect  was  produced, 
also,  by  his  preaching  during  the  three  days  which  he 
spent  among  them,  that  they  brought  out  .nd  destroyed 
their  idols  with  one  consent,  and  burnt  down  the  houses 
which,  in  the  time  of  their  blind  infatuation,  they  had 
erected  for  the  worship  of  the  devil. 

"  From  this  place,"  says  our  missionary,  "  I  went 
to  the  island  of  Saparuwa,  where  I  found  a  great  num- 
ber of  people  collected  on  the  shore,  and  singing 
psalms,  to  express  their  gratitude  to  God  for  my  visit. 
In  this  island,  many  of  the  poor  heathen  have  received 
Christ  by  faith  ;  and  some  of  them  were  introduced  to 
me  by  their  masters,  to  signify  their  willingness  that 
they  might  be  baptised.  There  is  a  great  want  of 
Bibles,  however,  end  other  books  suited  for  religious 
instruction.  I  have,  therefore,  sent  a  u>«fii|  cnfenhism 
in  the  Malay  language  to  be  printed  at  Hatavia,  and 
have  ordered  ten  thousand  copies  of  it,  as  the  popula* 


tion,  includag  Chrirtians,  and  Mahometans  who  have 
recenUjr  embraced  Christianity,  b  very  great." 

In  October  Mr.  Kam  visited  the  island  of  Nusalout, 
where  he  found  the  inhabiunts  of  seven  negeries  very 
•nxiou,  to  hear  the  gospel;  and,  on  his  going  to  Z 
negery  of  Aboro,  in  Karuko,  he  says.  "  The  joy  of  he 
rt  ""J  "  r*'  "  '^  »"  ""8el  had  come  down 
sdvltb""  '"   """^   ""   8'°"°"'   "^'^^  of 

On  his  return  to  Amboyna,  the  word  of  the  Lord 
con tmued  to  be  abundantly  owned  and  blessed,  eT^e- 
cially  .™ong  the  heathen,  who,  like  those  to  whom  we 

irectJirfr  'T'''  '^"™^^''  •''«  ''--^  formerly 
•  erectedfor  the  worship  of  devils,  and  putaway  from  them 

every  vesfgeof  idolatry.  Such,  indeed,  w[s theTrz  a" 
m  the  cause  of  d.v.ne  truth,  that  when  Mr.  Kam  inti- 
mated his  intention  of  erecting  a  new  church  for  the 
jepame  „se  of  the  slaves,  the/ cheerfully  volunte  d 
tje.  services  m  cuttmg  timber  in  the  forests  for  erect- 
ing the  proposed  structure,  and  thus  precluded  the  ne- 
cessity of  our  missionary's  applying  to  the  directors  for 
pecuniary  assistance. 

In  the  spring  of  1817.  in  consequence  of  the  Dutch 
government  attempting  to  take  some  trocps  from  the 
Molucca  islands  for  Java,  the  natives  of  the  island  of 
Lupperwaro,  near  Amboyna,  rose  in  insurrection,  and 
murdered  the  Dutch  resident  and  his  family,  together 
with  t  e  garrison,  and  a  great  number  of  theChSl 
mhabitants  who  refused  to  join  the  revolters 

In  writing  to  the  directors  on  this  subject,  Mr.  Kara 
observes,  "  Every  means  have  been  emjloy'ed  to  keep 

.shle  T"'  f  """'  ^^  "''"'"8  remission  of  pun' 
.shment,  &c.  ;  but  we  are  yet  in  great  danger.  My 
faith  IS  often  at  such  a  low  ebb,  that  I  am  constrained 

me"'  Ne-;  '  T?"''  "^  ""'  "  «="'  '^-'^  -'"' 
me.      Neither  my  body  nor  my  soul,  however,  has  been 

by  and  and  by  sea  ;  and  therefore  I  have  confidence 
thnr  there  will  agam  appear  a  glorious  light,  perhaps 
greater  than  before.  Surely  the  mercy  of  The  Lord  has 
accompanied  my  poor  labors  from  the  time  of  my  ani- 
va  m  Asm  :-surely  the  time  of  salvation  is  at  hand,  and 
will  be  accomplishe.!  in  favor  of  the  poor  heathen,  who 
we  so  numerous  in  this  colony." 

About  the  time  of  this  revolt,  Mr.  Kam  had  designed 
to  make  a  voyage  to  the  islands  of  Celebes  and  Sangir. 
two  of  the  Moluccas,  in  compliance  with  a  desire  ex- 
pressed by  some  of  the  inhabitants  of  those  islands  that 
he  would  pay  them  a  visit.  At  the  request  of  the  gov- 
ernment of  Amboyna,  which  required  his  assistance  in 
writing  and  translating  letters  in  the  Malay  langnaRe 
he,  at  that  period,  laid  aside  his  intention.  In  ,L  „..' 
lumn  01  the  same  year,  however,  he  was  enabled  to  car- 
ry It  mto  elocution  ;  and  the  principal  incidents  which 
Vol.  I — Noi.  45  &  46.  gg 


AMBOYNA. 


69» 

occurred  during  his  absence  from  Amboyna  are  com- 
mumcated  m  the  following  interesting  narration  :_ 

the  Swallow,  captam  Wilson,  for  the  purpose  of  visit- 
ing  ;he  island  of  Temate,  the  north-west  coast  of  Cele- 
bes and  Sangir  island,  the  latter  of  which  lies  about  six 
degrees  north  of  Amboyna. 

On  my  arrival  I  was  kindly  received  by  the  native 
Christians,  and  also  by  the  resident  of  the  island.  I 
found  there  a  large  Dutch  church,  at  which  I  was  in- 
formed  a  good  minister  formerly  officiated.  During 
my  stay,  1  preached  in  it  twice  every  day  to  crowds  of 
people  who  seemed  eager  to  hear  the  joyful  sound  of 
the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ.  I  could  not,  however,  re- 
main with  them  long,  captain  Wilson  being  anxious  to 
expedite  his  departure  for  Manado,  the  principal  town  of 
Ce  ebes.  Therefore,  after  I  had  baptized  the  children 
and  some  adults,  on  confession  of  their  sins  and  dec- 
laration  of  their  faith  in  the  Redeemer,  I  took  leave 

Swallow  °'^'^^''"°"'  """^  "^^'"  ^""^"^^^  on  board  the 
"In  Celebes  I  found  a  great  number  of  nominal 
Christians  among  the  Dutch  people,  especially  at  Ma- 
nado, whose  conduct  was  not  according  to  the  puritv  of 
the  gospel  of  Christ.     I  preached  to  them  twice  a-day 
during  the  short  time  I  continued  there.     I  proceeded 
from  thence,  by  land,  to  Kema,  where  I  found  ihe  pec 
pie  more  disposed  to  listen  to  the  word  of  life.     Unnn 
my  return  to  Manado,  I  conducted  public  worship  in 
the  house  of  the  resident,  the  church  being  much  out 
of  repair.      One  of  the  chiefs  of  the  Alvoor  people, 
who  IS  called  major  Nalle,  came  to  me  and  requested 
me  to  send  a  school-master  for  his  negery,  to  instruct 
him  and  his  people  in  the  Christian  religion.     His  do- 
main IS  considerable,  and  he  has  not  less  than  a  thou- 
sand  persons  under  his  command.     I  asked  him  why 
he  wished  to  be  a  Christian.    He  replied,  « Because  I 
know  that  religion  is  the  best  of  all."    Rejoicing  to  hear 
such  witness  from  the   mouth  of  an  Alvoor  chief.  I 
promised  to  send  him  a  sclKK)I.master  immediately  on 
my  return  to  Amboyna.     The  major  was  present  to- 
day during  divine  worship  at  the  resident's,  and  an- 
peared  much  interested,  especially  when  he  observed  a 
great  number  of  children,  and  also  grown  persons,  com- 
mg  to  be  baptized,  together  with  three   Chinese,  who 
had   been  brought  to  the  knowledge  of  the  (rue  God 
and  to  faith  in  Christ. 

"  The  trade  in  gold  at  Manado  has  occasioned  ma- 
ny of  the  Chinese  to  settle  there.  These  are  more 
disposed  to  receive  the  gospel  than  the  people  of  Am- 
boyna,  and  seem  only  towant  a  faithful  minister  of 
-  •'.nst  iu  iiiiinict  ihen,.  The  same  may  be  said  re- 
specting the  Alvoors.  Indeed  here  is  a  large  field  of 
labor.     More  than  one  hundred  thousand  of  (bis  peo- 


580 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


pie  dwell  on  the  north-west  coast  of  Celebes,  under  the 
Dutch  government,  which  is  able  to  protect  any  per- 
sons who  might  settle  among  them  in  order  to  preach 
the  gospel  and  to  instruct  them. 

"  I  travelled  during  several  days  among  these  people, 
and  was  much  encouraged  by  what  I  observed  in  them. 
One  night  I  stopped  at  the  house  of  one  of  their  chiefs, 
whose  title  is  Hockom  Klabat,  which  signifies  'judge  of 
the  people  who  live  at  the  mount  Klabat.'  They  are  tall 
and  powerful  men,  of  a  copper  color,  and  without  clothing. 
I  felt  myself  as  safe  among  them,  however,  as  though  ! 
had  been  surrounded  by  my  friends  in  England.  They 
appeared  much  pleased  that  I  took  my  supper  with  them 
that  night.  The  house  of  the  chief  was  crowded  with 
the  natives,  who  were  desirous  to  see  me,  as  they  un- 
derstood I  was  a  minister  of  the  white  people,  as  they 
call  the  Christians.  After  supper,  which  consisted  of 
a  piece  of  boiled  pork  and  rice,  with  some  fish,  I  spoke 
to  them  of  the  great  love  of  God  towards  us,  which  is 
visible  every  day  in  his  bountiful  provision  for  our  nat- 
ural wants,  as  well  as  for  the  wan' s  of  so  many  millions  of 
other  creatures.  Whenl  had  finished,  they  all  assented, 
apparently  from  their  hearts,  to  what  I  had  advanced  on 
that  subject.  I  then  told  them  of  the  infinitely  greater 
love  of  God  towards  mankind,  which  appeared  in  the  re- 
demption he  had  accomplished  for  sinners,  by  the  gift  of 
his  dear  son  Jesus  Christ,  even  for  every  one  who  believ- 
eth  the  witness  of  God.  Afler  I  had  discoursed  upon 
this  subject  some  time,  one  of  the  company, who  sat  next 
to  me,  said,  <  I  have  often  heard  of  these  things  from  the 
Christians  who  live  at  Manado  and  Kema ;  we  only 
want  instructers  amongst  us,  and  I  am  sure  great  num- 
bers of  our  nation  would  embrace  the  Christian  religion.' 

"  From  Celebes  I  directed  my  course  for  Sangir 
bland,  which  lies  about  two  degrees  farther  north. 
This  proved  a  very  dangerous  passage,  by  reason  of  the 
strong  currents  that  run  half  the  year  from  the  west  to 
the  east,  and  the  other  half  in  the  opposite  direction ;  but 
the  Lord  was  my  protector.  The  boat's  crew  consisted 
of  fifty -two  of  the  Al  voor  people,  and  two  soldiers  ;  and 
we  had  with  us  four  guns  of  three  pounds  each,  on 
account  of  the  great  number  of  pirates  who  continually 
infest  this  part  of  the  Moluccas.  Besides  the  peril  to 
which  we  were  exposed  from  the  sea  and  from  the 
robbers,  we  were  in  danger,  also,  from  the  unsoundness 
of  our  boat,  a  circumstance  too  common  in  these  seas. 

"  The  first  island  at  which  we  arrived,  after  quitting 
Celebe",  wasTogolanda  ;  but  we  were  prevented  from 
getting  on  shore  by  a  strong  land  breeze,  so  were  obliged 
to  cast  anchor  close  under  mount  Duwan,  a  fiercely 
burning  volcano,  the  smoke  of  which  affected  my 
breath  very  much  all  night.  The  next  morning,  how- 
ever, by  means  of  a  sea  farcezcj,  we  were  exiricuteu 
from  our  unpleasant  situation,  and  went  on  shore.    The 


king  of  the  island  received  me  with  much  kindness,  aad 
informed  me  how  severely  some  of  his  people  bad  suf- 
fered in  consequence  of  an  eruption  of  the  burning 
mountain,  by  which  a  whole  negery  had  been  destroyed, 
together  with  the  church.  '  But,'  said  he,  '  we  have 
erected  a  new  church  farther  inland,  and  I  rejoice  that 
you  are  come  to  instruct  my  people.'  He  invited  me 
to  take  my  breakfast  with  him,  and  in  the  mean  time 
informed  his  people  that  there  would  be  divine  service 
that  morning.  In  a  few  hours  a  very  numerous  congre- 
gation was  collected ;  the  king  also  attended  with  the 
whole  of  his  family ;  and  I  preached  from  John  xii.  32. 
'/,  if  I  be  lifted  up  from  the  earth,  will  draw  all  men 
unto  me.'  I  thought  this  text  was  calculated  to  move 
a  heart  of  stone,  as  it  exhibits  the  infinite  love  of  God 
towards  poorsinners,  displayed  on  Calvary,  as  the  means 
of  drawing  every  soul  to  Christ,  his  dear  Son  ;  and  I  was 
much  gratified  by  observing,  that  this  large  congrega- 
tion of  black  people  was  very  attentive  to  the  things 
that  were  spoken. 

"  After  I  had  sojourned  here  some  days,  I  perceived 
that  for  want  of  teachers  and  the  word  of  God  in  the 
Malay  language,  the  people  had  very  little  knowledge 
of  divine  things.  They  all,  however,  believed  the 
powerful  declaration  of  St.  Paul  to  Timothy, '  Thi$  is 
a  faithful  saying,  and  worthy  of  all  acceptation,  that 
Christ  Jesus  came  into  the  world  to  save  sinners.'  I 
continued  amongst  them  eight  days,  and  after  examin- 
ing the  boys  and  girls  belonging  to  the  school,  I  was 
obliged  to  give  them  some  leaves  out  of  my  New  Testa- 
ment, for  want  of  useful  school-books. 

"  From  hence  I  proceeded  to  the  island  of  Chiauw, 
or  Ziauw.  I  arrived  there  on  the  24lh  of  September, 
and  was  pleased  to  find  the  king  of  the  island  a  very 
pious  man.  After  my  painful  joumeyings,  his  compa- 
ny was  as  a  refreshing  spring  to  my  weary  soul.  He 
was  employed  every  day  in  studying  his  Bible,  which, 
he  said,  yielded  him  great  comfort.  He  was  also  able  to 
read  the  Dutch  Bible,  and  had  some  acquaintance  with 
the  Arabic  ;  but  what  was  of  infinitely  greater  im- 
portance, the  love  of  God,  which  passeth  all  under- 
standing, had  taken  possession  of  his  heart.  This  good 
man  seemed  exceedingly  glad  of  my  arrival,  and  obliged 
me  to  explain  to  him  certain  passages  of  the  Holy 
Scriptures.  Whateverlsaid.that  he  was  not  previously 
acquainted  with,  he  put  down  in  a  book  with  which  he 
had  provided  himself  for  this  express  purpose. 

"  The  king  requested  that  I  would  baptize  a  consid- 
erable number  of  the  slaves,  both  men  and  women, 
who  had  been  instructed  in  the  doctrines  of  Christian- 
ity.    Having  convinced  myself,  as  far  as  possible,  of  the 

sincerity  of  ♦.heir  professions,  I  complied,  rejoicing  in  the 

•-._...       _  •_  •  ■  '-• 'J 

work  wiiicii  UoU  19  ottiryingOii  ill  ifiio  par*  01  tnc  -.Torra. 

"  The  89th  of  October  was  set  apart  for  this  great 


aolemmty.  The  king  and  his  que«n  were  both  present, 
and  Msumed  the  office  of  sponsors,  in  behalf  of  their 
Slaves  J  promising  to  exercise  a  watchful  care  over 
thenr  souls.  When  the  administration  of  this  solemn 
nte  was  finished,  we  sung  the  87th  Psalm.  A  great 
number  of  people  attended  on  this  occasion,  and  also 
at  a  service  in  the  evening. 

«  During  the  solemnity  of  baptizing  his  slaves,  the 
king  seemed  much  affected,  and,  on  his  return  to  his 
house,  out  of  the  fulness  of  his  heart,  he  himself  ad- 
dressed these  new  members  of  the  church,  in  a  man- 
ner  which  I  shall  never  forget.  '  You  have  now 
placed  yourselves,'  said  he, '  under  an  obligation  to  love 
God  your  Creator,  and  Jesus  Christ  your  Redeemer, 
and  all  men  as  brethren  ;  to  abstain  from  all  heathen 
pleasures,  as  well  as  from  all  their  superstitions-be- 
cause  <Am  „  the  way  to  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  God.' 

and  not  far  from  this  negery.  I  asked  the  king,  if  he 
were  not  afraid  of  so  bad  a  neighbo: .  '  Why  should 
I,  asked  he,  in  return,  «when  the  Lord  our  God, 
who  made  this  mountain,  is  more  powerful  than  al 
he  fire  with-n  it  ?'  I  fully  assented  to  this  decla.a- 
tion,  and  said,  'Yes,  my  dear  sire,  that  which  you 
have  said  IS  very  true,  and  sufficient  to  comfort  our 
Hearts  in  the  most  imminent  dangers  ' 

»i,h^f '"  \,'"""''f  "  ^*''""^'  '  ^"^  acquainted 
with  the  excellent  character  of  this  good  man  :  but  I 
little   expected  to  be  the  instrument  of  introducinR 
.nto  the  chu.-ch  of  Christ  so  large  a  number  of  his 
servants.     As  I  perceived  that  Christ  was  living  in 
his  heart  by  fa.th,  I  encouraged  bin,  ,o  address  his 
peop  e  frequently,  and  to  read  to  them  some  sermons, 
of  which  I  promised  to  send  him  copies  on  my  return 
to  Amboyna.     School-books  and  religious  tracts  are. 
also,  very  much  wanted   in   these  islands.     In  the 
course  of  the  present  journey,  I  have  met  with  not 
less  tlian  twelve  thousand  people,  who  profess  Chris- 
tiani.y,  but  wl,o  have  been,  in  past  times,  very  much 
neglected.     Thanks,  however,  be  unto  God,  that  I 
am  become  acquainted  with  their  wants,  and  hope,  in 
a  short  time,  to  make  an  attempt  to  supply  them' to 
the  utmost  of  my  power. 

"  From  Chiauw,  I  proceeded  to  the  island  of  San- 
gir,  which  IS  governed  by  four  native  kings  ;  viz.  the 
king  of  Maganito,  the  king  of  Taroona,  the  kine  of 
Candar,  and  the  king  of  Tabookang.  The  latter  is  a 
brother  of  the  pious  king  of  Chiauw.  Hero  I  found 
the  people  m  a  still  more  deplorable  state  than  those 
m  tlie  other  islands  I  had  visited.  Even  their  school- 
masters  had  not  a  complete  Bible  in  tlieir  possession  ; 
tliey  had  only  some  loose  leaves  of  it,  and  this  was 
iiic  cuso  aiso  »viiii  iiieir  cateciiisms. 
"  AAer  I  had  passed  through  the  rest  of  the  island, 


AMBOYNA. 


m 


I  visited  the  king  of  Tabookang.  by  whom  I  was  a?«, 

like  an  Englmh  officer.  On  the  day  of  my  arrival,  he 
invited  me  to  dine  with  him.  He' told  L  th«'he 
was  desirous  to  be  married  in  the  church,  and  wished 
me  to  continue  with  him  a  few  days,  that  the  neces- 
sary preparations  migiu  be  made;  which,  as  he  ap- 
peared  to  me  to  be  desirous  of  acting  in  every  other 
respect  as  a  real  Christian,  I  consented  to  do  And 
I  had  reason  to  rejoice  in  this  determination,  for  the 
example  of  the  king  was  unmediately  followed  by  a 
great  number  of  his  people,  who  had  before  been 
Ignorant  of  the  solemnity  of  Christian  marriage." 

On  returning  to  Chiauw.  in  his  way  back  to  Celebes, 
Mr.  Kam  felt  an  attack  of  bilious  fever,  with  which 
his  attendants  had  been  previously  seized;  and,  on 
his  arrival  at  Kema.  on  the  eastern  coast  of  Celebes 
he  became  so  seriously  indisposed  that  he  was  con- 
fined  to  his  bed  for  a  month,  and  all  his  friends  antici- 
pated  his  dissolution.     By  the  blessing  of  God  how- 
ever  on  the  prescriptions  of  a  European  physician 
his  health  v;as  gradually  restored,  and  on  Christmas- 
day,  he  was  enabled   to  perform  divine  service  at 
Manado.      From   this  time  he  continued  instructing 
the  peoplfe  m  the  things  of  God  till  the  beginniuR 
of  February    1818.  when  he  embarked  on  board  a 
whaler  bound  for  Amboyna,  and  soon  afterwards  re- 
turned in  safety  to  his  beloved  flock,  by  whom  he  was 
received  with  every  demonstration  of  joy  and  affection. 
From  a  letter  written  to  the  directors  after  his  return 
It  appears  that  this  zealous  and  laborious  missionary' 
had  baptized  in  the  several  islands  upwards  of  five 
thousand  children,  and  neariy  five  hundred  adults  •  and 
u^  u  ^"i^J'"^ ''«  »'a^  baptized,  chiefly  of  those  who 
had  been  Mahometans,  one  hundred  and  twentv-eieht 
adults,  besides  children.  '     '^ 

Shortly  after   his  return  to  Amboyna,  Mr.  Kam 
visited  several  more  of  the  Molucca  islands,  particu- 
larly Haurunca,  Saparoua,  Nusalout,  and  Ceram  •  the 
inhabitants  of  which  amount,  collectively,  to  upwards 
of  fifteen  thousand  souls.     In  most  of  the  negeries 
or  villages,  he  was  received  with  joy,  both  by  the' 
chiefs  and  people,  some  of  whom  had  suffered  con- 
siderably in  the  late  rebellion  ;  their  houses  and  even 
their  churches  having  been  laid  in  ashes.     Many  of 
the  natives,  who  had  long  been  destitute  of  the  gospel 
rejoiced  greatly  in  an  opportunity  of  hearing  it  from' 
tlie  hps  of  our  missionary,  who  also  administered  the 
Lord's  supper  to  the  members  of  the  churches,  and 
baptized  their  children. 

In  January,  1821,  an  auxiliary  missionary  society 

was  formnH  at  \mhr.„,-,ii  f„- .i i.  ..    ' 

..._. ....  ,.„  j,.jjpu3t;  oi  contrioiii- 

ing  to  the  maintenance  and  support  of  several  mis- 
sionaries recently  sent  out  by  the  Netherland  society, 


589 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


and  also  with  a  view  to  assist  in  the  printing  of  school- 
books  and  religious  tracts ;  a  second  printing-pwss 
having  arrived  from  the  directors  in  London,  in  the 
course  of  the  preceding  year. 

Abou'  this  time,  a  place  was  erected  immediately 
contigu  lus  to  Mr.  Kam's  dwelling-house,  for  the  in- 
itiatory instruction  of  such  converts  from  paganism  as 
might  be  desirous  of  receiving  baptism  ;  and,  during 
the  year,  that  solemn  rite  was  administered  to  thirty 
persons,  who  had  abjured  heathenism  and  embraced 
the  truths  of  Christianity.  Towards  the  close  of 
December,  in  the  same  year,  Mr.  Kam  had  the  sat- 
bfaction  of  receiving  into  his  church  about  a  hundred 
new  members,  of  w'lom  several  had  formerly  been 
idolaters,  and  one  ».  Mahometan. 

Jn  the  following  year,  (1822,)  our  missionary  per- 
formed a  voyage  among  the  islands  of  the  Malayan 
Archipelago,  to  settle  the  missionaries  sent  out  by  the 
Netherland  society,  to  survey  the  moral  state  of  the 
islands,  and  to  communicate,  by  means  of  preaching 
and  the  distribution  of  the  Scriptures  and  tracts.  Chris- 
tian instruction  to  the  islanders. 

On  his  return,  he  touched  at  the  island  of  Harooka, 
where,  a  few  years  since,  idolatry  was,  to  a  considera- 
ble extent,  abolished.  He  was  kindly  invited  to  so- 
journ at  the  house  of  the  resident,  whose  lady  is  a 
person  of  eminent  piety.  While  here,  the  resident 
received  a  memorial  from  the  school-master  of  Abouro, 
transmitted  by  the  chiefs  of  that  district,  containing 
the  following  interesting  account  of  the  destruction  of 
the  remaining  idolatry  in  that  island : — 

"On  the  18th  of  the  present  month  (January), 
1822, 1  collected  together  all  the  people  of  the  negery 
Abouro,  who  agreed  to  abolish  the  idols  which,  until 
the  present  time,  they  and  their  forefathers  had  been 
accustomed  to  worship,  in  secluded  places. 

"  The  first  place  is  named  Amarya,  where  they 
worshipped  five  stones,  which  served  them  for  idols. 
The  second  place  is  called  Tupateary.  Here  was  a 
tree  named  Humulian,  and  a  bamboo,  with  a  hole 
perforated  therein,  which  was  called  the  Enchanter. 
Besides  these,  the  people  placed  lighted  candles,  and 
offered  meat  and  drink-offerings,  burning  incense  and 
showing  reverence  as  to  the  other  idols.  The  name 
of  the  third  place  is  Sanie,  where  was  a  single  stone, 
to  which  the  people  were  accustomed  to  offer  similar 
sacrifices.  The  name  of  the  fifth  place  is  Oko,  where 
they  worshipped  idols  of  the  same  description,  with 
similar  adoration. 

"  On  the  23d  of  January,  we  burned  in  the  fire  a 
gong  and  a  bassoon,  formerly  used  on  the  festivals, 
together  with  some  barrels,  which  were  used  in  bring- 
ing tiie  meat  and  drink-oiferings  lo  tiie  i<kii»,  which, 
with  the  consent  of  the  chief  and  people  of  this  negery, 


as  well  as  according  to  the  wish  of  the  membefs  of 
our  church,  have  been  abolished, 

"  We  have  also  .visited  the  forest  of  JV-oetry,  where 
we  have  burned  down  a  wooden  pillar,  to  which  divme 
honors  were  formerly  oiiered.  It  stood  in  the  midst 
of  water,  used  for  purifying  the  idol.  The  pillar  and 
the  fountain  of  water  have  been  destroyed. 

"  The  remaining  portions  of  the  idols,  even  the 
very  ashes,  we  have  cast  into  the  sea." 

In  the  spring  of  1823,  Mr.  Kam  visited  the  islands 
of  Banda,  Leti,  and  Kiffer.  At  the  island  of  Lett, 
which  he  describes  as  beautiful  in  scenery,  and  rich  in 
all  the  means  of  subsistence,  he  left  a  Christian  school- 
master, who  had  accompanied  him  from  Amboyna,  in 
compliance  with  the  importunity  of  the  natives.  At 
Kiffer,  he  was  received  with  great  kindness  by  the 
rajahs,  and  found  the  people  ripe  for  Christian  in- 
struction. Mr.  Labryn,  the  Netherland  missionary  at 
Timor-East,  met  Mr.  Kam  at  Leti,  and  accompanied 
him  to  Kiffer.  Here  both  of  them  continued  several 
days,  preaching  to  the  people.  They  particularly 
explained  to  them  the  nature  and  obligations  of  the 
Christian  religion  ;  and,  on  a  profession  of  faith  in  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  baptized  about  fifteen  hundred 
persons.  One  of  the  rajahs  requested  Mr.  Kam  to 
take  his  two  sons  under  instruction,  and  the  youths, 
of  the  ages  of  eighteen  and  fourteen,  willingly  accom- 
panied him  to  Amboyna. 

In  the  annual  report  communicated  to  the  members 
of  the  London  Missionary  Society,  in  1825,  the  direc- 
tors observe,  "  The  more  stated  labors  of  Mr.  Kam, 
at  Amboyna,  continue  to  be  very  useful.  Two  new 
places  for  Christian  worship  have  been  erected  ;  and 
he  has  the  pleasure,  from  time  to  time,  of  receiving 
many  from  among  the  heathen  into  the  pale  of  the 
Christian  church,  by  baptism,  and  is  greatly  encouraged 
in  his  work.  To  use  his  own  language,  '  Every  one 
now  appears  ready  to  assist  him,  both  in  Europe  and 
in  the  eastern  seas.' 

"  In  August,  Mr.  Kam  printed  four  thousand  copies 
of  the  larger  Malayan  catechism,  which  contains,  in  a 
condensed  form,  a  system  of  evangelical  truth  well 
adapted  to  the  islanders.  He  expects  soon  to  be  able 
to  print  the  first  volume  of  the  Rev.  George  Burder's 
Village  Sermons,  in  Malay.  His  translation  of  the 
second  volume  is  nearly  finished.  He  also  intends  to 
translate,  from  time  to  time,  the  more  interesting 
portions  of  missionary  intelligence,  published  in  Eu- 
rope, into  Malay,  and  afterwards  to  print  and  circulate 
them. 

"  Missionaries  from  the  Netherland  society  have 
been  settled  in  the  islands  of  Banda,  Temate,  Timor- 
rJttsi,  Huuru,  ami  uii  the  xuutii-wesi  cuasl  of  Utnuiu." 

In  the  report  for  1826,  the  society  reported  that 


¥r.  Kam  had  eighteen  young  men  under  his  care  for 
preparatory  instruction,  with  reference  to  the  office  of 
natiw  aMistants.  In  1884,  four  viUages,  with  a  popu- 
lation  of  two  thousand  five  hundred  persons,  embraced 
Christianity ;  and  Mr.  Kam,  with  a  missionary  from  the 
Netherlands  society,  partook  of  the  Lord's  supper  with 
a  number  whom  they  regarded  as  his  genuine  disciples, 
native  converte,  belonging  to  these  villages.  Mr. 
Burder  s  sermons  were  out  of  the  press,  and  in  a  course 
of  circulation. 

The  last  information  which  can  be  given  of  this  very 
mteresting  mission,  is  an  extract  from  the  directors' 
report  for  1828,  in  which  they  say,— 
I  i^^'  ^"Iwyn",  Mr.  Kam  stUl  continues  bis  useful 
labors,  and  remains  in  correspondence  with  this  society, 
under  whose  auspices  he  originally  proceeded,  as  a 
missionary  to  that  isknd.  As,  however,  he  has  not, 
for  a  considerable  time,  derived  any  pecuniary  assist- 

^ht!^J,'':^^  "7*""  "  ""°~  "^^  correspondence 
w.  h  the  Netherlands  society,  the  directors,  while  they 

Tni  ^"T/  '"  •"''"  *  ''""P  •"*«"'  •»  his  exertions, 
Zv^»  ^       ,'°  "*"". '"'"  "  ■*  ^^o^eBpondent,  think 

u!  nf^  "°  •°"?*'' '""'  P'^P""'^'  P''"'^  him  on  the 
list  of  their  missionaries,  lest  they  should  be  charged 
with  appropriating  what  does  not  belong  to  them." 


DEMERARA.    i^ERBICE. 


SIAM. 


This  country  takes  its  present  name  from  the  Por- 
tupiese  The  natives  call  themselves  Tai  (freemen) 
«.d  their  country  ^uang  Tai  (the  kingdom  of  £ 
men).  It  »  situated  on  the  south  of  the  Burman  em- 
pure  and  properly  inchules  only  the  northern  isthmus 
the^r'-f  i^7  ""e  geographers  regard  Siam  a. 
the  Stna  of  Ptolemy.    The  capital  takes  its  name 

between  the  religion  of  Siam  and  that  of  Burmah.  It 
IS  Buddhism ;  and  the  belief  in  the  transmigration  of 
souls  IS  a  strong  connecting  link  with  Hindooism. 

Baukok  is  the  capital,  with  a  population  of  nearly 
half  a  million.    This  appears  to  give  promise  of  hi 
|ng  one  of  the  most  successful  points  of  evangelical 
labor  m  reference  to  China.    Mr.  Tomlin  and  Mr. 
Abeel  have  made  visits  of  mercy  to  this  city  and  other 
places,  and  are  so  deeply  impressed  with  the  impor 
tance  of  the  station,  that  they  have  commenced  ener 
getic  preparatory  operations,  in   the   distribution   of 
tracts  m  Siamese  and  Chinese.     Mr.  Tomlin  urges  thu  * 
society  for  two  or  three  missionaries  to  be  sent  out 
immediately,  and  help  is  to  be  expected  from  the 
AmerKan  churches. 


CHAPTER   VI. 


MISSIONS    IN    SOUTH   AMERICA, 


DEMERARA.     BERBICE. 


In  the  month  of  December,  1807,  Mr.  Wray,a  stu- 
dent  from  the  Mission  college  at  Gosport,  was  sent  out 
by  the  directors  of  the  London  society,  in  compliance 
with  the  solicitation  of  Mr.  Post,  a  pious  Dutch  planter 
on  the  east  coast  of  the  colony  of  Demerara.  After 
a  passage  of  seven  weeks,  Mr.  Wray  arrived  at  the 
plantation  Le  Resouvenir,  belonging  to  Mr.  Post,  and 
comprising  five  hundred  slaves.  Here  he  was  received 
in  the  most  friendly  manner,  and  immediately  com- 
menced his  ministerial  labors,  which  soon  excited  «o 
.iiucli  attention,  that,  exclusive  of  the  negroes  belongmg 
CO  the  estate,  numbers  flocked  from  difierent  planta- 


tions,  and  some  came  from  a  distance  of  eight  miles 
so  that  It  soon  became  necessary  to  erect  a  chapel  for 
their  accommodation.  In  a  letter  dated  May  19, 1808 
Mr.  Wray  observes,  "  I  trust  that  the  work  'of  the 
Lord  will  prosper  in  this  place;  and  I  certainly  have 
the  greatest  encouragement  to  persevere.  Seldom  a 
day  passes  without  three  or  four  of  the  slaves  visiting 
me  to  ascertain  what  they  must  do  to  be  saved.  Others 
ask  me  important  questions  respecting  the  doctrines 
_.  _.„j....;  _.,..  -t-aiij  arc  Dicssing  uou   limi  ever 

he  brought  me  here.     '  Before  you  came,'  say  they, 
•  we  were  poor  ignorant  creatures,— knew  not  good 


634 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


from  bad, — no  one  teach  us ;  but  now  we  are  taught 
the  way  to  true  happiness.'  Some,  who  were 
formerly  intoxicated  two  or  three  times  a  week,  are 
become  sober,  and  constantly  attend  the  means  of 
grace ;  and  those  whom  the  whip  could  not  subdue 
for  years,  the  gospel  has  subdued  in  a  few  months. 
Astonishing  change !  almost  too  great  to  be  credit- 
ed by  those  who  are  not  eye-witnesses ;  yet,  thanks 
be  to  (rod,  it  is  true;  and  he  shall  have  all  the 
glory." 

In  another  communication,  dated  November  21, 
Mr.  Wray  says,  "  The  work  of  the  Lord  still  prospers, 
and  the  dear  Redeemer  is  seeing  of  the  travail  of  his 
soul  in  the  conversion  of  the  poor  negroes ;  more  than 
twenty  of  whom,  I  have  reason  to  believe,  are  sav- 
ingly acquainted  with  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and 
«re  rejoicing  in  that  salvation  which  he  hath  ob- 
tained for  sinners.  You  will  be  astonished  to  hear 
that  upwards  of  two  hundred  slaves  have  learnt  Dr. 
Watts's  First  Catechism,  and  that  several  have  com- 
mitted to  memory  some  short  prayers,  the  ten  com- 
mandments, and  various  passages  of  Scripture.  Indeed, 
if  my  time  and  strength  would  permit,  I  could  teach 
as  many  more,  as  they  never  appear  to  be  tired  of 
learning.  They  evince  a  great  reverence  for  the  word 
of  God,  and  their  minds  are  evidently  filled  with  a 
sense  of  his  greatness,  goodness  and  holiness,  though 
of  these  things,  a  few  months  since,  they  knew  nothing. 

"  I  have  baptized  four  adults  and  several  children, 
belonging  to  Mr.  Post's  estate  ;  and  I  am  very  desirous 
of  baptizing  several  other  adults,  but  I  do  not  know 
whether  their  masters  will  permit  it,  though  I  have 
some  hope  that  they  will.  I  baptize  none  but  those 
who  ffppear  to  possess  *  repentance  toward  God  and 
faith  in  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,'  and  who  have,  for  a 
considerable  time,  demonstrated  their  sincerity  by  an 
upright  walk  and  holy  conversation.  Indeed,  none 
but  such  are  received  as  candidates  for  baptism  ;  and 
they  are  then  instructed  for  several  weeks  in  the  prin- 
ciples of  Christianity." 

The  success  which  attended  the  preaching  of  the 
gospel  in  Demerara,  during  the  year  1808,  continued 
to  increase  and  abound  ;  so  that,  early  in  the  ensuing 
spring,  the  number  of  slaves  admitted  into  the  church 
by  baptism,  amounted  to  twenty-four,  and  not  less  than 
a  hundred  and  fifty  appeared  to  be  earnestly  seeking 
the  salvation  of  their  immortal  souls.  Nor  were  these 
negroes  merely  desirous  of  obtaining  eternal  felicity 
for  themselves,  but  they  were  literally  saying  to  many 
of  their  countrymen,  "  Come  with  us,  and  we  will  do 
you  good."  The  truths  which  they  had  learned,  they 
were  anxious  to  communicate  to  others.  "  I  am  in- 
formed," says  Mr.  Wray,  "  that  some,  at  the  distance 
of  twenty  miles,  who  have  never  seen  our  chapel, 


have  learned  Dr.  Watts's'  First  Catechism ;  and  ten  of 
our  people,  who  best  understand  it,  have  taken  eight 
each  under  their  care,  to  instruct  them,  to  watch  over 
their  conduct,  and  to  settle  disputes  among  them.  The 
manager  of  these  slaves,  who  attends  our  place  of 
worship,  says  he  is  astonished  at  the  change  wrought 
among  them.  Before  they  heard  the  gospel,  they 
were  indolent,  noisy  and  rebellious ;  but  now  they  are 
industrious,  quiet  and  obedient.  Fonnerly  it  was 
almost  impossible  to  make  them  work  without  the 
application  of  the  whip ;  but  as  a  proof  that  no  coer- 
cion is  now  needed,  the  following  fact  may  be  stated  : 
— '  A  few  days  ago,  three  negroes  perceived  that  the 
manager  was  very  anxious  to  have  the  cotton  picked 
and  carried  home ;  on  which  account,  the  invalids  and 
old  people,  who  for  a  long  time  had  not  been  asked  to 
do  any  thing,  went  of  their  own  accord  into  the  field 
and  worked.  Even  the  sick  nurse  and  two  free  women, 
who  reside  on  the  estate,  determined  to  render  their 
assistance ;  and  on  the  next  day  they  were  so  anxious 
to  get  the  cotton  home,  that  they  would  scarcely  allow 
themselves  time  either  to  eat  or  drink.' " 

Whilst  Mr.  Wray  was  rejoicing  in  the  blessing  which 
thus  evidently  rested  upon  his  faithful  labors,  he  was 
called  to  endure  a  severe  trial,  in  the  removal  of  his 
friend  and  patron,  Mr.  Post,  who  had,  for  some  time, 
suffered  severely  from  gout  and  asthma,  and  who  ap- 
pears to  have  been  thoroughly  convinced  that  the  time 
of  his  departure  was  at  hand  ;  as  about  a  month  before 
his  removal  to  the  world  of  spirits,  he  sent  for  his  head 
carpenter,  and  r;avo  him  orders  to  make  his  coffin ; 
giving,  at  the  same  tiine,  particular  directions  concern- 
ing his  funeral.  On  the  8th  of  April,  1809,  he  was 
deprived  of  the  use  of  his  hands  and  feet,  and  during 
the  residue  of  his  illne:is  he  endured  severe  pain,  both 
day  and  night.  His  mind,  however,  was  evidently 
occupied  with  the  things  of  God ;  and  on  several  oc- 
casions, he  sent  for  the  children  brought  up  in  his  house, 
for  his  manager,  and  for  some  of  his  domestics,  in  order 
to  converse  with  them ;  when  he  appeared  to  enjoy 
very  comfortable  prospects  of  eternity.  One  day, 
after  affectionately  commending  the  ciiildren  to  the 
care  and  instruction  of  Mr.  Wray,  ho  said  to  one  of  his 
oldest  negroes,  named  Mars,  who  had  come  to  see  him, 
"  Mars,  how  are  you  ?"  The  old  man,  mistaking  the 
nature  of  the  question,  and  thinking  it  related  to  what 
the  slaves  had  been  doing,  replied,  "  Picking  cotton, 
massa."  "  I  do  not  ask  you,"  said  Mr.  Post,  "  what 
you  iiavc  been  doing.  Picking  cotton  is  nothing  tome 
now :  I  have  done  with  that."  He  then  called  the 
old  negro  to  his  bedside,  and  taking  him  by  the  hand, 
bade  him  farewell,  exhorting  him  to  attend  the  means 
of  grace,  and  to  meet  him  at  the  right  hand  of  God : 
adding  that  he  must  shortly  die,  and  that  the  distinction 


hetmea  master  and  servant  would  then  be  done  away 
lor  ever.  ' 

On  the  a9lh  of  April,  this  excellent  raan  fell  asleep 
in  Jesus ;  and  the  greater  part  of  the  night  was  spent 
by  the  slaves  m  weeping  for  him.     "  A  more  affecting 

ZTS  '"^^  ^'  ^"^'  """''  P-'-F.  never  pre? 
sented  ,  as  I  suppose  there  were  more  than  five  hun- 
dred  negroes  of  his  own,  and  from  other  estates,  la- 
mentmg  their  loss.     The  manager  and  another  person 
went  among  the  negro  houses,  to  request  them  to  be 
stdl;  but  in  vain.     The  poor  creatures  continued  to 
weep  aloud,  exclaiming,  <My  massa !    my  massa !' 
I  was  much  affected  with  the  language  of  one  poor 
woman,  who  said  she  had  been  twenty  years  on  the 
estate,  without  having  been  able  to  do  any  work ;  but 
her  good  m^sa  had  given  her  every  thing  ,o  make  her 
comlortable. 

In  the  afternoon  of  April  30,  which  happened  to  be 
the  sabbath,  the  remains  of  Mr.  Post  were  interred 
under  a  large  mango-tree  on  his  own  estate,  as  he 
dechned  be.ng  buried  in  the  chapel,  lest  an  appearance 
of  pride  might  be  considered  as  attaching  to  the  funeral 
or  lest  some  one  might  suppose  that  he  had  erected 
the  building,  with  a  view  to  his  own  place  of  sepulture. 
*-.ght  of  his  own  negroes,  whom  he  had  selected  for 
the  purpose,  earned  him  to  the  grave,  and  with  many 
others  made  great  lamentation  over  him.     And   for 
several  succeeding  days,  the  estate  appeared  as  if  it 
were  in  mourning  for  its  late  owner. 

Desirous  that  the  surrounding  population  should 
continue  to  enjoy  the  privileges  of  religious  instruction 
after  his  decease,  Mr.  Post  secured  to  the  use  of  the 
mission  the  chapel  and  the  dwelling-house  of  the  min- 
ister, and  generously  assigned  the  sum  of  one  hundred 
pounds  sterling,  as  an  annual  contribution  toward  the 
minister's  support,  so  long   as   the  London  society 
shall  continue  to  provide  a  missionary  for  the  station, 
who  shall  preach  the  doctrines  of  the  reformed  church! 
The  directors,  referring  to  Mr.  Post's  decease,  in 
their  annual  report  for  1810,  thus  record  the  character 
and  usefulness  of  that  excellent  and  benevolent  dis- 
ciple of  Jesus : — 

"It  is  impossible  to  express  the  obligations  under 
which  the  cause  of  religion  in  the  colony  was  laid  by 
his  influence,  contributions  and  exertions.  But  in  the 
midst  of  his  usefulness,  and  when  his  example  was 
ikely  to  prove  of  the  greatest  advantage,  it  pleased 
the  Sovereign  Disposer  of  life  to  take  to  himself  that 
excellent  man.  He  now  rests  from  his  labors,  his 
works  will  follow  him,  and  the  society  will  long  cherish 
the  memory  of  their  generous  benefactor  ;  while  they 
mdulge  a  hope  that  the  recollection  of  his  pious  zeal 

will  stir  UD  otheni.  hoth  .>  >• J  -^      j 

late  so  worthy  an  example." 


DEMERARA.    BERBICE. 


635 

After  the  death  of  Mr.  Post,  several  other  kind 
friends  were  raised  up  to  encourage  and  promote  the 
great  work  of  evangelization  in  Demerara,  some  of 
whom  were  proprietors  of  estates,  and  others  respecta- 
ble  managers.  Some  of  those  planters,  mdeed,  who  had 
lormeriy  opposed  the  mission,  were  now  so  thoroughly 
rCw        '*',^.«"«fi'=''''  ««■««='«.  'hat  they  applied 

had  proved  of  such  advantage  to  the  negroes  and  to 
a^^l  concerned    that  they  expected  they  should  nit 
much  longer  have  any  need  for  drivers 
Ja  'jT'^Pf."  of  ISll.Mr.  Wray  was  introduced, 
through  the  medium  of  a  friend,  to  Mahaica,  a  village 
upon  the  coast,  about  twenty-five  miles  from  town 
and  in  the  vicinity  of  several  estates,  from  which  a 
considerable  number  of  people  seemed  willing  to  at- 
tend the  preaching.     The  gentlemen  residing  here  not 
only  expressed  a  desire  that  a  missionary  might  labor 
among  them,  but  actually  subscribed  a  thousand  pounds 
towards  the  erection  of  a  place  of  worship.     «  This 
opening  for  the  preaching  of  the  gospel,"  says  Mr 
Wray, "  ,s  likely  to  be  a  great  blessing  to  the  missionary 
cause  m  the  country,  as  it  will  be  supported  by  some 
of  he  first  people  in  the  colony.     The  chapel  will  be 
built  principally  for  the  European  ladies  and  gentle 
men,  and  the  free  people  of  color ;  but  I  trust  it  will 
open  a  way  to  the  instruction  of  all  the  negroes  on 
the  surrounding  estates,  and  on  other  parts  of  the 
coast. 

In  the  same  communication,  he  observes,  with  re 
spect  to  the  mission  at  Resouvenir,  "I  trust  that  God 
IS  daily  revealing  his  arm  among  the  poor  negroes, 
and  causing  many  of  them  to  believe  the  glorious 
report   of  his  gospel.     The  number  of  hearers  in- 
creases,  and  many  are  inquiring  what  they  must  do  to 
be  saved.     I  administer  the  Lord's  supper  every  first 
sabbath  m  the  month,  in  the  afternoon,  instead  of 
preaching;    and  often  feel  much  affected  and  filled 
with  joy,  when   sitting  round  the  sacramental  table 
with  these  poor  black  people,  seeing  tears  of  joy  flow 
Irom  their  eyes,  and  hearing  them  mourn  on  account 
of  their  sins.      One  woman,  of  the  name  of  Asia 
being  sick  the  week  before  this  ordinance  was  admin- 
istered, wept  a  whole  day,  because  she  thought  she 
should  not  be  able  to  come  to  the  table.     What  a 
blessing  that  these  poor  people  are  so  desirous  to 
hear  the  gospel,  and  that  the  Lord  has  opened  the 
hearts  of  so  many  of  them  to  attend  to  his  blessed 
word ;  and  what  an  encouragement  for  the  Missionary 
Society  to  go  on  in  the  great  and  glorious  work  in 
which  they  are  engaged,  of  sendine  the  eosnel  m  the 
heathen  i"  "    ' 

In  another  letter,  our  missionary  remarks,  "Several 


536 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


of  the  negroes  have  learned  to  read ;  and  from  read- 
ing, as  well  as  from  memory,  some  of  them  are  become 
good  catechists,  and  begin  to  assist  me.  One  of  them 
told  me,  that  one  hundred  and  thirteen  had  come 
to  him  to  be  instructed ;  and  I  am  sometimes  as- 
tonished to  find  how  correctly  they  learn  the  cate- 
chism from  one  another.  About  two  hundred  attend 
public  worship  regularly,  several  of  whom,  having 
learned  the  tunes,  can  conduct  the  singing  without 
the  assistance  of  white  people  ;  and  many  begin  to 
pray  in  our  social  meetings  with  great  fluency,  and 
Tery  often  in  scriptural  language." 

Scarcely  had  Mr.  Wray  communicated  this  pleasing 
intelligence  to  the  directors,  and  expressed  his  lively 
gratitude  to  God  for  the  gradual  diffusion  of  that 
divine  light  which  had  emanated  from  the  Christian 
sanctuary,  when  his  prospects  were  suddenly  obscured 
by  a  ilark  cloud,  and  he  was  reminded,  by  circum- 
stances equally  unforeseen  and  unexpected,  that  faith 
must  be  sometimes  tried,  in  order  that  patience  may 
have  its  perfect  work. 

On  the  25th  of  May,  the  colonial  government  is- 
sued a  proclamation,  prohibiting  the  slaves,  under 
severe  penalties,  from  assembling  together  before  the 
hour  of  sunrise,  or  after  that  of  sun-setting.  This 
regulation,  though  professedly  designed  merely  to 
prevent  meetings  for  purposes  of  mutiny  or  rebellion, 
was  soon  found  to  operate  almost  to  the  total  sup- 
pression of  the  religious  assemblies  of  the  negroes  ; 
as  the  principal  opportunities  for  that  end  were  from 
seven  till  nine  in  the  evening,  after  they  had  done 
their  work  ;  that  part  of  the  sabbath  in  which  they 
were  not  engaged  at  market  being  totally  insufficient 
for  the  instruction  of  those  poor  ignorant  creatures, 
who  literally  required  "  line  upon  line,  and  precept 
upon  precept,"  and  whose  chief  advantage  was  de- 
rived from  learning  the  catechism  ;  which,  as  few  of 
them  could  read,  required  to  be  read  and  explained 
to  them  again  and  again. 

The  missionary  was  deeply  affected  by  a  circum- 
stance which  seemed  to  place  an  insurmountable  bar- 
rier in  the  way  of  his  future  usefulness.  Instead  of 
wasting  his  time,  however,  in  unavailing  repinings,  he 
determined  to  pay  a  visit  to  England,  in  order  that  a 
respectful  representation  of  this  grievance  might  be 
made,  by  the  directors,  to  the  government  at  home. 
This  was  accordingly  done ;  and  his  majesty's  secretary 
of  state  for  the  colonial  depritment  not  only  atten- 
tively perused  the  memorial  presented  to  him,  but 
was  pleased  to  confer  with  ihe  ,?e ,  i.  .\ries  of  the  so- 
ciety, and  with  Mr.  Wray,  on  ?'..  ^  >t,>ct.  Aa  official 
letter  was  afterwards  transmit  uid  t.  Jie  j;,ovemor  of 
Demerara,  sienifyiner.  the  detem.itititiuii  af  his  majesty's 
government  that  the  slaves  should  be  allowed  to  meet 


every  Sunday  for  worship  and  instruction,  from  fire 
in  the  morning  till  nine  in  the  evening,  and  on  other 
days  from  seven  till  nine  in  the  evening,  provided 
they  had  the  permission  of  their  respective  masters. 

Mr.  Wray  now  returned  to  resume  his  labors  at 
Demerara  ;  and,  shortly  after  his  arrival,  a  proclama- 
tion was  issued  by  his  excellency  major-general  Car- 
michael,  recalling  that  of  May,  1811;  and  stating, 
among  other  things,  that  instructions  had  been  re- 
ceived from  the  prince  regent,  to  give  every  aid  to 
missionaries  <n  the  communication  of  religious  instruc- 
tion. This  public  measure  was  accompanied  with  the 
most  friendly  assurances,  on  the  part  of  the  governor, 
of  his  support  of  the  missionaries,  as  he  considered 
their  exertions  highly  beneficial  to  the  community. 
His  excellency,  also,  desired  them  to  undertake  the 
instruction  of  the  children  belonging  to  the  soldiers, 
for  which  a  small  salary  was  to  be  allowed  ;  and  was 
pleased  to  make  a  handsome  present  towards  the 
support  of  the  mission. 

The  effect  of  this  magisterial  encouragement  soon 
became  apparent  in  the  attendance  of  the  slaves,  six 
or  seven  hundred  of  whom  frequently  assembled  under 
the  dispensation  of  the  gospel,  and  some  of  these  were 
known  to  come  from  a  considerable  distance.  From 
thirty  to  fifty  negroes,  also,  attended  thrice  a  week,  to 
learn  to  read,  and  several,  after  suitable  preparation, 
were  admitted  into  the  church  by  the  rite  of  baptism. 

About  this  time,  a  disturbance  happened  among  the 
slaves,  occasioned  by  a  dispute  with  their  masters  re- 
specting their  food.  The  manager  of  the  estate  where 
this  happened  talked  seriously  with  them  on  the  sub- 
ject ;  and,  instead  of  inflicting  corporeal  punishment, 
prohibited  them  from  attending  at  the  chapel.  This 
measure  produced  the  desired  effect.  Mr.  Wray  went 
and  expostulated  with  them  on  the  wickedness  and 
ingratitude  of  their  conduct ;  and  they  soon  made 
due  submission,  and  were,  in  consequence,  restored  to 
their  former  privileges.  "  Thus,"  said  the  manager, 
"  by  making  religion  a  reward  of  good  conduct,  bene- 
ficial effects  may  be  expected,  and  more  severe  pun- 
ishments avoided." 

Shortly  after  this  occurrence,  Mr.  Divi.-  (  vho  had 
been  sent  out  to  Demerara  prev'  ■  >  .'.:■  jath  of 
Mr.  Post)  finished  and  opened  a  large  and  commo- 
dious chapel  at  George  'Town  ;  towards  the  erection 
of  which  the  inhabitants  contributed  upwards  of  six 
hundred  pounds,  and  about  sixty  pounds  were  sub- 
sci  i  by  the  poor  negroes,  each  of  whom  gave  half 
a  I  or  two-pence-halfpenny.  In  writing  to  the 
directors  on  this  subject,  Mr.  Davies  says,  "  Had  you 
been  here  yesterday,  you  would  have  rejoiced  to  see 
the  vast  numbers  that  filled  not  only  the  chapel,  but 
the  whole  plot  of  ground  on  which  the  school-house 


IMiAt   ^ATihe  MfM  tiiiM,  your  hearts  would  huttt 
whcd  toaet  racM  raultitudoa,  among  whom  wwe 
aaajr  wonnt  whh  efaildron  at  the  breast,  and  old 
people  OB  enit(ihm,  obliged  to  stand  out  of  doo»,  in 
tl»  burtoig  mm^  at  noon,  untU  the  congregation  within 
w»B  dnmisted."    About  the  same  Ume,  an  auxiliarr 
miwionary  society,  tnoluding   people  of  color,  and 
•tares,  was  formed  at  George  Town,  and  the  subscrip- 
tkms  raised  m  the  first  instance  amounted  to  eighty 
pounds.    Mr.  Davies,  b  spealcing  of  this  circumstance. 
«y»,  "I  proposed  a  bit,  (five-pence,)  or  Upwards, 
to  constitute  a  member  of  the  new  society;  but  all 
who  could  afibrd  it,  subscribed  a  greater  sum.     Half 
*  bit,  which  is  our  smallest  coin,  constitutes  a  member 
«f  the  juvenile  branch ;  but  the  generality  of  the 
children,  except  some  who  are  rery  poor,  consider 
half  a  bit  too  little  to  bestow  on  the  poor  heathen. 
It  18  very  affiscting  to  see  the»e  d  ir  children,  whose 
parents  were,  for  the  most  part,  heathens,  befbre  the 
word  of  God  came  to  this  town,  reaching  out  their 
bands  with  their  money,  to  send  the  gospel  to  others." 
Shortly  after  the  formation  of  this   auxiliary   at 
GeorgeTown.Mr.  Wray  was  taken  ill  at  Le  Resouve- 
nir,  and  was  confined  to  his  house  for  a  period  of  five 
weeks.     "The  poor  negroes."  says  he,  "visited  me 
in  my  affliction,  every  night,  and  manifested  great 
affection,  and  I  have  no  doubt  offered  in  secret  many 
earnest  prayers  for  my  recovery.     One  of  them  told 
me  they  were  hungering  after  the  preaching.      At 
Christmas  I   preached    and  catechised    three  days 
together,  which  was  too  much  for  my  strength     I  re- 
joiced,  however,  to  see  the  chapel  filled  with  slaves. 
What  a  pleasing  change  I    Instead  of  singing  their 
African  songs,  they  sing  the  praises  of  God,  and  devote 
themselves  to  hira. 

"  I  lately  baptized  six  adults  and  several  chUdren  • 
the  chapel  was  crowded,  and  many  of  them  dressed 
in  white,  which  is  a  pleasing  sight.     The  service  was 
extremely  solemn,  and  all  appeared  to  be  affected 
We  sang  several  times  in  the  intervals  of  the  people 
coming  forward,  and  as  the  parents  brought  thoir  chil- 
dren     A  negro,  of  the  name  of  Davy,  was  baptized. 
He  had  been  a  very  wicked  man,  especially  a  great 
thief;  but  he  now    npears  to  be  a  real  penitent,  and 
to  weep  over  his  sins.     I  was  afraid  to  baptize  hira 
lest  he  should  dishonor  the  cause  of  Christ.    I  went 
to  inquire  of  the  manager  how  he  behaved  himself- 
he  spoke  well  of  him,  and  said,  he  had  no  fault  t<^ 
find  since  he  had  attended  me,  and  that  it  had  given 
him  much  pleasure  to  see  him  attend  so  diligently 
A  few  nights  ago,  when  I  told  him  I  wished  him  to 
stayji  little  longer,  he  appeared  very  sorrowful  and 
ii.ucn  concerned,  and  said  he  wished  to  give  himself 
entirely  to  God,  and  to  be  devoted  with  his  whole 
Vol.  L— Nos.  45  &  46.  ^q 


MMEBARA,    Mms^Tt 


heart  to  Jtma  Christ    He  has  but  one  W;  hit. 
notwithstanding  this,  he  has  for  a  long  tiiS  com. 
almost  every  night  iWm  a  distance  of  abbut  tbrM 
mdes,  to  be  instructed^  and  even  when  the  weather 
has  been  very  bad.    Three  of  his  children  were  hm. 
tized  with  him.     The  last  three  or  four  weeks  I  hiv^ 
had  many  inquirers.    There  appears  to  be  quite  a  re- 
vival among  the  people.     Our  school-room  is  filled 
every  night  with  those  who  inquire  the  way  to  Sion." 
Mr.  Wray,  with  the  consent  of  the  directors,  after- 
wards removed  to  the  neighboring  colony  of  Berbice, 
and  the  affectionate  regard  of  the  negroes  at  Le  Re. 
souvenir  was  evinced  by  the  grief  which  they  felt  on 
the  occasion  of  his  departure.     "  On  the  Lord's-day 
previous  to  our  leaving,"  says  he,  "  I  administered  the 
sacrament  to  our  people,  and  the  scene  was  truly 
solemn  and  affecting.    They  wept  aloud,  till  my  voice 
was  drowned  in  their  sobs  and  cries,  and  I  coulrl  not 
go  on,  but  was  obliged  to  sit  down.     Mrs.  Wray  was 
much  affected.     And  when  we  took  our  leave,    omo 

last,  literally  hung  about  her  neck,  and  wept  profuse!-. 
I  cannot  describe  our  feelings  at  parting.  '  * 

"Having  an  opportunity,  not  long  after,  of  visitinr 
them  aga^n,  I  sent  word,  about  dusk,  that  I  was 
come,  and  a  great  many  soon  assembled.  I  read,  or 
Uied  to  read,  the  first  chapter  of  the  epistle  to  the 
li-phesians  ;  which  was  suitable  both  to  them  and  to 
me.  I  found  myself,  however,  unable  to  proceed,  as 
1  could  not  refrain  from  weeping,  and  the  people  were 
so  much  affected  that  they  wept  aloud.  At  length  1 
gave  out  a  verse  of  a  hymn,  and  was  then  enabl«l  to 
explain  the  chapter.  I  think  this  was  the  most  solemn 
time  I  ever  experienced  in  the  pulpit." 

1  ii°  ?*  '"°"''*  °^  December,  Mr.  Elliot,  who  had 
labored  for  some  years,  as  a  missionary,  at  Tobago, 
paid  a  visit  to  Demerara,  and  was  highly  gratified 
with  perceiving  that  the  ministrations  of  Messrs.  Wrar 
and  Davies  had  not  been  in  vain.     « It  filled  my  heart 
with  joy,"  says  he,  "  to  see  old  men  and  women,  as 
well  as  young  ones,  with  books  or  catechisms  in  their 
hands  or  pockets.     I  am  informed  that  some  of  them 
on  meeting  a  person  who  can  read,  will  step  up  to 
him,  and  say, '  Massa,  I  beg  you  to  teach  roe  a  little  ' 
And  the  progress  which  many  of  them  have  made  is 
in  my  opinion,  a  proof  that  this  information  is  correct' 
borne  thousands  know  that  Christ  is  the  Son  of  God 
and  the  Saviour  of  sinners  ;  and  I  doubt  not  that  some 
hundreds  believe  in  him,  to  the  saving  of  their  souls." 
In  the  same  communication,  this  missionary  ob- 
serves, "  I  preached  for  brother  Davies  on  Lord's  day 

" ''  "■■  '""  lur-onoon,  to  ne&iiy  Toun^en  hundred 

hearers ;  the  chapel  being  completely  full,  and  a  great 
many  persons  at  every  door  and  window.    In  th« 


638 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


afternoon,  I  preached  to  about  five  hundred,  mostly 
slaves ;  and  p'srried  five  couple,  who  staf  '  that  they 
were  desirous  of  keeping  God's  law.  <  Once,'  said 
they,  'we  no  love  him;  but  now  we  love  him, 
and  wish  to  do  every  thing  for  please  him.'  On 
Tuesday  evening  I  preached  at  Le  Resouvenir  to 
about  four  hundred  and  fifty  very  attentive  hearers: 
but  it  would  have  grieved  you  to  have  heard  and  seen 
the  poor  negroes,  when  they  understood  that  no  mis- 
sionary was  on  his  passage  from  England  to  them. 
They  lifted  up  their  hands  and  wept,  earnestly  beg- 
ging that  I  would  come  among  them.  Some  even 
followed  me  for  miles  with  their  entreaties  and  tears : 
and  when  I  assured  them  of  my  willingness  to  comply 
with  their  request,  if  circumstances  should  permit,  their 
sorrow  was  turned  into  joy." 

During  an  interval  of  nearly  two  years,  the  directors 
were  unable  to  obtain  a  resident  successor  to  Mr.  VVray 
at  Le  Resouvenir ;  though,  during  that  time,  the  chapel 
was  supplied  by  Mr.  Davies,  of  George  Town,  and 
other  missionaries  of  the  society,  who  had  an  opportu- 
nity of  visiting  Demerara.  Mr.  Elliot,  also,  appears 
to  have  labored  with  equal  zeal  and  success,  in  the 
first  instance,  at  George  Town,  and  afterwards  on  the 
west  coast ;  where  his  services  were  so  abundantly 
blessed,  that  a  striking  improvement  was  visible  in  the 
morals  of  great  numbers  of  the  negroes,  and  scarcely 
a  sabbath  elapsed  without  some  of  them  offering  them- 
selves as  candidates  for  baptism. 

In  January,  1817,  Mr.  John  Smith,  who  had  been 
for  some  time  under  the  tuition  of  the  late  Rev.  Mr. 
Newton,  of  Witham,  in  Essex,  was  sent  out,  by  the 
directors,  to  supply  the  vacant  station ;  and  in    the 
course   of  the   following  month,  he  and  Mrs.  Smith 
arrived  safely  at  Demerara.     The  congregniion  at  I^e 
Resouvenir,  which  had  experienced  a  material  diminu- 
tion, from  the  want  of  a  stated  minister,  began  to  in- 
crease, immediately  after  the  arrival  of  this  missionary  ; 
and,  in  a  short  time,  the  chapel  was  founil  insiifhcient 
to  accommodate  all  the  people  who  fiockpd  togot'ier 
to  hear  the  word  of  salvation.     Some  of  tiie  planters 
would  not  suffer  their  slaves  to  attend,  but  threatened 
them  with  a  hundred  lashes,  if  they  presumed  to  go 
near  the  chapel.     Otliers,  however,  found  it  most  con- 
ducive to  their  own  interest  to  encourage  those  poor 
creatures  to  attend  on  the  means  of  grace;  a  striking 
instance  of  which  appears  in  the  following  ancctlote : — 
A  certain  slave,  named  Gingo,  wliouas  in  tlic  hnhit 
of  setting  the  tunes  in  Ucihei  chnpel,  was  frequently 
employed  by  his  master  in  what  is  called  tank  irnrk ; 
and  on  these  occasions  he  was  usiinlly  told,  "  Now, 
Gingo,  when  you  have  completed  this,  you  may  go  and 
pray."     One  day  the  planter  said,"  Gingo,  I  find  the 
best  way  to  get  any  thing  done  expeditiously,  is  to  tell 


the  negroes  that  they  shall  go  and  pray."  The  poor 
fellow  immediately  replied,  "  Me  glad  mcuia  Icnow 
dat  pray  do  all  ting."  This  simple-hearted  and  pious 
negro  was,  soon  afterwards,  summoned  into  the  invisi- 
ble world  ;  and  it  was  very  remarkable  that  his  wife,  a 
young  woman  living  on  another  plantation,  died  at  the 
same  hour. 

In  one  of  his  letters  to  the  directors,  Mr.  Smith  says, 
"  The  number  of  hearers  at  Le  Resouvenir  has  been 
augmenting  latterly  every  week,  and  is  still  increasing ; 
so  that  more  people  attend  than  can  possibly  gain  admit- 
tance. It  would  be  equally  affecting  and  gratifying  to 
the  friends  of  the  missionary  cause,  could  they  but  see 
the  poor  blacks  sitting  round  the  outside  of  the  chapel, 
under  the  cabbage-trees  ;  but  it  is  painful  to  see  them 
excluded  for  want  of  room,  after  coming,  as  many  do, 
from  a  distance  of  five  or  ten  miles. 

"  The  white  people  attend  much  better  than  they 
have  hitherto  done ;  and  express  themselves  much 
pleased  with  the  decent  behavior  and  clean  appearance 
of  the  negroes,  who  are  generally  dressed  in  white. 
With  respect  to  tlie  religion  of  these  poor  people,  I 
believe  i.'  does  not  consist  in  outward  appearances  so 
much  as  in  the  honesty  and  simplicity  of  their  conduct. 
Their  masters  speak  well  of  them  in  general ;  nor  have 
I  heard  (though  constantly  inquiring)  more  than  one 
complaint  made  by  any  pkmter  or  manager,  in  conse- 
quc  ice  of  religion."  The  exception,  to  which  Mr. 
Smith  here  alludes,  is  well  worthy  of  notice.  One  of 
the  planters  said  that  the  man,  concerning  whom  our 
missionary's  inquiries  were  made,  was  too  religious ; 
and  that,  not  satisfied  with  being  religious  himself,  he 
was  in  the  habit  of  sitting  up  at  night,  to  preach  to 
others.  "  In  every  other  respect,  however,"  said  the 
master,  "  he  is  a  good  servant ;  so  much  so,  that  I 
would  not  sell  him  for  six  thousand  guilders,  which, 
ac(;ording  to  the  present  exchange,  would  be  about 
four  hundred  and  sixty  pouiuls  sterling." 

In  another  communication,  dated  June,  1819,  Mr. 
Smith  observes,  in  reference  to  the  plani«ion  Le 
Resouvenir,  "  It  may  be  truly  said  of  this  place,  that 
while  the  truths  of  the  blessed  Gospel  are  hidden  from 
the  wise  and  |>rudent,  they  are  revealed  unto  babes. 
The  church  is  growing  in  numbers,  and,  we  trust,  in 
knowledge.  Eight  persons  have  been  lately  received 
into('liristinn  fellowship;  and  two  of  them,  in  relating 
what  God  had  done  for  their  souls,  stated  that  they  were 
first  induced  to  attend  the  chapel  out  of  curiosity,  sliortly 
after  my  orrival  ;  and  that  they  were  so  powerfully 
convinced  of  their  sinfulness,  as  to  he  constrained  io 
pray  imporiunnf-ly  for  mercy.  The  other  six  were 
wroiiKlit  uiKin  nrinriniijiv  hy  ca!6chis!!}»^  The  church 
meudiers,  at  present,  amount  to  one  hundred  and 
seven ;  but  the  number  of  baptized  persons  who  usually 


attend,  is  not  sasily  ascei  iained.  I  have  baptized  two 
hundred  and  forty-nine,  of  whom  about  one  hundred 
and  eighty  are  adults. 

"As it  has  begn  found  impracticable  to  build  a  new 
chapel,  we  have  repaired  the  old  one,  and  altered  it, 
by  taking  down  the  side  gallery.  When  this  was  de- 
termined  on,  and  the  negroes  had  contributed  a  suffi- 
cient sum  for  the  purpose,  they  agreed  to  form  them- 
selves mto  an  auxiliary  missionary  society,  which  was 
accordmgly  established  about  three  months  ago;  a 
free  young  man  of  color  having  consented  to  act  as 
secretary. 

"The  attention  which  the  young  people  pay  to  re- 
hg.on  IS  particularly  gratifying.  Great  numbers  of  them 
regularly  attend  the  chapel,  and  seem  to  take  a  pleas- 
ure m  being  catechized.  On  Easter  Monday,  when  I 
preached  ntiy  annual  sermon  to  them,  the  chapel  was 
more  than  half  filled  with  young  people  under  seven- 
teen years  of  age;  and  one  instance  of  their  attention 
I  will  relate.  Speaking  of  old  age  incapacitating  peo- 
ple for  the  enjoyment  of  earthly  pleasures,  I  quoted 

XIX.  JJ--36  ;  calling  it  a  conversation  between  an  old 
man  and  a  king.  After  the  service,  a  youth  came 
mto  the  house,  with  his  Bible  in  his  hand,  to  request 
me  to  pomt  him  to  the  passage  where  he  might  find  the 
discourse  which  the  old  man  had  with  David  ;  observ- 
ing that  he  was  sure  old  people  could  not  enjoy  the 
pleasures  of  this  life,  or  a  man  would  never  refuse  to 
go  to  live  with  a  king,  and  be  so  kindly  treated. 

"I  have  shown  the  negroes  the  pictures  of  the  idols 
in  the  Missionary  Sketches ;  and  their  opinion  is,  that 
they  must  have  been  made  in  secret ;  for,  they  say,  if 
the  people  had  seen  the  xvorkmen  make  them,  they 
could  never  have  been  so  stupid  as  to  pay  them  reli- 
gious honors.  They  express  the  greatest  compassion 
for  those  who  are  living  in  heathen  darkness,  and  are 
evidently  willing  to  do  all  in  their  power  to  assist  in 
sending  them  the  gospel." 

Among  various  instances  which  might  be  adduced, 
in  order  to  demonstrate  the  influence  of  the  gospel' 
upon  many  of  tiie  negroes  who  sat  under  Mr.  Smith's 
ministry,  we  must  notice  their  cheerful  abandonmem 
of  a  custom,  which  they  had  not  only  long  considered 
innocent  in  itself,  hut  us  an  important  source  of  profit 
to  their  families.  The  plantation  slaves,  comprising 
nearly  seven-eighths  of  the  whole  negro  population  of 
Demerara,  arc  usiially  allowed  «  piece  of  ground, 
which  they  are  rxpertcd  to  ciiiiivnte,  for  the  purpose' 
of  furnishing  themselves  with  such  necessaries  as  their 
tneans  do  not  provide  for  them  ;  but  the  only  time 
ihcy  have  fr.r  rarryin^  iiu-ii  priMiuco  to  market  is  the 
labbath,  that  being  market-day.  " Aliliou^h,"  says 
Mr,  Smith,  "  (his  practice  is  a  shameful  violation  of 


DEMERARA.    BERBICE. 


539 


the  Lord  s  day,  and  extremely  fatiguing  to  the  negroes, 
who  are  often  compelled  to  carry  their  saleable  arti' 
cles,  such  as  yams,  Indian  com,  bananas,  fee,  to  a 
distance  of  six,  eight,  or  even  twelve  miles,  yet  the 
tnfling  profit  they  derive  from  their  labor,  and  the 
pleasure  they  find  in  going  to  the  n.arket  in  town 
strongly  attach  them  to  it.     WUh  pleasure,  however' 
I  see  many  of  our  baptized  negroes   abapdon   this 
practice,— a  practice  so  specious  in  its  appearance  to 
them  and  so  deeply  rooted  by  custom,  that  nothine 
but  the  power  of  religion  could  cause  them  valuntanh, 
to  relinquish  it.     Many,  very  many,  now  neither  eo 
to  market,  nor  cultivate  their  grounds  on  the  sabbath  • 
and  yet  these  are  the  persons  that  make  the  cleanest 
and  best  appearance,  and  have  more  of  the  comforts 
of  life    than    most  others.     The   reason  is  obvious. 
Ihey  are  diligent  in  raising  live  stock,  fowls,  ducks, 
turkeys  fee,  which  they  dispose  of  to  persons  who  go 
about  the  country  to  purchase  them  ;-by  not  goinir 
to  market,  they  have  less  inducement  to  spend  their 
money  in  buying  useless  or  pernicious  articles  ;— and 
by  a  little  economy,  such  as  the  Bible  teaches,  they 
make  their  money  go  further  than  others." 

In  the  autumn  of  1820,  as  many  of  the  negroes 
resided  at  a  considerable  distance  from  Mr.  Smith's 
place  of  worship,  it  was  proposed  to  build  a  chapel  at 
Clonbrook,  about  fifteen  miles  from  Le  Resouvenir; 
and  that  Mr.  Mercer,  another  missionary  of  the  Lon- 
don society,  then  in  the  colony,  should  instruct  the 
negroes  in  that  quarter.  And,  with  a  view  to  interest 
the  gentlemen  of  Clonbrook  in  this  object,  the  follow- 
mg  certificate  was  given  by  Messrs.  Van  Cooten  and 
Hamilton,  the  attorney  and  manager  of  plantation  I^ 
Resouvenir : — 

"  We,  the  undersigned  inhabitants  of  the  east  coast, 
having  witnessed  the  good  eflxcts  of  religious  instruc 
tions  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  chapel  at  Le  Resou- 
venir, where  the  missionaries  belonging  to  the  mis- 
sionary society  have  preached  for  nearly  thirteen 
years,  and  understanding  that  the  Rev.  Mr.  Mercer,  a 
missionary  belonging  to  the  same  society,  wishes  '.o 
erect  n  chnpel  in  the  vicinity  of  Clonbrook,  cordially 
rocommen.l  his  object  to  the  attention  of  the  gentle- 
men in  that  neiijhhorhood." 

In  February.  1823,  after  laboring  six  years  in  this 
mission,  Mr.  Smith  communicated  to  the  directors  the 
following  gratifying  particulars : 

After  staling  tlini  the  number  of  adult  negroes  bap- 
rized  during  the  preceding  year  was  three  hundred  and 
twenty  :  that  the  number  admitted  to  the  Ix)rd's  table, 
during  the  same  period,  was  sixty-onn  ;  that  ths  tr:t~\ 
number  of  members  of  the  church  was  two  hundred 
and  three,  and  that  of  marriages  one  hundred  and  four- 
teen,— lie  observes, — 


MO 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


"  We  hare  now  many  candidates  both  for  baptism 
and  the  Lord's  supper.  Our  average  congregation  is 
eight  hundred  persons.  We  have  certainly  much 
cause  to  be  thankful  to  the  great  Head  of  the  church, 
for  the  success  that  attends  our  labors.  We  behold 
every  sabbath  an  overflowing  congregation,  behaving 
with  praiseworthy  decorum  ;  and  we  see  them  zealous 
for  the  spread  of  Christianity.  They  are  fast  aban- 
doning their  wicked  practices  for  more  regular  habits- 
of  life,  as  is  evident  from  the  number  of  marriages,  few 
of  which  (not  as  one  in  Ji/tt/)  have  hitherto  been  vio- 
lated. A  great  pro|K)rtion  of  them  are  furnished  with 
Bibles,  Testaments,  Dr.  Watts's  First  or  Second 
Catechism,  and  a  hymn-book ;  and  these,  being  their 
whole  library,  they  usually  bring  to  chapel  on  the 
sabbath.  All  our  congregation,  young  and  old,  bond 
and  free,  are  catechized  every  Sunday  ;  first  individual- 
ly, in  classes,  and  afterwards  collectively.  This  de- 
pailmenl  is  managed  principally  by  Mrs.  Smith.  The 
children  occupy  and  fill  the  new  gallery  of  the  chapel, 
which  contains  one  hundred  and  eighty,  besides  a  few 
persons  to  keep  them  in  order  during  the  service." 
Mr.  Smith,  at  the  same  time,  added,  that  the  Mis- 
sion Register  contained  the  names  of  about  two 
thousand  persons  who  had  professedly  embraced  the 
gospel,  at  Ije  Resouvenir  and  the  adjoining  plan- 
tations. 

The  subsequent  labors  of  Mr.  Smith,  and  those  of 
his  excellent  wife,  who  took  an  active  part  in  the  instruc- 
tion of  the  female  negroes,  were  attended  with  the  most 
gratifying  results.  But  instead  of  their  laudable  efforts 
to  promote  the  religious  instruction  and  moral  improve- 
ment of  the  slave-population  meeting  with  that  sanc- 
tion and  countenance  from  the  civil  authorities  and 
other  leading  individuals,  which  such  endeavors  mer- 
ited, they  had,  in  many  instances,  to  contend  with 
increasing  opposition  and  reproacii.  This,  however, 
was  not  universally  the  case.  Some  of  the  white  iidiab- 
itants  candidly  nrknnwiedged  the  advantages  resulting 
to  the  negroes  from  the  labors  of  our  missionary,  while 
several  respectable  gei;t'om''n,  in  the  neighborhood 
of  Lo  Resouvenir,  Ix'can.r  sid)scril)ers  to  the  Dern- 
erara  Auxiliary  Society,  and  gave  their  testimony 
to  the  improved  character  and  gcMxl  behavior  of  the 
negroes  who  had  received  the  benefit  of  religion 
instruction. 

"  Little  could  it  have  been  imagined,"  says  the 
editor  of  the  (Juarterly  Chronicle,  "  that  within  six 
months  from  the  dale  of  these  gratifying  communica- 
tions, every  plan  for  the  moral  niid  religious  improve- 
ment of  the  slaves  nl  liO  Resouvenir  would  he  sus- 
pended ;  that  the  missionary  himself  wnujd  ho  no 
longer  f^unrl  in  his  place,  onlightcninK  their  tnuutored 
minds,  and  proclaiming  the  tidings  of  salvation;  that, 


in  short,  the  misricn  itself  would  be,  as  it  were,  en- 
tirely laid  waste;  still  less  oonld  so  melancholy  an 
issue  have  been  apprehended  after  the  propositions  of 
Mr.  Canning,  on  Mr.  Buxton's  motion  of  the  15th  of 
May,  1823,  were  adopted  by  the  British  parliament; 
an  event  which  appeared  as  the  dawn  of  a  brighter 
day  for  the  labors  of  Christian  missionaries  in  the 
slave  colonies ;  for  it  is  well  known,  that  those  propo- 
sitions, and  the  instructions  of  government  founded 
thereon,  not  only  required  a  more  lenient  treatment  of 
the  negroes,  but  regarded  their  moral  and  religious 
instruction  as  Indispensable  to  the  improvement  of  their 
social  condition. 

"  Various  causes  of  dissatisfaction  had,  for  a  consid- 
erable time,  existed  among  the  slaves  on  the  east  coast, 
tending  to  sour  their  minds,  and  to  render  them  dis- 
contented with  their  lot.  These  grievances  chiefly 
consisted  in  the  exaction  of  immoderate  labor  ;  unjus- 
tifiahle  severity,  and  impediments  thrown  in  the  way 
of  their  attendance  on  public  worship. 

"  The  number  of  the  negroes  who  had  embraced 
Christianity  at  Le  Resouvenir  and  in  its  vicinity,  was 
very  considerable ;  and  with  a  very  large  proportion  of 
them,  it  was  no  nominal  profession.  To  the  gospel 
which  they  had  cordially  received  they  were  firmly 
attached.  Attendance  on  public  worship  they  felt  to 
be  a  duty,  and  enjoyed  it  as  a  privilege.  The  sabbath 
was  their  delight,  and  its  services  afforded  them  their 
highest  gratification.  Such,  indeed,  is  the  case  with 
all  real  Christians ;  but  it  is  reasonable  to  suppose,  that 
to  Christian  negroes,  in  a  state  of  slavery,  the  sabbath 
and  its  sacred  services  have  a  charm,  which  persons 
differently  circumstanced  cannot  possibly  realize.  Un- 
happily, instead  of  greater  facilities  being  afforded  for 
their  attendance  on  divine  ordinances,  as  their  attach- 
ment to  them  increased,  additional  obstacles  were,  on 
the  contrary,  thrown  in  their  way,  which  could  not  fail 
to  produce  great  dissatisfaction. 

"  In  May,  ISii.'l,  his  excellency  lieutenant-governor 
Murray  issued  a  proclamation,  ostensibly  founded  on 
lord  Liverpool's  despatch  of  181 1.  TImj  effect  of  the 
latter  was  to  relieve  the  slaves  from  restraints  affecting 
their  religious  instruction  ;  but  the  proclamation  of 
governor  Murray  unhappily  had  a  directly  contrary 
effect.  It  proposed  to  the  phmlvrs  nnt  to  rrfiist  ]nme$ 
to  their  »lavei  to  attend  divine  vorsliip  on  a  Sunday, 
and  thus  indirectly  instructed  them  to  permit  no  nrf^ro 
to  attend  without  a  post.  Considering  the  relative 
situation  of  planter  and  slave,  a  moment's  reflection 
will  suffice  to  show  the  vexatious  tendency  of  such  a 
regulation.  Was  it  reasonable  to  expect  that  the  do- 
mestic convenience,  reli/iioui  nreiudicni.  and  personal 
antipathies  of  the  owner  or  manager  should  at  once 
«;ivo  way  at  the  request  of  •  negro  slave  ?    The  event 


DEMERAKA.    BERBICE. 


soon  proved,  what  ordinary  foresight  might  have  dis- 
covered, that  they  would  not.   Tlie  slaves  were  either 
refused  passes,  or  they  were  not  able  to  obtain  them 
in  du9  time,  or  they  were  bantered  and  reproached, 
on  account  of  their  religion,  when  they  applied;  des- 
titute meanwhile  of  all  legal  means  of  redress.     The 
consequence  was,  that  many  of  them  determined  to 
attend  divine  worship  without  a  pass,  and  by  this 
means  exposed  themselves  to  punishment,  which,  there 
IS  reason  to  believe,  was  in  numerous  instances  inflict- 
ed, and  in  some  with  considerable  severity.      These 
grievances  were  further  aggravated  by  some  of  the  plant- 
ers and  managers  interfering,  under  the  supposed  au- 
thority of  the  proclamation,  with  the  religious  exercises 
performed  by  the  slaves  in  their  own  houses ;  by  taking 
away  and  destroying  their  religious  books  ;  and  by  ap- 
pomtmg  an  overseer  to  accompany  their  negroes  to 
chapel,  m  conformity  with  a  suggestion  coptained  in 
governor  Murray's  proclamation,  which  overseer  was 
'to  judge  of  the  doctrine  held  forth  to  the  negroes  I' 
By  these  proceedings,  a  suspicion  was  excited  amonR 
the  slaves,  that  the  Europeans  wished  to  deprive  them 
of  their  religion,  which  they  oeclared  they  valued  more 
than  life. 

"While  the  minds  of  the  negroes  were  in  this  state 
of  alarm  and  excitement,  the  despatches  of  earl  Ba- 
thurst  arrived  in  the  colony,  containing  instructions 
as  to  a  more  lenient  treatment  of  the  negroes,  in  con- 
fonnity  with  the  propositions  adopted  by  the  British 
parliament.     These  instructions  required  that  the  dis- 
graceful  practice  of  flogging  the  female  slaves  should 
be  abolished,  and   that  the  whip  should  b6  entirely 
taken  away  from  the  field,  as  an  instrument  of  coi^rcion 
in  the  hand  of  the  driver.     On  the  arrival  of  similar 
despatches    in    the    neighboring    colony  of  Berbice, 
lieutenant-governor  Beard  requested  Mr.  Wray,  the 
society's  missionary  in  that  colony,  to  explain  to  the 
slaves  the  true  purport  and  extent  of  the  instructions, 
m  order  to   prevent   misapprehension    and    mistake. 
Happy  might  it  liavo  been,  had  a  similar  measure  of 
precaution  been  adopted  in  Demerara.     On  the  con- 
trary, however,  the  nature  of  the  instructions  was,  in 
that  colony,  purposely  concealed  from  the  public  at 
larfno,  during  a  |)eriod  of  several  weeks  ;  tliough  in  the 
meun  time  they  were  made  a  subject  of  discussion  in 
the  court  of  policy,  and  of  conversation  among  the 
whites,  and  at  the  governor's  own  table,  even  in  the 
presence  of  his  domestics,     h  was  not  long  before  it 
became  known   to  the  slaves  themselves,  tliat  some 
benefit  had  come  out  fur  them  from  Kngland  ;  which, 
however,  being   undefined,  was   magnified    by  their 

J-—.  -^. ..„  ._^.;._         .^    .nc^.w    Oeioii^iiig    to 

planlalion  Success  (an  estate  on  the  east  coast),  was 
expressly  told  by  one  of  the  governor's  servants, « that 


541 

the  report  about  their  freedom  wat  really  true.'  Thus 
the  gross  mistake  already  prevalent  among  the  slaves, 
as  to  the  extent  of  the  benefit,  was  corroborated  by  the 
testimony  of  the  governor's  own  servant !  This  intelli- 
gence was  speedily  communicated  to  the  negroes  on 
the  east  coast,  who  now  began  to  suspect  that  it  was 
the  design  of  the  whites  to  withhold  the  intended  boon 
from  them.     Smarting  under  the  grievances  already 
mentioned,  their  minds  were,  of  course,  thrown  into 
a  state  of  increased  irritation ;  and,  at  this  critical 
and  feverish  moment,  by  a  strangespirit  of  infatuation, 
many  of  the  negroes  belonging  to  estates  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  Le  Resouvenir,  instead  of  experiencing  an 
abatement  of  their  sufferings,  were,  on  the  contrary, 
treated  with  greater  severity.     Thus  were  the  irritation 
ano  discontent  of  the  slaves  on  the  east  coast  inflamed 
to  a  still  higher  pitch,  till,  at  length, a  considerable  body 
of  them  resolved  to  abandon  their  work,  and  obtain, 
if  possible,  the  rights,  meaning  thereby  the  freedom, 
which  they  supposed  the  government  at  home  had  sent 
out  for  them." 

On  Sunday,  August  17,  after  the  celebration  of 
divme  service,  two  or  three  of  the  negroes  who  had 
been  at  Bethel  chapel,  went  into  Mr.  Smith's  house, 
as  they  had  been  accustomed  to  do,  to  bid  him  "  good 
bye."     Two  of  them,  named  Quamina  and  Seaton. 
were  talking  together  in  a  low  tone  of  voice  ;  but  Mr 
Smith  heard  the  words  managers  and  7iew  law,  and 
rebuked   them    for  conversing  about   such   matters. 
Quamina  then  remarked,  laughing,  "  O  !  it  is  nothing 
particular,  sir :  we  were  only  saying  it  would  be  good 
to  send  our  managers  to  town,  to  fetch  up  the  new 
law."     Mr.  Smith  immediately  replied  that  such  con 
versation  was  highly  improper,  and  that  they  would 
act  most  absurdly  in  saying  any  thing  to  the  managers, 
about  it,  as  they  wore  not  the  law  makers.     He  added 
that  if  there  were  any  thing  good  for  them,  they  (the 
negroes)  would  soon  hear  of  it ;  but  if  they  behaved 
insolently  to  their  managers,  they  would  forfeit  their 
religious  character,  and  provoke  the  government,  both 
in  the  colony  and  at  home.     Quaininn  replied,  "  Very 
well,  sir:  we  will  say  nothing  about  it,  for  we  should 
bo  very  sorry  to  vex   the  king  and  the    people   of 
England."  H    l         i 

About  six  o'clock  the  following  evening,  just  as  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Smith  were  going  out  fo  a  walk,  a  negro 
brought  a  letter  to  the  former,  fron.  a  slave  named 
Jackey.  The  contents  of  this  note  brought  to  our 
missionary's  recollection  what  had  transpired  on  the 
preceding  day,  and  induced  him  to  fear  that  some 
mischief  was  intended.  He,  therefore,  took  out  hit 
pencil,  and  hastily  wrote  the  following  answer: 

"  1  am  ignorant  of  the  affair  you  allude  to,  and  it  is 
now  too  late  for  me  to  make  any  inquiry.     1  learned 


LONDOfi  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


yesterday  that  some  scheme  was  in  agitation ;  and, 
without  asking  any  questions  on  the  subject,  I  begged 
them  to  be  quiet.  I  trust  they  will ;  as  hasty,  violent 
or  concerted  measures  are  quite  contrary  to  the  reli- 
gion we  profess,  and  I  hope  you  will  have  nothing  to 
do  with  them." 

Having  despatched  the  bearer  with  this  note,  Mr. 
Smiih  and  his  wife  quitted  their  house,  with  a  view  of 
taking  an  evening  walk ;  but  they  had  not  proceeded 
far,  when  they  heard  a  tumultuous  noisCj  and,  upon 
inquiry,  found  that  the  negroes  had  attacked  the  house 
of  Mr.  Hamilton,  the  manager,  at  Le  Resouvenir,  de- 
manding fire-arms.     Our  missionary  immediately  went 
up  to  them,  entreating  them  to  desist,  and  depart 
peaceably  ;  but  they  appeared  to  be  furious  and  deter- 
mined, and  rudely  desired  him  to  return  to  his  own 
house,  at  the  same  time  brandishing  their  cutlasses, 
«nd  making  various  threatening  gesticulations.    Before 
his  departure,  however,  he  prevailed  upon  them  to 
lefrain  from  injuring  Mr.  Hamilton,  whom  they  were 
•bout  to  put  into  the  stocks.     Indeed,  it  is  worthy  of 
observation,  that  in  the  acts  of  violence  which  were 
•ubsequently    perpetrated,  less   sanguinary  measures 
were  adopted  than  had  previously  been  known  on 
•imilar  occasions.     And  to  the  pacific  doctrines  of  the 
gospel  which   our  missionary  had  promulgated,  this 
moderation  must  indisputably  be  ascribed;   for  the 
negroes  declared  that  as  they  could  not  give  life,  they 
would  not  take  it  away,  but  in  self-defence ;  as  their 
religion  forbade  them  to  do  it.     "  And  thus,"  it  has 
been  justly  observed,  "  were  the  lives  of  these  very 
men  preserved,  who  were  so  eager,  under  the  color  of 
law,  to  destroy  the  life  of  Mr.  Smith." 

In  the  mean  time,  information  had  been  received  by 
the  governor  that  a  general  insurrection  of  the  slaves 
might  be  expected  on  the  18th,  or  the  following  night. 
Few  persons,  however,  were  prepared  to  believe  the 
report,  nor  did  his  excellency  himself  attach  any 
credit  to  it.  Nevertheless,,  acrompnnied  by  the  fiscal, 
lie  proceeded  immediately  to  the  east  coast,  to  ascer- 
tain the  truth  of  the  rumor,  and  met  with  about  forty 
armed  negroes.  According  to  the  statement  of  his 
excellency,  they  avowed  their  object  to  bo  "  uncon- 
ditional emancipation," — which  accords  with  the  dec- 
laration of  his  own  servant, "  that  the  report  of  their 
freedom  was  really  true."  So  they  understood  the 
benefit  intended  them.  The  governor  now  expostulated 
with  them  on  the  improper  nature  of  their  conduct,  for 
nearly  half  an  hour,  informing  them  of  the  benevolent 
views  of  his  majesty,  and  that  the  practice  of  flogging 
females,  and  the  carrying  the  whip  to  the  field,  were 
to  1)0  iibolishcd,  ns  the  first  steps  to  tho  proposed 
measures.  He  further  explained  to  thom  how  such 
conduct  would  put  it  out  of  his  power  to  carry  the  11 


benevolent  intentions  of  his  majesty  into  effect.  The 
negroes  are  said  to  have  answered,  that "  God  had 
made  them  of  the  same  flesh  and  Mood  as  the  whites ; 
that  they  were  tired  of  being  slaves ;  that  their  good 
king  had  sent  orders  that  they  should  be  free,  and  that 
they  would  work  no  longer." 

The  number  of  the  insurgents  having  increased  to 
between  two  and  three  hundred,  his  excellency,  ap- 
prehensive  that  his  retreat  might  be  cut  oflT,  thought 
proper  to  return  to  George  Town,  where  an  alarm  was 
given  during  the  night.     The  drums  beat  to  arms,  and 
a  force,  consisting  of  the  militia  and  regulars,  was  forth- 
with despatched  to  the  east  coast.     On  the  follow- 
ing morning,  they  came  up  with  a  considerable  body 
of  negroes.     The  commanding  ofiicer  rode  through 
the  midst  of  the  insurgents,  under  the  protection  of  a 
slave  named  Telemachus,  and  interrogated  them  as  to 
the  cause  of  their  thus  rising  against  their  masters. 
The  negroes  are  said  to  have  replied,  "  Massa  treat  us 
too  bad  ;  keep  us  work  on  Sundays ;  no  let  us  go  to 
chapel ;  no  give  us  time  to  work  our  garden ;  and  beat 
us  too  much ;  and  we  hear  for  good,  that  great  buckra 
(the  king)  at  home  give  us  our  liberty  for  good." 
They  then  asked  for  certain  days  for  themselves  ;  on 
which  the  commanding  officer  ordered  them  immedi- 
ately to  lay  down  their  arms,  and  return  to  their  work. 
This  they  peremptorily  refused,  unless  their  requests 
were  granted ;  and  after  an  hour  had  been   allowed 
them  for  consideration,  they  still  remained  obstinate. 
The  soldiers  were,  in  consequence,  desired  to  fire,  and 
a  conflict  ensued,  in  which  about  two  hundred  of  the  ne- 
groes were  killed  on  the  spot.    Several  other  skirmishes 
took  place  on  this  and  the  two  following  davs,  much  to 
the  disadvantage  of  the  insurgents,  a  considerable  num- 
ber of  whom  became  the  victims  of  their  own  rashness ; 
but  on  the  side  of  the  troops  very  few  lives  were  lost. 
Mr.  Smith  remained  in  quiet  at  his  own  habitation 
till  the  afternoon  of  Thursday,  when  he  was  arrested 
by  a  party  of  the  militia  in  a  most  brutal  and  ferocious 
manner,  as  will  appear  from  the  following  extract  of  a 
letter  addressed  by  our  missionary  to  the  principal 

fiscal  of  the  colony,  and  dated  August  «2,  1823: 

"  Yesterday,  about  three  o'clock,  Mr.  Nurse,  at  the 
head  of  a  company  of  infantry,  came  to  our  house, 
desiring  to  speak  to  me.  He  inquired  whether  I  had 
seen  the  governor's  proclamation,  which  placed  tho 
colony  under  martial  law  ?  I  answered  in  the  aflirm- 
ativo.  '  Have  you  a  copy  of  it  ?'  said  he.  Yes, 
'  Will  you  show  it  to  me  ?'  I  immcdiatoly  produced  it. 
Taking  it  in  his  hand,  he  proceeded  to  rend  it,  mark- 
ing, with  peculiar  emphasis,  the  clause  which  requires 
every  person,  without  distinction,  capable  of  wenring 
a::!::,  tO  cnrOi  s!iin3Cij  ii  a  riiiJitiu  j  mid  (ieniiiniied 
whether  I  had  complied  with  that  order  ?     I  told  him 


J  had  not.  He  rejoined, '  Then  I  hare  it  m  command 
from  oaptam  M'Turk,  to  require  your  attendance  at 
ms  house,  to  enrol  and  accoutre  yourself  as  a  militia- 
man. I  replied  that  I  could  not  comply  with  that 
command,  as  my  profession  entitled  me  to  a  lend 
exemption.  * 

"Mr.  Nurse  then  said,  he  had  another  command  to 
execute,  namely,  to  seal  up  all  my  papers.  I  inquired 
what  authority  he  bad  for  such  proceedings.  He  said 
the  order  of  captain  M'Turk  was  his  authority  :  and 
asked  if  I  intended  to  offer  him  any  resistance.  I  told 
him,  No ;  and  showing  where  the  papera  were,  saw 
him  seal  them  up,  part  in  a  desk,  and  the  remainder 
m  a  drawer.  Mr.  Nurse  and  his  company  then  went 
away. 

"In  about  three  quarters  of  an  hour  afterwards, 
our  house  was  again  beset  with  soldiers,  consisting  of 
a  troop  of  cavalry,  under  the  command  of  Mr.  Simp- 
TL     J^^  company  of  infantry  under  the  command 
of  Mr.  Nurs-j.     Mr.  Simpson,  in  the  foulest  language 
and  the  fiercest  manner,  demanded  why  I  had  dared 
to  disobey  captain  M'Turk's  orders.      I  told   him 
I  was  entitled  to  an  exemption  from  military  service.' 
With  a  profane  oath  he  replied,  'If  you  give  me  any 
of  your  logic,  I'll  sabre  you  in  a  minute ;    if  you 
don't  know  what  martial  law  is,  I'll  show  you ;'  at  the 
same  time,  brandishing  F^i  sabre  in  my  face,  in  a  men- 
acing manner,  and  swearing  that  I  was  the  cause  of 
all  this  disturbance.     He  then  called  for  a  file  of  men 
to  seize  me,  while  others  ordered  my  chaise  to  be 
got  ready  ;  and  Mr.  Nurse,  or  Kome  one  by  his  order, 
went  up  stairs,  and  took  away  all  my  papers ;  some 
sealed  up  in  a  desk,  and  others  loose  in  the  drawer, 
which  had  been  sealed.     As  they  insisted  on  Mrs. 
bmith  s  leaving  the  house,  I  requested  captain  M'Turk 
to  allow  us  five  minutes  to  pack  up  some  linen,  and 
ock  up  the  place.     But,  in  less  than  three  minutes, 
I  apprehend,  a  file  of  soldiers  came  to  the  bottom 
of  the  stairs,  and  said  to  me,  'If  you  don't  fetch  Mrs 

Smith    by  G ,  sir,  we  will.'     In   this  manner  we 

were  hurried  away  from  our  house  and  property,  with- 
out being  allowed  time  to  bring  away  a  change  of 
clothes,  or  to  lock  up  our  doors.  A.'ter  keeping  us  in 
the  road  about  three  quarters  of  an  hour,  they  escorted 
us  to  town  under  a  military  guard." 

The  place  in  which  our  missionary  and  the  faithful 
partP<jr  of  his  afflictions  were  nowconnnetl,  was  n  very 
smr.ll  room,  or  garret,  near  the  roof  of  thn  Colony- 
house,  exposed  to  the  burning  rays  of  the  sun,  and 
rendered  still  more  distressing  by  the  want  of  «lean 
linen ;  which   the  unfortunate  prisoners  were  neitL-er 

allowed  time  to  takn  with  ihom  ««.  « :..-j . 

for,  subsequently  to  their  arrival.     Even  the  use  of 
pen  and  ink,  or  liberty  to  correspond  with  the  direc- 


DEMERARA.    BERBICE. 


to«,  was  inhumanly  refused  to  Mr.  Smith,  for  a  pe- 
ricj  of  about  seven  weeks  ;  when  he  was  brought  to 

2„«1  r  A  ''"""T"'"'''  '^"''^'^ti-S  of  lieutenant- 
colonel  Goodman,  the  president,  thirteen  other  of. 
hcers  of  the  army,  and  the  president  of  the  chief 

tenant-colonel  on  the  militia  staff. 
Of  the  charges  preferred  against  Mr.  Smith,  the 

thTcrrl."'        ^'"'  ""'  •^"""'^  ^y  '^'  ^•'"'«"<=«  «f 

John^M ''^''  ^y'^"'^^  ^y  '''^^'  °f  »>'«  excellency  sir 
John  Murray,  leutenant-governor  and  commander-in- 
chief  of  the  united  colony  of  Demerara  and  Essequi^ 
&c.  against  John  Smith,  missionary  — 

vio^,^'!'  """^i  '^''  *"'  "^^  ''•'^  •^°*"'  Smith,  long  pre- 
rZv  "\  ?u°  '^^  '^'  °f  «  «««'»  revolt  and 
he  8th  :  t  '~'^°"•  '"  *'"''  -'-y  -  or  about 
«  in  h,m  1  r'  ^""'  P'^^''  ^'"^  P™'"^*^'  "  f" 
minds  ofTh.^'  T''"'  ""^  di^atisfaction  in  the 
m  nds  of  the  negro  slaves  towards  their  lawful  masters, 
managers  and  overseers  [he,  the  said  John  SmUh 
thereby  tniending  to  excite  the  said  negroes  to  br'ak 
out  tn  such  open  revolt  and  rebellion  against  tht 
authoruy  of  their  la^cful  n,asters,  maJgeT  and 
overseers],  contrary  to  his  allegiance,  and  against  the 

dignity     °"'  """"^"  '°'''  ""'  '''"S'  ''"  "°^"  ""'* 
"2.   For  that  he,  the  said  John  Smith,  having 
about  the   ITth  day  of  August  last,  and  [at  rf.V^S 
other  days  and  times]  one  day  theretofore  precedinc 
advised,  consulted  and  corresponded  with  a  certain 
negro,  named  Quamina,  touching  and  concerning  a 
ertain  revolt  and  rebellion  of  the  negro  slaves  within 
hese  colonies  of  Demerara  and  Essequibo  ;  and  fur- 
ther,  after  such  revolt  and  rebellion  had  actually  com- 
menced   and  was  m  a  course  of  prosecution,  he,  the 
said  John  Smitl^  did  further  aid  and  assist  in     uch 
ebelhon,  by   advising,  consulting  and  corresponding 
ouching  the  sa„,e.  with  .he  said  negro,  QuanWna  ;  to 
vt  on  the  [Wthand]  20th  of  August  last,  he,  the 
aid  John  Sirnth,  then  well  knowing  such  reUlt  and 
rebellion  to  bo  in  progress,  and  the  said  negro,  Qua- 
mina.  to  be  an  insurgent  engaged  tiierein. 

"3.  For  that  he,  the  said  John  Smith,  on  the  17th 
of  August  last  past,  and  for  a  certain  period  of  time 
thereto  preceding,  having  come  to  the  knowledge  of  a 
certain  revolt  and  rebellion  intended  to  take  place 
within  the  colony,  did  not  make  known  the  same  to 
the  proper  authorities ;  which  revolt  and  rebollion  ri.A 
suDsequeniiy  take  place-to  wit.  on  or  about  the  18lh 
ol  August  last  past. 
"4.  For  that  he,  the  said  John  Smith,  after  such 


fl.^    li 


044 


LONDON  MBSIONARY  'SOCIETY. 


revolt  and  rebellion  had  taken  place,  and  during  the 
existence  thereof— to  wit,  on  or  about  ['I\u»dajf  and] 
Wednesday,  the  [19<A  and]  20lh  of  August,  now  last 
past,  was  at  plantation  Le  Resouvenir,  in  presence  of, 
and  held  communication  with,  Quamina,  a  negro  of 
plantation  Success ;  he,  the  said  John  Smith,  then  well 
knowing  the  said  Quamina  to  be  an  insurgent  en- 
gaged therein,  and  that  he,  the  said  John  Smith,  did 
not  use  his  utmost  endeavor  to  suppress  the  same  [by 
aecuring  or  detaining  the  taid  inturgent  Quamina  as 
a  priionet ,  or]  by  giving  information  to  the  proper 
authorities,  or  otherwise ;  but,  on  the  contrary,  per- 
mitting the  said  insurgent  Quamina  to  go  at  large  and 
depart  [without  attempting  to  leize  him,  and]  without 
giving  any  information  respecting  him  to  the  proper 
authorities,  against  the  peace  of  our  sovereign  lord  the 
king,  his  crown  and  dignity,  and  against  the  laws  in 
force  in  this  colony,  and  in  defiance  of  the  proclama- 
tion of  martial  law,  issued  by  his  excellency  the  lieu- 
tenant-governor." 

It  is  not  necessary  to  go  into  the  particulars  of  the 
evidence  brought  against  Mr.  Smidi ;  the  futility  of 
which  was  well  exposed  by  his  own  cross-examlnn- 
lion  of  the  several  witnesses,  and  triuaiphantly  de- 
monstrated by  the  admirable  speeches  of  Mr.  Brougham, 
mr  J.  Mackintosh,  Mr.  Williams,  and  Dr.  Lushing- 
Kon,  in  the  House  of  Commons.  Suffice  it,  there- 
fore, to  state,  that  the  court-martial  by  wliom  ho 
was  tried,  acquitted  him  of  the  principal  part  of 
the  first  charge,  namely,  an  intention  to  promote 
fevoU ;  and  as  to  the  other  part  of  it,  *  promoting 
discontent,'  Mr.  Smith  affirmed  that  he  cautiously 
avoided  that  evil,  and  refrained  from  even  reading 
portions  of  Scripture,  or  using  hymns  which  might, 
through  ignorance  or  misapprehension,  have  caused 
dissatisfiiction. 

With  regard  to  the  second  and  third  charges,  Mr. 
Smith  maintained  that  he  did  not  know  of  an  intended 
revolt.  He  knew,  and  all  the  colony  knew  full  well, 
that  great  uneasiness  did  prevail  among  the  negroes, 
and  he  had  merely  heard  some  foolish  talk,  which  he 
severely  reproved,  about  obliging  the  managers  to  go 
to  George  Town  and  procure  the  new  law  of  freedom, 
which  they  falsely  imagined,  for  want  of  that  informa- 
tion which  their  superiors  ought  to  have  given  them, 
had  come  from  England  ;  but  he  never  dreamed  of  an 
insurrection  till  it  actually  took  place  ;  and  this  some 
of  the  dying  negroes  also  affirmed  with  their  last 
breath,  at  the  place  of  execution. 

With  respect  to  the  last  charge,  Mr.  Smith  did,  in- 
deed, see  Quamina  two  days  after  the  revolt,  he  hav- 
ing incautiously  been  sent  for,  without  Mr.  Smith's 
knowledge,  b"  his  wife  :  but  there  was  not  a  tittjn  of 
evidence  t'.at  he  then  knew  him  to  be  a  rebel,  or 


a  reputed  rebel,  nor  that  he  gave  him  the  least  encour- 
agement to  proceed  in  the  revolt ;  but  there  is  satisfac- 
tory evidence  on  the  contrary  ;  for  Mrs.  Smith  took  a 
solemn  oath  before  the  governor,  that  Mr.  Smith  said 
to  Quamina  that  he  wa$  lorry  and  grieved  that  the 
people  had  been  so  foolish  and  wicked,  and  mad,  at 
to  be  guilty  of  revolting,  and  hoped  that  Quamina 
had  not  been  concerned  in  it ;  to  which  that  unhappy 
man,  misled  probably  by  his  son  Jack  (who,  with 
one  other,  aeems  to  have  plotted  the  revolt),  made  no 
reply,  but  retired,  abashed  and  confounded,  and  soon 
after  fled  to  the  woods,  whither  he  was  pursued  and 
shot,  but  without  any  arms  in  his  hand.  And  as  to 
Mr.  Smith's  securing  him,  his  not  doing  which  formed 
a  part  of  the  charge,  he  truly  said  on  his  trial,  pointing 
to  his  emaciated  body,  "  Look  at  me,  gentlemen,  and 
say  whether  it  was  possible  for  me  to  secure  the  per- 
son of  such  a  man." 

The  trial  continued  twenty-eight  days,  including 
various  adjournments,  and  was  concluded  on  the  24th 
of  November,  when  Mr.  Smith  was  condemned  to  be 
hanged,  at  such  time  and  place  as  the  governor  should 
think  fit  to  direct.  But  this  cruel  and  most  unjust 
sentence  was  such  as,  we  have  reason  to  think,  the 
court  did  not  dare  to  execute,  and,  therefore,  added  to 
the  sentence  of  death  the  following  qualification :  "  But 
the  court,  under  all  the  circumstances  of  the  case, 
begs  humbly  to  recommend  the  prisoner  to  mercy." 
The  sentence  and  recommendation  of  mercy  were 
immediately  transmitted  to  his  majesty. 

Mr.  Smith  was  now  removed  from  the  Colony-house 
to  the  common  jail,  and  placed  in  a  room  situated 
over  stagnant  water,  the  pernicious  fumes  of  which, 
passing  through  the  joints  of  the  boards,  some  of  which 
were  a  quarter  of  an  inch  separate  from  each  other, 
could  not  but  be  injurious  to  him,  especially  in  his  weak 
and  disordered  state,  and  were  therefore  loudly  com- 
plained of,  together  with  the  bad  state  of  the  windows, 
by  his  medical  friend.  Hero  he  was  confined  for  about 
seven  weeks,  till  it  was  evident  that  death  was  not  far 
distant.  Ho  was  then  removed  to  an  upper  room, 
in  a  more  eligible  part  of  the  jail,  where  Mrs.  Elliot, 
with  much  difficulty,  obtained  leave  to  join  Mrs.  Smith, 
in  kind  attention  to  the  patient  sufl^erer.  And  it  is 
but  justice  to  Mr.  Padmore,  the  keeper  of  the  prison, 
to  state,  that  he  treated  our  missionary  with  the  greatest 
humanity  and  tenderness.  The  attention  also  of  Dr. 
Chapman  to  Mr.  Smith  deserves  to  be  recorded  with 
gratitude  ;  for  no  means  were  spared  which  might  con- 
tribute to  the  alleviation  of  his  suflferings." 

On  the  12th  of  January,  1824,  Mr.  Smith  addressed 
the  following  letter  to  the  directors ;    which,  as  it 


un      tf\    Ka    Ki 


more  than  ordinary  interest  ;— 


I I  _:.!. 


DEMERARA.    BERBtCE.      *^< 


"  CWMy  JWI,  l)mMw«,  Jb>.  18,  IBM. 
<'  Dear  snd  honored  ain,— I  have  just  received  your 
kind  and  sympetfaizing  letter,  of  the  I9th  Norember, 
and  will  endeavor  to  answer  it  by  this  packet,  if  my 
emaciated  frame  will  enable  me  to  bear  the  fatigue  of 
80  doing. 

"  It  will  be  the  less  necessary  at  this  period  forme  to 
enter  into  particulars  respecting  the  causes  of  the  revolt, 
and  my  alleged  concern  in  it,  as  you  will  be  made 
fully  acquainted  with  the  latter  by  the  documents  that 
have  been  long  since  forwarded  to  the  society  by  Mrs. 
Smith,  and  by  those  which  Mr.  Elliot  took  with  him. 
"  The  real  causes  and  objects  of  the  commotion 
among  the  negroes  (concerning  which  you  wish  me  to 
procure  and  send  you  authentic  copies  of  all  docu- 
ments which  can  offer  the  needful  information)  are  not, 
I  think,  very  difficult  to  ascertain.      Mrs.  Smith  has 
already  sent  every  document  which  came  within  our 
reach.     There  are  very  lew  written  documents  that  I 
know  of,  on  the  subject.     It  is  the  opinion  of  the  only 
tm  real  friends  I  have  in  the  colony  at  present,  that 
a  deputation  sent  out  by   government  to  investigate 
the  causes  of  the  revolt,  would  discover  wonders,  and 
I  have  no  doubt  of  the  correctness  of  their  views. 

"  You  seem  to  be  aware,  in  some  measure,  of  the 
unceasing  animosity  which  the  colonists  in  general,  and 
the  planters  ia  particular,  have  to  the  instruction  of  the 
slaves,  and  to  faithful' missionaries  on  that  account; 
but  you  can  have  no  just  idea  of  the  rancor  and  fury 
they  display  against  a  missionary,  when  any  report  is 
raised  against  him,  which  is  not  unfrequent,  and  has 
always  turned  out  fo  be  false,  as  far  as  my  knowledge 
has  extended.  The  following  extract  from  the  Guiana 
Chronicle,  of  the  Utb  of  February,  1822,  may  give  an 
idea  of  their  malicious  disposition  towards  the  mis- 
sionaries : — 

"  '  We  have  had  occasion  repeatedly  to  express  our 
opinion  of  the  sectarian  Propagandists,  wiio  send  forth 
their  missionaries  out  of  a  pretended  zeal  for  the  sal- 
vation of  souls.     They  (the  missionaries),  to  be  sure, 
are  too  wise  and  cunning  to  make  direct  attacks  from' 
the  pulpit  on  public  men  and  measures ;  but,  in  respect 
of  their  wild  jargon,  their  capricious  interpretations  of 
the  Bible,  and  the  doctrines  tiiey  inculcate,  although 
in  tiiemsolves  they  are  to  be  despised  and  slighted,  yet, 
in   point  of  the  pernicious  tendency  they  may  have 
upon  the  minds  of  their  hearers,  we  do  tliink  no  cau- 
tion can  be  too  ga-at,  no  vigiiaiico  too  strict.     Instances 
are  not  wanting  of  their  impostures  in  this  part  of  the 
world  ;  t)i«ir  manner  of  raising  revenues  in  support  of 
their  clnirch,  is  not  unknown ;  neither  is  the  way  in  which 
tho  coiuribuiiOiiii  lue  sacrilegiously  squandered.     That 
fact  alone  ought  to  weigh  against  all  their  solemn  profes- 
sions of  being  actuated  solely  by  a  pure  love  of  aodliness 
Vol.  I.— IVos.  45  k  40.  71 


MS 


and  apostolic  zeal  in  tlra  cause  of  Christianity.  The 
influence  they  possess  in  the  minds  of  the  negroes  is 
more  widely  ramified  than  is  imagined,  or  would  be 
readily  believed.  It  is  no  longer  proper  to  say  they  are 
insignificant.  In  the  common  acceptation  of  the  word, 
they  are  truly  so;  but  fi-om  their  calling  and  canting] 
they  have  acquired  a  degree  of  hnportance  in  this  col- 
ony, not  attainable  otherwise.  Let  them  be  looked 
after  now  more  stric'ly  than  ever,  and  we  pledge  our- 
selves to  do  foi-  them  in  proper  colors,  whenever  we 
may  be  furnished  with  the  authentic  particulars  of  any 
immoral  or  illegal  wanderings  from  the  path  of  their 
duty.' 

"  This  extract  is  not  selected  for  its  singularity  (for 
such  attacks  are  not  unfrequent  in  this  colony),  but  to 
show  how  the  missionaries  are  regarded. 

"  You  say,  « you  hope  I  have  not  been  left  to  strug- 
gle unbefriended  with   the   power  of  my   enemies.' 
Thanks  be  to  God,  I  have  not  been  left  altogether  with- 
out  a  friend.     The  Rev.  Mr.  Elliot  has  stood  by  me 
and  exerted  himself  much  in  my  behalf;  and  a  kind 
Providence  raised  up,  unexpectedly,  a  most  warm  and 
zealous  friend  in  the  Rev.  Mr.  Austin.     Nor  must  I 
omit  the  name  of  Dr.  Chapman,  who  has  taken  « 
warm  interest  in  my  cause  (but  the  pious  and  inde- 
pendent principles  of  these  gentlemen  prevent  them 
from  having  much  influence  in  these  matters);  and  Mr. 
Arrindell,  whose  friendship  I  must  not  forget  to  name. 
"  Under  my  persecutions  and  afflictions,  it  affords 
me  no  small  consolation,  that  the  directors  cherish  the 
assurance  of  my  entire  innocence.     That  I  am  inno- 
cent of  the  crimes  which  have  been  laid  to  my  charge, 
I  have  not  only  the  testimony  of  my  own  conscience 
in  my  favor,  but  the  attestation  of  all  my  friends,  who 
have  made  strict  inquiries  into  my  conduct  relative  to 
this  affair.     The  imtructions  1  received  from  the  soci- 
ety, I  always  endeavored  to  act  upon  ;  and  in  order  to 
vindicate  the  society  from  the  vile  aspersions  made 
against  it  by  its  enemies,  as  to  its  having  a  concealed 
object  in  view,  viz.  the  ultimate  liberation  of  the  slaves 
—I  laid  over  the  instructions  as  apart  of  the  proceedings 
of  the  court-martial  on  my  trial,  that  publicity  might 
be  given  to  the  real  object  of  the  society. 

"  It  appears  as  if  the  directors  have  some  apprehen- 
sions of  its  having  been  possible,  that  I  have  diverted 
my  mind,  in  some  measure,  from  the  ren!  object  of  my 
tnission,  and  entered  into  a  correspondence  and  connec- 
tion with  some  of  those  societies  which  are  formed  for 
the  gradual  abolition  of  slavery.  I  can  assure  the  di- 
rectors this  is  not  the  case  ;  no  letter  or  correspondence 

of  the  kind  ovt^r  hnvinor  /wt/i.ifi./ir1  kn*. ..«»..  .^.^  *„j 

■  -  ■ -- — rrri!  tutr  ai:u  any 

society.  Ail  my  papers  were  seized  without  a  mo- 
ment's warning,  and  underwent  a  most  rigid  examina- 
tion by  a  committee  of  gentlemen  who  were  by  no 


>in 


S46 


LONDON  MIBSIOOfARY  SOCIETY. 


meios  my  fnends,  and  yet  nothiog  of  th«  kind  wu  ever 
pretended  to  be  discorered.  For  every  other  infoi^ 
mation,  I  beg  leave  to  refer  tbe  directors  to  the  docu> 
meots  already  forwarded,  and  to  Mr.  Elliot. 

"  I  suppose,  by  this  time,  you  are  at  no  loss  to  know 
whether  I  am  pursuing  my  laNors  at  Le  Resouvenir. 
Indeed,  .had  not  the  revolt  occurred,  I  must  have  re- 
linquished them,  at  least  for  a  considerable  time,  in 
<Mder  to  seek  the  restoration  of  my  declining  health  in 
a  more  salubrious  climate  ;  but  my  close  imprisonment, 
with  its  innumerable  privations,  has  prevented  me  from 
taking  that  step,  and  has  brought  me  to  the  borders  of 
the  grave. 

"  It  grieves  me,  dear  sirs,  that  I  am  now  a  useless 
burden  upon  the  society.  I  have  endeavored,  from  the 
be^nning,  to  discharge  my  duties  faithfully.  In  doing 
so,  I  have  met  with  the  most  unceasing  opposition  and 
reproach,  until-  at  length  the  adversary  found  occasion 
to  triumph  over  me.  But  so  far  have  these  things 
been  from  shaking  my  confidence  in  the  goodness  of 
the  cause  in  which  I  was  engaged,  that  if  I  were  at  lib- 
erty, and  my  health  restored,  I  would  again  proclaim, 
during  the  residue  of  my  days,  the  glad  tidings  of  sal- 
vation amidst  similar  opposition ;  but  of  this  I  see  no 
prospect.  The  Lord's  hand  is  heavy  upon  me ;  still,  I 
can  praise  his  name,  that,  though  outward  afflictions 
abound  towards  me,  yet  the  consolations  of  the  gos- 
pel abound  abo,  and  I  believe  he  will  do  all  things 
well. 

"  I  am,  dear  sirs,  in  much  affliction, 
<<  Your  useless  but  devoted  servant, 

"John  Smith." 

It  has  been  justly  remarked  that  this  pious  and  ex- 
cellent servant  of  Jesus  had  much  to  encounter  during 
the  period  of  liis  imprisonment.  The  defence  which 
he  had  to  form  under  many  disadvantages,  must  have 
been  extremely  laborious,  and  the  false  accusations 
brought  forward,  not  only  by  his  avowed  enemies,  but 
even  by  some  of  his  hearers,  whoso  anxiety  to  screen 
themselves  from  punishment  induced  them  to  bear 
false  witness  against  their  innocent  and  persecuted  min- 
ister, must  have  been  truly  afflicting.  His  feelings, 
also,  must  have  been  acute  indeed,  when,  being  in  a 
room  above  that  in  which  the  court  sat,  he  heard  the 
shoutings  of  joy,  as  he  had  reason  to  believe,  on  the 
agreement  to  pronounce  him  guilty.  Yet,  amidst  all 
these  sufferings,  "  in  patience  he  possessed  his  soul." 
And,  at  Icnglh,  when  flesli  and  heart  began  to  fail,  the 
frame  of  his  mind  was  such  as  corresponded  with  his 
life  of  piety  and  labor ;  as  will  api>ear  from  the  follow- 
ing extract  of  a  letter  written  by  iiis  widow  on  the  ISth 
ef  February,  and  addressed  to  the  directors: — 

"  Tlie  information  I  have  to  impart  is  no  other  than 


the  death  of  my  dear  haabind.  Hia  wvet«  sufibrings 
terminated  about  half  past  ooe  o'clock,  on  the  morn- 
ing of  February  6,  in  the  most  happy  maoner.  He  was 
perfectly  sensible  to  the  last  moment,  and  manifested 
the  same  resignation  to  the  will  of  his  Divine  Master, 
the  same  unshaken  confidence  of  his  acceptance  with 
God,  through  the  meriu  of  a  crucified  Savipur,  and  the 
same  ardent  love  for  reading  and  prayer,  for  which  he 
has  ever  been  distinguished  since  I  had  the  happiness 
of  knowing  him.  I  feel  that,  in  being  bereft  of  him,  I 
have  not  only  lost  an  affectionate  husband,  butone  pecu- 
liarly qualified  to  be  a  help-meet,  in  the  highest  sense. 
But  I  trust  that  God,  who  has  seen  fit  to  take  him  from 
me,  and  who,  I  think,  I  may  say,  in  a  wonderful  man- 
ner supported  me  under  the  distressing  circumstances 
in  which  I  have,  for  some  months  past,  been  placed, 
will  still  be  my  friend,  and  lead  me  in  that  narrow  path, 
no  matter  whether  through  floods  of  tribulation  or  not, 
until  I  have  the  happiness  of  finding  myself  landed  oa 
that  peaceful  shore,  where  sorrow  and  sighing  shall  for 
over  cease,  and  where  death  shall  not  again  part  us 
from  those  we  love." 

Mr.  Padmore,  the  keeper  of  the  jail,  was  no  sooner 
informed  of  pur  missionary's  decease,  than  he  came  to 
view  the  bo<ly,  and  then  went  to  inform  the  governor, 
agreeably  to  the  orders  he  had  previously  received. 
He  returned  about  eight  or  nine  o'clock,  and  informed 
Mrs.  Smith,  and  her  friend  Mrs.  Elliot,  that  the  govern- 
ment secretary  (a  son  of  the  governor's)  would  be  with 
them  shortly ;  but  he  not  arriving  so  soon  as  was  expect- 
ed, and  they  hearing  nothing  from  him,  gave  orders 
to  a  Mr.  Adams  to  make  the  coffin.  After  which, 
about  one  or  two  o'clock ,  a  person  came,  who  said  he  waa 
sent  by  Mr  Murray,  the  government  secretary,  for  the 
same  purpose  ;  but  he  was  informed  that  orders  had 
been  previously  given,  and  that  the  coffin  was  expected 
at  three  o'clock  ;  and  it  was  brought  accordingly. 

The  following  particulars  were  appended  to  the  re- 
port of  the  directon,  communicated  to  the  society  in 
May,  1824 : — "  About  five  in  the  afternoon,  his  honor 
the  first  fiscal  came,  and  desired  Mrs.  Smith  and  Mrs. 
Elliot  to  retire  into  the  adjoining  room,  and  informed 
Mrs.  Smith  that  she  would  be  required  to  give  her 
evidence  respecting  the  cause  of  her  husband's  death. 
Mrs.  Elliot  replied  that  it  would  be  impossible  for  Mrs. 
Smith  to  do  that  on  so  short  a  notice.  His  honor  asked, 
what  time  woidd  be  required.  Mrs.  Elliot  answered, 
until  to-morrow.  He  rejoined,  '  It  must  be  given  to- 
day.' Mrs.  Smith  then  requested,  that  she  might  be 
allowed  to  remain  in  the  room  where  the  corpse  lay. 
'  If  you  can  command  your  feelings,  madam,  you  may,' 
was  his  reply,  which  was  uttered  in  a  harsh  and  for- 
bidding manner.  Mrs.  Smith  said  she  would  endeavor 
to  command  her  feelings,  and  wu  permitted  to  stay. 


DEMERARA.    BERBiCE. 


"  His  honor  wu  soon  fcdlowed  by  two  memben  of 
th«  C9Mrt  of  policy,  two  members  of  the  court  of  justice, 
the  two  cdonial  secretaries,  five  medical  gentlemen, 
and  several  other  persons. 

"  They  proceeded  to  rec<^ise  the  person  of  Mr. 
Smith ;  and  then  proposed  questions  to  the  medical 
gentlemen  who  attended  him  in  prison,  Drs.  Chap- 
man and  Webster,  respecting  the  nature  of  his  disease, 
and  the  causes  of  his  death.  They  agreed  that  it 
was  puhnonary. 

"  Dr.  Chapman,  after  stating  the  nature  of  Mr. 
Smith's  disease,  and  the  state  in  which  he  found  him 
when  first  called  to  give  his  attendance,  added,  that  the 
lowness  of  the  room  in  which  he  was  confined  during 
the  first  seven  weeks  of  his  imprisonment,  and  its  damp- 
ness, occasioned  by  the  heavy  rains,  the  water  stand- 
mg  under  it,  and  the  openness  of  the  boards,  some  of 
which  were  a  quarter  of  an  inch  apart,  had  contributed 
to  the  rapid  progress  of  the  disease ;  and  Dr.  Webster 
confirmed  this  opinion.    But  when  the  deposition  of 
Dr.  Chapman  was  read  over  to  him,  it  was  found  to  be 
so  diflferent  from  the  statement  he  had  made,  that  he 
repeatedly  refused  to  sign  it :  and,  at  length,  it  was 
determined  that  what  he  had  stated  respecting  the 
room  should  be  omitted.     It  should  here  be  remarked, 
that  Dr.  Chapman  had  declared,  on  his  visita  to  Mr. 
Smith,  that  unless  the  floor  and  the  windows  were  alter- 
ed.the  prisoner's  indisposition  would  certainly  increase. 
"  The  fiscal  then  addressed  himself  to  Mrs.  Smith,  and 
asked  her  what  she  considered  to  have  been  the  causes 
of  her  husband's  death.    She  replfad,  that  he  had  been 
for  some  time  past  in  a  very  delicate  state  of  health ; 
but  that  the  false  accusations  which  had  been  brought 
against  him,  the  cruel  persecutions  he  had  endured, 
and  his  long  imprisonment,  had  no  doubt  hastened  his 
death.    The  words  '  false  accusations  and  cruel  perse- 
cutions'  were  rejected  with  vehemence  ;  and  one  of  the 
members  of  the  court  of  policy  said,  it  was  not  Mrs. 
Smith's  opinion  they  wanted,  but  the  cause  of  his  death. 
"  The  fiscal  then  askdd  Mrs.  Smith,  by  whom  he  had 
been  dieted  and  nursed  for  the  last  month ;  she  an- 
swered, «  By  me  and  Mrs.  Elliot.'    She  was  then  asked, 
hoiy  Mr.  Padmore,  the  jailer,  had  behaved  to  Mr. 
Smith  ;  she  replied,  '  He  has  treated  Mr.  Smith  and 
myself  with  the  greatest  kindness.' 

"  The  fiscal  then  said  to  Mrs.  Elliot, '  I  suppose  you 
found  no  difficulty  in  obtaining  leave  to  visit  Mr.  Smith  ?' 
Mrs.  Elliot  answered, '  1  applied  for  a  fortnight  together, 
and  went  seven  times  to  the  secretary's  office,  before 
permission  was  granted.' 

"  Mrs.  Elliot  was  then  asked  by  the  fiscal,  what  she 

had  to  «nv  rnanarlinor  "M,,    Gn.:>l.>.  J .u  .    _■  ■■     . 

'  IVothmg.'    The  fiscal  added,  >  Madam,  you  are  re- 
quired by  this  meeting,  and  you  must  give  your  evi- 


dence.^ Mn.  EUiot  replied, '  I  do  not  consider  this  a 
legal  meetmg,  and  do  not  feel  bound  to  answer  any 
questions.'  The  fiscal  said, «  Do  not  you  know  that  I 
have  the  arm  of  power,  and  oaa  oblige  you  to  speak  ? 
But  I  should  be  sorry  to  be  put  to  the  peinfiil  necessity 
of  so  domg.'  Mrs.  Elliot  then  said, '  I  should  be  sorry 
to  oblige  you,  sir,  to  do  any  thing  repugnant  to  your 
feehngs;  but  if  you  did,  I  should  still  resUt.'  , 

" '  What  are  your  reasons,'  he  asked,  '  for  not  an- 
swering my  questions  ?'  '  If  I  give  evidence,'  she  re- 
plied, '  It  will  be  the  same  as  Mrs.  Smith's,  which  was 
not  admitted ;  therefore,  it  will  be  useless  to  repeat  it.' 
'Will  you  substantiate  the  statement  given  by  Mrs. 
Smith,  respecting  the  dieting  and  nureingof  Mr.  Smith, 
and  the  conduct  of  Mr.  Padmore  ?'  Mrs.  Elliot  an- 
swered, she  had  no  objection  to  corroborate  what  Mrs. 
Smith  had  said  on  those  points. 

"  The  several  depositions  being  sworn  to,  the  meet- 
ing then  broke  up. 

"  Between  eight  and  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening,  Mr. 
Thompson,  the  second  head-constable,  came  to  the 
priBon,  and  told  Mrs.  Smith  and  her  friend,  that  he  was 
ordered  to  inform  them,  that  he  should  come  at  four 
o'clock  the  next  morning,  to  demand  the  body  of  Mr. 
Smith  for  interment.     Mrs.  Elliot  inquired,  why  they 
were  not  permitted  to  bury  the  corpse  at  ten  o'clock, 
as  they  intended.      She  asked,  also,  whether   any 
persons  would  be  allowed  to  follow  as  mourners.   He 
answered.  No.    Mrs.  Elliot  asked,  whether  Mrs.  Smith 
and  herself  were  included  in  that  prohibition.      He 
replied.  Yes.     Mrs.  Elliot  asked,  from  whom  he  re- 
ceived his  orders.    He  answered,  From  his  excellency. 
Mrs.  Elliot  then  said, '  Is  it  possible,  that  general  Mur- 
ray can  wish  to  prevent  a  poor  widow  from  following 
her  husband  to  the  grave?  Surely,  they  do  not  mean  to 
pursue  their  persecutions  to  the  grave,  as  they  have 
done  to  death  !'    And  she  added,  « If  Mrs.  Smith  will 
go,  I  will  go  with  her ;  we  are  not  prisoners ;  we  may 
go  where  we  please.'    He  replied,  «It  is  probable 
there  will  be  soldiers  there,  and  something  unpleasant 
may  occur ;    and,  therefore,  I  advise  you  not  to  go.' 
Mrs.  Smith  then  exclaimed,  in  a  loud  and  frantic  voice, 
'  General  Murray  shall  not  prevent  my  following  my  hus- 
band to  the  grave,  and  I  will  go,  in  spite  of  all  he  can  do.' 
"  Mr.  Thompson,  finding  they  were  so  determined, 
said, '  I  must  go  to  his  excellency  again.'     He  accord- 
ingly left  them,  and  shortly  after  returned,  and  (as  they 
were  informed)  told  a  gentleman  in  the  prison  yard, 
that  if  they  attempted  to  follow  the  corpse,  he  had  or- 
ders to  confine  them ;    and  begged  he  would  inform 
them,  as  he  would  gladly  avoid  any  violence.     The 
gentioiimii  referred  to  did  make  this  communication  , 
and  they  determined,  as  there  was  no  order  to  prevent 
their  leaving  the  prison,  to  meet  the  corpse  at  the  grave, 


549 


LONDUM  MHBIOIIiMt¥  SOCOBTT. 


"  They,  therefore,  Ic.^i  the  jail  at  half-past  three 
o'clock  in  the  moraiag,  daric  as  it  wi»,  aeeozBpanied 
onljr  hj  a  free  black  man,  with  a  lantcfth  ;  and  pro- 
ceeded to  the  biirial^tlace,  where  they  beheld  the 
raoumfol  spectacc — a  beloved  husband,  um)  a  dear 
friend,  committed  to  the  silent  grave.  The  fnneral  ser- 
vice was  read  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Austin,  the  chaplain  of 
the  colony. 

The  following  lines,  written  by  one  of  the  directors, 
and  published  in  the  Evangelical  Magazme  for  Sep- 
tember,  1824,   are  highly  descriptive  of  this  tragK 


scene  :- 


"Come  down,  in  thy  profoundeat  ^loom, 
Without  one  vagrant  fire-fly's  light, 

Beneath  thine  ebon  arch  entomb 
Earth,  from  the  gaze  of  heaven,  O  night ! 

A  deed  of  darkness  must  be  done ; 

Put  out  the  moon !  hold  back  the  ran ! 

.    "  Are  these  the  criminals  that  flee, 

Like  deeper  shadows  through  the  shade  ? 
A  flickering  lamp  from  tree  to  tree, 

Betrays  tlieir  path  along  the  glade ; 
Led  by  a  negro : — now  they  stand, 
Two  trembling  women  hand  in  hand. 

"  A  grave,  an  open  grave  appears ! 

O'er  this  in  agony  they  bend ; 
Wet  the  fresh  earth  with  bitter  tears ; 

Sighs  following  sighs  their  bosoms  rend : 
These  are  not  murderers : — they  have  known 
Grief  more  bereaving  than  their  own. 

"Oft  through  the  gl'jom  their  streaming  eyes 
Tjook  tozlh  fo:  that  they  fear  to  meet : 

It  ?omes, — they  catch  a  glimpse, — it  flies : — 
Quick  glancing  lights, — now  trampling  feet,- 

Amo'ig  the  cane-crops,  seen,  heard,  gone ! 

Retam,  and,  in  dead  march,  move  on. 

"  .\  stem  procession !  gleaming  arms 
And  spectral  countenances  dart. 
By  the  red  torchlight,  wild  alarms, 

And  withering  pangs  through  either  heart ; 
A  corpse  amidst  the  group  is  borne : — 
A  prisoner's  corpse,  who  died  last  mom. 

"  Not  by  the  slave-lord's  justice  slain. 
That  doomed  him  to  a  traitor's  death ; 

While  royal  mercy  sped  in  vain 
O'er  land  and  sea  to  spare  his  breath : 

But  the  fhiil  life,  that  wanned  his  clay, 

Man  could  not  give,  nor  take  away. 

"  His  vengeance  and  his  grace,  alike, 

Were  impotent  to  save  or  kill  j 
He  may  not  lift  his  sword  to  strike. 

Nor  turn  its  edge  aside  at  will : 
Here,  by  one  sovereign  act  and  deed, 
God  cancsUed  all  that  man  decreed. 


<*Ash«»  to  ashes.!    tort  to  4imi ■*>^f  f^i-  > 
That  cotpsa  is  to  the  grave  consifn^d  I 
The  BC<me  departs  ;-rthis  buried  trust 

The' Judge  of  quick  and  dead  shall  find,— 
When  things  that  time  and  death  have  sealed. 
Shall  be  in  flaming  fire  revealed. 

"The  fire  shall  try  thee  then  like  gold, 

Prisoner  of  hope !  await  the  test  ; 
And,  O !  when  truth  alone  is  told. 

Be  thy  clear  innocence  confessed ! 
The  fire  shall  try  thy  foes ;— may  they 
Find  mercy  in  that  dreadful  day!" 

The  conduct  of  the  directors  of  the  {jondon  Mis- 
sionary Society,  on  this  deeply  affecting  occasion,  was 
marked  by  decided  prudeiKe,  immovable  self-posses- 
sion, and  dignified  femness. 

From  the  first  arrival  in  England  of  the  news  of  the 
revolt,  the  directors  had  held  communications  with  the 
colonial  department  of  his  majesty's  government,  and 
had  laid  before  the  secretary  of  state,  at  the  head  of  it, 
a  copy  of  the  instructions  given  by  them  to  Mr.  Smith, 
previously  to  his  embarkation  for  Demerara.  The  fol- 
lowing are  the  wise  and  judicious  counsels  which  Mr. 
Smith  receivied  firom  the  Society : — 

Jmtructiont  of  the  Directors  to  Mr.  John  Smith,  on 
his  going  out  as  Missionary  to  Demerara. 

\  <  ;'  «  Misaionary  Rooms,  London, 

"  Dear  Brother,  Dec.  9, 1816. 

"  Having  devoted  yourself  to  the  service  of  Christ 
among  the  heathen,  you  are  now  going,  under  the 
direction  and  patronage  of  the  Missionary  Society, 
to  the  colony  of  Demerara,  in  which  place  (at  Le 
Resouvenir)  our  missionaries,  with  some  intervals  of 
late,  have  labored  about  nine  years.  It  was  at  the 
earnest  request  of  the  late  Mr.  Post  that  a  missionary 
was  first  sent,  and  Mr.  Wray  was,  for  a  long  time, 
greatly  blessed  in  his  ministry,  and  many  of  the  poor 
negroes  were  hopefully  converted  to  God.  Mr.  Wray 
thought  it  his  duty  to  remove  to  the  neighboring  colony 
of  Berbice,  since  which  the  mission  has  suffered  very 
severely.  It  is  not  necessary  to  detail  the  particulars, 
nor  to  inquire  who  were  the  instruments  of  this  failure, 
and  we  would  advise  you,  on  your  arrival  at  the  station, 
not  to  enter  upon  the  disagreeable  Subject. 

"  You  are  now  going,  dear  brother,  as  a  minister  of 
Christ,  to  declare  his  gospel  to  the  negroes.  Ever 
remember  that  they  are  the  first  and  chief  object  of 
your  ministerial  attention  ;  to  their  conversion  and  edi- 
fication must  the  energies  of  your  mind  be  directed. 
You  will,  doubtless,  have  opportunities  of  preaching 
tiie  word  to  the  white  people  also,  and  we  wish  you 
iu  do  litis  witii  faithfulness,  prudence  and  uUuClion. 
Many  of  them  greatly  need  instruction,  and  we  trust 


DfiMERAHA.    BSamCE. 


.. I 

taiiu 


questions,  and  trvincr  nrhAtk<»  »».»., .  

and  when  you  see  them  the  next  time,  inquiring  if  they 
remember  whtt  they  heard  before.      A  few  leading 


that  you  wUl  be  nwd^  tha  minister  of  God  to  tbeiB  for 
much  good.  Yet  remember  that,  as  ths  society  is  formed 
for  the  pui>po8elof  "spreading  the  gospel  among 
heathen  and  other  unenlightened  nations,"  your  first, 
your  chief,  your  constant  business  is  with  the  poor 
negroes.     >      > 

"  You  need  not  be  informed  that  they  are  deplorably 
ignorant.     You  will  probably  find  them  mere  babes  in 
understanding  and  knowledge,  and  that  you  must  teach 
them  as  you  would  teach  children.     Such  discourses 
as  might  be  well  understoou  in  a  country  coi^regation 
m  England  would,  perhaps,  be  unintelligible  to  them. 
You  must  study  to  exhibit  the  great  things  of  the 
gospel  in  the  plainest  manner,  and  with  simple,  easy 
language.     By  conversing  with  them  in  private,  you 
will  find  out  what  ideas  and  words  are  best  understood 
by  them ;  and  in  every  public  sermon  let  the  method 
and  order  be  as  clear  and  distinct  as  possible,  that 
their   memories    may  better  retain  what  they  have 
beard;   and  perhaps  it  wi«  be  very  useful  to  repeat, 
towards   the  end   of  your  sermon,  in  a  few  words, 
the  substance  of  what  you  have  delivered,  and  then 
conclude  with  a  close  but  affectionate  appeal  to  their 
Consciences. 

"  Similitudes,  well  chosen,  may  be  very  useful.  Let 
them  be  familiar  allusions  to  what  they  well  under- 
stand ;  but  while  they  are  familiar,  let  them  never  be 
so  low  and  vulgar  as  to  degrade  the  divine  truths  they 
are  designed  to  illustrate.  The  parables  of  our  Lord 
will  be  your  best  method,  and  an  acquaintance  with 
the  notions  and  customs  of  the  people  will  afford  you 
much  direction  in  the  proper  use  of  similitudes. 

"  In  those  friendly  conversations  which  you  may  hold 
wth  Mr-  Wray  or  Mr.  Davis,  who  have  long  been 
preachers  to  the  negroes,  you  will,  doubtless,  receive 
much  information  which  may  greatly  facilitate  your 
labors.  With  both  of  them  you  will,  we  hope,  main- 
tain a  brotherly  intercourse,  but  without  taking  any 
part  in  the  unhappy  contentions  of  past  times. 

"  The  directors  have  long  been  of  opinion  that  the 
negroes  are  likely  to  derive  far  greater  advantages 
from  catechisms,  accompanied  with  a  familiar  conver- 
sation, than  from  formal  sermons,  though  they  would 
by  no  means  undervalue  them ;  and,  doubtless,  many 
may  hear  sermons,  to  whom  you  cannot  have  access 
in  pnvate.  Still,  however,  labor  daily  and  diligently 
visiting  them  from  hut  to  hut,  and  receiving  them,  at 
stated  seasons,  especially  in  the  evenings,  when  they 
have  done  work,  at  your  own  habitarion  (a  certain 
class,  perhaps,  at  a  time),  and  repeat,  again  and  again, 
every  important   truth   of  the  gospel,  asking   them 


M» 


truths,  both  as  to  doctrine  and  practice,  weli  learned, 
m  this  manner,  will  be  of  more  real  use  than  hearing  a 
hundred  discourses.  "6 

"  You  must  not  take  it  for  granted,  as  we  are  apt  to 
do  in  England  (perhaps  too  much),  that  the  people 
know  common  truths  already.  Every  thing  must  be 
taught,  and  inculcated  over  and  over  again,  and  per^ 
baps  placed  in  a  variety  of  views,  and  expressed  in  a 
variety  of  ways,  till  it  be  understood. 

"  The  Moravians,  m  their  extensive  practice,  have 
found  that  dwelling  much  on  the  love  and  sufferings  of 
Christ  has  proved  the  most  effectual  means  of  doing 
good.  You  will  do  well  to  read  their  accounts  of  their 
proceedings  and  success,  that,  as  far  as  they  maintained 
the  truth,  you  may  imitate  them.     , 

"  /n  the  discharge  of  your  miasionary  duty,  yon  may 
meet  with  difficulties  almost  peculiar  to  the    West 
Indies,  or  colonies  where  slaves  are  employed  in  the 
culture  of  the  earth  and  other  laborious  employments. 
Some  of  the  gentlemen  who  own  the  estates,  the  mas- 
ters of  the  slaves,  are  unfriendly  to  the^r  instruction; 
at  least,  they  are  jealous  lest,  by  any  mismanagement 
on  the  part  of  the  mssionaries,  or  misunderstanding 
on  the  part  of  the  negroes,  the  public  peace  and  safety 
should  be  endangered.     Tou  must  take  the  utmost 
care  to  prevent  the  possibility  of  this  evil.     Not  a 
word  must  escape  you,  inpuilic  or  private,  which  might 
render  the  slaves  displeased  with  their  masters,  or 
dissatisfied  with  their  station.     You  are,  not  se7it  to 
relieve  them  from  their  servile  condition,  but  to  afford 
them  the  consolations  of  religion,  and  to  enforce  upon 
them  the  necessity  of  being  "  subject  not  only  for 
wrath,  but  for  conscience  sake,"  Rom.  xiii.  5. ;  1  Pet. 
li.  19.     The  holy  gospel  you  preach  will  render  the 
slaves  who  receive  it  the  most  diligent,  faithful,  pa- 
tient  and  useful  servants ;  will  render  severe  disci- 
pline unnecessary,  and  make  them  the  most  valuable 
slaves  on  the  estates ;  and  thus  you  will  recommend 
yourself,  and  your  ministry,  even  to  those  gentlemen 
who  may  have  been  averse  to  the  religious  instruction 
of  the  negroes.     We  are  well  assured  that  this  happy 
effect  has  already  been  produced  in  many  instances, 
and  we  trust  you  will  be  the  honored  instrument  of 
producing  many  more. 

"  The  directors  hope  that  Mrs.  Smith  will  consider 
herself  not  merely  the  wife  of  a  missionary,  but  a 
female  missionary  also.  Mrs.  Wray  has  set  her  an 
excellent  example,  which  the  negroes  will  doubtless 
expect  Mrs.  Smith  to  follow,  and  we  trust  she  will  be 
equally  usefoi.  To  the  female  slaves  and  children 
she  may  have  better  access  than  yourself;  and  on 
some  !opic:i  can  more  properly  insist.  It  is  of  great 
importance  that  the  negro  mothers  be  taught  how  to 
bring  up  their  children  in  the  fear  of  God,  «od  that  the 


550 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOC^JTY. 


girls  be  wtrned  against  the  temptations  so  prevalent 

in  the  colony. 
"  That  you  may  conduct  yourself,  dear  brother,  so  as 

both  "to  save  yourself  and  them  that  hear  you,"  how 

necessary  is  it  to  attend,  in  the  first  place,  to  personal 

religion  !  "  Take  heed  to  yourself,"  said  Paul  to 
Timothy;  though  probably  he  was  not  exposed  to 
such  dangers  as  yourself.  Your  work  is  arduous.  O 
seek  help  from  Qttd,  by  daily  fervent  prayer.  You 
will  be  deprived,  in  a  great  measure,  of  those  religious 
advantages  which  you  have  enjoyed  in  England.  You 
will  not  be  able  to  associate,  as  you  have  done,  with 
judicious  and  lively  Christians,  and  probably  may  feel 
no  small  disadvantage  from  the  loss.  You  will  have, 
then,  the  more  need  to  improve  the  privileges  that 
remain ;  and  of  these,  access  to  the  throne  of  grace  is 
the  chief.  The  grace  of  Christ  is  sufficient  for  you, 
and  he  will  give  his  Holy  Spirit  to  them  that  ask  him. 
Pray,  then,  and  study  your  Bible  daily,  especially  the 
New  Testament,  and  then  go  to  the  instruction  of  the 
2>oor  negroes,  and,  out  of  the  abundance  of  your  heart, 
tieclare  the  whole  counsel  of  God. 

"  Thus  will  you  be  the  means  of  repairing  the  breaches 
vrhicb  'iave  happened  at  Le  Resouvenir,  of  restoring 
the  station  to  its  former  prosperity ;  yea,  we  trust, 
«)f  widely  extending  the  blessed  cause  of  truth  and 
holiness  in  that  place,  and  in  the  regions  round  about. 

"The  directors  hope  that  the  same  advantages  to- 
wards your  support,  as  were  granted  by  our  invaluable 
friend,  Mr.  Post,  to  Mr.  Wray,  will  be  continued  to 
you  by  Mrs.  Vanderhaas,  or  the  present  occupier  or 
manager  of  the  estate,  if  she  is  absent.  The  directors 
will  be  ready  to  make  up  the  unavoidable  deficiencies, 
but  which,  we  hope  and  trust,  will  be  kept  within  the 
strictest  bounds  of  economy.  You  will  not  fail  to 
write,  as  soon  as  possible,  what  support  you  can  obtain 
from  Demerara,  and  what  further  supplies,  if  any, 
will  be  needful  from  home.  We  shall  also  expect, 
every  quarter,  or  half  year  at  most,  an  abstract  from 
the  journal  which  we  wish  you  to  keep  of  your  pro- 
ceedings, and  all  memorable  occurrences. 

"As  various  inconveniences  have,  in  some  cases,  aris- 
en from  missionaries  leaving  their  appointed  situations, 
the  directors  expect  that  you  will  not  desert  your  post, 
or  exchange  it  for  another,  without  imperious  necessity, 
nor  take  any  step  which  may  incur  additional  expense, 
without  the  consent  of  the  directors  first  obtained  in 
wilting.  It  is  also  necessary  to  add,  that  they  will  not 
be  responsible  for  any  debt  contracted  on  the  score  of 
building  either  chapels  or  houses,  without  their  consent 
in  writing  as  before  mentioned. 

"  These  things  are  mentioned,  not  on  account  of  any 

Klisnir.inn    Antprfamn#l    Kv  tUa    #1it*An*Mfa    *!.«*    ..»..   ...HI 
—  J. .. ...„,     ..„,    „,,, 

act  contrary  to  iheir  wishes,  but  in  the  same  caution- 


ary manner  u  they  meati  to  addimf  every  n«w  muh 
sionary. 

"And  now,  dear  brother,  we  most  ihcerely  and  affec- 
tionately commend  you  to  God,  whose  you  are,  and 
whom  you  serve,  praying  that  he  may  ever  pre- 
serve  you  from  all  evil,  supply  you  with  all  spiritual 
blessings,  and  crown  your  missionary  labors  with  gre^ 
success.  ^: 

"By  order  of  the  directws, 

(Signed)      Gxo.  Bordkr,  Secretary. 
"Mr.  John  Smith,  Mtitummy  to  Detnerara." 

On  receiving  the  painful  news  of  their  missionary 
having  been  brought  to  trial  before  a  court-martial,  the 
directors  deemed  it  proper  to  make  to  government 
a  more  formal  application,  in  which  they  avowed  their 
confidence  in  the  innocence  of  Mr.  Smith,  but  ex- 
pressed their  apprehensions  of  the  ()anger  to  which 
they  conceived  him  to  be  exposed,  from  the  highly 
inflamed  state  of  public  feeling  in  Demerara — from 
his  having  been  brought  to  trial  before  a  military  tri- 
bunal, and  from  the  uncertainty  which  existed  as  to 
whether  he  had  been  able  to  avail  himself  of  the  requi- 
site legal  aid  for  his  defence.  For  these  reasons,  they 
requested,  on  the  supposition  of  a  sentence  being 
passed,  that  no  punishment  might  be  executed,  until 
the  result  of  a  full  investigation  of  the  alleged  causes 
of  the  insurrection  should  be  made  known. 

Shortly  afier  this  communication  had  been  trans- 
mitted to  earl  Bathurst,  a  letter  arrived  from  Deme- 
rara, apprizing  the  directors  of  the  very  precarious 
state  of  Mr.  Smith's  health.  A  further  communica- 
tion was  made  to  government,  in  which  they  requested 
instructions  might  be  forthwith  sent  out  to  his  excel- 
lency the  governor  of  that  colony,  directing  that,  in 
case  any  sentence  should  be  passed  on  Mr.  Smith,  he 
might  be  immediately  sent  to  England  ;  the  treasurer 
entering  into  the  requisite  securities  for  his  appearance 
and  submission  to  any  measures  which  government 
might  eventually  deem  it  proper  to  adopt  concerning 
him.  With  this  request  his  majesty's  ministers  were 
pleased  to  comply. 

Shortly  after  this  application,  an  official  despatch 
was  received  from  Demerara ;  and  the  directors  were 
informed  by  government  that  Mr.  Smith  had  been 
found  guilty,  by  a  sentence  of  a  general  court-martial, 
which  had  been  confirmed  by  the  governor ;  but  that  the 
sentence  having  been  accompanied  with  a  recommen- 
dation of  mercy  from  the  court,  the  governor  had 
withheld  the  execution  of  the  sentence  until  his  majes- 
ty's pleasure  thereon  should  be  received. 

On  the  receipt  of  this  intelligence,  the  directors 
sppviuteu  5  tscputaiion  ifoni  ihcir  body  to  hoiu  a  con- 
ference with  government,  in  which  the  views  enter- 


tamed  by  tht  directom.  as  to  the  presumed  iHe«15ty 

staid"  J!:;ri  r^'''^'r  ^'  ^™"''  '^^^  ^"^^^^4 

stated,  and  the  justice  of  an  entire  rescindment  of  the 

ZTZ  rt^  °"  '.''''  ^"'«'-  The  sentiments  en- 
tertained by  h.,  m.jesty's  government,  as  to  the  nature 
01  the  proceedings,  were,  however,  found  to  be  by  no 
means  in  umson  with  those  expressed  by  the  deputa- 
t.on,  and  the  tenor  of  the  communications  of  the  rieht 
honorable  secretary  of  st«e  for  the  colonial  depL 
ment  were  such  a,  constrained  them  to  intimate  the 
d.sppomtme»t  their  expecUtion,  had  met  »,kh.  and 
their  opinion  that  the  directors  would  feel  it  their  dutv 

ro?.r';;7'"  '"^""""  forob,ai„i„;;he:;s 

S„  tie  ,  O^M?'!"'"  "  '^'y  "'Sht  be  advised. 

On  the  19th  of  February,  at  a  meeting  of  the  di- 
rectors,  specially  convened  for  that  purpose,  the  depu- 
tation  appointed  to  communicate  with  his  majesty's 
government,  reported  that  the  right  honorable  secre- 

ZIa  Tl  '  'u'  f '**""'  department  had  commu- 
nicated  to  them  the  decision  of  his  majesty's  govern- 
ment  to  remit  the  sentence  of  death  a^inst  John 
Smith  and  to  direct  that  he  be  forthwith  dismissed 
from  the  colony  of  Demerara  and  Essequibo,  and  enter 
mto  recognizance  in  the  penalty  of  two  thousand 
pounds  not  to  reside  within  the  said  united  colony,  or 
w.  hm  his  majesty's  colony  of  Berbice,  or  within  any 
r„ tjw  ?;."""*  i» 'Repossession  of  his  majesty 

Thl^J  •'"'"•  ^^^  ''«P"'*''°"  «'«her  reported^ 
that  this  communication  was  accompanied  by  an  ex- 
pression of  the  approbation  of  gLrnment  of  the 
"instructions"  given  by  the  directors  to  their  sM 
missionary. 

Several  resolutions  were  now  proposed  and  unani- 
mously  adopted ;  in  which,  after  expressing  their  grate- 

ciety  by  his  majesty's  government,  and  statins  the 
vanous  cause,  which  had  excited  their  disappointment 
and  regret  at  the  decision  of  ministers  on  tTp  e"e„ 
occasion,  the  directors  distinctly  state  that  they  see  no 

withdraw  from  h.m  their  confidence  and  esteem  ;  but 
on  the  contrary,  they  express  a  determination  of  adopt- 
ing 'such  measure,  for  obtaining,  in  this  country,  the 
reversal  of  the  sentence  passed  by  the  court-marliul 

iS^ralir"'''"'"''''"''"^-''''-''^ 
In  the  Missionary  Chronicle  for  March,  1824   the 

inT?  ''"?li'"'c  '  ."'""'"""'  °f  '^''"  proceedings 
m  the  case  of  Mr.  Smith.   In  that  paper  they  expressed 

a  firm  conviction  of  hi,  legal  and  moral  innience,  and 

objected  to  his  having  been  brought  to  trial  b;fore 

a^court-martial,  to  which  he  was  not  leeallv  «m«n.Ki» 

ll.eyai«,olvjeoted  to  the  proceedings  on  the  "trial' 

Itself,  particulariy  to  the  improper  and  unprecedented 


DEMERARA.    BERBlCE.  m 

use  made  in  court  of  Bfc.t,/|hv>f„„i.j,«„«^ 

n.  ..V  y  '°  ^"'  ^r  •  con'tructivo  procL,  crim- 
inal  ty  on  the  manner  in  which  he  had  discharged  W. 
mmisterial  duties-to the admi^ion  of  ne^oeTde,^ 
on  a  charge  of  life  and  death,  which  wouS^have  S 
rejected  in  a  civil  court,  in  an  action  for  property  of 

he  value  of  forty  , hilling, ;  and  to  the  receivin'^ALr: 

11  Vl'T  '^TJ  ""'  P"~""' ''»'''« i»  ^«  'eft-sed 
m  a  critical  part  of  his  defence,  when  about  to  bo  pro- 
duced m  A,,  favor     They  also  objectea  to  the  length 

Is  o"n  "^Ti^/l^'  '"'''  «'«"'''"8  <"«»°  October 
3  to  November  24,  during  which,  they  justly  observe 

the  witnesses  and  judges  were  open  to  the  influencro' 

a  community  heated  by  the  most  violent  prejudices,  and 

kept  in  a  constant  state  of  excitement  by  the  efFa^.ons 

ieS."'  "°  ""'"'  '"'''''  '"  ''"^•"•'^"^  -d 
After  alluding  to  their  unremitting  endeavors  to  meet 
the  varying  aspect  of  Mr.  Smith's  cL,  as  fresh  inX 
gence  arrived,  and,  particularly,  to  their'corretp^Int 
and  interviews  with  his  majesty's  govemm^f  and 
after  stating  that  they  had  sent  L  instructZt;  t 
counsel  of  Mr  Smith  to  take  steps  for  appealing  from 
hesentenceofthecourt.martial,should,uchap^Sb" 
considered  advisable,the  directors  assign  the  fXwin. 
cogent  and  satisfactory  reason,  for  the  silence  which 
they  had  maintained  amidst  the  calumnies  cast  upon 
their  society,  through  the  public  press,  by  the  enemas 
of  evangelic  missions : — 

"  If  this  shall  appear  to  any  to  have  been  a  r-ulpa- 
ble  silence,  the  directors  have  to  say  that  it  hn:  Lt 
arisen  from  inattention,  indifference  or  timidifv  ;  ku 
from  their  own  judgment  of  what  the  honor  Oi"  ',h^  =c.. 
ciety  and  the  dignity  of  its  cause  required  at  their  bands. 
Conscious  of  their  own  integrity,  and  confident  ir;  th-, 
innocence  of  their  missionaries,  they  felt  that  they 
could  calmly  wait  till  the  hour  for  effective  vindication 
should  arrive.     To  attempt  to  follow  the  torrent  of 
slander,  in  its  ten  thousand  channels,  was  impracticable 
I  and  they  were  contented  to  oppose  to  it  a  firm  confi- 
dence in  the  good  opinion  of  their  friends,  and  the  dis- 
criminating impartiality  of  the  British  public.      The 
false  statements  which  were  continually  transmitted 
from  the  colony  they  were  long  kept  from  all  means 
of  refuting  by  the  conduct  of  the  local  authorities, 
of  which  they  have  just  cause  to  complain.   All  com- 
munication  from  'he  missionaries  with  the  society 
(their  proper  protectors)  was,  contrary  to  every  prin- 
ciple  of  British  justice,  cut  off;  so  that,  till  Decem- 
ber, the  directors  had  no  advice  whatever  from  them- 
sdves,  of  their  own  situation,  or  the  facts  of  their  case. 


iciicr  aaarcosea  to  the  treasurer  was  taken  from 


.1,  ,  . —  MOTBurer  was  laKen  irom 

the  person  of  Mr.  Elliot,  and,  though  entirely  inoffen- 
sive  m  Its  tenor,  was  arbitrarily  kept  back :  and  it  was 


wmm  mmm^mmmmt. 


iaot  till  a  tbff  of  tbat  letter  wu  forwarded,  after 
bis  liberation  from  confinement,  by  circuitous  means, 
that  the  director  had  anf  information  of  their  aetuid 
circumstances.  Mr.  Smith  was  not  allowed  to  write 
to  them  ;  and  although  Mr.  Elliot  entreated- leave  (m 
an  interview  with  him,  after  his  trial,  even  tkat  was 
refused !" 

In  the  Missionary  Chronicle  for  April,  1824,  the 
mournful  circumstances  of  Mr.  Smith's  decease  were 
eommunicaled  to  the  religious  public,  accompanied 
v.'ith  the  following  appropriate  and  interesting  obser- 
vations : — 

-:»  "  Thus  has  been  brought  to  its  present  close  the 
^tragical  scene  of  persecution  which  has  been  for  years 
preparing,  in  Demerare,  against  the  faithful  servants 
of  Christ ;  and  which  has,  at  length,  found  its  victim 
in  one  amongst  them,  who,  for  fidelity  and  diligence, 
stood  in  the  foremast  rank.  The  finger  of  truth,  guid- 
ed by  the  unanimous  voice  of  the  Christian  church, 
will  inscribe  on  its  records  the  name  of  John  Smith, 
•s  one  of  its  martyrs  in  the  cause  of  spreading  the 
gospel  of  their  common  Lord  among  the  enslaved  sons 
of  Africa.  But  the  hand  of  death,  in  putting  a  close 
to  the  tribulation  and  suflTerings  of  this  martyr,  has 
fixed  an  immovable  seal  on  the  guilt  of  the  act  by 
which  that  issue  has  been  produced.  The  chains  of 
the  prisoner  have  been  broken,  not  by  the  act  of  mercy 
from  his  gracious  earthly  sovereign  (though  it  was  ex- 
tended as  soon  as  the  need  of  it  was  known),  but  by 
the  mandate  of  the  King  of  kings,  which  has  separated 
the  accusers  and  the  accused,  till  the  day  when  both 
ohall  stand  before  his  throne  of  judgment,  to  hear 
the  irreversible  decision  of  that  supreme  court,  to 
which  the  groaning^  of  the  oppressed  have  carried  the 
appeal. 

"  The  directors  feel  that  the  issue,  now  so  deeply 
deplored  by  them,  does  not  relax  the  duty  of  seeking 
redress  for  the  injury  done,  by  the  proceedings  in 
Demerara,  to  their  deceased  missionary,  to  the  cause 
of  missions,  and  to  the  violated  laws  of  their  country  ; 
nor  of  endeavoring  to  obtain  future  protection  for  the 
lives  and  liberty  of  other  individuals  engaged  in  the 
same  disinterested  and  benevolent  labors.  The  object 
is  now  somewhat  changed  ;  but  that  justice  which  can- 
not be  done  to  the  perton,  must  be  sought  for  to  the 
character  of  the  martyred  missionary." 

According  to  this  intimation,  and  in  consonance  with 
the  recommendation  of  their  professional  advisers,  the 
directors  resolved  to  present  a  petition  to  the  House 
of  Commons  founded  on  the  whole  ofthe  circumstanced 
of  Mr.  Smith's  case  ;  at  the  same  time,  however,  as- 
tiirine  his  majesty's  rovernment,  that,  in  adnntin*  thig 
important  measure,  "  ''-.ey  had  not  been  actuated  by 
any  diminution  of  respect  or  gratitude,  but  purely  by 


theur  eonvietion  of  what  was  dtw  from  them  to  the 
memory  of  Mr.  Smith,.^>-to  tlM  society  which  they 
represent, — to  the  cause  of  Ofaristiaii  missions,  whei-e- 
soever  carried  on,~-«nd  to  the  expectations  of  the  innu- 
merable friends  to  that  cause,  tlutjughout  the  British 
empire."  A  petiticm,  described  as  that  of  the  treas- 
urer, secretary  and  directors  of  the  London  Minionuy 
Society,  was  uscordingly  drawn  up,  and  introduced  to 
the  notice  of  parlian.^nt,  otf  the  13th  of  April,  by  sir 
James  Mackintosh,  '*  with  a  feeling,"  it  has  been  justly 
observed,  «  which  did  honor  to  himself,  and  entitles 
him  to  the  esteem  and  gratitude  of  the  society."  In 
this  petition,  which  was  received  by  the  House,  and 
ordered  to  be  printed,  the  directors  complained  of  the 
whole  treatment  of  their  missionary,  from  the  time  of 
his  arrest  to  the  period  of  bis  dissolution, — of  his 
having  been  brought  to  trial  before  a  military  tribimai, 
—of  the  constitution  of  the  court  itself, — the  irregulari- 
ty of  its  proceedings,— and  the  injustice  and  inconsis- 
tency of  the  sentence  pronounced  by  it ; — and  they, 
accordingly,  prayed  for  that  sentence  to  be  rescinded, 
and  for  future  protection  to  be  secured  to  Protestant 
missionaries  in  general. 

On  the  3d  of  May,  Mr.  Brougham  gave  notice 
that  he  would  submit  a  proposition  to  the  House, 
respecting  the  proceedings  at  Demerara,  on  the  ^th 
of  the  same  month ;  and  during  the  week  preceding  the 
day  to  which  that  notice  referred,  nearly  two  hundred 
petitions  from  various  parts  of  the  kingdom,  and  from 
persons  of  different  religious  denominations,  were  pre- 
sented to  the  House,  praying  for  inquiry  into  the  case 
of  Mr.  Smith,  for  the  rescindment  of  the  sentence 
passed  on  him,  and  for  the  adoption  of  such  measures 
as  might  appear  to  the  wisdom  of  parliament  necessary 
for  the  protection  of  Protestant  missionaries  in  the  dif- 
ferent colonies  of  the  British  empire, 

Mr.  Brougham's  motion,  though  fixed  for  the  27th 
of  May,  did  not  come  on  till  the  1st  of  June ;  when  the 
honorable  meml>er  concluded  a  most  able  and  elo- 
quent speech  of  ueariy  three  hours  by  the  following 
proposition : — 

"  That  an  humble  address  be  presented  to  his  maj- 
esty, representing  that  this  House,  having  taken  into 
its  most  serious  consideration  the  papers  laid  before 
them,  relating  to  the  trial  and  condemnation  of  the 
Rev.  John  Smith,  a  missionary  in  the  colony  of  Dem- 
erara, deem  if  their  duty  now  to  declare,  that  they 
contemplate,  with  serious  alarm  and  deep  sorrow,  the 
violation  of  law  and  justice  which  is  manifoKted  in 
those  unexnmplod  pioceedings ;  and  most  earnestly 
pray  that  his  majesty  will  be  graciously  pleased  to 
adopt  such  measures  as  in  his  roval  wisdom  may  seem 
meet,  for  such  a  just  and  humane  administration  of 
law  in   that  colony,  ai   may   protect    the  voluntary 


instructers  of  the  negroes,  as  well  as  the  rest  of  his 
majesty's  subjects,  from  oppression." 

"  This  temperate  and  respectful  proposition,"  says 
the  editor  of  the  Quarterly  Chronicle,  "  was  met,  on 
the  part  of  government,  by  the  honorable  under  sec- 
retary for  the  colonial  department  with  a  direct  nega- 
tive. On  the  adjourned  debate,  however,  which  took 
place  on  the  llth,  the  right  honorable  .secretary  for 
the  foreign  department,  Mr.  Canning,  perceived  the 
necessity  for  pursuing  a  very  different  course,  and 
moved  the  previous  question,  by  which  means  the 
defence  of  the  proceedings,  in  Demerara,  against  Mr. 
Smith  was  virtually  abandoned.  The  decision,  there- 
fore, to  which  the  House  at  length  came,  is  to  be 
considered,  on  the  one  hand,  as  not  imputing  the  least 

Zll"I"'"\^"'r  ?  ^'-  S™ith,-and:on  the  other,  as 
not  affording  the  slightest  sanction  to  the  proceedings  of 
the  governor  and  the  court-martial.  It  is,  also,  of  im- 
portance to  remark,  that  the  illegality  of  iho  proceed- 
ing by  court-martial  was  expressly  admitted,  even  by 
those  members  of  the  House  who  were  unwilling  to 
pass  a  censure  on  the  persons  composing  it ;  while  the 
entire  illegality  and  gross  injustice  of  the  proceedings 
at  large,  were  most  satisfactorily  demonstrated  by  Mr 
Brojgham,  sir  James  Mackintosh,  and  other  speakers, 
who  supported  the  motion," 

T  aking,  therefore,  the  whole  of  the  circumstances,  and 
their  peculiar  nature,  into  view,  it  appears  to  the  direc- 
tors, that  the  case  of  Mr.  Smith  has  obtained  a  signal 
though  mdirecl,  triumph  over  its  opponents;  while  it  may 
be  justly  hoped,  from  the  opinions  expressed  by  thelead- 
mg  members  of  government,  that  the  cause  of  Christian 
missions  will  derive  important  and  lasting  benefits  from 
the  agitation  of  the  question. 

The  missionary  cause  received  a  heavy  loss  in  the 
Vol.  I.— Nos.  47  &  48.  73 


DEMERARA.    BERBICE. 


m 

death  of  Mr.  Davis,  who  occupied  the  George  Town 
station.    At  his  death,  which  took  place  in  1826  the 
congregation  consisted  of  about  six  hundred  pers'ons. 
The  number  m  church  fellowship  was  about  one  hun- 
dred  and  fifty.    Mr.  Wray,  from  Berbice,  visited  the 
congregation  at  Providence  chapel  as  often  as  possible 
and  in  his  report  to  the  society  in  1828,  writes,  "  There 
seems  to  be  an  increased  desire  to  enjoy  the  preach- 
'ng  of  the  gospel.      On  sabbath,  3d  February,  the 
chapel  was  well  attended.     A  great  number  of  slaves 
brought  notes  from  their  managers,  desiring  that  their 
slaves  should  be  baptized.     Baptism  was  administered 
to  twenty  adults,  and  ten  or  eleven  children.     Nine 
couple  were  married,  and  five  new  members  admitted 
to  the  Lord's  table."    In  December,  1828,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Joseph  Ketley  arrived  at  Demerara,  and  were 
j^ceived  by  the  people  with  demonstrations  of  affection. 
Ihe  chapel  on  the  west  coast,  which  the  government 
had  seized  in  1824,  was  now  restored  to  the  Mission- 
ary Society,  and  formally  delivered  over  to  Mr.  Ketlev 

Mr  'm-  f ',  ^"'  ''f  •       "^^  ^"PP'^  »'-   ^'^'IS 
M  .  Michael  Lewis  and  his  lady  (sister  to  Mr.  Ketley) 

sailed  from  Gravesend  early  in  1830.    Mr.  and  Mrs 
bcott  also  joined  the  mission,  December,  1831 

The  state  of  Mr.  Wray's  health  rendered  it  advisa- 
ble that  he  should  visit  England:  and,  with  the  con- 
currence of  the  directors,  he  arrived  in  London,  from 
Berbice,  in  1831.  He  reports  the  mission  to  be  in  a 
prosperous  state,  the  public  services  well  attended,  and 
the  catechumens  increasing  every  sabbath.  In  1830 
--31,  eighteen  persons  were  admitted  to  the  Lord's 
table,  all  of  whom,  with  one  exception,  were  slaves. 
The  present  number  of  church  members  is  one 
hundred  and  seven,  besides  a  few  occasional  com- 
municants. 


6S4 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


CHAPTER   VI. 


OTHER  STATIONS,  EDUCATION  OF  MISSIONARIES,  FUNDS,  kc. 


ST.  PETERSBURGH. 

In  this  city  the  Rev.  Richard  Knill  has  indcfstigably 
exerted  himself  in  promoting  the  interests  of  true  reli- 
gion, amidst  the  errors  of  a  perverted  Christianity. 
The  divine  blessing  has  evidently  rested  on  the  circu 
lation  of  the  Scriptures  and  religious  tracts. 


SIBERIA. 

Station*. 
Selinoihsk  and  Kbodon. 

It  is  amidst  many  painful  discouragements  that  the 
brethren  are  laboring  to  disscininato  in  tliis  dark  re- 
gion the  knowledge  of  the  true  God  and  Jesus  Christ 
the  Saviour.  This  mission  is  interesting,  chiefly  on 
account  of  the  solf-sacrifioing  spirit  ond  heavcnly- 
mindcdness  of  the  brethren  who  are  engaged  in  its 
conduct. 


MEDITERRANEAN. 

Statiom. 
CoRFi'.     Malta. 

The  hlessmg  of  the  great  Head  of  the  church  attends 
the  use  of  means.  The  report  of  the  directors  for 
183'2  stales,  that  "  Cliristiun  hooks  are  thankfully 
received  by  the  inhabitants.  Kducalion  is  extended, 
and  the  schools  nro  prospering.  In  Malta,  the  press 
has  been  actively  and  advantageously  engaged. 
Eleven  thou<«and  and  nine  hundred  books  have  been 
printed  at  the  mission  press  for  the  society,  the  reli- 
gious   tract    society,    and    for    private     individuals. 


Twenty-seven  thousand  eight  hundred  and  sixty- 
nine  books  have  been  distributed  during  the  past 
year." 


EDUCATION  OF  THE  MISSIONARIES 

EMPLOYED     BT   THE     LONDON    MISSIONARY    SOCIGTT.* 

In  the  year  1789,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Boguo,  of  Gosport, 
o])ened  an  academy  for  the  instruction  of  young  men 
who  were  looking  forwards  to  the  Christian  ministry  in 
the  ranks  of  dis.sent.  The  design  of  the  seminary  was 
not  to  make  elegant  scholars,  but  useful  and  accepta- 
ble preachers  of  the  gospel.  Latin  was  regarded  but 
as  the  key  to  Greek  and  Hebrew,  and  to  those  valua- 
ble theological  works  which  arc  inaccessible  without 
the  aid  of  the  Roman  tongue.  Nor  was  the  elegant 
and  copious  language  of  Greece  valued  except  for  the 
.sake  of  the  Now  Tc.';tanicnt,  which  should  be  read  in 
the  original  by  every  minister  whom  Providence  has 
furnished  with  the  means.  Hebrew  was  made  the 
study  of  the  senior  year.  Hut  theology  vias  the  Alpha 
and  Omega  at  the  seminary  at  Gosj)ort.  For  this 
purpose  the  tutor  had  composed,  with  grcot  labor  and 
judnment,  one  hundred  and  twenty  lectures,  which  ho 
delivered  in  a  maimer  peculiarly  adapted  to  secure  the 
grand  end  of  insiruction,  wlmh  is,  not  to  think  for  the 
pupil,  hut  to  make  him  think  for  hiimrlf.  Each  lec- 
ture, after  being  taken  down  from  the  tutor's  lips,  was 
read  a  second  time.  After  the  students  had  read  the 
auiliors  to  which  they  had  been  referred,  and  had  re- 
volved the  subject  in  their  own  minds,  they  were  ex- 
l)e(ied  to  nil  U|)  the  syllabus.  On  these  occasions,  the 
tutor  iliiphiyed  great  judgment  and  liberality  ;  never 
im|Kjsing  his  own  opinion,  hut  giving  free  scope  for  tim 
remarks  of  the  pupils  Remarkable  siniplieity  was 
conspicuous  in  the  theological  chair.  When  the  au- 
thority of  great  namei  was  adduced,  or  specious  rea- 


*  Bm  BaUMt'i  Mamoin  ofUr.  I)o|u«. 


soilings  wero  employed  to  determine  a  point,  Dr.  Boeue 
replied,—"  Whnt  my  the  Scriptures  ?"     For  tlie  in- 
spired Scriptures  Dr.  Bogue  ontertninod  n  deference 
the  most  profound,      hy  a  simple  reference  to  these 
divme  oracles,  ho  blew  away  many  a  finoly-spun  theory, 
in  which  some  pretty  fluttering  insects  have  been  en- 
tangled to  their  ruin.     While  others  have  boon  ambi- 
tious of  studying  under  pliilosophors  and  metapiiysi- 
cmns,  prcphcti  and  apoitUi  wore  wise  enough  for  him 
lie  saw  in  the  Bible  the  ne  pl,u  ultra  of  theology,  a,„l 
never  forgot  bow  vain  were  all  attempts  to  overleap 
Its  bounds.     He  never  fell  into  the  error  of  some  pow- 
erful but  unmanageable  minds,  which  project  schemes 
of  instruction  mited  to   the  teacher  rothor  than  the 
scholar.     He  hud  no  courses  for  students  of  three  years, 
which  would  take  seven  to  accomplish.     In  theology' 
his  students  rarely  failed.     Those  who  have  labored 
in  the  churches  of  Christ,  and  who  wore  trained  by 
the  venerable  Bogue,  have  not  been  famed  for  favorite 
theories,  metaphysical  discussions  and  leclmical  terms  ; 
but  they  have  entered  with  instructive  accuracy,  and 
with  a  depth  suflicient  to  ensure  every  valuable  pur- 
pose, into  all  the  great  doctrines  of  divine  revelation, 
resting  their  evidence  upon  their  true  basis,  and  direct- 
ing them  to  their  proper  end.     The  gival  occupation  of 
the  students  were  Latin,  Greek,  Hebrew,  theology 
ecclesiastical  history,  the  belles  lettros,  the  eloquence 
of  the  |)ulpit,  and  pastoral  care. 

To  this  institution  candidates  for  missionary  labor 
wore  sent  by  the  society,  and  the  benefits  of  the  sound 
instruction  which  they  here  received  have  appeared  in 
the  successes  which  have  been  achieved  on  foreign 
shores  and  in  pagan  lands.  Hero  Milne  and  Morrison 
Townly  and  Fyvie,  Dawson,  May,  Kllis,  and  a  host  of 
other  heralds  of  mercy,  wero  trained  up  for  the  en- 
largement of  the  bounds  of  Christendom. 

Since  the  death  of  Dr.  Bogue,  the  students  have 
been  placed  in  various  institutions  ;  and  from  the  latest 
accounts  it  appears,  that  about  twc^ily  are  pursuing 
their  classical,  mathematical  and  theologit-al  studies  in 
the  colleges  at  Homertcn  ond  Highbury,  and  with  pri- 
vate tutors  in  other  places. 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


FUNDS.  (Mat,  1832.) 

The  contributions  for  the  ordinary  purposes  of  the 
society,  iluring  ilie  past  year,  have  been  £;M,5fl8.38. 
8d. ;  forspe.  ml  objects,  £517.  .'Is.  «d,  making  a  total  of 
£35,085.  (Js.  lOd.,  being  £fl,5(M.  Ifis.  8.1.  less  than  the 
.  ..._  ...  _c-.j,:.-  yrar.    i  nc  CApeniiiiuru  during 

the  past  year  has  been  £39,2-10. 10s.7d.,  being  £4, 1 55. 
3s.  9d.  more  than  the  receipts  during  the  saino  period. 


665 


LIST  OF  THE  SOCIETY'S  STATIONS 
MISSIONARIES,  &c.  (Mat,  1838.)        ' 

SOUTH  SBA8. 

Oeoroian  or  Windward  Islands. 

Tahiti  (or  OUh.lte) m,.„h  7V,.r„-Ch„l.,  Wilwn. 

Ifttnkey  attj~ll»nry  Nott. 
Ifillm'a  Iliirhor—aoorga  Pritohard. 
Ihiriler'i  /'oinr— David  Darling. 
llamit  Tuu>n—}n\\n  Dtvlei, 
Bogm  Tmim—J.  M.  Orimond. 

"'"'  r''f«>-Alo«nd«r  Bimpion._Ell 

jnli  Ariiill«j{P,  Misiionarij  Artiian. 
tlriffin  ToHin— William  llonry,— Thorn. 
„  "  "l"«"oin,  Miiiimumj  Jirtiian. 

"*'"'" (Out.HtaUon)-7»r..  Aativ*  Tt<uh*r*. 

Society  or  Leeward  Islands. 

""*""'* Far^-Uurhor-Chn,\.n  Harff. 

jj;*'"** Wumaoro— Jolm  Wlllianw. 

„  "** yiiilmr,— Jamci  Hmith. 

"°"*»'"'* «'»'«A_aonr««  flatt 

"*"'"'' ("ut-HtaUoi.)-JV„,.>a  Tuu,hm. 


Paumotu  Ihlands. 

TaAROA,      ChAIW     IllAHI),  ) 

•nd  Mat«a J  (Oui-Htati(in»)— >lira  JWuim  Tioekeri 

AusTHAL  Islands. 

HaIVATAI,   TUIIOAI,    RimaO,,^ 

TAiu,  RuRVTu,  AfUtA,  J  ("'"•'^'*U<"'»)— Mn*  AVUiM  Tmcheri 


HenvRv  Irlands. 


Rahotooiia 


AlTUTAKI,  MlTlAHO,  AtIO, 


OniUangiia—ChiLr]n  Pitman. 
.iJrurMn— Anron  Iluiacott. 
Jlrorugni—Ont  Natito  Ttacker. 


ITDTAKI,  MITIAHO,  AtIO,  )  ,„    .  „       , 

Mautii,  and  MAnaigA.  J  ^""'■"''"""•)— ■'^•'»«^'<»'«m  TootAor* 


Navioatohs'  Iri.andn. 


Uk   MAflDAi.KifA,   and 
Barta  Chriitiiia  ... 


MARqUESAS. 
I  Fits  ffatite  Traehtri. 


BOIJTII   A  PRIG  A. 

STATIONS  WITHIN  TIIR  i  oi.oNV  OP  THR  CAPS. 

^'*'*  ■'■"'"' -""h"  »'l»li|.,   t)    I)  ,    fluperintmdm  ^ 

Ike  SoriHyt  Muiioiu  in  Soutk  Mrica. 

'^**»'- William  EllioU. 

"r"'"*"" Arin  Voi. 

BoicHiiriLD Corndlii.  Kram«r. 

i:»i.»uui.   iKiTiTCTioii Hriiry  Itvlmn. 

Pacaitidout William  Andrraon-Thomu  Edwanto, 

•'irhoolrmiiltr. 

"*"«»» J.  Kitehlngman- J.  MalriU. 


ft6$ 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


BiTHtttDOBF A.  Robaea. 

PoBT  EutABsra (KMmri.) 

UnuBA«B  J. O.MeMtr. 

OiuHAa'f  Tow« JobBMonio. 

Graaf  RsiitBT A.  Van  d«  Lingen. 

TaioroLii George  Buker— Chriatopber  Sim. 

Zak  Ritbk JuneiReed. 


■TATIOm  WITHOUT  TBI  COLONY. 


CArrftABiA . 


.BifaU  Jh'ter    John  Browalee,  and  O. 
F.  Ktjraer— Jan  Tiatxoe,  AWm  Jt- 


Oki^daTowh .....Peter  Wri|^t—Iaaao  Hughea,  Jhtifm. 

CAaraiu A  Cttechiat. 

PniLirroLia O.  A.  Kolbe. 

Miuioa  re  tu  BvtaiiMr.JMnea  Clark. 

LattaKo* Robert  MoAt,  and  John  Baillic— Robert 

Hamilton,  and  Rogera  Edwarda,  Jr- 


""rS^.?*.  .f.!"!*:  i  ^"^  H'-^  s*"^'-  *^  •  «*''~*^ 


AVCUCAN  ISLANDS. 


For- 


MACMTivi. .....Fort  Louu—John   Le  Brun— V, 

gette,  ^ttittant. 

MADAOAacAU TkiMnarirc— Darid  Jonea,*  David  Orif- 

fitha,  David  Johna,  J.  J.  Freeman, 
John  Canham,  and  T.  Atkinaon — 
George  Chick  and  Jamea  Cameron, 
.^rttranr— Edward  Baker,  Printer. 


EAST  INDIES. 


MoMTHtiur   IntiA. 


.(.cAicxrrTJt  DnntrCT.) 
CainUta — Jamea  Hill — George  Gogerly 

— George  Ckriatie;  Jamea  PatUraon, 

<m  hit  pottage, 
Kidderpore,  &c. — Charlea  PifTard— Ed. 

ward  Ray,*  and  A.  F.  Lacroii. 
CiiWiiraA— George  Mundy,*  and  Thom- 

•a  Kilpin  Higga. 
Berhampore — Micaiah     Hill ;     Orlando 

Thoinaa  Dobbin,  on  hit  pottage. 
Benaret — Jamea    Robcrtaon — William 

Bn^'era. 
Surat — William  and  Alexander  Fyvio— 

Thomaa  Salmon. 


PiKiRicLAii  India. 


..{MADRAS  DtiTRIVT.) 

Mfulrai—Vfm.  Taylor— John  Smith- 
John  Bilderbeck. 

t'itagapotam — Jamea  Dawaon. 

Ohi/i'd/hiA— William  Howell. 

Ckiltoor — J.  E.  Nimmo,  pro.  tern. 

BtJgttum — Joaeph  Taylor — William 
Beynon. 

BeUarif — John  Handa — John  Reid — 
George  Walton— B.  H.  Paine,  Printer 
— Samuel  FlaTot,  A'atipe  Attitlani. 

Ban^robrn— William  Reeve — William 
{.ampbell. 

Salem — I  laaac  David,  AWi'ee  Attittont. 

ComAaeenum — Edmund  Criap. 


•  Al  pmtDl  !■  Bn|lu<l. 

t  Inrumtlian  af  ik*  Mmpaiarf  amii|tBiinu  aiaila  bjr  ih«  Meini  Ditfiet 


UOUTM  TMJiKUtOOHM  BUTMIOT. 
aanaan  divimok  . . .  .Jfagwtml — Ch»rlea     ManH — WUUam 
MilUr— Mr.  Roberta,  Tithtr  m  0* 


waavaa*  sinuoa ; 


•  •JVkyaar— Charlea    Metd— Mr.   Aahtoa, 


«wlaa-J.  C.  Thonpaoa— WiUkmHar> 

ria— T.  Comberland,  JUtitlmt. 
Catwtitaar  -W.  B.Addia. 


VLTRA-OANOES. 

Cbma CantMi — Robert    Morriaon,    O.  D. — 

Leang-a-fk,  and  Kew-ha-gaiig,JVa(iM 


Malacca  (PeafaMola)  ....  Tntn  efMutttn  •  ■Bamael  Kidd— Joaiab 

Hughea. 
SiRSAFOM  (laland) TUen  ef  Singapore— C.  H.  Thomaea— 

Jacob  Tomllj. 
PiKAira  (laiaad) Oaoff  <  TVnm— Thomaa  Beightoiw>-Bain- 

oel  Dyer. 
Java  (Uland) Bolaeia— W.    H.    Medhurat- William 

Toung,  Aititttmt. 


SOUTH  AMERICA. 

DiMUAlu George  7V>im.— Joaoph  Retley. 

Wetl  Coatt  Chapd— Junta  Scott. 

Fort  /«/«iu<— (Out-SUtion)— Mr.  Peter, 
CaterJkut. 
BiRBicB Aitia  Amtterdam—Joha  Wray. 


RUSSIAN  EMPIRE. 

St.  Pbtiribcroh Richard  Knill. 

BiBmiA Sefni^'iMi— Edward    Sullybraai- 


■Wil- 


liam  Swan'— Robert  Tuille. 


MEDITERRANEAN  ISLES. 

CoRFD Totra  of  Cor/u.— laaac  Lowndet. 

Malta U  yaletta—S.  8.  Wilaon. 


In  the  various  parts  of  the  world,  where  the  Ijon- 

don  Missionary  Society's  operations  are  now  carried 

on,  there  are 

113  stations  and  out-statioLS. 

93  missionaries. 

19  European  ) 

„„      ,.  >  assistants. 

33  native        $ 

54  churches. 

4,771  coiiiniunioants. 

391  schools. 

S'i,193  scholars. 

13  printing  establisliments. 

Ctmrniitu,  In  <g«Hi)uu«  aT  ika  i»Mn  ofiha  Itu  Mr.  lUnrjr  Ctiip,  Mr  Ika 
•uporlnitiHimM  orilM  hImIm,  Ihu  ■«!  k*M,  m  )Wt,  NMlvid. 


HISTORY    OP    THE    CHURCH    MISSIONARY    SOCIETY. 


CHAPTER   I. 


INTRODUCTION. 


It  is  due  to  the  Church  of  England  to  state,  that  it 
has  always  numbered  in  its  communion  the  advjcates 
of  missions,  and  that  its  Liturgy  regards  with  peculiar 
interest  the  spread  of  truth  among  the  nations  of  the 
earth. 

Before  we  commence  the  narration  of  those  inter- 
esting events  which  have  occurred  during  the  present 
century,  it  is  proper  to  notice  the  agencies  which 
were  in  operation  for  doing  good  in  the  English 
Church  anterior  to  the  formation  of  the  Church  Mi'., 
sionary  Society. 

In  1698,  "  The  Sociktt  fok  promoting  Chris- 
tian Knowledge"  was  instituted.  Bishop  Burnet 
remarks,  that  it  was  formed  after  the  example  of  the 
dissenters,  whose  evangelical  labors  in  North  America 
had  been  regarded  by  several  pious  clergymen  with 
warm  admiration.  The  original  intention  of  the  socie- 
ty was  the  circulation  of  the  Bible- and  other  religious 
books  in  the  British  colonies  ;  but,  marking  the  grati- 
fying success  of  their  labors  in  America  and  the 
West  Indies,  they  resolved  to  send  out  missionaries ; 
and  measures  were  adopted  to  render  the  operations 
of  the  society  permanent.  In  1700,  it  was  divided 
into  two  branches,  one  retaining  its  original  title,  to 
provide  and  furnish  Bibles  and  religious  publications  ; 
the  other  proposed  to  advance  the  religious  instruction 
of  the  colonies.  Very  little  energy,  however,  char- 
acterized the  efforts  of  the  society,  until  the  light 
of  heaven  beamed  like  a  beacon  to  the  nations,  tribes 
and  tongues,  as  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society 
exclaimed,  "  Behold  your  God  !"  The  formation  of 
this  benevolent  and  godlike  association  infused  life 
and  activity  into  similar  instrumentalities  of  usefulness. 

The  efforts  of  the  Society  for  promoting  Christian 
Knowledge  have  astonishingly  increased  during  Inte 


^A   <l.- 


t-jiuri  ztrr  i~;;~  siaics  inut,  uurink^   ilie 


year,  it  had  issued  58,683  Bibles.  80,346  Testaments 
and  I'saliers,   1 63,431   Common   Prayers,   106,553 


other  bound  books,  and  1,257,315  tracts,  half  bound 
books  and  papers.     This  society  is  making  considert- 
ble  exertions  in  India,  where  its  interests  are  assidu- 
ously  fostered  by  the  bishop.     An  able  writer  has 
recently  observed,  that  this  is  pecuUarly  the  Church 
of  England  Society ;  and  the  great  body  of  its  sup- 
porters  object  to  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society 
as  unnecessary,   declaring  their  conviction  that  this 
alone  is  sufficient.     But  the  society  issues  the  Bible 
in  no  more  than  two  foreign  languages  besides  the 
Welsh,  and  those  two  the  French  and  Arabic ;  while 
the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  circulates  the 
Word  of  God  in  more  than  one  hundred  and  fifty 
languages  !     Many  of  the  publications  of  the  society 
are  excellent  and  useful ;  but  others  are  complained 
of  as  objectionable  and  pernicious,  especially  on  ac- 
count of  two  serious  errors.     The  first  is  baptismal 
regeneration,  defended  particulariy  by  bishop  Maut 
and  others,  but  denounced  as  an  unscriptural  delusion 
by  the  most  eminent  evangelical  divines  of  the  Church 
of  England,  among  whom  are  the  Rev.  Charies  Sim- 
eon.  Rev.  T.  T.  Biddulph,  Scott  the  commentator,  and 
the  excellent  Daniel  Wilson,  now  happily  the  bishop 
of  Calcutta.     The  second  error  is  that  doctrine,  first 
broached  among  Protestants  by  Dr.  Bancroft,  in  1588, 
of  the  divine  right  of  Episcopacy.     By  this  doctrine 
the  ordination  of  the  great  body  of  Protestants  in 
France,  Switzeriand,  Holland,  Prussia,  the  churches 
of  Scotland  and  America,  is  presumptuously  declared 
invalid ;  as  one  of  their  late  publications  says  of  every 
minister  not  episcopally  ordained,  "  He  is  destitute  of 
the  necessary  crodemials  of  an  ambassador  of  Christ. 
He  has  no  title  to  the  ministerial  commission.     His 
ministry  can   have  no  claim  to  that  promise  of  the 
divine   presence   which  was  given  by  our  Saviour." 
Some  of  tiie    publications   contain  expressions   still 
more  uncharitable,   and  senlimoiits  on  these  points 
directly  contrary  to  those  held  by  all  the  reformers,  the 


558 


CHURCH  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


martyrs,  and  the  founders  of  the  Church  of  England  ; 
contrary,  also,  to  those  held  by  the  most  evangelical 
and  useful  of  the  clergy  at  the  present  time. 

The  receipts  of  the  society  for  1830  were 
£65,929.  2s.  2d. ;  and  the  grand  total  of  books  dis- 
tributed in  that  year,  1,715,560.  The  members  of 
the  society  were  14,316. 

"The  Society  for  the  Propagation  or  the 
Gospel   in  Foreign   Parts"   arose,   as    has   been 
stated  in  the  preceding  article.     King  William,  the 
zealous  friend  of  tiie  Protestant  cause,  saw  not  only  the 
excellence  of  the  society,  but  the  importance  of  the 
vast  field  thus  opened,  and  became  the  patron  of  the 
good  work.     The  incorporation  of  the  society  took 
place  on  the  16th  June,  1701.     Large  contributions 
were  raised  by  the  bishops   and  clergy,  who  took  up 
the  business  with  great  zeal.    Among  the  early  friends 
and   founders   of  the  society  were   those  excellent 
ministers  of  Christ,  Burnet,  Beveridge  and  Tennison. 
In  1830,  this  society  supported  one  hundred  and  forty 
missionaries  (who,  however,  are  mostly  settled  minis- 
ters among  the  Englis'-  in  Canada  and  the  provinces), 
and  one  hundred  and  six  schoolmasters,  who  have 
four  thousand  two  hundred  and  ninety-four  scholars 
under  their  instruction. 

The  latest  accounts  of  this  society  state,  that  one 
hundred  and  sixty  missionaries  are  in  actual  employ- 
ment ;  that  it  supports  the  Codrington  college  at 
Barbadoes  ;  a  college  in  Hungary,  for  the  benefit  of 
the  Vaudois  population  ;  King's  college,  at  Windsor, 
Nova  Scotia  ;  and  Bishop's  college  in  Calcutta.  The 
short  but  efficient  services  of  the  lamented  Heber,  in  In- 
dia, were  greatly  conducive  to  the  welfare  of  this  society. 
The   following  is   a  brief  account  of  the  present 

state  of  the  operations  of  the  society  : 

Bishop's  College,  Calcutta.— Tim  institution  was 
devised  by  bishop  Middleton,  in  1820,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  educating  native  and  European  Clirifitians  in 
the  doctrines  of  the  English  Church,  so  as  to  fit  them 
for  the  offices  of  schoolmasters,  catechists  and  priests, 
for  translating  the  Scriptures  and  Common  Prayer,  and 
for  receiving  missionaries  sent  from  England  before 
they  were  appointed  to  their  respective  stations.  This 
society  cordially  entered  into  the  views  of  the  learned 
prelate,  and  the  Society  for  promoting  Christian  Knowl- 
edge contributed  £5000  to  the  building,  and  a  similar 
donation  was  received  from  the  Church  Missionary 
Society,  and  more  than  £50,000  were  collected  in  Eng- 
land in  cnnsequenco  of  a  royal  letter  authorizing  a 
general  contribution.* 

•  Bii.li..|(  MidcJUtiiii  only  lived  tu  wc.  (Ii<-  riifrior  of  tli<'  eolIp|fp 
compUli..!,  l)iii  biihnp  F!.'1«t,  on  IiIk  nrrivnl,  took  Ih,.  iniiimjr.'nicnt 
or  cv.i,  liiin^  <MMiiuTt<-d  with  ilif  riilli'jfc,  and  irnvc  to  llif  hmtilu- 
«on  Uic  Iwit  powfN  of  hii  fine  mind,  and  the  warinpit  affccUon* 


The  officers  in  Bishop's  college  are  the  following:— 
W.  H.  Mill,  D.  D.,  principal ;  Frederick  Holmes, 
G.  Withers,  professors ;  W.  Morton,  W,  Tweddle 
Matt.  R.  Di  Mello,  T.  Dear  Pettinger,  missionaries;' 
Koch,  Acheson,  Bowyer  and  Simpson,  catechists  • 
James  Sykes,  printer. 

Veperi/,  near  Madras.—Thia  station  was  com- 
menced in  1727.  J.  P.  Rottler,  D.  D.,  J.  L.  Irion, 
John  Heavyside  ;  Godfrey,  catechist. 

The  congregations  consist  of  two  hundred  and  sev- 
enty native  Christian  families;  forty-six  Portuguese 
families  ;  and  fifty-seven  families  of  native  Christians, 
residing  at  St.  Thomas's  Mount. 

The  press  is  in  active  employ.  The  missionaries 
have  issued  from  it  a  church  history,  a  catechism  on  the 
errors  of  popery,  and  various  other  useful  publications. 

Tanjore,  two  hundred  and  five  miles  south  by  west 
of  Madras.— Commenced  in  1766.  J.  C.  Kohlhoff. 
A  new  church  was  opened  hereon  Christmas  day,  1830. 
The  tombs  of  Schwartz  and  his  fellow  laborers  are  en- 
closed within  its  eastern  walls. 

Trichinopoly, thirty-seven  mileswest  of  Tanjore.— 
Commenced  in  1766.  D.  Schreyvogel.  Communi- 
cants,  eighty-three. 

reWore.— Peter  M.  Wessing.  Native  congregation 
eighty. 

Curff/a/orc— David  Rosen.  The  native  Christian 
families  are  thirty-one  in  number,  and  the  communi- 
cants  seventy-eight. 

Tinnevelly.-nere  are  three  thousand  six  hundred 
and  twenty-six  individuals  under  the  charge  of  one 
native  priest.  A  European  clergyman  is  expected  at 
this  station. 

At  most  of  these  stations  very  interesting  cases  of 
conversion  from  the  errors  of  popery  have  recently 
occurred. 

The  annual  receipts  of  the  society  for  1830,  were 
£34,693.  15s.  9d.  Of  this  sum,  £15,532  were  grant- 
ed  by  parliament,  and  £10,465  were  expended  on  the 
Bishop's  college. 


of  lii>  hoBrt.  Under  lili  .uporinlendence,  the  building  wai  carried 
on,  the  library  enriched,  profewor.  appointed,  and  the  dulie.  of  in- 
atruction  commenced.  "  The  college  .Unda  on  the  right  bank  of 
the  Iloogly,  about  three  niilea  from  CaloutU,  on  Uie  oppoaile  aide 
of  the  river,  and  immediately  adjoining  the  company 'a  botanical 
gnrdena.  It  faces  the  aouth,  and  forma  a  very  beautiful  object  on 
aailing  up  the  '  (inrden  Reach'  of  the  river.  The  style  in  which  it 
ia  built— the  flolhic  of  queen  EliialH-tha  time— <Io^b  not,  indeed, 
auit  the  climate  of  India,  which  requirea  deep  verandaha  and  Vene- 
tian  blinds  to  make  it  tolerable,  either  of  which  would  degtroy  the 
effect  of  ila  arched  windows;  nor  doe«  it  possess,  on  the  plain  of 
Bengal,  and  surrounded  with  palms  and  plantains,  the  anme  charm 
of  association  and  appropriate  structure  which  iM'longa  to  it  in  Eng- 
land or  Normandy.  The  ci|)ense,  too,  of  the  building  has  very  far 
Ciccedcd  the  orivinnl  cn!rnl«tmn  in'J  !■»-  hn-r.  r.rr!;=r.=  —..-.;=  i.hsn 
double  what  a  Orecian  building  of  the  same  Uim'enaiona  would  htrd 
occasioned." 


WEST  AFRICA. 


669 


CHAPTER    II. 


MISSION    IN    WEST   AFRICA. 


In  the  year  1801,  a  body  of  pious  clergymen,  and 
other  members  of  the  established  church,  "anxious  for 
the  salvation  of  the  perishing  heathen,  and  aware  that 
an  extensive  field  was  still  open  for  missionary  labors, 
formed  themselves  into  a  society,  to  which  they  gave 
the  appellation  of  the  "Church  Missionary  So- 
ciETT,  for  Africa  and  the  East  ;"  not,  however, 
considering  the  name  thus  chosen  as  binding  them  to 
exclude  their  attempts  from  any  other  unoccupied 
part  of  the  globe,  which  might  subsequently  present 
a  prospect  of  success  to  their  labors.  .  The  purity  of 
their  views,  in  originating  this  institution,  will  appear 
from  the  following  observations,  extracted  from  the 
sermon  delivered  at  their  first  anniversary,  by  the  late 
reverend  and  excellent  Mr.  Scott,  chaplain  of  the 
Lock  hospital : — 

"  It  is  of  vast  importance  that  the  several  societies 
formed  for  this  great  purpose  (the  evangelization  of 
the   heathen),  should  consider  one  anotlier  as  coad- 
jutors, and  not  as  competitors,  and  cultivate  an  amica- 
ble intercourse.   In  this  case  many  societies  will  proba- 
bly be  found  preferable  to  one,  though  proportionably 
larger.     One  may  embrace  this  object,  and  another 
that;  one  may  find  the  readiest  access  to  this  country, 
and  the  other  to  that  country  ;  external  circumstances 
may  give  one  an  advantage  for  a  particular  kind  of 
service,  from  which  the  other  may  be  precluded  :  each 
may,  as  it  were,  bring  into  circulation  the  treasure  of 
wisdom  and  piety,  as  well  as  influence,  which  is  found 
in  its  particular  circle;  and  they  may  all  profit  by  the 
counsels,  plans,  observation,  success,  or  failures  of  every 
one ;  and  help  one  another  in  various  ways,  when  that 
assistance  becomes  especially  seas,  uable.     Thus  more 
methods  may  be  tried,  more  talents  brought  into  exer- 
cise, more  information  and  wisdom  acquired,  and  more 
exertion  made  by  several  societies,  amicably  striving 
together  for  tlio  faith  of  the  gospel,  than  by  one.    Thus 
a  number  of  merchants,  acting   separately,  yet  in  a 
manner   friendly   to   each   other,   extend   commerce 
much  more  advantageously  than  a  large  monopoly. 
And  divers  kind  of  soldiers  forma  bettor  army  than  if 
njl  were  exactly  of  the  same  description  armed  in  the 


same  manner,  and  formed  but  into  one  vast  phalanx ; 
provided  they  have  no  other  contest  but  a  zealous 
competition,  who  shall  best  serve  the  common  cause." 
Notwithstanding  the  lively  interest  which  this  new 
society  excited,  and  the  holy  ardor  with  which  the 
committee  entered  upon  their  important  labors,  aeon- 
siderable  time  elapsed  before  suitable  persons  could 
be  obtained  to  carry  the  news  of  salvation  to  a  dark 
and  distant  land.  At  length,  however,  two  young 
men,  named  Melchior  Renner  and  Peter  Hartwig,the 
former  about  thirty,  and  the  latter  twenty-four  years 
of  age,  were  obtained  from  a  missionary  seminary  at 
Berlin  ;  and,  after  receiving  ordination  in  the  Lutheran 
church  ;o  which  they  belonged,  they  sailed  from  Ports- 
mouth, on  the  8th  of  March,  1804,  with  the  design  of 
establishing  a  mission  among  the  Susoos,  in  the  vicinity 
of  Sierra  Leone. 

After  an  agreeable  voyage  of  about  seven  weeks, 
the  missionaries  arrived  in  safety  at  Free  Town,  where 
they  were  advised,  by  the  governor,  to  take  up  their 
residence  for  the  present ;  and,  as  the  colony  had  been 
for  a  long  time  destitute  of  a  regular  chaplain,  they 
consented  to  undertake  the  charge  of  its  spiritual  con- 
cerns, during  their  continuance  there,  for  the  purpose 
of  becoming  inured  to  the  climate,  and  of  acquiring 
a  knowledge  of  the  language  and  manners  of  the 
natives. 

Di-ring  the  rainy  season,  Mr.  Renner  continued  in 
general  health  ;  and  though  the  heats  brought  on  sev- 
eral attacks  of  fever,  these  continued  but  a  few  days, 
andf' M  not  prevent  him  from  performing  divine  service 
on  the  sabbath.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ilartwig,  however, 
suffered  more  severely,  and  were  under  the  necessity 
of  retiring  for  about  a  fortnight,  to  the  Bullom  shores, 
for  a  change  of  air.  The  following  year  they  expe- 
ricnced  a  fresh  attack,  and  Mrs.  Hartwig  was  ulti- 
mately obliged  to  return  to  England  for  the  restoration 
of  her  health. 
In  August,  1805,  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Nylnndor,  But- 

Sclier    and    Prnssp    nrrivo<J    fi.,irv,    n. 


""tiisny,  aim   Were 


received  as  missionaries  by  the  Church  Society ;  and, 
after  spending  some  time  in  study  under  the  eyo  of 


660 


CHURCH  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


the  committee,  they  embarked  for  Sierra  Leone,  on  the 
12th  of  February,  1806.  Eleven  days  after  their 
embarkation,  however,  they  were  stranded  on  a  sand- 
bank off  the  Irish  coast,  at  a  distance  of  about  nine  miles 
from  Wexford. 

"  About  four  o'clock  in  the  morning,"  says  the  Rev. 
G.  R.  Nylander,  "as  we  were  all  in  profound  sleep, 
we  were  suddenly  roused  with  a  cry  upon  deck  of 
<  We  are  lost !  We  are  lost !  The  ship  is  aground  !' 
We  went  with  as  much  haste  as  possible  upon  deck ; 
but,  on  account  of  the  darkness  of  the  night,  the  captain 
could  not  tell  where  we  were ;  and  we  all  anxiously 
waited  for  the  break  of  day.  At  first  it  was  expected 
that  the  ship  v  ould  clear  herself ;  but  at  every  blast 
of  wind  she  stuck  faster  in  the  sand.  'The  only 
means  of  saving  ourselves,'  said  the  captain, '  will  be 
to  put  out  the  boats,  and  endeavor  to  escape  with  our 
lives.'  Measures  were  accordingly  taken  for  that 
purpose,  but  the  people  were  so  much  terrified  or 
dispirited  that  they  had  no  heart  to  exert  themselves. 
In  the  mean  time,  the  vessel  was  driven  nearer  and  nearer 
to  the  land.  All  the  sails  were  now  taken  in,  and  we 
thought,  at  every  motion,  that  the  ship  would  go  to 
pieces.  Our  fellow  passengers  now  went  about  in  the 
dark,  shook  hands,  and  took  leave  of  one  another  for 
this  life.  In  the  mean  time,  however,  it  grew  lighter, 
and  we  Saw  not  far  from  us  a  great  rock ;  the  sight  of 
which  afforded  a  fresh  proof  of  the  mercies  of  God  ;  for 
had  our  vessel  struck  upon  it,  scarcely  one  of  us  could 
have  been  saved. 

"  A  boat  was  now  let  down,  and  one  of  the  steers- 
men, together  with  some  of  the  sailors  and  a  passen- 
ger, went  on  shore  to  fetch  pilots.  Not  far  from  the  shore 
they  came  to  an  estate  where  a  very  hospitable  and  be- 
nevolent gentleman,  captain  Nunn,  has  his  residence. 
He  kindly  sent  us  word  that  his  house  was  at  tlie  service 
of  all  the  passengers  and  their  goods,  and  that  we 
should  be  heartily  welcome  to  take  a  lodging  with  him. 
In  the  mean  time,  our  vessel  rocked  continually  to  and 
fro,  till,  at  length,  she  lay  down  on  one  side,  and  so 
stuck  fast.     It  was  fortunate  that  we  were  near  to  the 
shore,  where  the  water  was  so  siiallow  as  not  to  enter 
the  ship.     The  second  boat  had  now  been  let  down, 
and  the  captain  went  with  it  on  shore  ;  and  when  he 
returned  we  went  on  shore  also,  and  experienced  a 
very  favorable  reception.     I  was  occupied  the  whole 
day  in  conveying  away  articles  that  had  been  brought 
from  the  ship ;  and  after  we  had  dined  with  captain 
Nunn,  some  Christian  friends  came  to  us,  and  took  us 
home  with  llieni.     They  entertained  us,  according  to 
their  circumstances,  in  a  very  hospitable  manner ;  and, 
joining  with  us  in  prayer,  thanked  the  Lord  for  having 
so  graciously  delivered  us." 
The  directors  of  the  society  were  no  sooner  apprized 


of  these  events,  than  it  was  resolved  that  the  mission- 
aries should  proceed  to  Bristol,  and  take  their  passage 
on  board  the  Rover,  which  was  bound  direct  for  Sierra 
Leone,  and  was  expected  immediately  to  sail.  This 
was  accordingly  done,  and  on  the  22d  of  April,  Messrs. 
Nylander,  Butscher  and  Prasse  embarked  once  more, 
with  the  hope  of  speedily  reaching  the  place  of  their 
destination.  Their  faith  and  patience,  however,  were 
to  be  tried  by  a  series  of  delays  and  disappointments. 
On  the  25th,  they  arrived  at  Falmouth,  where  they 
were  to  place  themselves  under  the  protection  of  a 
convoy ;  but  after  waiting  till  the  5th  of  May,  the 
crew  was  found  insufficient  for  the  voyage,  and  the 
opportunity  of  joining  the  convoy  was  consequently 
lost.  On  the  13th,  another  convoy  (which  had  arrived 
two  days  before)  having  made  a  signal  for  sailing,  the 
Rover  weighed  anchor  unexpectedly,  whirst  the  breth- 
ren, who  had  received  no  intimation  of  the  probability 
of  such  an  event,  were  on  shore.  On  perceiving  the 
vessel  under  sail,  t'.iey  immediately  followed  in  an  open 
boat ;  but,  though  they  approached  the  Rover  near 
enough  to  hail  her,  the  captain  refused  to  lie  to  for  his 
passengers ;  wiio,  after  being  tossed  about  several  hours, 
in  a  violent  gale,  and  at  the  risk  of  their  lives,  returned 
to  Falmouth,  with  heavy  hearts.  Scarcely,  however, 
had  they  entered  the  harbor,  when,  the  wind  having 
suddenly  changed,  the  whole  fleet  put  back,  and  came 
to  anchor. 

In  the  evening  of  the  15th,  the  missionaries  sailed 
from  Falmouth  ;  and  though  they  had  the  misfortune  to 
lose  their  convoy  in  the  night,  and  were  subsequently 
led,  from  the  appearance  of  a  privateer,  to  anticipate 
all  the  horrors  of  a  French  prison,  the  angel  of  Je- 
hovah's presence  conducted  them  over  the  trackless 
deep  in  safety,  and  on  the  2d  of  June,  they  arrived  at 
Madeira.  Here,  however,  new  trials  awaited  them  ; 
as  they  found,  on  landing,  that  a  dear  friend,  who  had 
spent  twelve  months  with  them  in  the  seminary  at 
Berlin,  had  expired  but  a  few  days  previous  to  their 
arrival,  in  the  very  chamber  which  they  were  now  to 
occupy  ;  and  in  less  than  three  days  the  captain  died 
of  apoplexy,  in  consequence  of  which  it  became  neces- 
sary to  write  home  to  the  owners  of  the  Rover,  and 
the  vessel  was  detained  till  the  17th  of  September ;  so 
that  the  brethren  did  not  reach  Free  Town  till  the  22d 
of  that  month.  Shortly  after  their  arrival,  the  con- 
nection of  Mr.  Hartwig  with  the  society  was  dissolved ; 
as  the  friends  at  the  colony  had,  for  some  time,  been 
dissatisfied  with  his  conduct. 

On  the  10th  of  January,  1807,  the  brethren  Ren- 
ner,  Butscher  and  Prasse  left  the  colony  on  a  journey 
into  the  Mandingo  country,  where  it  was  formerly 
tliought  that  a  missionary  station  might  be  advantage- 
ously formed  ;  but  some   facts  were  now  ascertained 


which  seembd  to  render  the  eligibility  of  that  spot 
very  doubtfuL     A  young  man  named  William  Fanti- 
mani,  who  had  been  educated  at  Clapham,  received 
the  missionaries  with  great  cordiality,  and  strongly 
pressed  them  to  settle  with  him ;  but  as  his  village  had 
been  recently  destroyed  by  fire,  and  consisted,  at  that 
time,  of  but  a  few  houses,  and  he  himself  was  no  longer 
considered  as  a  head  man,  but  was  subject  to  the  author- 
ity of  another,  it  appeared  very  problematical  whether 
tne  formation  of  a  settlement,  under  such  circum- 
stances, would  essentially  promote  the  great  objects 
of  the  society. 

In  a  visit  which  they  paid  to  the  Benna  Susoos,  the 
missionaries  were  treated  with  the  greatest  respect,  on 
account  of  their  having  been  sent  by  the  governor  of 
Sierra  Leone ;  the  natives  considering  them,  to  use 
tbeir  own  expression,  as  "  white  book-men."     At  a 
place   called   Bareira,   several   learned   Mahometans 
called  upon  them,  and  entered  into  conversation  about 
the  comparative  merits  of  the  Bible  and  the  Koran. 
Un  this  subject,  indeed,  they  had  but  little  to  say  • 
but  when  they  found  themselves  unable  to  resist  the 
arguments  of  the  Christians,  they  said,  "Our  book 
says  so,  and  therefore  we  believe  it."     "Oh!"  says 
one  of  the  missionaries,  "that  all  those  who  are  born 
in  a  Christian  country,  or  who  are  taught  the  letter 
of  the  word  of  God,  would  say  in  truth,  « Our  Bible 
says  so,  and  therefore  we  believe  it !'  "    On  the  14th 
of  June,  the  brethren  returned  from  their  excursion, 
and  had  the  satisfaction  to  find   that,  during  their 
absence,  Mr.  Nylander  had  discharged  the  office  of 
chaplain  in  the  colony  with  general  acceptance. 

On    the    ad    of   March,    1808,    Messrs.    Renner, 
Butscher  and  Prasse  quitted  Sierra  Leone,  and  sailed 
for  Bashia,  on  the  Rio  Pongas  river ;  where  a  slave- 
trader,  named  Curtis,  transferred  to  the  society  a  factory 
belonging  to  him,  on  the  condition  that  the  mission- 
aries  should  instruct  his  children.     The  house,  which 
was  about  sixty  feet  by  twenty,  consisted  of  two  stories, 
and  was  built  chiefly  of  country  brick.     Four  other 
houses,  with  an  excellent  shed,  and  buildings  for  the 
servants,  were  attached  to  it ;  and  the  gardens  were 
extensive,  and  well  stocked  with  lemon,  j)Iantain,  pine, 
and  other  trees.     The  adjacent  land  was  hilly,  and 
the  prospect  very  pleasant,  particularly  opposite  the 
settlement,  where  hundreds  of  palm-trees  exhibited 
their  charming  verdure.     Another  station  was  soon 
afterwards  established  at  Fantimania,  a  spot  which 
derived   that   appellation   from  the  friendly  chief  to 
whom  we  have  already  alluded. 

The  missionaries  now  directed'  their  attention  par- 
ticularly to  the  instruction  of  the  chiHron  ,.Qm„.;»„j 
^  their  care  ;  but  they  began  to  feel  the  want  of  some 
European  female,  who  would  enter  cordially  into  the 
Vol.  I.— Nos.  47  &  48.  73 


WEST  AFRICA. 


Ml 

design  of  the  society,  and  undertake  the  chaise  of  the 
domestic  concerns  of  the  settlement.     Mr.  Renner 

wnln"^l^  Tt  P"'P°'^''  '°  "  re^p^U^Ue  young 
woman,  who  had  formerly  acted  «,  their  house-keepef 

On  the  23d  of  January,  1809,  Mr.  Prasse  was  un- 
expectedly  summoned  from  his  earthly  labors  to  that 
rest  which  remameth  for  the  people  of  God  "    Dur 
ing  the  temporary  absence  of  Mr.  Butscher,  who  had 

left  at  Fantimania,  getting  forward  with  the  missionary- 
house  at  that  place.  On  the  Saturday  preceding  his 
dissolution,  as  he  did  not  come  down  fo  Bashia  as 
usual,  to  spend  the  sabbath  with  the  family,  Mr  Ren- 

21t,TA  '""^'^  °^ ''''"'  ""'^  ^"'^'"g  him' much 
debilitated,  he  removed  him  to  the  settlement,  where 

he  was  treated  with  the  utmost  tenderness  and  atten- 
tion ;  but  about  midnight,  on  the  following  Ttiesday 
he  bade  an  everlasting  adieu  to  the  things  of  time  and 
sense.     He  was  naturally  vigorous  and  of  a  strong 
constuution,   and    the   season  was,  at   this   time,  so 
healthy,  that  little  care  seemed  requisite  for  avoiding 
disease      In  going  to  Fantimania,  however,  about  a 
week  before  It  is  supposed,  he  caught  a  violent  cold, 
by  wadmg  through  several   tide-creeks,  in  order  to 
avoid  a  circuitous  route.     This  brought  on  the  fever 
of  the  country,  and  as  his  stomach  rejected  the  only 
medicine  which  promised  to  prove  serviceabel,  his 
disorder  soon  brought  him  to  the  grave. 

In  the  beginning  of  July,  the  Rev.  Mess.^.  Wenzel 
and  Baxneth  with  the  wife  of  the  former,  sailed  from 
England,  aijd,  after   a  pleasant   voyage,  arrived   in 
safety,  on   the  5th  of  Auguct,  at  Sierra  Leone.     In 
consequence  of  the  indisposition  of  Mrs.   Wenzel 
they  were  detained  at  the  colony  till  nearly  the  middle 
of  October;  but  during  that  delay,  the  husband  of  the 
invalid  w^s  enabled  to  render  an  important  assistance 
to  Mr.  Nylander,  who  had  recently  suffered  much 
from  sickness.     On  their  arrival  in  the  Rio  Poneas 
on  the  25th  of  October,  a  consultation  was  held,  on 
the  affairs  of  the  mission  ;  and,  after  mature  delibera- 
tio.i,  It  was  determined  that  the  brethren  Wenzel  and 
Barneth    should   reside   at  Fantimania,  and  Messrs. 
Renner  and  Butscher  at  Bashia;  by  which  arrange- 
ment all  the  children  intrusted  to  the  latter  brethren 
would  be  brought  together  in  one  place,  under  the 
care  of  those  who  had  been  accustomed  to  them ;  and 
the  two  missionaries,  who  had  been  particularly  en- 
joined  to  cultivate  the  Susoo  language,  would  bo  favor- 
ably  situated  for  that  purpose. 

It  "-as  the  anxious  wish  of  the  committee  of  the 
Church  Missionary  Society  that  the  children  committed 
to  the  care  of  their  agents  should  be  taught  to  read 


S6S 


CHURCH  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


their  own  language,  with  a  view  to  their  subsequent 
acquaintance  with  the  oracles  of  diWne  truth.  This 
object,  however,  was  not,  for  the  present,  attainable  ; 
as  the  chiefs,  traders,  and  others,  who  were  induced 
to  place  their  sons  or  daughters  with  the  brethren,  stip- 
ulated, in  most  instances,  that  they  should  learn  nothing 
in  Susuu ;  and  in  some  cases,  even  prohibited  their 
children  from  going  home,  lest  their  conversation  with 
their  mothers  should  retard  their  progress  in  "the 
white  man's  book,"  or  European  learning ;  to  which 
they  chiefly  looked  as  the  grand  mean  of  rendering 
their  o&pring  superior  to  those  of  their  countrymen. 

With  regard  to  thB  conditions  on  which  these  Afri- 
can children  were  received  under  instruction,  Mr. 
Butscher  observes,  in  a  letter  dated  November  16, 
1809,  "The  children  whom  we  receive  from  the 
traders  must  be  supported,  in  respect  to  food  and 
clothing,  by  their  fathers,  if  they  possess  any  property ; 
but  the  children  of  the  Susoos  we  must  take  just  as 
they  come,  and  that  is  usually  quite  naked  ;  and,  as 
their  parents  are,  in  general,  scarcely  able  to  support 
them  in  any  way,  we  are  under  the  necessity  of  main- 
taining them  in  food  and  clothing,  which,  of  course, 
increases  our  expenses  ;  but  we  find  no  other  way  of 
making  a  beginning  in  our  grand  work." 

With  a  liberality  which  has  immortalized  their  own 
names,  and  reflected  the  highest  honor  upon  the  ex- 
cellent society  by  which  they  were  sent  out,  Messrs. 
Renner  and  Butscher  proposed  to  clothe  and  feed 
these  poor  little  Africans  out  of  their  own  moderate 
salaries ;  and  though  the  augmentation  of  the  numbers 
received  into  the  school  rendered  this  impossible, 
these  devoted  men  of  God  still  offered  to  live  on  half 
the  amount  of  their  annual  allowance,  in  order  to 
devote  the  other  half  to  this  work  of  mercy.  This, 
however,  was  rendered  unnecessary  by  the  kindness 
of  the  committee  ;  who,  on  learning  the  real  state  of 
the  case,  promptly  and  generously  resolved  to  allow 
five  pounds  per  annum  for  each  child  in  the  school 
destitute  of  parental  support. 

In  the  month  of  April,  1811,  Mr.  Butscher,  who 
had,  for  some  time,  felt  a  desire  to  visit  a  chief  named 
John  Pearce,  the  father  of  one  of  his  pupils,  set  out 
from  Bashia  for  that  purpose  ;  and  the  following  ac- 
count of  his  journey,  extracted  from  his  own  journal, 
will,  no  doubt,  prove  highly  interesting  to  the  reader : — 

"  After  a  voyage  of  four  days,  we  entered  Carcandy 
Bar,  in  the  Rio  Nunis ;  and,  having  suffered  from 
scarcity  of  water  and  provisions,  we  called  at  the  first 
Paga  town,  close  to  the  Bar.  The  place  at  which  we 
landed  was  very  muddy  ;  but  some  of  the  Pagoes, 
well  rubbed  over  with  grease,  carried  us  through  the 
mud  to  the  shore,  and  took  us  to  a  palm-tree,  which 
was  tapped  in  sixteen  different  places  ;  a  vessel  being 


fixed  to  each  hole,  into  which  the  palm-wine  was 
running.  After  we  had  enjoyed  the  wine  of  this 
blessed  tree,  we  were  conducted  to  the  town,  which 
consists  of  one  street,  above  a  mile  long.  The  houses, 
or  huts,  are  almost  all  of  a  size,  and  at  equal  distances, 
and  the  roofs  are  nearly  flat.  The  male  inhabitants 
are  clothed,  but  the  females,  whether  young  or  old, 
single  or  married,  wear  nothing  but  a  piece  of  cloth, 
about  four  inches  broad,  which  is  fastened  to  a  string 
tied  round  the  waist.  Their  language  is  harsh  and 
noisy,  and  both  males  and  females  wear  large  rings  in 
their  noses. 

"  Having  spent  about  two  hours  in  the  town,  we 
took  our  leave,  and  went  on  board  our  craft ;  and  the 
day  following  arrived  at  a  factory  called  the  Raw- 
bocka,  about  a  hundred  miles  up  the  river.  The  next 
day  I  visited  John  Pearce,  who  received  me  with 
great  civility,  and  seemed  extremely  happy  to  hear 
that  his  sons  were  making  good  progress  in  our  school. 
I  visited  the  white  and  black  traders  on  the  river,  who 
treated  me  with  the  greatest  civility,  although  some 
of  them  suspected  me  to  be  a  spy  rather  than  a  friend. 
The  number  of  traders  there  is  very  small,  and  even 
those  have  but  few  goods  to  trade  with.  If  there  were 
no  smuggling,  the  slave-trade  would  receive  a  final 
blow,  and  the  traders  would  be  diminished  still  more. 

"  The  banks  of  the  Rio  Nunis  are  inhabited  by  three 
different  tribes  ;  the  Pagoes,  who  occupy  the  sea- 
shore, and  the  Naloes  and  Lantamers,  who  possess 
tlie  other  part  of  the  river.  The  Lantamers  were 
formerly  more  powerful  than  the  others,  but  were 
reduced  by  the  Naloes.  At  present  they  agree  with 
each  other,  and  John  Pearce  is  the  principal  chief 
among  them.  The  Foulahs  have  great  intercourse 
with  the  white  and  black  traders,  bringing  down  slaves, 
ivory,  gold,  cattle,  he. ;  and  they  sometimes  assume 
authority  over  the  Naloes  and  Lantamers,  not  hesitat- 
ing to  say, '  We  consider  you  no  more  than  our  slaves; 
and  we  spare  you  only  on  account  of  the  traders  in 
your  river,  from  whom  we  obtain  those  articles  of 
which  we  stand  in  need.' 

"  Having  waited  nine  days  for  the  repair  of  the 
craft,  in  order  to  return  by  water  to  the  Rio  Pongas, 
and  finding  she  was  but  badly  repaired,  I  would  not 
venture  in  her,  hut  inquired  for  a  path  to  return  by 
land  ;  and  was  told  that  there  was  one,  but  that  it  was 
very  tedious  for  travellers,  being  a  desert  of  about 
three  days'  journey  ;  in  consequence  of  which  it  is 
necessary  to  sleep  in  the  bush.  It  was  said,  also, 
that  above  two  hundred  Foulahs  were  encamped  to 
catch  their  runaway  slaves,  consisting  of  above  one 
thousand,  who  fled  into  the  Cabatclies,  a  district  near 
the  sea-shore  ;  and  who,  also,  are  well  prepared  for 
any  equal  euack  ;  but  as  it  sometimes  happens  that 


»ome  of  these  poor  creatures  go  out  into  their  rice 
plantations,  not  knowing  that  the  Foulahs  are  lying  in 
wait  for  them,  they  are  caught  and  sold;  the  Foulahs 
sometimes  sharing  a  similar  fate. 

"Having  received  this  information,  I  went  immedi- 
ately  for  advice  to  John  Pearce ;  who  said,  that  if  I 
would  venture  to  go  this  difficult  road,  he  would  give 
me  twelve  of  his  trusty  people,  well  armed,  on  account 
of  wild  beasts,  which  were  dangerous  in  the  night. 
As  for  the  Foulahs,  if  they  should  meet  me  in  the 
paths,  and  see  h,s  people,  they  would  not  disturb  me 
in  the  least.  Upon  this  I  resolved  to  set  out  by  land 
the  next  day ;  and  went  to  the  factory  where  I  lodged. 
m  order  to  prepare  myself. 

"Early  the  following  day,  a  man  rushed  into  my 
room,  calling  out,  'Mr.  Butscher  !  here  is  war  !  here 
IS  war .  I  rose  up  immediately,  went  to  the  front 
piazza,  and  saw  a  number  of  people  surrounding  the 
house,  fighting  with  cutlasses,  and  tying  some  with 

l?r\  T?"  "^  '"'''"S  '^^  '■''•='°'  *h«  «=''"««  of  this,  he 
said,     There  came  down  yesterday  one  hundred  and 
fifty  men  from  the  Cabba  country,  to  sell  their  produce 
to  the  traders.     Some  of  them  came  to  me  with  ivory, 
calabashes  and  stock;  and  I  see  that  John  Pearce's 
people  are  now  catching  them,  but  for  what  reason  I 
do  not  know.'     Soon  after  breakfast  I  went  to  Mr. 
Pearce  s,  where  I  saw  abuve  a  hundred  of  these  people 
a  ready  m  .rons j  and  his  people  were  employed  in 
catchmg  them  the  whole  day,  till  they  were  all  brought 
.n.     When  I  asked  for  what  reason  he  caught  them, 
he  said.  'These  people  come  from  the  Cabba  country 
which  IS  divided  into  two  kingdoms;  and  one  of  these 
borders  on  the  Lantamers,  and  maintains  a  friendly 
intercourse  with  them.     The  two  kings  had  war  with 
each  other;  and  the  northern  Cabbas  burned  a  town 
belonging  to  those  who  are  on  friendly  terms  with  the 
Lantamers.      Some  Lanfamer  women  and  children 
having  perished  in  the  flames,  their  relations  naturally  I 
became  enraged,  but  could  do  nothing  without  my  ' 
assistance.     A  few  days  ago,  therefore,  the  bead  man 
ot  those  Cabbas  who  are  friendly  with  the  Lantamers 
sent  me  word  that  about  a  hundred   and  fifty  of  his 
enemy's  subjects,  who  had  burned  the  town,  were  going 
down   ,0  the  Rio  Nunis  with  produce;  and  in  case 
they  should  arrive,  he  would  beg  me  to  catch  and  sell 
hem  all   for  powder  and  guns,  which  would  enable 
imn  to  carry  on  war  with  his  enemies  again.     The 
chief  of  the  Lantamers  received  a  similar  message  ; 
and  on  this  account  we  caught  them  all.'     I  said  they 
ni.ght  not  all  be  guilty  of  the  crime  for  which  they 
were  caught ;  and  he  replied,  'That  maybe  the  case  • 

nO\vr»u»r    if  a    ol«..-.  . 1    ■  .  -  - 

,.~  :;• '"^"  '-"^'  "^"rc  ncre,  uiey  would  be 

sold  without  mercy,  guilty  or  not  guilty ;  but  as  there 
•s  none,  the  matter  will  be  considered,  and  perhaps 


WEST  AFRICA. 


563 


hey  may  «I1  return  in  safety.'  This  I  afterwards 
learned  they  were  permitted  to  do ;  so  that,  in  this 
instance  the  abolition  of  the  slave-trade  had  a  most 
happy  effect  on  a  hundred  and  fifty  men,  with  their 
families  and  relations ! 

"On  taking  my  leave  of  Mr.  Pearce,  after  having 
walked  about  five  miles  through  the  bush,  we -reached 
a  Lantamer  town,  where  I  lodged  in  the  chief's  house 
and  was  treated  m  a  very  friendly  manner,  but  passed 
a  restless  night,  on  account  of  the  musquitoes.     In 
he  morning,  we  left,  about  eight  o'clock,  and  walked 
about  fourteen  miles.     We  then  cooked  our  dinner, 
and  rested  till   two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  as  i 
was  extremely  hot.     After  refreshing  ourselves,  we 
walked  on  till  the  approach  of  night,  and  then  took 
up  our  lodging  under  a  few  small  trees,  or.  two  of 
which  my  mat  was  suspended.     The  guide  cut  off  a 
number  of  small  branches,  and  erected  a  kind  of  shelter 
on  the  east  side,  in  case  a  tornado  should  come  on  at 
rnidnight      At  length  a  tremendous  tornado  arose,  and 
1  left  my  hanging  mat,  and  went  under  the  shelter  •  but 
as  we  were  fifteen  in  number,  the  hut  could  not  defend 
us  from  the  violence  of  the  rain,  which  cominued  about 
half  an  hour.     Our  fire  was  now  extinguished,  our 
provisions  and  clothes  were  soaked  with  wet,  and  we 
all  lelt  anxious  to  see  the  dawning  of  the  day 

"Before  six  o'clock,  we  proceeded,  in  order  to  dry 
and  warm  ourselves  by  walking;  and  after  proceeding 
about  fifteen  miles  through  a  barren  and  rocky  tract  of 
land,  we  rested  at  a  fine  brook,  and  took  refreshment. 
About  fifteen  miles  further  we  came  to  a  little  valley 
overgrown  with  bush,  and  intersected  by  a  brook  ;  and 
here  I  ^v•,shed  to  have  passed  the  night:  but  on  seeing 
traces  of  leopards,  elephants  and  hya-nas,  which  had 
made  a  beaten  path  to  the  water,  we  proceeded  a  little 
farther  and  there  took  up  our  lodging  in  the  open  air. 
Ihe  next  morning,  in  walking  rather  hastily,  I 
became  much  fatigued,  and  was  frequently  obliRed  to 
he  down  on  a  rock,  to  rest  and  recover  my  breath 
At  last,  a  house  appeared,  where  I  was  very  hospitably 
treated  by  a  woman  who  knew  some  of  our  school 
ctiudi-en.     In  the  evening,  we  reached  a  factory  called 
Wuasmge  ;  and  here  an  opportunity  was  offered  to  me 
to  return  home  by  water.     As  I  was  much  fatigued,  I 
cheerfully  accepted  it,  and  arrived  safely  at  Bashia 
where  I  found  brother  Renner,  his  wife,  and  all  the' 
children  m  perfect  health." 

Mr.  Barneth  having  fallen  a  victim  to  disease,  and 
he  mission  in  West  Africa  requiring  additional  aid, 
^e  Rev.  Messrs  Wilhelm  and  Klein,  together  with 
iwrs.  Klein,  sailed  from  EnelanH  m  tl,»  on.u  „f  v- 
vember,  1811,  carrying  with  them  a  printing 'pres^ 
a  fount  of  Roman  types,  and  a  quantitv  of  printing 
paper ;  and,  after  a  pleasant  voyage,  arrived  safely  at 


CHURCH  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


Sierra  Leone,  on  the  29d  of  December.  On  the  20th 
of  the  ensuing  month,  they  reached  the  settlement  at 
Bashia,  where  they  were  cordially  received  by  their 
brethren  ;  but  they  found  Mr.  Wenzel  in  afflictive 
circumstances,  his  wife  having  caught  a  cold  in  her 
confinement,  which  brought  on  fever,  and,  after  the 
lapse  of  a  few  days,  terminated  in  her  dissolution. 

On  the  1st  of  December,  1812,  the  Rev.  Leopold 
Butscher,  who  had  been  invited  to  England  by  the 
committee,  for  the  purpose  of  communicating  some 
needful  information,  sailed  again  for  Africa,  on  board 
the  brig  Charles,  with  a  pious  and  zealous  young 
woman,  whom  he  had  recently  married,  and  some 
other  persons  attached  to  the  mission.  After  passing 
the  island  of  Goree,  in  fine  weather  and  with  a  favor- 
able wind,  they  fully  anticipated  that  they  should 
reach  the  Rio  Pongas  in  three  or  four  days ;  but 
scarcely  had  they  formed  this  pleasing  expectation, 
when  a  calamity  occurred,  of  which  Mr.  Butscher  has 
given  the  following  account : — 

"  On  the  5th  of  January,  1813,  about  eleven  o'clock, 
the  evening  being  dark,  and  the  wind  blowing  fresh, 
we  struck  upon  a  reef  of  the  Tongui  rocks,  about  five 
miles  distant  (rom  the  land,  and  about  twenty  miles 
south  of  the  Gambia  river.  The  sails  were  immedi- 
ately shortened,  yet  the  ship  forged  ahead,  and  beat 
over  the  first  reef  The  captain,  then  thinking  she 
was  clear,  made  sail ;  and  having  advanced  about  a 
cable's  length  farther,  she  struck  again  upon  a  very 
hard  rock,  but  made  no  water.  The  boats  were 
launched,  and  all  the  spars  were  made  into  a  raft,  to 
carry  out  our  best  bower  anchor,  in  which  we  suc- 
ceeded, and  hove  the  vessel  eight  or  ten  fathoms 
ahead.  The  tide  being  then  ebbing,  the  watch  was 
sent  to  rest  till  flood  tide.  It  blowing  then  fresh  from 
north-north-east,  the  pindle  of  the  rudder  broke. 

"  It  is  almost  impossible  for  a  person  who  has  never 
been  in  a  similar  situation  to  conceive  in  what  con- 
sternation we  all  were,  when  the  vessel  first  struck 
upon  the  rock.  Most  of  the  passengers  were  already 
in  bed,  but  were  soon  roused  by  the  violent  shocks. 
Every  one  hastened  on  deck,  to  escape  death  ; — 
some  half  naked,  others  lightly  dressed.  It  being 
then  dark,  and  the  ship  beating  violently  upon  the 
rocks,  we  expected  every  moment  that  she  would  go 
to  pieces.  I  exhorted  those  around  me  to  commit 
their  souls  to  our  blessed  Lord  and  Saviour,  who  is 
alone  our  all-sufficient  righteousness  before  God ;  and 
taking  my  wife  into  my  arms,  I  told  her  to  look  to 
Christ,  as  in  a  few  minutes  we  might  be  before  his 
throne.    She  replied, '  The  will  of  the  Lord  be  done.'  " 

Our  missionaries,  however,  were  not  so  near  death 
as  they  anticipated.  With  the  dawn  of  day  they  dis- 
covered the  land,  and  a  party  was  sent  on  shore,  in 


the  long-boat,  to  treat  with  the  natives  respecting 
lightening  the  vessel,  that  she  might  get  afloat ;  but 
they  claimed  the  brig  as  their  lawful  prize,  and  a  con- 
flict ensued,  in  which  the  captain  and  one  of  the  pas- 
sengers were  unfortunately  killed.  The  rest  of  the 
persons  on  board  fled  in  a  country  craft  to  the  island 
of  Gotee,  whence  they  afterwards  proceeded,  in  a 
Spanish  vessel,  to  their  place  of  destination. 

In  writing  to  one  of  the  secretaries  of  the  British 
and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  on  the  subject  of  his  ship- 
wreck, Mr.  Butscher  communicates  an  interesting  fact, 
relative  to  the  high  estimation  in  which  some  of  the 
Mahometans  in  Africa  hold  an  Arabic  translation  of 
the  Holy  Scriptures.  "  Among  the  goods  saved  from 
the  cai^o  of  the  wrecked  vessel,"  says  he,  "  were 
some  boxes  of  Bibles  and  Testaments,  which  were 
sold  for  the  benefit  of  the  underwriters.  I,  therefore, 
wrote  immediately  from  Goree  to  a  trader  on  the  river 
Gambia,  whom  I  had  known  for  some  years,  and  to 
whom  I  supposed  many  of  the  goods  might  have  been 
carried  by  the  natives  for  sale ;  requesting  him  to  send 
me  any  thing  which  he  might  have  bought  from  them, 
and  especially  the  Arabic  Bibles,  which  had  been  given 
to  me  for  distribution  among  the  Mahometans.  A 
fortnight  after,  I  received  an  answer ;  in  which  he 
stated  that  the  natives  bad  sold  a  great  quantity  of  our 
goods  to  the  traders  residing  on  the  Gambia ;  and  that 
he  was  particularly  searching  for  the  Arabic  Bibles 
and  some  other  books  I  had  mentioned  ;  but  that  he 
could  obtain  but  few  of  the  latter ;  and  as  for  the 
Bibles,  the  Mahometan  natives  would  not  part  with 
them  at  all ;  though  in  one  instance  he  had  oflbred 
goods  to  the  amount  of  eight  pounds  sterling  for  a 
single  copy.  Thus  it  appears  that  the  word  of  God 
is  more  highly  esteemed  among  these  people  than  in 
many  places  where  the  gospel  of  Christ  has  been 
introduced." 

In  consequence  of  the  renewal  of  the  slave-trade 
in  the  Rio  Pongas,  and  the  facility  with  which  that 
inhuman  and  detestable  traffic  was  carried  on,  the 
governor  of  Sierra  Leone  resolved  to  adopt  prompt 
and  energetic  measures  for  its  extirpation  ;  and  in  the 
month  of  February,  1811,  he  sent  three  armed  vessels 
up  tiie  river,  for  the  purpose  of  removing  the  traders 
who  remained  in  the  vicinity,  or  of  destroying  their 
factories.  This  was  accordingly  done ;  and,  in  conse- 
quence, the  missionaries  were  exposed  to  the  most 
imminent  perils  ;  as  the  natives  imagined  that  they 
had  given  information  to  the  governor  of  the  traffic 
carried  on  by  smuggling  vessels,  and  had  thus  induced 
him  to  resort  to  measures  of  severity.  Tlireats  of 
exemplary  vengeance  were,  therefore,  uttered  against 
the  brethren,  and  repeated  attempts  were  made  to 
destroy  their  settlements.     In  the  evening  of  the  23d 


of  February,  about  nine  o'clock,  one  of  the  houses  at 
Bashia  was  reduced  to  ashes;  and  on  the  11th  of 
April  some  evil-disposed  persons  set  fire  to  the  grass 
ma  field  near  Canoffee.    "The  flames,"  says  Mr. 
Wenzel,  "destroyed  this  dry  combustible  very  rapidly, 
and,  toward  evening,  approached  the  settlement.     I 
myself  went  not  to  bed.  but  I  allowed  the  children  to 
take  a  httle  rest  during  the  time  I  was  watching. 
About  eleven  o'clock,  the  fire  had  approached  within 
two  hundred  yards.     I  therefore  called  the  boys  and 
one  workman,  who  happened  to  be  at  home,  to  remove 
mto  the  middle  of  the  yard  some  grass  which  was 
prepared  for  thatching  the  church,and  which  lay  near 
the  fence.    The  dew  having  now  fallen,  and  the  fire 
not  bemg  so  rap.d  as  before,  I  sent  the  boys  and  man 

ear  S  "'  '^"^  "'  "^^^^  ^"^«  """''"g  "°r«  to 
r2.A,  ""^  '°°"  accomplished,  and  all  the  boys 
retired  to  rest.  ' 

WhetterTn  '""^  °''^^^'  '  ~^«'  '"  °'^«'  '«  ««™°e 
HI  kT '"""'"'"«  "P"*^'  ^^^  •''"'''^d  the  grass 
again  ,  but,  on  going  through  the  yard,  I  found  every 
thing  safe,  the  flames  being  completely  extinguished^ 
the  children  asleep,  and  their  bed-room  dark.  I  there^ 
fore  laid  myself  down  again ;  but  in  about  ten  minutes 
afterwards  I  heard  the  boys  in  the  yard  crying,  <Mas. 

er,  master !  As  I  had  not  taken  off  my  clothes, 
I  immediately  went  out,  and  was  told  by  the  boys 
that  their  apartment  was  very  light.  On  entering  it, 
I  saw  the  flames  ascending  to  the  roof,  but  had  no 
means  of  quenching  them,  nor  time  to  save  any  thing. 

therefore  hastened  to  the  dwelling-house,  and  ordered 
^.e  most  valuable  goods  to  be  removed  without  delay. 
But  on  returning  into  the  yard,  and  perceiving  that 
the  flames,  which  had  now  burst  forth  with  great 

that  nothing  should  be  removed;   as  I  feared  the 
people  would  steal  more  than  they  would  save.    I  then 
went  with  the  boys,  and  removed  every  combustible 
hat  was  near  the  fire,  particularly  the  grass,  of  which 
1  had  more  than  six  hundred  bundles  in  the  yard     In 
the  mean  time,  the  violence  of  the  flames  abated  ;  and 
I  saw  the  merciful  hand  of  God  in  keeping  them  off 
from  our  dwelling,  though  the  heat  was  ,o  intense 
that  we  could  scarcely  pass  between  the  fire  and  the 
house.     My  heart  was  deeply  affected,  also,  when  I 
saw  how  wonderfully  our  lives  had  been  preserved. 
When  the  fire  commenced,  the  children  were  all  fast 
asleep  ;  but  a  little  of  the  burning  grass  falling  from 
the  roof  u^n  a  boy's  face,  he  was  awakened,  and 
seeing  the  fire  above  him,  he  gave  an  alarm,  and  all 
escaped  >n  safety.   Monghe  Backe  and  Monghe  Dumba 
(two  of  the  head  men,  or  chiefs)  have  acknowl.,H.»w 
that  (he  house  was  set  on  fire  by  wicked  men.    They 
«ay,  therefore,  that  they  will  call  the  country  people 


WEST  AFRICA. 


566 


together,  and  talk  earnestly  with  them,  in  order  to 
prevent  any  mischief  in  future." 

This  alarming  conflagration,  and  the  preceding  one 
at  Bashia,  were  not  the  only  calamities  our  missionarie. 
were  doomed  to  suffer ;  but  persecution  and  destruc- 
tion  of  property  still  awaited  them.  Indeed  it  was 
sufficiently  obvious,  from  subsequent  events,  that  the 
very  head  men,  or  chiefs,  who  assured  them  of  their 
friendship  and  protection,  were,  in  reality,  their  in- 
veterate  enemies,  and  that  Monghe  Backe  had  himself 
countenanced  the  incendiaries  who  destroyeT  the 
chool-house  at  Canoffee.     The  destruction  of  the 

hunl?H  ""r"'  ""'*  '•'"  ^n-ancipation  of  about  three 
hundred  unfortunate  captives,  were  attributed  to  the 
coirespondence  of  the  brethren  with  the  authorities 
at  Sierra  Leone;  and  a  spirit  of  animosity  was  kindled 
against  them,  which  threatened  to  be  productive  of 
tne  most  tragical  consequences. 

In  the  morning  of  September  29,  1814,  as  Mr. 
Wenzel  was  commencing  the  business  of  his  school, 
about  twenty  men  from  Monghe  Backe,  armed  with 
cutlasses,  assembled  in  his  piazza,  and  told  him  ho 
must  cut  no  more  sticks  in  the  bush  (woods)  for 
making  fence ;  though  the  head  man  had  previously 
consented  to  his  making  a  new  enclosure  Lnd  the 
settlement  and  for  the  formation  of  a  church-yard 
1  hey  also  demanded,  why  he  had  cultivated  and  plant- 

I  fLr  ""'*'   ^™"'!'*'    "°*^  '^"^  *°W  him,  without 
further  ceremony,  that  they  were  come  to  destroy  his 
produce.     «  When  this  word  was  pronounced,"  say 
Mr.  Wenzel,  "all  the  people,  like  furies,  fell  upon 
the  trees,  plants  and  fence,  and  cut  them  all  to  pieces. 
My  wife  and  the  children  cried  ;  and  I  stood  exposed 
to  their  cruelties.      They  evidently  wished  nie  to 
oppose  them,  that  they  might  have  a  pretext  for  beat- 
mg  me  ;  but  the  Lord  gave  me  grace  and  wisdom  to 
act  in  resignation  to  his  holy  will,  and  I  uttered  not  a 
single  word.     After  these  cruelties  had  been  commit- 
ted,  they  said  my  grumettas  (servants)  must  clear  a 
place  to  build  a  devil's  house  upon,  and  that  I  must 
give  them  two  goats  for  sacrifices.     This,  of  course,  I 
refused,  observing  that  a  house  had  been  erected  for 
worshipping  the  true  God,  and  a  house  for  the  devil 
should  not  be  suffered.     They  declared,  in  reply,  that 
they  would  come  and  build  ;  but  at  length  they  went 
off  with  the  fruits  of  the  trees  which  they  had  de- 
stroyed,  uttering  fierce  threats  against  me." 

Mrs.  Wenzel,  in  the  mean  time,  to  avoid  the  fury 
of  these  miscreants,  had  retired  to  the  church,  where 
the  carpenter  was  at  work ;  and,  on  entering  into  con- 
versation with  him,  he  observed,  that  this  was  the 
r.~.?,s?q«enee  of  the  dostruciioii  of  the  slave  factories . 
and  added,  that  a  certain  individual  had  sent  him  word 
to  leave  the  settlement,  as  be  had  determined,  on  the 


566 


CHURCH  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


commencement  of  the  dry  season,  to  burn  Canoffee 

and  Bashia.  The  following  mournful  details,  there- 
fore, will  not  surprise,  however  deeply  they  may  affect, 
the  pious  reader  :— 

On  Saturday  evening,  the  2Ist  of  January,  1815, 
a  cry  of  "  Fire !"  was  heard  in  the  yard  of  the  mis- 
sionary settlement  at  Bashia,  and,  though  the  aper- 
ture made  by  the  flames  was  not,  then,  more  than  a 
yard  in  circumference,  the  devouring  element  spread 
with  such  rapidity  as  to  preclude  all  hope  of  extin- 
guishing it.  Mr.  Renner,  therefore,  ordered  the  female 
children  out  of  the  bouse,  and  bent  off  his  wife,  who 
had  for  some  days  been  confined  to  her  bed,  into  an 
adjacent  field,  to  which  the  servants  and  the  eldest 
boys  carried  her  trunk,  and  the  bedding. 

"  We  had  only  one  door,"  says  Mr.  Renner,  "  by 
which  to  enter  into  the  second  story ;  and,  the  fire 
eoon  reaching  it,  there  was  no  longer  a  passage  to 
carry  the  goods  down,  and  we  were  under  the  neces- 
•ity  of  throwing  over  the  piazza  whatever  came  to 
our  hands.  The  first  thing  was  a  chest  of  drawers, 
which,  on  reaching  the  ground,  fell  to  pieces,  and  the 
•contents,  being  scattered  about,  wpre  stolen  by  the 
natives.  Another  chest  of  drawers  could  not  be 
moved,  in  consequence  of  our  heavy  book-shelf  stand- 
ing upon  it.  Trifling  things  were,  at  last,  got  out, 
and  the  more  valuable  ones  were  either  forgotten  or 
left  a  prey  to  the  flames.  The  confusion  of  my  mind, 
indeed,  was  such,  that  I  had  no  power  to  judge,  at  the 
moment,  what  to  do.  My  valuable  trunk,  partly  filled 
up  by  the  generosity  of  the  society,  and  partly  by  my 
busy  wife,  was  entirely  forgotten.  I  recollect  to  have 
stood  on  it,  to  hand  down  some  trifling  things,  but 
it  came  not  into  my  mind  to  save  it. 

"  At  last  the  danger  was  so  great,  that  every  one 
forsook  me,  and  there  was  a  loud  cry  that  the  roof 
was  falling.  I,  therefore,  hastened  down  on  a  man- 
grove beam,  and  left  the  perishable  articles  to  their  fate. 
1  was  not  long  in  the  yard  before  the  house  fell  in, 
whilst  the  cries  of  tlio  children,  and  my  wife's  lamen- 
tations, at  a  distance,  sounded  in  my  ears.  Brother 
Wilhelin's  house  caught  fire  from  the  heat  of  mine, 
in  consequence  of  its  being  so  contiguous. 

"  The  next  day  was  the  sabbath, — but  there  was 
no  salibath  in  Bashia  !  Our  minds  were  so  much 
confused,  that  wo  could  not  sing  the  Lord's  song  ; 
and,  in  truth,  not  a  single  book  on  our  premises  was 
saved.  The  influx  of  strangers,  also,  was  very  trouble- 
some ;  some  of  whom  came  to  pity,  others  to  laugh 
at  us. 

"  On  Monday  morning,  about  four  o'clock,  the  cry 
of  '  Fire !  fire !'  was  again  heard.  This  I  could 
liardiy  believe  ;  but,  jumping  up,  I  saw  the  school- 
house  on  fire,  notwithstanding  twenty  people  had  been 


stationed,  as  a  watch,  in  the  yard.  This  was  an 
evidence  to  me  that  my  house  had  been  wilfully  set 
on  fire ;  which,  at  first,  I  was  unwilling  to  believe, 
thinking  it  might  have  happened  through  the  careless- 
ness of  some  of  the  children  ;  but  it  now  seemed  to 
be  the  intention  of  some  enemy  that  no  roof  should 
be  left  over  our  heads." 

In  the  mean  time,  the  Rev.  J.  C.  Sporrhacken,with 
Mrs.  Sperrhacken,  Mrs.  Hartwig,  and  four  other  per- 
sons, connected  with  the  Church  Missionary  Society, 
sailed  from  Ireland  with  an  investment  of  stores,  to 
the  amount  of  about  three  thousand  pounds ;  and  on 
the  13th  of  February,  they  arrived  safely  at  Sierra 
Leone,  where  they  were  received  with  the  most 
cordial  affection  by  the  resident  missionaries,  and  by 
the  Rev.  Messrs.  Renner  and  Wenzel,  who,  in  con- 
sequence of  their  recent  calamity,  had  come  from  the 
Rio  Pongas,  to  ask  advice  of  their  friends  in  the  col- 
ony. The  settlers  began  eagerly  to  press  Mrs.  Hart- 
wig  to  reopen  a  school  for  their  female  children  ;  but 
the  whole  attention  of  that  excellent  woman  was,  for 
the  present,  occupied  by  her  afflicted  husband,  who 
had  just  arrived  in  the  colony  extremely  ill  of  dropsy, 
and  requiring  every  possible  assistance. 

It  has  been  already  remarked,  that,  through  ihe 
imprudence  of  Mr.  Hartwig,  his  connection  with  the 
society,  as  a  missionary,  had  been  dissolved  ;  and  his 
wife,  who  had  visited  England  for  her  health,  had  for 
some  years  been  prevented  from  returning,  by  his 
irregular  conduct.  Of  late,  however,  he  had  pro- 
fessed the  most  sincere  contrition  for  his  errors ;  and 
as,  in  his  wanderings  among  the  Susoos,  he  had  obtained 
an  intimate  acquaintance  with  their  language,  he  was 
once  more  employed  by  the  society,  not  indeed  in  his 
former  capacity,  but  to  commence  a  translation  of  the 
IVew  Testament,  and  to  compile  a  few  elementary 
books  in  Susoo,  for  the  use  of  the  schools.  Under 
these  circumstances,  Mrs.  Hartwig  readily  consented 
to  return  to  Africa  ;  but  it  will  appear  from  the  fol- 
lowing extract  of  a  letter  written  by  her  to  the  com- 
mittee, and  dated  March  1, 1815,  that  she  only  arrived 
to  close  his  eyes  in  death  : — 

"  On  the  a>2(l  of  February,  just  after  sunset,  my 
husband  was  brought  on  shore,  weak,  and  almost  help- 
less. Yet  I  am  thankful,  and  consider  it  a  privilege, 
that  I  was  allowed  to  receive  him,  oven  in  tliat  state, 
and  to  render  his  last  days  somewhat  more  comfort- 
able. Our  meeting  seemed  to  revive  his  spirits  ;  and 
he  was  very  cheerful  for  the  first  two  or  three  days, 
though  so  weak  (his  bones  almost  cutting  through  his 
.skin,  and  his  body  greatly  enlarged  with  dropsy)  that 
it  was  as  n)uch  as  a  man  could  do  to  lift  jiim  in  and 
out  of  bed.  Ho  was  enabled  to  converse  with  me  a 
little,  but  said,  as  he  could  not  talk  much,  he  would 


l!L™"'^u  '",'"'^°'"'""-  Hi««PP«tite  was  pretty 
good,  and  he  took  nourishment  from  my  hands  with  a 
p^asure  wh.ch  he  could  hardly  express ;  often  acknoil! 
edging  the  goodness  and  mercy  of  our  Heavenly  Father 
jn  bnngmg  me  again  to  this  land.  Indeed,  hif  tua.' 
Jon  was  trul,  deplorable,  when  Mr.  Renner  found 
h..u,  bemg  destitute  even  of  the  common  necessaries 
of  life ;  so  that  he  rejoiced  in  God,  who  had  sent  him 

Jir'"u  t'J^"'  '''""'  ^'  ^"  '"  »'■«  Mandingo 
country.  He  had  caught  a  bad  cold,  last  August,  in 
the  Gambia  settlement,  the  house  having  a  poor  r,;of, 
and  being  exposed  to  wind  and  rain.  From  that  time 
he  began  to  be  .11;  and,  having  formerly  derived 
benefit  from  a  mineral  water  in  the  Mandingo  country 
he  went  thither,  in  hopes  that  he  might  again  obtafn 
rehef:  but  alas!  he  had  hardly  drank  of'the  w^ 
before  he  became  so  ill,  that  he  was  obliged  to  remain 

"  On  the  21st,  a  medical  gentleman  saw  him,  and 
said  he  was  too  weak  to  undergo  an  operation,  as  he 
,To?  k'm  r  r  "i  ''«'"'«'-«fore.6'>ve  us  a  prescrip- 
ion  wh.oh  he  hoped  might  be  of  service  to  him.  Mv 
husband  was  very  anxious  to  live,  and  desirous,  if 
spared,  to  redeem  the  lime,  and  show  to  the  world  that 
he  was  heartily  sorry  for  his  past  offences. 

"  On  Sunday,  the  2Gth,  Mr.  Butscher  administered 
the  sacrament  to  us,  Mr.  Renner  and  Mr.  Wenzel 
being  present,  together  with  a  pious  old  black  woman 
who  frequently  comes  to  see  me.     It  was  a  solemn 
time ;  and  when  tiio  service  was  over,"  Mr.  Harlwig 
was  much  affected,  and  wept  almost  aloud.    He  spoke 
of  his  departure  from  the  faith,  yet  acknowledged  that 
the  l^rd  had  never  given  him  up  to  a  reprobate  mind 
but  that  the  stings  of  conscience  used  to  be  like  a' 
hook  in  his  heart.     Notwithstanding  hh  transgressions 
and  backslidings,  he  could  now  address  God  as  his 
reconciled  Father  in  Christ;  and  on  tl.o  1st  of  March 
I  have  reason  to  trust  he  fell  asleep  in  Jesus." 

After  the  decease  of  her  husband,  Mrs.  Hartwig 
opened  a  school,  and  was  once  more  made  a  blossinR 
to   the  poor  female  nliihiren  of  the  colonists;    but 
witlun  less  than  two  months,  she  was  attacked  with' 
the  yellow  fever,  and,  after  an  illness  of  four  days 
was  removed  into  the  world  of  spirits.     About  this 
tune,  indeed,  death  .seems  to  have  made  great  Imvoc 
among  the  friends  of  the  society.   On  the  I  !)tli  of  May 
Mrs.  Butscher,  "  a  woman  of  acute  understanding,  tried 
piety,  and  considerable  attainments,"  fell  a  victim  to 
the  same  .l.soidcr ;  and  hor  youngest  son  soon  followed 
her  to  111,,  tomb.     In  September,  the  wife  of  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Schullz,  another  missionary,  who  had  recently 
Sy.ve-:,  vizt  seised  wiii,  ihu  fever,  and,  alter  givini 
birth  to  a  fine  boy,  bade  an  eternal  adieu  to  this  tran- 
silory  world.    The  following  day  her  infant  died,  and 


WEST  AFRICA, 


80^ 


was  placed  in  the  arms  of  his  mother,  to  rest  in  th* 
same  sepulchral  mansion ;  and,  in  less'  than  a  o  tni  ht 

his  afflicting  bereavement,  was  too  ill  to  follow  tJ,« 
remains  of  his  beloved  wife  and  child  to  hdr  1  „' 
ome,  was  conveyed  to  the  same  spot,  there  to  aw„J 
the  resurrection  of  the  just.  In  [he  course  of  Te 
ensuing  month,  the  labors  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Sperrhacke^ 
child  ZrTu^'  "  ™°"'"  «li-a-.and\Tsintn: 

Zf  ■  .     .      ^P""'"'''''^"  '^as.  at  the  same  time,  dan- 
gerou^lydl;    but  she  was  subsequently  restor'edTo 

Bickerst'etrthr^  •'"""7'  '®*^'  '^°  ^''-  ^''-"d 

s«Setv    a  tt'hl    r^""'  ""'^  '"'"^"'  ^^"^'^^y  o''  the 
society  (at  that  time  acting  in  the  capacity  of  assist- 

ant  secretary),  sailed  from  England,  for  tife  purpose 

of  visiting  the  missionary  settlnnen.;  in  WestTfHca 

and  of  making  such  arrangements  as  existing  ctcum.' 

stances  might  appear  to  render  expedient      On  Ws 

arrival  at  Ba,hia,  he  was  much  gratifi'ed  with  the  s.at 

given  to  his  inquiries  by  some  of  the  elder  pupils,  that 
neither  the  abor  nor  expense  of  the  society  b'^st; wed 
on  this  station  would  ultimately  prove  to 'have  been 
ZZ    \    .^''"P'«^«''">^^«*'«'-.  presented  an  affecting 
spectacle  to  one  so  deeply  interested  in  the  cause  of 
missions ;  the  former  dwelling-house  being  almost  in 
riiins.  and  the  church,  which  was  set  on  fire  toward  the 
close  of  the  preceding  year,  exhibiting  nothing  but 
bare  walls.     At  length,  after  mature  deliberation  and 
humble  prayer  for  the  divine  direction,  '<  it  was  deter- 
in.ned,  on  account  of  the  repeated  fires  which  had 
happened  m  Bashia,  several  of  which  were  supposed,  ■ 
to  have  originated  from  a  person  claiming  the  ground  • 
and  considering  it.  present  ruinous  state,  its  confined 
situation,  and  its  vicinity  to  a  native  town,  which  ex- 
posed  the  children  to  temptation.that  it  was  expedient 
to  g.v'e  up  this  settlement,  and  remove  the  children  to 
Canoffee.  * 

Hitherto,  from  their  comparative  ignorance  of  the 
Susoo  Innguage,_a  want  of  intcrpreters,_the  presence 
01  the  slave-traders.-ropeated  attacks  of  sickness  — 
and  other  causes,  the  missionaries  had  confined  tlieir 
labors  exclusively  to  the  instruction  of  the  rising  gen. 
eration ;  without  making  any  attempt  to  proclaim 
among  the  adult  natives  the  glad  tidings  of  salvation. 
Mr  BickersK'th,  however,  in  a  spirit  of  Christian 
faithfulness,  whirl,  has  reflected  the  highest  honor  upon 
ins  profession  and  character,  now  reminded  them,  that 
even  in  such  n  •itimtloM  «.  •! .-.j    .    . 

nil  the  difficulties  to  which  they  might  be  exposed 

their  f^rtat  ivork  was,  as  soon  rs  practicable,  to  preach 

Chrut  crucified,"  not  only  by  the  consistency  and 


CHURCH  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


holiness  of  their  own  lives,  but  hy  the  actual  «nd  con- 
tinual declaration  of  the  gospel,  through  the  medium 
of  an  interpreter,  till  it  could  be  done  without  one,  in 
such  assemblies  as  could  be  collected,  in  private  con- 
versation, and  in  every  other  mode  that  could  be 
adopted.  This  representation  produced  so  good  an 
effect,  that  all  the  missionaries  settled  in  the  country 
appeared  determined,  according  to  their  ability,  to 
commence  the  important  work  in  the  next  dry  season ; 
and  permission  to  do  so  was  solicited  and  obtained  at 
the  general  meetings  of  the  respective  chiefs  or  head 
men.  Accordingly,  in  the  month  of  December,  the 
Rev.  Messrs.  Kenner  and  Wilhelm  commenced  preach- 
ing in  the  neighboring  villages ;  and,  at  first,  their  ser- 
vices appeared  to  be  highly  acceptable  both  to  the 
chiefs  and  the  people,  by  whom  they  were  heard  with 
great  attention,  and  treated  with  the  utmost  civility. 
In  one  place,  indeed,  a  '  pray-house,'  or  church,  was 
erected  by  the  inhabitants  ;  and  the  residents  in  two 
other  villages  seemed  disposed  to  erect  similar  places 
of  worship.  After  some  time,  however,  as  the  novelty 
of  the  services  wore  off,  the  natives  became  weary  of 
listening  to  the  gospel ;  and,  notwithstanding  the  hopes 
which  the  brethren  were  led  to  form,  in  respect  to 
their  early  excursions,  the  hostility  which  was  subse- 
quently manifested  against  them  by  the  friends  and 
•bettors  of  that  curse  of  Africa,  the  slave-trade,  ren- 
dered it  necessary,  in  1818,  to  relinquish  the  mission 
among  the  Susoos,  after  a  long  and  arduous  conflict 
with  difficulties  of  no  common  kind.  The  brethren, 
therefore,  retired  with  the  greater  part  of  their  pupils 
to  the  colony  of  Sierra  Leone ;  regretting,  indeed,  that 
so  little  had  been  effected,  yet  cheering  themselves 
with  the  reflection  that  their  labors  had  not  been  alto- 
gether in  vain,  in  the  Lord. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Nylander,  in  the  mean  time,  had 
resigned  his  situation  as  chaplain  at  Sierra  Leone,  for 
the  purpose  of  commencing  a  missionary  station  among 
the  benighted  and  superstitious  Bulloms ;  and  had 
fixed  his  residence  at  a  place  called  Yongroo  Pomoh, 
whirh  is  described,  by  the  Rev.  C.  Bickersteth,  as 
'pleasantly  situated  at  the  mouth  of  the  Sierra  I  ^eone 
river,  nearly  opposite  to  Free  Town,  and  alwut  seven 
miles  from  it."  Here  he  opened  a  stihool,  and  by  the 
suavity  of  his  manners,  and  the  consistency  of  his 
conduct,  lie  so  effectually  conciliated  the  respect  and 
esteem  of  the  natives,  that  a  considerable  number  of 
them  were  induced  tc  place  their  children  under  his 
tuition.  Even  the  king  of  Buliom  intrusted  one  of 
his  sons  to  tli'-  care  of  this  excellent  missionary  ;  but 
the  young  prince  had  not  been  long  in  the  seminary 
huforo  ho  wax  allacked  with  an  illness  which  deprived 
iiiiu  botii  ol  ins  speech  and  senses,  and,  m  about  three 
days,  tcrniinatdd  his  mortal  existence.    "  After  he  was 


dead,"  says  Mr.  Nylander,  "  the  people  were  going  to 
ask  him,  according  to  their  custom,  who  had  killed  him ; 
but  I  was  very  glad,  that,  after  long  reasoning  in  oppo- 
sition to  their  opinions,  they  were  satisfied  that  he  had 
not  fallen  a  victim  to  the  arts  of  any  witch  or  gregree ; 
but  that  God,  who  gave  him  life  at  first,  had  now  called 
him  home,  to  be  with  him,  in  a  good  and  happy  place. 
And  I  assured  his  friends,  that  if  they  would  begin  to 
pray  to  God,  they  would  once  more  meet  him  in  that 
place,  and  rejoice  with  him  forever.  As  I  stated  my 
belief  that  God  had  killed  him,  I  was  allowed  to  bury 
him  '  in  white  man's  fashion,'  and  the  king  gave  me  a 
burying-place  separate  from  their  own." 

"  it  is  lamentable,"  says  the  same  writer,  in  another 
communication,  "  that  the  Bulloms  should  have  been 
left  so  long  without  any  religious  instruction.  They 
live  in  gross  darkness,  worshipping  evil  spirits,  and 
dealing  very  cruelly  with  each  other,  on  account  of 
their  superstitious  witchcraft;  which,  perhaps,  was 
encouraged  by  the  inhuman  traffic  in  slaves.  If  any 
slave-ship  had  been  permitted  to  appear  in  the  Sierra 
licone  river,  about  fifteen  or  more  witches  would  have 
been  sold,  and  sent  off  for  the  coast,  since  I  have  been 
at  Buliom."  The  following  anecdotes  will  place  these 
superstitions  of  the  Bulloms  in  a  truly  affecting  light, 
and  will,  no  doubt,  be  perused  with  deep  interest  by 
the  pious  reader. 

"  A  young  man,  named  Jem  Kambah,"  says  Mr. 
Nylander,  "  was  employed  by  me,  and  attended  pretty 
regularly  on  our  family  and  public  worship.  Going, 
one  day,  to  visit  his  mother,  she  gave  him  two  small 
smooth  stones,  which  she  had  laid  by  for  that  purpose ; 
telling  him  to  wash  them  every  day,  and  rub  them 
with  oil ;  and  that  then  they  would  take  care  of  him,  and 
he  would  prosper ;  because  these  were  two  good  spirits. 
'  Mother,'  said  he, '  these  are  itonc$ :  how  can  they 
take  care  of  me  ?  I  hear  the  white  man  at  Yongroo 
Pomoh  telling  us  that  God  alone  can  help  us,  and  that 
all  our  grogrees  (charms)  are  good  for  nothing.  These 
stones  can  do  me  no  good.  I  will,  therefore,  look  to 
God,  and  beg  him  to  take  care  of  me.'  Thus  saying, 
he  threw  the  stones  into  the  fire,  as  unworthy  of  notice. 

"  This  was  a  heinous  sacrilege  ;  and  on  his  mother 
acquainting  her  friends  with  it,  they  sharply  reproved 
him,  and  told  him  that,  by  thus  acting,  he  would  make 
the  devil  angry,  and  would  bring  mischief  upon  the 
country.  He  assured  them,  however,  that  he  would 
pay  no  more  attention  to  any  of  their  nistoms,  but 
would  listen  to  what  he  heard  at  Yongroo  Pomoh. 

"  One  sabbath,  after  divine  service,  Jem  again  went 
to  see  his  mother ;  and  met  the  people  dancing,  and 
trying  some  persons  for  witchcraft.  He  told  <h«m  ihgt 
it  was  the  lord's  day,  and  that  they  should  not  dance, 
hut  go  to  Yongroo  Pomoh,  to  hear  what  (he  white  man 


WEST  AFRICA. 


had  to  say.    « And  then,'  he  added, '  you  will  leave 
off  all  dancing  and  witcli-palavers,  which  are  nothing 
but  the  work  of  the  devil.'    This  speech,  together 
with  the  throwing  of  the  stones  into  the  fire,  affronted 
them  so  much,  that  they  threatened  to  punish  him ; 
and  the  next  morning  he  was  summoned  before  the 
king,  and  accused  of  having  made  a  witch-gun,  and 
concealed  it  in  his  house,  for  the  purpose  of  killing  and 
injuring  his  inmate.     Jem  replied,  'I  never  saw  a 
witch-gun,  and  do  not  know  how  to  make  one>     He, 
therefore,  who  told  you  this  did  not  speak  the  truth.' 
He  was  urged  to  acknowledge  it,  and  then  the  whole 
palaver  would  have  an  end.     '  No,'  said  he,  •  I  cannot 
tell  a  lie  merely  to  please  you.'     He  was  then  called 
on  to  prove  his  innocence,  by  rubbing  his  arm  with  a 
red-hot  iron,  or  by  drinking  red-water :  but  he  coolly 
replied,  '  I  am  no  fool,  to  burn  myself  with  the  hot 
iron  ;  and  as  for  the  red-water  palaver,  I  shall  look  in 
my  head  first ;'  meaning  that  he  should  take  time  to 
consider  the  matter.     He  afterwards  came  to  me,  and 
told  me  the  charges  which  iiad  been  brought  against 
him ;  and  said,  I  will  drink  the  red-water,  to  clear  myself, 
and  to  bring  my  family  out  of  the  blame ;  and  I  hope 
God  will  help  me.'     I  advised  him  to  pray,  and  to 
consider  well  what  he  was  going  to  do. 

"  A   day  before  the  trial,  Jem  was  confined ;  and 
persons  of  both  parties,  his  friends  and  enemies,  ques- 
tioned him,  and  urged  him  to  confess  every  thing  that  he 
had  done  evil.     At  last  the  day  came :  he  was  carried 
to  the  place  of  execution,  stripped  of  his  clothes,  and 
had  some  plantain  leaves  tied  round  his  waist.   About 
two  tea-spoons  full  of  white  rice  had  been  given  him 
in  the  morning ;  and  if  this  rice  were  thrown  up  with 
the  red-water,  it  was  to  prove  him  innocent.     Jem 
now  ascended  the  scaffold,  aiul  drank  eight  calabashes 
(about  four  quarts)  of  red-water,  wiilch  was  adminis- 
tered to  him  us  fast  as  he  could  swallow  li.    Ho  threw 
all  up  again,  with  the  rice  which  ho  had  eaten  in  the 
morning  ;  but  as  he  fainted  before  ho  could  get  down 
from  the  scaffold,  it  was  said  that  some  wltcli-palaver 
must  Im  left  in  his  stomach,  liecaiise  the  devil  wrestled 
with  him,  and  ho  was  requested  to  drink  the  water 
again.     This,  however,  he  refused,  observing  that  ho 
had  merely  drank  it  in  the  fust  Instanct!  to  please  his 
occusors,  and  to  show  that  he  was  no  witch.     A  hw 
days  afterward  he  ranu)  to  work  ni;ain,  and   the  busi- 
ness was  dropped  ;  but  Jem  did  not  appear  so  serious, 
nor  did  ho  so  regularly  attend  on  public  worship  as 
before." 

The  poor  creature  whose  case  is  next  narrated  had 

not   the  rourase  of  Karnbali ;  but   was  terrincd  into 

tlie  confession  of  an  imnginnry  crime,  in  order  to  save 

liorsolf  from  the  further  enielty  of  her  persecutors.-— 

'•  I  was  told,"  says  Mr,  Nylandor,  "that  there  was 

\oi,.  1.— Moj.  n  <fc  48.  74 


569 

a  woman  very  ill  with  the  small-pox,  and  that  another 
woman,  who  had  just  fallen  ill  of  the  same  disease, 
had  bewitched  her.  I  visited  the  sick  woman  first 
and  found  her  dangerously  ill :  afterward  I  went  to 
the  place  where  the  supposed  witch,  named  Dumfurry 
was  lymg  in  chains,  under  a  tree,  in  a  high  fever  the 
small-pox  just  coming  out.  I  begged  the  people  to 
release  her,  and  to  le'  her  lie  down  comfortably  in  a 
house ;  but  they  said  ihey  could  not  do  it.  I  must 
speak  to  the  head  man  of  the  town,  the  king  not  being 
at  home.  I  applied  to  him,  but  he  refused  ;  alleging 
that  she  was  a  bad  woman,  who  had  been  in  the  Shee- 
rong  (a  sort  of  purgatory,  where  the  evil  spirits  dwell, 
and  whither  the  supposed  witches  resort),  where  she 
bought  the  small-pox,  and  by  witchcraft  brought  the 
disease  upon  this  woman. 

'"If  she  be  so  skilful,'  I  said,  'you  can  make 
money  by  her.  Loose  her,  and  let  her  go  this  night 
agam  to  the  Sheerong,  and  bring  the  small-pox,  in 
order  to  witch  them  upon  me ;  and  if  I  catch  the 
disease,  I  will  pay  you  ten  bars.'  One  said  that  I  had 
bad  them,  and  therefore  she  could  not  bring  them  on 
me.  <  Why,'  said  I, '  if  she  be  a  witch,  she  can  cause 
a  stick  to  have  the  small-pox  to-morrow  ;  and  if  she 
knew  any  thing  of  witchcraft,  she  would  not  stand 
before  you,  to  be  flogged ;  but  would  blind  you  all, 
that  you  could  not  catch  her.  She  knows  nothing 
however,  about  witch-palaver,  and  in  your  dealing 
so  hardly  with  her,  you  do  extremely  wrong,  and  dis- 
please God.' 

"  As  the  poor  creature  could  not  be  loosed  without 
the  consent  of  the  sick  woman's  husband,  I  sent  for 
him  ;  and,  after  some  time,  he  consented  that  she 
should  be  taken  out  of  the  stocks ;  and  so  I  left  them. 
But  the  relations  of  the  person  dangerously  111  began 
to  question  the  supposed  witch,  and  gave  her  a  severe 
whipping  ;  and  the  woman,  at  length,  confessed  that 
she  had  bewltclied  her. 

"  The   doctor  was  now  called  In,  to  examine  the 
sick  person  ;  and  he,  in  his  turn,  by  pretended  witch- 
craft, professed  to  take  out  of  the  woman's  head,  1. 
A  worm,  called,  in  Sierra  Leone,  the  forty  foot.     ^. 
A  small  hag,  containing  the  instruments  of  a  witch  ; 
such  as  a  knife,  a  spoon,  a  basin,  &:c.     .'J.   A  snail.     4 
A  rope  ;    and  5.  The   small-pox  !      The  witch  was 
then  wiiipped  a  second  time,  and  asked  whether  she 
had  not  put  all  t|,pso  ihi„g;s  i,„o  the  head  of  the  woman 
who  was  now  almost   dead.     She  confessed  It,  and' 
iM-oiinlit  forward  a  man  and  two  women,  ns  having 
joined  with  her  to  kill  this  woman.  The  man  said  that 
he  knew  noihing  of  trUchcrafs,  amiionsenteii  to  prove 
Ins  innocence  by  drinking  the  red-water.     The  two 
females  were  whipped  and  sent  to  work  ;  and  the  prin- 
cipal one  was  to  be  put  to  death,  as  soon  as  the  sick 


570 


CHURCH  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


woman  should  die.  Till  then,  Bumfurry,  the  supposed 
witch,  was  appointed  to  guard  the  sick  person,  and  to 
drive  the  flies  from  her. 

"  I  oppose  these  foolish  witch  accusations  wherever 
I  can  ;  and  numbers  of  the  Bulloms,  especially  the 
younger  ones,  see  plainly  that  it  is  the  power  of  dark- 
ness and  ignorance  which  works  upon  the  minds  of 
the  old  people  ;  but  they  dare  not  say  a  word,  in 
opposition  to  this  evil  practice,  for  fear  of  being  them- 
selves immediately  accused  of  witciicraft." 

Among  these  benighted  people,  Mr.  Nyiander  con- 
tinued to  labor  for  a  considerable  time,  with  the  most 
unwearied  patience  and  unremitting  zeal ;  and,  in 
addition  to  the  instruction  of  the  children  placed  in 
his  school,  and  the  preaching  of  the  everlasting  gospel, 
ho  translated  the  four  Gospels,  the  epistles  of  St.  John, 
the  morning  and  evening  prayers  of  the  Church  of 
England,  some  hymns,  and  several  elementary  books, 
into  the  Bullom  language.  In  1818,  however,  the 
pernicious  influence  of  the  slave-trade  rendered  the 
prospect  of  success  more  dark  and  distant  than  ever, 
and  the  mission  was  consequently  abandoned,  Mr. 
Nyiander  retiring  into  the  colony  with  the  greater  part 
of  the  pupils  who  at  that  time  were  under  his  in- 
struction. 

But  we  must  now  direct  the  attention  of  our  readers 
to  the  exertions  and  successes  of  the  Church  Mission- 
ary Society  in  Sierra  Leone,  which  will  be  found  to 
exhibit  a  most  important  field  of  usefulness,  and  to 
present  to  the  pious  and  contemplative  mind  abundant 
cause  of  gratitude  to  that  omnipotent  and  wonder- 
working Redeemer,  who  hath  been  promised  "  the 
heathen  for  his  inheritance,  and  the  uttermost  parts  of 
the  earth  for  his  possession." 

After  the  abolition  of  the  slave-trade  by  the  British 
parliament,  a  considerable  number  of  negroes,  com- 
prising some  hundreds  of  children,  were  rescued  from 
diflcrent  smuggling  vessels,  and  settled  in  various  parts 
of  the  colony,  where  they  were  kindly  fed  and  clothed 
at  the  expense  of  government,  until  they  should  be 
able  to  provide  for  their  future  subsistence. 

In  order  to  provide  for  such  of  the  children  as  were 
orphans,  and  in  a  state  of  pitiable  destitution,  the 
committee  of  the  Church  Missionary  Society  deter- 
mined on  forming  an  extensive  establishment  in  the 
vicinity  of  Free  Town,  where  they  might  at  once 
receive  the  benefits  of  education,  and  be  trained 
to  habits  of  industry.  Accordingly,  having  obtained 
a  grant  of  land  at  Leicester  mountain,  which  forms 
pan  of  the  range  of  hills  behind  Free  Town,  their 
agent,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Butscher,  proceeded  to  clear  and 
plant  the  fffnund.  and  to  erect  the  necessary  buildlnzs 
for  what  was  intended  to  be  called  the  Christian  In- 
■titutioD.      In  those  employments  ho  derived  some 


assistance  from  the  children,  as  it  was  one  of  the  rules 
of  the  establishment  that  one  half  of  the  day  should 
be  devoted  to  instruction,  and  that  the  other  should 
be  occupied  in  useful  labor  ;  and  in  order  to  stimulate 
the  pupils  to  exertion,  each  of  the  boys  had  a  spot  of 
ground  allotted  for  his  own  cultivation.  Such  was  the 
plan  on  which  this  institution  was  primarily  conducted ; 
but  the  committee  were  subsequently  induced  to  change 
it  into  a  sort  of  college,  where  a  superior  education 
might  prepare  some  of  the  most  promising  youths  to 
labor  as  missionaries  among  their  own  countrymen,  or 
to  fill  stations  of  responsibility  in  the  colony.  And, 
some  years  aftenvard,  the  establishment  was  removed 
to  Regent's  Town. 

As  the  instruction  of  the  children  of  the  recaptured 
slaves  was  the  grand  object  which  the  missionaries  in 
Sierra  Leone  had  originally  in  view,  they  estab- 
lished schools  in  several  of  the  towns,  or  villages, 
where  the  objects  of  their  solicitude  were  settled  ; 
and  it  ought  to  be  recorded  to  the  honor  of  the  British 
government,  and  of  sir  Charles  Macartliy,  the  governor 
of  the  colony,  that  this  work  of  mercy  was  uniformly 
countenanced  and  assisted  in  the  most  prompt  manner 
and  with  the  greatest  liberality.  The  preaching  of 
the  gospel  was  afterwards  commenced  among  the 
adult  negroes,  and,  notwithstanding  the  trials  and  diffi- 
culties which  were  occasionally  encountered,  the  min- 
istration of  divine  truth  was,  in  many  instances,  crowned 
with  the  most  pleasing  success. 

In  respect  to  the  interesting  station  called  Regent's 
Town,  it  has  been  justly  remarked,  in  ono  of  the 
annual  reports  of  the  society,  that  "  the  history  of  the 
church  has  scarcely  afforded  so  striking  an  instance 
of  the  power  of  Christianity,  in  civilizing  and  blessing 
savage  men." 

"  When  brought  together  at  this  place,  in  the  year 
1813,"  the  committee  observe,  "the  negroes  were, as 
on  the  first  settling  of  them  in  other  towns,  in  the  most 
deplorable  condition.  In  181(5,  the  assistant  secretary, 
then  on  a  visit  to  the  mission,  found  about  eleven 
hundred  liberated  negroes  assembled  at  this  spot,  and 
consisting  of  persons  from  almost  all  the  tribes  on  that 
part  of  the  continent.  The  efl"orts  of  those  who  had 
been  placed  over  them,  under  the  vigilant  and  anxious 
inspection  of  the  governor,  had  meliorated  the  con 
ditionof  such  as  had  been  there  for  any  length  of  time. 
Every  measure  in  his  power  had  been  resorted  to,  for 
this  end,  by  his  excellency  ;  niid  a  church  had  been 
erected,  in  preparation  for  the  regular  administration 
of  Christian  ordinances  among  them." 

In  the  month  of  June,  181fi,  Mr.  Johnson,  who  had 


liiaf    arrivort     frnin    v.na]anA     t%.'aa 


a  iin/\in 


taA  tit  thn  t*ara 


of  Regent's  Town  ;  but,  on  contemplating  the  con- 
dition of  the   people  intrusted  to  his  care,  he  fell 


greatly  discouraged.      "Natives  of  twenty-two  dif- 
ferent  nations"  (as  stated  in  the  report  to  which  we 
have  already  alluded)  "were  here  collected  together- 
and  a  considerable  number  of  them  had  been  but  re- 
cently liberated  from  the  holds  of  slave-vessels.    They 
were  also  greatly  prejudiced  against  one  another,  and 
in   a  state  of  continual   hostility,  with  no  common 
medmm  of  mtercourse  but  a  little  broken  English 
When  clothmg  was  given  to  them,  they  would  sell  it 
or  throw  It  away ;  nor  was  it  found  practicable  to 
introduce  .t  among  them,  till  they  were,  at  length, 
induced  to  adopt  it,  by  the  example  of  Mr.  Johnson's 
servant  girl.     None  of  them,  on  their  first  arrival 
seemed  to  live  in  a  state  of  marriage,  the  blessings 
of  the  conjugal  state  and  of  female  purity  appearing 
to  bo  qu.te  uni<nown.     In  some  huts,  ten  of  them 
were  crowded  together  ;  and  in  others  even  fifteen  or 
twenty.     Many  of  them  were  ghastly  as  skeletons; 
SIX  or  eight  sometimes  died  in  one  d„y  ;  and  only  six 
infants  were  born  in  the  space  of  a  year.    Superstition. 
in  various  forms,  tyrannized  over  their  minds  ;  many 
devil  s  houses  sprang  up;  and  all  of  them  placed  their 
•     security  in  wearing  the  charms  called  gregrees.    Scarce- 
ly any  desire  of  improvement  was  (liscernibio.     For  a 
considerable  time  there  were  hardly  five  or  six  acres 
of  land  brought  under  cultivation  ;    and  some  who 
wished  to  cultivate  the  soil  were  deterre.l  from  doing 
so,  by  the   fear  of  being   plundered  of  the   produce. 
Some  would  live  in  the  woods,  apart  from  society; 
others  subsisted  by  thieving  and  plunder;  and  not  a 
few  of  them,  particularly  those  of  the  Ebo  nation, 
would   prefer  any  kind  of  refi-  o  meat  to  tiie  rations 
wlucli  they  received  from  government." 

Of  the  feelings  with  which  Mr.  Johnson  entered 
upon  his  labors  in  such  a  fiol.i  of  desolation,  a  toler- 
ably accurate  ..lea  maybe  formed  from  his  own  obser- 
vations, addressed  to  a  special  meeting  of  the  society, 
previous  to  Ins  return  from  a  visit  to  England,  in 

''When  I  first  went  among  the  negroes,"  says  he, 

after  I  had  armed  myself  with  the  Hiblc,  I  tol.l  them 

why  I  came,  viz.  to  iufo.ni  tliom  how  tli.-y  might  bo 

saved,  and  enjoy  rtn.ml   happiness  through  the  death 

of  Jesus  Christ.     They  gave  little  heed  to  me,  tliouKh 

I  visited  them   from  .lay  to  ,I„y  ;  „,„l,   ,„  ,„        j;^ 

mortification,  on  the  sahhuth  only  nine  hearers  came, 

and   these  were  almost   naked  !    Though  mu.I,  dis- 

couragod.I  went  the  next  week,  and  iri...I  to  p.^rsuade 

them  to  .•onie  nn.l  hoar  God's  word,  nn.l  stnle.l,  that 

If  Ihey  desired  to  learn  to  rend  the  nil,],..  I  „ould 

instruct   them.      The   following  Sun.lay   iii.,ie  came 

than  my  coltnire  cnulrj  hol.J.  „,.,!  .„r.,,-,.^.._.K  ..,-.    . ._ 

obliged  to  leave  the  house  for  a  sho.l.     Many  times" 

however,  when  I  had  warned  the  people  to  flee  from' 


WEST  AFRICA. 


571 

Ute  wrath  to  come,  and  take  refuge  in  a  crucified 
Saviour.  I  had,  after  service,  the  great  mortification 
of  receivmg  visits  from  some  of  my  hearers,  either  to 
be  paid  for  attending,  or  to  receive  something  on  some 
other  account.  My  labors  also  increased,  as  more 
negroes  arrived  from  sl.ve-vessels ;  so  that  I  had  now 
to  provide  for  a  thousand  individuals,  to  whom  I  had 
to  issue  rations  twice  a  week ;  and  thus  I  was  so  much 
tried  that  I  was  many  times  on  the  point  of  giving  up 
all:  but  the  prospect  of  bringing  some  souls  to  the 
knowledge  of  Christ,  enabled  me  still  to  endure  " 

Notwithstanding  these  trials  and  discouragements, 
Mr.  Johnson  soon  perceived  that  his  labors  were  not 
in  vain.  The  people  began  to  improve  materially, 
both  in  appearance  and  manners ;  and  their  natural 
indolence  gave  place  to  habits  of  industry.  Such  as 
had  formerly  lived  in  the  woods,  came  and  solicited  a 
lot  in  the  town,  which  was  now  regularly  laid  out  in 
streets,  and  built  upon  with  avidity.  Those  who  had 
few  clothes  began  to  work  hard  to  obtain  them,  that 
they  might  appear  decent  on  the  sabbath  ;  the  church 
which  originally  contained  five  hundred  persons,  was 
twice  enlarged,  and  still  crowded  ;  and  in  the  space 
of  about  twelve  months,  a  progress  was  made,  which 
astonished  those  who  visited  the  settlement. 

These  were  great  encouragements  to  Mr.  Johnson  • 
but  he  was  not  satisfied  with  the  reformation  of  the' 
manners  of  his  people  :  he  longed  and  prayed  for  in- 
dications  of  a  change  of  heart,  and  the  influence  of  a 
hving  principle  ;  and  in  a  short  time  his  wishes  were 
accomplished  and   his  prayers  graciously  answered. 
One  evening,"  says  he,  "  when  I  had  been  praying 
an.  was  much  cast  down,  a  young  man  followed  me, 
and  said,  'Massa,  me  ivant  speak  ab.)ut  my  heart' 
I  aske.l  hiin  what  he  had  to  say.     '  For  some  time 
massa,  he  replied,  '  my  heart  bad  too  much.     When 
I  he  down,  or  get  up,  or  cat,  or  drink,  me  think  about 
sins  committed  in  my  own  country,  and  since  me  come 
Uegent  s  Town  ;  and  me  don't  know  what  to  do  '     1 
found  what  his  wants  were,  and  was  enabled  to  point 
hun  to  the  Lamb  of  God,  which  taketli  away  the  sin 
of  the  world. 

"  In  the  following  week,  several  more  came.  One 
woman  was  much  distressed,  and  said  she  had  two 
hinrtK,  whi.-h  troubled  her  so  much  that  she  did  not 
kiunv  what  to  .lo.  One  was  the  nn/,  hart,  which 
t(.  .1  her  that  she  must  go  lo  Jesus  Christ,  and  tell  him 
all  her  sins,  as  she  hud  heard  at  church.  Her  old 
heart  told  her,  '  Never  mind.  God  no  save  black 
man,  only  white  man.  How  know  he  died  for  black 
man  ?'  Hut  Jier  new  heart  .said,  '  Go,  ory  to  him. 
and  ask.'  =  Tiien,^  said  siie,  '  my  old  heart  tell  me  d- 
my  work  first  ;-fetch  water,  make  fire,  wash  ;  and 
then  go  pray  :  but  when  work  done,  me  forget  to  pray 


1^78 


CHURCH  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


I  don't  know  what  to  do.'  I  read  to  her  the  seventh 
chapter  of  St.  Paul's  epistle  to  the  Romans,  and 
showed  her  that  the  apostle  felt  the  same  things,  and 
spoke  of  two  principles  in  man.  When  I  came  to  the 
verse,  '  O  wretched  man  that  I  am !  who  shall  deliver 
me  from  tiie  body  of  this  death  ?'  she  cried,  '  Ah 
massa,  that  me, — me  no  know  what  to  do !'  But  on 
my  adding  the  words  of  St.  Paul,  '  I  thank  God 
through  Jesus  Christ,'  and  explaining  to  her  the  love 
of  Christ,  in  dying  for  sinners  like  her,  she  burst  into 
tears  ;  and  has  continued  ever  since,  so  far  as  I  know, 
to  follow  her  Saviour." 

From  this  time  a  spirit  of  grace  and  supplication 
appeared  to  be  poured  out  upon  the  people;  young 
persons  especially  were  frequently  seen  to  retire  into 
the  woods  for  the  purpose  of  pouring  out  their  souls 
in   fervent  petitions    before    God,  and   little  groups 
assembled  by  moonlight  to  chant  the   praises  of  their 
Redeemer.     Indeed,  both  young  and  old  evinced  an 
anxious  solicitude  for  instruction  in  the  things  pertain- 
ing to  salvation  ;  and  the  consistency  of  their  deport- 
ment afforded  the  most  satisfactory  proof  of  tlie  sound- 
ness of  their  profession.     Polygamy,   gregreos,  and 
the  worship  of  the  devil,  were  universally  ahiiiidoned  ; 
the  means  of  grace  were  diligently  attended ;    and 
when  Mr.  Johnson  sailed  for  England,  in  April,  1818, 
the  number  of  persons  regularly  partaking  of  the  Lord's 
supper,  unless  prevented  by  illness,  amounted  to  two 
hundred  and  sixty-three.    All  the  people,  at  this  time, 
were  likewise  decently  clothed,  and  most  of  the  fe- 
males had  learned  to  make  their  own  apparel.     The 
heathenish  customs  of  dancing  and  drumming  for  whole 
nights  together  were  completely  laid  aside  ;  and  for 
the  last  twelvemonths  before  their  teacher's  embarka- 
tion, not  an  oath,  to  his  knowledge,  had  been   heard, 
nor  a  solitary  instance  of  dnnikenness  witnessed  in  tlic 
settlement.     The  schools,  xvhich  opened  with  ninety 
boys,  fifty  girls,  and  thirty-six   adults,  now  contained 
upwards   of  five    hundred   scholars ;    and    an    equal 
number  of  worshippers  regularly  attended  the  church 
every  day,  at  morning  and  evening  prayers. 

The  town  itself,  at  the  period  to  which  wo  are  now 
adverting,  was  laid  out   with  great  reguhiriiy,  and  is 

thus  described   in   the  '20th  report  of  the  society : 

"  Nineteen  streets  are  formed,  and  arc  made  plain  and 
level,  with  good  roads  round  the  town.  A  large  stone 
church  rises  in  the  midst  of  the  habitations  ;  nnd 
a  government-house,  a  parsonage-house,  an  hospital, 
school-houses,  store-houses,  a  bridge  of  several  arches, 
some  native  dwellings,  and  other  buildings,  all  of  stone, 
are  either  finished  or  on  the  point  of  being  so.  Gardens, 
fenced  in,  are  attached  to  every  dwelling  ;  all  the 
lafiu  in  the  immediate  neighborhood  is  imikT  cultiva- 
tion, and  pieces  of  land  to  the  distance  of  three  miles. 


Rice  fields  are  numerous  ;  and  among  the  other  vege- 
tables raised  for  food  are  cassada,  plantains,  cocoa, 
yams,  coffee,  and  Indian  corn.  Of  fruits  they  have 
bananas,  oranges,  limes,  pine-apples,  ground-nuts, 
guavas  and  papaws.  Of  animals  there  are  horses, 
cows,  bullocks,  sheep,  goats,  pigs,  ducks  and  fowls. 
Beside  cultivating  the  ground,  many  of  the  negroes 
have  learned  and  exercise  various  trades ;  fifty  of  them 
being  masons  and  bricklayers, — forty,  carpenters, — 
thirty,  sawyers,— thirty,  shingle-makers,— twenty,  tai- 
lors,— four,  blacksmiths, — and  two,  butchers.  In  these, 
and  various  other  ways,  upwards  of  six  hundred  of  the 
liberated  slaves  maintain  themselves,  and  have  been 
enabled,  by  the  productive  fruits  of  their  own  industry, 
to  relieve  from  all  expense,  on  their  account,  that 
government  to  which  they  pay  the  most  grateful 
allegiance." 

The  separation  between  Mr.  Johnson  and  his  at- 
tached negroes,  though  merely  temporary,  was  ex- 
tremely painful  on  both  sides.  Hundreds  of  both 
sexes  and  of  various  ages  accompanied  him  to  Free 
Town,  a  distance  of  five  miles  of  diflicult  road  ;  and 
took  leave  of  him  on  the  beach,  with  many  tears, 
regretting,  in  their  ardent  love  for  the  faithful  shepherd 
who  had  been  the  means  of  collecting  them  out  of  the 
wilderness,  and  bringing  them  into  the  fold  of  Christ, 
that  tlicy  could  not  be  the  companions  cf  his  voyage, 
and  dismissing  him  from  their  shores  with  fervent 
benedictions,  and  with  the  following  simple  but  striking 
expression  of  their  affection: — "  Massa,  suppose  no 
water  live  here"  (pointing  to  the  sea),  "we  go  with 
you  all  the  way,  till  no  feet  move  more  !" 

In  addition  to  the  removal  of  their  beloved  pastor, 
and  the  inconveniences  resulting  from  an  unavoidable 
change  of  teachers,  the  inhabitants  of  Regent's  Town 
were  deeply  dejected,  in  consequence  of  a  sickness 
which  broke  out  in  the  settlement,  and  proved  mortal 
to  great  munbers,  incliuling  several  of  the  devoted 
friends  and  agents  of  the  society.  The  representation 
of  their  distress,  on  this  account,  as  given  by  one  of 
the  native  communicant'!,  in  a  letter  to  Mr.  Johnson, 
is  tridy  nffoeiing,  and  will,  no  doubt,  be  perused  with 
emotions  of  ttmder  sympathy  : — 

"That  time  Mr.  Cates  sick,  and  Mr.  Morgan  sick  ; 
and  poor  Mr.  Gates  die.— Then  Mr.  Collier  get  si(;k, 
and  .Mr.  Morgnn  get  sick  again  !  One  iViond  said, '  God 
soon  leave  this  place  ;'  hut  I  said,  '  I  trust  in  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ ;  he  knows  his  people  ;  and  ho  never 
left  thorn,  neither  forsake  them.'— That  Stmdny,  Mr. 
Collier  die,  about  eleven  o'clock.- Then  Mr.  Morgan 
sick— Mn.  Morgnn  sick— Mr.  Bull  sick.— O!  that 
time  all  missionaries  sick  ! — We  went  to  Free  Town, 
Monday,  and  bury  Mr.  Collier ;  and  we  came  home 
again  and   keep  service  in   the  church.    O!    that 


tune,  trouble  too  much  in  my  heart !— Nobody  to 
teach  me,  and  I  was  so  sorry  for  my  poor  country, 
people!— Mr.  Gates  died— Mr.  Collier  died— Mr 
Morgan  sick  !-0  !  what  must  I  do  for  my  country- 
men ?— But  I  trust  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  He 
know  what  to  do;  and  I  went  and  pray,  and  I  say, 
J^  Lord,   take    not    all    the    teachers   away   from 

The  simple  but  appropriate  prayer  of  this  poor 
,  negro  was  heard  and  answered  by  the  Lord  of  mis- 
sions  ;  and  Mr.  Wilhelm,  being  appointed,  by  the 
governor  to  take  charge  of  Regent's  Town,  till  the 
return  of  Mr.  Johnson,  greatly  conciliated  the  esteem 
of  the  people,  by  the  kindness  of  his  manners,  and 
his  unremitting  attention  to  the  important  duties  of  his 
office  Still  the  negroes  sighed  over  the  absence  of 
that  beloved  friend  who  had  been  made  the  first  in- 
strument of  leading  them  to  an  acquaintance  with  the 
way  of  salvation  ;  and  when,  at  length,  his  return 
w^s  announced,  many  of  them  exhibited  transports 
01  joy  almost  bordering  on  delirium. 

It  may  be  readily  conceived,  that  in  a  settlement 
where  civilization  and  Christianity  had  alrea.Iy  made 
such  rapid  advances,  the  arrival  of  new  ne.-rocs  re- 
captured in  slave-vossels,  would  call  forth  the  wannest 
sympathies  of  tiieir  sable  brethren  ;  and  the  fcllowing 
extract  of  a  letter,  written  on  one  of  these  occasions^ 
by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Johnson,  will  be  found  highly  descrio- 
tive,  and  replete  with  interest. 

"  A  few  days  since,"  says  this  valuable  missionary, 
I  received  a  note  from  the  chief  superintendent  of 
captured  negroes,  informing  me  tliat  a  slave-vessel 
had  been  brought  in,  with  two  hundred  and  forty-einht 
of  our  unfortunate  fellow  creatures  ;  and  rcquestiim 
me  to  go  down  to  Free  Town,  the  next  morni,,.,  with 
some  confidential  people,  to  receive  them  ;  as  he  and 
the  arting  governor  had  agreed  to  send  them  all  to 
Regent's  Town.  Our  people  soon  heard  the  news,  and 
great  joy  was  expressed  every  where,  from  the  hope 
that  some  of  their  relatives  might  be  among  the  liber- 
ated captives. 

"  1  cannot  describe  the  scene  which  occurred  when 
we  arnve.l  at  Regent's  Town;  for,  though  1  had  seen 
many  negroes  landed,  I  had  never  beheld  such  an 
aHecling  sight  as   I  now  witnessed.     As  soon  as  we 
came  m  view,  all  the  people  ran  out  of  the  houses 
toward  the  road,  to  meet  us,  with  loud  acclamations. 
When  they  beheld  the  new  people,  weak  and  faint, 
they  caught  hold  of  them,  carried  them  on  their  backs 
and  conveyed  them  to  my  house.     As  they  lay  there 
exhausted  on  the  ground,  many  of  our  people  recog- 
iiized  their  friends  uikI  reiuiives ;   and  there  was  a 
general  cry  of,  'O  massa  !— My  brother  !— My  coun- 
tryman !    He  live  in  the  same  town  !* 


WEST  AFRICA. 


573 


The  poor  creatures,  who  were  very  faint,  havine 
just  come  out  of  the  hold  of  a  slave-vessel,  did  not 
know  what  had  befallen  them;  nor  whether  they 
should  laugh  or  cry,  when  they  beheld  the  count/- 
nances  of  those  whom  they  had  supposed  to  have 
been  long  dead,  but  whom  they  now  saw  clothed 
clean,  and,  perhaps,  with  healthy  children  in  their 
arms.  The  scene,  in  fact,  was  beyond  description. 
None  of  us  could  refrain  from  shedding  tears,  and  lifting 
up  our  heartsin  praise  to  that  wonder-working  God 
wliose  ways  are  in  the  great  deep." 

Besides  the  settlement  where  these  highly  interest- 
ing  occurrences   transpired,  the   Church   Missionary 
boc.ety  extended  its  patronage  to  several  other  vil- 
lages  of  liberated  negroes  in  Sierra  Leone,  compris- 
ing  Bathurst,  Charlotte,  Gloucester,  Kent,  Leopold 
Waterloo,  Wilberforce  and  York.      And  in  several 
01  these  the  most  pleasing  instances  of  success  have 
occurred   both   in   respect  to  the  civilization   of  the 
.berated  s  aves,  and  the  illumination  of  their  minds 
l>y     tlie  glorious  gospel  of  the  blessed  God."     The 
editor  deeply  regrets  that  his  prescribed  limits  preclude 
lie  possibility  of  giving  some  account  of  these  stations 
but  he  cannot  refrain  from  laying  before  his  readers' 
the  following  testimony  of  major  Gray  to  the  progress 
of  these  establishments,  as  witnessed  by  himself   in 
company  with  his  excellency  sir  Charles  Macarthy 
attended  by  all  the  civil  and  military  staff  of  the 
colony. 

In  a  letter  dated  November,  1821,  this  gentleman 
observes,  "I  felt  too  much  concern  in  the  welfare  of 
these  truly  interesting  objects  not  to  make  one  of  the 
r«rty  ;  and  therefore  had  an  opportunity  of  witnessing 
the  wonderful  improvements  that  had  taken  place  in 
all  the  towns,  since  I  had  before  seen  them;  some 
■ndeed,  having  all  the  appearance  and  regularity  of' 
the  neatest  village  in  England,  with  a  church,  a  school 
and  a  cominodious  residence  for  the  missionaries  and 
teachers;  though  in  1817  they  had  not  been  more 
tnan  thought  of! 

"  Descending  some  of  the  hills,  I  was  surprised  on 
perceiving  neat  and  well  laid-out  villages,  in  places 
where,  but  four  years  previous,  nothing  was  to  be 
seen  except  almost  impenetrable  thickets:  and  on 
arriving  in  these  villages,  the  interesting  nature  of  such 
objects  was  much  enhanced  by  the  clean,  orderly  and 
respectable  appearance  of  the  cottages  and  their  in- 
habitants, particularly  the  young  people  and  children; 
who,  at  all  the  towns,  assembled  to  welcome,  with 
repeated  cheers,  '  their  governor  and  daddy,'  as  they 

invariablv  «tv!ed   hi*   P" — !' »  • 

1  /    -y"="  ;"-  «"-'!. c.it; J- .      i^arge   pieces  of 

ground  had  been  cleared  and  cultivated  in  the  vicinity 
ot  all  the  towns;  and  every  production  of  (he  climate 
had   been  raised  within  a  short   time,  in   sufficient 


674 


CHURCH  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


abundance  to  supply  the  inhabitants,  and  to  furnish 
the  market  at  Free  Town. 

"  iHis  excellency  visited  the  schools  in  the  different 
hous(3S,  and  witnessed  the  improvement  which  all  the 
students  had  made;  but  particularly  those  of  the 
high  school  at  Regent's  Town,  whose  progress  in  arith- 
metic, geography  and  history  evinced  a  capacity  far 
superior  to  that  which  is  generally  attributed  to  the 
negro." 

In  i;he  spring  of  1822,  Mrs.  Johnson  quitted  Africa, 
in  a  slate  of  health  which  rendered  her  early  dissolu- 
tion extremely  probable.  Contrary  to  expectation, 
however,  she  survived ;  and  on  the  26th  of  April, 
1823,  her  excellent  husband  embarked  for  England, 
with  tlie  pleasing  hope  of  again  meeting  with  i^ie  part- 
ner of  his  affection.  This  anticipation,  however,  was 
nadly  disappointed  ;  as,  notwithstanding  his  apparent 
health  at  the  time  of  going  on  board,  he  was  seized 
with  a  violent  fever,  three  days  after  the  vessel  sailed ; 
and,  on  the  3d  of  May,  his  disembodied  spirit  entered 
into  the  realms  of  eternal  rest.  This  was  a  heavy 
itroke,  indeed,  to  the  poor  negroes  at  Regent's  Town, 
ind  to  the  directors  at  home.  And,  in  addition  to  the 
removal  of  so  distinguished  and  successful  a  laborer, 
many  others  connected  with  the  society  were  swept 
away  by  an  almost  unexampled  mortality,  which  oc- 
curred in  Sierra  Leone  and  its  vicinity  about  the  same 
period.  Still,  however,  the  faith  and  courage  of  the 
•committee  were  graciously  supported  by  him  who 
"  worketh  all  things  after  the  pleasure  of  his  own  will ;" 
»s  will  appear  from  their  excellent  remarks,  addressed 
lo  the  annual  meeting  in  London,  on  the  4th  of  May, 
1824  :— 

"  In  reference  to  the  West  Africa  mission,  the  com- 
mittee scarcely  know  whether  to  speak  in  the  language 
of  grief  cr  of  joy,  of  sorrow  or  of  triumph, — so  mingled 
have  been,  of  late,  the  divine  dispensations.  In  no 
one  year  has  it  ever  suffered  a  greater  loss  in  its  friends 
and  laborers, — while  in  no  one  year  has  there  been  a 
more  evident  blessing  on  their  labors.  The  alleviations 
of  its  heavy  trials  have  been  remarkable.  Tiiey  iiave 
given  occasion  for  a  special  manifestation  of  divine 
grace.  Those  who  have  died,  have  died  in  the  Lord  ; 
thanking  God  for  calling  them  to  this  work,  and  glory- 
fying  his  holy  name  in  the  midst  of  tiieir  sufferings. 
Their  survivin™;  r(;latives,  around  them,  have  expressed 
entire  resignation  to  the  divine  will,  in  the  very  midst 
of  their  trials,  and  that  just  before  they  themselves 
were  called  to  their  everlasting  reward.  The  surviving 
missionaries  seem  to  have  had  their  faith  elevated  above 
the  trying  circumstances  in  which  they  have  been 
placed,  and  to  have  become  more  entirely  united,  and 
devoted  to  their  work." 

No  station  of  the  society  has  been  exposed  to  more 


formidable  difficulties,  nor  exercised  the  faith  and 
patience  of  the  committee  in  a  greater  degree,  than 
that  at  Sierra  Leone.  The  pestilential  climate,  the 
consequent  difficulty  of  procuring  laborers  willing  to 
encounter  it,  the  shackles  which  a  connection  with 
government  imposed  on  the  missionaries,  and  several 
other  minor  causes,  have  contributed  much  to  retard 
the  progress  of  the  gospel.  At  length,  indeed,  the 
gloom  which  has  long  darkened  our  hopes  for  the  benefit 
of  the  negroes,  seems  gradually  to  disperse,  and  a  bright 
day  to  be  dawning  on  Western  Africa.  This  colony  hav- 
ing been  made  the  depot  for  those  Africans  who  were 
rescued  from  slavery  by  his  majesty's  cruisers,  great 
numbers  of  natives  of  different  tribes  and  dialects  have 
been  brought  hither,  distributed  among  the  villages, 
and  humanely  maintained  and  clothed  by  government, 
till  able  to  support  themselves.  By  the  blessing  of 
God  on  the  exertions  of  the  missionaries  and  school- 
masters, a  decided  and  beneficial  change  in  the  habits 
and  manners  of  these  people  has  been  gradually  pro- 
duced ;  and,  as  far  as  man  can  judge,  very  many  have 
experienced  the  power  of  true  religion  on  their  hearts. 
It  was  the  object  of  the  society  to  provide  an  efficient 
minister  for  each  of  the  fourteen  parishes,  into  which 
the  colony  was  divided ;  but  sickness  and  death  have 
rendered  tiiis  impracticable,  and,  owing  to  the  inade- 
quacy of  tiieir  numbers,  the  missionaries  were  com- 
pelled, in  1827,  to  relinquish  one  of  the  three  districts, 
into  which  the  colony  had  been  recently  divided,  and 
to  leave  a  population  of  eight  thousand  persons  with- 
out a  single  spiritual  instructer. 

While  the  operations  of  the  society  were  thus  con- 
fined to  a  spiiere  narrower  than  the  limitsof  the  colony, 
the  regions  beyond  those  limits  were  left  almost  un- 
touched ;  and  though  some  considerable  tracts  of 
country  had  been  placed  under  the  authority  of  Great 
Britain  by  the  chiefs  and  people  (such  as  the  land  of 
the  Sherbro  Bulloms  and  the  Dacca  Loco  territories), 
and  an  advantageous  opening  thereby  made  for  the 
introduction  of  the  gospel  among  the  neighboring 
tribes,  the  society  has  not  been  able  to  avail  itself  of 
these  opportunities  of  extending  its  labors. 

The  difficulties  wit  .  which  the  missionaries  have  had 
to  contend  have  been  further  increased,  by  their  having 
been  charged  for  some  years  with  the  duties  of  the  chap- 
laincy at  Free  Town.  By  an  arrangement  made  with  tho 
government  in  1824,  the  society  pledged  itself  to  pre- 
])are  and  maintain  all  the  clergy  requisite  for  the  colony, 
whether  at  Free  Town  or  in  the  country  parishes.  This 
arrangement,  which,  under  happier  circumstances,  might 
have  been  the  means  of  supplying  the  colony  with  duly- 
qualified  and  spiritual  teachers,  eventually  proved  bur- 
densome to  the  missionaries  ;  whichchargc, onerous  and 
long-sustained  as  it  was,  has  only  been  removed  by  the 


WEST  AFRICA 


S7S 


!r„'"hu'H".— ""5'''  '®^^-     '^*'"  S«"''«'"''°  entered 
on  his  duties  m  the  early  part  of  1830. 

The  Christian  instruction  of  the  children  at  the 

eolony  has  not  been  neglected.     Under  the  care  of 

the  missionaries,  these  children,  v/hen  landed  from  the 

tt's^hh^th  H    '  ^T  ''•"^'''  '"  ^'^y'  *°  '^^^P  holy 
the  sabbath  day  and  to  reverence  the  name  and  word 

01  Uod.  On  these  instructions  a  blessing,  in  numer- 
ous .nstances  has  descended  from  on  high  Many  of 
thescholars  have  been  truly  converted  to  God,  and 
«ill  more  have  become  reputable  and  well  behaved 
members  of  society.  The  system  originally  adopted 
with  respect  to  the  schools,  was  pursued  until  January, 
1827  when  sir  Neil  Campbell,  the  governor,  intro- 
duced a  new  plan,  which  virtually  incapacitated  the 

iTsZer"  tT  '"'""'^  superintending  these  estab- 
lishments. They  were,  m  consequence,  given  up- 
and  others,  solely  under  the  direction  of  the"^  society '« 
agents,  were  commenced  in  1828,  at  two  of  the  sta- 
ions  in  the  mountain  district,  in  addition  to  an  infant 
school  previously  established.  The  missionaries  con- 
Unued  the  superintendence  of  the  colonial  schools  in 
Free  Town,  after  relinquishing  the  care  of  those  in  the 

iniS  T  I-  .^  ''^°°^  ^''^  h««"  established  also 
n  1822,  beyond  the  limits  of  the  colony,  in  the  Plan- 
tain islands,  but  has  since  been  given  up. 

Besides  educating  the  children  of  the  colony,  the 
society,  in  1815,  established  a  Christian  Institution, 
near  Free  Town,  with  the  object  of  training  up  native 
missionaries.      After   dragging   on   a    lingering    ex! 

Jl  T-  Ll^r'"  ^''"■''  '^''  establishment  was  dis- 
solved in  1826.  Early  in  the  following  year,  it  was 
recommenced  by  the  Rev.  C.  L.  F.  Haensel,  ;nd,  L 
1H^8,  removed  to  Fourah  Bay.  near  Free  Town  It 
contained,  according  to  the  last  reports,  eleven  youths. 
With  a  similar  object  in  view,  the  committee  caused 
three  African  youths  to  be  carried  to  England  for  the 
purpose  of  education:  they  have  since  returned  to 
their  native  country. 

The  following  summary  of  the  West  African  mis- 
sion will,  no  doubt,  afford  interest  to  all  who  regard  the 
inHuence  of  good  institutions  upon  the  present  and 
future  happiness  of  mankind.  This  summary  is  found- 
ed  on  reports  from  the  various 
February,  1832. 


Colonial  Bots'  School. 

On  the  books, ^^ 

Average  attendance,    '........'.,'/  q^ 

Christian  Institution. 

Student 

Probationers, 

6 

KlSSET. 

Communicants,  ,  . 

Candidates, .',".',' *®^ 

Day  scholars, ®^ 

Sabbath  school, ....      *f? 

'    93 

Wellington. 
Sabbath  morning,  early, 

"      noon, 

"       evening, 

Daily  eariy  prayer  meeting.  .......,' 

Thursday  evening  prayer  meeting, '.  '.  '.  '.  '  ] 

Communicants, 

Candidates, 

Baptisms, '  '  ' 

Day  scholars. * ^^ 

Evening  scholars, ,  ff 

Sabbath  scholars, 


150 

500 

200 

50 

70 

202 

55 


155 
72 


Hastings. 

Communicants, 

Candidates, [ "^ 

Baptisms, '  ' ^ 

Day  scholars. ^ 

76 

60 

18 


stations,  down   to 


Gibraltar  Chapel. 
Average  attendance  on  public  worship— 

Jf°™"8 100 

^^~^'    60-70 

-  "mtiiunieauis, „- 

Baptisms  in  the  year, g 

Sabbath  school, .  .  .  133 


Sabbath  scholars, 

Wednesday  evening  scholars,   .  '. 

Gloucester. 

Morning  service, 

Evening  service, [  [  [ 

Communicants, .  .  

Candidates, '.'.'.'.'.'.'. ^^ 

Baptisms, _ ^^ 

Regent. 

Communicants,.  ... 

Candidates, [  ]  '' *"* 

Baptisms, ^^ 

Day  scholars .'....'.'."." 05? 

Average  attendance,.  .  .  .  . 010 

Evening  scholars,    .  .  

Averaee  attendance 
Sabbath  scholars, .  .  . 


54 

20 

143 


attendance, qq 


576 


CHURCH  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


Bathcmst. 

Morning  service, 600 

Evening  service, ISO 

Communicants, 91 

Caiutidates, S8 

Baptisms, 11 

Day  scholars 38'^ 

Average  attendance, 2(50 

Evening  scholars — average  attendance, 30 

Sabbath  scholars, 18-1 

Avonigo  attendance, 150 

Charlotte. 

Average  attendance  on  worship 100 

Communicants, ti 

Candidates,  .  , li) 

Baptisms, S 

General  Statement. 

Communicants, 683 

Candidates, 294 


Baptisms i 77 

Students  and  probationers, 19 

Day  scholars 1,388 

Sabbath  scholars, 684 

The  proficiency  of  the  scholars  is  very  satisfactory. 
There  lias  been  a  large  increase  during  the  year. 
When  the  total  amount  of  the  population  is  considered, 
and  the  salutary  adherence  to  ecclesiastical  discipline  is 
borne  in  mind,  the  state  of  religion  will,  it  is  appro- 
bended,  be  found  to  equal  that  of  some  of  the  best 
regulated  parishes  in  Kngland,  On  this  subject  ono 
of  the  missionarios  writes:  "Taking  all  things  into 
consideration,  the  ignorant  state  of  the  people  when 
they  arrive,  the  habits  to  which  they  were  for  many 
years  addicted,  the  frequent  removalsof  those  to  whom 
they  were  aceustomed  as  their  spiritual  pastors,  either 
by  death  or  by  other  providential  cirtunnstancos — much, 
vrry  much  has  already  been  done  in  the  colony,  by  the 
instrumentality  of  those  frail  men  that  have  been  em- 
ployed in  the  work," 


CHAPTER    III. 


AUSTRALASIA   MISSIOJV,    INCLUDING   NEW   ZEALAND  AND 

NEW   SOUTH    WALES. 


New  Zealand  comprises  two  large,  and  several 
Moalior  islands,  extending  from  thirty-four  degrees  to 
forty-seven  degrees  south  latitude,  and  from  one  hundred 
and  sixty-six  to  about  one  hundred  and  eighty  degrees 
east  longitude.  It  was  discovered  by  Tasnian,a  Dutch 
navigator,  in  1(>4'2.  He  anchored  in  a  bay,  to  which, 
in  consequence  of  an  attack  from  the  natives,  he  gave 
the  nanie  of  Murderers'  bay,  and  left  the  coast  with- 
out landing.  In  1770,  New  Zealand  was  visited  and 
explored  by  capiain  Cook.  The  climate  is  salubrious, 
the  thermometer  ranging  between  forty  and  eighty 
degrees,  avoiding  the  heat  of  the  tropical  climates,  yet 
warmer  tiian  most  of  the  temperate  latitudes.  The 
popuhition  of  New  Zealand  is  estimated  at  half  a  mil- 
lion. The  inhabitants  are  a  hardy,  industrious  race,  not 
only  capable  of  great  physical  exertion,  but  of  high 
moral  culture,  and  are  by  no  means  deficient  in  intellect. 
Their    tattooing   and    carving    display    great    taste. 


They  are,  nevertheless,  addicted  to  the  greatest  vices 
that  stain  the  human  character — treachery,  cannibal- 
ism, infanticide  and  murder.  Less  superstitious  than 
many  of  the  natives  of  the  Pacific,  but  perhaps  as 
much  addicted  to  war  as  any  of  them,  if  not  more  so — 
war  appeal's  to  bo  their  delight,  and  the  events  of 
their  lives  are  little  else  than  a  series  of  acts  of  op- 
pression, robbery  and  bloodshed. 

The  cannibalism  of  the  inhabitants  of  Now  Zea- 
land, and  other  islniuls  of  tiie  Pacific,  has  been  doubt- 
ed by  some,  and  denied  by  others  ;  and  every  mind 
exeirising  the  common  sympathies  of  humanity  must 
iitttuniliy  resist  the  conviction  of  his  species  ever  sink- 
ing to  a  degradation  so  abject,  and  a  barbarity  so  hor- 
rible, until  it  bo  substantiated  by  the  clearest  evidence 
of  indisputable  facts.  Hut,  however  ardently  it  may 
have  been  hoped  that  the  accounts  ol  their  antiiiopopiv 
agism  were  only  the  result  of  inferences  drawn  from 


NEW  ZEAUND. 

Jh«ir  familinriiy  and  apparent  Mliafiiotiun  in  dooUs  of 
horrid  njurdor,  tlio  amounts  of  ilio  nmnionarioi  who 
l»v«  rewdod  HHiung  then.,  no  longor  a(hnit  any  doubl 
«o  b«on.ori«in«d  of  iha  rovohing  an«l  i.umilia.ing  fact. 
IM  INuw  /uttlaad  iliwro  in  no  Icing  over  the  whole 
or  evon  ovur  ono  of  tlio  largur  inlundg,     The  nooi>ld 
are  govornod  hy  a  nu.nlmr  of  ohiort«ins,a„uh  mmv 
atnong  hu.  own  iriboor .-Iftn, «nd  ind..p«nd«n«  of  «v«ry 
oliior.     Ihis  l«adii  to  froquont  and  dtmiructivo  warn 
and  must  greatly  cirounworibo  iho  iafloonc.o  of  niia^ 
■lonantM.* 

I.I  tho  niontii  of  August.  IHOJ),  Willi«„,  1|„||  a,,,! 
John  King  (Iho  funner  of  whom  had  uhtuined  ii  mm- 
lica  knowledgo  of  .hip-building  and  nnvig«tion,-i,n.d 
tho  latlor.  «l  .1,0  arts  of  (lux-dresNing,  twiuo-spinning, 
and  rcpo-iuHking)  sailo.l  for  Port  JuokM.n.  with  tlio 
design  ol  forming  a  Holtloiuunl  in  Now  Ztndund,  and 
of  introduoing  into  that  benighted  inlund  the  hleNmngn 
of  «ivdi«iUion  Hn.l  ChriHiiani.y.     'J'j.u  a^v,  Sanmul 
Marsden.chapiiun  of  tho  colony  of  New  S(mth  WuIoh 
who  had  visited  Kngiand  for  thu  purp.wo  of  procuring 
UMistnnts  m  his  arduous  work,  was  now  returning  in 
Iho  humo  vessel ;  and  shortly  aftor  his  en.barkati.m. 
he  found  among  the  sailors  a  New  Zealunder,  named 
Uuatorra,  from  whom  he  obtained  eonsidorohle  infor- 
mation  concerning  the  scene  of  the  intended  settlement 
the  fust  idea  of  which  had  originated  with  this  excel- 
lent clergyman. 

Duutorra,  tho  son  of  one  of  tho  chiefs  of  New 
Zealand,  had  been   induced   to   nmke  a   voyage  to 
England  as  a  conunon  sailor,  for  the  purpose  of  grali- 
fying  a  wish  which  he  had   long  entertained,  viz.  that 
of  seemg   king  (Jeorgo  ;    but,  after  enduring  numy 
hardships,  ho  found,  on  his  arrival  in  the  river  Thames 
that  his  fondly  cherished  hopes  would  be  disappointed.' 
"  When  ho  made  incpiiries,"  says  Mr.  Mars.len,  •'  by 
what  means  hecouhl  get  a  sight  of  the  king,  he  was  some- 
tunes  told  that  ho  could  not  Hnd  tho  house,  and  at  other 
times  that  nobody  was  permitted  to  see  his  majesty. 
This  distressed  him  oxcee.lingly,  and  he  saw  but  littlo 
of  I^ondon,  being  seldom  permitted  to  go  on  shore. 
When  tho  vessel  had  discharged  her  cargo,  the  captain 
told  him  that  ho  should  be  put  on  board  the  Ann,  which 
had  been  taken  up  hy  government,  to  curry  convicts 
to  New  South  Wales;  but  bo  refused  to  give  him 
either  wogos  or  clothing,  telling  him  that  the  owners 
at  Port  Jackson  woidd  ronunierate  bis  services  with 
two  muskets ;  which,  however,  ho  never  received. 

"When  I  cm'jurked,"  Mr.  Marsdon  continues, 
"  Duatorra  was  confined  below  by  sickness,  so  that  I 
did  not  SCO  him  for  some  time.  On  my  first  observing 
'"'"i  *'°  was  on  tho  forecastle,  wrapped  up  in  an  old 


vn 

great  eoatj  he  .oe,«od  very  weak,  had  a  violwt 

ough  and  d..oharge,l  considerable  .,n„„,i,ie.  u(hZ 

h^u.  h..  mouth.     Jly  ,|,e  kindness  of ,!,«  surgeon  .^ 

..«  ter.  however,  and  by  proper  nourishment,  he  begin 

^  eeover  both  hi.  strength  and  spirits,  ad  ha  g" 

1>mo  well  |,„f„r„  „„  „,ived  «,  Jtio  ;,,  j„,„i,,„  .,    K"' 

On  the  arrival  „f  Mr.  Marsdon  and  his  eompanioni 

«  Port  Jackson,  they  found  that  the  .,o«d.a„t.'«f  Z 

place  had  resolved  on  forming  a  sat.lemen,  «,  Now 

l^ea  and.for  the  purpose  of  procuring  hemp  and  other 


,aJ^  *''""  •'"'y""'*"  RM««TOhei,  vol,  I.  p.  n-ao.  London  e<l, 
1090. 

Vol.  I.— Nos.  49  &t  60.  75 


.,„  ,     ,         .    .     .     -  •■  procuring  nenip 

wa    n  , ,  „  (,„.  .,«n.y,„s  „.is  resolution  into  elfect ;  but 

.       t  e  set,  «,.s  were  about  to  sail,  under  the    a„„. 

«"«(  (he  oolmnal  government,  the  alarming  in|g|. 

«d  re.  .ntly  s«.le.l  from  Pun  J«.,kson.  had  Ime./bnmed 
y  he  Now  Zealanders.  and  the  whole  crew  murdered, 
with  tho  exception  of  eight  persons.  This  circZ 
.tunce  not  only  deterred  the  merchant,  f'.l  "rol 
^•"ting  their  plan,  but  induced  Mr.  Marsden.  who  had 
heen  mtrusie.l  with  the  superinten.lenee  of  the  now 

I"""*," '» *^^''«"'  "'«  "'ilish  settlers,  for  the  ..resent 

'••the  colony.  ||  Hubsequently  „,,p„„«,,j;,^„  ' 
hat  the  trHK„.u|  catastn.pho  which  had  occurred  was 
the  result  ol  wanton  cruelty  on  the  part  of  , he  captain 
ol  the  Hoy.l ;  «nd,  notwithstanding  the  awful  revenge 
taken  by  the  New  Z..al.nders.  they  did  not  ,.,me„r 
'""hiied  10  curry  their  resentment  any  further ;  but 
on  the  contrury,  they  received  with  kindness,  and 
Hupphud  will,  piompii,n,hMlu,  „rew,  of  other  vessels, 
winch,  soon  afierward,  touched  at  their  inland 

I"   the   month  of  March,  JrtI4.  Messrs.  lf„||  „„.| 

Kenjlull    the  lalter  of  whom  had  bm-ii  sent  out  from 

Migland  to  assist  in  the  projecie.l  missi.m.s.iiled  from 

Ion   Jackson,   with   the  design  of  invesiiguiing  the 

Htate  o(  New  Zeahm.l.  and  of  n.uking  arrangelen,, 

for  their  settlement  ..mong  tho  natives.     The  rocen. 

tion  winch  they  met  with  was  very  encouraging  ;  and 

Duaterra.  who  ha.l  some  time  since  returned  ,0  Jis 

native  country,  app.-ared  puriieularly  re|oicod  to  see 

them  i  as  they  conveye.l  a  messogo  to  jiim   from  hi. 

excellent   ir.end,  Mr.  Marsden,  accompanied  with  0 

«toel  mill,  n  nwve,  and  some  other  useful  presents 

During  his  residence  in  New  South  Wales,  ihis 
young  man  had  «pp|io,|  |,i„„„|f  sedulously  t„  the 
ac.pimuion  of  the  art  of  husbandry,  and  being  well 
aware  of  its  a.lvnniages  in  a  national  ,,oint  of  view, 
he  was  extremely  anxious  that  his  country  slionid 
reap  the  naliiial  advantages  which  he  know  it  po.- 
sossetl,  so  far  as  related  to  tho  cultivation  of  the  soil 
On  ^hw  sailing  for  New  Zealand,  therefore,  he  wm 
..!!!!  .y  ,:!rfH=^hrt!  With  soino  scod-wiMiMi  and  agricultural 
""Plemenis ;  ond  on  his  arrival,  he  immodiatoly  di«. 
played  his  wheat  to  his  friends,  and  tho  neighboring 


&78 


CHURCH  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


chieis  ;  inromiing;  them  of  iu  value,  and  telling  ihont 
that  it  was  of  titis  artiolo  the  Europeans  inati«  the 
bi.scuit  which  they  had  seen  and  eatun  on  IxMitl  the 
ships  which  touched  at  their  island.     <*  A  |K>rtion  of 
the  wheal,"  says  Mr.  Marsden,  "  he  gave  to  six  ohiofs, 
and  also  to  some  of  his  own  common  men,  and  directed 
then)  all  how  to  sow  it.     The  rest  ho  reserved  for  him- 
self and  his  uncle,  Shungheo,  a  very  gri'at  chief,  whoso 
domain  extends  from  the  oast  to  the  west  side  of  New 
Zealand.     The  persons  to  whom  Dtiaterrn  had  given 
the  seed,  put  it  into  the  ground,  and  it  grew\>ell;  but, 
before  it  was  ripe,  «inny  of  thorn  iHTinno  inipntiont 
for  the  produce ;  and  as  they  ex|K>cted  to  lind  the  grain 
at  the  bottom  of  the  stems,  as  with  their  |H>lntoos. 
they  examined  the  roots  ;  and  on  fmding  there  was  no 
wheat  under  the  ground,  tlit^y  pulled  it  nil  up,  and  burn- 
ed it ;  ridiculing  DuHtorm  nlKuit  his  wheat,  and  tolling 
him  that,  though  he  had  Ih'ou  a  great  traveller,  he 
coulil  not  easily  im|>ose  upon   their  crodulity,     The 
crops  of  Duatcrra  and  Shunghee  canu',  in  due  time, 
to  perfection,  and  wore  roiiped   and  tliroshod  ;  but, 
though  the  natives  were  much  astonished  to  find  that 
the  grain  was  produced  at  the  top,  and  not  at  the 
Itottom  of  the  stem,  yet  they  could  not  be  persuaded 
that  broad  could   be  made  of  it.     On  receiving  the 
steel  njill,  however,  he  soon  set  to  work,  and  ground 
some  wheat  l>eforo  his  countrymen,  who  danced  and 
shouted  for  joy  when  they  saw  the  moal.     He  also 
made  a  cake,  and,  having  baked  it  in  a  frying-pan, 
gave  it  to  the  people  to  eat ;  which  fully  satisfied 
them  of  the  truth  of  what  he  had  told  them  before, — 
that  wheat  would  make  bread."     Messrs.  Hall  and 
Kendall,  aAer  remaining   about  six  weeks  i>i   New 
Zealand,  and  obtaining  considerable  information  con- 
cerning the  state  of  the  island,  returned  to  Port  Jack- 
son, accompanied  by  Duaterra,  Shunghee,  and  several 
other  chiefs  ;  who  experienced  the  most  friendly  re- 
ception from  Mr.  Marsden,  at  Paramatta  ;  and,  during 
their  residence  in  that  town,  they  had  an  opportunity 
of  witnessing  so  many  things  which,  to  them,  were 
both  novel  and  wonderful,  that  on  one  occasion  they 
told  their  kind  host,  "On  our  return,  we  shall  sit  up 
whole  nights,  telling  our  people  wiiat  we  have  seen  ; 
but  they  will  stop  their  ears  with  their  fingers,  and 
exclaim, '  We  have  heard  enough  of  your  incredible 
tccounu,  and  we  will  hear  no  more  ;  for  they  cannot 
be  true.'  " 

In  November,  1814,  the  Rev.  S.  Marsden,  whose 
heart  appears  to  have  been  deeply  engaged  in  the 
success  of  this  mission,  sailed  from  Port  Jackson,  with 
Messrs.  Hall,  Kendall  and  King,— their  wives  and 
children,— -the  New  Zealand  chiefs,  and  some  other 

npr«nn€.— _(<  in  nrAtkf  **   Ma  liA  A»»-.«— ^ !•      it  <_   -!-l   ^l._ 

J- I.. .  _ .^j.,^„„,        ,{^  jy       my         JJJJJ 

settlers  in  their  fint  eslablisbment,  and  to  give  ihem 


as  tnuch  influence  as  possible  among  the  nntivoi." 
On  their  approaching  the  north  capo,  a  friendly  inter- 
course was  opened  with  the  natives,  who  appeared 
iiKslinod  to  show  them  evpry  attention  in  their  |H»wor; 
and,  on  their  arrival  at  what  are  called  the  Cavalle 
isles,  a  utost  atUtcting  interview  took  place  between  one 
of  the  chiefs  and  his  relatives,  which  i*  thus  doscril»ed 
by  Mr.  Marsden  ;— 

"  While  we  wore  talking  with  Koro-korc»  and  some 
of  the  natives,  his  amit  was  seen  coming  towards  us, 
with  some  wonH>n  and  children.  She  had  a  gi-een 
bough  twisted  nnmd  her  head,  and  another  in  h«r 
hand,  ami  a  young  child  on  her  back.  When  sh« 
canto  within  a  hundred  yards,  she  began  to  make  A 
very  mournfid  lamenialion,  and  htmg  down  her  head, 
as  if  oppressed  with  the  heaviest  grief.  She  advanced 
to  Kort>-koro  with  a  slow  pace.  Ho  appeared  much 
agitated,  and  stood  in  deep  silence,  like  a  slnluo, 
leaning  on  the  top  of  his  muskot.  As  his  atmt 
advanced,  she  prayed  very  loud,  and  wept  exceedingly. 
Tioi,  Koro-koro's  brother,  soenuMi  much  airocled  ; 
and  as  if  he  were  ashamed  of  his  amit's  coiuhict,  he  told 
us  ho  would  not  cry—'  I  will  act  like  an  Englishman,' 
said  ho  ;  •  ]  will  not  cry  I'  Koro-koro  romainetl  ntotion- 
less.  till  his  aimt  came  up  to  him,  when  they  laid 
their  heads  together,  the  wonmn  loaning  on  a  stair, 
and  ho  on  his  gun  ;  and,  in  this  siliuition,  they  wept 
aloud  for  a  long  time,  and  repeated  short  sentences 
alternately,  which  we  understood  were  prayers ;  and 
continued  weeping,  the  tears  rolling  down  their  sable 
couiilenancos  in  torrents.  It  was  impossible  to  soo 
them  without  being  deeply  alToctod. 

"  At  this  time,  also,  the  daughter  of  Koro-koro's 
aimt  sat  at  her  mother's  foot,  weeping,  and  nil  the 
women  join<»d  in  their  lamentations.  Wo  thought  this 
an  extrnordiunry  custom  among  them  of  manifesting 
their  joy  ;  but  we  aAerward  found  that  it  was  general 
in  New  Zealand. 

"  Many  of  these  poor  women  cut  themselves,  in 
their  faces,  arms  and  breasts,  with  sharp  shells  or 
Mints,  till  the  blood  streamed  down.  When  their  tears 
and  lamentations  had  subsided,  I  presented  the  women 
with  a  few  gifts. 

"Tool  had  sat  all  this  while,  laboring  to  suppress 
his  feelings,  as  he  had  declared  he  would  not  cry. 
In  a  .short  time  we  were  joined  by  several  fine  young 
men.  Among  them  was  a  youth,  the  son  of  a  chief  of 
the  island.  When  Tool  saw  him,  he  could  contain  his 
feelings  no  longer,  but  instantly  ran  to  him,  and  they 
locked  each  other  in  their  arms,  and  wept  aloud." 

Duaterra  and  Shunghee,  during  their  slay  at  Port 
Jackson,  had  often  spoken  of  a  sanguinary  war  which 
had  been  carried  on  between  the  people  of  W^hango- 
rooa  and  the  Bay  of  Islands,  from  the  timeofths 


. b.trumum  of  ,!,„  n„yd  ,  „,„,  ,„j  f 

goiHHitt.  ()„  ,|,o,r  u„,v«|  at  i|,i,  ,,|,„,„,  Uomvot,  th.ir 
Jm..  ,...v.M  .„  |,„v«  .,...„  „.,fo„„Iu„,  ,•„.„,  m7m7 
Im.  do  ar..„„„.|  ,„  i„.,„,,„„  ,„,        ,,  /J 

Kom.k«ro  «„d  four  K..ro,um„  Kmul.,,,,,,,, ,  J„.|  «(W 

inons  but  woro  nnidy  to  muko  ptmo.,.  ^ 

A«  tl.o  (.roviouH  .'.o..vor««lio.,  Imd  ,wm,»mly  m. 
cu|m,d  «  mm.ul.,n,l.l«  lim,,,  Mr.  M.UMlm,  rom.lvil  to 
|M.M  the  inghi  i»  ,1,0  ,-„,„,, .  „,„,,  „,^,„.  ,,,,^1 
.droslunonl  wuh  Slu.„«|,no',  ,„,„p|.,,  at  .,  ,,|„c„  „1,„,„ 
«  nnlo  d.M«,„.  Imund  „  K„ro|,mu.  Kcn.lmn,,,.,  mu»n\ 
iyiol.ol.»,r„l,.rnod  nnd  nnt  d«w..  luimng  tl...  chiuf.  ,,„d 
tlivir  |iiio|)lo, 

•'A,s  ilK,  avPuiuR  advn..o«d."  m,y«  Mr.   M.rH.lm,, 
'    lu.  po,,,,|„  hog,,,,  ,0  rotiro  to  in.,,  ii,  ,li(r,,,,„t  BruonN 
Ahoot  olovon  o'clock,  Mr.  McI,„|„m  „„d  I  ynumLi 
ou,«„lvc,,  up  .„  „„r  grout  „oa,.,  „„d  prop»,od  f.,,  Jo., 
His...      1 1,0  d„of  ,|„.„o,o.l  ,„o  ,o  lio  l,y  l,i«  Mdo.     Hi. 
w.fo  .„„|  ol„l,l  lay  „„  ,1,0  right  h«„,l,„„d  Mr.  INioholn. 
cUm  hy.     rho  night  w,w  .-hu.r,  h,.,I  ,ho  ..«,•.  Hhu,.„ 
bright,  and  tho  xou  in  „„r  fr.„,t  u,,.  .,„.„„h  :  „,,,un,l 
UMvoio  nn.norm.H  «p«nr.,Mnok  „p,ighi  i„  ,ho  groun.l ; 
and  K,..up.  of  n«,ivo..  lying  i„  „||  di,o,-tionH,  hko  „ 
flork  of  Hhoop,  ,.pon  tho  g,«..,,  a.  ,ho,o  worn  noithcr 
ton,,  nor  lu„.  ,o  oovor  tho,,,.     |  vi.nvod  onr  pro.ont 
»ituat.on  with  .onmuion.  and   fooli,,^,  ,|„„  ,  ',,„„„„, 
oxpioM.     Surrounded  hy  cannih.,!..  who  h«<l    ,„„.. 
»ocrod    and  dovourod  our  co„„„y,„„„,   i   won.lorod 
."uch  at  tho  n,y.t«rio.  of  Provi.hmrn,  ,.„d  h.,w  tho.o 
Hung,  oouhl  bo  !     Novor  (hd   I   hohohl  ,ho  hlog.o.l 
ttdvantagosofciviliisution  in  u  «,oro  gratoful  light  thiin 
now.    I  d,d  not  .loop  inuoli  .luring  tho  nigh,.    My  miinl 
wtts  too  soriou.Iy  oc.u.piod  hy  ,|,o  pro.,,,,,  .cono,  and 
tho  mm  and  .trango  idua.  which  it  naturally  oxcitod 

"About  throo  o'clo.=k  in  tho  .norning,  I  r„8„,  „„;, 
walko.l  about  tho  camp,  surveying  ,ho  difforont 
j;r«u,Ks  of  natiyos.  S..,no  of  tho,,,  put  out  thoir  lion.l. 
from  undor  tho  toi,s  of  thoir  knkkulmw.,  which  uro 
iiko  a  boo-hivo,  and  .poko  to  ,n«.  Who,,  tho  n.orn- 
ing  light  returned,  we  bohold  men,  women  and  chil- 
drcn,  nsloop  in  all  directions,  like  tho  beasts  of  tho 
field.  I  had  ordered  tho  boat  to  come  on  sh.ire  f..r  us 
nt  dnyhght ;  and,  soon  oftor,  Duoterro  arrived  in  tho 
camj)." 

AAer  inviting  tho  chiefs  to  breakfast  on  boord  the 
Active,— presenting  them  with  a  variety  of  presents,— 


iVEW  ZEALAND. 


879 


I  -nd  coinp  «lM,g  ih,  work  of  r«ro.iolll..|„„,  Mr.  Mirt. 

I  « «".  mnl  Ins  o<..np«nlon«  prooomlo.l  to  «  oovo  onili?. 
«b»  .»w«  of  Kanghodmo,  wl,«r«  UuZrVX 
"«uloU,  n„U  tl,«  noKt  ,ii„rni,,g.  Ii.ving  ,mlo,T  .  I 
«  shoop  and  o...lowhie.i';ii„y     V,        ';; 

t«so  brs.and  began  to  prop«ro  for  ^r^mlng  tSl 

•'  DuHtorra  p«..o,|  ,h„  remaining  p„r,  „r  the  d,. 
(S«...rd«y   m  preparing  for  ,ho  .ahha.h.    vlZlZ 

«••""  •"'II  m.  ttoro  of  i„,„i  ^i„, ,  f,„,„„ .' ;  ^' " ,"; 

i;"ll..t  «u.l  ro«ding.d«.k  in  the  eontro    a.ld  „  ^  1 

l.«  Nvboe    either  with  black  .,„,iv„  c„,||,  msoml 

<W  wind,  bo  Ii..dbr.,nght with  him  fr ,C  jT 

"I    ixo.    ,hoin  up  «.  .„„„,  „„  „„„,,  ^. ,  • 

<  r  the  iM.ropean.  t:.  sit  upon.  imondiiiK  ...  .Tw! 
.I.vuie  servioo  porf..rmod  the;,  tl.o  n  ,  '  'vZl 
luenurut  .111.  Ill, ,i,.  ,.f  i.i„ "»   'my.      iiifl.n 


'""'""■"".•r  '" •'"  "f  I'iH  .nvn  a..c.,rd  ,  „„,|,  1 ,  ^ 

m''!'"K.  ."I.Mmod  mo  every  thing  was  ready  fo  v  „ 
"•  '•  .m..  r  was  n.u.d,  ploa.o.l  with  ,l,i.  .ing,.|„r  fc 
of   ...  attention.     Tho  nM..li,.g.,|o.k  w«.  ah...  5 

!;;;;  "7  ;'"'/'■' '.-'•'"-' i...ii.it  «hou.  .ix  t 

n.e  black  cloih  cvorod  •!.«  I..p  of  ,ho  pnlpi,,    „ 
I.....K  ever  ,l,e  side..    The  ho,,,.,,,' ,f  tho  pn Ipi      .  ^ 
..H  tin,  ro«,l i,.g.,|o.k,w«s  part  ,.f  a  c«n,.o.'    1;  "3 
was  bo....,mng,  ,,,,.1  ha.l  „  .„|omn  appearance.     Z 
b..<  .d.ooroc,od«f|„g..,„,ron  the  highest  bill  in  tl.o 
v.llago,  wluch  hud  «  very  ..o.n.namling  view 

"  Abo,.t  ton  o'cl.„.k,  wo  prop„i„,|  ,„  ^„  „„  ,,,„,    ,^ 
l".bh.li.  (..r  ,ho  hr.t  thno,  the  ^la.l  ,i,li„g.  „f  ,),„    ' 
l'«l.     I  wn.  un.lcr  no  uppr.,h.ui.i„n  for  the  snfoiy  of 
tl..:-  vessel  ;  an.l  ihe.nfore  o,,l.,r«d  all  on  board  t,.  .« 
on  Nb,.re,  ,0  attend  divi.u,  ...rvi.x,  oxcop,  tho  ma.ior 
.....I  one  man.      When  wo  h.n.led.  we  f„n„d  K..ro.k.,ro 
I>.mterr«  ami  Shunghoe  .IicsmmI  in  regimentals,  which 
governor  Mac.pia.rio  h„d  given  them,  will,  their  mon 
<  rawn  up.roa.ly  to  march  into  the  e„clo.nro,t«  attend 
.l.v.ne  service.     They  ha.l  their  .wor.ls  by  ,hoir  .i,|e», 
un.  n  .witch  III  tlioir  haml.     We  entered  the  enelosuro 
«.,.l  w..ro  plaee<l  on  the  sent  on  each  si.le  of  the  n.ilnit' 
Koro-kon,  marched  his  men,  and  placed  them  on  my 
right  h.,n<l,  in  tho  roar  of  the  Knropeans ;  and  I)u/. 
terra  ploce.l  bis  men  on  tho  loft.     The  inhabitants  of 
tbe  town,  with  the  women  and  children,  and  a  rmmbcr 
ol  other  chiefs,  formed  a  circle  round  tho  whole      A 
very  »oh)in„  silence   prevoiled— the  sight  was   truly 
"np-rc-sive.     i  „„c  up,  and  began  ibe  service  with 
».ng.ng  the  ohl   hun.lredth  psajni ;  and  fell  my  soul 
.nelt  w.thin  me,  when  1  viewed  my  congregation,  and 


S80 


CHURCH  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


considered  the  state  that  they  were  in.  After  reading 
the  service  (during  which  the  natives  stood  up  and 
sat  down  at  the  signal  given  by  the  motion  of  Koro- 
koro's  switch,  which  was  regulated  by  the  movements 
of  the  Europeans),  it  being  Christmas  day,  I  preached 
from  the  second  chapter  of  St.  Luke's  Gospel,  and 
tenth  versL — Behold !  I  bring  you  glad  tiding)  of 
great  joy,  &c.  The  natives  told  Duaterra,  that  they 
could  not  understand  what  I  meant.  He  replied,  that 
they  were  not  to  mind  that  now,  for  they  would 
understand  by  und  by  ;  and  that  he  would  explain 
my  meaning,  as  well  as  he  could.  When  I  had  done 
preaching,  he  informed  them  what  I  had  been  talking 
about.  Duaterra  was  very  much  pleased  that  he  had 
been  able  lo  make  all  the  necessary  preparations  for 
the  performance  of  divine  worship  in  so  short  a  time, 
and  we  felt  much  obliged  to  him  for  his  attention.  He 
was  extremely  anxious  to  convince  us  that  he  would 
do  every  thing  for  us  that  lay  in  his  power,  and  that 
the  good  of  his  country  was  his  principal  consider- 
ation. 

"  When  the  service  was  over,  we  returned  on  board, 
much  gratified  with  the  reception  we  had  met  with  ; 
and  we  could  not  but  feel  the  strongest  persuasion, 
that  the  time  was  at  hand,  when  the  glory  of  the 
Lord  would  be  revealed  to  these  poor  benighted 
heathens  ;  and  that  those  who  were  to  remain  on  the 
island,  had  strong  reason  to  believe  that  their  labors 
would  be  crowned  with  success." 

A  short  time  before  Mr.  Marsden's  return  from 
New  Zealand,  Duaterra,  who  had  been  making  arrange- 
ments with  his  people  for  an  extensive  cultivation  of 
wheat,  and  had  formed  a  plan  for  the  erection  of  a 
new  town,  with  regular  streets,  after  the  European 
mode,  was  seijied  with  a  bowel  complaint,  and  a  slop- 
page  in  his  breast ;  and  as  these  complaints,  owing  to 
the  superstition  of  the  natives,  were  trentort  in  the 
most  improper  manner,  they  soon  terminated  fatally. 
He  died  on  the  .'W  of  March,  1815  ;  and  the  follow- 
ing day,  while  his' relations  and  friends  were  bewailing 
his  loss,  and  cutting  themselves,  according  to  their 
custom,  till  their  oodics  were  besmeared  with  blood, 
his  principal  wife  put  a  period  to  her  own  existence, 
by  hanging  herself,  at  a  short  distance  from  the  body 
of  her  dt.'-eascd  husb<>nd.  "  None  of  the  natives," 
says  Mr.  Kendall,  "  appeared  shocked  or  surprised  at 
this  incident.  Her  mother,  it  is  true,  wept,  uliilo  she 
was  com|)oging  the  limbs  of  her  daughter ;  but  she, 
nevertheless,  applaude<l  her  resolution,  and  the  xacri- 
flce  which  she  had  made  for  the  man  whom  she  ten- 
derly loved !  Her  father  looked  at  her  C(?rpsei  without 
any  apparent  concern.  And  two  of  lirr  brothers 
smiieii  on  the  occasion,  obsoivmg,  '  that  it  was  a  good 
thing  in  Now  Zealand.'     It  appeared  strange  to  me, 


however,  that  the  family  could  suppress  the  feelings 
of  nature  on  such  an  occasion ;  as  I  had  observed 
them  very  affectionate  toward  each  other,  and  remark- 
able for  their  attention  to  the  woman  who  was  no 
more." 

After   the   settlers    had   fixed    their   residence   at 
Ranghcehoo,  on  a  tract  of  land   purchased  by  the 
Rev.  S.  Marsden,  for  the  consideration  of  twelve  axes, 
and    formally   conveyed   to   the   Church    Missionary 
Society,  by  a  regular  grant,  on  the  part  of  a  chief 
named   Ahoodee  O  Gunna,  and  ratified  by  his  sign 
manual,  consisting  of  an  accurate  copy  of  the   lines 
tattooed  on  his  face,  they  endeavored  to  instruct  the 
natives  in  various  useful  arts  ;  but,  though  the  New 
Zealanders  are  naturally  both  active  and  ingenious,  their 
improvement  was  materially  retarded  by  their  predi- 
lection for  a  roving  life.     Parties  of  them,  indeed,  as 
stated  in  the  eighteenth  annual  report,  were  willing  to 
make  rough  fences,  to  cultivate  the  ground,  or  to  per- 
form any  work  which  required  but  little  time  to  learn  ; 
but  they  had  not  patience  to  wait  for  future  profit, 
immediate  gratification  being  their  permanent  object. 
Hence  it    appears,   that    their   predilection    for   iron 
sometimes  induced   them  to  cut  a  wheel-barrow  to 
pieces,  to  cut  up  a  boat,  or  even  to  pull  down  a  house, 
for  the  sake  of  getting  at  the  nails.     Mr.  Kendall  also 
observes,   in   respect   to  his  scholars,  when  he  first 
gathered  them  out  of  the  woods,  "  While  one  child  is 
repeating  his  lesson,  another  will  be  playing  with  my 
feel, — another    taking   away  my    hat, — and    another 
carrying  off  my   books  ; — yet   all    this   in   the  most 
friendly  manner,  so  that  I  cannot  be  angry  with  them. 
During   the  first  four  months,  indeed,  my  little  wild 
pupils  were  all  noise  and  play  ;  and  we  could  scarcely 
hear  them  read,  for  their  incessant  shouting,  singing 
and  dancing."     After  some  time,  however,  the  dis- 
Irihution  of  provisions  and  rewards  among  the  children 
was  productive  of  very  beneficial  effects  ;  and  many 
of  the   odult    natives   began    to   acquire   a  tolerable 
knowledge   .if  some   of  the   more   necessary  arts  of 
life  ;  as  will  appear  from  the  following  extract  of  a 
letter  written  by  one  of  the  settlers,  toward  the  close 
of  1818:  — 

"  The  natives  under  my  instruclions  work  very  well, 
and  olmost  beyond  my  expectation.  I  have  taught  six 
pair  of  sawyers  to  saw  timber,  and  have  requently 
four  or  five  pair  at  work  at  once.  We  are  making 
strong  puling-fenrcs  round  our  Imusos,  yards  and 
gardens,  all  of  sound  timber ;  and  f  have  sc  it  about 
four  thousand  feel  of  three-inch  plank,  twelve  inches 
deep,  to  Port  Jackson,  to  be  disposed  of  by  Mr. 
Marsden.  Wo  have  built  three  smiths'  shops  in  the 
settlement,  and  have  two  natives  among  us,  who  are 
taught  the  blacksmith's  business  to  a  certun  degree. 


NEW  ZEALAND. 


I  victual  my  working  natives  three  times  a  day,  with 
pork  and  potatoes,  and  Mrs.  Hall  cooks  for  them.  I 
have,  also,  a  quantity  of  land  in  cultivation,  more  than 
sufficient  to  support  my  family  the  year  round  with 
wheat;  and  I  mtend,  therefore,  to  distribute  grain 
among  the  natives,  with  suitable  encouragement,  and 
mstructions  how  to  cultivate  it." 

On  the  27th  of  January,   1819,   the  Rev.   John 
Buler  with  Mrs   Butler  and  their  two  children,  Mr. 
Hall,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kemp,  sailed  from  England- 
and  soon  after  their  arrival  at  Port  Jackson,  they  were 
accompanied  to  New  Zealand  by  Mr.  Marsden  •  who 
durmg  his  second  visit  to  the  island,  purchased  from' 
bhunghee  a  tract  of  land  consisting  of  thirteen  thousand 
acres,  and  about  twelve  miles  distant  from  Ranghee- 
hoo,  for  the  purpose  of  a  new  settlement.     The  selec- 
tion of  this  spot,  however,  gave  considerable  umbrage 
to  Koro-koro,  a  chief  commanding  a  large  extent  of 
the  coast  on  the  south  side  of  the  Bay  of  Islands  ;  and 
some  of  the  other  chiefs  evinced  much  disai.      ntment 
that  none  of  the  settlers  were  inclined  to  take  up  their 
residence  with   them.     « One  of  them,   named   Po- 
mare,"  says  Mr.  Marsden,  "told   me  he  was   very 
angry  that  I  had  not  brought  a  blacksmith  for  him  ; 
and  that  wiwn  he  heard  there  was  none  for  him,  he 
sat  down  and  wept  much,  and  also  his  wives.     I  as- 
sured him  he  should  have  one  as  soon  as  jmssible  : 
but  he  replied  it  would  be  of  no  use  to  him  to  send  a 
blacksmith  when   he  was  dead  ;  and   that  he  was  at 
present  in  the  givntest  distress.     His  wooden  spades, 
he  stated,  were  all  broken,  and  he  had  no*  an  axe,  to 
make  any  more  ;— his  canoes  were  going  to  pieces, 
and   he  had   not  a  nail  to  mend    them  with  ;— his 
potato-grounds  were   lying  waste,   as   he  had  not  a 
hoe,  to  break  them  up  ;— and  for  want  of  cultivation, 
he  and  his  people  would  have  nothing  to  eat.     I  en- 
deavored to  pacify  him  with  promises  ;  but  he  paid 
little  attention  to  what  I  said,  in  respect  to  sending 
him  a  smith  at  a  future  period.     I  then  promised  hiiu 
a  few  hoes,  &c.,  which  operated  like  a  cordial  on  his 
wounded  mind." 

On  the  2d  of  March,  J 820,  Mr.  Kendall  sailed 
from  the  Bay  of  Islands,  in  company  with  two  of  the 
native  chiefs,  Shunghee  and  Whykato ;  and,  after 
a  lingering  passage  by  way  of  cape  I  n,  arrived 
•afely  in  the  river  Thames,  on  the  8th  of  August. 
Mr.  Kendall  having,  from  his  long  residence  in  New 
Zealand,  collected  copious  materials  for  tho  compila- 
tion of  a  grammar  and  vocabulary  of  the  language, 
together  with  some  elementary  Ijooks  for  the  use  of 
the  schools,  was  induced  to  undertake  this  voyage,  in 

order  to  avail  hlnunlf  nf  ttm  n>«t...:.».i  ...:.. ^r 

professor  Ijse,  of  Cambridge.      And  tho  views  and 
wiihes  with  wbtdi  the  two  uaiiva  clit«ft  accompanied 


581 
him,  were  thus  stated  by  themselves,  and  written 
down  from  their  mouths,  without  any  prompting  •_. 

"  They  wish  to  see  king  George-the  multitude  of 
his  people-what  they  are  doing-and  the  goodness 
of  the  land.     They  wish  for,  at  least,  one  hundred 
people  to  go  back  with  them  ;  as  they  are  in  want  of 
a  party  to  dig  the  ground,  in   search  of  iron-an 
additional  number  of  blacksmiths  and  carpenters- 
and  an  additional  number  of  preachers,  who  will  try 
to  speak  in  the  New  Zealand  tongue,  in  order  that 
they  may  understand  them.    They  also  wish  for  twenty 
soldiers  to  protect  the  settlers,  and  three  officers,  to 
keep  the  soldiers  in  order.     The  settlers  are  to  take 
catUe  ovor  with  them.     There  is  plenty  of  spare  land 
".New  Zealand,  which  will  be  readily  granted  to  th« 
Whykato.'-^    "   "'    "'  ""'^   ""'  ^"""Shee   and 
During  their  stay  in  England,  every  attention  was 
paid  to  the  strangers  by  the  directors  of  the  society  : 
and  h.s  majesty  was  graciously  pleased  to  admit  them 
to  an   interview,  when   he  received  them   with  the 
utmost  benignity ,-showed  them  the  armory  of  thf 
royal  palace,_and  made  them  some  valuable  presents 
Nngular,  however,  as   it  may   appear,  the   visit  of 
Shunghee  to  the  metropolis  of  the  British  empire  wa» 
productive  of  much  evil.     "His  warlike  passions.' 
.says  the  editor  of  the  Missionary  Register,   "  were 
mHamed  by  the  possession  of  the  arms  and  amnuini- 
tion  which  this  visit  enabled  him  to  accumulate  ;  as  he 
appears  to  have  exchanged  for  muskets  and  powder 
at  Port  Jackson,  the  presents  received  by  him  in  this 
country."     Hostilities  of  the  most  formidable  nature 
were  commenced  against  other  tribes ;  and  the  mis- 
sionaries  at  Kiddeekiddee  (the  new  station)  were  called 
to  witness  the  most  distressing  scenes  of  ferocity  and 
blood  ;  as  will  appear  from  the  following  extract  of  a 
letter  written  by  the  Rev.  S.  Leigh,  one  of  the  Wcs- 
leyan  missionaries  : — 

"  Soon  after  Shunghee  arrived,  he  was  informed 
that,  in  his  absence,  one  of  his  relatives  had  been 
slain  by  some  of  his  friends  at  Mercury  Bay.  This 
report  was  too  true  ;  and  Shunghee  immediately  de- 
clared war  against  the  people,  although  they  wore  his 
relations.  The  chief  who  belonged  to  Mercury  Bay 
earnestly  desired  a  reconciliation,  but  in  vain.  Noth- 
ing but  war  could  satisfy.  Shunghee.  Ho  .soon 
collected  three  (housand  fighting  men,  and  com- 
menced his  march.  The  battle  was  dreadful,  and 
many  fell  on  both  sides  ;  but  Shunghee  proved  vic- 
torious, ami  returned  to  the  Bay  of  Islands  in  great 
triumph. 

"  After  my  arrival  in  Now  Zealand,  I  learned  that 
Shunghee  and  his  party  slow  one  thousand  men,  three 
hundred  of  whom  they  roasted  and  ate,  before  they 


min 


S89 


CHURCH  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


left  the  field  of  battle.  Shunghee  killed  the  chief 
above  mentioned  ;  after  which  he  cut  off  his  head, 
poured  the  blood  into  his  hands,  and  drank  it !  This 
account  I  had  from  Shunghee  and  Whykato,  who 
related  it  with  the  greatest  satisfaction." 

The  missionaries  atKiddeekiddee.in  the  mean  time, 
had  been  exposed  to  various  insults  and  injuries,  in 
consequence  of  tlie  altered  temper  with  which  Shun- 
ghee had  returned  from  England  ;  and  the  subjoined 
particulars,  extracted  from  the  twenty-second  report 
of  the  Church  Missionary  Society,  will,  no  doubt,  be 
perused  with  melancholy  interest : — 

"  Hearing,  on  his  arrival,  that  the  barter  in  muskets 
and  powder,  on  the  port  of  the  settlers,  had  bceu  put 
an  end  to  ;  and  attributing  his  not  being  received  in 
England  with  a  full  and  ready  gratification  of  all  his 
wishes,  to  letters  not  having  been  written  to  the  society 
in  his  favor ;  he  kept  at  a  distance  for  several  days 
from  the  settlement.  The  native  sawyers,  who  had 
before  worked  quietly  and  diligently,  caught  his  spirit, 
and  struck  work  ;  insisting  on  being  paid  either  in  the 
favorite  articles  of  powder  and  fire-arms,  or  in  money, 
with  which  they  might  procure  them  from  the  whalers. 
As  this  demand  could  not  be  complied  with,  all  led 
work  except  two ;  and  it  became  necessary  to  teach 
new  hands. 

"One  of  the  settlers  (alluding  to  this  circumstance) 
iibserves,  '  For  many  months  previous  to  Shunghee's 
leturn,  they  did  not  request  any  such  thing  :  but  since 
that  time,  he  having  brought  out  a  number  of  fire-arms 
Willi  him,  the  natives,  one  and  all,  have  treated  us 
with  contempt ;— coming  into  our  houses  whenever 
they  pleased — <iemanding  food — and  thieving  what- 
ever they  could  lay  their  hands  on — also  breaking 
down  our  garden-fences,  and  stripping  the  ship's  Imats 
tiiat  came  up  of  every  thing  they  could."  They 
seemed,  indeed,  ripe  for  any  mischief,  and  I  had  my 
foars  that  they  would  have  seized  on  the  whole  of  our 
property  ;  b«it  the  Lord,  who  is  a  very  present  help 
in  trouble,  heard  our  prayers.  Ilnd  Mr.  Marsden 
himself  been  among  us,  much  as  he  deserves  their 
esteem,  for  what  he  has  done  for  them,  I  believe  he 
would  nut  Imve  escaped  without  insult." 

Early  in  lH>2'i,  Sjnmghee  and  his  adherents  recom- 
inciired  the  work  of  destruction  ;  and  the  missionaries 
were  frequently  oom|iellod  to  witness  scenes  of  cruelly 
whirl)  cannot  he  n-flected  on,  without  deep  emotion. 
"  Tliis  morning,"  says  one  of  the  settlers.  "  Shunghee 
came  lo  have  his  wounds  dressed  ;  hnving  biK-n  l«l- 
toord  afresh  upon  his  thigh,  whirh  is  much  inflamed. 
His  eldest  dnueliler,  ihe  widow  of  Teitee,  who  fell  in 
the  expedition,  slioi  herself  through  the  fleshy  part 
of  lite  anil,  «ii(i  iuo  tmiis.  SiiK  evidently  intendod 
to  destroy  herself;  but  wo  sup|X)se  thai,  in  the  agitation 


of  pulling  the  trigger  with  her  toe,  the  muzzle  of  the 
musket  was  removed  from  the  fatal  spot. 

"  Yesterday  they  shot  a  poor  slave — a  girl  of  about 
ten  years  old — and  ate  her.  The  brother  of  Tettee 
shot  at  her  with  a  pistol ;  but,  as  he  only  wounded 
her,  one  of  Shunghee's  little  children  knocked  her  on 
the  head  !  We  had  heard  of  the  girl  being  killed  ; 
and  when  we  went  to  dress  the  wounds  of  Tettee's 
wid)w,  we  inquired  if  it  were  so.  They  told  us, 
laughingly,  that  they  were  hungry,  and  that  they  killed 
and  ate  her  with  some  sweet  potatoes :  and  this  they 
stated  with  as  little  concern  as  they  would  have  shown 
had  they  mentioned  the  killing  of  a  fowl  or  a  goat." 

Mr.  Francis  Hall,  in  his  journal  for  the  same  year, 
relates  some  melancholy  instances  of  ferocity  and  can- 
nibalism, of  which  the  following  extracts  are  mournful 
specimens  : — 

"  On  the  29th  of  July,  a  party  arrived  from  the 
war,  bringing  with  them  the  bodies  of  nine  chiefs, 
who  were  drowned  by  the  upsetting  of  a  canoe  in  a 
heavy  sea.  The  tribes  have  made  great  destruction, 
and  have  taken  many  prisoners,  two  of  whom  have 
been  already  killed  and  eaten.  There  is  around  us  a 
most  melHDoholy  din.  Wives  are  crying  after  their 
deceased  liu.sbands,  and  the  prisoners  are  bemoaning 
their  cruel  bondage  ; — while  others  are  rejoicing  at 
the  safe  arrival  of  their  relatives  and  friends.  Shun- 
ghee is  in  high  spirits,  «nd  says  that  at  one  place,  on 
the  banks  of  the  Wyecoto,  his  party  succeeded  in  killing 
fifteen  hundred  individuals  ! 

"  In  the  morning  of  the  1th  of  August,  the  bones 
of  Shunghee's  son-in-law  were  removed,  and  many 
guns  were  fired  to  drive  auay  the  attua.  It  was  our 
intention  to  witness  this  ceremony  ;  but  wo  were  in- 
formed thai  Shunghee  had  shot  two  slaves,  and  'vas 
nlidut  to  have  litem  eaten.  These  ill-fated  vi(  lims 
were  sitting  close  together,  without  any  suspicion  of 
their  approncliing  destiny,  when  Shunghee  levelled 
his  gun,  inlending  to  shoot  them  both  at  (uice ;  but 
the  unliapj)y  female,  being  only  wounded,  allempted 
to  escape  :  she  was  soon  cauglii,  however,  and  had 
her  brains  immediately  daxlied  out !" 

Towards  the  latter  end  of  July,  IH!i;j,  the  Rrv.  S. 
Mnrsdcn  eiiilmrked  ai  I'ort  Jarkson.for  New  Zeiiland, 
in  company  with  the  Rev.  Henry  Williams  oiul  his 
family,  on  lumid  llio  nnuiiplon,  captain  M(K)re  ;  and 
on  the  ;i(l  of  AuguHi  landed  at  Uangheehoo.  On 
Saturday,  the  (»lh  of  September,  he  rcembarked, 
ttilh  Mr.  Keiidall  and  bin  fniiiily.nnd  four  other  friends, 
intendiiiK  to  sail  on  ihe  following  day,  Towards 
evenine,  however,  it  be^'.an  to  blow  fresh  from  ihe 
easiwaril,  which  is  directly  into  the  bay  ;  and  as  it 
rnminuiMi  itlowing  fresiigtho  next  morning,  wiiii  every 
appearance  of  a  gale,  it  wu  considered   impnasihlo 


that  the  ship  could  move  from  her  anchorage.     The 

J«»y  ram;   and  on  Tuesday  morning,  whils    Mr 

W.lhams  and  his  family  were  pouring  out  the^  sun 

phcat,ons  before  the  domestic  altar,  som^e  of  tie  natve 

ran  m   exclaiming  in  great  consternation,  "The  shin 

.s  broken  !»   "At  first."  says  Mr.  Williams,  "  ' ^^^'P 

not  but  that  al   were  lost.as  must  certainly  have  been 

he  case,  had  they  got  out  of  the  bay  ;  but  in  a  shor^ 

.me  we  found  that  Mr.  Marsden  and  Mr.  and  £ 

Le,gh  were  safely  landed  a.  Kiddeekiddee       Ss 

was  a  catastrophe  which  we  did  not  look  for,  nor  had 

Z ts  Threro;"  TT\  """"  •' '  ""'  J-P'"S  Z  t 
boats,  three  of  which  happened  to  be  there,  we  went 

down  the  nver,  to  render  what  assistance  w;  coZZ 

lose  on  board,  and  to  restrain  the  natives  from  any 

acts  of  violence.  ^ 

"The  ship  had  run  between  two  reefs,  and  the 
breakers  appeared  all  round  her  ;  and  as  it  still  blew 
rong  with  a  heavy  sea,  it  was  not  prudent  o  un 
alongside ;  nor  did  it  seem  necessar;,  as  she  couW 
not  fall  .o  piece,.  Mr.  Butler,  with  two  boats,  ^e- 
mained  unde  the  lee  of  an  island.  But  I  was  oh  Iged 
to  pn.S3  the  wreck,  though  a  heavy  sea  was  running 

rersr^at^ir^A'^'"'  '^'  ^^""'"^  ""^  -^P°-'^'«^ 
per  on  at  it.     As  soon  as  the  weather  aba  ed,  the 

boKts  wore  on  board,  and  assistance  was  given  as  ong 
as  necessary.  When  canoes  could  approach  the  ves! 
sel,  she  was  surrounded  ;  but,  several  chiefs  being  on 
board,  the  plundering  disposition  of  the  natives  was 
restrained;  scarcely  one  was  allowed  by  them  to 
ascend  the  sides;  and  the  captain  and  crew  were 
enabled  to  clear  the  ship  of  all  her  stores,  and  to  unrig 
lie  two  remaining  masts,  as  quietly  as  if  she  had 
been  in  any  port  of  England." 

In  the  twenty-fourth  report  of  the  society,  delivered 
to  the  annual  meeting  in  London,  on  the  6ih  of  May 
ISsi'l,  the  following  particulars  are  stated  respecting 
the  difftrent  stations  in  New  Zealand. 

Of  Ranghoehoo,  Mr.  Leigh,  one  of  the  Wesleyan 
missionaries,  says,  "  It  is  near  a  large  and  populous 
native  town,  called  Tapoonah.  Within  seven  miles 
there  are  eight  or  ten  villages ;  all  of  which  a  mis- 
sionary  may  visit  by  a  pleasant  walk  ;  and  in  every 
village  a  number  of  children  and  adults  may  be  daily 
collected  for  instruction.  The  natives  about  this  set- 
tlement have  made  considerable  advances  in  civiliza- 
tion ;  and  I  consider  this  place  to  he  a  grand  station 
for  active  and  extensive  missionary  operations." 

Of  the  second  missionary  station  in  New  Zealand 
the  same  writer  observes,  "  Kiddeekiddee  resembles  a 

neat  little  i^nnmrv  villi>»o   .»:•!.  .   ■  _.l     .  . 

-.•    r.-^:  =   gvsru  3cnooi-nouie 

erected  m  the  centre.    When  standing  on  a  contiguous 
•mmence,  we  may  see  cattle,  sheep,  goals,  pig,  and 


NEW  ZEALAND. 


horses. — houses — fields  coverpH  ^uu     l 
barley^nd  gardens.  ric^TlT  wirh'^ll' ^^^^^ 
vegetables,  fruit-trees,  and  a  variety  of  lefdn.^ 

tuXr  an';  t  tr  --^ "-  --^-MtLc- 

good  mdk  and  butter.     Indeed.'the  settlement  a^  ^ 

,J1^"'''"  '^'"'^  """*  "f  "'"  station,  there  are 
several  very  populous  native  towns  and  vilWes  n 
which  are  hundreds  and  thousands  of  inh aSt^ 
ready  to  receive  useful  instruction,  and  I  hope  eTn 
the  word  of  life  from  the  servants  of  God.     Inlellt 

Zl  '?  IT'V*"''  "'^''  '^'P^'^'  '°  ^'-  place,  nd  he 
Bay  of  Islands  in  general,  that  'the  fields    re  white 

areadyto  the  harvest.'  Double  thenumberofmisW 

New  Zealand,  may  be  fully  and  usefully  employed  in 
the  Bay  alone;  and  I  have  no  doubt  but  that  the 
natives  will,  by  and  by.be  brought  to  a  knowle 
ot  the  living  and  true  God."  ^ 

hv  m'  i''^  ;""«'"«"'  was  formed  on  a  spot  chosen 
by  Mr  Marsden  at  Pyhea,  on  the  south  side  of  Z 

fv°M    ,"",.''  ''•'°"'  '''"^«"  "»'"  'o  the  south-east 

soufh',H  ;''"«""''"''"'  '^"""'^   across  the  bay 
southward  from  Rangheehoo.     The  situation  is  .aid 
to  be  beautiful  and  the  land  good ;  and  the  inhabitants, 
who  are  very  numerous,  are  orderly  and  well  behaved 
Wihm  a  few  miles  of  this  station,  there  are  ten  or 
twelve  arge  villages,  the  inhabitants  of  which  are  not 
only  willing  that  the  r,!ssionaries  should  visit  them 
but   mvanably  receive  .hem  with  evident  marks  of 
satislaction. 

..  "  m'  T'T  "'■"'"  ^''"'•=''  Missionary  Society," 
..y.  Mr.  Leigh,  "have  had  many  trials  in  the  nros;. 
cuK,n  o    their  work  ;  but  .bey^ave  not  laborT  „ 
vam^    The  society  has  had  discourageme,.., ;  but  the 
loud  has,  in  a  measure,  disappeared  and  no'  g    a^e^ 
light  begins  toda^vn.     A  number  of  native  youths  can 
repeat  the  creed,  the  ten  commandments,  ihe  Urd's 
prayer,  and  several  l-;'mns  in  their  own  tongue,  and 
can  unite  m  singing  the  praises  of  the  I^rd.     Anv 
person  visiting  the   stations  may  soc:,  poreeive   that 
civilization  has  made  considerable  advance,;    and  I 
have  no  doubt  but  these  Christian  settlements  will 
stand  for  ages  to  come  as  a  proof  of  the  charity  and 
hoera  ity  of  the  Chutx^h  Missionary  Society  and  of  the 
British  public.     May  the  inhabitants  of  New  Zealand 
never  wan,  a  friend  to  plead  their  cause  with  the 
Christian  world !" 

Many  and  great  have  been  the  difficultie,  again.t 
which  the  soldiers  of  the  cmss  have  had  to  .tZ  i" 
planlmg  their  standard  on  the  shores  of  Now  Zealand. 


CHURCH  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


Not  only  liavfl  they  struggled  with  enemies  froni 
without,  but  treason  has  been  found  in  their  own  camp. 
The  sins  of  some  who  have  been  engaged  in  the  mis- 
sion, and  tiie  infirmitiesof  others,  have  much  augment- 
ed the  difficulties  arising  from  the  ferocity  of  (he  native 
character.  Nevertheless,  God  has,  even  here,  im- 
parted his  accustomed  blessing  to  persevering  diligence. 
A  small  and  devoted  band  of  "  living  martyrs"  (to 
apply  to  them  their  own  designation)  were  still  lifting 
up  holy  hands  among  these  savage  tribes.  The  deaths 
of  Mowhee  and  Mayree  and  others,  who  may  be  con- 
sidered the  first-fruits  of  New  Zealand,  animated  the 
hopes  and  ini^igorated  the  prayers  of  those  who  sought 
the  conversion  of  these  islanders  to  God. 

In  the  year  1834,  the  parent  committee  in  London 
report,  that,  "  after  all  its  trials,  this  mission,  at  the 
present  moment,  gives  better  promise  of  an  ultimate 
reward  to  patient  labor,  than  at  any  time  since  its 
ttstablishnient."  There  were  two  missionaries,  it 
nppears, — the  Rev.  Messrs.  Butler  and  Williams, — at 
New  Zealand,  at  that  period,  \\hose  exertions  were 
of  a  nature  consistent  with  the  clerical  cliarnrter  they 
twre,  while  eighteen  or  twenty  pious  artisans,  laymen, 
seconded  their  efforts  by  introducing  among  the  natives 
a  knowledge  of  those  mechanical  arts,  .  f  which  the 
value  is  soonest  appreciated  by  savage  tribes.  Tiie 
whole  number  of  individuals  employed  in  the  mission, 
in  1823,  appears  to  have  been  twenty-three,  among 
whom,  let  it  be  mentioned,  there  were  no  fewer  than 
eleven  females.  To  the  two  stations  at  Rangheehoo 
•nd  Kiddeekiddce,  already  occupied  by  the  mission- 
aries, a  third  at  Pyhea,  on  the  "iouth  side  of  the  Bay 
of  Islands,  was  added  in  182.1  and  two  schools  for 
the  instruction  of  native  children,  and  one  for  adults, 
were  opened.  Useful,  however,  as  establishments  of 
this  kind  are  found  to  be  in  forwarding  the  progress 
of  the  gospel  in  countries  somewhat  civilized,  the 
blessings,  of  which  they  are  the  vehicles,  can  be  little 
appreciated  by  mere  savages.  The  advantnces,  there- 
fore, of  itinerating  among  the  natives,  were  found  by 
experience  to  be  greater  than  those  arising  from  the 
establishment  of  schools. 

In  another  way,  too,  and  not  less  efFectnaliv,  was 
the  gospel  preached  in  these  islands — in  the  lives 
of  the  Christian  settlers.  The  justi'je,  morality,  tem- 
perance and  mercy  visible  in  the  mission  families,  were 
brought  into  a  strong  and  most  fa\orahle  lit'^ht,  when 
contrasted  with  the  rapacity,  excess  and  cruel  revenge 
of  the  native  rhnrarter.  Actions  are  a  !ang!ia2;c  which 
all  men  understand.  The  oviient  su,>oriority  of  a 
civilized  life  to  their  own  was  not  w!«hc;ii  its  influence 
in  bringing  the  missionaries  into  the  favorable  regard 


to  dawn  in  the  spiritual  horizon  of  Australasia ;  an 
auxiliary  church  missionary  society,  of  which  the 
indefatigable  Marsden  was  president,  having  for  one 
of  its  primary  objects  the  amelioration  of  the  condition, 
temporal  and  spiritual,  of  the  aborigines  of  New  South 
Wales.  To  this  infant  association  sir  Thomas  Bris- 
bane made  a  grant  of  10,000  acres  of  land  for  the 
establishment  of  a  mission  to  the  native  population. 
The  foul  injustice  done  to  these  wretched  tribes  by 
the  early  English  settlers  rendered  efforts  for  their 
benefit  but  acts  of  the  most  rigid  justice. 

In  the  same  year  (1825),  a  seminary  was  established 
near  Paidmatta*  for  the  instruction  of  New  Zealand 
youths,  and  the  children  of  the  members  of  the  mission. 
Mr.  Marsden  thus  speaks  of  his  design  : — "  I  pur|)08e 
to  have  the  New  Zealand  yotiths  taught  shocm^klng, 
tailoring,  weaving,  flax-dressing  and  spinning,  with 
gardening  and  farming.  If  the  chiefs'  sons  are  edu- 
cated with  the  children  of  the  missionaries,  they  will 
become  attached  one  to  another,  and  the  work  of  the 
mission  will  be  much  promoted  thereby.  I  have  six 
New  Zealanders  with  me  now,  all  young  men  of  chiefs* 
families :  they  rejoice  to  see  the  foundation  of  our 
institution  laid." 

In  New  Zealand,  also,  things  wore  a  brighter  aspect. 
The  state  of  the  schools  was  more  promising,  and,  as 
the  year  advanced,  an  aged  chief,  named  Ranghi,  pre- 
sented an  instance  of  decided  conversion  to  God.  The 
day  previous  to  his  death,  several  of  the  brethren 
were  with  him,  and  the  following  conversation  took 
place: — "  Well,  friend,  how  do  you  find  yourself?" 
"  I  shall  soon  be  dead,"  "  What  are  your  thoughts 
of  heaven  ?"  "  O,  my  heart  is  very  full  of  light." 
"  What  makes  your  heart  so  very  full  of  light  ?" 
"  Because  of  my  belief  in  Jehovah  and  Jesus 
Christ."  "  And  arc  you  still  firm  in  your  belief  in 
Jesus  Christ?"  "Have  I  not  told  you  so,  over  and 
over  again,  that  my  belief  is  steadfast  ?"  "  Have  you 
no  fear  of  death  before  you  ?"  "  No,  none  ;  not  in  the 
least."  "  We  are  happy  to  find  that  nil  real  l)elievers 
rejoice  in  the  prospect  of  death,  knowing  lliat  their 
pains  are  all  then  ended."  "  Ay,  I  shall  go  and  sit 
above  the  sky  with  Jeaus  Christ."  "  Have  you  for- 
gotten what  was  told  you  some  time  since  respecting 
the  namr  which  is  given  to  all  those  who  believe  in 
Jesus  Christ  ?"     "  I  have  forgotten  the  name,  but  not 


1q  the  year  1826,  a  faint  gleam  of  light  appeared 


•  Tbi»  ii  Kwi-ll-cli(M('n  plirc  for  iiieh  an  inilitution.ii  llir  pupib 
will  Iw  brought  into  dirtTt  inlirr(iur»r  with  thi>  hiiliiti  not  only 
of  riviliiiitinn  ami  ("hriplinnily,  l)u(  nf  n  mUled  ordi-r  of  »iicir|y 
•nd  mtnbliihrd  (t"vrnmrnt.  The  pnpiiliitinn  in  niorr  than  (hr»'o 
UiuuMUid.  Horn  in  llui  goTfrnmcnt  p*U»-,  Ihf"  fitrlnry  tlir  fr. 
iiiak-  runvi<'.l»,  and  tliti  orphan  achixd.  The  govHrnini'nt  liiiildiogi 
arc  Inryv  ;  Ihr  ilrccli  aro  njularly  laid  out,  rroMing  at  riglit  anglca ; 
a  hncli  church,  with  two  Inwcru,  alanda  in  the  centre  of  (he  town. 
Rvrry  houar  hat  a  (nrd»n  In  which  Britlah  n-frtnldpannoHhiTalad, 


NEW  ZEALAND. 


the  circumstance  about  which  you  spoke ;  it  is  fast  in 
my  heart."  "  How  should  you  lilce  to  be  called  by 
that  name  ?"  "  I  should  like  it  very  much  indeed  !" 
At  the  close  of  this  interview,  the  brethren,  who  had 
watched  him  for  montiis,  and  marked  his  behavior 
and  growth  in  knowledge  and  piety,  were  of  opinion 
that  more  satisfactory  evidence  could  not  be  expected 
in  the  early  state  of  things  in  such  a  land,  and,  viewing 
his  steadfastness  on  the  verge  of  the  grave,  and  his 
long  and  firm  resistance  of  all  native  superstitions, 
they  were  satisfied  that  he  ought  to  be  baptized.  This 
they  did ;  and  he  received  the  name  of  Christian 
Ranghi,  and  the  next  day  departed  this  life  in  the 
faith  of  Christ. 

In  addition  to  this  encouraging  circumstance,  the 
improved  conduct  of  the  natives  generally,  and 
their  increased  willingness  to  receive  instruction, 
tended  much  to  animate  the  exertions  of  the  mis- 
sionaries. A  fourth  station,  in  addition  to  those 
already  occupied  by  the  senlers,  was  fixed  upon  at 
Kaua-kaua,  on  the  banks  of  a  beautiful  river  falling 
into  the  Bay  of  Islands ;  subsequent  experience,  how- 
ever, induced  the  missionaries  to  give  it  up. 

In  consequence  of  the  destruction  of  the  Wesleyan 
settlement  at  Whangarooa  in  1826,  great  fears  were 
entertained  by  the  Church  missionaries  for  their  own 
safety.     Determined,  however,  to  remain  at  their  post 
until  compelled   to  retire,  they   sent   their  movable 
property  to  New  South  Wales,  and  committed  them- 
selves entirely  to  the  protection  of  Almighty  God. 
He  preserved  them  amidst  the  danger ;  and  their  stay, 
at  such  a  period,  tended  much  to  convince  the  natives 
of  vhe  benevolent  intentions  of  the  settlers.     Thus 
was  evil  overruled  for  good.     At  this  painful  crisis, 
Mr.  Richard  Davis,  who  joined  the  mission  in  March, 
1825,  writes,  "The  mission  is  at  this  time  in  a  dark 
state  ;  we  are  surrounded  by  enemies.     But  the  hand 
of  the  Lord  is  very  visibly  to  be  seen  in  the  formation 
and  protection  of  this  mission.     We  may  be  obliged, 
for  a  time,  to  leave  New  Zealand  ;  we  may  be  even  en- 
tombed in  the  bowels  of  these  cannibals  ;  but  the  cause 
of  Christ  it  is  beyond  the  reach  of  Satan's  power  to 
hinder.     We  may  with  propriety  use  the  language  of 
the   apostle — catt  down,  but  not   destroyed.     I   am 
fully  convinced  that  all  which  wo  can  do  in  New 
Zealand,  with  respect  to  the  civilization  of  the  natives, 
will   have  no  great  effect  on  their  minds  ;  it  is  tho 
preaching  of  the  gospel  of  Christ  which  will  benefit 
the  New  Zealandors."     Still,  amidst  all  discourage- 
ments, a  gradual  improvement  was  visible  in  tiie  na- 
tives,  in   the   neighborhood  of  the  Bay  of  Islands. 
Tltencei  as  from   a  nucleus,  the  rays  of  £Q!"e!  lisht 
ft>fned  tiieir  way  into  tlra  surrounding  gloom,  and  some 
instances  of  individual  conversion,  amoiijjsi  which  was 
Vol.  I.— Nos.  40  k  50.  76 


58S 

that  of  Dadi-Dudi,  an  influential  chief,  animated  the 
hopes  of  the  missionaries. 

The  introduction  of  printed  books  was  effected  in 
New  Zealand  in  1827;  some  parts  of  the  Scriptures, 
printed  in  New  South  Wales,  having  been  brought  into 
the  island.  These  were  followed  by  a  printing-press, 
which  was  first  worked  in  1830. 

The  last  accounts,  previous  to  May,  1831,  describe 
the  state  of  the  Christian  settlement  as  peaceful,  and 
calculated  to  encourage  the  best  hopes  of  the  society. 
The  care  and  providence  of  the  great  Head  of  the 
church  over  its  individual  members,  has  been  strikingly 
illustrated  in  the  preservation  of  the  laborers.  For 
fourteen  years  have  they  been  kept  unhurt,  amid  the 
ceaseless  contentions  of  hostile  cannibals.  Sometimes 
an  influential  chief  has  been  used  as  an  instrument  of 
their  preservation,  as  Shunghee ;  and  at  others  the 
arm  of  God  has  protected  his  servants,  without  the 
intervention  oi  second  causes.  Never  was  this  more 
strongly  illustrated  than  in  the  year  1828,  when  the 
missionaries,  in  the  character  of  mediators  between 
two  hostile  tribes,  remained  two  nights  and  a  day  sur- 
rounded by  savage  warriors. 

According  to  the  last  report,  above  mentioned,  it 
appears  that  there  are,  in  the  schools,  at  the  various 
stations,  one  hundred  and  fifty-eight  men  ..nd  boys, 
and  thiftyseven  females,  who  are  trained  up  to  habits 
of  industry  and  good  order.  Many  can  read  and 
write  their  own  language  with  propriety,  and  are  com- 
pletely masters  of  the  primary  rules  of  arithmetic. 
Specimens  of  carpentry  by  New  Zealand  boys,  and 
of  needlework  by  girls,  were  exhibited  at  a  recent 
examination  of  the  scliools.  In  addition  to  this,  the 
missionaries  state  that  conversions  are  more  frequent 
than  formerly.  "  We  have  before  had  dying  testtmo- 
nica  for  the  truth ;  but  now,"  says  one  of  them,  "  we 
can  bless  God  for  living  wiineises  to  it."  Eight 
adults  and  five  children  have  been  baptized,  and  many 
more  are  in  a  promising  state.  The  translation  of  tho 
Scriptures  into  the  language  of  New  Zealand  is  steadily 
progressing. 

A  considerable  accession  of  laborers  in  the  interesting 
field  of  Christian  exertion  affords  hope  of  fresh  triumphs 
of  grace  in  this  land  of  cruelty.  A  missionary,  in 
a  recent  conimunioation,  states,  in  reference  to  the 
natives,  "  I  am  fully  convim  >•  1  that  their  own  super- 
stitions are  losing  ground  it,  their  estimatiun  ;  whilst 
the  principles  of  the  gospcl-^ihough,  LUo  It-uven, 
unseen— are  iimkiiig  sure  and  certain  progress.  It  is 
very  encouraging  to  us  to  contrast  thi  character  and 
coiuluct  of  the  natives  now,  with  what  it  was  two  vears 
~ty^  .-jiivtiici  saj.i,  ■  very  mucii  oi  iiic  rubbish  is 
clearing  awny  ;  Hnd  the  prospect  of  usefulness  is  every 
day  more  evident."     Tho  following  is  an  interesting 


''"Hi 


11 


i.  ,1 


586 


CHURCH  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


description  given  by  a  New  Zealaiider  of  the  trouble 
he  experienced  on  account  of  the  obstinate  hardness 
of  his  heart : — "  I  am  bad  with  vexation  for  the  ex- 
ceeding fixedness  of  my  bad  heart." 

For  the  religious  instruction  and  social  improvement 
of  the  aborigines  of  New  Holland,  little  appears  to 
have  been  done  previous  to  the  year  1830.  Sir 
George  3Iurray,  the  secretary  of  state  for  the  colonies, 
offered,  in  the  name  of  the  British  government,  £500 
per  annum,  to  the  Church  Missionary  Society,  for  the 
support  of  two  individuals  to  be  employed  in  a  mission 
to  the  natives  of  that  vast  island.  The  proposal  was 
acceded  to,  and  the  Rev.  W.  Watson,  assisted  by  a 
lay  catechist,  will,  in  all  probability,  be  the  first  indi- 
vidual to  proclaim  to  these  singulariy  debased  tribes, 
the  blessings  of  the  gospel  of  Christ. 

The  Rev.  Samuel  Marsden,  the  venerable  apostle  of 
the  Australasia  mission,  continues  his  devoted  and 
disinterested  exertions  on  behalf  of  the  society.  Mr. 
Ellis  says,  "Tlie  aborigines  are  but  thinly  Sji;  cad  over 


that  part  of  New  Holland  bordering  upon  the  colony, 
and  though  the  population  has  been  estimated  at  three 
millions,  I  am  disposed  to  think  that,  notwithstanding 
the  geographical  extent  of  the  country,  it  does  not 
contain  so  many  inhabitants.  Their  appearance  is 
generally  repulsive,  their  faces  looking  more  deformed 
from  their  wearing  a  skewer  through  the  cartilage  of 
the  nose.  They  are  represented  ai  indolent,  treach- 
erous and  cruel.  They  are  a  distinct  people  from  the 
inhabitants  of  New  Zealand  and  the  South  sea  islands  ; 
altogether  inferior  to  them,  and  apparently  the  lowest 
grade  of  human  kind.  Their  habits  are  fugitive  and 
migratory.  Notwithstanding  their  present  abject  con- 
dition, and  all  the  existing  barriers  to  their  improve- 
ment, it  is  most  ardently  to  he  hoped,  and  confidently 
to  be  anticipated,  that  the  period  will  arrive  when  this 
degraded  and  wretched  people  will  be  raised  to  the 
enjoyment  of  all  the  blessings  of  intelligence,  civiliza- 
tion and  Christianity." 


CHAPTER    IV. 


MISSION    IN    CALCUTTA    AND    NORTHERN    INDIA. 


The  mission  in  Calcutta  and  Northern  India  is  in  a 
languishing  state.  The  number  of  missionaries,  schools 
and  scholars,  in  connection  with  the  society,  is  smaller 
than  it  was  nine  years  ago.  In  1823,  the  number  of 
European  clergymen  engaged  was  twelve  ;  at  present, 
there  are  only  six.  This  falling  ofl^  arises  chiefly  from 
the  inability  of  the  society  to  fill  up  vacancies  occa- 
sioned by  death,  consistently  with  their  duties  to  the 
other  missions  under  their  care. 

At  the  conclusion  of  1823,  the  following  stations 
were  in  connection  with  the  corresponding  committee 
at  Calcutta,  viz.  Burdwan,  Buxar,  Benares,  Chunar, 
Gorruckpore,  Meenit,  Delhi, and  Agra,  Some  of 
these  places,  however,  were  very  inadequately  jiupplied 
with  religious  teachers  :  for  although  at  Calcutta  there 
were  four  European  clergymen,  and  three  at  Burdwan, 
yet  Benares,  Chunar  and  Gorruckpore  had  but  one 
each;  and  Buxar,  Moerut,  Delhi  and  Agra  none; 
these  four  last-mentioned  stations  i)eing  counted  such 
merely  from  being  the  residence  of  ■  native  catechist, 
or  frr-iT?  possessing  scheob  In  lunscciion  with  the 
•ociety. 


On  the  arrival  of  bishop  Heber  at  Calcutta,  in  Oc- 
tober, 1828,  that  amiable  prelate,  who  always  took  a 
warin  interest  in  the  cause  of  missions,  lent  his  power- 
ful sanction  and  aid,  in  placing  the  concerns  of  the 
society  in  Northern  India  in  such  a  state  of  organiza- 
tion, and  in  such  a  relation  to  the  episcopate,  as  gave 
the  best  promise  of  extensive  and  permanent  useful- 
ness. An  Auxiliary  Church  Missionary  Society  has 
been  formed  in  consequence,  of  which  the  bishop 
accepted  the  office  of  presiil.nt. 

The  society's  missionaries  in  Northern  India,  ai 
ministers  of  the  Episcopal  Church  of  England,  exer- 
cise their  functions  under  the  bishop's  license,  and  bear 
a  relation  to  their  diocesan  similar  to  that  which  exists 
between  the  parochial  elegy  and  their  respective 
diocesans  in  England. 

Notwithstanding  that  sickness  and  dea'i  Tiiong  tlio 
laborers  in  this  mission,  have  done  much  'o  interrupt 
!!ie  preaching  of  the  gospel,  yet  God  ';".%  not  left  him- 
^  if  here  without  many  wilnesse.  ■.'  f/.i  power  and 
gracG.  Ai  severiti  of  the  stations  n/  •■"•^  the  way  of 
salvation  for  mankind  has  been  proctiiwiwl,  some  have 


been  gathered  out  of  the  heathen  population,  whose 
character  and  conduct  satisfactorily  prove  that  the 
servants  of  God  "  have  not  run  in  vain,  nor  labored  in 
,  vain."  The  number,  indeed,  of  those  reported  as 
converts  to  Christianity  would  be  much  greater  than 
u  IS,  were  it  not,  that  from  the  extreme  and  praise- 
worthy scrupulosity  of  the  missionaries,  none  are  ad- 
muted  to  baptism  who  have  not  evinced  the  sincerity 
of  their  profession  by  a  probation  of  considerable 
length,  and,  the  circumstances  of  Hindoo  society  being 
considered,  of  some  severity.  The  same  remark  will 
iiold  good  with  all  the  missions  of  the  society. 

The  education  of  youtii  has  not  been  neglected, 
though  this  department  of  labor,  in  common  with 
others,  has  met  with  considerable  impediments.     In 
fifty-tliree  schools  maintained  at  the  society's  expense, 
there  were,  according  to  the  latest  accounts,  two  thou- 
sand boys  and  one  hundred  and  sixty-three  girls    The 
amount  of  good  resulting  from  these  establishments 
estimated  at  the  minimum,  has  been  to  convince  the 
heathen  youth,  to  a  very  general  extent,  of  the  folly 
"f  idolatry,  and  to  furnish  their  intellects  with   the 
principles  of  Christianity.     To  make  those  principles 
influential  on  the  heart  and  life  is  the  work  of  a  su- 
perior power.     Nor  are  the  evidences  of  this  work 
unnoticeable.    Many  of  the  children  educated  at  these 
schools  have  subsequently  borne  such  .characters  as 
adorned  the  profession  of  Christianity. 

The  interesting  work  of  native  female  education, 
with  the  object  of  raising  the  character  of  woman 
from  us  debased  state  in  India,  was  begun  in  1822, 
and  has  since  met  with  much  encouragement.  A  la- 
dies' society  has  been  formed  for.  the  furtherance  of 
tins  object,  and  schools  established  in  Calcutta  under 
the  superintendence  of  Mrs.  Wilson,  a  lady  of  singu- 
lar piety,  energy  and  talent.  About  three  hundred 
and  fifty  girls  attend,  who  are  taught  to  read  and  un- 
derstand the  Scriptures,  needlework,  domestic  labor, 
cooking,  kc.  Female  schools  have  also  been  estab- 
lished at  Burdwan,  Gorruckpore  and  Culna.  At  the 
two  former,  about  one  hundred  and  sixty  children  are 
instructed  in  the  Christian  religion. 

The  missionary  press  has  rtot  been  idle,  though  it 
has  had  much  to  clog  its  activity.  An  idea  of  the 
extent  of  its  operations  may  bo  formed  from  the  fact 
that,  between  June,  1824,  and  February,  1826,  there 
were  printed  123,344  copies  of  fifty-two  different 
works,  containing  about  six  millions  of  pages.  Since 
this  date,  moreover,  the  activity  of  this  department 
has  been  augmented.  The  printing-house,  a  chapel, 
a  school-house,  and  tlie  buildings  appropriated  for  fho 
rosidonce  of  the  missionaries,  are  situated  nn  n«.mi.«. 
purchased  by  the  society  in  1821 ,  at  Mirzaporo,  in  the 
midst  of  the  native  population. 


CALCUTTA  AND  NORTHERN  INDIA. 


587 

One  circumstance  connected  with  the  proceedinir. 
of  the  society  in  Northern  India  must  not  be  omitted 
in  this  connection,  although  it  has  been  noticed  in 
former  pages  of  this  work.   "  Bishop  Middleton  havine 
recommended  the  establishment  of  a  mission  college 
at  Calcutta,  for  the  benefit  of  the  native  population 
of  India;  and  the  "Society  for  the  Propagation  of 
the  Gospel  m  Foreign  Parts,"  and  that  for  "Promot- 
.ng  Christian  Knowledge,"  having  each  coptributed 
the  sum  of  £5000  toward  this  important  undertaking  • 
the  society,  in  1820,,granted  a  similar  sum.     This  was 
followed  by  an  annual  grant  of  £1000  during  the  six 
following  years  ;  but  the  reduced  stale  of  the  society's 
means,  since  1826,  has  led  to  its  discontinuance.    The 
committee,  wishing  to  perpetuate  the  memory  of  their 
respected  bishop  Heber,  directed,  in  1826,  the  appro- 
priation of  a  sufficient  sum  for  the  foundation,  in  Bishop's 
college,  of  two  theological  scholarships,  to  bear  the 
name  of  "  Bishop  Heber's  Church  Missionary  Scholar- 
slups,    the  perpetual  nomination  to  which   is  vested 
in  the  society's  representatives  at  Calcutta. 

A  detail  of  all  the  proceedings  at  each  of  the  eleven 
stations  would  produce  too  lengthened  a  narrative 
nor  would  the  interest  of  such  an  account  compensate 
for  Its  prolixity.  To  notice  a  few  particulars  will 
suffice. 

An  annual  grant  of  £200  has  been  made,  since  1824 
to  the  "  Ladies'  Society  for  protrioting  Native  Female 
Education  ini^alcutta  and  its  Vicinity,"  in  aid  of  its 
interesting  object. 

In  the  year  1827,  the  value  of  schools  began  to  be 
justly  appreciated  by  the  natives,  and  applications  for 
their  ^establishment  were  made  to  the  missionaries  in 
greater  number  than  it  was  possible  to  comply  with. 

Among  all  the  faithful  and  laborious  missionaries  in 
Northern  India,  and  there  are  many,  none  perhaps 
excels  the  Rev.  W.  Bowley  of  Chunar,  in  zeal,  in 
patience,  and,  it  may  be  added,  in  success.  For  nearly 
twenty  years  has  this  devoted  man  preached  Christ 
among  the  heathen,  and  very  many  are  the  seals  to  his 
ministry.  Surely  if  they  who  turn  many  to  righteous- 
ness shall,  in  the  world  of  glory,  shine  like  the  stars 
in  heaven  (Dan.  xii.  3),  the  glorified  spirit  of  Bow- 
ley  will  be  invested  with  a  radiance  of  no  common 
effulgence. 

In  the  last  report,  the  committee,  after  having 
lamented  the  reduced  state  of  the  mission,  and  the 
deficiency  of  spiritual  instructors,  thus  write :—"  t^ider 
these  manifest  disadvantages,  there  is  much  reason  to 
be  grateful  to  the  great  Head  of  the  church,  that  the 
supply  of  native  teachers  is  evidently  increasing,  and 
«!••«?,  nGtwithstanalnR  the  dimiiiuiiun  oi"  preachers, 
forty-eight  individuals  have  been  admitted  by  baptism, 
during  the  year,  into  the  visible  church  of  Christ." 


S8B 


CHURCH  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


When,  in  addi'ion  to  this  lut  encouraging  fact,  we 
recollect  that,  in  the  preceding  year,  twenty-fiTe 
adults  had  made  a  similar  profession  of  their  faith,  are 
we  not  constrained  humbly  to  admire  that  divine 
wisdom  which  sometimes  evolves  the  most  successful 
results  from  means  which  are  apparently  the  most  in- 
adequate to  their  production  ? 

It  would  be  wrong  to  close  this  brief  sk«tch  without 
making  honorable  mention  of  the  labors  of  archdeacons 
Corrie  and  Robinson,  and  the  devoted  prelates  who 
have  succeeded  the  lamented  Hober.  And  intimately 
associated  with  these  ornaments  of  the  church,  and 
worthy  to  bo  known  through  Christendom  as  a  true 
soldier  of  the  cross,  was  Abdooi.  Merseeh,  of  whom 
the  following  account,  it  is  believed,  will  prove  in- 
teresting. 

In  the  month  of  November,  1818,  Abdool  Messeeh, 
a  converted  native  of  Delhi,  accompanied  the  Rev. 
Daniel  Corrie  to  Agra,  with  the  design  of  settling  in 
that  ciiy,  as  a  public  reader  and  catechist,  under  the 
patronage  of  the  Church  Missionary  Society.     He  was 
formerly  a  xealous  Mahometan  ;  but,  under  the  preach- 
ing of  the  Rev.  Henry  ISIartyn,  he  began  lo  discover 
the  errors  under  which  he  had  long   labored,  and, 
after  the  lapse  of  some  months,  he  made  a   public 
profession  of  Christianity,  and  was  baptized  in   the 
old  church  at  Calcutta.     After  this  period,  he  was 
particularly  noticed  by  somo  |)ersons  belonging  to  the 
congregation  of  the  Rev.  Mr.   Brown^   and,  as  he 
appeared  to  possess  the  talent,  as  well  as  the  desire, 
to  communicate  to  his  countrymen  the  glad  tidings  of 
sah-ation,  he  was  encouraged  to  address  a  number  of 
poor  native  Christians  and  others,  who  wore  in  the 
habit  of  attending  weekly  at  the  house  of  one  of  his 
friends  for  instruction.     His  labors  wore  productive 
of  much  gooil ;  and,  notwithstanding  the  oppositioo 
which  he  mot  with,  from  tlie  followers  of  the  Arabian 
impostor,   who  sometimes   oili^rod   hint   considerable 
sums  of  money  to  leave  the  place, — and  at  otiier  times 
endeavored  to  terrify  him,  by  dragging  him  before  a 
magistrate,  on  the  most  frivolous  pretences, — he  per- 
severed with  calmness  and  fortitude,  in  counnunicat- 
ing  instruction  to  all  who  ciiose  to  give  him  tlieir  at- 
tention, till  that  removal  took  place  to  which  we  have 
adverted. 

The  meekness  of  Abdool's  temper  was  invariably 
displayed  in  the  time  of  persecution  ;  and  during  his 
joiinlly  to  Agra,  an  incident  occurred,  which  afforded 
a  fme  display  of  the  influence  of  divine  grace  on  the 
heart  of  this  pious  and  devoted  character.  On  leaving 
a  place  called  Danapore,  the  boat  in  which  Mr.  Corrie 
was  pursuing  his  route,  went  on  ahead,  and  the  boat- 
snar,  ;.-_->,..  tiie  liueity  02  gumg  into  the  market  without 
permission.     Abdool,  desirous  of  keeping  up  with  his 


friend,  said  to  soma  Christian  children  who  were  with 
him,  "  Come,  let  us  uka  hold  of  the  line,  and  draw 
the  boat  ourselves;  whkih, when  the  boatmen  hear  of, 
they  will  be  ashamed,  and  oome  to  us."     In  this  way 
they  proceeded  about'  a  mile  on  the  bank  of  the  river, 
till  at  length  they  approached  a  spot  where  a  Mahome^ 
tan  merchant  was  purchasing  wood.  On  seeing  Abdool, 
he  asked  one  of  the  children  who  he  was,  and  was 
answered,  "  A  Christian."     When  the  boat  came  up, 
the  merchant  said,  «  Pray,  sir,  wait  for  your  boatmen, 
and  do  not  take  that  trouble."     <<  They  have  behaved 
very  ill,"  replied  Abdool,  «•  and  this  is  the  only  pun- 
ishment I  can  inflict,  by  endeavoring  to  shame  them." 
"  But  for  a  man  of  your  appearance,"  rejoined  the 
stronger,  "to  engage  in  such  servile  work  is  very 
degrading  ;  and  you,  no  doubt,  must  feel  ashamed  in 
the  presence  of  so  many  people."     "  When  1  was 
of  your  religion,"  said  Abdool,  "  I  should  indeed  have 
felt  ashamed  ;  but  I  have  embraced  a  religion,  whose 
Author  was  meek  and  lowly,  and  now  I  rather  take 
pleasure  in  an  employment  by  which  the  pride  of  my 
heart  is  humbled."     After  demanding  what  faith  he 
now  professed,  and  being  told  it  was  the  religion  of 
Jesus,  the  Mussulman  began  to  revile  him  in  very 
coarse  language  ;  but  Abdool,  instead  of  evincing  the 
slightest  res4>ntmont,  embraced  with  avidity  an  oppor- 
tunity  which  occurred,  of  showing  his  calumniator 
some  civility.     Astonished  at  this  conduct,  and  com- 
pletely ignorant  of  tiio  principle  from  which  it  resulted, 
the  merchant  exclaime<l  to  some  (lersons  who  had 
assembled  around  him,  "  See  how  this  man  has  learn- 
ed to  disguise  his  feelings  :  I  gave  him  abuse,  and  ho 
returned  civility  !"    But  Abdool  coolly  replied,  "  This 
is  not  hypocrisy,  but  what  I  have  been  taught  by  my 
new  religion.     Had  you  used  such  language  Awards 
me  when  I  was  a  Mussulman,  I  might  probablj   have 
fought  with  you  ;  but  now,"  continued  ho,  taking  out 
liis  Testoment,  and  referring  to  the  fifth  ciiapter  of 
St.  Matthew's  Gospel,  "  I  am  taught  to  pray  for  my 
enemies."     Tlie  merchant's  clieek  was  now  sulTused 
with  the  blush  of  conscious  shame  ;  and,  after  a  short 
conversation,  he  rccjuested  that  a  copy  of  the  gospel 
might  be  placed  in  his  hands. 

Ob  his  arrival  at  Agra,  Abdool  commenced  the 
work  of  religious  instruction  with  great  zeal  and  dili- 
gence  ;  and  as  many  hundreds  of  poor  creatures  had 
recently  flocked  t«  the  neighborhood,  in  cnnsoqunnce 
of  a  scarcity  in  the  Mahratta  country,  occasioned  by  a 
terrible  drought,  lie  embraced  the  opfuirtunity  of  going 
among  them,  distributing  pice  or  halfpence,  and  in- 
viting them  to  hear  the  gospel,  and  to  send  their  cbil« 
dren  to  him,  to  learn  to  read.  At  first,  they  received 
him  ai  ail  angei  of  iiglii ;  but,  a  report  having  been 
spread  among  them,  that  he  was  an  Arabian,  who 


AGRA. 


«uh«d  to  ctnjr  off  their  ohildrau,  the  poor  natives, 
for  several  days,  refused  to  receive  tiie  charity  which 
lie  offered  them,  or  to  hear  any  thing  from  him.     In 
the  course  of  a  week  or  t»vo,  however,  they  perceived 
that   their  suspicions  had  been  unfounded,  and  his 
public  services  wore  attended  by  hundreds;  many  of 
whom,  on  hearing  an   exposition  of  the  decalogue, 
oned  out  aloud,  "These  are  true  words;  and  the 
curse  of  God  will  fall  upon  us,  if  wo  obey  them  not." 
Indeed,  the  congregations  who  assonibled  to  hear  of 
"  the  new  way,"  soon  bogan  to  increase  rapidly,  and 
comprised  many  respectable  persons,  both  Hindoos 
and  Mahometans.     A  school  was,  also,  opened,  for 
the  mstruction  of  children ;    and  our  cntechist  was 
vuited,  every  day,  by  persons  who  came  to  converse 
with  him  on  the  subject  of  religion,  and,  in  some 
mstancos,  appeared   deeply   affected   by   the   truths 
which  they  heard.     One  evening,  in  particular,  while 
the  native  Cliristiun  children  and  servants  were  at 
worship,  a  venerable  old  man.  wlw  stated  that  he  was 
ninety  years  of  age,  came  to  Abdool  's  house.     During 
the  recitation  of  the  liturgy,  he  kneltdown  with  them  ;— 
as  they  proceeded  in  that  beautiful  service,  the  tears 
began  to  roll  down  his  fuirowed  cheeks  ;— and  toward 
the  end  he  repeated  Amen  fervently,  after  each  peti- 
tion.     When  prayers  were  ended,  he  went  up  to 
Abdool  and  embraced  liiin ;  and,  on  being  asked  if  he 
knew  that  he  was  embracing  a  Christian,  he  replied  in 
the  affirmative,  and  added,  "  I  have  often  seen  the 
English  at  worship,  but  never  understood  their  lan- 
guage ;  but  your  prayers  are  most  excellent,  and  my 
soul  has  been  greatly  refreshed  by  them." 

The    1 0th  of  June,  J  813,  is  noticed  in  Abdool's 
journal,  as  « the  day  on  which  the  doctrine  of  Christ 
witnessed  a  triumph.    For  three  weeks  past,  a  faqueer 
of  the  Jogi  tribe  has  come  frequently  to  our  morning 
worship  in  the  school.     On  Tuesday,  the  chapter  to 
be  read  in  order  was  John  xvii.     The  subject  of  it, 
and  our  Lord's  manner  toward  his  disciples,  arrested  the 
attention  of  the  Jogi,  and  the  tears  rtowed  [.lentifully 
down  his  cheeks.     To-day  he  brought  his  wife  and 
child  ;— said  In  was  a  convert  to  Jesus,  without  re- 
serve ;— and  began,  of  himself,  to  take  off  his  faqueer's 
dress.    He  first  took  the  beads  from  his  neck  ;— broke 
the  string  to  which  the  charm  given  him  by  his  goroo 
was  suspended  ;— and  broke  off  an  iron  ring  worn 
round  his  waist,  and  to  which  an  iron  rod  about  two 
feet  long  was  attached.     He  then  put  on  some  old 
clothes  which  we  had  by  us,  and  said  he  wished  to  be 
instructed  in  the  gospel,  and  to  get  some  employment. 
A  rupee  being  given,  to  procure  food  for  the  family, 

his  wife  went  and  hnnirhi  ■   >..:«..: t...i   •_„ 

she  would  spin,  and  earn  a  livelihood  ;  and  the  whole 
fcmily  aAerwards  ate  their  dinner  with  ua  of  their 


689 


These  are  wonders  in  the  history  of  a 


own  accord. 
Hindoo  I" 

Two  days  afterward,  a  Mussulman  came  to  the 
house,  and  asked  the  Jogi  if  he  had  really  become  a 
Christian.  Ho  answered,  "  Yes,  and  have,  just  now, 
been  eating  beef  with  Abdool  Messeeh."  The  Ma- 
hometan then  turned  to  the  Jogi's  wife,  and  inquired 
if  she  had  embraced  the  same  faiUt ;  asking,  at  the 
same  time,  what  could  have  induced  her  to  renounce 
her  former  religion  for  Christianity.  She  replied, 
that  by  the  grace  of  God  she  had  become  a  Christian ; 
and  though  she  had  not  yet  learned  much  of  the  gos- 
pel, and  being  but  a  rustic,  could  not  dispute  with  a 
learned  man,  like  him ;  yet  what  she  had  beard  of  the 
doctrine  of  Christ  had  brought  rest  and  peace  to  her 
soul,  and  therefore  she  had  embraced  it. 

In  July,  1814,  Abdool  paid  a  visit  to  bis  relatives 
at  Lucknow,  where  he  was  received  in  llie  most  cor- 
dial  manner,  and  readily  permitted  to  speak  to  his 
fellow  sinners  of  tlio  only  means  of  escaping  the  wrath 
to  come.     "My  approach  having  been  announced," 
says  he,  "  thirty  persons,  frinnds  and  acquaintances, 
came  out  to  meet  me.     Among  them,  my  futher,  my 
brother  Joseph,  and  two  brothers-in-law,  embraced 
me,  and  rejoiced  greatly.    After  arriving  at  my  fcther'u 
house,  I  read  the  ninth  chapter  of  the  Acts,  and  ex- 
plained it  OS  the  Holy  Spirit  gave  assisUnce,  and  joined 
in  prayer.  About  sixty  men  and  women  were  collected ,, 
all  of  whom  heard  with  attention,  and  appeared  plea^ 
ed  ;  and  my  mother  and  sisters  expressed  tbemiolveii 
thus,—'  Praise  to  Jesus  Christ,  that  we,  who  wen. 
separate,  are  again  brought  together.     We  are  hiti 
sinful  servants.     How  shall  he  not  vouchsafe  his  grac« 
unto  us  ?'     And  my  fatlier  exclaimed,  his  eyes  stream  • 
ing  with  tears, '  O  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  I,  a  simier,  cannot 
praise  thee  as  thou  art  worthy.     Through  the  glad- 
ness thou  host  shown  me,  half  my  illness  is  removed ; 
and  I  am  now  persuaded  that  thou  wilt  restore  me  to 
health,  and  deli  ver  me  from  the  bands  of  all  my  enemies.' 
"  The  next  morning,  all  my  relations,  male  and 
female,  having  set  their  several  households  in  order, 
collected  for  worship.     I  read  the  fourteenth  chapter 
of  St.  John's  Gospel,  in  which  is  recorded  the  glad 
promise  of  the  Holy  Spirit's  coming.     My  servant 
and  another  person  then  sang  a  hymn,  with  which  my 
parents  were  much  delighted  ;  and  friends  and  neigh- 
bors collected  in  si .:.  numbers  that  there  was  no  room 
left.     After  worship  I  went,  whh  my  brother,  in  quest 
of  a  larger  house,  which  we  met  with  within  the  pre- 
cincts of  the  British  resident,  and  there  took  up  our 
abode.     My  relations  came  to  me  there  ;  and  great 
numbers  of  pool,  aiiU  blind,  and  lame,  came  daily  for 
charity.    Those  Mahometans  who  had  formerly  been 
my  friends,  came,  also,  for  the  purpose  of  disputing 


w^ 

'■■■ 

'Jli,-, 

^H 

|:„lh 

1 

690 


CHURCH  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


with  me,  and  these  I  answered  as  the  Holy  Spirit 
enabled  me."  On  the  11th  of  August,  Abdool  re- 
turned to  Agra,  accompanied  by  his  father,  and  five 
other  members  of  his  family,  with  several  other  per- 
sons ;  one  of  whom,  an  aged  Molwee,  appeared  earn- 
estly desirous  to  ascertain  the  way  of  salvation. 

About  a  week  after  Abdool's  return,  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Corrie,  in  consequence  of  ill  health,  was  under  \h? 
necessity  of  quitting  Agra,  in  order  to  visit  England. 
On  this  occasion  he  observes,  in  his  journal,  "  1  com- 
mitted the  congregation  to  the  care  of  Abdool  Messeeh 
and  Mr.  Bowley,  amidst  many  tears  on  the  part  of  the 
new  converts,  and  much  sorrow  on  my  own  ;  but  the 
will  of  the  Lord  is  to  be  acknowledged  in  my  de- 
parture, no  less  than  in  my  arrival  at  this  station. 
During  the  preceding  sixteen  months,  seventy-one 
natives  have  received  baptism,  of  whom  about  fifty 
are  adults,  about  half  Mahometans,  and  the  other 
half  Hindoos.  Of  these,  one  has  been  expelled ;  six 
have  apostatized  ;  four  are  gone  to  tlieir  friends,  and 
are,  we  hope,  holding  fast  their  profession  ;  and  others 
are  occupying  different  stations,  us  readers  and  cate- 
chists." 

It  was  expected  that,  on  the  removal  of  Mr.  Corrie, 
(ittle  more  could  be  effected,  during  his  absence,  than 
the  preservation  of  the  infant  church  collected  by 
Abdool's  labors  ;  and  it  seems  that  only  a  short  time 
elapsed  before  the  interest  began  visibly  to  decline. 
Mr.  Bowley  thought  proper  to  remove  to  Chunar ; 
and  the  teachers  of  the  schools,  in  too  many  instances, 
evinced  much  indolence  and  inattention.  Abdool, 
however,  continued  to  bear  a  faithful  testimony  to  the 
truth,  and  continued,  notwithstanding  all  his  discour- 
agements, to  watch  with  unremitting  vigilance  over 
the  flock  committed  to  his  care.  He  also  devoted  a 
considerable  share  of  his  time  and  attention  to  the 
bodily  diseases  of  the  poor  natives,  for  whom  he  pre- 
scribed, and  to  whom  he  distributed  medicines  gratui- 
tously. These  benevolent  exertions,  however,  were 
by  no  means  productive  of  the  gratitude  which  they 
deserved  ;  as  will  appear  from  the  following  extract 
of  a  letter  written  by  an  intelligent  officer  at  Agra, 
and  published  in  the  Missionary  Register  for  October 
1817:— 

"  In  the  course  of  the  last  two  months,  Abdool  cured 
a  hundred  people,  and  many  of  them  very  difficult 
cases :  yet  not  one  of  them  returned  to  the  kuttra 
(the  place  of  worship)  to  give  thanks  to  God.  Nay, 
not  even  one  of  them  thought  of  thanking  the  man 
who  had  thus  been  the  instnrjont  of  divine  goodness. 
When  I  tell  you  that  I  have  reason  to  believe  a  great 
portion  of  his  salary  is  expended  in  the  purchase  of 

mcdirinpj).  vnn  will    nnt    iliinlr    U    III    !.<>.•«... I        n'l 

mortality  in  the  town  has  been  great,  since  the  begin- 


ning of  May,  and  still  rages  vi^ith  unabated  violence. 
Abdool  told  me,  that  in  the  course  of  one  day,  during 
the  last  month,  he  observed  sixteen  corpses  carried 
along  the  narrow  street  that  passes  by  the  kuttra. 
'I  could  not,'  he  observed,  'see  these  poor  people 
dy.nij;  dogs,  without  knowledge  and  without  a 

S'lhur,  i)jL  with  heartfelt  grief!'  " 

T(i  .'v-alth  of  Abdool  having  been,  for  a  considerable 
time,  in  a  very  infirm  state,  he  visited  Calcutta  in  the 
year  1820,  at  the  desire  of  the  committee,  and  found 
great  benefit  by  the  change  of  air.  In  order  to  im- 
prove his  residence  there  to  the  best  advantage,  he 
left  the  hospitable  roof  of  bis  friend,  Mr.  Corrie  (who 
had  some  time  vncc  rtiut^oi  to  India),  and  took  up 
his  abode  in  the  midst  of  the  poor ;  but  the  place 
soon  becoming  too  small,  a  more  commodious  house 
was  hired,  where  from  a  hundred  and  fifty  to  two 

hundred  of  the  most  wretched  of  the  population 

comprising  the  aged,  the  disabled,  and  the  diseased — 
poor  Portuguese  or  country-born — belonging  to  no 
caste,  and  having  previously  found  scarcely  any  one  to 
care  for  their  souls — attended  him  three  times  a  week. 
It  may  be  necessary  to  add,  that  in  the  month  of  Oc- 
tober, in  tire  same  year,  this  excellent  native  Christian 
received  Lutheran  ordination. 

Having  left  Calcutta  in  the  beginning  of  November, 
Abdool,  in  working  up  the  Ganges,  arrived  at  a  viU 
lage  called  Jerret,  where  he  had  an  interesting  inicr- 
view  with  one  of  the  natives,  who  had  attained  the 
age  of  one  hundred  years.     "  He  had  built  a  mosque, 
and  dug  a  pond  in  that  village,"  says  our  author, 
"  and  had  three  sons,  and  grandsons  having  children. 
Supposing  me  to  be  a  Mussulman  guide,  he  approach- 
ed me  with  great  respect ;  but  on  my  relathig  my 
history  fom  beginning  to  end,  he  was  much  astonished  ; 
and  his  children,  with  many  of  the  villagers,  gathered 
round  me.     I  asked  if  he  could  read  ;  but  he  replied 
in  the  negative.     I  then  said,  '  O  !  sir,  I  grieve  for 
your  state.     God  has  greatly  lengthened  your  days, 
and  has  given  you  all  kinds  of  earthly  wealth,  in 
riches  and  in  children  ;  but,  alas  !  you  have  not  yet 
obtained  the  knowledge  of  the  true  God.     It  would, 
perhaps,  have  been  belter  for  you  had  I  not  met  with 
you  ;  and  yet,  if  I  were  uot  now  to  tell  you  the  truth, 
your  blood  would  be  upon  my  head.'     Having  said 
tjius  mucii,  I  remained  silent.     He  then  said,  '  Pray, 
sir,  tell  me  what  i  must  do.     I  have  done  every  thing 
that  I  have  been  told  by  native  teacliers.     I  have  dug 
a  well,  and  built  a  mosque,  and  given  much  in  charity. 
All   tliese  external   services  I  have  performed  ;  but 
from  your  discourse,  1  find  that  these  things  are  ail 
for  making  a  name  in  the  world.'     I  answered,  '  I  tell 
yoii,  in  God's  name,  that  now  is  your  tweifiii  hour  ; 
and  if  you  will  believe  in  the  I^ord  Jesus  Christ,  you 


AGRA. 


sliall,  without  the  merit  nf  t7«.,»  .      .  591 


all  doubt  obtain  salvation.'    I  then  read,  and  began' 
to  explain  to  him,  the  parable  of  the  laborers,  who 

orei    o'Zr'r "'"^u"^^"  '""'^  '  -<^  I  -flav- 
ored to  make  known  the  divinity  and  glory  of  the 

and,  going  into  the  hlut,\o,d":Lt:ny^  th'enTe' 
mner,     uid  man  !  are  thy  senses  gone  ?     Dost  thn.> 

j.edMuss.man\::yto^:,^T;:fi:rt;:^^^^^^^^^^^ 

anJ'thari /"'' •^°"  '"''  -ad,  and' u„d  fa  fit 
and  that  I  desire,  m  my  heart,  to  become  a  Christian- 
asked  -Wm  '"^"'^^l::'^-  -"  not  allow  me.,  "i 
asked  Will  your  children  also  save  you  from  hell  ?' 
and,  after  shaking  off  the  dust  of  my  Lt  iTenf  .H 
from  them,  and  returned  to  the  boat^'  ^       ^ 

and  ^^°?'''  "PP'°'"''  "^  Asra  was,  of  course,  known 
and,  as  t  appears,  anxiously  expected  by  many    ThTee' 
stages  from  the  end  of  his  ioumpv    L  r      a     r. 
fiftepn  Hin,i^„.      J  »f  .        Jou'^ney,  he  found  about 
niteen  Hmdoos  and  Mahometans,  who  had  come  thus 
far  to  meet  him,  and  fervently  thanked  GodTr  hi 
r  turn;  observng  that,  during  his  absence'.h  y  had 
uffered  much  from  want  of  medicines.    At  Ferozabad 
twenty  other  persons  were  waiting  for  him  ;  and  dur.W 
he  last  stage  several  more  met  him  on  the  road  ;  "f 
that,  by  the  time  he  reached  the  kuttra  in  Agra  he 
was  attended  by  great  numbers;  and  several  English 
fnends  who  had,  for  some  time,  taken  a  lively  inSst 

:nfeird™'"T."'""^'''"s '« offer  h':: 

unfeigned  congratulations.     "I  praised  God  for  his 
merc.es."  says  Abdool,  "and  straightway  celebmed 

Of  Abdool's  resumption  of  his  labors,  Mr.  Crowley 
who,  at  that  time,  superintended  the  school  at  Agra' 
writes  as  follows  :—  ^    ' 

«„"„!I;!-''''r"'"^-  '°  '^''  '"'^  '°"S  neglected  station  as 
an  ordivmed  mm.ster  of  the  gospel  of  Christ,  will, 
I  hope,  be  productive  of  the  happiest  and  most  bene- 
ficial effects  This,  indeed,  is  already  manifest;  as 
many  nominal  Christians  who,  I  have  reason  to  believe 
have  never  entered  a  place  of  worship  for  many  years 

on  sabbath  days.  Blessed  be  God  for  this  mercy  !  The 
church  here  .s  now  very  decently  attended,  including 
many  persons  of  the  Armenian  and  Roman  Catholi! 
persuasions ;  and,  occasionally,  a  few  Hindoos  and 
Mussulman  ;  the  latter  of  whom,  I  firmly  believe,  are 

mduced  to  attend  nnlv  f^^  -  i i_j        -  ..  .'  . 

ordination."        "  ""•'    ■"■■  "  -^"""^-"S^  °'  AOUooFs 

In  December,  1885,  this  venerable  man  was  re- 


been  set  upon  conliecting  this  con  vert  with  T'  '°  ■ 
of  the  English  Episcopal  chu^h     The     h™""'''^ 
whichhis,ordshiprnticiEatedf::tthis^^e^J^^^^^ 
trated  by  the  death  of  Abdool  Me.eeh  in  M  rlh  I82T 
The  number  of  schools  supported  by  the  PK      i 
Society  in  indi,  -^  ,,,^  greft^  and  thV J  rScZt 
detailed  respecting  some  of  them  are  highly  i„  eles 

wi;k  ts: nr-'"' -n •^"'"p^'^^''  -  th'e "pr;: 

r,t  .^,*'^^'''  """"g  'nformation,  however,  relative 
to  the  introduction  of  Miss  Cooke,  by  a  lady  of  her 
acquaintance,  to  the  female  native  schools  at  Calcutta 
must  not  be  passed  over  in  silence.  ' 

The  British  and  Foreign  School  Society,  i„  concert 
with  some  membe..  of  the  Calcutta  Sc£ol  Sy 
then  m  England,  had  solicited  and  obtained  from  tte 
pub  he,  funds  for  sending  out  a  suitable  female  ,JZ 

work  If  LI'  '^^r^^  acquaintance  with  the 
work  of  education.  She  accordingly  sailed  from 
England  m  1821.  and,  after  arrivingat  the  pla^ 
of  her  destination,  the  committee  of  the  society  to 
which  she  was  particularly  recommended,  kindly  re- 
s.gned  their  claim  on  her  services,  in  favor  of  the  cor- 
responding committee  of  the  Church  Missionary  So- 

lemale  education  m  that  part  of  the  world.  An  address 
was  now  drawn  up  by  the  Rev.  D.  Corrie,  explain^a 
the  importance  of  the  object  to  be  accomplished,  and 
announcing  the  arrival  of  Miss  Cooke,  and  the  imen- 

wth  such  success  that,  m  a  few  weeks,  three  thousand 

mi^'ZTl  r  •"''"'''''  ""'^'  °"  ^^'  25th  of  January, 
1822,  the  first  visit  was  paid  to  a  native  school,  and 
IS  thus  described  by  one  of  the  visitors  •— 

Mi"  "^^  "r  "'''T""  '"  ""'  """"""S'  '  accompanied    ' 
Miss  Cooke  to  the  native  girls'  school,  and  '^ound 
thirteen  were  assembled.     As  soon  as  the  first  saluta- 
tions  were  over,     conversed  familiarly  with  the  chj- 
dren     i„   Bengalee;    on  which   they    all   appeared 
delighted.     I  asked  them  if  they  would  attend'     l' 
My  for  instruction  from  that  lady  (looking  towafds 
Miss  Cooke),  who  was  taking  so  much  troub fo  ast 
learn  the  language  for  the  purpose  of  instructing  thm 
They  sa,d  .hat  they  would  most  gladly;  an^d  the^ 
htt le  countenances  were  lightened  up  with  joy.     Two 
of  them,  whose  names  are  Monachee  and  Ponchee 
said  they  wished  I  also  would  .om-  »:,u  iu:.  T*"^^' 
and  talk  to  them.  """  "'"°^°' 

het'T'^M-''"'!^""/''"'  '"P^""^  their  Bengalee  alpha- 
bet  to  M.M  Cooke;  and  after  they  had  gone  Lr 


»93 


CHURCH  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


a  few  or  the  first  letters  several  times,  we  moved  to 
come  away.  Little  Ponchee  took  hold  of  my  clothes 
and  said, '  Stop,  ray  mother  is  coming.'  I  now  found 
that  some  intelligence  had  been  conveyed  to  the  neigh- 
bors of  our  being  there ;  and  whilst  Miss  Cooke  was 
speaking  to  •  Mr.  Jetter,  who  had  a  boys'  school  in 
the  place,  two  or  three  of  the  mothers,  neatly  dressed 
in  clean  white  clothes,  approached  to  the  lattice-work. 
I  drew  close  to  them,  and  said, '  I  hope  you  will  be 
pleased  that  your  children  should  be  instructed  by  us. 
That  lady.  Miss  Cooke,  has  come  over  from  England, 
solely  for  the  purpose  of  instructing  the  children  of 
the  natives  of  this  country.'  Monachee's  mother  in- 
quired if  she  could  speak  their  language ;  I  told  them 
die  had  begun  to  learn  it,  on  her  way  hither ;  that  she 
could  read  and  write  it  a  little  ;  and  in  a  short  time  I 
hoped  she  would  be  able  to  converse  with  them  famil- 
iarly. They  inquired  whether  Mis?  Cooke  were  mar- 
ried, or  if  she  were  going  to  be ;  I  answered, '  No  ;  she 
is  devoted  to  your  children.  She  heard,  in  England, 
that  the  women  of  this  country  were  kept  in  total 
ignorance,  that  they  were  not  taught  even  to  read  or 
write,  and  that  the  men  alone  were  allowed  to  attain 
to  any  degree  of  knowledge.  It  was  also  generally 
Dnderstood,  that  the  chief  objection  arose  from  your 


having  no  female  who  would  undertake  to  teach.  She, 
therefore,  felt  much  sorrow  and  compassion  for  your 
state  ;  and  determined  to  leave  her  country,  her  pa- 
rents, her  friends,  and  every  other  advantage ;  and 
come  here,  for  the  sole  purpose  of  educating  your 
female  children.'  On  hearing  this,  they  cried  out  with 
one  voice,  smiting  their  bosoms  with  their  right  hands, 
'  O  I  what  a  pearl  of  a  woman  is  this !'  I  added, '  She 
has  given  up  great  expectations  to  come  here ;  and 
seeks  not  the  riches  of  this  world,  but  that  she  may 
promote  your  best  interetts.'  '  Our  children  are  yours 
—we  give  them  to  you !'  rejoined  two  or  three  of  the 
mothers  at  once.  After  asking  why  /  had  learned 
their  language,  they  inquired  if  I  were  married.  I  said, 
'  1  have  been.'  And  on  their  asking  af\er  my  husband, 
I  replied, '  He  is  not.'  They  now  whispered  to  each 
other,  '  She  has  lost  her  husband ;  do  not  question  her 
on  that  head :'  and,  for  a  few  moments,  they  remained 
perfectly  silent,  with  sad  and  sympathizing  looks. 
They  then  respectfully  inquired  whether  I  had  chil- 
dren, and  on  my  stating  that  I  had  a  daughter,  and 
grandchildren,  they  entruated  that  I  would  soon  return, 
and  bring  some  of  them  with  me.  We  then  came 
away,  with  the  shouts  and  saleatiu  both  of  children 
and  parents."* 


CHAPTER   V. 


MISSION    IN    MADRAS    AND    SOUTHERN    INDIA. 


On  the  21st  of  February,  1614,  the  Rev.  Messrs. 
Schnarr^  and  Rhenius  sailed  from  Portsmouth  for 
the  East  Indies ;  and  on  the  4th  of  July,  they  arrived 
safely  at  Madras,  where  they  were  received  in  the 
most  cordial  manner  by  the  Rev.  Marmaduke  Tliomp- 
son,  chaplain  of  the  East  India  Company.  For  a 
sliort  time,  they  took  up  their  residence  in  Tranque- 
bar,  which  affords  the  best  opportunities  for  an  acqui- 
sition of  the  Tamul  language ;  and  by  unremitting 
application,  they  were  enabled,  in  less  than  a  year,  to 
converse  with  the  natives  on  the  great  subjects  of 
Christianity.  On  their  return  to  Madras,  the  corre- 
sponding committee,  which  had  recently  been  formed 
in  that  city,  fixed  them  in  convenient  premises  in  Black 
Town,  where  they  were  surrounded  fay  extensive  fields 
of  labor,  and  where  they  were  inspired  wilh  the  ani- 


mating hope  that  the  Lord  of  missions  would  not  per- 
mit them  to  labor  in  vain.  "  We  are  here,"  says  Mr. 
Schnarr6,  "  in  tlw  very  midst  of  idolaters ;  and  since 
the  owner  of  our  prembes  is  a  native,  we  have  in  the 
garden,  close  to  our  house,aplaceof  heathen  worship. 
This  consists  of  a  tree  With  extended  branches ;  and 
its  trunk  s<irrounded  by  little  black  stones  cut  into 
figures,  which  are  the  gods  of  the  natives,  and  before 
which  they  offer  their  adorations.  Although  the  owner 
has  strictly  forbidden  anyone  tocontinuehia  devotions 


*  It  in  MmnrlcabM  Ihftt  many  Of  th«  wt'sllhin  Hindbwa  hare,  »C 
late,  Toluntarily  ooim>  ibrward  to  ■•ppotl  lohMlt  Tsr  tlie  eduoalioh 
of  natiTO  cbiidren,  ia  which  the  Now  Tostanent  ia  read,  and  that 
*}.»  :.,.**..ni:.x-  ^r  ......  .  ..uiu —  :-  .--:ji « — >:»«  :«  l>nnM>l 

...     ...... u.,M r..«*..*.    • .»j....t*     .-  * J.       ...      ...  ..H 

and  other  parte  of  India.    See  annual  Bcrmon  before  wtieitty,  1090, 
b/tin  than  of  Balitbarf,  p.  M, 


here(„„ce  .t  appears  to  be  a  prime  place  of  worship), 
or  to  use  .he  adjacent  tank  forivashing,  yet  three  men 
»ee,n  detenn.ned  not  to  leare  off;  as  they  come  regu- 
larly  every  day,  and  here  perform  their  morning  ser- 

IT'f  1  ^  7^''°';  """y  «"«We  us  to  cast  forth  the 
net  of  the  kingdom  of  God." 

The  missionaries  had  remained  but  a  short  time  in 
this  situation   «hen  they  were  visited  by  a  considera- 
b^  number  of  persons,  including  Hindoos,  Mussulmen 
and  Roman  Catholics,  many  of  whom  listened  with  an- 
parent  seriousness  to  their  instructions,  and  some  even 
professed  a  desire  to  be  baptized;  but  it  frequently 
happened  that  such  a  proposal,  or  even   the  visit  of 
the  strangers,  resulted  from  some  sinister  motive     The 
former  class  acknowledged,  in  general,  the  .ruth  of 
what  the  brethren  advanced,  admitted  the  folly  and 
inutility  of  their  own  idolatrous  ceremonies,  and  made 
various  confessions  calculated  to  inspire  a  hope  of 
their  conversion;  but  it  was  found  that  little  reliance 
could  be  placed  on  their  sincerity. 

On  the  1st  of  May,  1815,  the  missionaries  opened 
a  free  school  m  their  garden,  with  thirty-two  pupils- 
comprising  twenty  children  of  Dr.  Rottle's  congrega- 
tion, and  twelve  heathen  children,  which  the  Englth 
school-master  Paschal,  had  previously  taken  under  his 
tuition.     In  this  seminary  no  distinction  of  castes  was 
recognized ;  but  high  and  low,  Hindoos,  Catholics  and 
Protestants,  all  received   instruction    together;    and 
though  some  of  the  native  parents  objected  to  this 
arrangement,  the  scruples  raised  against  it  were  com- 
paratively  few.     The  number  of  scholars  soon  in- 
creased,  but   their   attendance   was   very   irregular  • 
partly  in  consequence  of  the  numerous  festivals  ob- 
served both  by  the  Hindoos  and  the  Catholics;  and 
partly  through  the  superstitious  notion  of  some  of  the 
parents,  that  the  attendance  of  their  children  at  the  ear- 
den  was  productive  of  bodily  illness;  an  old  tradition  hav- 
ing stated  that  the  devil  has  his  habitation  on  that  spot 
In  the  month  of  August,  1816,  Mr.  Schnarr^,  at* 
the  earnest  request  of  Dr.  Caemmerer,  left  his  situa- 
tion at  Madras,  for  the  purpose  of  undertaking  the 
supermtendence  of  the  school-establishments,  and  of 
assistmg  m  the  administration  of  the  word  of  life  at 
Tranquebar.     The  separation  of  such  a  man  from  his 
worthy  colleague  was  by  no  means  desirable ;  but  cir- 
cumstances appear  to  have  rendered  it  indispensable 

Notwithstanding  the  opposition  which  had  occasion- 
ally  been  manifested  against  the  missionary  school 
both  among  the  Hindoos  and  Catholics,  that  seminary 
continued  to  be  well  attended,  and  four  other  schools 
were  estabtished  in  Black  Town;— two  for  children  of 
caste,  one  for  Mahometan  children,  and  one  for  pariars  • 
compnsuig  aitogeilier  about  two  hundred  and  "twentv 
pupils.  ^ 

Vol..  I.— Nos.  49  &  50.  77 


* 

MADRAS  AND  SOUTHERN  INDIA. 


698 

In   August,   1817,  Messrs.  Beriard  and  Deocar 

Scbmid  arrived  a.  Madras,  after  a  favorable  voyage  of 

three  months  and  seventeen  days.     They  were  iov 

ully  received  by  Mr.  Rhenius,  a/d  took'up'thTa  Jj 

at  the  mission-house,  where,  on  the  day  after  their 

whS?C:r'  '"''"".'"«  P^y^-^-^i-S  was  held 
wan  a  l  amul  congregation. 

says  Mr.  D.  Schm.d,  "were  present,  sitting  on  the 
ground,  according  to  the  custom  of  the  country  and  th! 
greatest  part  of  them  dressed  in  white  garments'  They 
began  with  singing  a  hymn  :  then  Mr.  Rhenius  offered 
up  a  prayer,  at  the  end  of  which  they  all  joined  in 
repeating  the  Lord's  prayer.  Mr.  Rhenius  h7n  ex" 
plained  a  portion  of  Scripture,  and  asked  them  several 
ques„ons,  which  were  promptly  answered.  Af" 
that  a  few  verses  were  sung,  and  the  service  was  con- 
cluded by  their  pastor,  with  an  appropriate  prayer. 
You  canno,  t  iink  how  much  I  was  delighted  in  hearing 

rCoTVR  h"'  ''""""""^  ^'"S'"8  'he  praises  of 
our  God  and  Redeemer  in  German  tunes ;  for  the  hymns 
which  they  use  were  translated,  according  to  German 
measures,  by  the  late  Mr.  Fabritius.  whoLsalea3 
and  active  missionary  of  the  Christian  Knowledge  So- 
ciety.    I  must  confess  that  I  have  not  been  Idified 
so  much  by  a  public  service  for  a  very  long  LTTl 
have  been  by  this,  though  I  did  not  understfnd  a  Cd 
of  the  language  except  the  blessed  name  of  Jesus 
ClMs,  and  a  few  other  proper  names.     Oh!  how 
did  I  long  for  the  time  when  I  should  be  able  to  make 
known  to  benighted  heathens,  in  their  own  tongue 
the  inestimable  love  of  God,  i„  the  redemption  of  the 
world,  by  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  I" 

A  short  time  before  the  arrival  of  the  new  mission- 
ams,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Rhenius  had  an  opportu„ky"f 
witnessing  a  famous  festival  of  the  heathen  at  a  place 
called  (onjeveram.  "Soon  after  breakfast,'''^,ays 
he  'the  morning  procession  was  announced,  and  we 
I  met  an  immense  concourseof  people.  TheheadBra- 
mm,  having  put  a  garland  of  flowers  round  my  neck 
requested  me  to  go  before  the  idol,  to  the  pagoda 

ceJVVu'?/'  '''^'''''-  ^  "''cordingfy  pro! 
ceeded  about  half  a  mile,  through  a  cH>wd  of  persJ„° 
among  whom  it  was  necessary  to  make  way  for  me 
Astonishing  was  the  sight  of  the  thn,ng;  the  broad 
street  being  completely  filled,  and  the  Lse-lTll 
each  side  occupied  by  a  great  number  of  persons  all 
anxiously  waiting  for  the  procession,  conducted  by'th" 
'holy  Bramins,'  two  of  whom  were  standing  on  Je 
vehicle,  with  fly-drivers  in  their  hands,  waving  ther^ 
rrrlf/'lTl  '''  •^»"'-'»'-««ai-ttheiLc.s 

"  I  was  seated  in  the  hall  of  the  pagoda,  when  the 
procession  approached  at  a  slow  pace.     AndO!  what 


i 


594 


CHlfKCH  MISSIONARY  SOCIKTV. 


w*\  w»s  nwuifcsted  hy  ihn  thronjc  to  oht«in  »  Kiglit  of 
their  Roti !  Srvmc  wprc  rlappmg  their  hnnds  lowarti 
hiiu— otJiers  liftins;  them  up  i!>  silent  ndnrntion — some 
fiilling  praMntie  ht>fore  this  iinn^inary  deity— others, 
»vith  nnxiety  depicted  on  their  fares,  wntching  lor  the 
first  and  best  opportunity  of  paying  the  trihiite  of  their 
devotion  !  Sun'ly  their  eyes  iire  cUv«ed,  thnt  they  run- 
not  see,  and  their  heivrts,  thai  tliey  cannot  understand  ! 
On  ihese  occasions,  indeed,  it  seems  as  if  the  very 
air  were  infected  with  the  elfusions  of  the  evil  spirit, 
who  douhih'ss  lakes  a  nialii;nant  delight  in  seeing  men 
thus  degrade  themselves. 

"  At  last  the  i-iol  arrived — passtd  hy  \m\ — imd  was 
placr.i  m  the  inner  part  of  llie  temple.  The  eyes  of 
the  |Hipulace  followed  it.  accompanied  hy  loud  rejoic- 
ings. The  Hramins  then  ascended  the  vehicle,  in  nnler 
to  receive  a  touch  of  the  golden  crown  which  the  idol 
wore ;  and  which  the  chief  Urnmin,  I  believe,  placed 
for  a  few  seconds  upon  the  head  of  each  of  his  brelh- 
nsn.     I  then  left  the  pagotSa.  and  weni  honie. 

"  When  the  evening  procession  was  amutunccd,  after 
dinner,  our  altcntion  was  excited  hy  'wo  tall  and  stoul 
figures,  in  the  midsl  of  the  cmwd.  painted  and  in 
iDtsks.  These  were  representations  of  a  i.  ;»n  and 
woman  made  of  paper,  with  nwkwani  faces,  arms  and 
bodies,  and  carried  by  persons  concealed  within  ihenv 
The  figures,  which  xvcre  alHiui  len  feet  high,  danced, 
anil  made  the  nmst  aniic  gestuivs,  A  lH)y  ^U^^  Imd 
on  a  nmsk  n>sembling  the  head  of  a  lion,  and  danced 
alhiul  among  tiie  dancing  girls. 

"  Arriving  at  the  pagoda,  we  seated  ourselves  in  the 
ball,  and  awaited  the  pnvession,  which  scMin  arrived 
with  ihe  customary  shoutings.  The  idol  having  been 
fixed  in  his  place,  a  numltet  of  Hramins,  scnicil  in 
niws  op|H)site  to  us.  received  m  .ne  n>fn>slnncnl  ;  and 
four  or  five  of  the  dancing  girls  were  seUnned  to  dance 
before  us,  which  they  did.  with  gestures  which  would 
have  been  considered  shameful  oven  in  a  theatre  in 
Kurope. 

"  Keliring  home  almul  midnight,  I  assendiled  our 
people,  and  concluded  the  tlay  with  supplications  to 
the  living  IJod.  for  ourselves  and  all  around  us.  I 
then  relirtnl  to  bed,  rejoicing  in  the  opportimity  which 
I  had  enjo)od  of  making  known  the  gospel  to  the 
heathen.and  of  nmurning  over  their  darkness  and  folly." 
The  following  day,  our  missionary,  in  walking  out, 
njet  »vith  a  person  walking  on  spikes,  and  holding  in 
his  hand  a  thick  iron  staff,  with  which  he  oicasionally 
beat  himself  on  the  hack.  On  being  adilro«!«'d  by 
Mr.  Rheuius,  ho  threw  off  his  painftd  shoes,  which 
were  taken  up  by  his  wife ;  and,  on  being  ipiest-imed 
as  to  the  cause  of  his  inflicting  such   lonnents  u|H)n 


,.i:«i> 


,f- I 


•  K.I    I—  a:.i 


to  obtain  a  living.     The  same   motive  appeared  to 


influence  a  sort  of  juggler,  of  whom  Mr.  Hheniui 
gives  the  following  account :— "  As  sw>n  a*  he  saw  us, 
he  began  his  antics,  which  were  so  disgusting  that  wo 
wotdd  have  left  him  innnediatnly,tnit  werndoarrouRnf 
seeing  what  the  end  would  be,  He  distorted  his  body 
in  su(>h  a  sluw^kinp',  ntnnner,  and  assumed  such  unnatural 
forms  and  voices,  ilmt  words  are  inadequate  to  convey  an 
accurate  idea  of  his  appearance  ;  and  all  this  was  set 
ort'hy  the  various  colors  with  which  he  was  besmeared, 
At  Inst,  to  crown  his  folly,  he  ttwk  a  r«>pe  made  of 
rags  and  tied  it  rmmd  his  luMly.  Ho  then  dipped  the 
end  of  it  in  the  oil  of  a  lamp  which  was  before  him, 
anil,  having  kindled  it,  he  held  it  near  his  face,  aiul 
liMikcd  at  it  earnestly  for  some  time,  as  if  going  to  fight 
with  it.  Then,  rubbing  his  tongue  over  with  the  burn- 
ing oil  he  tor<'  the  (laming  tor«'h  with  his  teeth,  and 
chewed  the  pieces ! 

"  I,  at  first,  stood  motionless,  silently  meditating  on 
the  fallen  condition  of  man  ;  but,  at  length,  being  un- 
able  to  hciir  the  sight  any  longer,  I  stopped  him,  and 
asked,  •  Who  are  ymi,  and  why  ilo  you  act  thus  ?'  He 
iiftcd  up  his  eyes  and  hands  to  heaven,  and  replied, 'Tt 
is  the  will  of  (!od  !'  '  No,"  said  1,  '  not  of  (Jod,  but 
of  the  devil.'  Then,  turning  to  the  Hramins  who  sur- 
rounded us,  I  asked  how  they  ciudil  suHer  sucli  crea- 
tures in  their  company,  and  in  their  pagiwlas,  if  they 
pretended  to  any  holinest ;  and  whetiter  this  were  n 
sign  of  virtue  or  depravity.  They  kIikxI  amaised  ;  and 
the  ptior  man  himself  said,  •  I  do  it  for  the  sake  :vf  a 
livelihood.'  " 

In  order  to  illustrate  the  "  miserable  resources  of 
the  natives  of  India  in  seasons  of  eyjremity,"  the  eor- 
responiling  connnittee  of  Madias,  in  their  report  of 
the  slate  of  the  mission  in  IHIK  advert  to  two  signal 
judgments  with  which  that  cily  aiui  it*  environs  had 
been  I'cr'i'iilly  \  isitcd  ;  — 

"Tliiit  fntiil  disease  (the  cholera  S|.asmodica),  which 
coimiiriircd  ilic  preceding  )car  in  ("alcutta,  and.  pass- 
ing fiom  iIkmicc  into  the  upper  province  of  Hengal, 
extended  its  ilesolaiing  ravnire*  thKuigh  some  of  the 
fairest  porlions  of  lliiidoiminn.  dcsceniling  dowhtvards 
through  the  Deccnn,  manifested  itself,  at  length,  in 
Madrnt.  The  calamity,  for  a  short  time,  threatened 
the  severest  consc(picuces  to  this  place  ;  b,ii  the  li,i- 
leanc  vigilance  of  the  government,  and  the  exerlioii 
of  the  Kuropean  iiiliabiiunts  generally,  favored  by  a 
merciful  and  gracicus  i'rovidence,  mitigated  its  efTects  ; 
and  it  fiimlly  subsided,  leaving  fewer  victims  iIkiii  might 
have  been  expccttil  fi^om  the  nature  of  the  disease, 
the  extent  of  its  ravages  elsewhere,  and  the  crowded 
|)opulBliim  of  the    lilack  Town  of  Madras  and    the 

adjacent  villages. 

..fk-      ,1  ._        ...     ..       .        .     ... 

■"  i-ninng  inc  prrvHiviirr-  ot  {tiiii  liiMtiiler,  llio  iiloiu- 

irouiceremoniciof  the  Hindoos,  intended  to  propitiate 


■•  might  b«  nxpor.ml,  u„iver««l  »nd  unooMi.m  :  «„, 
Urn  .l«lu.lml  „,u|.itu,lo«.    A,.  i,l»l,  ,.«||«.|  vLrr  In 

•    'I'"  iMl    orly  y„„,.,  „„   „„„„„„   ,„.  ^  y> 

on,  of  hnr  fo«t,v«N.  Lcwomi  tim  right  nii.l  lr(l  |,«m,I 

....  tl  rou^hout  ,h«  ..„ll,m.nn..     |.,..u,.„,I,m.  i  „..„■,.«- 

Mrun.nM,„.ul...i...n,i„«,i„,,viUW.oniHWil., 
2    .."....«   .h«  only  .peH..  „f  „,.^ 

.n.hM..i.  f..,^,  ,„n  MH, • ....  in.i.vi.iMMi  ,il,  ;: 

;'Vm.ydimnn„.-^„yUuM..rr,.,K.„.li„,..^ 

•»'^  ihn  vmuacio,,  (lM.,^i,.,.n,,.|  ,,«  inv,,,  hy  ,1...  ,„.,.Mr- 
rc...<.M.r«tru.^..„,lo.„„orM..u■hi,.|,.iMllMM .,.of« 

;;"';:'": 'H7-.l.;vn...k, r.n.k   ..very  V..M 

«UK..,I.      a  »„I,m,.„  ...rvi.i,  „r  l.un.iliM.i.M,,  |„  „Im..|,  .,ii 
|.;|r^....J   wn..,   i,ni..Ml    f..„„|y,   „„,  oMahh^l.,.,!   cvniy 

co„.,..pl    ..r  ,   ,,  on,.. ,.n.lnr..ulH„..hH«l|y,.. 

..-.hi.-.     Of  -  ho  hoa,h.,n.v..ry  (•,.«.  .V.,. ,,„,,„,„ 

«...-  mvrmu^,  ,.h,..m.I,I,  ;  I,,.,  ,..,,  „y„  .,,•  „,„  ^ 
w«  .n..y  I,.,,.,.,  .va,  „,..„.  ,.  ;  u„,|  ,|,„  um.uuunw.  nvro 

"""■''  «',"';' ''y    "'«  R""«"«l  f.-rv..,.i  H,,„M  vvhiH. 

|M.rv..,l.,.|  ,1...  „„„„i„K,.  an.l  tin,  «oo,l  i,„,u,.HHi..n,  whi,.|, 

7"""'   •"  ""'•'''*"  »' i"   H."  .■on^.-.^ali..,..      I,  i. 

l'h'«H,nK    .0   B.hl.   (hat   «„!.    o„o  ,.,.,„ni(y    !,„, „,.,| 

within  th..  umnmu   frun,  ,1,,,  „,,i,K„..„.,  v.«.  ,1,,,  ,|t.«||, 
ol  a  cutuclniit  N  «virit. 

"  All  III..  Nrho..|-l,„u„.,,  !„„|,  i„  ,„„|  „„,  „f  Y,,„,^^^ 
wrrn  Uown  .lowa.or  «ll...um«  ,|„„„^,„|  ;  ,„„|.  ,|„„,„i; 

mail  of  ihum  hovu  »inro  Im,.,,  r ..It  „.  i..,Miin.|    din  i 

t"..  ..vn..lH  ...RHluT  l.uvo  ,.a„.,„|  „  ,.„,„i,|,.r,|,|„'  j,,.  | 
•••rr..|.t..M.  .n   thu  adoiidinico  of  U„,  rhil.ho.i  in   ||,„ 
U'hooU,"  I 

Mr.   Hl.miiui.,  in  niM-akinK  <'f  ihn  .tpidniuin  wlid,  i 
IWH  already  boun  inciilionod.  iayn  i),a,  a  Mn.,„i„  ggvo  I 


MADRAS. 


505 


hhnth,  following  account  of  their  vi«,wi  of  the  tnm 
of  that  draadfiil  malady  .•—  ^' 

"III  anciom   timon,  Mariamina,  an  evil  ffo«ld«M 

;  ir..o.i  «ft«r  .h«  hUHHi  of  ,„„„ ,  ;„.,.  ,;;if  t ;; 

«l'«  pownr  to  a.,i,fy  |,„r  do,iro,  ,|,„  we,.t  to  SlK 

amlmado  a  great  ,m„«„ce  before  him.     Siva  aTed 

h«r  w ha,  ,!,«  de«i,*d  ,  and,  „„  her  soliciting  for  "T; 

o  destroy  men,  he  granted  hnr  ro,,„e«,   Vro,r.r„ 

m.n   .hn  h«.  gone  about  inrtiming  death  by  1  1" 

of  the  d,ole.-«  .norhns.     8„,„e,i„.e,.  indeed,  nL  Tel 

o  ropen  of  b„r  cruelty,  antl.  rntiriug  ,a  «  .nnuntai" 

rmnajn.  thnrn  inactive  for  ten  or  „vnlvo  ynar  T   ut' 

.hn   hnn  break,  forth  with  ,.„w  fury  upon  manLd  " 

ru'r  L;",;!"""  f"""'  '"  "'""''*'"«  "•'  ""'  '"•""'»  of  «"- 
r...  ng  ,h..„.N,.| vn.  „«„i.„  ,hn  „„„,fc,  „f  ^i,,,  ^ 

«...hln.,.  olmnrvMl,   ••  Wbnu  ,b„  «,.„.i.„„,«  pon    ivoTi 

n  .h.,n...,.o„  .luH,  Mar .„  „„„h,  i„    h.  .ar, 

•7 -..um  wMh   Kroa.    I«„..„,„,i.,„   b,.fore  Hiva.Z-' 

-.H,   powor  to  her?'     Siva   rnplind,  .Khe  C    ! 

7"  " '"^-•••r  l'r..ynr,whidnvill  „,„.,;„  „^y'l      ' 

who  rnpi'iKx  it  I"  '  pnr»on 

Mr,  Uh,.uiu.  ob„.rve.,  that  ihn  |«„ve,  „f  „  ,.,„„,„ 
tn-n  ....^  M,ppoMMl  ,„  ho  vnry  ««, ,hh,  ,„  Ma,  ",      " 

;;;;'::"■'''' ;«'•  "•  i-' i.nr  „„X  " : 

"  ,"••;-  'h"  ;.r.u.,.  p«r,i,.oh.rly  a.  tb.f  .„,,„,? 
•'.••"-r.Md|ay,„«,hnfound„,io„ofaM,nv,„i, 

;;;■;•• :" ""  ••'••  "•"'"•  -f  .1,..  pr..„.i,n,  ^  "ly 

'  '" "•'    '•"•  """"    h  <hn  .on,.,;,  a,   h.i„„  ,  '  I 

1;:; :•■"•; -""•"•'^ h«„'bo,„  w  Jh    J 

bml  picviouK  y,M.(,i.i..il     n,.  .1:    ■,  "'"<  1.111,7 

11 "." H.^v, Mr, Ti..m. :  ,1     :;; ;;;7;.'7 7'-' 

y  I"  ..-.     .S..UM„|  (ru-n,!,  «M,„„hh.d  ,vi,h  o,  at  \Z 

■'""-.  »:i""....jor.)-||„vil|„nd  a, i,  f  „  ,, 

arrhiii'i'i       !•  .■. i  "ji'i"',  iiio 

'.     Hpo  ,      J  h,.r„  w„  (o„n.l  our  Tauud  ,.,„gr.«. 
""".  r....K...I  opp,«.,„  to  tb„   placn  whnrn  ,h„  ,„i„„^" 

.  ..  l...r  .d  na,.v,.  ,.„d  oth.r.  „||  around  us.  and  it 
""'":"* ""I"' "f 'hn  adjounng  hou...     Th„'Z 

l«....    ;   ......HoHowH  a  y....inKn«h.,    by'  f 

ton...  n'.vn,m.„,,.i,, ,,,,  i, ,,      .  '"; 

«..n.l<,n.au   pr.-Mu-t.  to  .,aplaiu   thi,  par.  of  the  r,4" 


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CHURCH  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


mony,  lo  prevent  Bny  erroneous  notion  among  the 
heathen  spectBiors  of  any  suci:  thini;  in  it  m  ihsir  own 
luperstitioiis  practices,  he  «s;«in  addres^ied  them.  A 
doxology  was  thei>  suing  in  Taimil,  in  which  kalleltyah 
miindod  iHit,  very  distinctly  and  nffectingly  ;  and,  after 
Mr.  Rhenius  had  oHered  up  a  prayer  in  Tnmui,  wc 
concluded  with  the  apostolic  benediction,  in  English 
an»?  TamnI  alternntcly  ;  Mr.  Rheniiia  following  me 
sentence  hy  sentence. so  as  to  end  hoih  together;  the 
effect  of  which  was  very  solemn  and  impressive.  The 
poopio  were  all  very  atlentivo,  and  their  expressions 
of  s.itisfaction,  as  they  wcic  tlispcrsing.  were  highly 
grnlifying.  It  was.  on  the  whole.  I  suppose,  one  of  the 
most  interesting  ceremonies  of  the  kind  ever  witnessed 
in  Madras." 

The  some  gentleniim  lo  whom  wo  are  indehied  for 
this  account,  has  conununicati'd  the  followinu;  nfli-ct- 
ing  particulars  relative  to  the  burning  of  widows  in 
India  : — 

"  On  this  subject  I  would  remark,  in  opposition  to 
what  has  been  so  often  aflirmed,  of  the  practice  being 
confined  to  the  n\oT«  wealthy  class,  and  lo  those  who 
are  voluntary  victims,  tlint  the  instances  which  I  have 
seen  have  proved  the  contrnry.     The  first  I  ever  saw 
in  India  was  iu  contradiction  of  the  first  of  these  asser- 
tions ;  and  it  was  n  scene,  the  mere  recital  of  which 
must  make  any  sober  mim  shudder.     It  was  the  burn- 
iiig  of  a  widow  in  d  -ep   |K)verly  : — so  poor,  iniiecd, 
were  the  relations,  that  ihey  could  not  afford  a  suf- 
ficient quantity  of  fuel  lo  cover  the  Imdy  !     !  siiw  iicr 
and  the  corpse  of  lier  deceased  husband,  partly  covered 
with  fuel,  and   partly  exposed  ;  and   in  this  dreadful 
»tiite  she  was  slowly  consumed  !     The  next  instance 
which  I  saw  was  in  diret  t  op|H>sition  to  the  other  asser- 
tion, that  the  victims  are  nil  perfectly  voluninrv.    This 
was  the  .sacrifice  of  n   poor  woman,  who  was  dmi:c;od 
to  tho  pile,  making  all   tlio  rosl.'^iimce  in   her  power, 
and  faintinf(  under  the  thoii>;h!  of  what  she  was  goiiia; 
to  lulfer.      She  was    then    taken    in  the  arms  of  two 
men,  to  be  carried  round  the  pile  the  appointed  number 
of  times;  but  when,  from  her  fainting,  and  the  resist- 
ance which  she  made  at  intervuls,  ijii  y  rould  not  suc- 
ceed in  ibis,  she  was  laid  on  the  pile  in  o  stale  of  in- 
sensibility ;  but  coming  lo  herself  for  n  few  moments, 
she  struggle<l  so  violently  as  nearly  to  throw  down  the 
pile.     A  Rrainin,  perceiving  this,  immediately  rim  to 
a  little  child,  ahoui   funr  years  of  age,  ihe  ehlesi  son 
of  the  widow, — took    the  chihl    in   his  arms, — put  a 
toreh  n  his  hands, — ran  with  him  to  the  pile,— held 
onl  his  little  arm,  and  made  him  set  it  tm  fire  ; — and 
in  a  few  moments  the  sirugRling  mother  was  enveloped 
in  flaines  !" 

Atinnt    the    !n!dd!s    of   !*^'iO.  M;!H*r!.    !!hi>r:!!!:    sr-.:! 

Schr"id  were  removed  from  Madras,  for  the  purpose 


of  strengthening  the  mission  in  Tinnevelly  ;  but  their 
places  were  immediately  supplied  by  the  Rev.  Messrs. 
Biirenbnick  and  Ridsdale,  the  former  of  whom  had 
been  for  some  time  at  Madras,  and  the  latter  was  sent 
out  by  the  directors  of  the  society,  for  the  purpose 
of  filling  up  the  vacancy  in  the  Madras  mission.  Both 
of  these  clergymen  appear  to  havo  been  deeply  im- 
buml  with  the  love  of  immortal  souls,  and  both  of 
them  entered  upon  their  labors  with  a  spirit  of  holy 
zeal  and  self-devotedness.  Their  communications, 
addressed  to  the  committee,  are  illustrative  of  this 
fact ;  and  from  these  tve  shall  take  the  liberty  of 
selecting  a  few  extracts,  for  the  gratiflcotion  of  our 
readers. 

''  To  the  Christian  mind,"  says  Mr.  Ridsdale,  "  the 
Renenil  state  of  things  around  us  is  truly  dislr«>ssing ; 
liir  iiere  Satan  reigns,  either  by  popish  error  and  super- 
stition, or  by  heathenish  darkness  and  idolatrj',  with 
an  extended  sway  that  is  truly  a  vful.  Rut,  blessed 
he  (lod,  the  eye  of  faith  looks  upon  those  lands  of 
darkness  as  devoted  territory  :  only  send  us  troops, 
ihnt  we  may  go  up,  and  take  possession.  Our  cry  in 
every  epistle  must  be,  '  Th(>  harvest  truly  is  great,  but 
the  labon-rs  are  few  I  O,  fail  not  to  send  laborers  into 
this  harvest.'  " 

The  following  communicntion  from  Mr.  Hiirenbruek 
nlfords  a  striking  representntiou  of  the  secret  but  pow- 
erfid  working  of  tiie  leaven  of  the  gospel  : — "  Wo 
make,"  says  he,  "  no  rapid  jirogress,  and  rnnnot  boast 
much  of  converts  from  among  the  heathen  ;  yet, 
thanks  be  to  (iod,  the  light  is  ^shining  omong  them, 
and  works  its  way  in  secret,  where  an  attentive  ob- 
server, who  has  felt  the  blessed  iiilluepee  of  thiit  light 
on  his  own  heBrl,will  watch  its  progress  with  deligiit ; 
though  frequently  he  will  sec  it  covered  with  ihe  (hiI- 
wnrd  appeiirnnee  of  a  heathen,  who  Irendiles  lest  it 
should  he  discovered  ilmt  he  knows  and  believes  so 
niiirh,  and  appears  surprised  at  himself  that  ho  has 
advanced  so  far. 

"  In  this  view,  inquirers  nfter  truth  are  numerous  ; 
hut  few  there  ar<>  who  come  to  a  decision  to  follow 
the  liulh.  and  make  an  open  profession  of  it.  Oim 
of  these  fearful  heathens,  however,  who  has  hesitated 
and  been  enpiivated  by  fear  now  upwards  (f 'ivo  years, 
has,  ni  last,  stepped  forwanl,  anil  desired  baptism. 
He  says,  '  I  am  an  unhappy  man  !  If  I  die  a  heathen, 
I  am  lost,  nnd  shall  be  mider  grenter  condemnation 
for  having  known  so  much  of  the  word  of  God.  If  I 
live  AS  H  hrnihen,  I  am  wilhoul  peace  or  rest  for  my 
minil,  and  know  so  much  as  to  make  me  unhappy  in 
my  heathenish  profession  whde  I  havo  a  Christian 
faith,     There  remains  only  one  thing  for  mo — not  to 

•rr  a-:!at:ic:!  ni  t_nn;T,  Oiit  iw  iiiiiKi'  rtii  Opttu  cuiiIr-SSiOil 

of  him  before  men.     If  I  overcome  this,  I  will  lay 


myself  out  for  the  service  of  Chri.t.     Ho  was  accord, 
ingly  received  under  inMriictinii  for  baptinm." 

The  circumstances  under  which  one  of  the  heathen 
converts  was  baptiwd,  in  the  your  IHaa,  w«re  pocu- 
hnrly  interesting,  and  liavo  buon  tlius  narrated  by  Mr 
Barenbruck  : — 

"  Vongedasalain,  a  candidate  for  baptism,  was  severe- 
ly  tried.     His  wife  had,  some   tiino  boforo,  removed 
into  the  country,  to  her  relations ;  and  on  bcnrinR  that 
her  husband  was  preparing  for  baptism,  she  refuHcd  to 
return.     Several  of  his  relatives  who  lived  with  him 
now  w-ithdrew  from  his  abode,  an.l  others  throatcn.ul 
him  ;  but  some  a.ivisod  him  to  go  and  fetch  his  wife 
first,  and  tbcn  to  be  bapti/.ed.     When  he  inf„rme.l  me 
of  Ins  affliction,  I  diioclo.l  him  to  commit  himself  to 
Chii.l,  and  exhorted  him  to  be  mu.cIi  in  prayer,  look- 
ing upxvnnl  for  strength  and  support.     As  bo  was  now 
suflicicntly  instructed  to  give  an  accoimi  of  bis  faiij, 
and  make  an  open  confession  of  the  dwtrine  wliich  he 
believed,  F  pro|K)sed  to  receive  him,  the  next  Sunday 
info  the  church  of  Christ,  if  it  were  agreeable  to  bis 
wishes.     Ho  complied  with  this,  cli„se  his  name,  and 
acquainted  me  with  bis  sponsors. 

"  The  next  moniing,  poor  Von(;e(lnH,ilnin  came  to 
my  room   in   great  anxiety.     He  could  not  bear  ibe 
thought  of  s.-parating  from  his  wife- ;  nor  did  be  think 
that   ho  should  be  able  to  endure  the  reproach  of  his 
relations  for  Christ.     He  said  that  he  would  go  and 
fetch   his  wife  and  child  ;    am!  then,  on   bis   return 
receive  baptism.     I  foresaw  ibnt  if  he  went,  be  would 
assuredly  be  prevented  by  bis  relatives  fr.)m  rei.irning 
nnd   that    they   woiil.l   succe.«d   in   their  mischievous 
p  ans.     After  praying  with  him,  I  t«|,|  |,i„,  ,„  |,„  „„ 
his  guard,  and   not  to  go  a  step  wiili„„t   the  Lord 
I  encouraged  him  to  look  to  Christ   for  Rtrennih   Im?- 
cause  be  says   plainly,  •  Whosoever  loveih  fmber  or 
mother,  or   wife,  or  children,  more   iln.n   me,   is  not 
worthy  of  me.'     'Consider  tin.,'  I  ,„i,|.  .  ,ind  enter 
not  into  lenintalion      I  know  that  your  trial  is  severe, 
and  I  feel  for  you  ;  but  remember  there  is  a  Cod,  who 
will  take  you  up,  when  your  friends  iiml  relntivei  for- 
sake  you.     He  will  not  leave  nor  forsake  you  ;  no, 
not  oven  in  death,  nor  in  the  day  of  judgment.  '  Ife 
is  able,  if  it  be  good  for  you,  and  yon  ran  put  your 
trust  in  him,  to  restore  to  you  your  wife,  even  though 
she  \.ere  kept  under  the  most  suspicious  «>y.t  of  y,.„r 
enemies.     Remember,  that  whosoever  giveth  bis  life 
for  the  TK>rd.  -ball  preserve  it ;  but  he  who  doth  not 
intrust  the  Um\  with  it,  shall  los»  it  ;_h,o,  consider 
II  will  be  with  your  wife.     Tlie  case  is  such  that  it 
must  be  left  to  you  only— you  must  come  to  a  detpr 
mination  ;  but  do  not  determine  without  nraynr.'     He 
took  leave  o(  mo,  to  go  and   fetch  his  wife  to  town, 
promiaing  to  return  after  three  weeks :  and  I  looked 


MADRAS. 


69t 

to  the  r^rd,  ,1,0  only  help  i„  ,i,„e  of  anxiety,  ,„d 
migh    his  grace  to  support  him.  and  inspire  him  with 
perfect  resignation. 

"In  the  afternoon,  Vengodasalain  came  to  my  anart- 

"Bnce.  'llieUrd,'said  he,  <  has  given  me  .race 
«o  that  I  cannot  transgress  against  .h,«„  words  which 
you  mentioned.  I  ,nust  love  Christ  more  than  my 
wife  nnd  friends.  I  will  coinmemi  all  things  m  (iod 
nnd  tiust  in  him.bolioving  that  ho  will  takocarcol  mo' 
I  sincerely  wish,  i„  ,ho  name  of  the  Lord,  to  bo  bap- 
ti8e(l  to-morrow.'  ' 

"The  next  morning  was  the  sabbath,  and  many 
bonthens  were  present  at  the  Tnmul  sermon.  Von- 
Ro-hisalam  was  received  into  the  churcl.  of  Christ  by 
haptism  and  took  the  name  of  Cornelius,  which  ho 
chose  from  the  subject  of  my  first  Tnmul  sermon. 
After  d.v.ne  service,  be  came  to  my  room,  thankful, 
ns  be  expressed  him.elf.  for  the  meieics  of  (Jod 

'■  II'"  «nme  evening,  Cornelius  was  summoned  be- 
fure  the  bead-man  of  bis  caste,  who  bad  formcriy 
reated  !„,„  with  great  kindness.  When  bo  went  with 
the  caleclnst,  be  was  asked  why  he  h«,l  acted  so  fool- 
."bly  as  to  embrace  the  Christian  religion?  Ho  ro- 
Pbed,  -I  have  not  nele.l  foolishly  ;  for  I  |„,|i„v„  ,|,„l  I 
cannot  be  sayed  from  eternal  damnation  without  the 
Kcdeeiner.  Jesus  Christ.'  '  That,'  sai.l  the  he..,|.,nan 
■•  your  misled  min.l,  which  m„k,.s  you   think   thus' 


By  what  can  you  know  that  it  is  the  word  of  the  true 
»»<wl  ?  '  I  ermit  me  to  say,'  rojoine.l  Cornelius  '  that 
honey  ,s  ,wee, ;  but  j,,  gweelneHS  is  known  by  lum 
only  who  has  tasted  it.  A  man  having  no  taste,  can- 
not,  by  any  description,  form  a  coneepli.m  of  the 
sweetness  of  lumey.  Head  but  our  true  vedam  ; 
and  if  you  seek  earnestly  tlie  salvation  of  your  soul 
yoi.  will  then  know  that  it  h  the  word  of  the  truo 

On  the    1st  of  J„„„ary.  l««.i,  „  „,,„•„  ^^^      ,^ 
ciy  baptized   by  the   name  of  John,  aft.r   making  a 
sui.nbe  address  to  the  congregution.  ami  breaking  the 
Mcrc.l  I  rammical  cord,  with  which,  i,  has  been  Ltly 
observed,   Satan   binds   those  dehi.led  priests  to   hi, 
v-rvice.     And,  about  three  weeks  aftorwar.ls,  six  bra- 
then  women   were  admitted   into  the  rliurch  I,"  .l„ 
same  solemn  rite.     Of  one  of  these.  „„  aged   female, 
Mr.    KidKdale  olwerves,   "I    had.  one   day,  a  moat 
mterestuiK  ccmversation  with  her.     I  asked  what  had 
induced  her  to  think   of  changing  h.r  religion.     She 
replied,   '  Hefore,  I   worshipped   plenty  of  idol,,  but 
what  good  ?     I  went  to  the  church  to  receive  alms 

!!!!!'-''»!!! J^"  «'«';"^'''«  preach  ;  then,  after  be  had' 
-•"— ,  I  sTrn?  r:t7;:jjn  .isk.'ii  tm  ipiH-tJonn,  nnd,  among 
others,  if  we  knew  that  we  wore  all  sinneir.  1  wont 
home,  and  ilmiigbt,  What  this  ?  Then  tba  light  Wgin  to 


u 
441 


4 


<  i 


Me 


CHURCH  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


come  into  my  mind,  and  I  feel  myself  a  great  sinner. 
Tiien  I  tell  my  son  and  daughter  that  I  like  to  be  a 
Christian.  They  laugh  at  me,  but  I  not  mind.  I  feel 
very  great  love  to  Je^is  Christ,  and  I  think  upon  him 
always.'  On  my  asking  why  she  wished  to  be  bap- 
tized, she  replied,  '  That  I  may  come  to  Christ,  and 
get  pardon  and  salvation.'  Fearing  that  she  might 
entertain  erroneous  views  of  the  ordinance,  I  asked 
her  if  she  thought  that  the  baptismal  water  could 
pardon  and  save  her.  But  she  answered,  with  great 
energy  and  expressive  oriental  gesture,  '  O  no!  waler 
can  do  nothing.  On!y  Christ  can  save  me.'  I  asked 
her  whither  she  expected  to  go  after  death.  She 
replied,  'To  God.*  'But,'  said  I,  'when  you  die, 
tliey  will  put  your  body  into  the  ground  :  how,  then, 
can  you  go  to  God  ?'  She  said,  '  My  soul  will  go  to 
God.'  And,  on  my  asking  how  she  knew  she  had  a 
tioul,  she  observed,  'I  see,  and  think,  and  do  many 
things,  which  my  body  could  not  do  of  itself:  if  my 
joul  was  gone,  then  :iiy  body  would  be  quiet.' 

"  The  case  of  this  poor  Hindoo  woman  (who  is 
tbout  seventy  years  of  age,  and  her  hair  as  vvliite  ps 
^ool)  is,  I  trust,  a  practical  comment  on  that  beauti- 
lul  passage  of  Holy  Writ,  '  Hatii  not  God  chosen  the 
poor  of  this  world,  rich  in  faith,  and  heirs  of  the 
kingdom  which  he  hath  promised  to  them  that  love 
bin.  ?'  " 

In  addition  to  the  public  ministrations  of  the  Rev. 
Messrs.  Barenbruck  and  Ridsdale,  great  attention  ap- 
Ii>ears  to  have  beeu  paid  to  the  great  xvork  of  translat- 
ing and  publishing  a  variety  of  useful  books  in  the 
Tamul  language  ;  and  the  following  anecdote,  as  con- 
nected with  this  department  of  the  mission,  is  too 
mterc&iing  to  be  withheld  : — 

"  A  little  while  ago,"  says  Mr.  Ridsdale,  "  an  old 
chariot  belonging  to  a  pagoda  near  our  premises  was 
sold,  an<t  from  a  ])art  of  one  of  the  wheels  wo  made 
the  platten  of  a  new  printing-press.  This  suggested 
to  me  the  idea  of  turning  Satan's  weu|K)ns  against  him- 
self; and,  accordingly,  with  this  piece  of  wood  which 
had  been  for  year?  employed  in  \m  service,  we  struck 
oil"  a  thousand  copies  of  that  bcamiful  portion  of  Holy 
Scripture,  the  fortieth  chapter  of  Isaiah's  prophecy 
in  the  form  of  a  tract.  May  these  little  messengers 
of  heavenly  wisdom  contribute  to  sap  the  foimdations 
of  idolatry,  and  to  dissipate  the  shades  of  hcuthcn 
superstition  !" 

In  the  month  of  February,  Mr.  Bareid)ruck  left 
Mil  Iras,  and  removed  to  Tran(jMt'bar  ;  as,  fmni  his 
competent  k'  awledge  of  the  Tanud  Junguage,  and  his 
familiarity  with  the  charucicr  of  the  natives,  it  was 
considered  expedient  tliat  he  should  undertake  the 
*u|M>rintendence  of  liie  »>ciety'i  missions  in  that  part 
of  liie  country.     The  vacancy  occasioned  by  his  re- 


moval was  filled  up  by  the  Rev.  William  Sawyer,  who 
sailed  from  England  in  the  preceding  spring,  in  com- 
pany with  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Maisch  and  Reichardt, 
and  the  Rev.  Isaac  Wilson,  destined  to  strengthen  the 
mission  at  Calcutta. 

In  the  year  1823,  the  Church  Missionary  Society 
had  missionaries  or  religious  teachers  in  no  fewer  than 
seven  stations  in  the  southern  part  of  Hindoostan, 
besides  Madras:  these  were  Poonamallee,Tranquebar, 
Tinnevelly,  Cottayain,  Cochin,  Allcpie  and  Telli- 
cherry.  It  is  not,  however,  to  be  supposed  that  the 
missionary  records  of  all  these  stations  are  equally 
interesting  or  important.  In  these  respects,  Madras, 
Tinnevelly  and  Cottayam  unquestionably  bear  the 
palm  ;  the  first,  as  being  the  metropolis,  and  the  centre 
of  missionary  energy  in  Southern  India  ;  the  second, 
as  having  been,  from  1823,  the  chosen  s|H}t  for  the 
descent  of  a  peculiar  blessing ;  and  the  third,  from  its 
being  in  the  district  c  .lat  interesting  people,  the 
Syrian  Christians.  At  these  three  places,  then,  the 
proceedings  of  the  Church  Missionary  Society  will  be 
detailed  as  fully  as  the  confined  limits  of  this  depart- 
ment of  the  present  work  will  allow  ;  while  the  five 
other  stations  will  not  be  passed  over  without  a  share 
of  notice,  proportionate  to  their  relative  interest. 

The  mission  at  Madras  and  its  more  immediate 
neighborhood,  under  the  direction  of  the  Rev.  J.  Rids- 
dale and  Rev.  W.  Sawyer,  is  described  in  the  society's 
24th  report,  as  "becoming  more  systematic  in  all  its 
parts,  and  as  proceeding  steadily  under  those  trials  of 
faith,  with  which  so  many  of  the  servants  of  Christ  are 
exercised,  in  waiting  far  the  more  abundant  blessinp,  of 
the  Holy  Spirit  on  their  labors."  The  difTerent  "  parts" 
above  alluded  to  may  be  comprised  under  the  heads  of 
preaching  and  public  instrucfioti,  i'uo  tr.-.iy'ating  of  lliii 
Scriptures  and  ri'lij>;ioii:;  works,  the  printing  depart- 
ment, and  the  education  of  youtii.  In  public  preach- 
ing, much  could  not  be  done,  or  indeed  expected,  owing 
to  the  recent  arrival  of  the  missionary  to  whose  share 
of  duty  it  fell,  and  his  consinpienl  .slight  knowlc(!|io 
of  the  Toninl.  A  native  catochist  waa  in  the  linhit 
of  preaching  under  Mr.  Sawyer's  supTintendence, 
and  out  of  a  regular  attendance  in  the  chinrli  if 
eighty  or  ninety  persons,  the  mis.sionary  could  point 
to  several  living  witnesses  of  the  trnth  and  cflicacy 
of  the  gospel.  The  triinslntion  of  the  New  Testa 
ment  into  Tanml  by  the  Rev.  T.  Uhenius  had  nearly 
been  completed,  and  several  works  on  religion,  history, 
science  and  graninnir  were  in  pronres'..  So  active 
was  the  press  during  the  year  \Hl,],  ilmt  upwards  of 
.■|.'»,.'»0()  co|ii(  <  of  different  works  on  the  ahove-nien- 
tioned  subjects  issneil  from  it.  I.ileratuio  is  projierly 
the  hMndmaid  of  religion. 

The  scliools  contained  at   this   {leriod  about  fiv« 


hundred  and  eighty  children,  besides  which  the  sen,- 

Se officii'  '7r««'"']"«'i'-y'ng  native  youths  for 
the  office  of  rehgious  mstructers  to  their  countrymen 
gave  pn,,,     „f  f„,„,,  j^  connection  h 

Madras  may  be  mentioned  the  schools  at  Tranquebar 
wh.ch.  ongmally  founded  by  Dr.  John,  a  Danisircle" 
gyman.and.m    816,  transferred  by  him  to  the  Church 

care  of  the  Rev.  G.  I.  Biirenbruck.     In  them  Chri, 
..an  mstruction  was  imparted  to  about  oeThousl" 
even  hundred  and  fifty  native  children  ;  and  in  "St 
their  supenntendence   was  resumed  b;  the   Danth 
au  hont.es,  to  whom  they  owed  theirorigin.     The   o 
-ety's  nnssion  in  that  quarter  was  thenlansferredTo 
Mayaveram  abou;  ten  miles  west  from  Trannueba 
V  ere,  at  the  dateof  the  last  reports, there  werl thlty 
it    hh^r'"'"^  fifteen  hundred  scholars,  in  connec' 
of  MR        TT^  ""''  ""'^"^  ""«  superintendence 
b    fwo  .^r^  "'''  7'^  •'"''"  »«^«-6ayam,  assisted 
by  two  catechms  and  thirty  native  schoolmasters. 


TINNEVELLY. 


TINNEVELLY. 

This  is,  perhaps,  without  exception,  the  most  inter- 
estmg  of  all  the  stations  of  the  Church  Missionary 
Society  on  account  of  the  singular  blessing  which  has 
attended  the  labors  of  their  missionaries  here.  This 
js  the  scene  of  the  greatest  triumph  of  our  society  over 
heathenism,  as  the  islands  of  the  Pacific  are  that  of 
the  London  ..fissionary  Society  ;  and  in  both  cases, 
udden  and  Mne.pectcd  success  has  been  vouchsafed  to 
long-conlmued,  and  at  last  almost  despairing  labor. 

llie  origin  and  present  state  of  this  work  of  God 
may  be  thus  briefly  sketched  — 

In  the  year  WiO,  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Rhenius  and 
Schin.d.  with   their  xvives,  assisted  by  Mr.  R    Lyon 
Duvul,  a  converted  native,  and  fifteen  Tamul  school-' 
masters     commenced  a  mission  at  Palamcotta,   and 
established  a  seminary  there  for  the  education  of  na- 
tive  teachers  and  catechists.     Previous  to  this  period, 
however,    nine    schools    had    been    formed    by    ,he 
Christian  Knowledge  Society,  and  liberally  supported 
by  the  congregation  of  the  Rev.  I.  Hough,  chaplain 
>t   the  station.     U  tlwe,  two  hundred  and  eighty- 
three  children  v-^m  ,uider  instruction  ;  and,  in  1819 
there  were  thi.(y.f-,uv  converts  from  heathenism,  and' 
one  hundred  ,,^     eventy-four  communicants.     For 
throe  years  from  the  time  of  the  arrival  of  the  mis- 
sionaries, no  apparent  success  attended  their  labors 

R„b:!f!.  '!?f_"  ^°.''fj\  ?'•"'"•"  ""y*  archdeacon 
„  ■■  "'■  ~"^  ••"=/  siuios;  DCigHii  to  despair."'  but 
they  fainted  not,  and  in  due  teason  wore  to  reap  the 


699 

fruit  of  their  patient  toil.     I„  1923,  eight  men  and 
three  women  were  baptized  at  a  village  „«LT'^- 
poolangoody.  the  first-fruits  of  l^tbLlT  aT^ 

cr^e     anS""? '''  "umber  of  converts  rapid  yinl 
creased,  and  under  circumstances  calculated  to  evince 

Marirrrr""'"'''  «"'•  ^™'"  persecution m 
May,  1824,  there  were  Christian  congregations  in  five 
villages,  a  number  which,  by  the  same  momh  n  4he 
fo  lowing  year,  had  increased  to  twenty-five"  thlsame 
relentless  persecution,  which,  in  two  inLnces  at  Zt 
amounted  to  murder,  still  continuing.     In  1826    ^ 

ardrea::"'''"!"  ''^ ""'''-'  -^-e^i  a'L  t: 

Zd  to?t'''r^r"«'"''  '^'  "'"^ionaries  sup- 
C  Ve  sto.  '  r'".'  "'.'''  '''  unestablished  believe« 
increase  of  the  congregat.gns  will  be  evident  from  the 
following  summary,  communicated  to  the  parent  so- 
ciety towards  the  close  of  1829  -^ 


In  June,  1827,  in  106  villages, 
"  July,  1828,  "  i46       « 
"  June,  1829,  '«  205       " 


FamlHoi. 

756 

954 

1855 


PeraoiM. 

2557 
3505 
6243 


The  schools  also  increased  nearly  in  an  eoual  ™,l« 
so  that,  in  June,  1829  tl.nJr  „  '  '"  a"  «q«al  ratio, 
fortv-si»   n„„.„-  u  ""mber  amounted  to 

orty-six,  containing  about  nine  hundred  and  seventy 
scholars,   male  and  female.     "  Various   prov  dS 
circumstances  aided  the  spread  of  knowledge,  oratie 
the  increase  of  desire  to  know  the  truth  ;  such  a    ,he 
cholera  J  deaths  by  i,,  no.withscanding  the  people'! 
sacrifices  to  their  idols  ;  the  flood  in  I8I7  ;  difficul  ie 
attending  the  processions  of  the  idol  c  rs  at  .hl 
east.;  temples   being  robbed  of  , heir    dol  t   the 
heathen,  themselves  ;  tracts  puUished  on  thoseUa 
S       T'"  .",".""'''"«  °"^  labors  in   the  town  of 
rmnevelly  uself,  by  the  rise  of  a  congregation"  and 
he  building  of  a  church  in  the  midst  of  it ;  ,hl  "tead 

persecuted,  the  daily  more  apparent  impo.ency  of  the 
Idol-gods  to  do  any  thing  in  their  defencLJ^^Le  a„d 
similar  circumstances  operated  most  favorably  Tn  ali 
classes,  and  the  congregations  began  again  to  increase  " 

May,  1830,  there  were  upwards  of  two  thousand  fam- 
■lies,  consisting  ol  more  than  seven  thousand  five  hun- 
dred in,hv.duals,  under  the  ins.niction  of  the  mission- 
aries. There  were  one  thousand  three  hundred  chil- 
dren, including  one  hundred  and  twelve  girls  in  tha 
native  schools.  In  the  two  hundred  and  fo;ty.four 
villages  through  which  these  families  are  dispersed, 
there  are  one  hundred  and  fifty  churches  or  prayed 
nouses,  in  which  divino  sery-c-  i-  rf.r-..-!;-..-t=.^  s.^  -•_ 
four  catechists,  the  whole  bring  iuporin^endj  CSi, 
Rev.  Messrs.  Schmid  and  Rl.onius.     But  what  are 


600 


CHURCH  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


they  among  so  many  ?  The  native  caterhists,  who 
have  been  the  chief  instruments  in  the  work  of  con- 
version, are  mostly  young,  imperfectly  instructed,  and 
as  yet  with  little  experience.  The  call  for  native 
teachers  has  been  loud  and  importunate ;  the  mission- 
aries have  answered  it,  not  as  they  wished,  but  as  they 
could  ;  and  God  has  owned  the  effort,  and  blessed  it 
exceedingly,  notwithstanding  the  imperfection  of  the 
means. 

A  marked  improvement  has  taken  place  in  the 
character  of  the  people.  An  interesting  fact,  which 
occurred  in  a  congregation  of  weavers,  will  illustrate 
this  assertion.  After  these  weavers  became  Christians, 
they  said  they  could  no  longer  consent  to  connive  at 
the  tricks  of  the  native  revenue  officers,  and  to  share 
their  plunder,  in  falsely  numbering  their  looms,  and  so 
defrauding  the  government.  The  collector,  at  their 
request,  numbered  the  looms  afresh  ;  and  one  thousand 
rupees  were  thus  saved  to  the  govenmient. 

Tlie  following  animated  description  of  one  of  the 
most  active  instruments  in  the  glorious  work  going  on 
here,  is  furnished  by  archdeacon  Robinson,  who  visited 
this  district  in  1830; — "I  had  an  opjHirtunity  of  wit- 
nessing Mr.  Rhcnius's  method  of  addressing  the  hea- 
then. We  were  walking  round  the  splendid  cloisters 
of  the  great  pagoda  of  Vanmnen,  and  were  followed  by 
many  hundreds.  His  lively  and  perfectly  notivemode 
of  a:ldres9,  as  well  as  the  fluency  of  his  language, 
attracts  them  wonderfully.  The  Bramins  crowded 
•round  him  with  ea2;emess  ;  and  as  we  stopped  occa- 
sionally at  an  angle  of  the  building,  a  question  led  toa 
remonstrance  on  the  folly  of  this  stupendous  idolatry, 
thus  convicted  and  exposed  by  their  own  replies,  till 
his  remarks  assumed  gradually  the  form  of  a  more 
general  <liscourse,  addres^nd  to  the  multitude:*  around  ; 
while  the  pillars,  the  .^ides  of  the  tank,  and  the  pave- 
ment of  the  cloister,  were  covered  with  eager  listen- 
ers, who  were  hushed  into  breathless  silence.  He  is 
bold,  vivid,  impressive  ;  cheerful  in  his  whole  appear- 
ance ;  happy  in  his  illusiniiions  ;  and  a  master,  not  only 
of  their  language,  but  of  their  feelings  and  views." 


TRAVANCORE. 

The  employment  of  the  laborers  stationed  at  Cot- 
tnynri  in  Travancore,  is  of  a  nature  not  strictly  mis- 
sionary. Their  ministry  is  not  exercised  for  the  ben- 
efit of  the  heathen,  but  of  Christians,  in  name,  at 
least.  It  is  not  to  plant  a  new  church,  but  to  revive 
the  spirituality  and  reform  the  practice  of  the  Syrian 
churches  on  the  Malabar  coast.  ^Ho  have  sunk  into  a 
title  of  declension  nearly  approximating  that  of  the 


Roman  Catholic  church.  This  mission  was  established 
in  1817.  Ulterioriy,  indeed,  the  benefit  of  the  hea- 
then is  aimed  at ;  for  the  Syrian  churches,  when  re* 
suscitated,  may  reasonably  be  expected  to  supply  active 
and  useful  native  missionaries  to  their  ignorant  fellow 
countrymen.  In  the  moan  time,  great  caution  and 
much  Christian  wisdom  were  requisite  in  the  conduct 
of  the  English  clergymen  to  their  brethren  of  the 
Syrian  church.  So  to  carry  on  the  work  of  reforma- 
tion as  to  stir  up  ill-will  or  jealousy  against  them- 
selves, would  at  once  defeat  their  object :  to  co:iciliate 
the  good-will,  and  even  the  respect,  of  tho  native 
clergy,  was  absolutely  necessary  ;  and  while  the  milder 
graces  of  the  Christian  character  were  required  for  thtf 
accomplishment  of  these  objects,  sterling  faithfulness, 
and  no  small  share  of  moral  courage,  were  equally  in- 
dispensable. Among  the  means  contemplated  by  the 
missionaries  for  the  benefit  of  this  interesting  people, 
was  to  make  the  church,  as  much  as  possible,  the  in- 
strument of  its  own  improvement ;  "  the  translation 
of  tho  Scriptures  and  Liturgy  into  Molayolim,  ilio  ver- 
nacular language  of  the  country  ;  tho  formation  of  a 
college  for  the  education  of  the  priests;  and  the  estab- 
lishment of  schools  at  each  of  the  chuiches  in  tho 
district  for  the  instruction  of  the  children  at  large. 
These  important  measures  were  generally  approved 
by  the  Syrian  clergy,  and  received  their  sup|)ort ;  and 
they,  without  delay,  took  steps  toward  a  translation  of 
the  Scriptures." 

The  Syrian  college  at  Cotym  (now  usually  spelt 
Cottayam)  was  projected  by  colonel  Munro,  the  Brit- 
ish resident  at  Travancore,  and,  at  his  instance,  her 
highness  the  rannee  endowed  it  with  very  liberal 
benefactions,  and  a  considerable  tract  of  land.  It  is 
a  large  and  handsome  structure,  pleasantly  situated  on 
the  hnnk  of  n  fine  river;  and  must  be  regarded  as  an 
institution  of  the  first  im|K)vtHMce. 

In  \Sii',i,  tho  Syrian  college  for  the  education  of  the 
catauars  or  young  priests,  under  the  care  of  the  Rev. 
J.  Fenn,  contained  forty-five  students.  In  connection 
with  this  establishment,  and  forming  a  nursery  to  it, 
was  the  granunar  school,  in  which  forty-thivo  boys 
were  being  educated,  besides  fifty-one  parochial  schools, 
where  instruftion  was  comtnuiiieated  to  one  thousand 
four  hundred  and  twenty-one  children.  Two  oilier 
missionaries,  in  conjvuiction  with  Mr.  Fenn, — the  Hov. 
Messrs.  Hailey  ond  Boker, — were  engaged  ni  Cottayam, 
the  former  of  whom  su|ieriutond<'d  the  press,  and  the 
translation  of  the  Scriptures  ond  Iiiturcy,  while  tho 
latter  had  charge  of  the  grnnMunr  and  other  schools. 

No'.iiing  occurred  to  interrupt  the  entire  confidence 
re|)osed  by  the  biMiy  of  the  Syrian  clergy  in  their  pro- 
fnaa^d  reA^rfHefs^  tiQT  ibe  999Q  t9Gci*  of  life  !£fadyil 
improvement  of  l»oth  priests  awl  peoftle,  until  the  year 


18261  when  the  violent  proceedings  of  Mar  Athanasius 
impeded  the  latter,  though  they  did  not  injure  the 
former.     Thic  dignitary,  having  received  his  appoint- 
ment  to  tlie  episcopate  of  the  Syrian  chiirehes  from 
the  patriarch  of  Antioch,  considered  his  own  claims  of 
Bupenor  validity  to  tliose  of  Mar  Philoxenes,  who  was 
at  that  time  filling  the   office  of  metropolitan ;  and 
such  was  the  tumult  occasioned  by  the  contention,  that 
the  number  of  students  in  the  college  decreased,  the 
schools  fell  off,  and  the  general  interests  of  the  mission 
were  not  a  little  affected.    The  storm,  though  violent, 
was,  however,  of  short  duration,  and  ended  in   tl>e 
forcible  removal  of  Atlmnasius  from  the  territory  of 
Trarancore,  by  colonel  Newall,  the  British  resident. 

We  may  infer  the  progress  of  education   from  the 
lollowing  increased  returns,  communicated  by  the  mis- 
sionaries in  1830:-"  Besides  one  hundred  students  in 
the  college,  and  forty-eight  in  the  grammar  school, 
there  were  one  thousand  three  hundred  and  eighty- 
four  boys  in  sixty-three  parochial  schools.     At  the 
same  time,  the  average  attendance  at  a  female  school 
established  in  1827,  by  Mr   Fenn,  amounted  to  sixty- 
five  girls.     Four  printing-j.resses  have,  for  some  time 
past,  been  constantly  employed  in  printing  portions  of 
bcripturo,  and  religious  treatises  adapted  to  (he  wants 
of  the  people.     In  tiie  distribution  of  the  word  of 


BOMBAY  AND  WESTERN  INDIA. 


«0f 

God,  the  metropolitan  himself  wsists,  and  to  nie«tthe 
gene«I  desire  of  the  Syrians  for  Biblical  information, 
four  Scripture  readers  have  been  for  some  time  bene- 
ficially employed." 

The  testimony  of  archdeacon  Robinson,  an  unbiassed 
spectator,  as  to  the  state  of  the  mission  in  1880,  is 
valuable.     He  thus  writes :-"  It  was  highly  gratify  ng 
•o  witness  the  great  progress,  both  of  sound  learning 
and  religious  feeling,  among  the  Syrian  youth,  whS 
are  destined  for  holy  orders  j  the  great  desire  for  edu- 
cat«)n  which  has  spread  throughout  the  country;  and 
the  confidence  and  affection  with  which  the  brethren 
at  Lottayam  are   regarded  generally,   both   by    the 
clergy  and  laity.     The  improvement  thus  produced, 
especially  among  the  candidates  for  the  priesthood 
give,  us  the  best  ground  of  hope  for  the  future  refor' 
mation  of  this  church." 

In  addition  to  the  stations  in  South  India  already 
mentioned^  there  are  others  in  connection  with  the 
Church  Missionary  Society  at  Pulical.  Allepie  and 
Cocbin,  supplied  by  c/er^ymen,  assisted  b/^at"* 
catechists  and  teachers.  At  Tellicherry.  also,  J^iZ 
Bellary,  the  society  has  a  catechist,  but  has  not  yet  been 
aWe  to  supply  a  missionary  for  these  two  places.  The 
schools  at  these  five  last-mentioned  stations  contain 
one  thousand  two  hundred  and  seventy  children. 


BOMBAY    AND    WESTERN    INDIA. 


LirrLE  of  missionary  enterprise  has  been  engaged 
m  at  Bombay  ;  less,  perhaps,  than  at  any  other  single 
station  of  the  Church  Missionary  Society.  The  only 
laborer  thcrc,  in  182.3,  was  the  Rev.  R.  Kennoy.  who 
haci  been  appointed  to  this  post  two  years  lioforp.  Ho 
had  one  hundred  and  fifty  lioys  under  rolJRiou.  instruc- 
tion ;  and  about  twenty  were  in  the  hnbii  of  attending 
at  h.s  house  to  loarn  Mahrntta  and  English,  and  thus 
afforded  inni  an  opportunity  of  conveying  to  them 
a  knowledge  of  gospel  truth.  The  lettnrH  of  some  of 
these  hoys  arc  interesting,  and  afford  grounds  forliopo 
that  a  saving  rlmnge  has  been  effected  in  the  hearts  of 
individuals  of  their  number. 

fn  July,  1820,  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Mitcheil  and  Stew- 
ard, with  their  wives,  arrived  o-  Bombay,  Mr.  Kennoy 
ha.'ing  been  oblieed,  by  the  ill....ss  of  his  family,  to 
return  to  England,  In  a  few  months,  two  school, 
were  established,  Qt  which  about  thirty-five  native  girls 
attended.  These  institutions,  however,  soon  expe- 
rienced a  great  loss,  in  the  removal  by  death  of  Mrs 

""■■" -  m.-.-iuiianc:T,  in  tcariiilig  .•«<irini  native 

youtlii,  were  gratified  to  observe  the   deep  attention 
Vor,.  1 — Nos.  .oi  6i  (3^_  ^g 


with  which  instruction  of  a  decidedly  religious  nature 
was  received  by  their  pupils.  Mr.  Mitchell  having 
been  left,  by  the  removal  of  Mr.  Steward,  the  o,  ly 
missionary  on  the  station,  took  up  his  residence  first 
at  Bass6cn  about  forty  miles  north  of  Bombay,  and 
suh.,e,,uently  at  Tannah,  whe.c  he  was  chiefly^iccu. 
pied  in  the  superintendence  of  schools.  The  attend 
anre  at  these  amounted,  in  1828,  to  two  hundred  and 
tilty-six  boys  and  thirty  girls. 

The  mission  was  strengthened,  in  1829,  by  the  arrival 
of  Messrs.  Dixon  and  Farrer,  the  former  of  whom  has 
resided   since   that  time  chiefly  at  Basscen,  and  has 
edited   the  Gospel  of  St.  Luke   and   the  Acts  of  the 
Apostles   in  the  Persian  language.     Mr  Farrer  was 
stationed  at  Bandorn,  and,  since  the  return  home  of 
Mr.  Mitchell,  those  two  are  the  only  laborers  in  con. 
nertion  with  the  Church   Missionary  Society  «t   this 
'ilation.      At  the  date  „f  the   Inst   reports,  three  hun- 
dred an.l  eighty-eight  boys  and  twenty-six  girls  were 
receiving  Christian  instruction.     Mnr-h  •uccssh  Hm  nat 
litiicrto  attended  the  preaching  o(  iho  gospel  to  the 
natives. 


■m 


fill 


60S 


CHURCH  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


CHAPTER    VI. 


MISSION    IN    THE    ISLAND    OF    CEYLON, 


The  directors  of  the  Church  Missionary  Society 
having  determined  on  sending  four  clergymen  to  Cey- 
lon, the  Rev.  Messrs.  Lambrick,  Mayor,  Ward  and 
Knight  were  appointed  to  that  mission  ;  and  in  the 
month  of  June,  1818,  they  arrived  safely  at  Colombo, 
where  they  were  received  with  the  utmost  cordiality 
by  all  classes  of  persons.  His  excellency  the  gov- 
ernor was  absent  at  the  time  of  their  arrival,  in  con- 
sequence of  an  insurrection  in  the  Kandian  provinces ; 
and  they  were,  therefore,  detained  for  some  time  from 
proceeding  to  their  respective  stations ;  but  this  delay 
was  attended  with  the  advantage  of  their  obtaining 
much  information  respecting  the  state  of  the  island, 
and  of  the  particular  places  to  which  their  attention 
had  been  directed.  As  the  result  of  these  inquiries, 
Mr.  Lambrick  was  fixed  at  Kandy ,  instead  of  Colombo, 
which  had  been  originally  intended,  and  Mr.  Ward  at 
Calpenym,  instead  of  Trincomalee ;  Mr.  Mayor  pro- 
ceeding, us  originally  destined,  to  Galle,  and  Mr. 
Knight  to  Jaffhapatam. 

In  a  letter  dated  Kandy,  October  27, 1818,  Mr.  Lam- 
brick says, "  I  have  had  full  employment  for  the  exer- 
cise of  my  ministry  among  the  numbers  of  our  country- 
men here,  both  civil  and  military,  and  especially  in  the 
crowded  hospitals  ;  but  hitherto  I  have  been  precluded 
from  any  public  missionary  exertions.  The  town,  in- 
deed, has  been  almost  desorted  by  the  native  inhabit- 
ants, ever  since  the  rebellion  broke  out ;  but  we  have 
the  greatest  encouragement  to  hope  that  God  is  about 
to  restore  the  blessings  of  peace ;  and  with  it  the  peo- 
ple will  return.  I  cannot,  at  present,  be  permitted  to 
preach  to  the  natives  ;  but  I  have  obtained  authority 
to  open  schools,  and  have  engaged  two  of  the  priests 
to  be  the  masters  of  them  ;  as  they  have  promised  to 
conform  to  my  directions 

"  A  few  days  ago,  the  governor,  in  the  prospect  of 
the  rebellion  being  speedily  terminated,  proposed  re- 
turning to  Colombo,  and  desired  that  I  might  be  asked 
whether  I  would  remain  here  after  he  had  left.  And, 
on  my  signifying  my  assent,  his  excellency  conferred 
upon  me  the  appointment  of  assistant  chaplain  to  the 
forces  in  Kandy  ;  which,  as  long  as  I  retain  it,  will 
•ave  the  gociety  my  personal  axp?.????!;. 


"  I  am  applying  myself  as  closely  as  possible  to 
the  acquirement  of  the  language ;  and  though  my 
progress  is  not  equal  to  my  wishes,  I  hope  to  surmount 
its  difficulties,  at  least  so  far  as  to  deliver  a  written 
sermon  in  it  intelligibly,  in  less  than  a  twelvemonth ; 
and  I  hope,  long  before  that  time,  to  be  permitted 
to  preach  to  the  natives,  through  an  interpreter.  I 
have  had  several  very  interesting  conversations  with 
some  of  the  priests,  two  of  whom  have  taken  the 
New  Testament,  with  a  promise  to  read  it  atten- 
tively." 

At  Calpentym,  Mr.  Ward  found  the  people,  general- 
ly  speaking,  in  the  depth  of  poverty  and  ignorance. 
Heathen,  Mahometans  and  Roman  Catholics  were  all 
bigots  in  their  respective  systems  ;  and  the  greater 
pan  of  the  Protestants  were  perfectly  indifferent  about 
the  religion  which  they  professed.  The  sabbath  was 
also  wofully  disregarded,  and  profaned  by  cock-fighting, 
gaming  and  dnmkenness ;  so  that  few  persons  seemed 
mclined  to  attend  on  the  ministration  of  the  word. 
Some  of  these,  however,  appeared  to  listen  with  atten- 
tion ;  and  it  is  hoped  that,  in  a  few  instances,  the 
serious  conversation  which  our  missionary  introduced, 
when  visiting  the  natives,  was  productive  of  beneficial 
effects.  The  school,  established  by  Mr.  Ward,  ap- 
pears, for  some  time,  to  have  been  tolerably  well  at- 
tcnde  I ;  but,  in  the  spring  of  1819,  the  pupils  wera 
so  niai  ?rinlly  diminished,  in  consequence  of  that  severe 
visitation,  the  cholera  morbut,  that  a  temporary  aban- 
donment  of  it  became  necessary. 

The  first  person  who  died  of  the  epidemic,  at  Cal- 
pentym, was  the  wife  of  a  poor  native  Christian  ;  and 
as  Mr.  Ward  understood  that  there  was  another  woman 
afflicted  with  the  same  disease,  he  went  with  Mr. 
Knight,  who  was  then  willi  him,  to  the  house  ;  but, 
besides  the  female  to  whom  we  have  alluded,  they 
found  two  men  and  a  youth,  all  laboring  under  the 
same  affliction.  The  scene  was  deeply  affecting,  as 
the  sufferers  (ail  of  whom  were  of  one  fauUly)  were 
perfectly  helpless,  and  their  relatives  had  abandoned 
them  to  their  fate,  under  the  idea  that  it  would  be  in 
vain  to  attempt  their  restoration.  Mediciii^s  and  suit- 
aoic    nouiisniTi^rii   Wcie    prumpily    furnislied    by   iii« 


,     .  -  ^  /»    *•"'    I'l  11^.11    llilill' 

before  the  people,  rjpeats  cnitnin  incaniniirir.!:  q 


»_.i 


Pecoivns  tlie  o(reriMii;s  of  money  or  provisions  nindcby 
tlie  surrounding  throng.     Tlie  money  lie  is  sup|K)sed 


kmdness  of  Mr.  Ward  and  hw  friend,  and  under  the 
blessmgof  God.the  nr.en  began  to  exhibit  favorable 
aynr.ptoms ;  but  the  woman  and  the  youth,  being  super- 
miously  prejudiced  against  the  medicine,  expired  In 
the  course  of  the  evening. 

The  next  day,  on  the  survivors  being  revisited  by 
the  missionaries,  a  number  ofheathens  came  from  an 
adjacent  temple,  with  consecrated  ashes,  which  the 
invalids  were  to  rub  on  their  foreheads,  as  the  badge 
of  their  religious  profession.     These,  however,  the 
riJTT  'TT'^  '°  '''''''  '"y  reluctantly. 
tlL  ^^^    .   .J""  ^'^°''  '"•'^  '^''"  •''"'J  benefactoS 
tliat  they  had  resolved  to  embrace  Christianity.     The 
Catholics,  in  (ho  mean  time,  were  pretending  to  per- 
form miracles,  by  giving  the  people  their  holy  water ; 
and  the  Gentoos  were  anxious  to  make  it  appear,  that 
some  sick   persons  had  been  restored  to  health,  by 
prostrating  themselves  in  their  temple. 

Of  Galle,  the  scene  of  Mr.  Mayor's  exertions,  that 
gentleman  observes,  "Wo  have  free  access  to  the 
natives,  and  their  prejudices  against  Christianity  arc 
not  deeply  rooted.     The  children  possess  an  intellect 
capable  of  the  highest  cultivation,  and  their  parents 
are  willing  to  have  them  taught  to  road.     The  Euro- 
peans and  head-men  are  also  favorable  to  our  mis- 
sionary labors  ;  so  that  we  have  encouragements  to 
persevere;  though  the  ignorance  and  indifference  of 
the  people  would,  of  themselves,  greatly  diminish  our 
expectation  of  success.     There  are  upwards  of  three 
thousand  Mahometans  in  Galle,  who  speak  Malabar ; 
but  hitherto  no  attempt  has  been  made  to  lead  them 
into  the  way  of  truth.     They  are  persons  of  very 
quick  understanding,  but  so  completely  engrossed  in 
trade,  that  missionaries  have  been  discouraged  from 
using  any  means  to  instruct  them.     Several  of  them 
however,  have  called  on  me,  desiring  me  to  educato 
their  sons   m    Lnglish  ;    and  a  considerable   number 
attend  daily  at  my  house,  together  with  several  Cinen- 
lese,  and  a  Budhist  priest." 

Towards  the  latter  end  of  October,  Mr.  Mayor  made 
an  excursion  up  the  river  Gindra,  and  explored  the 
villages  on  its  banks,  to  a  distance  of  about  tiiirty 
miles  from  Galle,  which  led  to  the  establishment  of 
various  schools  among  them.  At  a  short  distance  from 
the  first  village  at  which  ho  stopped,  he  found  the 
remains  of  one  of  the  heathen  ceremonies  called  "a 
devil's  dance."  "  A-,  these  meetings,"  says  he,  "  which 
always  take  place  in  the  night,  the  devil's  priest 
attends,  dressed  in  t  red  cloak,  and  accompanied  by 
several  tom-tom  beat  .>rs.  Whilst  these  men  are  boat- 
mg  the  tom-tom  (a  sort  of  drum),  the  priest  dances 


CEYLON. 


Mi: 


003 


t  to  "rry  to  a  certain  .pot  it.  the  Kandian  country. 

sick  attend  these  meetings,  in  hopes  of  being  cured  ; 
or.if  thetr  illness  be  so  aeveie  that  they  cannot  be 

Ws  hor..'""'' '"'  '""  "  *""''""•«*  '^  ">«  -I' 
At  another  village,  about  six  miles  farther,  an  elder- 
ly  man  applied  ,o  our  missionary,  requesting  him  to 
baptize  his  child  ;  but,  on  being  seriously  questioned 
respecting  his  knowledge  of  the  Saviour,  and  the  state 
of  his  own  heart,  he  appeared  to  be  lamentably  igno- 
ran,  <.The  Dutch."  says  Mr.  Mayor,  "have  done 
much  injury  to  the  cause  of  Christianity  in  this  island  • 
by  disqualifying  all  persons  from  inheriting  property 
who  have  not  been  baptized.  In  consequence  of  this 
law    every  one.  whether  he  worship  Budhu  or  the 

rhnihrr'"""  '°  ^  "^'"'""^  '"'°  '^'  Christian 
church  by  baptism.     And  you  will  be  shocked  when  I 

en  you  that  there  is  scarcely  one  of  the  devil's  priests 
who  has   not  been  baptized  ;_searcely  one  of  those 
who  offer  sacrifices  to  the  prince  of  darkness,  or  pros- 
trato  themselves  before  the  image  of  Budhu,  who  has 
not  ins  name  enrolled  among  the  disciples  of  Christ !" 
In  another  communication,  Mr.  Mayor  gives  the 
followmg   account   of  the.  Budhist   priests,    who,   it 
seems,  are  supported  entirely  by  the  people  —'<  Thev 
wear  a  long  yellow  robe,  which  covers  the  whole 
body,  from   the  neck  to  the  feet ;  and  in  their  mode 
of  living  they  are  remarkably  abstemious,  never  taking 
any  food  after  noon.     For  the  most  part,  they  are  very 
unlearned  ;    though  some  of  them  appear  to  be  as 
subtle  objectors  against  the  truths'  of  revelation  u 
infidels  in  England.     It  is  contrary  to  their  religion  to 
marry.      In   their  temples  they  have  several  larice 
figures  of  Budhu,  before  which  they  and  their  people 
prostrate  themselves,  and  offer  gifts.     They  deny  that 
Uie  heavens  and  the  earth  were  created  by  a  superior 
Being  and  assert  that  all  things  exist  by  chance.    They 
regard  Budhu  as  a  sort  of  god,  who,  by  chance,  has 
obtained  the  preeminence  ;  and  they  believe  that  he 
has  appeared  in  the  worid  about  three  hundred  times 
in  different  forms  of  birds  and  beasts.     They  hold  the 
doctnnc  of  transmigration,  and  suppose  that  all  bodily 
diseases  are  the  consequences  of  sin  committed  in  a 
former  state  of  existence." 

The  Kev.  .Joseph  Knight,  in  the  mean  time,  haJ 
removed  to  Nelloro,  a  parish  very  near  to  Jaffna 
winch  afforded  him  the  advantage  of  sitting  down  in 
the  midst  of  the  natives,  and,  at  ihesat^ie  time,  enabled 
bun  to  perform  the  duties  of  chaplain  at  the  Fort 
church  in  Jaffna.  Of  the  heathen  in  his  neighbor- 
hood,  !,e  obr^crves,  **  TtiiH  is  one  of  the  strong-holds 
of  idolatry  ;  as  one  of  the  largest  temples  in  the  wholo 
diMriri  (in  which  there  are  said  to  be  not  less  than  a 


m 


604 


CHURCH  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


thousand)  is  at  Nellora.  There  are  annual  exhibi- 
tions, such  as  are  described  by  I>r.  Buchanan  in  his  Re- 
searches ;  and  1  have  myself  witnessed  the  procession 
of  a  car,  where  thousands  of  deluded  worshippen 
were  collected  together,  to  prostrate  themselves,  and 
pay  their  homage  to  a  god  which  could  not  save.  Their 
prejudices  aw,  at  present,  deeply  rooted  in  favor  of 
their  ancient  customs  and  superstitions  ;  and  the  Bra- 
mins,  in  addition  to  their  prejudices  of  caste,  and  re- 
gard for  reputation,  have  all  their  temporal  interests 
at  slake ;  for  if  once  tliey  renounced  idolatry,  tliey 
would  have  no  moans  of  support. 

"  With  respect  to  the  Roman  Catholics,  the  show 
and  parade  of  their  worship  and  processions  greatly 
attract  the  attention  of  this  people,  and  titeir  pretended 
power  of  working  miracles  is  admirably  calculated  to 
operate  on  their  weakness  and  credulity.  At  their 
festivals,  they  are  said  to  efibcl  wonders  with  the  ashes 
of  a  deceased  saint,  and  numbers  flock  to  them  with 
their  maladies  and  tlieir  offerings  ;  by  which  their 
funds  and  their  influence  are  rapidly  increased.  In- 
deed, the  Catholics  and  Gentoos  seem  to  vie  with  each 
other,  who  shall  make  the  most  splendid  show ;  while 
many  look  on  with  careless  indifference,  or  are  even 
amused  with  what  they  witness." 

Soon  aAer  his  removal  to  this  station,  Mr.  Knight 
opened  his  house  for  preaching,  and  was  occasionally 
assisted  by  the  Rev.  Christian  David,  of  wliom  Dr. 
Buchanan  makes  honorable  mention.     He  alo  went 
out  into  the  adjacent  villages,  and  conversed  with  the 
people  wherever  he  could  find  them — in  their  temples, 
at  their  houses,  or  by  the  way-side.     And,  in  ad- 
dition to  these  exertions,  he  opened  a  school  for  the 
purpose  of  instructing  boys  ia  reading  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures, and  had,  in  a  short  time,  the  pleasure  of  collect- 
ing twenty-four  pupils,  who  evinced  an  excellent  ca- 
pacity,  and  made  a  pleasing  progress  in  their  studies. 
In   the   midst  of  all    these  exertions,  however,  the 
cholera  morbus  appeared   in  the  district ;  in  conse- 
quence of  which,  his  labors  were  necessarily  suspended, 
the  school  was  broken  up,  and  the  state  of  the  natives, 
under  this  afflictive  visitation,  became  truly  distressing. 
"  The  people,"  says  Mr.  Knight,  "  no  longer  ventured 
to  walk  about ;  the  Bramins  persuading  them  that  the 
devils,  which  they  said  were  parading   the  streets, 
would  afflict  them  with  the  skkness.     The  markets 
and  places  of  public  resort  were  consequently  deserted. 
Numbers  of  temples  were  erected  in  every  direction  ; 
— expensivesacrificesof  sheep,  fowls,  rice  and  flowers, 
were  offered  ; — and  numberless  ceremonies  and  super- 
stitions were  resorted  to,  in  ordsr  to  conciliate  the 
favor  of  the  devil,  whom  they  worship  with  much 
dread  ;  or  to  appease  some  angry  goddess,  who  they 
•aid  was  displeased  with  them.     Idols  were  paraded 


piping 


about  tJie  streets  in  grand  procession ;  and  ^.^^^ 
and  drumming  were  continued  at  the  temples  whole 
nights,  for  weeks  successively  ;  while  the  crafty  Bra- 
mins took  advantage  of  the  fears  and  credulity  of  the 
people,  to  promote  their  own  interests." 

One  evening,  in  returning  from  Jaffna,  our  mission- 
ary saw,  at  a  distance,*a  splendid  procession  of  the 
idols  from  the  principal  temple,  attended  with  canopies, 
torches,  music,  &c.  The  inhabitants  of  those  parts 
through  which  the  procession  was  to  pats,  had  been 
employed  all  day  in  cleaning  and  ornamenting  their 
streets  ;  and  many  scores  of  valuable  plantain-trees 
had  been  destroyed,  to  prepare  for  this  idolatrous  cer- 
emony. These  were  stuck  up,  and  formed  into  booths 
or  arbors,  at  the  entrance  of  every  door  or  gate,  and 
particularly  at  the  comer  of  the  roads.  Under  each 
booth  was  placed  an  earthen  pot,  containing  water, 
or  cocoa-nuts,  herbs,  and  flowers,  as  an  offering  to  the 
idols  ;  and  the  roads,  from  which  every  stick  and  leaf 
had  been  carefully  swept,  were  sprinkled,  to  lay  the 
dust.  Before  the  procession  passed,  the  arbors,  &c. 
were  well  lighted  with  lamps,  and  a  considerable 
number  of  persons  attended  the  ceremony  ;  but,  in  a 
few  minutes  afterwards,  the  lights  were  extinguished, 
and  no  individual  ventured  to  remain  in  the  streeta, 
from  the  apprehension  of  meeting  the  devil. 

In  the  course  of  the  same  month,  a  person  who  had 
done  some  work  for  Mr.  Knight  came  to  ask  for  his 
money,  saying  that  ho  wanted  it  to  buy  rice  for  the 
devil.  This,  it  seems,  was  in  consequence  of  the 
approach  of  an  annual  ceremony,  when  the  deluded 
heathens  endeavor  to  ascertain  their  fate  for  the  ensu- 
ing year.  On  this  occasion,  each  person,  however 
poor,  contrives  to  purchase  a  little  rice,  which  is  boiled 
with  much  superstitious  veneration  in  an  earthen 
dish,  used  only  for  this  purpose,  and  then  broken, 
or  laid  aside  till  that  day  twelvemonth.  They  profesa 
to  discover  their  destiny  by  the  manner  in  which  the 
rice  first  begins  to  boil.  If  it  boil  up  freely,  tliey  sup- 
pose the  devil  is  pleased,  and  they  expect  prosperity ; 
but  if  otherwise,  the  most  disastrous  consequences  are 
anticipated." 

Mr.  Mayor,  in  the  meantime,  had  resolved,  with  the 
approbation  of  his  brethren,  to  remove  from  Galle 
some  miles  into  the  interior,  where  he  might  devote 
nimself  entirely  to  the  natives.  Accordingly,  he  took 
up  his  station  at  the  village  of  Badagamnie,  containing 
about  a  thousand  inhabitants  ;  and,  having  obtained  a 
tract  of  land  from  the  government,  erected  a  comfortable 
house  on  an  eminence,  which  commanded  a  delightful 
prospect  of  a  winding  river,  a  fertile  valley,  well- 
cultivated   fields,  and  distant  mountains.     Here,  on 


the  LfOrd's  day.  be  had  sn^f^ti; 

addressing  about  a  hunda     children,  besides  adulu  ; 


CEYLON. 


and  the  latter  appeared  to  be  gradually  losing  their 
confidence  in  their  heathen  superstitions.     Some  of 
them,  indeed,  ingenuously  confessed  timt  the  doctrines 
of  Christianity  were  more  reasonable,  and  better  adapt- 
ed to  the  wants  of  man,  than  the  religion  of  Budhu. 
The  priests,  however,  were  so  well  convinced  that  if 
was  their  own  interest  to  uphold  the  ancient  system 
of  delusion,  that  they  were  almost  invariably  found, 
upon  all  occasions,  to  resist  every  argument  adduced 
.D  support  of  the  truth.     This  branch  of  the  mission 
was  afterwards  strengthened   by  the  labors  of  Mr. 
Ward,  who   removed   thither  from   Nellore,  as   the 
chmate  at  the  latter  place  was  found  unsuitable  to  his 
constitution. 

On  the  4th  of  August,  1820,  some  grand  ceremonies 
were  performed  at  a  temple  in  the  vicinity  of  Nellore, 
where  the  Rev.  Mr.  Knight  was  now  laboring  without 
assistance.     Three  idols,  intended  to  represent  a  being 
called  Conderswamy  and  his  two  wives,  were  placed 
on  figures  larger  than  life,  representing  a  cow  with  a  hu- 
man head  and  breast,  a  horse,  and  a  ram.   These  figures 
\vero  gaudily  painted,  elevated  on  poles  above  the  peo- 
ple, and  carried  round  the  temple  on  men's  shoulders. 
Dancing  girls,  richly  decorated,  drummers  and  pipers, 
and  rows  of  torches,  preceded  the  idols ;  and  imme- 
diately before  them  were   four  or  five  figures  of  the 
trident,  with  a  flaming  light  issuing  from  each  prong ; 
and  above  each  image  was  a  white  canopy  or  um- 
brella.    On  each  side  of  the  road,  forming  a  lano  for 
tlie  procession,  were  many  canopies,  flags,  peacocks' 
feathers,  and  variotis  decorations ;  all  together  present- 
ing a  very  splendid,  and,  to  the  ignorant  natives,  an 
imposing  appearance. 

Before  the  procession  began  to  move,  a  sacrifice, 
consisting  of  some  of  the  fruits  of  the  country,  was 
oflfercd   to  the  idols.     A  cocoa-nut  was  then  dashed 
and  broken  against  a  stone  ;  the  water  which  it  con- 
tained WHS  spilled,  and  the  pieces  of  the  broken  shell 
were  eagerly  seized  by  those  who  stood  around.     A 
cloth  was  suspended,  to  hide  from  the  multitude  the 
ceremony  of  sacrificing,  and  only  one  instrument  (a 
kind  of  trumpet)    was  sounded  ;  but  as  soon  as  the 
cloth  was  removed,  and  the  splendor  of  the  ornaments 
appeared,  a  dinning  clangor  arose,  and  the  hands  of 
the  whole  multitude  were  clasped  and  elevated  above 
their  heads,  in  token  of  homage  to  their  imaginary 
gods.     Behind  the  images,  about  fifteen  persons  rolled 
in  the  dust,  all  the  way  they  went ;  probably  as  an 
atonement  for  sin,  or  in  fulfilment  of  some  vow,  made 
by  the  deluded  worshippers  in  a  period  of  sickness  or 
distress.     At  the  close  of  the  procession,  before  the 
images  were  taken  into  the  temple,  sacrifice  was  again 
offered  ;    the  dancing   girls  and   musicians   parading 
in  a  large  circle  round  the  idols,  while  the  stunning 


605 

sound  of  tom-toms,  cymbals,  and  harsh  instrumente 
of  various  kinds,  reverberated  on  all  sides.  "  Such 
IS  the  scene,"  says  Mr.  Knight,  "which,  from  time 
to  time,  attracts  thousands  of  spectators,  all  of  whom 
believe  that  what  is  done  is  verily  pleasing  to  God." 

In  the  month  of  September,  Uie  Rev.  Thomas  Brown- 
ing and  his  wife  arrived  at  Ceylon  ;  and,  by  permis- 
sion of  the  lieutenant-governor,  proceeded  to  join  Mr 
Lambrick  at  Kandy.     Here  they  found  a  large  and 
attentive  congregation  ;  and  were  not  a  Utile  gratified 
with  receiving  under  their  protection  a  little  Kandian 
orphan,  of  about  two  years  of  age,  who  was  obtained 
from  a  Caffre  soldier,  by  paying  the  expenses  which 
the  chdd  had  occasioned  since  the  death  of  his  mother. 
They  had  also  the  pleasure,  on  the  second  sabbath  iii 
November,  of  witnessing   the  baptism  of  an   adult 
heathen,— a  young  African,  belonging  to  one  of  the 
Ceylon  regiments,  who  had,  for  a  considerable  Ume, 
been  under  a  daily  course  of  religious  instruction,  and 
had  given  the  most  satisfactory  proofs  of  the  com- 
mencement of  a  work  of  divine  grace  upon  his  heart- 
He  had,  for  some  time,  been  desirous  of  baptism,  but 
had  no  sponsors  ;  but  when  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Browning 
saw  him,  and  heard  his  unaffected  statements,  they 
cheerfully  supplied  this  deficiency,  and   became  his 
witnesses  before  the  congregation. 

On  the  14th  of  February,  1821,  the  foundation 
stone  of  a  church  was  laid  at  Badagamme,  in  thf 
presence  of  a  great  concourse  of  the  natives.  Mr 
Ward,  in  alluding  to  this  circumstance,  observes 
"  The  principal  head-man  in  this  part  of  the  district 
attended.  He  had  before  sent  a  subscription  of  fiftj 
rix-dollars  toward  its  erection,  and  a  considerablti 
number  of  the  natives,  who  were  present,  came  for- 
ward and  subscribed  according  to  their  ability.  Brother 
Mayor,  Mr.  Glenie,  the  head  modeller,  and  myself, 
addressed  the  people  ;  and  rice,  curry  and  fruits  were 
provided  for  all  who  chose  to  partake  of  them.  About 
three  hundred  and  fifty  children  were  present." 

About  four  months  after  the  founding  of  the  church 
Mr.  Ward  was  requested,  one  aabbath  day,  to  visit  a 
young  woman  on  her  dying  bed.  It  appears  that  she 
had  been  one  of  the  first  pupils  in  the  female  school 
established  at  Badagamme,  and  had  afterward  married 
and  settled  at  Galle.  Finding  herself  gradually  sinking 
into  the  arms  of  death,  she  did  not  desire  some  heathen- 
ish ceremony  to  be  performed,  as  she  formerly  would 
have  done,  but  sent  for  one  of  the  missionaries,  and 
earnestly  requested  him  to  pray  for  her  ;  observing, 
that  she  had  heard  of  Jesus  Christ  at  Badugamme, 
and  that  she  trusted  in  him  alone  for  the  salvation 

nf  hor    annl  llfr     Wn»J    .-...    ■ _i 

-.  —   — s ,,,,   ,„„   ,,j.j   a-jum  a  quarter 

of  an  hour  before  she  bade  an  everlasting  adieu  to  the 
things  of  time  and  sense  ;  and  her  dying  testimony  to 


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33  WIST  MAIN  STRUT 

WEISTIR.NY    M5S0 

(716)  ■73-4S03 


606 


CHURCH  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


the  truth  was  well  calculated  to  cheer  his  sjurits,  and 
to  encourage  him  in  the  prosecution  of  his  important 
labors. 

The  consistent  views  and  peaoefiil  departure  of  this 
young  woman  form  a  striking  contrast  with  the  blind- 
ness and  delusion  of  her  unconverted  countrymen  ;  of 
which  the  following  is  an  affecting  instance : — 

"A  priest,"  says  Mr.  Mayor,  "came  to  me,  one 
4»y,  from  a  temple  in  the  Kandian  territory,  wishing 
to  consult  me  about  his  health.  He  had  in  his  hand 
a  thick  cane  walking-3tick,  with  a  large  ivory  top. 
1  bad  the  curiosity  to  examine  it,  and  found  that  the 
top  unscrewed,  and  that  within  it  there  was  contrived 
a  little  box,  in  which  two  small  pills  had  been  d<>posited. 
Upon  inquiry,  the  priest  informed  me  that  these  pills 
were  kept  in  the  box  as  a  preservative  against  the 
attacks  of  elephants.  I  asked  how  they  could  possibly 
operate  as  a  defence  against  so  powerful  an  animal. 
^as  there  any  thing  peculiar  in  the  smell  of  the  drug, 
to  prevent  the  elephant's  approach  ?  or  did  it  any  way 
hinder  the  elephant  from  seeing  him  on  his  journey  ? 
He  replied,  that  it  did  not  act  in  this  way  ;  but  while 
he  walked  with  this  stick,  he  could  pursue  his  journey 
through  the  jungle  in  safety,  and  no  animal  would  mo- 
lest him.  In  vain  did  I  endeavor  tn  point  out  the 
folly  of  trusting  in  such  delusions,  and  ;>  convince  him 
that  the  Almighty  Creator  was  the  o^ly  secure  defence 
on  which  man  could  rely.  He  went  away  to  his 
temple — a  long  journey — in  full  confidence,  that, 
though  he  had  to  pass  through  many  jungles,  no  beast 
would  rush  out  to  destroy  him,  because  of  the  magic 
of  his  much-prized  wand." 

From  the  beginning  of  1822,  the  labors  of  the  mis- 
uionaries  at  Badagamme  were  considerably  increased, 
in  consequence  of  their  having  undertaken  the  super- 
intendence of  nearly  forty  government  schools  in  the 
districts  of  Gallc>  and  Matura.  The  field  of  useful- 
ness, however,  which  was  thus  thrown  open,  may  be 
judged  of  by  the  statements  of  Mr.  Ward,  who  ob- 
serves, "  These  schools  have  been  establisiicd  by  gov- 
ernment for  many  yofrs,  but  have  always  been  inef- 
ficient, from  want  of  regular  superintendence.  They 
extend  over  all  this  and  the  adjoining  districts,  and  are 
situated  in  tiie  most  populous  villages.  Two  masters 
are  attached  to  each  school,  but  many  of  these,  at 
present,  arc  very  ignorant  of  the  Christian  religion  ; 
and  we  arc,  therefore,  directing  our  first  attention  to 
them,  in  the  hope  that  they  will  become  the  regular 
channels  for  conveying  religious  knowiedge,  not  only 
to  the  rising  generation,  but  to  the  peuplu  of  tlicir 
respective  villages.  These  schools  will  give  us  access 
to  many  tliousand  natives ;  they  will  also  iiureasc  our 
innuencc-,  uiiti  m lii  aiiuiu  us  iiiauy  mure  u|ipuriuiiiiifs 
of  preaching  the  gospel,  and  of  distributing  the  Scrip- 


tures and  tracts,  than  we  could  have  had  without  them. 
Were  we,  indeed,  but  competently  qualified  in  the 
languages,  and  could  but  expose  ourselves  to  the  sun, 
we  might  spend  our  days,  like  the  first  great  mission- 
ary, the  Lord  from  heaven,  in  travelling  from  village 
to  village,  preaching  the  things  which  concern  the 
kingdom  of  God." 

At  Kandy,  about  the  same  time,  Mr.  Lainbrick  waa 
disengaged,  by  the  arrival  of  another  chaplain,  from 
his  pastoral  relation  with  the  Europeans  of  that  place, 
and  received  the  thanks  of  government  for  the  exem- 
plary manner  in  which  he  had  performed  his  ministerial 
duties.  He  and  his  colleague,  Mr.  Browning,  were  now 
anxious  to  remove  to  a  village  at  the  distance  of  about 
nine  miles,  which  they  considered  as  a  spot  peculiarly 
eligible  for  the  direct  objects  of  the  mission  ;  but,  as 
this  place  was  out  of  the  reach  of  military  protection, 
the  British  resident  at  Kandy  dissuaded  them  from 
the  prosecution  of  a  plan  which  he  considered  to  be 
attended  with  serious  danger.  In  February,  Mr.  Lam- 
brick  visited  Colombo,  for  the  purpose  of  Ihying  before 
his  excellency  sir  Edward  Paget,  the  state  and  pros- 
pects of  the  mission,  and  afterwards  proceeded  to 
Badagamme,  in  order  to  confer  with  his  brethren  on 
the  same  interesting  subject.  On  his  return,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Browning  took  the  same  route,  for  the  relief  of 
Mrs.  Browning's  mind,  depressed  by  the  recent  loss 
of  a  beloved  infant. 

At  Nellore,  the  mission  was  strengthened^  in  the 
month  of  March,  by  the  arrival  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Bailey 
and  his  wife  from  England  ;  and  most  of  the  schools 
which  had  been  suspended  in  the  preceding  year,  in 
consequence  of  the  epidemic,  were  not  only  resumed, 
but  some  of  the  pupils  afforded  more  satisfaction  to 
their  teachers  than  they  ever  had  done  previously  to 
the  suspension.  The  numbers  wlio  attended,  however, 
were  considerably  less  than  formerly,  many  of  the 
boys,  as  well  as  their  parents,  having  been  carried  off 
by  the  cholera  morbus. 

On  the  return  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brown  to  Kandy, 
in  the  month  of  May,  Mr.  Lambrick  removed  toCotta, 
a  large  village  about  six  miles  from  Colombo,  contain- 
ing about  four  thousand  five  hundred  inhabitants, 
where  he  purchased  from  government  a  piece  of 
ground,  of  about  five  acres,  and  erected  a  dwelling- 
house  and  printing-office.  AAer  residing  a  short 
time  at  this  new  station,  he  observes,  *■  Experience 
has  proved  it  to  be  a  most  desirable  place  for  a  per- 
manent uiis«ionary  cslilishment.  It  is  in  the  midst 
of  a  numerous  population,  among  which  schools 
might  be  esiablislied  In  an  extent  si  /liciont,  together 
with  preaching,  (o  fill  the  hands  of  two  or  three  mis* 
siunaries  in  superintending  them  It  appears  to  be  as 
licaltliy  09  any  part  of  the  island ;  and  is  very  favor* 


CEYLON. 


ably  situated  for  maintaining  a  communication  with 
Colombo,  both  by  land  and  water,  while,  at  the  same 
Ume.it  18  sufficiently  distant  from  it,  to  avoid  the  evib 
connected  with  a  large  town. 

"  I  have  found  the  people  here  nominal  Christians ; 
but  they  are  grossly  ignorant  of  the  first  truths  of 
Chnstiamty,  and  awfully  indifferent  about  them.    But 
a  small  proportion  come  to  hear  me :  among  these 
however,  I  am  pleased  to  see  some  women.    On  week 
days,  I  go  out  among  them,  and  talk  to  as  many  as  are 
disposed  to  listen.     The  cold  assent  which  they  give 
equally  to  the  most  appalling  denunciations  and  the 
most  winning  promises,  is,  I  think,  more  discouragiuK 
than  violent  opposition  would  be.     As  an  instance  of 
their  Ignorance,  I  would  mention,  that,  one  day,  on 
asking  a  man  of  what  religion  he  was,  he  replied. 
'BudhuV     'So  then,' I  said,  'you  are  not  a  Chris- 
tian ?      'O  yes,  to  be  sure,'  he  rejoined,  'I  am  a 
Christian ;  and  of  the  Reformed  Protestante  too. '    Now 
what  this  man,  with  unusual  simplicity  declared,  is  1 
believe,  a  true  description  of  the  great  mass  of  the 
people  around  us.     They  are  Budhists  in  belief,  but 
politically  Christians." 

In  the  beginning  of  October,  tlic  ani.ual  meeting  of 
the  laborers  in  the  Ceylon  mission  was  held  at  Bada- 
gamme  ;  on  which  occasion,  all  were  present  except 
Mrs.  Browning  and  Mrs.  Bailey— Messrs.  Larabrick 
and    Browning   attending    from  Kandy,  and  Messrs. 
Knight  and  Bailey,  wiih  the  sister  of  the  former,  from 
Nellore.     Referring  to  this  meeting,  Mr.  Knight  thus 
speaks  of  the  station  in  which  he  had  the  pleasure  of 
meeting  and  conferring  with  his  pious  coadjutors  — 
On  our  arrival  at  Galle,  we  were  highly  delighted 
with  the  beautiful  scenery  of  the  place,  but  more 
especially  with  that  of  Badagamme  ;-the  rich  verdure 
which  every  where  meets  the  eye  ;  the  fine  fresh-water 
river,  on  which  are  frequently  seen  the  Cingalese,  with 
their  little  canoes,  carrying  their  commodities  to  the 
market  of  Galle,  or  returning  with  supplies  for  their 
families  ;  the  extensive  and  commanding  prospects  ; 
the  distant  mountains ;  and  almost  every  other  natural 
object,— calculated  to  gratify  the  sight  and  charm  the 
imagination.     After  passing  four  years  in  the  sultry 
plains  of  Jaflha,  the  contrast  was  so  great,  that  I 
almost  seemed  to  be  transported  into  an  earthly  para- 
dise.    But  to  see  the  children  of  the  schools  and  their 
parents  training  along  the  distant  roads,  and  ascending 
the  hill,  on  the  sabbath  day,  to  attend  the  worship  of 
God,  is  calculated  to  impress  the  mind  of  a  Christian 
with  more  sublime  and  delightful  thoughts :  and  it  may 
be  confidently  hoped  that  these  highly  favored  people 
will,  ere  long,  ascend  to  the  house  of  God  with  hearts 


«ii.j 


..>.**    kC    *uH 


-  Siviuur,  of  whom  they  have, 
indeed,  heretofore  sometimet  h«ard,  and  ioto  whuao 


607 

holy  Mth  moat  of  them  have  been  bapHwd,  but  of 
whom  they  have  hitherto  been,  for  the  moat  part, 
altogether  ignorant.  "^  ' 

The  church  of  Badagamme  was,  at  this  time,  nearly 
completed,  and  iu  tower  excited  much  notice  j  as  an 
object  of  thia  kind  had  never  previously  been  seen  in 
the  island.  The  chureh  iteelf  is  a  substantial  struc- 
ture, eighty-four  feet  by  forty-three,  and  the  interior 
IS  well  adapted  for  the  accommodation  of  a  large  con- 
gregation. In  the  erection  of  this  edifice,  the  mi?sion- 
anes  had  to  encounter  difficulties  which  they  could  not 
have  anticipated,  but  which  they  were  happily  enabled 
to  surmount.  In  digging  for  the  foundation,  the  work- 
men soon  came  to  an  extensive  bed  of  rocks,  which  it 
was  necessary,  in  some  parts,  to  reduce  ten  feet  in 
thickness ;  end  as  they  consisted  of  the  hardest  granite, 
this  could  only  be  effected  by  gunpowder ;  the  issue 
of  which  material  from  the  public  stores  had  been 
recently  prohibited,  in  consequence  of  the  aspect  of 
affairs  in  the  Kandian  territories.  The  lieutenant- 
governor,  however,  kindly  granted  a  license  which  obvi- 
ated this  difficulty  ;  and  though  seven  hundred  pounds* 
weight  of  powder  were  required  instead  of  fifty,  which, 
in  the  first  instance,  were  calculated,  the  explosion  of 
the  rocks  furnished  the  best  possible  materials  for  the 
building.  "This,"  says  Mr.  Mayor,  "is  the  firs* 
church  which  has  ever  been  erected  in  the  interior  oV 
this  island,  for  the  sole  benefit  of  the  Cingalese  ;  am! 
it  will  remain,  I  doubt  not,  a  monument  to  future  agei 
of  the  day  when  the  Sun  of  Righteousness  first  aros« 
upon  this  benighted  village  ;  and  of  that  compassion 
with  which  the  Saviour  has  inspired  British  Christian* 
toward  the  deluded  natives  of  Ceylon. 

"  While  we  were  engaged  in  laying  the  foundation 
of  this  earthly  temple,  it  was  our  endeavor  also  to  lay 
the  foundation  of  a  spiritual  one  ;  and  we  cannot  but 
hope  that  the  numerous  laborers  who  received,  for 
many  months,  daily  instruction  in  the  things  belonging 
to  the  kingdom  of  God,  have  felt  those  convictions 
of  the  truth  of  our  holy  religion,  which  will  be  as 
permanent  in  their  effects  on  the  population  around 
us,  as  the  edifice  which  they  have  been  employed  to 
erect.  We  daily  explained  to  them  a  portion  of 
Sciipture,  and  prayed  with  them,  before  they  com- 
menced their  work;  so  that  a  general  knowledge 
of  the  truths  of  the  gospel  has  been  diffused  among 
tliem  ;  and  we  do  not  hesitate  to  say,  that  their  con- 
fidence in  Budhism,  if  not  entirely  destroyed,  is  much 
shaken." 

In  respect  to  the  ministration  of  the  gospel  in  the 
vicjiity  of  Badagamme,  the  same  excellent  mission- 
ary communicates  the  following  int«ra«t!s>  »...:...; 
Ian :—  "      ""        =  * 

"  We  go  out  among  me  people  daily,  and  collect  • 


•oe 


CHURCH  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


oongiegttioa  in  the  following  manner : — ^We  send  t 
nenenger  to  the  most  nspectable  native  residing  near 
other  inhabitants,  and  tell  hha  that  we  intend  to  come 
and  preach  at  his  house  in  the  afternoon,  or  on  the 
morrow,  as  it  m*y  be;  and 'request  him  to  give 
notice  to  his  neighbors,  and  collect  them  together. 
If  it  be  not  convenibnt  foir  him  to  receive  us  at  the 
time  appointed,  he  will  request  us  to  come  on  another 
day.  At  the  appointed  time,  we  set  out ;  and,  on  ap- 
proaching within  a  reasonable  disunoe,  we  begin  to 
look  round  the  fields,  13  see  if  there  be  any  persons 
at  labor,  whom  we  may  mvite  to  come  and  hear  us. 
Sometimes  we  meet  with  a  group  of  women,  weeding 
the  paddy  fields ;  and,  after  pleading  some  excuse, 
they  generally  yield  to  our  importunities,  and  go  forth 
to  liear  the  preaching  of  the  word.  Thb  men  who 
are  working  with  the  hoe  sometimes  tell  us,  that  listen- 
ing to  our  discourses  will  not  supply  them  with  food  ; 
but  it  seldom  happens  that  they  ultimately  refuse  to 
accompany  us.  Formerly,  they  would  run  and  hide 
themselves,  when  they  saw  us  coming  toward  them, 
or,  if  they  promised  to  come,  they  would  remain 
Iwhind ;  but  they  now  seem  less  unwilling  to  hear 
than  they  were,  and  seldom  turn  back,  when  we 
,%ave  persuaded  them  to  set  out.  They  put  their 
hoes  across  their  shoulders  ;  and,  unconscious  of  the 
advantage  which  they  may  hereafter  receive  from 
their  compliance,  they  procsed,  from  a  feeling  of  re- 
spect and  attachment  to  us,  to  hear  the  sound  of  the 
gospel.  Besides  gathering  them  thus  from  the  fields 
and  ways,  we  call  at  their  houses,  and  persuade  as 
many  as  are  at  home,  and  able  to  go  out,  to  attend  also. 

"  When  we  are  arrived  at  the  house,  we  find  mats 
laid  on  the  ground,  beneath  the  shade  of  the  trees,  in 
a  sort  of  court,  where  the  people  sit  down,  the  women 
distinct  from  the  men ;  and  on  these  occasions  we 
have  sometimes  a  hundred,  and  seMom  fewer  than 
thirty  hearers.  They  listen  with  much  attention,  and 
are  very  orderly  in  their  conduct.  Indeed,  we  know 
not  that  there  is  a'.i  individual  near  us,  from  the  highest 
to  the  lowest,  who  would  not  receive  us  gladly,  and 
allow  of  the  people  assembling  about  his  house  to 
hear  the  word  of  God : — not  that  they  have  renounced 
Budhism,  or  the  worship  of  devils  ;->-their  eyes  are 
not  yet  open  to  discern  the  sin  and  folly  of  their  former 
vain  superstitions  and  idolatry  ;  but  they  have  a  sort 
of  respect  for  religious  ceremonies,  and,  while  they 
believe  our  religion  to  be  a  good  one,  thuy  still  regard 
their  own  i«  good  alio," 

The  four  slalions  of  the  Church  Missionary  Society 
were  thus  occupied  in  18:^.  AtCottawere  the  Rev. 
Messrs.   Lamhrick   and    Bailey,  the   latter  nrarriad, 


...'..•.J  I...  /_ 


1 rui n. 


Mrs.  Browning,  with  five  native  assistants,  were  at 


Kandy.  Badagamme  was  occupied  by  the  Rev. 
Messrs.  Mayor  and  Ward,  both  married,  and  five 
native  assistants ;  and  at  Nellore  were  laboring  the 
Rev.  W.  Adley,  with  Mrs.  Adiey,  Rev.  J.  Knight, 
and  ten  native  assistants.  At  this  period,  :here  were 
twenty-feur  schools  at  the  difiisrent  stations,  in  <vhich 
seveu  hundred  and  twenty-four  boys  and  one  hundred 
and  twenty-one  girls  daily  received  Christian  in- 
struction. 

In  the  Annual  Survey  of  Missionary  Stations,  pub- 
lished in  February,  1895,  the  following  particulars  are 
communicated,  relative  to  the  operations  and  successes 
of  the  brethren  in  Ceylon  : — 

At  Kandy,  and  in  the  neighborhood,  Mr.  Browning 
has,  for  some  time,  preached  thrice  on  the  sabbath, 
in  Cingalese ; — at  one  of  the  schools,  at  his  own 
house,  and  at  the  prison.  The  Cingalese  prisoners, 
sixty  or  seventy  in  number,  generally  appeared  thank- 
ful for  his  services,  and  the  average  attendance  at 
his  own  house  was  from  thirty  to  two  hundred  persons. 
In  four  boys'  schools  there  were  one  hundred  and 
nineteen  scholars,  with  an  average  attendanoe  of  eighty- 
three  ;  and,  in  the  girls'  school,  an  average  attendance 
of  eight  out  of  ten.  Christian  books  were  used  in 
each  of  these  seminaries,  and  a  school-visitor  had 
been  engaged,  to  stir  up  the  masters  to  zeal  and  dili- 
gence. Two  other  schools  were  about  to  be  opened ; 
and,  u  the  sphere  for  missionary  exertion  was  evidently 
enlarging  in  the  surrounding  villages,  a  new  station 
had  been  proposed  at  Ratnapoorah,  nearly  in  a  direct 
line  from  Galle  to  Kandy,  and  almost  equi-distant 
between  them. 

At  Cotta  there  were,  at  the  same  time,  a  hundred 
and  scvep  scholars,  in  four  schools,  with  an  average 
attendance  of  eighty-threi  ;  and  a  fifth  seminary  had 
been  opened,  with  a  greater  attendance  than  either  of 
the  others  ;  but  the  number  of  pupils  was  not  given. 
It  was  also  resolved  to  form  a  Christian  institution  ; 
and,  in  his  last  communication  on  that  subject,  Mr. 
I<ambrick  observes,  "  A  more  eligible  situation  for  the 
purpose  could  not,  probably,  be  found  in  the  whole 
island.  We  have  been  endeavoring  to  enlarf^o  our 
ground  by  the  purchase  of  some  adjoining  pieces  from 
the  natives,  and  are  beginning  to  collect  materials, 
which,  in  this  country,  requires  a  considerable  time." 

At  Badagamme,  the  new  church  was  opened  on 
the  11th  of  March,  1694,  wlien  the  Hon.  and  Rev. 
Dr.  Twisleton,  archdeacon  of  Colombo,  preached  in 
English,  and  the  Rev,  S.  Lambrick  in  Cingalese.  In 
five  hoys'  schools,  containing  one  hundred  and  ninety- 
seven  scholars,  there  was  an  average  attendance  of 
one  hundred  and  fifteen  ;  and  in  the  girls'  school,  con- 

ts:r::n^  ScT&SSj-tWS  p«p:i5,  titcfc  WaS   an    arrxSgS   St* 

tendance  of  fifty-nine. 


C^JYLON. 


Of  the  general  state  of  the  mission  at  Badagamme, 
Mr.  Mayor  says,  "  We  never  felt  more  happy  in  our 
work  than  we  do  at  this  time  ;  nor  had  a  fuller  con- 
viction that  we  shall  yet  have  abundant  cause  to  praise 
the  Lord,  for  having  called  us  to  labor  among  those 
who  had  never  before  heard  of  his  name.  We  have 
ately  been  stirred  up  to  pray  more  earnestly  and  to 
labor  more  diligently,  and  our  faith  and  hope  have 
much  mcreased  ;  so  that,  though  we  cannot  tell  you 
of  any  who  are  yet  truly  brought  c^ut  of  darkness  into 
the  marvellous  light  of  the  knowledge  of  divine  tn*h, 
we  feel  a  full  assurance  that  God  will  glorify  his  power 
m  the  salvation  of  this  people." 

At  JVe/fore,  divine  service  continued  to  be  perform- 
ed m  Mr.  Knight's  house,  but  as  there  was  not  suf- 
ficient accommodation  for  all  who  were  inclined  to 
attend,  he  had  determined  on  opening  the  new  church 
which  had  been  erected  in  that  station,  without  wait- 
mg  for  its  completion.    He  was  also  in  the  habit  of 
preaching,  once  or  twke  every  sabbath,  at  some  of 
the  schools  where  adults  attended ;  but  of  those  per- 
•ons  he  remark.,  "  I  cannot  perceive  that  any  yet 
come  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  instruction.     Curi- 
osity—the  desireof  gain— the  hope  that  I  shall  recom- 
mend 11  to  some  government  office,  or  intercede 
for  thtin  when  they  have  lawsuits   pending   in    the 
courts  of  justice— or  some  other  worldly  inducement, 
often  prompts  one  and  another  to  come  to  hear  me  ; 
and  in  some  instances  they  will  attend  for  so  long  a 
time  as  to  excite  our  hopes  respecting  them,  before 
we  are  able  to  diK(»reT  their  true  motive.     This  state 
of  things  is  exceedingly  discouraging,  but  it  must  be 
borne  with ;  and  it  should  teach  the  missionary  to  look 
more  steadfastly  to  the  power  and  promise  of  God, 
where  he  is  in  no  danger  of  being  disappointed." 

Ten  schools  were,  at  this  time,  established  in  Nel- 
lore  and  the  vicinity ;  and  an  additional  school  had 
been  recently  opened  for  children,  to  be  named  and 
supported  by  benefactors.  Mrs.  Knight  had  also 
begun  to  assemble  the  girls  of  the  different  schools  on 
sabbath  afternoons,  for  the  puriwso  of  teaching  them 
to  read  printed  books  ;  and  her  excellent  husband,  in 
alluding  to  this  circumstance,  observes,  "  We  have 
much  encouragement  to  proceed  in  our  work  ;  as  the 
success  which  we  have  already  met  with  affords  the 
strongest  reason  to  hope,  that,  by  the  divine  blessing, 
our  best  wishes  will,  at  length,  be  fully  realized  ;  and 
that  the  degraded  females  of  the  Jaffna  district,  who 
have  been  so  long  enslaved  by  ignorance  and  super- 
stition, will  yet  see  a  brighter  day." 

Well  did  the  lamented  Heber  say  of  Ceylon,  that 

here  "  only  man  is  vile  ;"  and  vile  indued  he  is.    Other 

missionary  stations  present  iamontable  pictures  of  man 

in  '-Is  fallen  stale,  giving  way  to  sin,  and  thus  proving 

Vol.  I.— Nos.  51  L  5i.  ^^) 


^» 


himself  to  be  virtually  the  serrant  of  Satan  ;  but  it 
reinains  for  this  terrestrial  paradise  to  show  us  oar 
fellow  creatures  literally  worshipping  the  devil,  and 
m  the  service  of  this  "horrid  king"  practising  rite* 
the  most  absurd,  impure  and  degrading;  altogether 
unholy,  and  therefore  most  unhappy  in  this  life,  and 
havmg  no  hope  for  another  beyond  a  series  of  inter- 
miqable  transmigrations  ot  utter  annihilation. 

In  the  three  years  following  1823,  the  missionaries 
labored  incessantly  to  make  an  inroad  on  the  kingdom 
of  darkness,  which  has  so  firmly  established  itself  in 
the  minds  of  these  benighted  people.  Their  visi- 
ble success,  however,  was  not  allowed  to  be  cont- 
mensurate  with  the  energy  of  their  exertions.  In 
raising  a  temple  to  the  living  God,  on  the  ruins  of  the 
fortresses  of  Satan,  much  work  is  to  be  done  before 
the  walls  appear  above  ground;  old  and  deep-laid 
foundations  are  to  ha  removed,  and  their  place  occu- 
pied by  others  of  a  better  kind  ;  and  all  this  toilsome 
labor,  though  the  most  important  of  the  whole  struc- 
ture, is  still  beneath  the  surface,  and  mvisible. 

Thug  it  was  with  the  work  of  the  Ceylon  iiiissioo- 
aries :  though  the  schools  were  gradually  mcreasing 
in  number,  and  more  native  children  were  constantly 
flocking  to  them,  so  that,  in  1826,  we  find  there 
were  twenty-nine  schools  and  upwards  of  one  thousand 
scholars  ;  though  native  assistants  were  multiplied  in 
the  same  year  to  the  number  of  thirty-eight,  yet  ail 
this  may  be  considered  merely  as  foundation  work, 
indispensable  to  the  rearing  of  the  spiritual  edifice, 
but  not  the  building  iiself 

At  Cotta,  in  1826,  Mr.  Lambrick  had  seen,  as  yet, 
little  fruit  of  his  labors,  and  mourned  over  the  spiritual 
torpor  of  the  people.    From  Badagamme,  also,  similar 
accounts  were  received.     "  We  have  witnessed,"  say 
the  missionaries,  in  their  report  in  October,  "  little  to 
encourage  us  to  hope,  that  our  labors  have  been  owned 
and  blessed  by  the  great  Head  of  the  church  to  the 
conversion  and  salvation  of  sinners.     As  it  respects 
the  people  in  general,  we  have  still  to  take  up  the 
lamentation  of  the  prophet,  and  inquire,  '  Who  hath 
believed  our  report  ?  and  to  whom  hath  the  arm  of 
the  Ix)rd  been   revealed  ?'     They  seem  as  much  as 
over  addicted  to  their  idolatrous  ceremonies,  and  still 
see  no  beauty  in  Christ,  that   they  should  desire  him 
as  their  Saviour.     The  number  of  those  who  attend 
public  worship  on  the  sabbath  day  has  not  increased." 
At   Nellore,  the  appearances  were  brighter.     The 
cholera,  in  tlio  preceding  year,  had  fearfully  devastated 
tiie  stntion-i,  and  the  schools,  8ic.  were  much  fallen 
off  in  ronsei]iience  ;  the  state  of  the   natives,  under 
this    afflictive   scourgfl,   wna    tfulv   distressing.       Ms. 
Adiey ,  however,  afterwards  writes : — "  The  first  month 
of  tliis  year  (1826)  lias  been  a  time  of  special  mercy. 


610 


CHURCH  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


Four  persons  connected  with  the  station  are  among 
those  who  have  been  awakened ;  they  have  continued 
to  manifest  such  a  knowledge  of  their  need  of  Christ 
as  the  only  Saviour,  with  such  a  deep  concern  for  the 
salvation  of  their  souls,  that  they  have  been  admitted 
as  candidates  for  baptism.  Eight  or  ten  of  the  elder 
boys,  also,  who  evince  anxiety  respecting  their  eternal 
welfare,  are  assembled  once  a  week  for  further  instruc- 
tion and  prayer." 

A' school-house  was  opened  with  divine  service,  at 
Kandy,  in  January,  1826.  Besides  the  sabbath  ser- 
vices, Mr.  Browning  has  an  evening  service  in  Cinga- 
lese on  Wednesdays,  and  one  in  Portuguese  on 
Thursdays.  In  the  following  year  (1827),  Mr. 
Browning  had  some  encouragement  among  the  soldiers 
at  Kandy  ;  Mr.  Selkirk,  also,  at  Cotta,  felt  cause  to 
thank  God,  and  to  take  courage  in  his  work  of  itiner- 
ating among  the  natives  from  house  to  house. 

At  Badagamme,  Mr.  Trimnell  gives  the  following 
view  of  the  state  of  things : — "  Our  labors  among  the 
people,  though  not  so  abundantly  blessed  as  we  desire, 
are  not  without  some  evidence  that  the  power  and 
blessing  of  God  have  attended  them.  Of  sudden  or 
very  decided  conversions  we  have  no  instance  ;  but 
we  hope  the  divine  light,  like  the  rising  sun,  is 
gradually  dispelling  tiie  darkness  of  ignorance  from 
the  minds  of  some  who  have  heard  from  our  lips  the 
gospel  of  God.  Prejudice  is  departing ;  divine  knowl- 
edge is  spreading  ;  and  when  the  Spirit  from  on  high 
shall  enlighten  and  change  the  heart,  the  kingdom  of 
God  will  come  ;  and  we  have  great  hope,  that,  with 
a  few,  this  has  been  the  case." 

The  printing  department  was  this  year  conducted 
with  an  energy  before  unprecedented.  Nearly  eight 
thousand  copies  of  different  works,  religious  and  school 
books,  issued  from  the  press  during  the  course  of  it. 
While  the  cause  of  missions  was  thus  slowly  yet 
steadily  advancing  ii>  the  island  ;  the  number  of  chil- 
dren under  Christian  instruction  augmenting;  the  press 
in  active  operation  ;  and  occasional  individual  conver- 
sions among  the  adults,  causing  thanksgivings  to  mingle 
with  the  supplications  of  the  devoted  misnionaries, — * 
the  foundation  stone  of  a  Christian  instituaon,  for  the 
education  of  native  youths  for  the  ministry,  was  laid 
by  the  governor,  sir  E.  Barnes,  8th  November,  1827, 
•nd  ten  boys  were  admitted  on  probation.  The  prog- 
ress of  Christianity  at  each  of  the  stations,  in  1828, 
appears  to  have  been  hopeful.  The  twilight  of  gospel 
day  is  of  long  duration,  yet  it  is  the  sure  harbinger  of 
meridian  glory.  The  report  for  1829  shows  that  the 
important  work  of  translating  the  Scriptures  is  in 
progress ;  and  we  learn  from  the  last  published  accounts 


rffo.nivAH   fivifn  f^.tav\nn     tHut    »    «w\nnAntAri 


H»a  nf  titm 


books  of  the  New  Testament,  as  far  as  the  Epistle  to 
the  Romans,  has  been  printed,  under  Mr.  Lambrick's 
care,  in  the  vernacular  language  of  the  people. 
Again,  in  1829,  the  cause  of  missions  was  advancing 
at  Nelloro.  Besides  individual  instances  of  conversion, 
decided  proofs  of  decreasing  attachment  to  idolatry 
were  presented  to  the  missionaries.  And  it  is  evident 
to  a  reflecting  mind,  that  a  certain  portion  of  good 
must  result,  when  six  or  seven  hundred  children, 
as  at  this  station,  are  daily  committing  to  memory 
portions  of  Holy  Writ,  and  catechisms  inculcating 
similar  doctrines.  The  report  from  Kandy  was  favor- 
able. At  Badagamme,  though  the  congregations  at 
church  increased,  yet  some  discouragement  was  felt 
by  the  missionaries  from  the  daring  opposition  of  the 
Budhist  priests. 

The  last  report,  bringing  the  accounts  of  the  mis- 
sionaries down  to  the  beginning  of  1831,  shows  that, 
at  the  four  stations,  there  were  eight  missionaries,  with 
their  wives,  assisted  by  sixty-four  natives,  engaged  in 
the  work  ;  there  were  fifty-four  schools,  in  which  one 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  sixty-one  boys,  two  hun- 
dred and  twenty-four  girls,  and  fifty-seven  adults  were 
receiving  Christian  instruction.  Though  the  ministry 
of  the  gospel  has  not  hitherto  been  attended  with  a 
large  and  extensive  blessing,  yet  at  each  of  the  stations, 
Mr.  Lnmbrick  writes,  single  instances  of  converting 
grace  have  occurred.  The  total  number  of  these  cases 
does  not  appear  to  have  been  specified  ;  nor  is  this 
omission  of  much  importance,  for  it  is  not  from  the 
number  of  individuals  professing  Christianity,  tlmt  we 
are  to  estimate  the  amount  of  missionary  success ; 
rather  are  we  to  look  at  those  marks  which  indicate 
a  general  loosening  in  the  whole  system  of  idolatrous 
worship,  and  which  surely  prognosticate  its  fall.  These 
indications  are  discernible,  though  as  yet  with  some 
indistinctness,  in  the  aspect  of  Cingalese  society.  The 
missionaries  write — "  By  the  publications  of  the  Tract 
Society,  heathenism,  during  the  year,  has  received  r 
shock,  the  effects  of  which  will,  it  may  be  hoped, 
soon  be  more  apparent.  The  adherents  of  the  system 
are  driven  to  adopt  many  different  expedients.  Some, 
by  the  exposures  which  have  been  made  of  their  sacred 
mysteries,  are  greatly  enraged,  and  utter  sad  impreca- 
tions oti  the  unknown  informants ;  who,  if  they  were 
known,  would  probably  be  severely  treated  :  others, 
influenced  by  similar  feelings,  positively  assert  that 
the  incantations  we  have  rec'""?'  are  not  genuine, 
and  that  we  have  been  imposed  on  ;  while  a  great 
number  admit  that  they  are  genuine,  but,  ashamed  at 
the  disclosure,  and  wishing  to  avoid  disgrace,  disavow 
all  confidence  in  them,  or  profess  to  have  discontinued 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


m. 


CHAPtER  VII. 


NORTH    AMERICAN    MISSION. 


I 


It  was  in  the  year  1820,  that  the  altention  of  the. 
committee  was  first  drawn  to  the  neglected  state  of  the 
North   American  Indians.     "The  western  parts  of 
British  America,  lying  between  the  high  ridge  called 
the  Rocky  mountains  and  the  North  Pacific  ocean,  and 
extending  from  about  the  forty-second  to  the  fifty- 
seventh  degree  of  north  latitude,  and  the  country  on 
the  eastern  side  of  the  same  chain,  between  the  Rocky 
mountains  and  Hudson's  bay,  and  visited  in  recent 
times  by  the  missionaries,  presented  an  ample  scope 
for  Christian  exertion."     The  Rev.  J.  West,  chaplain 
to  the  Red  river  settlement,  to  the  south  of  lake  Win- 
nipeg, territories  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  may 
justly  be  considered  as  the  founder  of  the  mission.    Mr. 
West  arrived  at  the  settlement  on  Red  river  on  the  14th 
of  October.    Here  were  an  unfinished  building,  intend- 
ed  for  a  Catholic  church,  and  an  adjoining  house,  for 
the  residence  of  the  priest,  but  no  Protestant  church  or 
school-house.     Mr.  West  was,  therefore,  obliged  to 
take  up  his  abode  at  the  colony  fort,  with  a  young 
man  whom  he  had  taken  out  from  England  in  the 
capacity  of  a  schoolmaster.   Here  he  performed  divine 
service  every  sabbath  day,  and  his  ministry  was,  in 
general,  well  attended  by  the  settlers.    On  some  occa- 
sions, indeed,  a  considerable  impression  was  apparently 
made  on  the  minds  of  the  hearers,  one  of  whom  de- 
clared that  he  considered  the  first  day  of  his  attend- 
ance as  the  happiest  of  his  life ;  not  having  been  in  a 
place  of  worship  for  a  period  of  thirty  years,  since  he 
left  England.     Several    marriages   were  also  solem- 
nized, and  some  adults  were  baptized  ;  but  as  these 
were  principally  half  breedi  (the  children  of  Euro- 
pean fathers  and  Indian  mothers),  and  in  the  habit 
of  speaking  the  Indian  language,  which  has  no  word 
expressive  of  a  Saviour,  it  was  extremely  difficult  to 
convey  to  their  minds  any  consistent  ideas  of  the  per- 
son, sufferings  and  atonement  of  Christ.     Our  pious 
chaplain  used  his  utmost  exertions,  however,  simply 
and  faithfully  to  explain  to  them  the  true  nature  and 
object  of  the  baptismal  rite  ;  and,  after  a  short  time, 
he    got   a  log-house  repaired   for  the   schoolmasterj 
among   the    Protestant    settlers,   about    three    miles 


below  the  fort,  where  the  work  of  instruction  was  com- 
menced with  about  twenty  children. 

On  the  15th  of  January,  1821,  Mr.  West,  at  the 
request  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  set  out,  for 
the  purpose  of  visiting  their  provision  posts  at  Bran- 
don House  and  Beaver  Creek.  On  this  occasion,  he 
travelled  in  a  carriage  called  a  cariole,  drawn  by  three 
wolf-dogs,  with  a  driver,  and  followed  by  a  sledge  with 
his  luggage,  drawn  by  two  dogs.  The  weather  was 
so  severely  cold,  that,  in  some  parts  of  the  journey,  his 
nose  and  part  of  his  face  were  completely  frozen  ; 
but  this  inconvenience  was  removed  by  rubbing  the 
parts  affected  with  snow ;  and  though,  in  his  /ening 
encampments,  he  had  no  other  canopy  than  the  heavens, 
he  observes  that  he  slept  much  better  than  he  could 
have  anticipated  with  a  blanket  doubled  on  the  frozen 
snow,  and  a  buffalo  robe  as  a  covering;  whilst  his 
attendants  watched  alternately,  and  kept  up  a  good 
fire  during  the  night. 

Two  days  after  his  arrival  at  Brandon  House,  our 
traveller  had  an  opportunity  of  seeing  an  Indian  corpse 
staged,  i.  e.  put  upon  a  few  cross  sticks  about  ten  feet 
from  the  ground.  "  In  burying  or  staging  their  dead," 
says  he,  "  the  Indians  generally  put  all  the  property 
of  the  deceased  into  the  case ;  and  whenever  they 
visit  the  corpse,  which  they  do  for  years  afterward, 
they  ivill  encircle  the  stage  or  burying-pkce,— smoke 
their  pipes,— weep  bitteriy,— and  frequently  cut  them- 
selves with  knives,  or  pierce  themselves  with  the 
points  of  sharp  instruments.  As  I  fallowed  the  corpse 
to  the  stage,  a  melancholy  train  of  thought  arose  in 
my  mind,  from  the  dark  and  ignorant  state  of  the  poor 
Indians  around  me ;  and  I  earnestly  wished  that  Brit- 
ish benevolence  might  reach  them  in  missionary  exer- 
tions, to  impart  unto  them,  through  divine  grace,  the 
blessings  of  that  gospel  which  brings  life  and  immor- 
tality to  light." 

On  reaching  Beaver  Creek,  Mr.  West  was  particu- 
lariy  noticed  by  some  Indians,  who  had  come  thither 

he  was  a  religious  teacher,  stroked  him  on  the  head, 
as  a  fond  father  would  do  to  a  favorite  boy.   Towards 


619 


CHURCH  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


evening,  howerer,  the  efiects  of  the  liquor  which  they 
had  obtained  in  exchange  for  their  commodities  be- 
came extremely  annoying,  and  our  traveller  observes 
there  was  such  a  bacchanalia  as  he  had  never  before 
witnessed. 

The  next  day,  being  the  sabbath,  the  company's 
servants  assembled  in  the  forenoon  and  evening  for 
divine  worship.  About  forty  persons  were  also  ad- 
dressed on  the  subjects  of  baptism  and  marriage ;  and 
such  an  effect  was  produced  upon  an  elderly  man,  who 
had  for  a  considerable  time  lived  without  any  regard 
to  those  sacred  institutions,  that  he  earnestly  requested 
the  preacher  to  marry  him  to  the  female  with  whom  be 
resided,  and  to  baptise  his  seven  children. 

On  his  return  from  this  excursion,  Mr.  West  removed 
from  his  AMrmer  residence  to  a  farm  belonging  to  the 
late  earl  of  Selkirk,  about  three  miles  from  Fort  Doug- 
las, and  six  fr<Mn  the  school.  So  much  inconvenience, 
however,  resulted  from  these  distances,  that  Jie  re- 
solved, if  possible,  to  erect,  in  a  central  situation,  a 
substantia!  building,  which  should  contain  apartments 
for  the  schoolmaster — afibrd  accommodation  for  the 
Ii^dian  children,  of  whom  he  had  already  uken  three 
under  his  protection — be  a  day  school  for  the  children 
of  the  settlers — and  also  answer  the  purpose  of  a 
church,  till  a  brighter  prospect  should  arise  in  the 
colony,  and  its  inhabitants  be  more  congregated.  "  I 
became  anxious,"  says  he,  "  to  see  such  a  building 
arise,  as  a  Protestant  landmark  of  Christianity  in  a 
vast  field  of  heathenism." 

In  1822,  this  indefatigable  man,  whose  success  forms 
a  pleasing  proof  of  what  one  energetic  and  persevering 
mind  can  effect,  wrote  to  the  committee  of  the  Church 
Missionary  Society  on  behalf  of  the  poor  Indians,  who 
were  literally  perishing  for  lack  of  knowledge ;  and, 
in  consequence  of  his  communications,  a  special  meet- 
ing of  the  directors  was  held  for  the  purpose  of  taking 
into  consideration  the  subject  of  a  North-west  Ameri- 
can mission.  Two  gentlemen  belonging  to  the  com- 
mittee of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  were  present 
at  this  meeting,  and  from  them  such  importara  informa- 
tion was  obtained  relative  to  the  settlement  at  the  Red 
river,  and  the  prospects  of  usefulness  among  the  na- 
tives in  the  vicinity,  that  it  was  unanimously  resolved 
to  attempt  the  introduction  of  divine  truth  into  this 
extensive  but  long  neglected  region.  Tlie  Rev.  John 
West  was,  accordingly,  appointed  superintendent  of 
the  mission ;  Mr.  George  Harbidge,  the  schoolmaster, 
who  had  sailed  with  him  from  England,  was  taken  into 
the  service  of  the  society  ;  and  it  was  resolved  that 
such  a  number  of  Indian  children  should  be  maintained 
as  circumstances  might  permit.     The 


and  educated 

...^  „r  f  inn 


,r,T:at,  tu    ciiuasc 


Mr.  West  to  make  trial  of  his  proposed  plan. 


On  the  proceedmgs  of  the  committee  being  trans- 
mitted to  Mr.  West,  he  replied  to  the  secretary  on 
the  28th  of  August,  1822,  in  the'  followmg  animated 
terms : — 

"No  one  ever  received  news  from  a  far  country 
which  more  gladdened  the  heart  than  your  letters  did 
mine.  I  read  them  again  and  again  with  lively  emo- 
tions of  gratitude,  and  with  joyful  hope  that,  as  the 
sinews  of  war  were  now  afforded,  the  banner  of  the 
cross  would  be  successfully  unfurled  among  the  British 
North  American  Indians.  My  ground  of  rejoicing  is 
this — the  expressed  interest  and  cooperation  of  the 
Hudson's  Bay  Company,  as  affording  facilities  which 
otherwise  could  not  be  obtained,  in  seeking  to  extend 
the  light  and  influence  of  the  Christian  religion  among 
the  natives  of  this  vast  territory.  God  be  praised  that 
commerce  is  now  consecrated  for  this  purpose !  For 
centuries  they  have  been  left  to  wander  through  life, 
uncheered  even  by  a  single  ray  of  divine  truth  ;  but 
this  darkness,  I  trust,  is  now  past,  and  '  a  foundation 
is  laid,'  as  one  of  the  directors  writes  to  me, '  for  ex- 
tending the  blessings  of  religion,  morals  and  educa- 
tion, wherever  the  representative  of  the  company  may 
set  his  foot.'  All,  all  is  encouraging  to  proceed ;  yet 
I  will  not  conceal  my  fenrs,  that  expectations  may  be 
raised  too  high,  as  to  the  progress  that  may  be  made 
in  that  vast  field  of  labor  which  presents  itself 
'  There  are  a  great  many  willows  to  cut  down,  and 
roots  to  remove,'  as  an  Indian  chief  said  to  me, 
when  he  welcomed  me  to  the  country, '  before  the 
path  will  be  clear  to  walk  in.'  The  axe,  however,  is 
laid  to  the  root  of  the  tree,  in  the  establishment  of 
schools,  as  the  means  of  instruction,  and  of  diffus- 
ing Christian  knowledge  in  this  moral  wilderness ; 
and  we  may  tritunph  in  the  hope  that  numbers  will 
arise  to  enjoy  what  they  are  capable  of  feeling- — the 
endearments  of  social  Jife,  as  well  as  of  moral  and  reli- 
gious elevation." 

The  letter  from  whkh  we  have  extracted  the  pre- 
ceding observations  was  written  at  York  fort,  to  which 
Mr.  West  had  made  a  visit  from  the  Red  river ;  and, 
during  his  stny  at  that  place,  he  had  the  pleasure;  of 
meeting  with  captain  Franklin  and  Dr.  Richardson, 
who  were  returning  from  their  enterprising  journey  to 
the  shores  of  the  polar  sea.  These  gentlemen  ex- 
pressed much  interest  in  behalf  of  the  Elsquimaux  In- 
dians, and  stated  that  there  appeared  to  be  a  favorable 
opening  for  establishing  a  school  among  them,  about 
a  hundred  and  fifty  miles  north  of  Churchill,  in 
Hudson's  bay  ;  as  one  of  the  chiefs  had  expressed  a 
strong  desire  to  have  a  white  man,  tor  the  purpose  of 
instructing  his  tribe.  Mr.  West  afterwards  sent  to 
Englsnd  3  specimen  of  writing  ay  an  EsquiniaU^  ra- 
dian, who  had  accompanied  the  expedition  as  a  guide, 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


and  who  hid  been  taught,  by  the  officers,  to  read  and 
write. 

On  the  return  of  Mr.  West  to  Red  river,  where  he 
arrived,  to  quote  his  own  words,  "  after  six  weeks' 
buffeting  against  strong  rapids  and  through  stormy 
lakes,"  he  married  Mr.  Harbidge,  the  society's  school- 
master,  to  a  young  woman  named  Eliaabeth  Bowden, 
who  had  recenUy  arrived  from  England,  after  being 
duly  qualified  to  undertake  the  education  of  female 
chi  dren.    He  also  opened  the  new  school^ouse,  a 
building  of  sixty  feet  by  twenty,  as  a  temporary  place 
of  worship ;  and  M^as  much  gratified  to  find  that  the 
committee  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  had  doter- 
mined  upon  educating  and  providing  for  the  numerous 
half-breed  children,  whose  parents  had  died  or  desert- 
ed  them  ;  and  had  requested,  in  an  official  communi- 
cation, that  they  might  be  placed  under  his  care  and 
superintendence.     Of  the  Indian  boys  already  under 
hw  charge,  two  had  been  recently  baptized,  as  being 
competent  to  read  the  New  Testament,  and  to  repeat 
the  church  catechism  and  the  leading  truths  of  the 
Christian  religion. 

"  In  June,  1823,"  says  Mr.  West,  "  I  had  the  hap- 
piness  of  seeing  the  accomplishment  of  the  wish  so 
feelingly  expressed  by  the  late  Mr.  Semple,  who  fell, 
mortally  wounded,  near  the  spot  where  our  buildings 
are  erected.     In  a  letter  dated  in  the  year  1815,  he 
observed, '  I  have  trodden  the  burned  ruins  of  houses, 
barns,  a  mill,  a  fort,  and  sharpened  stockades;  but 
none  of  a  place  of  worship,  even  upon  the  smallest 
scale.     I  blush  to  say,  that  over  the  whole  extent  of 
the  Hudson's  bay  territories  no  such  building  exists. 
It  is  surely  high  time  that  this  foul  reproach  should 
be  done  away  from  among  men  belonging  to  a  Chris- 
tian nation.   I  must  confess  that  I  am  anxious  to  see  the 
first  little  Christian  church  and  steeple  of  wood  slowly 
rising  among  the  wilds,  and  to  hear  the  sound  of  the 
first  sabbath  bell   which    has    toiled  here  since  the 
creation.' 

"  As  I  was  returning,  one  evening,  from  visiting 
some  of  the  settlers,  about  nine  or  ten  miles  below, 
the  lengthened  shadows  of  the  setting  sun  cast  upon 
our  buildings,  and  the  consideration  that  there  was 
now  a  landmark  of  Christianity  in  this  wild  waste,  and 
an  asylum  opened  for  the  instruction  and  maintenance 
of  Indian  children,  raised  the  most  agreeable  sensa- 
tions in  my  mind,  and  led  me  into  a  train  of  thought 
which  awakened  a  hope,  that,  in  the  divine  compassion 
of  the  Saviour,  it  might  be  the  means  of  raising  a 
tpiritual  temple  in  this  wilderness  to  the  honor  of  his 
name.  In  the  present  sute  of  the  people,  I  consider 
it  no  small  point^ined  to  have  formed  a  religious 
esiabiishment.  me  outward  wails,  even,  and  the 
spire  of  the  church,  cannot  fail  of  producing  some 


613 

eff»ct  on  the  minds-  of  a  wandering  people,  and  of 
the  population  of  the  settlement." 

With  respect  to  the  usual  attendance  on  the  meant 
of  grace,  it  appears  that,  during  winter,  the  severity 
of  the  weather  sometimes  precluded  the  settlers  from 
assembling  for  the  purpose  of  divine  worship ;  but, 
from  the  beginning  of  Mareh  till  about  the  middle  of 
June,  the  congregation  consisted,  on  an  average,  of 
from  one  hundred  to  a  hundred  and  thirty  persons. 
The  sabbath  afternoons  were  devoted  to  the  gratuitous 
instraction  of  all  who  chose  regularly  to  attend ;  and 
on  these  occasions  there  were  generally  forty  or  fifty 
scholars  present,  including  some  Indian  women  married 
to  Europeans,  besides  the  Indian  ohildren  on  the  mis- 
sionary establishment. 

On  the  10th  of  June,  Mr.  West  preached  a  farewell 
sermon  to  a  crowded  congregation,  and  having  admin- 
istered the  Lord's  supper  to  those  who  fervently  joined 
with  him  in  praying  for  the  divine  blessing  to  rest  upon 
the  missionary  who  should  officiate  during  his  absence, 
be  parted  from  his  flock  and  the  members  of  the  mis- 
sionary establishment  with  tears.  "  It  had  been," 
says  he,  "  a  long,  and  anxious,  and  arduous  scene  of 
labor  to  me ;  and  my  hope  was,  as  about  to  embark 
for  England,  that  I  might  return  to  the  settlement,  and 
be  the  means  of  effecting  a  better  order  of  things." 

The  weather  proved  favorable  on  the  morning  of 
his  departure,  and  the  boat  in  which  he  embarked  was 
soon  borne  down  the  river,  by  the  current,  towards  lake 
Winnipeg.  As  the  spire  of  the  church  receded  from 
viejv,  and  our  missionary  passed  several  of  the  houses 
belonging  to  the  settlers,  the  inmates  came  out  to  take 
leave  of  their  respected  pastor,  fervently  wishing  him 
a  safe  voyage,  and  expressing  a  hope  for  the  increas- 
ing prosperity  of  the  colony. 

"  With  light,  favorable  winds,"  says  Mr.  West, "  we 
soon  crossed  the  lake,  and  reached  Norway  House ; 
and  such  is,  generally,  the  quickness  of  the  passage 
from  this  point  to  York  factory,  that,  in  the  rapid  stream 
of  the  rivers,  a  loaded  boat  will  reach  the  dep6t  in  a    « 
few  days,  which  will  take  two  or  three  weeks  to  return, 
with  excessive  toil,  from  the  strength  of  the  opposing 
current.     It  appears  dangerous  to  an  inexperienced 
traveller  to  ron  the  rapids  in  thia  passage ;  but  it  is 
seldom  attended  with  any  serious  accident.     The  men 
who  have  charge  of  the  boats  are  generally  expe- 
rienced steersmen ;  and  it  is  highly  interesting  to  see 
them  take  the  rush  of  water  with  their  boats,  and,  with 
cool  intrepidity  and  skill,  direct  the  sweep  or  steer- 
oar  to  their  arrival  in  safety  at  the  bottota  of  a  rapid 
of  almost  a  perpendicular  fall  of  many  feet,  or  through 

a  torrent  of  Wntnr  nf  n    nilr  rtar  nf  •  milo     ».  .>«„,    ;_ 

lengtli.     Sometimes,  however,  the  boau  strike,  in  th«  • 
violence  of  their  descent,  so  as  to  cause  a  (ractiire, 


614 


CHURCH  BUSSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


knd  hurry  the  crew  to  pull  ashore,  to  stre  the  cnrgo 
from  damage.  This  accident  befell  us  several  times 
in  our  passage  ;  but  a  kind  Providence  protected  us, 
and  we  arrived  in  safety. 

Almost  immediately  after  reaching  York  factory, 
Mr.  West  made  arrangements  for  visiting  tho  Elsqui- 
maux  Indians  at  fort  Churchill,  the  most  northern  post 
belonging  to  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company.  Captain 
Franklin  had  suggested  the  expediency  of  walking 
from  York  fort  to  that  factory,  as  the  passage  in  a 
canoe  might  be  long  delayed  by  the  immense  quanti- 
ties of  ice  floating  in  tlie  bay.  Our  missionary,  there- 
fore, resolved,  notwithstanding  the  distance,  to  adopt 
this  plpn ;  and,  ha^'ing  engaged  one  of  the  company's 
servants,  with  an  Indian  hunter,  they  set  out  on  the 
11th  of  July,  in  company  with  two  Indians,  who  hap- 
pened to  be  returning  to  Churchill.  "  It  was  neces- 
iary,"  says  Mr.  West,  "  that  we  should  embark  in  a 
/>oat  to  cross  the  North  river ;  and  in  rowing  round 
the  point  of  Marsii,  we  perceived  a  brightness  in  the 
northern  horizon,  like  tliat  reflected  from  ice,  usually 
called  the  blink,  and  which  led  us  to  suppose  that 
<rast  fields  of  it  were  floating  along  the  coast,  in  the 
direction  that  we  were  going.  It  happened  to  be  low 
water  when  we  crossed  the  mouth  of  the  river ;  so  that 
the  boat  could  not  approach  nearer  than  about  a  mile 
from  the  shore  ;  wliich  obliged  ui  to  walk  this  distance 
through  the  mud  and  water,  to  the  place  where  we 
fixed  our  encampment  for  the  night,  and  where  the 
musquitoes  inflicted  their  torments  upon  us.  We 
were  dreadfully  annoyed  by  them,  from  tiie  swampy 
country  we  had  to  traverse  ;  and  1  was  glad  to  start, 
witii  the  dawn  of  the  following  morning,  from  a  spot 
where  they  literally  blackened  our  small  canvass  tent, 
and  hovered  around  us  in  clouds,  so  as  to  render  life 
itself  burdensome.  The  day,  however,  afforded  us 
very  little  relief,  while  walking  nearly  ankle  deep  in 
water,  through  the  marshes  ;  and  such  was  their  tor- 
ture upon  the  poor  animals,  that  we  frequently  saw 
the  deer  conting  out  of  the  woods,  apparently  almost 
blinded  and  distracted  with  their  numbers,  to  rush  into 
the  water  for  relief.  This  gave  our  hunter  an  oppor- 
tunity of  killing  two  of  them  in  the  afternoon  ;  so  that 
we  had  plenty  of  venison,  and  a  good  supply  of  wild 
fowl,  which  he  had  shot  for  our  evening  repast." 

The  next  morning,  Mr.  West  and  his  companions 
resumed  their  journey  at  sunrise,  but  the  former  had 
obtained  little  refreshment  during  the  night,  in  conse- 
quence of  having  been  wrapped  in  a  blanket  almost 
to  suflbcation,  in' order  to  elude  the  stings  of  the 
musquitoes.  From  these  troublesome  insects,  how- 
over,  he  was  happily  delivered  by  a  change  of  wind 
'  blowing  from  off"  the  ice,  which  was  now  visible  from 
the  horizon  to  the  shores  of  the  bay. 


After  fording  Stony  river,  they  came  upon  the  track 
of  a  polar  bear,  with  which  the  Indian  hunter  appeared 
extremely  anxious  to  fall  in ;  but  the  ferocious  animal 
seemed  to  have  taken  a  survey  of  the  party,  and  to 
have  retired  into  the  recesses  of  an  adjacent  wood. 
It  seems  that,  at  this  season  of  the  year,  the  bean 
come  off  the  ice  on  the  bay,  on  which  they  have 
passed  several  months,  subsisting  on  the  seals,  which 
lie  sleeping  by  the  sides  of  the  holes  in  the  drift  ice 
when  it  dissolves,  or  is  driven  far  from  shore.  During 
the  summer  months,  they  seek  their  food  among  the 
sea-Weed  that  is  thrown  up  along  the  coast,  or  go  into 
the  woods  in  quest  of  berries.  The.se  animals,  how- 
ever, are  less  dreaded  by  the  Indians  than  the  grizzly 
bear,  which  is  found  toward  the  Rocky  mountains,  and 
is  so  ferocious  that  it  is  seldom  attacked,  except  by 
very  expert  hunters,  with  impunity.  "  A  gentleman," 
says  our  missionary, "  who  was  travelling  to  a  distance 
on  the  plains  to  the  west  of  the  Red  river  colony, 
told  me  of  a  narrow  escape  he  once  had  with  his 
servant  boy,  in  meeting  a  grizzly  bear.  They  were 
riding  slowly  along,  near  the  close  o(  the  day,  when 
they  espied  the  animal  coming  from  the  verge  of  a  wood 
in  the  direction  towards  them.  They  immediately 
quickened  the  pace  of  their  horses  ;  but  being  jaded 
with  the  day's  journey,  the  bear  was  soon  seen  to 
gain  upon  them.  In  this  emergency,  he  hit  upon  an 
expedient,  which  was  probably  the  means  of  saving 
their  lives.  He  took  tho  boy,  who  was  screaming 
with  terror,  behind  him,  and  abandoned  the  horse  that 
ho  rode.  When  the  ferocious  animal  came  up  to  it, 
the  gentleman,  who  stopped  at  some  distance,  expect- 
ed to  see  the  bear  rend  it  immediately  with  his  claws ; 
but,  to  his  surprise,  after  having  walked  round  and 
smelt  at  the  horse,  as  it  stood  motionless  with  fear, 
the  bear  returned  to  the  wood,  and  the  horse  was 
afterwards  recovered  without  injury." 

On  the  morning  of  the  16th,  the  travellers  forded 
Rroad  river  ;  and,  at  a  short  distance  from  its  banks, 
perceived  the  smoke  of  an  Indian  tent,  to  which  they 
directed  tlieir  steps.  The  family,  who  were  upon  a 
hunting  excursion  from  Churchill,  were  clothed  in 
deer-skins,  and  the  man,  who  appeared  to  be  a  half 
breed,  stated,  that  though  he  was  now  leading  an 
Indian  life,  his  father  had  been  formerly  a  master  at 
one  of  the  company's  posts.  He  also  expressed  his 
willingness  to  accompany  Mr.  West  to  the  factory ; 
but  as  his  two  sons  were  gone  out  in  pursuit  of  a  deer, 
he  said  he  must  leave  some  directions  for  them  on 
their  return.  Accordingly,  having  prepared  a  broad 
piece  of  wood,  with  his  axe,  he  sketched  out  r/jveral 
figures,  to  denote  the  party  with  whom  he  had  set 
out.  and  by  n  curve  lino  S'^'^ended  to  tliese.  intimsted 
that  they  were  to  follow.     "  We  then  proceeded," 


Mys  Mr.  West,  "after  the  wife  had  put  some  kettles 
upon  the  back  of  a  miserable  looking  dog,  and  had 
taken  her  accustomed  burden,  the  tent,  with  some 
other  articles,  on  her  own  shoulders.  The  little  ones 
rri'  f  ^'  'r'™"^  '"•""  ""''^  "  '"'"P"'*'''.  and  the 
throtgJltuT;;^^^^^^ 

Before  the  tents  were  struck  the  next  morning,  the 
hieroglyphics  wh,ch  the  old  man  had  left  upon  the 
p.ece  of  wood  brought  his  two  sons,  whom  he  had  left 
huntmg,  and  who  had  walked  the  greater  part  of  the 

.l!V"/;  '  '°  °'°"''''«  '^'^  hmily.lt  seems 
that  the  Indians  are  in  the  habit  of  painting  symbolical 
figures,  such  as  those  to  which  we  have  alluded,  on 
the  dressed  skins  of  buffaloes  or  other  animals,  and 
some  of  these  are  occasionally  bartered  at  the  com- 
pany  s  stations.  They  thus  represent  the  achieve- 
ment  of  a  victory,  in  war,  by  sketching  out  a  picture 
of  he  successful  chief,  with  the  distinguishing  mark 
of  his  nation,  and  by  rudely  delineating  the  warriors 
who  accompanied  him ;  whilst  a  number  of  little 
figures  denote  how  many  prisoners  were  taken,  and  so 
many  headless  bodies  denote  the  number  of  those  who 
were  slain. 

On  the  18th,  the  travellers,  who  had  now  no  pro- 
visions but  what  they  shot  on  their  journey,  came  to 
a  tent  of  Clupewyan  Indians,  where  they  experienced 
a  very  cordial  reception ;  the  women  beginning  to  cook 
venison  for  them  on  their  arrival,  without  even  inquir- 
ing whether  they  were  hungry  ;  and  the  men  propos- 
ing to  accompany  them  to  Churchill.  «  As  soon  as 
we  had  finished  eating,"  says  Mr.  West,  "  the  tent  was 
struck,  and  the  whole  party  proceeded,  with  the  old 
man  ahead,  with  a  long  staff  in  his  hand,  followed  by 
his  five  sons  and  two  daughters,  and  the  rest  of  us  in 
the  train  ;  which  suggested  to  my  mind  the  patriarchal 
mode  of  travelling." 

On  the  arrival  of  the  party  at  fort  Churchill,  which 
they  reached  on  the  morning  of  the  21st,  an  Esqui- 
maux, named  Augustus,  who  had  accompanied  captain 
Franklin  to  the  shores  of  the  Polar  sen,  came  out  to 
meet  them  ;  and  expressed  much  delight  on  ascer- 
taining that  Mr.  West  had  undertaken  such  a  journey 
for  the  purpose  of  visiting  his  tribe,  who  were  expect- 
ed  to  arrive,  within  a  few  days,  nt  the  factory.     He 
had  not  seen  his  countrymen  since  he  had  acted  as 
one  of  the  guides  in  the  northern  land  expedition,  but 
intended  to  return  with  them  to  his  wife  and  family 
laden  with  the  presents  and  rewards  which  he  had 
received  for  his  faithful  services.     "  On  the  25th  " 
says  the  excellent  clergyman  to  whom  we  are  indebted 
lor  these  particulars,  "the  servants  of  the  company, 
^vitn  me  offlcoh.,  assembled  for  divine  service ;  aiid 
labonoui  u  U  the  office  of  a  missionary,  I  felt  d6light- 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


61S 


ed  w.,h  Its  engagement.  ;  and  thought  it  a  high  pnvi- 
lege  even  to  y.«.  the  wild  inhabitant*  of  th!  rS^k" 

kmgdo™  among  them ;  and  that  in  a  remote  quarter 
of  the  globe,  where  probably  no  Protestant  minister 
had  ever  placed  his  foot  before. 

.h«T«  ""u  1"^',"  """'""  '"'^''"'  '«"«'«'  came  to 
he  fort,  with  h,9  family;  and  upon  making  known 

o  him  the  object  of  my  journey,  he  cheerfully  5roS 

o  give  up  one  of  his  boys,  a  lively,  active  little  fellow. 

o  be  educated  at  the  native  school  establishment  al 

the  Red  river.     He  appeared  very  desirous  of  having 

his  son  taught  more  than  the  Indians  know,  and  as- 

woman,  who  was  in  a  tent  at  a  short  distance,  to 
accompany  h,s  son.  I  told  him  that  they  must  go  a 
long  way  (Churchill  being  about  a  thousand  miles 
distant  from  the  colony),  but  that  they  would  betaken 

shol"""  .  ^"  ""t^'  "°  °''J^"'°"  '  '•"»  ""id  they 
should  go,  and  that  they  might  return  when  they  had 

learned  enough.     This  was  a  striking  instance  of  the 

confidence  of  an  Indian,  and  confirmed  the  opinion 

that  they  would  part  with  their  children  to  those  in 

^^Z  *.H  ^  'f  r^*"  '^'^  """'^  "°"''''«'  «"«^  •«  '-hose 
tuition  they  felt  persuaded  they  could  safely  intrust 

them.  The  company's  boats  were  now  going  to  York 
factory,  and  would  take  them  there;  and  as  on  mr 
return  th.th.r,  I  expected  to  meet  my  successor,  ou 
his  arrival  from  England,  he  would  take  them  under 
his  care,  in  continuing  the  voyage  to  the  school." 

For  some  days  past,  Augustus  had  been  in  the 
habit  of  visitmg  the  ruins  of  the  old  factory,  about 
five  miles  beyond  the  company's  present  establish- 
ment, in   anxious  expectation  that   his  countrymen 
would  arrive  by  the  way  of  the  coast,  in  their  seal- 
skin  canoes ;  and  one  morning  he  slated,  on  his  return, 
that  there  was  an  Esquimaux  family  tented  by  the 
shore  under  qne  of  the  rocks.    «'  The  next  day,  there- 
fore," says  Mr.  West,  "I  accompanied  iJ'TZ 
spot,  with  an  interpreter,  under  the  idea  that  I  might 
obtain  some  interesting  information  ;  and  was  much 
pleased  at  seeing  the  family  living  in  the  exercise  of 
social  affection.    The  Esquimaux  treated  his  wife  with 
kindness,  and  there  was  a  constant  smile  upon  her 
countenance— so  opposite  to  that  oppressed  and  de- 
jected look  of  the  Indian  women  in  general.    Through 
the  medium  of  my  interpreter,  I  obtained  the  follow- 
ing  information  : —  ^ 

"  Most  of  the  Esquimaux  have  on«  wife,  but  good 
hunters  have  sometimes  two.  The^.never  leave  the 
sick,  infirm  or  aged,  like  the  northern  Indians,  to 

nensh  :    hut    nloraira    .)-.„    .1 ._       i_  .  .  . ' 

and  take  them  in  canoes  in  summer;  till  they  die. 
They  never  bum  their  dead,  but  always  T)ury  them. 


0ie 


CHURCH  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


They  do  not  know  who  made  the  sun,  the  heavens, 
the  waters  and  the  earth ;  nor  whether  the  person 
who  made  these  things  be  dead  or  alive.  They  know, 
however,  that  there  is  a  bad  spirit  among  them,  who 
causes  them  to  suffer ;  and  they  pray  to  him  not  to 
hurt  them.  They  believe,  when  a  wicked  man  dies, 
that  the  bad  spirit  takes  him,  and  puts  him  into  a  hole 
under  ground,  where  there  is  a  perpetual  fire ;  but 
when  a  good  man  dies,  the  moon  takes  him  up  to  a 
happy  place,  where  he  lives  as  he  did  upon  earth, 
only  he  has  less  to  do. 

"  The  Elsquimaux  was  fond  of  saying  that  formerly 
they  were  as  white  men — like  me.  I  encouraged  him 
in  this  idea ;  but  observed  that  white  men  now  knew 
•  great  deal  more  tlian  his  tribe,  and  that  many  persons 
in  my  country  wished  them  to  be  taught  who  made 
the  world,  &c.  On  my  asking  whether  they  would 
like  to  have  a  white  man  live  among  them,  to  clothe 
and  teach  their  children,  the  Esquimaux  and  his  wife 
appeared  to  be  quite  overjoyed  at  the  question- 
laughed  heartily — and  said  that  they  wished  to  know 
the  Great  Spirit ;  adding,  that  if  I  came  to  live  among 
their  people,  they  were  sure  they  would  treat  me  well ; 
as  they  would  be  much  pleased  in  having  their  chil- 
dren taught  what  white  men  knew  ;  and  would  bring 
provisions,  as  there  was  plenty  of  musk-oxen,  deer 
and  salmon.  We  parted  cordially,  shaking  hands ; 
•nd,  at  the  same  time,  I  observed  to  him,  that  if 
white  men  came  to  live  in  his  country,  it  would  not 
be  because  white  man's  country  was  not  better  than 
his, — ^but  because  white  man  loved  the  Esquimaux,  and 
wished  to  teach  them  how  to  live  and  die  happy." 

Of  another  party,  who  arrived  a  few  days  afterward, 
Mr.  West  observes,  "As  some  of  the  Esquimaux 
were  returning  to  Chesterfield  inlet,  I  assembled  them, 
and  had  the  following  '  talk,'  previously  to  my  giving 
them  a  few  presents  : — 

"  Standing  in  the  circle,  I  said, '  I  speak  true.  I  love 
Esquimaux ;  and  many  in  my  country  love  them,  and 
wished  me  to  visit  them.  As  a  proof  that  I  love  them, 
I  came  far  across  the  sea,  where  the  sun  rises,  to  see 
them— not  to  make  house,  and  trade  with  them  ;  but 
to  ask  them  (and  they  must  speak  true)  if  they  should 
like  white  man  to  make  house,  and  live  in  their  country, 
that  he  might  clothe  their  children,  and  teach  them 
to  read  white  man's  book,  to  write,  and  to  know  the 
Great  Spirit." 

Mr.  West  had"  no  sooner  ceased  speaking,  than  they 
all,  with  one  consent,  expressed  their  approbation  of 
his  proposal  by  laughing  and  shouting  ;  adding,  that 
they  would  supply  plenty  of  provisions,  and  would 
never  steal  from  white  man  in  their  own  country, 

thrknorli  thnv  irfkrA  rnnapimis    that    this  nrnct    cnmAfimAa 

3" .• '    —     

done  at  the  factories.     Our  missionary  then  gave  to 


each  individual  a  clasp-knife,  a  little  tobacco,  and  a 
few  beads  for  their  wives. 

" The  Esquimaux,"  says  Mr.  West,  "who  had  ac- 
companied captain  Franklin,  was  very  anxious  that  I 
should  see  hia  countrymen  conjure  ;  and  immediately 
aAer  I  had  given  them  the  presents,  he  got  a  blanket 
and  a  large  knife,  and  told  me  that  one  of  them  would 
put  the  knife  through  his  body,  and  not  die — or  fire  a 
ball  through  his  breast,  leaning  upon  a  musket,  with- 
out being  injured.  I  objected  to  the  deception  ;  and 
told  him  that  if  his  countrymen  could  really  conjure, 
they  should  draw  to  their  shores  the  whales,  which 
were  then  appearing  in  the  river  opposite  the  fort. 
It  was  with  some  difficulty,  however,  that  I  prevented 
the  exhibition." 

About  fifty  miles  north  of  fort  Churchill,  Mr.  West 
visited  another  tribe  of  Esquimaux,  who  are  in  the 
habit  of  traversing  the  coast  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Knapp's  bay.  "  We  pitched  our  tent  with  them," 
says  he,  "  for  two  days  ;  and  I  never  knew  Indians 
behave  so  orderly  as  they  did.  They  partook  of  their 
meals  with  great  cordiality  and  cheerftilness  ;  and 
never  came  into  my  tent  without  being  asked.  To 
seven  of  the  oldest  men  among  then  I  repeated  the 
questions  which  I  had  put  to  the  others ;  and  they  all 
appeared  overjoyed  with  the  expectation  of  having  a 
white  man  among  them  to  make  house,  and  teach 
their  children  ;  promising  to  fiimish  him  with  provis- 
ions, and  not  to  steal.  I  gave  to  each  of  these,  also, 
a  knife,  with  a  portion  of  tobacco,  and  some  beads, 
to  take  to  their  wives. 

"  In  parting  with  these  Indians,  to  return  to  fort 
Churchill,  I  felt  a  lively  interest  for  their  eternal  wel- 
fare ;  and  shall  greatly  rejoice  if  any  plan  can  be 
devised  to  accomplish  the  object  of  educating  their 
children.  They  are  an  interesting  race  of  people, 
and  appear  to  me  to  present  a  fine  field  for  missionary 
labor,  with  the  hope  of  much  success." 

In  returning  from  this  excursion  to  the  factory,  Mr. 
West  observes,  that  he  had  to  proceed  along  a  coast 
the  most  dangerous  to  navigate  that  can  be  conceived; 
from  the  water  being  studded  with  fragments  of 
rocks,  for  miles  from  the  shore,  and  which  are  only 
visible  at  the  reflux  of  the  tide.  "  The  safest  course 
to  take,"  says  he,  "  is  to  run  out  to  sea,  and  sail  along 
out  of  sight  of  land  ;  but  this  is  hazardous  in  an  open 
boat,  if  the  weather  be  stormy,  or  the  water  be  much 
ruffled  by  the  wind.  The  company  lost  a  boat's  crew 
last  fall,  as  they  were  returning  to  Churchill,  from  one 
of  the  points  of  rock  where  they  had  been  to  collect 
geese,  which  the  Indians  had  shot,  and  which  were 
designed  to  be  salted,  as  part  of  the  winter  supply  of 

nmviainng  af  (Ka  estsbllfihmfini.       A  *   '^-s*    ;*  -v-s  s**n- 

posed  that  the  boat  had  been  driven  out  to  sea,  and 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


aU  had  perished  in  the  -most  paioful  manner ;  but, 
duruig  our  stay,  an  Indian  came  to  the  fort,  to  inform 
the  officer  that  the  empty  boat  was  lying  on  the  beach, 
about  SIX  or  seven  miles  to  the  south  of  Churchill 
river.  He  immediately  sent  men  to  the  spot,  and  to 
search  along  the  coast,  for  some  remains  of  the  bodies 
of  the  crew  ;  but  not  the  least  appearance  of  them 
could  be  discovered.  The  boat  filled  and  went  down, 
with  the  sail  set  and  fastened  to  the  mast,  "which  was 
the  state  in  which  it  was  found ;  but  whether  she 
struck  upon  the  pomt  of  a  sunken  rock,  or  swamped 
at  the  conflux  of  the  waters  off  the  mouth  of  the 
river,  at  the  return  of  the  tide,  not  a  man  survived 
to  tell." 

In  returning  to  York  factory,  Mr.  West  came  to  a 
tent  of  Indians,  who  were  encamped  on  the  shore,  for 
the  purpose  of  killing  bears ;  and  in  front  of  the  little 
encampment,  he  observed  the  head  of  one  of  these 
animals,  which  had  been  recently  shot,  placed  upon 
some  pointed  sticks,  in  expression  of  some  super- 
stitious notions.     It  seems  that  these  people  bave  a 
great  dread  of  bears,  and  are  in  the  habit  of  ...aring 
necklaces  formed  of  their  claws,  as  amulets  or  charms 
to  preserve  them  from  their  ferocious  attacks.     "  A 
short  time  before  I  left  the  Red  river  colony,"  says 
our  missionary,  "  an  Indian  came  to  my  residence 
with  a  necklace  strung  with  some  large  claws  ;  and, 
being  induced  to  part  with  it  for  some  tobacco,  he 
addressed  it  in  a  very  grave  speech,  when  he  took  it 
from  his  neck,  and  laid  it  for  me  on  the  table,  in 
language  to  the  following  effect :— « My  grandfather ! 
you  and  I  have  been  together  some  time ;  but  we 
must  now  part.— Go  to  that  chief;  and,  in  leaving  me, 
be  not  angry,  but  let  me  kill  buffab  when  I  am  hungry, 
and  another  bear  when  I  meet  with  it ;  and  then  I 
will  make  another  necklace  of  tlie  claws.'     I  smiled 
at  this  address  ;  when,  looking  at  me  very  seriously, 
he  said, « If  you  offend  the  bear  (meaning,  I  suppose^ 
the  spirit  of  the  animal  whose  claws  he  had  given  me), 
the  bears  will  be  sure  to  eat  you.'  " 

Two  days  after  this  occurrence,  Mr.  West  arrived 
in  safety  at  York  factory,  after  having  walked,  on  his 
return,  the  supposed  distance  of  one  hundred  and 
eighty  miles,  through  a  trackless  country,  abounding  in 
swamps  and  long  grass,  and  dreadfully  infested,  in 
many  parts,  with  musquitoes.  Here  he  had  the  pleas- 
ure of  meeting  with  the  Rev.  David  T.  Jones,  who 
had  arrived  from  England  three  days  before,  in  his 
w*y  to  the  Red  river  settlement,  and  with  whom 
a  conference  was  now  held  on  the  concerns  of  the 
mission.  After  a  few  days,  Mr.  West  sailed  for  his 
native  country,  and  Mr.  Jones  proceeded  with  the 
two  inaian  boys,  who  had  been  placed  under  Mr. 
Wests  protection,  to  his  place  of  destination,  where 
Vol..  I.— Nos.  51  &  52.  80 


617 

he  arrived  on  the  14th  of  October,  after  a  tediooi 
passage,  occasioned  by  what  is  termed  a  head  wind 
on  the  lake. 

The  Rev.  D.  T.  Jones  left  England  for  the  purpoM 
of  carrying  the  society's  plw,8  into  effect ;  directing  bj. 
attention,  m  the  first  instance,  to  the  settlera  and  half- 
breeds,  but  considering  the  spiritual  welfare  of  "he 
native  Indians  as  the  ulterior  object  of  bis  labors      A 
school-house  and  church  having  been  erected,  under 
the  superintendence  of  Mr.  West,  it  was  soon  found 
that  they  were  inadequate  to  the  accommodation  of 
ihose  who  were  desirous  of  instruction :    in  conse- 
quence,  a  second  church  and  school  were  erected  • 
and,  in  1825,  the  Rev.  W.  Cockran  sailed  from  England 
to  share  in  Mr.  Jones's  labors.     The  progress  of  the 
mission,  from  the  period  of  its  formation  to  the  date 
of  the  last  report  (1832),  has  been  uniformly  encour- 
aging.    Those  vicissitudes,  of  various  kinds,  which 
have  proved  so  trying  to  the  faith  and  patience  of 
missionaries  at  other  stations,  appear  to  have  been, 
m  great  measure,  unfelt  here.     The  dawn  of  gospel 
•ght  seems  gradually  to  rise  on  the  mountains  and 
lakes  of  North  America,  slowly  indeed,  but  regulariy 
and  in  peace,  and  gives  hopes  of  the  speedy  arrival 
of  the  perfect  day. 

Three  churjiits  have  been  erected  in  different  parts 
of  the  settlement.  Tiie  settlers  and  half-breeds,  to 
the  amount  of  eight  hundred,  were  tolerably  regular 
in  their  attendance  on  the  means  of  grace.  Many 
seals  to  a  faithful  ministry  have  been  granted  from 
each  of  the  above  classes ;  nor  are  there  wanting 
some  few  of  the  native  Indians,  who  worship  God  b 
spirit  and  in  truth.  To  the  education  of  children 
much  attention  is  paid  j  and  the  Sunday  schools  are 
well  attended.  The  advantages  of  daili,  instruction, 
however,  do  not  seem  to  be  much  valued  by  the 
parents.  The  spiritual  state  of  this  interesting  church 
in  the  wilderness  is  thus  described  by  Mr.  Cockran. 
in  1829 :— 

"  I  think  that  the  pure  gospel  of  Christ  is  still  an 
interesting  subject  to  those  who  have  made  a  profes- 
sion of  religion  in  this  settlement.  They  behold  as 
much  beauty,  excellency,  and  true  riches  in  it,  and 
feel  as  much  their  need  of  it,  as  they  did  when  the 
Lord  first  stretched  out  his  arm,  and  drew  them  out 
of  the  horrible  pit,  and  set  their  feet  on  Christ  the 
Rock.  With  many,  religion  is  viewed  as  the  one 
thing  needful ;  and  other  things  are,  in  a  great  measure, 
kept  in  subordination  to  it,  and  regarded  as  good  or 
evil,  just  as  far  as  they  will  accelerate  or  retard  the 
interest  of  Christ.     I  believe  that  our  little  visible 

church    annroncheq    na    npor    tn    nnrnlttno    . ;_„!:-:•. 

and  sincerity  as  any  other  to  be  found  in  any  part 
of  the  world.    The  most  of  them  are  Bible  Chris- 


.618 


CHURCH  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


tians :  to  the  word  of  God  they  go  for  information, 
on  every  subject  that  concerns  their  souls.  Christ 
and  his  gospel  are  all  in  all ;  and  to  him  they  apply, 
for  strength,  for  instruction,  for  direction,  for  encour- 
agement ;  that,  as  men  of  God,  they  may  be  well 
directed,  instructed,  and  enabled  to  live  in  the  per- 
formance oi  every  good  work." 

Mr.  Cockran  adds— 

"  I\>  not  think  that  I  am  endeavoring  to  persuade 
you  that  we  have  a  perfect  church,  and  that  every 
individual  member  is  without  spot  or  wrinkle,  or  any 
such  thing.  No ;  I  never  expect  to  st>e  such  a  church 
on  earth.  Christ  has  told  us  that  the  tares  will  grow 
among  the  wheat.  There  may  be  many  tares,  and 
much  chaff,  amongst  our  wheat ;  but  we  have  great 
reason  to  feel  thankful  to  God  for  the  refreshing  dews 
of  his  grace  which  he  has  commanded  to  fall  so  copious- 
ly on  our  Zion,  that  the  wheat  flourishes  luxuriantly, 
and  completely  overtops  t!  e  tares  ;  that  they  are  not 
apparent  to  an  ordinary  observer  at  present,  and  per- 
haps will  not  be,  until  some  storm  of  persecution  blows, 
and  bends  the  wheat ;  then  shall  the  tares  be  manifest." 

The  following  summary  of  the  mission  will  convey  an 
accurate  idea  of  its  state  towards  the  end  of  1831  : — 


Missionaries T 

Lay  assistants — ^Males 14 

Females 4 


Congregations 

Average  attendance  on  public  worship. 

Upper  church 300 

Middle  church 300 

Lower  church SOO 


18 
.  3 


800 


Communicants — ^Males 79 

Females 64 


—    143 


Baptbms — Adults 12 

Children 66 


Schools 

Scholars — Boys — Native  Indians 60 

Others  .  i 131 


78 
.  6 


Girls 


191 
140 


331 


CHAPTER    VIII. 


MISSION    IN    THE    WEST    INDIES. 


Vert  little  has  been  done  by  the  Church  Mission- 
ary Society  towards  ameliorating  the  condition  of  the 
negroes  in  the  Britisli  West  Indies.  Slavery,  cursed 
slavery,  clings,  like  a  vampire,  to  its  victim,  on  tliesti 
unhappy  islands,  impairing  their  resources,  crippling 
their  energies,  impeding  the  progress  of  religion,  civ- 
ilization, morality  and  happiness ;  encouraging  vice, 
and  promoting  wretchedness,  and  bidding  fair,  if  not 
speedily  destroyed,  to  prove  the  destruction  of  its  de- 
voted victims.  Antigua,  Darbadoen,  Dominica  and  St. 
Vincent  were  the  only  stations  occupied  in  1823 — 24 
by  teachers  in  connection  with  the  s(x-iety,  either  lay 
or  clerical.  Schwjhnnstora  only  were  employed  at 
this  period.  At  EngliNli  Harbor,  Antigua,  ten  schools 
were  maintained,  either  wiiolly  or  in  part,  by  the 
society-  -a  (ur  greoter  number  than  at  any  of  tlie  other 
islands.      In   these,   not   fewer   than   two   thousand 


scholars  received  the  benefit  of  Christian  inst.uction. 
These  schools,  however,  owed  much  of  their  efficiency 
to  the  labors  of  teachers  not  connected  with  the  Church 
of  England  ;  and  wlien  Dr.  Coleridge,  the  .lewly- 
appointed  bishop,  assumed  their  direction,  in  18t2S, 
alterations  ins'antly  followed,  affecting  most  materially 
the  number  of  teachers  and  scholars.  Tiie  number 
of  the  latter  gradually  diininLshed,  until,  their  average 
tttendance  not  appearing  to  justify  the  continuance 
of  the  expense  without  an  adequate  return,  the  schools 
were,  in  18^9,  relinquished.  The  society,  for  several 
years,  maintained  a  school  for  the  negro  and  colored 
population  of  both  sexes  in  the  island  of  Barbadoes. 
The  bishop,  shortly  after  his  arrival,  took  (he  school 
under  his  own  charge.  Attempts  were  made  to  extend 
tlie  benefit  of  instruction  to  the  slave  children  in  St. 
Vincent's  and  Dominica,  the  society,  liov ever,  did 


not  succeed  in  the  permanent  establishment  of  schools 
m  those  islands. 

Among  other  objects  which  engaged  its  attention, 
the  society  endeavored  to  promote  the  religious  welfare 
of  his  majesty's  settlement  at  Honduras,  with  especial 
reference  to  the  slaves  and  disbanded  soldiers  of  the 
fourth  West  India  regiment  in  the  colony,  and  to  the 
native  Indians  m  the  interior  and  on  the  Mosquito 
shore;  but  circumstances  prevented  the  accomplish- 
•nent  of  its  designs. 

In  1825,  two  catechists  and  their  wives  were,  on 
the  invitation  of  the  proprietor,  sent  out  to  Jamaica, 
to  reside  on  his  estates,  for  the  purpose  of  imparting 
religious  instruction  to  the  negroes.     Every  facility 
has  been  afforded  for  the  attainment  of  this  object 
by  providing  suitable  buildings  for  the  purposes  of 
worsinp  and  instruction,  and  by  the  appropriation  of  a 
week-day  to  the  slaves  for  obtaining  their  support, 
and  thus  leaving  the  Sunday  at  their  disposal,  not  as 
a  day  of  marketing  or  labor,  but  of  rest  and  spiritual 
improvement.      Similar  measures,  with  the  concur- 
rence and  cooperation  of  the  proprietors,  have  been 
adopted  on  estates  in  Jamaica  and  Essequibo ;  and 
recently,  other  openings  having  presented  themselves 
m  Jamaica,  the  society  has  availed  itself  of  them  ac 
cording  to  its  means. 

The  last  reports  state,  that  Mr.  Armstrong  is  sta- 
tioned on  the  Mazamni  river,  a  branch  of  the  Essequibo, 
where  he  is  zealously  engaged  in  the  rnstruction  of  a 
tribe  of  negroes  located  there. 

So  long  as  the  negro  is  compelled  to  go  to  a  distance 
to  the  Sunday  market,  or  to  toil  on  that  day  for  his 


MALTA. 


619 

hS'tn;  V  'T'  '"^  Wmself  of  the  advantages 
held  out  to  him  by  a  missionary  society,  of  Sundav 

necessary,  that  his  right,  in  this  respect,  should  be 
restored  to  him,  before  the  labors  of  thos  'who  desire 

ttrir  h"''"V^"  '^  "P^'^^^'^  '°  -cceed'"on' 
the  establishment  of  Episcopacy  in  the  West  Indian 
colonies  the  society's  catechists  were  placed  unde" 
he  authority  of  the  bishop  in  whose  'dioce  e  they 
reside,  and  from  whom  they  receive  a  license  to  pros- 
ecute  their  labors.  A  grant  from  the  society's  fZs 
of  £200  was  made  to  the  bishop  of  Jamaica,  to  be 
employed  for  the  spiritual  benefit  of  the  negroes 
according  to  his  lordship's  discretion. 

The  committee  are  gratified  in  learning,  from  the 
reports  of  the  catechists,  that,  in  several  instances, 
'ndividuals  have  given  proof,  by  holy  and  consisteni 
conduct,  that  they  have  embraced  the  truth  of  the 
gospel,  not  in  profession  merely,  but  in  heartfelt  sin- 
centy.  While  they  regret  that  such  instances  are  not 
more  common,  they  rejoice  in  them  as  proofs  that  the 
blessmg  of  God  rests  upon  their  labors ;  and  they  feel 
tliankful  for  the  minor,  but  more  general  and  extensive 
effect  produced  by  the  religious  instruction  of  their 
catechists,  in  a  greater  attention  to  moral  duties  and 
the  outward  decencies  of  life.  These  effects,  they 
trust,  are  the  harbingers  of  better  things. 

Summary  of  the  Million. 

Schoolmasters  and  Catechists g 

Schools 

^''°'"" ••  ^  ".".".".".*.!  ■.;.".■  '903 


CHAPTER   IX. 


MISSION    IN    THE    MEDITERRANEAN. 


Thb  Mediterranean  mission  may  be  considered  as 
yet  in  its  infancy.  Little  has  hitherto  been  done, 
compared  with  the  amount  of  benefit  which  may  be 
expected  to  ensue,  as  a  blessing  on  the  efforts  of 
lealous  missionaries,  to  the  inhabitants  of  those  wide 
.^.        .  _.._.,  ..,jj_   jraij;  ^li^  ;g  jjjg  Eupiimies,  and 

from  Constutinople  to  th«  itniu  of  Bab^l-mtndeb. 


MALTA. 

Fully  aware  of  the  advantageous  position  of  th« 
island  of  Malta,  the  committee  have  long  made  it  the 
central  point  of  all  their  misaionarv  ppncesdinss  •=  tha 
Mediterranean,  and  maintained  there,  for  many  yean, 
as  agent  and  representative  of  the  society.,  the  Rev.' 


CHURCH  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


Vf.  Jowett,  whose  name  deserves  ever  to  be  remem- 
bered with  respect  and  admiration  by  all  who  love  to 
see  a  man  devoting  his  whole  life,  and  exerting  all 
his  energies,  in  promoting  religion,  and  consequently 
happiness,  among  his  fellow  creatures. 

Malta  itseir  affording  no  scope  for  the  exercise  of  Mr. 
Jowett's  public  ministry,  from  the  tenor  of  the  treaty 
existing  between  France  and  England  respecting  this 
island,  his  occupations  were  not,  strictly  speaking, 
missionary,  as  far  cs  that  term  signifies  the  public 
preaciiing  of  the  gospel  to  collected  numbers.  Yet 
were  the  objects  of  his  attention  no  less  useful  than 
directly  addressing  a  congregation.  These  were  the 
acquisition  of  information  relative  to  the  state  of  re- 
ligion  and  society,  wit!)  the  best  means  of  their  meliora- 
tion, the  propagation  of  Christian  knowledge  by  the 
press,  by  journeys,  and  by  education.  The  fruit  of 
his  investigations  on  these  subjects  has  been  given 
to  the  world  in  two  interesting  volumes  of  Christian 
Researches.  The  immense  number  of  tracts,  of 
works  or  education,  portions  of  the  Scriptures,  cat- 
echisms, &c.  in  Italian,  modern  Grfeek,  Arabic,  and 
Maltese,  which  have  issued  from  the  Malta  press 
since  1815,  under  the  superintendence  of  this  indefat- 
igable man,  fully  attest  his  activity  and  unwearied 
industry.  These  works  have  been  freely  circulated 
in  Greece,  the  Archipelago,  A<!ia  Minor,  Syria  and 
Egypt ;  and,  judging  from  the  avidity  with  which  they 
have  been  sought,  in  Greece  particularly,  no  inconsidSf 
erable  effect  must  have  followed  their  perusal. 

In  company  with  the  lamented  Fisk  (the  Amcricon 
missionary),  Mr  Jowett,  towards  the  close  of  IR'i.*), 
made  a  journey  througii  Palestine  and  Ei^ypt,  and 
obtained  much  important  information  on  subjects  con- 
nected witli  the  cause  of  missions. 

The  Rev.  J.  Hartley,  who  had  been  appointed  to  the 
Mediterranean,  arrived  in  Malta,  Novouiber,  IHril.uncI 
aiiordy  afterwards  proceeded  to  Corfu.  At  this  island, 
he  was  much  occupied  in  the  distribution  of  tracts, 
and  in  preaching  in  the  modern  Greek  language. 
Prevented  by  (he  disturbed  state  of  rontinentnl  (Jreere 
from  going  thitlier,  he  proceeded,  in  December,  IH-i.'j, 
to  Sm'  <-ua,  and,  making  that  city  his  head-quarters, 
visited  the  remains  of  the  other  six  Aporolyptic 
cluirchcs.  Tlie  interesting  details  of  these  journeys, 
and  of  others  subsequently  made  in  the  I'doponncsus 
and  the  isles  of  Greece,  are  |)ul)lished  in  (he  Mis- 
sionary Register :  bu(  our  limits  prohiltit  making 
cjKracts.  Much  benefit  resulted  from  Mr.  Hartley's 
exertions,  as  appears  from  several  arrotmls.  He 
preached  four  times  in  the  church  of  the  Panagia,  in 
Kcina,  estahlishnd  detiAts  for  ihn  min  of  nibles  in 
many  places  in  Greece,  distributed  tracts,  and  con- 


versed with  all  classes  on  the  grand  truths  of  Chris- 
tianity. Among  the  people  he  found  the  greatest 
readiness  not  only  to  promote  the  ciiculation  of  the 
Scriptures,  but  also  to  attend  the  preaching  of  the 
gospel. 

During  his  residence  at  Smyrna,  three  Roman 
Catholics,  several  Greeks,  and  some  Armenians,  da- 
rived  spiritual  benefit  from  Mr.  Hartley's  ministry. 
Three  Jews  also  were  baptized  by  him  at  Constanti- 
nople, of  whom  two  remained  faithful  under  violent 
and  protracted  persecution  from  the  Turks.  By  the 
instnimentality  of  Jean  Baptiste  Castro,  one  of  these 
confessors,  no  fewer  than  eight  others  were  converted 
to  Christ.  They  were  baptized  by  the  Armenians, 
and  banished  by  their  enemies  to  Catsarea,  where 
their  number  soon  al\er  increased  to  thirteen. 

In  the  year  1828,  Dr.  Korck,  another  of  the  society's 
missionaries,  took  charge  of  a  large  school  in  the  island 
of  Syra,  with  a  view  of  introducing  a  system  of  sound 
and  scriptural  education  into  the  islands  of  the  Archi- 
pelago. For  a  time,  his  prospects  of  success  were 
bright,  no  fewer  than  six  hundrod  and  thirty  children 
attending  his  schools  ;  but  in  consequence  of  the 
determination  of  the  Greek  government  to  introduce 
image  worship,  and  prayer  to  the  Virgin,  into  the  plan 
of  education,  ho  was  obliged  to  resign  his  charge,  and 
lefl  the  island. 

Thus  have  these  interesting  but  misguided  Greeks 
rejected  one  of  the  greatest  blessings  any  country  can 
enjoy — a  (niiy  ri>liitious  educa(ion  for  its  youth. 

Dr.  Korck's  brother  missionaries,  (h"  Rev.  Messrs. 
Hildner  and  Jcttor,  roniained  in  Syra,  hoping  (hat 
circums(anrt's  mi^iit  transpire  wliich  would  render  it 
practicable  for  (hem  to  prosecute  the  society's  plana 
on  .scriptural  |>rinciplcs. 

During  the  Rev.  F.  Hildnur's  residence  at  Corfu, 
he  nmrli  iirnmoted  (he  work  of  female  and  Sunday 
school  education  a(  (ha(  place. 


ABYSSINIA. 

The  way  (o  the  remote  church  of  Abyssinia  has 
been  reninrknbly  opened  by  Providence.  In  (ho  year 
\H'H\,  four  (icrman  missionaries,  in  roimcc(ion  wilh 
the  society,— the  Hev.  Messrs.  (ioImK,  Kugler,  Krus6 
and  ljied«-r, — landed  in  F,|fypt,tlie  twoffmnerof  wlioin 
wert!  designed  for  (he  Abyssinian  mission.  Whiht 
waidng  a(  Cairo,  devising  plans  for  entering  upon  their 
work,  they  met  with  a  young  Abyssinian,  named 
Giriris.  who  had  been  sent  by  his  master,  the  ras  of 
Tigr^,  to  procure  an  ahntma  or  pnpnt  (Anglic*,  • 


owhop)  from  the  Armenian  patritroh,  the  one  tent  by 
the  Coptic  patriarch  having  been  expelled  for  intend 
perance.  The  friendship  which  thii  younff  man  who 
WM  con  vert«l  to  Christianity  by  the  mi,sionario.;  soon 
felt  for  his  instnicters,  induced  him  to  exert  his  in- 
fluence, which  was  not  inconsiderable,  at  the  court  of 
Gondar,  to  obtain  for  them  the  wished-for  liberty  of 
access  to  his  country.  ' 

Another  reniarkable  circumstance,  which  seems 
almost  to  reveal  ,o  our  sight  that  mighty  but  unseen 
hand  which  guides  all  human  events,  pointing  the  way 
^Abyssini.  „  ,},„,  ,hc  British  and  Po«,ign  Bible 
Society  had  already  obtained  a  MSS.  of  the  whole  Bible 
m  the  vernacular  langjoge  of  the  country. 

Aner  many  delays  and  obstacles,  which  at  one  time 
were  so  serious  as  to  excite  an  a,,p,-ehension  in  the 
minds  of  the  committee,  that  it  might  become  ronui- 
sue  to  abandon  the  enterprise,  the  Rov.  Messrs.  Kugler 
and  Gobat  loft  Cairo,  in  October,  18a«),  for  Abys.inia, 
by  way  of  Jidda,  and  Massowah,  a  small  isloiid  in  il.u 
Ked  sea  ;  and.  having  boon  preceded  by  their  friend 
and  convert,  were  rocoivod,  on   their  anlM.j  nt  their 


CHURCH  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


d«tin.tlon.  by  Sebagadis,  chief  of  Tln<   with  th. 
greateat  klndna...     How  long  thii  cordwL  J!    ?! 

ThTmi-i  •  ""^  *"""'""•'  *•  problematical. 


The  Rev.  Messrs.  Lieder  and  Krus6  have  remained 
.n  l.gypt,and  been  actively  engaged  in  preaci  il  e" 
Ubhshmg  and  rjiaintaining  schools,  and  d  stribuing  the 
Scriptures.  The  Greek  patria«,h  has  prohib  te5  t 
people  from  receiving  books  from  the  missio  .aries 
while,  on  the  port  of  the  Coptic  patriarch,  a  frie  d  ,' 
disposition  IS  increasingly  manifested.  ^ 

The  society  have  contemplated  the  formation  of  a 
mission  on  the  north  coast  of  Africa,  some  cTrcum 
;.""cos  of  rather  „  singular  nature  hiving  o^^Z, 
o  iroct  their  attention  thither.  It  i.  „o..  how  ver, 
'"  tier  power,  m  the  present  state  of  the  funds  to 
Jec.de  upon  any  immediate  step,  in  favor  of  t  i   jdal 


Having  brought  to  a  conclusion  the  narrative  of  the 
foreign  transactions  of  the  Church  Missionary  Societv 
a  few  words  will  suflico  for  the  details  connected  witii 
Its  proceediM,r,  at  homo. 

The  mod.,  adopted  for  the  preparation  of  the  mis- 
sionaries first  claims  our  attention.  Previoi.Hly  to  tho 
year  IH!i5.  ,ho  voluntary  candi.laie  f„r  missionary 
employment  was  p„t  under  theinnne.liato  Hurv.,ill«nc« 
of  so„.„  experienced  minister,  who  suporintoii.led  his 
studies  in  the  necessary  branches  of  literature,  „nd 
formed  an  opinion  of  his  talents  un.l  capal.ilitios.     For 

the  Kev.  K.  Hickerstolh,  and  to  the  late  Unv. 'J'lioiims 
Scott,  tho  well-known  coinmenlalor  on  tho  Bible 
Ohjections  to  this  plan  having  arisen,  the  committee 
clocMled  to  build  an  institution,  or  college,  for  the 
preparation  of  the  missionaries,  a  r.-sojution  which 
was  soon  rarrie.l  into  effect  ;  and  on  the  JHsl  of  Jn„. 
uary  |Hsi5  a  large  edifice,  at  iHlinRfm,  near  London, 
suited  to  the  acco,n„,„d«tion  of  forty  students,  was 
opened  for  their  reception. 

Tho  average  number  of  residents  at  the  college  is 
ahoi.l  twenty  .•  ,hoy  are  under  the  superinten.lence 
ul   u  nriiieiiinl   on. I   >..• II.  .'I   .>  

•ludens   enjoyed    the    advantage   of    instruction    in 
oriental  language,  and  literature,  by  ,,rof„„or  I^o, 


of  Cainbiidgo  who  visited  the  college  at  two  period, 
of  the  year  for  the  purpose.  Lately,  however,  the 
attendance  of  the  professor  has  ceased. 

The  studies  of  the  can.lidate  being"  con.ploted,  he 
IS   n.lin.lled    to   lu.ly  orders,  if  duly    ,,nalified    by   ,ho 

b-shop  of  London.  He  is  then  ready  to  proceed  to 
his  station. 

Th<.  efliciency  of  this  mode  of  education  \h  urovod 
by  ex,.e„ence,a.ul  co.rol.orated  by  „  statement  i„  ,hc 
thirly-diHt  report  of  the  soeioiy,  fr„n.  whicl.  i,  appears 
tlmt   'the   nttaiiunents   „,   theological    knowlellL.  of 
several  of  those  «ho  have   been  exnmine.l  as  .Candi- 
dates for  holy  orders,  have,  on  more  than  one  oecosion 
I""'"  .•..uuMended  by  ,|,e  bishop  of  Lomlou,  „s  well 
as   by  lus   lordship's   predecessor  ;  and  that  the   last 
three  i.uss.oiunies  wli,.  have  joined  the  North  India 
mission    have   been  able   pnhlicly  ,o  rea.l  ,be  service 
Ml  I  indoostanee,  within  a  short  tii.ie  after  their  arrival 
in  Calcutta." 

The  committee  can  obtain  an  accurate  ucpiaimaiice 
with  the  ibsposition,  talent,  and  ac.p.ire.nents  of  each 
Mudeiit.  and   allot   him  his  post  of  duty  acconlingly, 

through    ibe    |innri,.al    of  tim    !....!....: i.,.   :_  - 

."e-nbcr  of  tbeir  body.     This  is  no  small  advantage." 

On  the  internal  laws  and  regulations  of  the  scn-iety. 
Its  constitution  and  government,  it  is  unnecessary  iti 


CHURCH  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


•iiiate.  They  may  he  seen  in  any  annual  report,  and 
the  subject  is  uninteresting  to  the  general  reader. 

The  financial  situation  of  the  society,  a  short  time 
ago,  was  such  as  to  occasion  serious  solicitude  in  the 
mmds  of  the  committee,  a  feeling  which  led  to  the 
publication,  in  November,  1830,of  a  circular,  entitled, 
"  An  Address  to  the  Members  of  the  Society  on  the 
Difficulties  which  now  impede  its  Operations."  Since 
the  date  of  this  document,  it  appears  that  the  society 
is  slowly  emerging  from  its  pecuniary  difficulties. 

The  receipts  for  the  year  1832,  up  to  1st  April, 
were  £40,7r<l  16s.  7d. ;  and  the  expenditures  of  the 
year  amounted  to  £47,173  3s.  5d. 

We  shall  conclude  in  the.  following  words  from  the 
last  report : — "  On  reviewing  the  society's  operations 
in  various  parts  of  the  world,  and  comparing  them 
with  those  of  former  periods  of  its  history,  it  will  be 
seen  that  its  encouragements  were  never  more  numer- 


ous, nor  its  prospects  brighter.  In  the  regions  hitherto 
inaccessible,  which  are  opening  to  the  footsteps  of  the 
missionary — in  the  difficulties  which,  in  so  many  ways, 
ave  vanishing  before  him — in  the  readiness  with  which, 
in  almost  every  quarter  of 'the  globe,  his  message  is 
listened  to— in  the  success  which  is  attending  the 
preparation  of  native  teachers — in  the  seals  which  God 
lias  vouchsafed  to  the  ministry  of  his  servants.— in  the 
continuance  of  many  congregations  in  the  faith  of 
Christ — and  in  the  steadfastness  of  numberless  indi- 
viduals, who,  recently  emerged  from  heathenism,  are 
adorning  the  doctrine  of  God  their  Saviour  by  a  holy 
life, — there  is  much  to  show  that  the  Lord  is  gone 
out  before  us,  and  much  to  awaken  our  gratitude  for 
the  honor  he  has  put  on  our  unworthy  labors.  Not 
unto  us,  O  Lord,  not  unto  us,  but  unto  thy  name, 
give  the  praise,  for  thy  mercy,  and  for  thy  truth's 
sake." 


EMD  OF   VOL.   I. 


3rto 
the 
»ys, 
icli, 
9  is 
the 
3lod 
the 

of 
ndi- 
are 
loly 
one 

for 
Not 
me, 
th's 


